Post by bmermaid on Feb 23, 2010 13:23:46 GMT -5
A few years ago I was doing a Holiday show, it was the end of the last day... had been slow for the last few hours, so we were all ready to pack up and have dinner. As it happens, a lady came in during the last few minutes and was frantic to buy stuff before everyone packed up. Fine with me, buy away... takes me a while to pack up anyway.
But THIS lady was one of those that needed my complete attention, had weird questions about every little thing... it was almost like she was stunned by all the things in my booth, wandering around in a daze from here to there asking a million questions about everything she touched, like a little kid. Still, not a big deal. I helped her as best I could.
I have a small bit of beaded jewelry in my booth... she took a memory wire bracelet, asked some dumb question about it, and proceeded to try to stretch it out straight. Hello! lol. Then she wandered to another booth wearing it. I was stunned. But I didn't follow her, I figured she wasn't a thief just a space cadet so I just kept an eye on her and said something when she came back.
At one point she came out of my dressing room wearing a shrug (like a cut off sweater that ties in front) with no shirt under it. Her boobs were practically hanging out of it and I tried not to look and not to laugh... "Is this supposed to fit like this?" I told her how it's normally worn over things, and she said oh no, she's a belly dancer and wants it as a top. Ok I said, but that's not how it's meant to be worn. She went on about how she could add elastic etc etc. Then checked the price and said, "oh that's too much for something I have to fix." Well you don't have to, but whatever lol.
Then, someone announced that her car lights were on. She was wearing one of my skirts at that moment, and asked if she could run out (in the mud and rain!) to shut them off. I said no, I'd prefer she didn't... she went back into the dressing room and put on her skirt. But when she returned, I saw she had mine still on under hers. Ok, at that point I was not only annoyed but angry. I went back to packing my stuff (after almost an hour of helping her) and gave her curt yes/no answers to her questions.
Anyway, in the end she had a nice pile of stuff that came out to over $100. Good. Then she tried to write me a check with no ID. All she had was her belly dancing business card with her (obviously very outdated) photo on it. Again, after all this, I really didn't think she was a con artist... just a nut. And I had EARNED that money! So I took it and it was indeed fine.
After all this I was exhausted and flabbergasted. My entire booth was still up and all the other booths were gone. lol. This year at that same show I saw that lady and prayed she wouldn't come to my booth... she didn't. I don't need her hundred bucks that bad.
But THIS lady was one of those that needed my complete attention, had weird questions about every little thing... it was almost like she was stunned by all the things in my booth, wandering around in a daze from here to there asking a million questions about everything she touched, like a little kid. Still, not a big deal. I helped her as best I could.
I have a small bit of beaded jewelry in my booth... she took a memory wire bracelet, asked some dumb question about it, and proceeded to try to stretch it out straight. Hello! lol. Then she wandered to another booth wearing it. I was stunned. But I didn't follow her, I figured she wasn't a thief just a space cadet so I just kept an eye on her and said something when she came back.
At one point she came out of my dressing room wearing a shrug (like a cut off sweater that ties in front) with no shirt under it. Her boobs were practically hanging out of it and I tried not to look and not to laugh... "Is this supposed to fit like this?" I told her how it's normally worn over things, and she said oh no, she's a belly dancer and wants it as a top. Ok I said, but that's not how it's meant to be worn. She went on about how she could add elastic etc etc. Then checked the price and said, "oh that's too much for something I have to fix." Well you don't have to, but whatever lol.
Then, someone announced that her car lights were on. She was wearing one of my skirts at that moment, and asked if she could run out (in the mud and rain!) to shut them off. I said no, I'd prefer she didn't... she went back into the dressing room and put on her skirt. But when she returned, I saw she had mine still on under hers. Ok, at that point I was not only annoyed but angry. I went back to packing my stuff (after almost an hour of helping her) and gave her curt yes/no answers to her questions.
Anyway, in the end she had a nice pile of stuff that came out to over $100. Good. Then she tried to write me a check with no ID. All she had was her belly dancing business card with her (obviously very outdated) photo on it. Again, after all this, I really didn't think she was a con artist... just a nut. And I had EARNED that money! So I took it and it was indeed fine.
After all this I was exhausted and flabbergasted. My entire booth was still up and all the other booths were gone. lol. This year at that same show I saw that lady and prayed she wouldn't come to my booth... she didn't. I don't need her hundred bucks that bad.
