LSS crops do you ever go to just crop and not shop

I used to go to Archiver's to crop pretty regularly. Sometimes I would buy a lot, and sometimes I would spend very little. I never felt obligated to buy anything.

I think it's fine, that's why they are charging a fee. I went to one at a store a couple of times and they would deduct the fee from any purchases which was really nice. If you feel eh about not really shopping, do they have adhesive or any basics that you could use? I find that I usually pick up a random color of cardstock in these types of situates.

When I worked at an LSS the $10 crop fee did not cover the overhead it cost us to stay open for the crop.
We absolutely relied on people shopping there during the crop.

If she has only older stock that is a really tough situation.

I haven't gone to a crop for a while (boo!), but there are plenty of times I've gone to a crop and not bought anything. I agree, though, that if you feel that you want to support the LSS, it wouldn't be hard to find something (like adhesive) to buy. I hope you have a great time!

I get exactly what you are saying, it's the same with me! Only my LSS only charges $5 for crops. I totally want to support her as I need an LSS to go to, even if most of her stock is older/not my style. It's a trade-off for me, because I want them to stay open. I buy what I can to help. I will usually be able to find some paper that's neutral, a stamp or two, or like other peas mentioned some basics- adhesive tapes, Un-do, ribbon, bling, glitter. Especially with Archiver's, 2peas and countless LSS's going under, I'm well aware if I don't spend there, soon I will no longer be able to go there!!

I used to go to Friday night crops every other week at an LSS (now closed). It was $10.00. I bought cardstock mainly, I don't always know in advance what color I am going to want and I like to see it in person, not online. But, she did carry up to date paper and embellishments that I would purchase also. You need to get out, and do not feel obligated to buy.

For those of you who wouldn't feel obligated to purchase something if you have to "pay for admittance" to a crop I have a few questions for you. And I'm trying not to sound snarky, but I have this problem at the store where I have a hard time getting people to come to a $10 crop, much less buy anything while they're there.

We charge $10 for a 6 hour Friday night crop and $20 for a 13 hour Saturday crop. We do not provide any meals, however we have water, sodas, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, chips, cookies, popcorn and other snacks available. They can use our Cricut machine along with 200+ cartridges, idea books, punches, free wi-fi, they share an 8 foot table with a drink/garbage holder and a Making Memories self-healing mat at their spot. So, for that, we will have to pay an employee for 6 or 12 hours to be there. Depending on where you are (and we're in the middle of nowhere Iowa) her wage could be anywhere from $8-12 an hour. So, that store owner is paying $50-75 for the employee to be there during the 6 hour crop (that doesn't count the 1/2 hour or so of clean up afterward). So that means, the first 5-8 people at the crop are just paying for the employee to be there. The other 9-? people at the crop are paying for the utilities, snacks, pop, meals if provided, Cricut cartridge purchases, tool purchases, etc.

1 - While I get you are paying for the time to be there, would you buy something if they gave you a $10 credit in purchasing that night? So, then basically, she's getting $5 to pay her employees and bills for the night, IF you buy everything at regular price. If you buy clearance items or sale items, she's getting less than the $5.

2 - If the crop were free and didn't offer any tools, snacks, water, etc would you then feel you had at least $10 to spend in product, and would you do it, or would you say, "hey, it's awesome that I get a free crop!" and not spend money? I offer two free Saturday crops a year (World Cardmaking Day and NSD) and still have people not buy a thing at the store that day. They bring in their 5 full Creative Memories totes full of stuff and sit for 13 hours not buying a thing.

Honestly, I think $10 is pretty cheap entertainment for 6 hours. My mom, sister and I used to go to Archivers crops when I lived in Minneapolis and would always complain about the $35 crop fee (including pizza or pasta for dinner), saying we wish we didn't have to pay the fee either, because then we could turn around and use that $35 to buy supplies instead and feel like we had something to show for it. Now, as an owner, I totally get it. For some reason, it feels like our customers think/feel like store owners are gouging them on cost of products, fees for classes, fees for crops, etc.

OK, off my soapbox now. Just thought it would be interesting for some to hear from a store owner's perspective.

lisavb - TFS! I don't feel that you were snarky at all. You merely shared your perspective as a store owner and I respect that. Besides, your post really made me stop and think. Our LSS's (now closed) seem to have been quite a bit different than yours. They did not offer water, sodas, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, chips, cookies, popcorn,other snacks, a Cricut machine, cartridges, idea books, punches, wi-fi, 8 foot tables,or mats. They offered a 4 ft. table space & a chair. I supported them by purchasing their product as I needed or as new items arrived so; on crop nights, there was not always something that I needed. Therefore, I tried to make small purchases of things that I knew I would need in the future (CS, adhesive, etc.) I didn't feel bad about that choice because, as I said, I did support them with purchases at other times. Archivers offered more and they also had the latest product so; I did purchase quite a bit while I was there.

Now in answer to your questions:
1)At times the LSS's did offer purchasing credit. I still found it hard to find anything (because I shopped the store so much at other times) besides CS & adhesive so; that is what I bought.
2)Although, a crop was free, I would still try to purchase a little something. Unfortunately, many people would have no problem attending and not purchasing anything.

I hope that I don't sound snarky either.

Maybe if you attend often enough and get to know the store owner, you can ask if she will be purchasing new collections from the brands you normally buy and you can indicate that you would purchase specific supplies. Perhaps the store owner just needs input about specific brands or themes that customers would like to purchase.

Another thought... Often I would be shopping in the LSS and sign up for a crop that weekend--a sort of spur of the moment decision. If I spend $50 on Tuesday, I don't feel obligated to spend another $25 on Saturday. As I said earlier, I usually bought some CS or an embellishment. I hope the owner wasn't giving me the evil eye for that choice.

Oh yes, I totally get that, and that's perfectly fine too. I do have customers that come in during the week and spend at the store, so I don't mind that they don't spend during the crop. I KNOW who spends money before/after the crop and who doesn't. I'm pretty much in the store all day/every day as a small store, so, no obviously that wouldn't be a problem for me anyway. 

I usually bought something, because to crop at the LSS was free if you made a purchase of $5 or more, but $3 if you bought nothing. I could always buy cardstock or adhesive or something, but she did have newer products right up until they closed.  I usually bought far more than the obligatory $5.  The LSS just closed a week and a half ago.

Those were the daytime crops. Night crops were more typical crops and cost $10, sometimes more depending on what was offered, but I never went to those because there was too much distraction.

When I owned a store, our crops were $15 for a Friday 6hr crop and $20 for a 14hr Saturday crop. It included a $10 store credit for Fridays and $15 store credit for Saturdays, where the rest of the money went into keeping the store open during closing hours.

It worked well for many croppers, but I was still baffled how some croppers had a very difficult time picking out $10 worth of product and many were very strict about not going over and owing any more.

I agree that you should not go into the crops worrying about having to spend money. If the owner is "understanding", she is not going to judge you if you do not spend. On the same note, I agree though, please do not bring product in and wave it around announcing where you bought it real cheap.

I usually found that my croppers were not my shoppers and I came to the conclusion that the croppers, really, just wanted a night out away from kids and family. And as someone who had young kids once, I can certainly understand and respect that.

Definitely do not be afraid to join in on the crops. It's a great way to meet new people who have the same passion you do about preserving memories for your family.