misadventure to an outer borough

NYC is comprised of four boroughs plus Manhattan.

Staten Island: I've been there twice. Once for a shiva call and once in 2002 to chaperone a fourth-grade class trip to Historic Richmond Town.

Brooklyn: I've been to Dumbo often to visit Jill, but other than that, rarely.

Bronx: Alexander went to school in Riverdale for 7 years, so I've been to the Bronx often. Plus, the Bronx is home to a great zoo and Yankee stadium.

Queens: Both airports are in Queens as well as the old Arthur Ashe Stadium and a very good Brazilian Steakhouse. Other than that, I never go. But today I do.

Recently I post a couple of Louis Vuitton scarves I rarely wear on Craig's List. I am contacted by a place called Bagriculture. They are interested in buying them outright and can I come in so they can appraise them. The store is located in Forest Hills Queens, so I say no.

But today, I have nothing going on and figure, why not? I pack up my scarves, and add a pair of barely-worn Prada boots that were never comfortable, and two handbags (one an old Celine and another by Prada).

It takes me far longer than it should to get to Forest Hills, as the E train isn't working and I'm detoured way out of my way. But eventually I arrive.

A person named London with two arms sleeved in tattoos helps me.  She looks nothing like a person you'd expect to find selling Chanel. She tells me it'll take about fifteen minutes per item to appraise, so can I come back in an hour.

I stroll the small downtown, stopping to have lunch at a little French patisserie. It'll be nice to have the extra cash, I'm thinking... maybe I'll put it toward my badly needed new phone.

I return to  Bagriculture and London tells me they are taking nothing. "These kind of items don't have a strong re-sale value." 

"Really?!  Then why did you contact me with interest in buying them?"

London has no answer. 

"But we won't charge you because you had to come from so far."

"Charge me? For what?"

"For appraising everything. Normally we charge between $2.99 and $5.99 per item."

I'm home four hours after leaving with nothing to show for my time.