Buying
When I go out to a flea market or yard sale I like to keep a mental list of what my goals are for finds - it could be picture frames, records, books,
or just about anything. You should do this because when you go to a flea market it can feel overwhelming. I am not saying just look for what you need - you don't need to stick to your list, but it helps give you focus. While you are looking browse around, keep your list in mind and yours eyes open for anything, and you might find something even better.
or just about anything. You should do this because when you go to a flea market it can feel overwhelming. I am not saying just look for what you need - you don't need to stick to your list, but it helps give you focus. While you are looking browse around, keep your list in mind and yours eyes open for anything, and you might find something even better.
Some tips for buying:
1) Just because something looks old it does not mean it really is. A lot of the times things are made to look old so sellers can raise their price. To avoid being fooled I suggest first trying to find some background information on the item by using Google. (this works best if the object has a brand on it). If that doesn't help you can also ask the seller questions about the object like history, uses, where they got it from, etc.
2) Don't pay to much! A lot of booths at flea markets over price stuff. If you like an item, but are not sure about the price, what I like to do is go on eBay and see what it is going for. If the price is around what it is selling for online, try to negotiate the price to your liking - but don't get to picky. If it is over the price, skip it. I can bet you that eventually you will find it somewhere else at a better price.
3) The best times to go to a to a flea market or yard sale is at the beginning and the end of the sale. Personally I like the end because you can get the best deals because people want to get rid of everything. Mom would always say "If it was meant to be, it will still be there." But a flaw is that everything is very picked through and it is harder to find that hidden gem. Another great time is the beginning of a sale. At this time you have a lot more stuff to go through, and it is not yet too crowded. The flaw with the beginning of sales is that it is rare to get a good price because dealers feel that someone will come later and offer a better price.
4) This tip is suggested for big spenders that are easily pulled into buying a lot of stuff. Keep on a budget. This helps to prevent you from buying too much and anything that you don't need.
5) Always remember how you are transporting an item home. For example if you are looking for furniture to furnish a house, bring a big car so you have an easy way of bringing it home safely. Also, you won't have to pay a fortune to ship home.
1) Just because something looks old it does not mean it really is. A lot of the times things are made to look old so sellers can raise their price. To avoid being fooled I suggest first trying to find some background information on the item by using Google. (this works best if the object has a brand on it). If that doesn't help you can also ask the seller questions about the object like history, uses, where they got it from, etc.
2) Don't pay to much! A lot of booths at flea markets over price stuff. If you like an item, but are not sure about the price, what I like to do is go on eBay and see what it is going for. If the price is around what it is selling for online, try to negotiate the price to your liking - but don't get to picky. If it is over the price, skip it. I can bet you that eventually you will find it somewhere else at a better price.
3) The best times to go to a to a flea market or yard sale is at the beginning and the end of the sale. Personally I like the end because you can get the best deals because people want to get rid of everything. Mom would always say "If it was meant to be, it will still be there." But a flaw is that everything is very picked through and it is harder to find that hidden gem. Another great time is the beginning of a sale. At this time you have a lot more stuff to go through, and it is not yet too crowded. The flaw with the beginning of sales is that it is rare to get a good price because dealers feel that someone will come later and offer a better price.
4) This tip is suggested for big spenders that are easily pulled into buying a lot of stuff. Keep on a budget. This helps to prevent you from buying too much and anything that you don't need.
5) Always remember how you are transporting an item home. For example if you are looking for furniture to furnish a house, bring a big car so you have an easy way of bringing it home safely. Also, you won't have to pay a fortune to ship home.
If you are looking for some sports collectibles check out http://www.antiquesportscollector.com/ It's my dad's website.
Some things to look out for are:
Pure red glass: this might sound like you can find it any where, but it is a thing that people fake - if you find one snatch it up!
Old signs with great graphics: these you can get cheap and resell for a lot, and they are also great as decoration pieces.
Pure red glass: this might sound like you can find it any where, but it is a thing that people fake - if you find one snatch it up!
Old signs with great graphics: these you can get cheap and resell for a lot, and they are also great as decoration pieces.