Dear Cheryl,
Check out Mark Angermayer's last sentence (you will smile).
With gourmet hamburg in my happy tummy, I am headed upstairs (thank you).
Thank you for many things......Alan
On Oct 6, 2014, at 8:00 PM, Gary Mount <gbmo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Interesting series of posts. We have gone up and down in enthusiasm and
> discouragement in pyo. Some of the abuse by pyo customers does get us down,
> particularly with small fruits--cherries, strawberries, raspberries,
> blueberries. Particularly a large family group who will go out to the
> field, then spend a long time eating and coming back with only a small
> amount to buy. We have gone to a prepaid minimum per person to go out to
> the orchard. Sometimes called a picking deposit. The amount is not
> large--usually equal to one lb of cherries, or one quart of blueberries etc.
> We find the bonafide customers do not mind since they easily make the
> minimum, but the abusers are quite upset. We are not unhappy if they do not
> come back.
>
> This system has brightened our enthusiasm for pyo. It has not hurt our
> business. It is worth a try.
>
> Gary Mount
> Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net
> [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Mark & Helen
> Angermayer
> Sent: Monday, October 06, 2014 1:39 PM
> To: Apple-crop discussion list
> Subject: Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
>
> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
>>> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
>>
>>
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