To the editor:
I was out enjoying all the City-Wide yard sales, finding some great bargains recently in Caribou. I went to the one where I purchased a Northface jacket for $ 35. I thought it a bit much but got it anyway for my granddaughter to have as a spare. Upon getting ready to wash it, I realized it was reversible, so as I am turning it around and discovered it had five or six places with black tape on it. It looked awful, I knew my daughter wouldn’t wear it, so I decided to take it back and get my money back.
Arriving at the home where the sale was made, I approached the lady and said to her “I bought this jacket at your sale and I would like my money back” she asked why and I explained how I discovered it was reversible and had patches of tape all over it. She looked at me and said “you bought it at a yard sale.” I said yes I realize this but my daughter won’t wear it like this. She remarked, wear it on the other side, the way I had it displayed on the hanger.
I agreed I should have looked it over better, so I asked her again, can I get my money back and she looked at me like I was nuts and said “You bought it at a yard sale.” I turned to leave and just threw the jacket on her lawn, I was very upset by this lady, and she could just keep it! As I got in my car she was walking toward me and said “ma’am you forgot your jacket.” I just kept going.
My 9-year-old granddaughter was in the car and she said “I will give you the $35 Mimi since you bought it for me” I told her no, I don’t want your money, that’s for you. It’s pretty sad a child will part with their money but the adult that sold it to me wouldn’t even consider a refund.
So for everyone that shops yard sales, make sure you check your item you’re buying. I have talked with several people that have held yard sales, and they said if this was their jacket they would you have returned the money. They also would have told the customer about the tape on the inside.
I was very disappointed by this transaction and will make sure everything I buy from now on is thoroughly inspected before I buy it and never pay that much at a yard sale. It’s a lot to lose when you’re a single grandmother raising her granddaughter.
