i broke it, i bought it
confessions of a clumsy antique shopper
It happened for the first time in my life. Whew, it was uncomfortable. I broke something in an antique store. Yup, I even admit I was on the phone at the time. Gross! I picked up this little, actually not quite so little, sugar bowl. The cap flew off and the top shattered. It was at my favorite (top secret) bric-a-brac store. The place is my anti-depressant so there was no ifs, ands or buts about what to do. I broke, I buy! Though the bowl was marked at $15, the proprietor only held me responsible for the sum of nine dollars (she took her cut away). I’m just relieved it wasn’t some rare antique 24kt gold Royal whatever! So, here it is my new vase and matching pen holder. I hear Borat has a similar of mishap in his movie. Can’t wait to see it and feel his pain. What about you? Please fess up if you’ve been through such horrors! — Allison R
November 13th, 2006 at 10:17 am
At an antique mall last year I picked up a mug in a very crowded stall and the plate behind the mug slipped knocking a pepper shaker to the floor.
I bought that damned salt and pepper shaker. It was ugly! It has a gold border. It was $18! I look the salt shaker and smashed it in the street in a fury of rage.
the woman at the counter said something about how “overstuffed” that booth was. If people can’t pick up a mug without causing a domino effect of dishes, maybe she needs to tidy up. (or maybe that’s her sales technique?)
November 13th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I was in an Irish import shop looking at a little porcelain figurines. They had them set on a very deep shelf so I reached my hand in to pick up a figurine from the back of the shelf and as I was drawing my arm out my sleeve caught an ugly little angel and knocked her to the floor. Twenty-five dollars it cost me!
November 13th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Is your secret shop in nyc or beyond? No fair keeping secrets like that!
November 13th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
if it is an accident then you are not required to purchase the item.
http://msgboard.snopes.com/message/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/80/t/000703/p/1.html
November 13th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
I was in the antique store and there was a mini teacup and saucer on a mini stand, and there was an antique lamp on the table with it. The lamp’s cord was so tightly strung to the outlet that there was no slack. I bumped the cord, and fortunately the lamp didn’t plunge – but the teacup did, and it broke. I think it was under $10, so they didn’t make me buy it.
I agree with Becky – they need to not keep stuff so jam-packed in these stores, and certainly not string a lamp cord so tautly!
November 13th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
I could have caused a stink and everything was jammed together there too.. it’s the nature of the beast…I go to this place all the time and don’t want them to think I am a snotty city slicker. Which I am, designer cell phone and all.
But I tell ya I love these stories!!!!!! The pen holder compliments my Tiffany ice bucket pen holder (in pic) which was getting pretty stuffed. Accident or act of providence? Hmmm.
November 19th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
I have picked up something that had a lid — and I didn’t realize that it had a lid — that flew off when I tilted it to look at the price on the bottom. Argh! Luckily, nothing broke, but my heart was beating a mile a minute.