overheard comments

[traveler]

I usually don't pay attention to rude customers, but when they insist on going on, I start getting mad!
I will start by saying that I will ALWAYS buy AMERICAN whenever I possibly can! But when a company is given a license to a product, ~I~ have no control over where it is manufacturered. I can either not carry it, (as I have in the past) and that person looking (for.. lets say a Harley sign) will keep looking until they do find it, OR I can advence my adjenda and ~I~ can make the sale. I have dabbled into several higher quality imported items.
Ok... So...
These MN Good ole boys come wandering over to my space, and one picks up an Enamelware John Deere Salt Shaker. He sees that it is made in China and starts in. "Look at this. Chinese Junk Guess they let anyone bring in stuff these days. Bet all of the stuff here is just Chinese Junk.."
By now, I am pretty insulted, but I'm helping other customers. So I stay focused and hope they will just leave.
They take 4 steps away and turn towards the RV and conclude.. 'Well, they must make a good living selling the junk, to be able to afford a rig like that!'
2 steps further away and they see that it is registered in California, and have to say something that I couldn't quite hear, but something about explaining everything.
Jerks! Wasn't it about time to go home and feed a pig or take a shower or something? EEERRRGGGHHHH!!!!

[davejs]

Sorry to hear about that. We all run into idiots all over the place. I guess those people you encountered are miserable 24/7 12/365 and need somebody to vent their frustrations upon. L-O-S-E-R-S. We are all trying to make a living and quite often a lot of us have to sell Chinese products, such as myself. I am most certain that if these old farts were poor and without jobs and decided to begin selling at shows, I am know that they would have no objections to buying Chinese products and selling them. I am sure that many of us don't really care where our products do come from but what bother's me is the people importing Chinese, Mexican, etc.. and re-selling at ridiculous low prices; often less than doubling their money.

[traveler]

Yes, it makes me angry when people come in and cut throat the items, saturate the market, and run off to another location to do it all over again. If I can only sell an item and make 15-20% I wont bother.
I hear both sides. I sell Lodge Cast iron. The ONLY American cast iron company left. They know it.... & it is expensive to buy and due to the weight, ~30% shipping~ on it! People look at a pan that sells for $25.00 and says, "I can get one at Wal Mart for $12.00". Sometimes I just don't have the strength to try to explain it.
As for the Chinese Junk comment.... The lisencing procedures through JD that EVERYONE must abide by, starts with a non refundable $1,000.00 check , blue print plans, outlet to sell, materials proposed... etc. if it doesn't pass U.S.A. consideration, or is a catagory they don't carry any more, they keep the grand and tell you "NO."
Ah the things we learn along the road!!

[stuff4sale]

Yea there's not much you can do about those people. I have seen them and I just try to ignore them. And sometimes I laugh because the watch they wear is made in china as well as the shoes.