Put up a sign that says the customer must wash the fruit at home before eating. Bird droppings can carry disease.
On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 11:39 AM, Mark & Helen Angermayer < angermay...@gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you Alan, > > I used to have a successful pig operation, and always wanted my > product to be a good value for the customer, as well as myself (i.e. > win/win) and tried to approach that w/ my fruit business. I've met > some fruit growers who have been abused so much by some customers, > they view most of their customers as enemies, instead of friends, > which is sad. > > Nevertheless, Sam Walton (and others) built an empire based largely > upon customer satisfaction. They were one of the first to have an > extremely liberal merchandise return policy, and still do around here, > even though some crooks take advantage. > > If I ever get to the point where I've been abused by customers so > much, that I pretty much hate them, and don't trust them in general, I > believe I'll resort to selling wholesale, or quit altogether. > > Keep in mind, my perspective is from the rural Midwest, where some > percentage of the people still wave at you on the road (more so on the > Missouri side). > > Mark Angermayer > Tubbyfruits.com > > On 10/6/14, Alan Grout <alanjgr...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Mark and Helen: > > You said it best; complete, concise, and correct handling of > customers > > with their ultimate satisfaction upper most in your priorities. > > > > I'll gladly pass on this correspondence to our apple PYO director Cheryl > > Gilbert for any additional comment. Of our apple orchards, > approximately 60 > > acres is deer fence enclosed with about 20+ acres in new Honeycrisp. > With > > regards and thank you......Alan (BTW 74 yrs. old). > > > > > > > > > > > > Alan Grout > > alanjgr...@gmail.com > > > > > > > > > > On Oct 6, 2014, at 10:08 AM, "Mark & Helen Angermayer" > > <angermay...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> Steven, > >> > >> I think your sign is a tasteful way to do it, and will probably work > >> for most people. > >> > >> Just as different perspective, I've got a very small orchard (only > >> about 300 peach trees and a few plums and apples) and I give away a > >> lot fruit. I charge enough to be able to give away some to each > >> customer. I sell them #1s at a fair price and "throw in" some seconds > >> for free. It makes my customers feel like they are being treated > >> special (which is what I try to do) and makes me feel good too. > >> > >> I also cut up lots of free samples for my customers. It makes for > >> good experience for the customer. When they have a good experience, > >> they come back. > >> > >> Many years ago (before I knew anything about fruit) my wife took me to > >> a U-pick strawberry. I didn't want to go, but she told me (or showed > >> me) you eat strawberries, while you pick. I guess you might say she > >> taught me "theft". I never viewed it as theft, but assumed the grower > >> charged enough to compensate for my eating. I thought it was just > >> part of the experience. Had I thought the grower considered it theft, > >> I wouldn't have eaten any berries while picking, but also may not have > >> ever gone to the U-pick in the first place, since part of the > >> experience of U-pick is eating some fruit while picking. I'll also > >> mention I consider myself a fairly honest person (I don't cheat > >> people, don't cheat on my taxes, try to treat others like I'd like to > >> be treated, etc). > >> > >> You can take what I say w/ a grain of salt, since I haven't offered > >> U-pick. But I don't think it would bother me if people ate their > >> lunch from my trees while picking their fruit for purchase. They are > >> probably not going to eat more than a couple pounds of fruit, which is > >> about the average amount I give away anyway. > >> > >> If they brought their family in and fed their family from the fruit, > >> then left without buying anything (or much of anything) that would > >> upset me. In that case, they are not treating others like they would > >> want to be treated. > >> > >> Mark Angermayer > >> Tubby Fruits > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On 10/6/14, Steven Bibula <sbib...@maine.rr.com> wrote: > >>> A few U-Pick customers are so brazen about their theft that they eat > >>> berries > >>> and apples freely in front of me while coming out of the field toward > >>> the > >>> register. I also see them positively gorging in the field, as if this > >>> were > >>> an AUCE establishment (we charge by the picked pound). I am also > >>> troubled > >>> that the most visible offenders are adults with children, teaching > those > >>> children that theft is okay. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> What do you do to deter theft and improve moral conduct? As a part of > >>> our > >>> effort to awaken the conscience of our customers without offending or > >>> implicating those who are already self controlled, we are considering > >>> posting the following text on a tasteful sign at appropriate an > location > >>> or > >>> two. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Feedback from you is welcome. Other ideas are welcome too. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS: > >>> > >>> Please feel free to taste the fruit so you can pick with confidence. > >>> Because > >>> our fruit is also our livelihood, we ask that you please limit > >>> yourselves > >>> and members of your party to a small sample, and enjoy the rest after > >>> payment. Thank you for your understanding and business! With your > help, > >>> we > >>> can continue to provide enjoyable U-Pick experiences for years to come. > >>> > >>> Gratefully, > >>> > >>> The farmers- > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Steven Bibula > >>> > >>> Plowshares > >>> > >>> Gorham Maine > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> apple-crop mailing list > >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > > _______________________________________________ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >
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