This happened today at the Farmers Market. After driving to Riva Road and then a slow, nuisance of a crawl around the market to find a spot to park, CP spent a five here, a ten there and pretty soon it was real money. At the largest stand, I paid for some beans, then saw a bag of potatoes for four dollars. I filled a bag and gave the farmer a hundred dollar bill as I had only three "ones" remaining. He refused it. I told him that every other merchant in the USA would want it in addition to millions in other countries. Nope he said. While hundreds of people were shopping--all with cash and thousands of dollars were flowing. I just spent my last small bills with this guy and then he refused to break a "hundred". I offered to sell back the produce I just bought, then rebuy it along with the potatoes so he could make more change. Nope said the farmer. I told him I was here supporting him and other local farmers and that I had bought from his stand for years. Nope he said. He then told me (are you ready for this?) that I should know better not to bring a hundred dollar bill to a farmer's market!!!!@$$#%^^@#!!!! A customer should know better than to bring cash--and lots of it to spend? A customer should be chastised for not having change? A customer is wrong to expect that a merchant who is accepting many thousands of dollars worth of case can make change from a hundred dollar bill to actually sell something to a customer? As if the next ten customers would all walk up and present hundred dollar bills???)
I walked down to another stand where the lady was pleased to accept my money. She looked at the bill carefully, held it to the light and then gave me five twentys. I bought potatoes and then more produce because she took my money.
The stand I am talking about is at the SE corner of the market, next to Riva Road, on the side toward the School Board. It's a large truck, usually two of them, and it's the biggest stand at the market, which makes this story even weirder as he should have the most cash as well. Mr. Money Refuser said it is Werth or Wirth Farm.
I am a big believer in voting with my money and spending it where I am treated well, and if we all believed that and "voted" accordingly, business and service would improve for everyone. I'm avoiding his produce from now on since my money is just not worth as much to Mr. Werth or Wirth as it is to other farmers. Is your money?
(I hope to start writing more about local business I have patronized for many years as my way of helping you and them.)
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2 Comments:
CP--I agree about supporting good local merchants!
Do not underestimate the power of the blog:
http://www.andiamnotlying.com/2008/murky-coffee-arlington-hold-that-espresso-between-your-knees/
is a good example. Although the store's response is equally as amusing.
As to the merchant, perhaps he was ripped off with a counterfeit bill at one point? But seriously, even though you do look like a shady character, there are ways to determine veracity of currency.
Thanks John The espresso story is amusing, but mine is even clearer and simpler--the merchant just did not want my money! You are right that there are ways to find a counterfeit, and examining the polyester thread is just one method. My story gets even funnier when you realize they accept cash and even food stamps, but not credit cards--and probably not checks either. Maybe I'll use food stamps next time...I may be needing them soon...Oh and some people have suggested that twenties are more likely to be counterfeited than are hundreds, because twenties are so common and easily and constantly traded....
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