Cléon: the first sale of lost packages attracted many curious people

“It’s going to be chance, you have to know how to be playful”, “It’s funny, we don’t know what we’re going to find!” », “We heard about this kind of sale on TV and we were curious to see what it was”, “It was my daughters who wanted to come and see”…

In the reactions of all these people who came to the first sale of lost packages organized in the Elbeuf area, on Saturday May 25, 2024 at the Campanile hotel in Cléon, it is curiosity and the well-known thrill of the game that dominate.

It is true that for the majority of potential customers, many were newbies.

Very clear rules

And, with its strong attendance from the first hour, the Cléon sale was no exception to this fashion effect which surfs the anti-waste law of 2022.

In fact, it is now forbidden to destroy these packages which have not found their recipients. They are then stored for a while and then resold to wholesalers who, like Enzo Stahl, take care of organizing the sales.

These packages, which range from a few grams to two or three kilos, are sold by weight, at a rate of 3 euros per 100 grams. A few rules to fully enjoy the surprise effect: it is of course forbidden to open them and in the event of disappointment, it is impossible to exchange or get a refund.

It’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get and if you don’t like it, you have to swallow anyway.

Everyone has their own technique

To choose, what do customers base their choice on? Not really the appearance of the packages, which are almost all wrapped in a white plastic sleeve. So we feel, we shake, and we try to guess. It’s soft ? So it’s probably a piece of clothing, but which one? Will it please me, will it be my size?

This is the characteristic format of a book. Same questions in perspective. This little box, maybe a electronic object ? Sometimes we weigh, just to see… “50 euros? Oh no, at that price, the risk is too great! », exclaims Brigitte, who has come to do her blind shopping with her friend Mireille.

Instead, she will take a small, flat package that looks like it contains a gift card. The two girlfriends will take time to make their choice, savoring all the pleasure of this treasure hunt out of the ordinary, quite unlike this family, who in 10 minutes snatched up around fifteen packages without asking any questions and paid almost 200 euros. Others, not necessarily convinced or not yet daring to take the plunge, will decide to leave empty-handed.

So what about the real content? Disappointed, not disappointed? We won’t know. Everyone will choose to unwrap their package at home, keeping their gift hidden from the world, whether it is poisoned or not. What is certain is that what is there will determine the desire to repeat (or not) this unique experience.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon -.