touching fruit/vegetables in the market
Jun 6th, 2005, 07:59 PM
#61
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I agree with everyone of the "watch and learn" mentality. Especially in Italy, they seem extremely annoyed with Americans who are clueless about the local customs. Here's another one...
My sister and I were waiting and waiting to be seated at a streetside cafe in Rome. We had taken the morning train from Venice and we were starved for "lunch" by 3:00. We were studiously ignored by the person seating--he seated others before us, who had actually arrived after us. We didn't look disreputable, and we were starved, so when a table opened up on the street after 45 minutes, we sat down. And again, we were INVISIBLE! If there had been another restaurant in Rome serving food at that hour, we would have stalked out, but we did the Assertive American thing and walked up to the maitre d' (sorry for the language mixup) and requested service. We finally got a salad, but with extreme attitude. We never did figure out how we offended...any ideas? Don't want to repeat on my trip this summer!
My sister and I were waiting and waiting to be seated at a streetside cafe in Rome. We had taken the morning train from Venice and we were starved for "lunch" by 3:00. We were studiously ignored by the person seating--he seated others before us, who had actually arrived after us. We didn't look disreputable, and we were starved, so when a table opened up on the street after 45 minutes, we sat down. And again, we were INVISIBLE! If there had been another restaurant in Rome serving food at that hour, we would have stalked out, but we did the Assertive American thing and walked up to the maitre d' (sorry for the language mixup) and requested service. We finally got a salad, but with extreme attitude. We never did figure out how we offended...any ideas? Don't want to repeat on my trip this summer!
Jun 7th, 2005, 05:20 AM
#62
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two thoughts/observations (and possibly stereotypes, but it's the first thing that came to mind)...
it's interesting that French/Italians in general are thought of as being more "sensual" than Americans, but apparently they aren't supposed to touch anything while shopping - whereas I couldn't imagine going shopping without touching everything! I don't mean manhandle the food, I mean - not even touch the fabrics, a la crefloors post? that's half the fun!
two: I wonder how much of the "self service" has to do with Americans sense of space? I've ALWAYS been approached in France, Italy, etc., when shopping, less so in London, and not nearly as much in the US and usually only if it looks like I am searching for something versus just passing time. In fact if I'm just window shopping I'd just as soon not be approached b/c then I feel guilty for wasting their time and end up buying something. (I'm such a pushover).
it's interesting that French/Italians in general are thought of as being more "sensual" than Americans, but apparently they aren't supposed to touch anything while shopping - whereas I couldn't imagine going shopping without touching everything! I don't mean manhandle the food, I mean - not even touch the fabrics, a la crefloors post? that's half the fun!
two: I wonder how much of the "self service" has to do with Americans sense of space? I've ALWAYS been approached in France, Italy, etc., when shopping, less so in London, and not nearly as much in the US and usually only if it looks like I am searching for something versus just passing time. In fact if I'm just window shopping I'd just as soon not be approached b/c then I feel guilty for wasting their time and end up buying something. (I'm such a pushover).
Jun 7th, 2005, 05:52 AM
#63
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Hi fly,
>We never did figure out how we offended...any ideas?<
You were not at fault, the maitre d' was.
We had a not dissimilar incident in Italy. We patiently waited to be noticed. Asked politely for a table under an umbrella and were seated.
About 10 min later, while still waiting for a waiter, the maitre d' asked us to move to a table in the sun so that he could seat another party at our table.
I refused, waited for him to seat the other party and let them order. When they started on their drinks we left.
>We never did figure out how we offended...any ideas?<
You were not at fault, the maitre d' was.
We had a not dissimilar incident in Italy. We patiently waited to be noticed. Asked politely for a table under an umbrella and were seated.
About 10 min later, while still waiting for a waiter, the maitre d' asked us to move to a table in the sun so that he could seat another party at our table.
I refused, waited for him to seat the other party and let them order. When they started on their drinks we left.
Jun 7th, 2005, 08:45 AM
#64
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We're headed to Greece this summer and will be doing a lot of our food picnic style to save money. Does the fruits and vegetable thing at market / green grocers apply in Greece too? Also if we goof will they be as mean? I've had the "Do not touch" lectures in Italy so don't want to repeat if possible.
Jun 8th, 2005, 06:03 AM
#65
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I've been to grocery stores in Scotland and in France--supermarkets, if you will--that operated much like a conventional American supermarket with shopping carts and where you take your own fruits and vegetables off of the shelf. I agree that it's often the smaller shops (including fromageries!) and markets where the no-handle tradition endures.
Jun 8th, 2005, 04:03 PM
#67
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Just a brief comment. As a teen I spent a summer month selling fruits on markets with my older brother.
And, yes, we quickly figured out we shouldn't let people touch the fruits. Why? Because on the following day, you could clearly see the finger marks on them. They were bruised (it's not like people handle them delicatly. They apply pressure in order to check whether the fruits are ripe enough). As a result, we couldn't sell said fruits anymore. Believe me, there were many of them.
Of course, if people had merely just picked themselves the fruits they actually bought, it wouldn't have been an issue, but how would you know, when you see people handling fruits, whether they are going to just pick them up, or to ruin a dozen peaches just to buy the 13th one?
And, yes, we quickly figured out we shouldn't let people touch the fruits. Why? Because on the following day, you could clearly see the finger marks on them. They were bruised (it's not like people handle them delicatly. They apply pressure in order to check whether the fruits are ripe enough). As a result, we couldn't sell said fruits anymore. Believe me, there were many of them.
Of course, if people had merely just picked themselves the fruits they actually bought, it wouldn't have been an issue, but how would you know, when you see people handling fruits, whether they are going to just pick them up, or to ruin a dozen peaches just to buy the 13th one?
Jun 8th, 2005, 04:17 PM
#68
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I should have read the thread first. I notice that Suzy and Scarlett had already pointed at the issue.
As for the following comment :
"but it would be so hard to keep my hands off the fruit so that I could feel for myself so that the fruit is how it should be."
And will you pay for all the fruits that aren't "how they should be" according to you that the seller is going to throw away as a result if they aren't sold on the same day? Honestly, it was a very significant loss of money until we implemented the "do not touch" policy. Which didn't take long. But it was the first time (and also the last) my brother was selling fruits, so he had no clue about this problem before.
As for the following comment :
"but it would be so hard to keep my hands off the fruit so that I could feel for myself so that the fruit is how it should be."
And will you pay for all the fruits that aren't "how they should be" according to you that the seller is going to throw away as a result if they aren't sold on the same day? Honestly, it was a very significant loss of money until we implemented the "do not touch" policy. Which didn't take long. But it was the first time (and also the last) my brother was selling fruits, so he had no clue about this problem before.
Jun 8th, 2005, 04:33 PM
#69
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>>And will you pay for all the fruits that aren't "how they should be" according to you that the seller is going to throw away as a result if they aren't sold on the same day?<<
What does touching the fruit have to do with the seller throwing away the fruit that wasn't sold on the same day? Are you saying that by the seller being the only one touching the fruit he can decide which fruit he needs to get rid of that day and therefore have no lost? Seems like the buyer is getting the "about to expire" fruit with that theory.
What does touching the fruit have to do with the seller throwing away the fruit that wasn't sold on the same day? Are you saying that by the seller being the only one touching the fruit he can decide which fruit he needs to get rid of that day and therefore have no lost? Seems like the buyer is getting the "about to expire" fruit with that theory.
Jun 8th, 2005, 05:32 PM
#70
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Does anyone remember when Benetton came here from Italy in the '80s, when they had a shop on every corner it seemed, and they had a do not touch the merchandise policy? I hated shopping there because you'd have to point to a sweater and let the sales clerk unfold it and show it to you. Fortunately, they eventually changed that policy. Now if they'd do something about their strict return policy . . . .
Jun 8th, 2005, 05:53 PM
#71
I have worked part time in expensive boutiques here and you can touch once it is your choice to look at the item you may buy. But at those prices you don't want woman with rings who have made pulls in sweaters and delicate scarves. That is the reason not the snobbishness. As for markets, I always ask and smell as they hold the fruit or vegetable up. When in Rome.....
