BISHOPDALE OP SHOP MUG SPARKS BIDDING WAR, POLICE CALLED, MUG STILL $2
Two women, one mug, one volunteer named Pat who has now requested a transfer to Hornby.
A ceramic mug priced at $2 in the Bishopdale Hospice Shop triggered a verbal altercation between two customers on Thursday morning. A member of the public rang the non-emergency line.
The mug, described by witnesses as "beige with a faded picture of a Highland cow", was spotted by two women in the homewares section at 10.42am. Neither was prepared to let go.
Gail Sutherland, 61, of Casebrook, said she had seen the mug first. "My hand was on it. Her hand came over the top of my hand. That is not how op shops work." The other party, who gave her name only as Raewyn, said Gail had been "hovering without committing", which under op-shop convention was a forfeit.
Volunteer Pat Wilkinson, 73, suggested the mug be raised to $4 and split between them. Both parties rejected this on the grounds of "the principle". Pat then suggested a coin toss. That was also rejected. Pat took her tea break two hours early.
This correspondent attended at the request of a concerned shopper. The matter did not meet the threshold for police action, though one party was wearing a nose ring and the other had parked across two spaces. A colleague at the station called it "a Bishopdale special — no offences, plenty of grievances".
The mug remains on the shelf. Both women say they will be back at opening time Friday. Pat has reportedly priced it at $2.50.
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Reader Letters
Garry (Halswell)
This sort of nonsense never happened back in my day. You saw something, you grabbed it, and everyone else respected that. It's the online auctions making people mad.
Margaret_F
If I ever see Gail, I'll tell her about the bargain crockery set I found at the Woodend Lions op shop. No fights there, just good tea and company.
Raewyn_Hardly
GAIL DIDN'T HAVE IT IN HER HANDS! Everyone knows you can't claim it by hovering! She's taking the piss expecting someone else to believe otherwise.
BishopdaleLocal99
Pretty sure there's an unofficial rule book for op shops somewhere. Some people just like to cause drama to spice up their retirement.
Just_Saying_Marshlands
Honestly, all over a mug? There's a nice little spot in Bishopdale by the chemist where I found a perfectly good set of six. No altercations needed.