What single thing at faire hurls you off into the depths of rage?

[Rowan MacD]

Good points, Rowen. I think, though, that faires are going to test the waters with prices. If they aren't careful, however, it's going to backfire on them.  Partially in their defense, this has been a tough year, and prices ARE up for farm goods. Drought. But on certain items, I HAVE seen prices rise faster than they should.

Like gasoline!  LOL.
   But really, 'festival pricing' for food has such a huge profit margin factored in, that even a steep rise in supply costs wouldn't  justify an extra dollar on the price of a turkey leg from one season to the next.
   The only possible answer is price gouging.  However, as you mentioned, most people have a 'set price'  that they just will NOT pay for something they have traditionally bought, or even for something that to them is an essential part of the 'faire experience'. 

[Merlin the Elder]

The one good thing about the free-market economy, people stop buying, prices come down. Then the bad thing, people quit buying, production reduces making the product scarcer, and driving the price back up. Somehow, we always get the odorous end of the stick.

[Ser Niall]

My lady and I took advantage this past weekend's beautiful weather and made a last minute trip to the faire.  We were going to wait until next weekend to go so that I could get my garb done before, but it was too nice to pass up.  Of course, we'll go again once I'm finished, but I digress....

I wished to purchase some items from a particular vendor at the faire.  I've shopped this vendor's booth in past years, and I was ready to pick out some items for purchase.  When I got to the booth, it had moved to a smaller location, and there was next to nothing displayed for sale.  I simply asked the shop owner if he had any items for sale, and he replied with "I only make things for people who pay me first!  Order off the website!"

I didn't understand the need for rudeness.  I was a potential costumer, and while I was eyeing his merchandise for a while, the attitude has convinced me to not buy.  If he was a bit more polite, he could have told me how to go about ordering from him, and he would have my money.  Instead, I found a similar item from a different shop.  They were much friendlier there.

Sorry for the rant, just ticks me off when shop owners get snooty with customers who are trying to support their art.

[raevyncait]

My lady and I took advantage this past weekend's beautiful weather and made a last minute trip to the faire.  We were going to wait until next weekend to go so that I could get my garb done before, but it was too nice to pass up.  Of course, we'll go again once I'm finished, but I digress....

I wished to purchase some items from a particular vendor at the faire.  I've shopped this vendor's booth in past years, and I was ready to pick out some items for purchase.  When I got to the booth, it had moved to a smaller location, and there was next to nothing displayed for sale.  I simply asked the shop owner if he had any items for sale, and he replied with "I only make things for people who pay me first!  Order off the website!"

I didn't understand the need for rudeness.  I was a potential costumer, and while I was eyeing his merchandise for a while, the attitude has convinced me to not buy.  If he was a bit more polite, he could have told me how to go about ordering from him, and he would have my money.  Instead, I found a similar item from a different shop.  They were much friendlier there.

Sorry for the rant, just ticks me off when shop owners get snooty with customers who are trying to support their art.

.
What a JERK, and what is the point of investing in booth space at a festival if not to SELL STUFF?

[Bob of the Lake]

The only possible answer is price gouging.  However, as you mentioned, most people have a 'set price'  that they just will NOT pay for something they have traditionally bought, or even for something that to them is an essential part of the 'faire experience'. 

That's exactly what happened with me and turkey legs--I love 'em and they are totally part of the faire experience but won't pay $8!

[Auryn]

Ser Niall
I concur with  raevyncait
that guy is a total jerk and definitely didn't deserve your money.

As a vendor, it would never cross my mind to be rude to anyone, let alone a potential customer. Some people really have no concept of Karma

[Ser Niall]

Ser Niall
I concur with  raevyncait
that guy is a total jerk and definitely didn't deserve your money.

As a vendor, it would never cross my mind to be rude to anyone, let alone a potential customer. Some people really have no concept of Karma

Well, he didn't    I ended up finding something similar at another booth, and the artist there was very happy to help me find exactly what I was looking for in her shop.

[Rowan MacD]

  More a peeve than rage:
 Merchants and their shoppe folk at faire who barely dress in garb.
 I'm talking $9.99 stretchy, sparkly pannevelvet, 'Guenivere'  cothardie-ish gowns for the girls (usually with flipflops), renshirt, jeans and sneakers for the guys.
  Maybe OK for a really small tent faire, but this kind of sloppy has no place in a big faire.    



Edit for spelling

[scarletnyx]

 More a peeve than rage:
 Merchants and their shoppe folk at faire who barely dress in garb.
 I'm talking $9.99 stretchy, sparkly pannevelvet, 'Guenivere'  cothardie-ish gowns for the girls (usually with flipflops), renshirt, jeans and sneakers for the guys.
  Maybe OK for a really small tent faire, but this kind of sloppy has no place in a big faire.    

I know exactly what you mean. I saw a few examples of that at my home faire last year, and while I understand some of the vendors actually cater more towards danes than fairefolk, you can find better shoes to wear at a small tent than house slippers ( If I recall correctly ) and the stretch pressed velvet. However, playing devils advocate here, garb may be expensive for a company literally ran out of someone's garage. It's hard once you're "in the groove" to ignore something like that, but I try my hardest to put that out of my mind when I am at the smaller tents because I don't know their situation.

Edit for spelling

[Rowan MacD]

 More a peeve than rage:
 Merchants and their shoppe folk at faire who barely dress in garb.
 I'm talking $9.99 stretchy, sparkly pannevelvet, 'Guenivere'  cothardie-ish gowns for the girls (usually with flipflops), renshirt, jeans and sneakers for the guys.
  Maybe OK for a really small tent faire, but this kind of sloppy has no place in a big faire.    

I know exactly what you mean. I saw a few examples of that at my home faire last year, and while I understand some of the vendors actually cater more towards danes than fairefolk, you can find better shoes to wear at a small tent than house slippers ( If I recall correctly ) and the stretch pressed velvet. However, playing devils advocate here, garb may be expensive for a company literally ran out of someone's garage. It's hard once you're "in the groove" to ignore something like that, but I try my hardest to put that out of my mind when I am at the smaller tents because I don't know their situation.

Edit for spelling

   I kinda expect this in the pop-up tent vendors, but if a vendor spends the bucks to rent/lease/buy a booth, he/she can at least have standards for the 'uniform of the day' for themselves and employees.
  If  you hire a shop girl, make sure she has something decent to wear, if he/she isn't already a regular playtron at the faire who has an outfit (or several) already.
   It would also help to make sure they don't have their noses glued to their phones.

[Merlin the Elder]

...
   It would also help to make sure they don't have their noses glued to their phones.

Damn! My cord won't reach that far!

[Baron Frederick]

maybe you need a shorted nose

[genyferbelle]

My lady and I took advantage this past weekend's beautiful weather and made a last minute trip to the faire.  We were going to wait until next weekend to go so that I could get my garb done before, but it was too nice to pass up.  Of course, we'll go again once I'm finished, but I digress....

I wished to purchase some items from a particular vendor at the faire.  I've shopped this vendor's booth in past years, and I was ready to pick out some items for purchase.  When I got to the booth, it had moved to a smaller location, and there was next to nothing displayed for sale.  I simply asked the shop owner if he had any items for sale, and he replied with "I only make things for people who pay me first!  Order off the website!"

I didn't understand the need for rudeness.  I was a potential costumer, and while I was eyeing his merchandise for a while, the attitude has convinced me to not buy.  If he was a bit more polite, he could have told me how to go about ordering from him, and he would have my money.  Instead, I found a similar item from a different shop.  They were much friendlier there.

Sorry for the rant, just ticks me off when shop owners get snooty with customers who are trying to support their art.

I had a similar experience my first trip to faire. I stepped into a booth, where some one sold masks. I have been collecting masks since I was very young, and so I asked the lady there how long it takes to make just one. They were beautiful.I loved them, and was trying to start up a conversation. I've always found it kinda awkward to just walk up to a vendor and be all "Hiiiii! Oh my gosh! I love you work! Tell me your life story!"

So apparently I hit a nerve, because the woman went OFF on me, about how its the only thing people care about.I'm talking about borderline yelling... "How long,how long, how long. No one cares about the fact that its my full time job, or the quality, or how beautiful my work is!Let alone what the process is like, and the masterful..yaddah yaddah." Thankfully I was the only one in her booth at the time (shows what that says about her).
She didn't bother to ask if I am a crafter (which I am), If I collect masks (which I do) If I was interested in buying anything (Which I was).

Needless to say this mask collector didn't buy anything from her.And I have never seen her at faire since that day some 5 years ago.

[DonaCatalina]

hoodies.

[Nidhoggr]

 More a peeve than rage:
 Merchants and their shoppe folk at faire who barely dress in garb.
 I'm talking $9.99 stretchy, sparkly pannevelvet, 'Guenivere'  cothardie-ish gowns for the girls (usually with flipflops), renshirt, jeans and sneakers for the guys.
  Maybe OK for a really small tent faire, but this kind of sloppy has no place in a big faire.    



Edit for spelling

My local faire actually has a policy:  If you work there or even have a booth, you are IN GARB.  Even if it's something semi half-arse like "I sell nick nacks and am wearing a sorta-accurate garb".  Only exemptions are security (who they usually make wear kilts) and kitchen staff.

The thing that REALLY irks me are the people who think that because we enjoy dressing up, we are freaks.  I had one person tell me while I was in mundanes first weekend of faire this season that "People who don't work there and dress up are freaks".  I ignored it for a minute, but after quite a few rude statements  I told them in no uncertain terms "I spend quite a bit of money on my garb.  I dress up every year.  I come to this to have fun.  If you don't like it, then why are you here? My wife and child dress up as well.  If you have an issue with that I am sure you would have more fun just leaving".

The other thing that irritates me are fall-down drunks.  I drink heavily at the faire.  I get drunk.  I do NOT however get so drunk I am falling into people.  I tend to save my good drinking until the adult pub sing we have and then I head home.  It irritates me when I see people so drunk they can't even speak.  It bothers me MORE when they are in garb because that reflects on ALL of us.