Personally I am looking forward to being overcharged if it means these poor souls get to remain open. They face myriad problems and too many of them will either not reopen or will open for a while and then fail. If we want the way of life we moved here for to survive then we have to be prepared to support it. I have no doubt that, if this pandemic does subside now, things will get more back to normal as competition starts to operate again as it should. Meanwhile let’s be grateful for what we have.
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Since March 2020 we have noticed a lot more co-operation between shops, and local initiatives springing up to help support local producers and commerces. For example a group producers took it in turns to act as a “Drive” so you could order online from maybe 10 different ones (meat, veg, cheese, snails, etc) and go and pick the whole lot up in one place.
I am hopeful that a small positive from the pandemic will be to have stimulated a lasting interest in buying local.
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I am interested in the range of responses to your post. I am an expat living and working en France for 13 years, (not a gite or chambers d’hôte) just artisan working around 10 hours a day for 6 to 7 days a week in an attempt to keep a roof over our heads. We have been affected by a huge drop in revenue due to the pandemic. Yes we were able to receive state aid for several months whilst we had little to no opportunities to sell our products. Yet if we were to increase our prices coming out of lockdown, we would see a definite decline in the number of sales. So that would have a massive impact on our income, and we will not be following that trend.
Many small businesses were able to claim state aid during g lockdown in fact some did OK while others really struggled. Yes, life life has been a bit shit for thousands small businesses and artisans, so it’s not surprising many will try to pass on their losses to their customers. However, that is not a viable an option to us all. During the pandemic there are also those who experienced no drop in income. Therefore those in this category may not fully appreciate just how tough it is now to have to face price increases for essential goods. I find prices at weekly markets are often more expensive, especially to those on low incomes. I am aware of many expats en France are far to eager to pass on their prejudices and are so judgemental. Please bear in mind that not everyone has the luxury of a comfortable income or pension, and therefore every euro counts on our quality of life.
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Not so easy. I was a dedicated devotee of our local market before the pandemic, I objected to the necessity to struggle with almost impossible to open plastic bags and then weigh and sticker for myself at the supermarket. But the restrictions at the market became draconian. Unable to handle fruit and veg, not even able to get nearer than a metre to inspect the items, made it impossible for me. After coming away with sometimes sub standard items because I couldn’t see the bruise on the other side I gave in and went to where the produce was in the main of lower standard but I could at least pick and choose to find the best. The supermarket.
In addition to that, I was driven away from the local butcher because of mixing of raw and cooked meats all handled with the same unwashed bare hands, again to the supermarket. The irony of this was the fact that the woman appointed by the local council to police the extreme measures in the market was of the family who own the butchers, and regularly serves in there. 
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When you compare Stroud Farmers Market to Cluny Market, there is a world of difference.
There are no people selling stuff you cannot see and each stall has its own address, telephone number etc on display.
The quality is second to none and the range of produce and artisan goods on sale is excellent.
Not cheap, but not over expensive either.
Subjectiveness comes into play when talking about markets.
I’m with spardo on this if you cannot handle the product it lets the market trader sell all the crap, that normally would be sold off really cheap at the end of the day
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I am sure they will all reduce their new higher prices when they are able to operate at full capacity
I am sure they will all reduce their new higher prices when they are able to operate at full capacity. As you well know.
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I agree with you entirely Mike, if these types of businesses want to prosper they should try to encourage new customers instead of emotionally blackmailing their regulars.
which one are you praising?
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but if you’re running 10 tables instead of 20 you don’t need as many staff.
This is typical of France I live not far from Dax which is a major spa and tourist town but still have the same attitude of not being open on Sundays and past 2pm
The French can’t or won’t change with the times or atleast a certain generation won’t Sunday shopping is a good example most shopping centres are shut and only recently any shops being open on Sunday was not too common
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It’s about labour laws and maintaining a work life balance. It is / was seen as unfair to ask people to work on a Sunday as this is for family time. Ditto for restaurant employees to have a break between the lunch and dinner service. Not a bad thing imo.
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I agree, a good thing. I hate the fact that Sundays in the UK are just another excuse to shop and love the fact that Sundays here are an excuse to have a long leisurely lunch with the family. 
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Wow and pigs will fly
Be careful what you ask for…the move to 7/7 shopping and race to the bottom in terms of cost has destroyed many previously thriving small town centres. France is France, with a French culture and French way of life. In general people value that, so accept the minor inconveniences that go along with that like not being able to shop on a Sunday afternoon. If one has nothing better to do than that then life is a bit sad.
Yes costs are a bit weird right now, and very hard to unpick whether due to macro or micro economics, the last gasp of failing businesses or just greed. And there’s a world of difference between hospitality and art/creative industries in terms of managing costs and customer price sensitivity.
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There is nothing wrong with wonky fruit/veg!
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Wonky isn’t necessarily the same as poor quality. To me poor quality is means tasteless! Wonky stuff can often be local produced, bio, and very nice (equally can be the rotten squished stuff at the bottom of the crate).
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Yes indeed, there certainly is not per se, but there might be something wrong with it if it can’t be inspected.
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Do all of you mean you seriously haven’t got the bad taste to open the bag of fruit as soon as it’s handed to you while still at the stall and and check inside? Then hand back substandard fruit? I have seen (and heard!) that done.
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