[apple-crop] theft deterrence
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
Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
This is a crime in some states. Find out about your state/local laws and inform your customers that you will enforce this law. I don't think this will drive away any customers, at least the kind you want to keep. On Mon, Oct 6, 2014 at 6:13 AM, 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
Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
I'd like to reply as an apple consumer, and as someone who ate a lot of fruit in u-pick orchards as a kid, and as someone who thinks of herself as an honest person. If your customers are eating fruit as they talk to you, they don't think they are stealing. And perhaps you shouldn't think they are, either. There are different types of pick-your-own places, but in most cases, they are selling an experience more than they selling fruit. Eating fruit transforms a u-pick experience into something much more enjoyable than a trip to the market to buy fruit. I would suggest you seriously consider building a charge for fruit consumed on-site into your fees, and allowing your customers to do it. Think of it as similar to providing a salad bar at a restaurant rather than as theft. As an adult, I go both to places that tell me prominently not to eat the fruit (or put tight limits on what is allowed) and to places that don't do that. As an honest person, I follow the rules. But I only go to the places with restrictions if they offer a product I can't buy at a store. I would never bother to bring my kids to those places. What would be the point? I understand that in some parts of the country there are u-pick places where the extra they offer is lower prices than a store. That's a different market, and if that is why your customer comes, it's not unreasonable to restrict their grazing. But think about what experience you want to sell. Consider a charge per head, or by the hour, or require a minimum purchase per person in the field so that you get enough revenue. But consider ways to make your customer want to come back and repeat an enjoyable experience. Ginda Fisher Apple consumer -- Typed with Swype. Who knows what I meant to say? On October 6, 2014 10:08:22 AM EDT, 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
Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
Great Sign. Yes we say one apple and 5 raspberries each. I am more annoyed with uncontrolled children. I am clear with parents that I expect them to stay with their children and manage their behavior. Thanks, Brien Brien Davis Hope Orchards 434 Camden Road Hope, Maine 04847 (207) 763-2824 hopeorchards.com On Oct 6, 2014, at 8:13 AM, Steven Bibula 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
Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
Let me give you our upick cherry experience. We use to charge one by the pound price. Then we started charging a higher price for less than 10 pounds in hopes of driving those people away. They kept coming and paid the higher price which we have raised every year. Now we have a 4 tier price system. The under 10 pound price is very high. You cannot look at upick as a farmer. You need to look at it as a way to extract the most money possible out of a gullible public. Upick pricing is not a bargain. I tell them if they want a deal, go to the grocery store and get some of those 3 week old cherries on special. It is cruel but that is the way it is. There are still a few that fill their face for the afternoon, then come out of the orchard and pay for 2 pounds. The next step it to charge a min price per person. Strawberry growers have had to do it. Jim Bittner Bittner-Singer Orchards New email: j...@bittnersingerorchards.com 6620 Lake Rd Appleton, NY 14008 716 778 7330 From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Ginda Fisher Sent: Monday, October 06, 2014 10:46 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list; Mark Helen Angermayer Subject: Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence I'd like to reply as an apple consumer, and as someone who ate a lot of fruit in u-pick orchards as a kid, and as someone who thinks of herself as an honest person. If your customers are eating fruit as they talk to you, they don't think they are stealing. And perhaps you shouldn't think they are, either. There are different types of pick-your-own places, but in most cases, they are selling an experience more than they selling fruit. Eating fruit transforms a u-pick experience into something much more enjoyable than a trip to the market to buy fruit. I would suggest you seriously consider building a charge for fruit consumed on-site into your fees, and allowing your customers to do it. Think of it as similar to providing a salad bar at a restaurant rather than as theft. As an adult, I go both to places that tell me prominently not to eat the fruit (or put tight limits on what is allowed) and to places that don't do that. As an honest person, I follow the rules. But I only go to the places with restrictions if they offer a product I can't buy at a store. I would never bother to bring my kids to those places. What would be the point? I understand that in some parts of the country there are u-pick places where the extra they offer is lower prices than a store. That's a different market, and if that is why your customer comes, it's not unreasonable to restrict their grazing. But think about what experience you want to sell. Consider a charge per head, or by the hour, or require a minimum purchase per person in the field so that you get enough revenue. But consider ways to make your customer want to come back and repeat an enjoyable experience. Ginda Fisher Apple consumer -- Typed with Swype. Who knows what I meant to say? On October 6, 2014 10:08:22 AM EDT, 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 the ft. 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 fa mily from the fruit, then left without buying anything (or much of
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
Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence
And how about making this a “All you can eat” - and charge accordingly. I don’t think anyone would eat more than a pound of apples during their picking. And in average, it would probably be less than a pound. Hence just charge for 1 extra pound of apples per person, making it clear they can eat as many apples they wish. But make it clear also that when they start eating an apple, they should eat it all... Not just one bite on one, throw it away, and another bite on another apple. The washing warning is a good idea though, as unwashed apples can also carry spray residues in addition to bird droppings. Claude Jolicoeur De : apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] De la part de Hugh Thomas Envoyé : 6 octobre 2014 15:04 À : Apple-crop discussion list Objet : Re: [apple-crop] theft deterrence 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.commailto:angermay...@gmail.com wrote: Thank you Alan, ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
