Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
 


       Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice
celestialspore

roadside honesty box - worth the hassle?

Does anybody have any experience with a small stall selling things with an honesty box at the side of the road?

Are they worth it, are people generally honest, and what did you sell?

I have been thinking about trying to sell cut flowers, but not sure if it would be worth it?
Bebo

Yup. Eggs, plants, cut flowers (sweet peas mostly), homegrown fruit and veg and logs. Mostly honest but you get the odd one or two. Just don't out too much out at once and empty the box fairly regularly and you minimise the risk.
chez

Eggs, it's working fine so far on the basis Bebo's described.
chicken feed

i use a honesty box for the eggs works well here
perlogalism

Fine for Eggs and Strawberry plants. We've found the odd foreign coin but no money has been taken as far as we know.

I guess it very much depends where you live: An honesty box wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes back in London Rolling Eyes
bagpuss

An interesting psychological tip for an honesty box, associate it with a picture with eyes on it, say a photo of you or a cartoon person or something similar and apparently it improves peoples rate of honesty as they think they are being watched
Becki

I have a honesty box for eggs outside my house. Every now and then some get stolen, or the money does if I havn't picked it up quick enough.
I figure if they're sad enough to steal a box of eggs, they must need it more than I do.
derbyshiredowser

An interesting psychological tip for an honesty box, associate it with a picture with eyes on it, say a photo of you or a cartoon person or something similar and apparently it improves peoples rate of honesty as they think they are being watched


Round here they would nick the photograph as well
kirstyfern

I have a honesty box for eggs outside my house. Every now and then some get stolen, or the money does if I havn't picked it up quick enough.
I figure if they're sad enough to steal a box of eggs, they must need it more than I do.


Ditto - nothing for ages then 5 boxes of eggs disappeared friday night Sad Ecocentric

Our local Farm Kiosk has had their cash box stolen a couple of times which is seen as unusual in this area. The last time, in 2009, there was a wonderful comment put on the explanatory note - "It must have been a passing MP".. Very Happy They now have a biscuit tin for small change and a bolted down cash box with a slot for notes and £1 & £2 coins - seems to have worked so far.. Very Happy A dummy (or working) cctv camera could well be effective..IMHO.. Wink tarabella

We sell eggs at the gate with an honesty box and we've had no problems so far Very Happy Bodger

It obviously depends on the area that you live in, but having said that, it only takes one thieving scrote to ruin things.

I went for a walk down the back lanes near us yesterday and a lady has a little alcove in here stone wall where she sells her eggs. It looked a little like the shrines that you see on the continent, it looked lovely and was surrounded by honeysuckle. I was also comforted to see that she was selling her eggs at the same price that I do and that I'm in a much better selling position than she is. davidtorbitt

We had one to sell our surplus eggs WITH an explanation that all proceeds would go to Help For Heros.

First the eggs were stolen, then the money, and wait for it, wait for it... somebody wrecked our honesty box itself... presumably because there was no money or eggs in it...

Don't come and live in Bedford, it's not a very nice place....
       Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice
Page 1 of 1
Home Home Home Home Home