AIBU in expecting people to pay?

Was it an honesty box being used, or did you actually ‘sell’ to the buyer?

How about not trusting anybody else and not sell if they dont have the money?

It’s an honesty box.

We tried something similar and the honesty box got stolen!.

That’s very sad. Don’t know what to suggest.

I sell tomatoes etc at the gate with an honesty box, and have always found people to be ‘honest’. If it was abused however, would have to re-think.

My aunt was a fruit farmer. She left an honesty box with the bags of fruit with a notice saying “Help yourselves”. Of course the fruit remained and the honesty box went.
I would suggest “No money, no package”.

It's such a shame that a few people have to ruin things for the rest of us.

I used to leave a box of apples out every August for people to help themselves, free of charge.

Last year, they ended up thrown everywhere (kids probably) so won't do that anymore.

I think it’s a shame but maybe the days of honesty boxes is done !! Hopefully it’s a small minority who are dishonest
I have five people coming tomorrow to collect some bulbs I am selling very cheaply, as I ll be out I ve told them to put the money through my letterbox I ll come back and tell you if it worked or not

I run a plant and produce stall with an honesty box and this behaviour is typical. This year I have had several ious left in the box but usually people pay up quickly. Every penny goes to the Hospice. As you are running a contest could you have a clipboard and a pencil and ask people to leave their name and address so you know how many folk are taking part?

I’m just about to put 30 little Easter bunnies and chicks that I have crocheted on my drive for children to “adopt” for free. I was going to include a few mini eggs in each pack but was put off by people telling me I might get sued if someone was allergic to chocolate! I was also warned that kids might mess about and just throw them around but I’m still going to have a go.

I live in a very quiet area and most young children who walk by are on a walk with their parents so I’m hoping there won’t be any trouble. I just wanted to do something fun for the little ones who had rather a difficult year..

Teacheranne. What a lovely idea. ??

Thanks for explaining what an honesty box is - love the concept ?

One note of consolation: apples thrown about are not wasted*. Birds, insects and other wildlife will eat them.

*in the same way apples left to rot in an orchard aren’t wasted.

chocolate pudding, I already know how many have been sold and I don’t think the ones taking their money would leave their name?.
We aren’t on a main road so it is just locals who are passing.
I’m still a little bit optimistic that they will return.
Well, only a very little bit after reading some of the replies.

I’ve seen ‘eyes’ painted on honesty boxes. Perhaps you could try that ?

??

I saw a clever idea recently on the honesty box theme. The money had to be placed in a tube which went into the persons garden and into something else’s ie out of easy reach. Didn’t see where it went...

Why not ask for a minimum donation of a £1 to ‘cover costs and go to a good cause’? Hopefully more generous donations will then outweigh any lightfingered so and so’s.

My farmer friend left a large box of tomatoes at her gate with an honesty box and note asking people to pay what they liked when they took some tomatoes. In the evening when she went to collect the honesty box there were no tomatoes and only 50 pence in the box.
Fings aint what they used to be...

I would like to think people would not take the bags without paying, I think someone has just helped themselves to the money? Maybe I am naïve I'm sorry Pamela, it is a lovely thing you are doing

It's awful to think people would take and not pay, it was only a £1 and for a good cause. Things aren't what they used to be. My grandad had a market garden when I was a child and left bags of fruit & veg at his gate all the time and money was always left on the tin dish.

@Annaraml Unfortunately I’ve also found that if you allow people to rip you off they will !! A couple of years ago we had a glut of apples and soft fruit from our trees, so rather than let them go to waste, I bagged them up and left a couple of big boxes at the gate, asking for small donations which I would donate to charity. Needless to say, the box and the coffers were empty at the end of the day and I had a visit from a neighbour threatening to report me to the council for selling without a license !! You live and learn.

Most years we sell surplus seedlings, plants, fruit and vegetables at the gate with an honesty box. The box can't be opened and is screwed to our wall. Only once were some strawberries taken and no money left. Local people are pretty honest around here, the holiday visitors less so. Lots of villagers sell things this way in our village: eggs, logs, kindling etc. always cheaper than the shops and benefitting local people.

I always wonder at these honesty boxes actually receiving whatever is due. I know a friend placed organic chicken eggs for sale at the end of her lane with honesty box. Only received money for 3 out of 7 boxes. She wasn't upset saying if the folk who didn't pay couldn't afford to she was happy to let them have them. I pointed out she would be just as well giving them all away for free given that philosophy. You should declare the contest null and void due to lack of sales showing the numbers of bags taken and funds received. May jolt some in to paying up!