FLEA MARKET ARTICLES INDEX

COLORADO FLEA MARKET DIRECTORY

More Tips for Shopping at Flea Markets

by Beryn Hammil

To ensure that shopping at flea markets is fun and successful in finding treasures, here are some tips to guide you:

-- Don't get emotionally involved with an item you're interested in. You gain bargaining power if the vendor thinks you could walk away from it if the price didn't please you.

-- Haggle for a better price, but remember that the vendor needs to make a living, so let the other party save face.

-- If you want it, buy it; it probably won't be there when you come back for it later.

-- Bring cash and use denominations smaller than the $20s you get from the automated teller machine. Pay with exact change when possible, especially if you've negotiated the price down. Imagine how it would look if you bargained the price to $5 and you gave the vendor a $20 bill.

-- Inspect items closely before purchasing. While an item may be damaged, it might be easily repaired and worth the expense if it'll look terrific when fixed.

-- Some vendors, especially of jewelry and silver, have stores or private clients, so if you strike up a friendly relationship that vendor might be able to find specific items for you later.

-- Bring a magnet if you're interested in brass; a magnet sticks to real brass.

-- Bring a small magnifying glass if you're looking at jewelry or silver; it helps see markings and the quality of settings.

-- Buyer beware: If the price of something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Vendors typically know their stuff, so don't expect to find an original Rembrandt oil painting for $15. Similarly with jewelry; cubic zirconias and diamonds look a lot alike, and only a jeweler using special equipment can tell the difference.

Copyright Beryn Hammil

If you have any interesting stories or tips about shopping at flea markets or setting up a table at a flea market please e-mail us at CBHcontact@gmail.com.