The owner of some flower fields in the district now offers PayPal at his trusted checkouts. In the past, he says, customers drove again - because of a lack of cash.
Kleinpienzenau
- While cash is used less and less in business, it has remained standard in flower fields - including for Johann Christian Lang from Egmating (Ebersberg district), who, among other things, cultivates three fields in the Miesbach district with his family business. But because too many customers there apparently don't have the right change with them, Lang is now offering an alternative to the classic trust checkout on the side of the road: Customers can now pay for their self-picked flowers using the online payment service PayPal on Kreuzstrasse, in Sufferloh and in Kleinpienzenau. An offer that Lang copied from his colleagues' pumpkin stands in the fall, as he candidly explains when asked. “It’s better than people driving again.”
However, Lang emphasizes that nothing is free for him either - the payment service costs him fees. And the second-generation boss cannot imagine that this would reduce the number of thefts. “Either people are honest – or they are not.” Everything else, such as the payment methods, are just “lazy excuses”. That means: If you don't pay for your flowers, you probably wouldn't have done so with PmkayPal. But those who are honest but don't have cash can now take advantage of it - which is the most important thing for Lang. “It is beautiful when the flowers bloom in the fields, but even more beautiful when they are cut.”
“You don’t have to do it just for the money”
However, the Egmatinger does not want this concern to be understood in advertising terms. “You don’t have to do it just for the money anyway.” Flowers are more of a passion – “we do it because it’s fun,” says Lang. The fields would also help insects and bees feel comfortable. As their main economic source, the family cultivates several pure strawberry fields, none of which are in the district. The flower fields - the largest is on Kreuzstrasse and one of the oldest in Kleinpienzenau - are currently trying to offer a particularly wide variety. Preventing all the flowers from opening in a seamless sequence is not that easy. “And the warmer it is, the quicker it all goes away,” says Lang.
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But the fields were lucky with the unusually rapid heat this year. “It hasn't been this early for a long time,” says the owner. The tulips have become particularly large. “A real delight for the eyes,” enthuses the Egmatinger. However, he cannot predict exactly how long these flowers will last. “We are very dependent on the weather,” emphasizes Lang. Irrigation of strawberry fields is becoming increasingly important, while frost limits the flower fields in autumn.
Ideally, after tulips, gladioli, sunflowers and dahlias also grow there throughout the year. “We have now managed to get peonies to open,” says Lang happily. But even a single hailstorm could bring this to an early end at any time. Until then, the payment method - which is probably rather unusual for his industry - will primarily help to reach young people. “Everyone has their cell phone with them.” nap