Discussions

So I have been buying new potatoes from one of the vendors in the city and previously have paid a certain price. Today I go and they have upped the price by a dollar.  
 
Then when I asked about the increase the young lady said they didn't raise the price.  
 
I don't appreciate being lied to and I don't think I will go back!  
 
Is this a common practice?  
 
I know at a farmer's market one year I bought some coloured carrots. The next time I went back they went up a buck too! Costly enough to begin with at six bucks for seven carrots so why raise the price?

Prices sound reasonable, if they are too high for you, try planting one yourself. Factor in minimum wage for your time spent working on it. Then figure out what it costs. I quit planting a garden and enjoy the fruits of the farmers labours!! Thank you!!

I realy don't understand the lying part, people aren't stupid and a lie is a quick way to insult a person, or that's how I see it.  
Why not just be straight up and say that you are trying to get the most you can from your effort. People who produce for farmers markets usually put a lot of effort in, and it is a seasonal thing, every year is a risk and if there is no problem moving produce people seem to push it.  
I'm the sort of person who likes to barter a bit, and usually have no problem saying no to a inflated price and just walk away.  
It's nice to have fresh and local products but no one likes getting taken advantage of.

It's mostly the lying that bothers me! Can't stand liars!  
 
I do plant a garden but due to circumstances (broken wrist and vertebra) the past year I had to scale down significantly.

It's all supply and demand.

Was it the same person you bought from previously? Maybe the person spoke to didn't think it was a price increase because it was not a new change ?

Like RainaRo says, maybe it was a new person who didn't realize it had increased?  
 
Or maybe you're just remembering wrong? I know at a market it's easy to get fuddled up because most of the vendors will have similar products, so maybe you're misremembering?  
 
I wouldn't automatically assume they are "lying".  
 
Also, at the markets from what I hear from a friend that sells their produce there, if you're selling below what your neighbour is selling, and you're both selling out, why wouldn't you raise your price to what they're selling at? Obviously people are willing to pay it. Gardening is very labour-intensive, especially the organic/chemical-free kind. I spend hours every week on my little patch in my yard, pulling weeds and amending the soil, all so I can avoid adding chemicals. Worth it to me to do it myself, but I can't afford necessarily to pay someone else to do it, hence a reason why I garden instead of buying.

Well, this is what will happen when the public complains about GMO grains/foods, implants in beef, pesticides and fungicides on crops, etc. Everyone wants to dictate how their food is grown with no compassion to those that grow it. Now, you must pay the price of these complaints. Enjoy!

Abbysmum said "Like RainaRo says, maybe it was a new person who didn't realize it had increased?     Or maybe you're just remembering wrong? I know at a market it's easy to get fuddled up because most of the vendors will have similar products, so maybe you're misremembering?     I wouldn't automatically assume they are "lying".     Also, at the markets from what I hear from a friend that sells their produce there, if you're selling below what your neighbour is selling, and you're both selling out, why wouldn't you raise your price to what they're selling at? Obviously people are willing to pay it. Gardening is very labour-intensive, especially the organic/chemical-free kind. I spend hours every week on my little patch in my yard, pulling weeds and amending the soil, all so I can avoid adding chemicals. Worth it to me to do it myself, but I can't afford necessarily to pay someone else to do it, hence a reason why I garden instead of buying. "

what I bought was the only produce that I purchased!  
 
Looked like the same young lady working, I'm assuming it is a family run business.

Being dishonest about an increase from one week to the next is not ok. Simply explaining that the demand far out weighs the supply at the moment would be better than no explanation. Even explaining "I wasn't here last week so I'm unaware of last week's prices" is far better than lying to a customer. Sounds like the OP was a repeat customer...until now. I certainly wouldn't return.  
 
OP, I'm sorry for your experience. I PM'd you because I have produce to share with you-no cost.

While I agree that the "lying" is not okay. I doubt that there was any ill intentions there.  
 
Either way, you cannot control how other's act... only yourself which leads me to my next point.  
 
It's definitely your right to not go back. That is within your control. It is also within your control to not complain about a $1 increase. If you don't like it you have the option to shop elsewhere.  
 
My two cents.

Hello, I am new to selling veggies at market (not the one you were at). One possible reason that I can think if for the price change is that different vendors fluctuate their prices and the rest have to follow suit. When I started I couldn't get anyone to tell me what to charge for the various veggies. There didn't seem to be a set price or norm. So when I go, I have to look around to see what others are charging. Often times it is less than what I was planning on charging based on what the groceries stores charge. So I have to go with the flow (sometimes charging way less than what you would pay in Safeway for example....even though my veggies are picked the night before and are very fresh and have no chemicals!). Maybe the vendor you were dealing with had her price lower the week before because of another vendor but put it back to the correct price this week. I guess grocery stores also change their prices depending on supply and demand etc. The lying part I have no idea about though! I personally will always be 100% honest with my customers!

Is it possible that the price was the same as before but there are more potatoes per bag this time? That would result in an increase if they weigh their potatoes when bagging?

The co-op store on Richmond Avenue had locally grown vegetables there when I was there yesterday I bought a bag a beautiful carrots I'm not sure how much it would appear and how many pounds but it was enough to make 12 2 cup servings for my freezer of baby carrots for around eight dollars they were so fresh and yummy had some for supper last night. I notice I also had other vegetables peas, some baby potatoes etc. I do not know who locally grown them

RC123 said "Is it possible that the price was the same as before but there are more potatoes per bag this time? That would result in an increase if they weigh their potatoes when bagging? "

uses small pots for the vegs and then bags them so there is no more.  
 
This is a stand alone vendor too.  
 
Years ago we had friends and they sold at a Farmer's market. They sold their produce for a decent price. The man told us that he was perturbed with one particular vendor and asked they why they charged so much for the product that he was selling for a lesser price.  
The answer 'because people will pay'