When I went to the Flea market today to pick up by big check (not), I noticed a new booth right behind mine. Better have a looksie, I always say!
The first thing I spotted was this Redman basket. I thought it was missing the lid, but there aren't any screw holes where the lid would go, so I am thinking it just might be a Market Basket. It is a very large basket, has a different pattern in the weave than any of the other baskets that I own and it unique since it doesn't have the lid. So, you know I needed that basket! But, what would the price be? You never know at that Flea Market - sometimes it's high, sometimes it's not. The lucky price on this one was $6.00, so now it is mine!
Since the basket was inexpensive, that probably meant the entire booth would be priced low, so I look a closer look. I found this set of old teddy bears for....wait for it.....One dollar. They are jointed bears, stuffed with sawdust and they have glass eyes. I know they are old, but I don't know how old. It's research time!
I spotted some baggies hanging on a peg with what looked like vintage store signs in them, so I took them down to have closer look. Each bag had between 5-10 vintage embossed signs in them and each bag was priced at $1.00. That is a steal! I bought all six bags and ended up with over 40 signs. I love old store signage, even though I really have no practical application for them! But, at that price, I had to scoop them up.
I left the Flea Market with a good feeling having found such fun things at great prices and headed across the street to the Thrift Store. My good feeling would not last long. :(
The first thing I found was this old basket purse (with those bears still hanging on) for $1.29.
I am not supposed to buy tins. I haven't ever shown my tin collection on the blog. But, I have a lot of tins. Hundreds. Maybe three hundred. And they are in my bathroom! (Figure that one out!) Anyway, I started collecting tins years ago to fill some weird shelves in the bathroom and I quickly filled them up, so I am not supposed to buy any more. But, my self-imposed rules are easily broken.
How could I resist this seriously sweet Boudoirs Biscuit tin for 75¢? I love tins that used to hold actual items - not just the retro collectible tins.
And this tin, also 75¢, was a no brainer - pink, stripes, chocolate, GODIVA? Yes, please! A real Godiva Chocolate tin from Belgium. Mmmmm...mmmmm.
I walked by the lamps - and I never look at lamps because I have all the lamps I need. But, there sitting on the floor is a lamp made out of a basket - a lidded Longaberger to be exact. Now I have said in the past, I am not a Longaberger basket collector. But, I do love well made baskets and puck them up to use whenever I see them. This was an awesome lamp - nice basket, lid fit tightly, lamp was tightly installed and the shade even matched. Score! It would look perfect on my Picnic Basket stack side table in the living room. This thrift is priced really reasonable and certain color tags are a percent off everyday, so I excitedly looked for the tag. It wasn't priced, but to me, that meant the tag probably popped off since it was on wood. Tags never stay stuck on wood.
A lady that works there happened to walk by, so I said, "Excuse, me. This lamp isn't marked. Do you have any idea??" "Oh, I will have to take that to the back." "Okay, thanks. I'll wait here," I said. That is when her eyes got all big and said "YOU CAN'T BUY IT! We do not let people that (insert air quotes) "FIND" items without tags buy them - ever!" And she stormed off with my beautiful basket lamp never to be seen again. She really knocked the wind out my sails. She made me feel like a crook! And, it really embarrassed me.
I kept walking around looking at things, thinking maybe the lamp would reapear from the back and I would make The Bean go get it, but it never did. (But, I bet I go back tomorrow, just to see......)
When I checked out, the lady said, "Are you doing okay, today?" So, I decided to say something about it. I told her that I found a lamp sitting on the shelf without a price and it was taken from me and I was told I couldn't buy it. She looked at me long and hard and said, "Ohhhhh, you think we are going to bend the rules just once just for you?" Well crap, put down twice in ten minutes. Niiiiiiice. She went on to tell me about all the dishonest people in the world and how it is so easy to take a price tag off and ask for a better price. That pissed me off because I felt like she was implying that I did it. She is free to think it, but she shouldn't imply it to my face. And, actually, LADY, if I wanted a better price, I would have gone over to the ORANGE TAG section where everything is a quarter today and did an old tag switcharoo. Or find a green tag that is 75% off today or a blue tag that is 25% off today or just any random f*ing tag that is the price I want to pay. Or stuff it under my blouse. Or just run out the door with it. But, did I do any of those things? No. I would NEVER do those things because I AM AN HONEST PERSON.
I realize that some thrifts have the policy about not selling things without a tag. That is their right and I understand it. But, I have taken things to the register at every thrift I have ever shopped at without a price on it and been told a price every.single.time. And, not ONCE did I ever take a tag off. EVER!!!!
(I think I am going to have a stroke it I keep typing this! It was the attitude that really got to me. And, this is a Volunteer Run CHURCH thrift, so the attitude and niceness could use a little work. Uh, make that a LOT of work.
Okay, so now I feel better for venting it out. And, I know that you guys don't think I am a crook because I have had such a wonderful response to the Joplin relief post. My sweet loyal lovely caring readers have contributed $300.00 to help buy things to donate to a family. I have cried more than once when I opened an envelope or received a PayPal "You've Got Money" email. I heart is touched and I will do my best to make everyone proud. That money will do a LOT for a family. I will do different post about that. Just wanted to say that because I have had a warm fuzzy feeling for a week. And, those crabby ladies will NOT take that from me. They can take their basket lamp away from me, but not my warm fuzzies! :)