I would say that certain elements of what you describe are a US thing. In my area there are what we call "tat" shops selling exactly that, TAT!

No Jeff I don't want to buy your pottery dog with one of its ears missing even though it's only thirty bob.

The more "up market", if that term could possibly apply, end of what you describe tends to be found amongst the more affluent southern areas of England, Notting Hill for example, selling such crap as a "green" as in save the planet wireless made out of bent coat hanger wire, cardboard along with the guts of a cheap Taiwanese transistor radio shoe horned into the guts of the thing. Yours Sir/Madame (Usually Madame) for a mere £110!

A comedian over here who had a few successful TV shows hit the nail firmly on the head with one of his repeated sketches which hail from around 2008 so predating what you describe over on your side of the puddle.