Having recently got back to NZ from my vacation a couple of days back, I missed out on an opportunity to set up a stall at a market this weekend, so I decided to go for a wander there anyway and see what kind of stalls were already selling there, one stall was quite a lovely place that sold hand-made things like plates, bowls, etc - all made completely by herself (fired in a kiln located on her premises) and priced quite reasonably for the quality of them, I got into a bit of a conversation with her and asked roughly how much time went into the pieces, she replying anywhere between 15-20 hours total.
Enter Madam Cat-Butt. She is one of those stereotypical rich snobs that won't buy anything unless she can pay the absolute minimum for something, this was quite visible from the way she was looking at the price tags with distaste, picking up a plate that was priced at around $40 and saying "Hmph, I wouldn't pay a cent over $10 for something like this..." deliberately just loud enough for us to hear.
Not taking a bar of it, the stall owner said politely but firmly "Madam, my goods are very fairly priced, each work has anywhere up to 25 hours of labour put into them, by stating such an insulting offer, you are saying that my work is not even worth 50 cents an hour, or that I'm lower than chinese slave labour. Now please put that plate down and move away from my stall."
MCB glared at the stall owner and snapped "You can't talk to customers like that! I'm going to make sure you are out of here by lunchtime, mark my words"
The stall owner shrugged and rubbed more salt in the wounds by saying "Consider them marked"
Seeing MCB stalk off, I politely excused myself for a moment and shadowed MCB, seeing her head for the stall of the people that run the market, sure enough she was kicking up one heck of a stink, saying that she had made what she thought was a fair offer and that the owner should be flattered she thought it was worth that much, etc etc.
The market organiser pretty much burst into laughter, saying "Not only would I have done the same, but I'm certain any other stall owner here would have given a similar response. Now please leave this market, you are no longer welcome here."
Not getting the response she sought, MCB gave a dagger-glare and stomped off outside. This should be the end of the matter, right? WROOOONG!
About an hour later, I decided to go outside to get a bit of fresh air, who should I see but MCB standing vigil at the entrance, accosting people about to enter, saying they should not enter because the stallholders did not respect their customers and they should take their business elsewhere.
Enough was enough - I saw the local community constable doing his patrol (Markets like that sadly do attract petty theft, so the police have a small presence there), I went over and had a quick word with him, he intercepting MCB and telling her that she was being trespassed from the property and to leave immediately or she would be arrested for trespass and disturbing the peace.
So that is not one, not two, but THREE cans of pwnade opened on one EW in the space of maybe 90 minutes.
Enter Madam Cat-Butt. She is one of those stereotypical rich snobs that won't buy anything unless she can pay the absolute minimum for something, this was quite visible from the way she was looking at the price tags with distaste, picking up a plate that was priced at around $40 and saying "Hmph, I wouldn't pay a cent over $10 for something like this..." deliberately just loud enough for us to hear.
Not taking a bar of it, the stall owner said politely but firmly "Madam, my goods are very fairly priced, each work has anywhere up to 25 hours of labour put into them, by stating such an insulting offer, you are saying that my work is not even worth 50 cents an hour, or that I'm lower than chinese slave labour. Now please put that plate down and move away from my stall."
MCB glared at the stall owner and snapped "You can't talk to customers like that! I'm going to make sure you are out of here by lunchtime, mark my words"
The stall owner shrugged and rubbed more salt in the wounds by saying "Consider them marked"
Seeing MCB stalk off, I politely excused myself for a moment and shadowed MCB, seeing her head for the stall of the people that run the market, sure enough she was kicking up one heck of a stink, saying that she had made what she thought was a fair offer and that the owner should be flattered she thought it was worth that much, etc etc.
The market organiser pretty much burst into laughter, saying "Not only would I have done the same, but I'm certain any other stall owner here would have given a similar response. Now please leave this market, you are no longer welcome here."
Not getting the response she sought, MCB gave a dagger-glare and stomped off outside. This should be the end of the matter, right? WROOOONG!
About an hour later, I decided to go outside to get a bit of fresh air, who should I see but MCB standing vigil at the entrance, accosting people about to enter, saying they should not enter because the stallholders did not respect their customers and they should take their business elsewhere.
Enough was enough - I saw the local community constable doing his patrol (Markets like that sadly do attract petty theft, so the police have a small presence there), I went over and had a quick word with him, he intercepting MCB and telling her that she was being trespassed from the property and to leave immediately or she would be arrested for trespass and disturbing the peace.
So that is not one, not two, but THREE cans of pwnade opened on one EW in the space of maybe 90 minutes.
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