I was wondering does a business like S&S exist in today's world where they sell discarded or second hand commodities items. Pawn shops comes to mind, but they tend to sell expensive stuff like jewelry or electronics. And most of their stuff is not junk.

Goodwill stores or flea market shops probably more closely resemble S&S junk business where they sell discarded items, or item people trying to get rid of for cheap.

https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/images/reviews/190/1228130204_1.jpg

Yes, most definitely. Look at the show "American Pickers" for an idea. There are a lot of places that call themselves "Antique" stores, that mostly are glorified junk shops with a few high value items mixed in among all their treasure.

Most of their stuff has very little collectible value, yet they remain convinced that any day now the right person is just gonna walk in the door looking for exactly the piece they've been storing for 15 years.

And it happens just often enough to convince them it's "all worthwhile".
But more than anything else, those places are firetraps, just waiting to make the news

https://i.ibb.co/Q9xYhKF/Scarlett-s.jpg (https://ibb.co/NxGWfy6)

Welcome to "Scarlett's"-- one of many such places in my proximity. Even looks like Sanford's yard, doesn't it?!!

It's a family owned business run out of an old, converted saw or textile mill, I think. Funny thing is, you go in and ask about certain items and it turns out plenty is NOT for sale: belongs to Ma, Gramma, Uncle "Sal" or whoever promised that piece to some friend..

And, they negotiate prices kinda like Fred with stories just as wild as, "Well, this boat paddle and mirror set was part of the travel and shaving kit that George Washington had with him just as he crossed the Appomattox.. Uh, careful where you step, see? One of George's wooden teeth is still layin' around here, somewhere!"

https://i.ibb.co/Q9xYhKF/Scarlett-s.jpg (https://ibb.co/NxGWfy6)

Welcome to "Scarlett's"-- one of many such places in my proximity. Even looks like Sanford's yard, doesn't it?!!

It's a family owned business run out of an old, converted saw or textile mill, I think. Funny thing is, you go in and ask about certain items and it turns out plenty is NOT for sale: belongs to Ma, Gramma, Uncle "Sal" or whoever promised that piece to some friend..

And, they negotiate prices kinda like Fred with stories just as wild as, "Well, this boat paddle and mirror set was part of the travel and shaving kit that George Washington had with him just as he crossed the Appomattox.. Uh, careful where you step, see? One of George's wooden teeth is still layin' around here, somewhere!"

That sound like out of an episode of "American Pickers" GentlemanJim mentioned :D

We have "Walmart size" Goodwill store near by, and one can find almost anything if look hard enough. It is amazing some of stuff people discard that do have value.

That sound like out of an episode of "American Pickers" GentlemanJim mentioned :D

Ha! Yeah! And that show, above all, consistently featured the most egregious use and abuse of the word "patina" of any television program, ever! And those rambling descriptions of, like, metal sign crap and product labels:

"This is the piece that collectors are gonna want to go for because, not only does it have the natural distressed look that gives it the desired patina, it is also just a great piece of Americana that has the distinction of being known worldwide as iconic of its period. This piece and its patina just equate with history-- the two can't be separated."

Er, what?!!

We had a place here in my town that reminded me of Sanford and Son's, it was technically a pawn shop, but it had more the feel of a Good Will. The guy who ran it had all kinds of odds and ends, and like Fred he actually lived there, his home was in the upstairs portion of the shop

Goodwill.

There are lots of antique stores and antique malls in America.

Now because of technology there are lots of places that sell computer components and parts.