Feb. 3, 2007: Get Your Whatzats Here

Photos and Story By Joe Zlomek

Domenic Donofrio rose with the cold and without the sun early Saturday morning (Feb. 3, 2007), packed his treasures, and made a 15-minute drive from his Royersford PA home to the fire station in North Coventry Township. He found his table there in a good spot: the well-lit and well-heated fire station cafeteria. He set up shop, and sat down onto a folding chair.

Buyers and sellers negotiate the price of goods offered at the monthly flea market inside the North Coventry Township PA fire station. Inset: Flea market vendor Domenic Donofrio of Royersford PA.

Donofrio was ready for business. By 8 a.m., so were several dozen other vendors at the monthly flea market inside the fire station.

The flea market is a fund-raiser for the fire department, which rents tables to vendors for a modest sum and sells breakfast and lunch from the cafeteria kitchen. But it also is welcomed as entertainment that gives bargain-conscious locals – and even those not interested in buying someone else’s used goods – the chance to get out and socialize on a chilly winter weekend.

The Weand family made the most of the opportunity. Dan Weand, a Pottstown PA business consultant and perennial political candidate, joined his wife in the garage section of the fire station -- around the corner and down a hallway from Donofrio’s location -- at their own table of stuff to be sold. Mrs. Weand, a teacher, called a few passers-by by name and waved in their direction. The table drew a crowd, if only for conversation.

Donofrio’s table provided items that were eclectic but clean. His sale offerings included a few glass lamps with wide, cream-colored shades; some cassettes, some CDs; and a smattering of trinkets, thing-a-ma-bobs, and whatzats. Whatzats, whose useful purpose remains a mystery to most people, were cheap. Everything else was priced within a range of “reasonable” to “you’re kidding, right?”

All, of course, subject to negotiation. For some vendors, and many buyers, haggling over the price of anything from an Elvis LP to movies starring Elvira is the height of fun on such days. They revel in the art of the argument, the give-and-take, and (hopefully) an agreement on terms.

The strength of Donofrio’s haggling skills had yet to be tested. He slowly chewed a breakfast sandwich purchased from the cafeteria as potential buyers passed by his table. He smiled at a few, said hello to most, and quietly awaited bids on his goods.

A youngster with his plush toy find-of-the-day.

Meanwhile, over near the Weands, a boy of toddler age discovered the plush toy of his dreams in a box that poked out from beneath another vendor's table. He decided against negotiating directly with the seller. Instead, he picked the toy up out of its box and carried it 15 feet to plead for its purchase with his father.

The vendor said nothing, but kept a wary eye on his unpaid goods. The father said nothing either; just shook his head from side to side in the universally understood gesture that means "no." The saddened youngster walked slowly back to the table and, rather than tuck the plush toy into the box, laid it in the vendor's hands and turned away.

The flea market lasted until 2 p.m. By 1, most vendors began re-packing unsold items, including their whatzats, for a trip back home. They’ll have another chance to move them next month.