Street Shopping 101: What to Do and What to Avoid

There are a lot of treasures to be found at your local flea market. You never know what kind of unique items are going to be lying in wait. If you’ve never been to one before, there are a few tricks to getting the most out of your money.

We’ve compiled a list of best practices and pitfalls to avoid to help you on your first trip to the flea market.

What to Do

Look Up the Venue Beforehand: If you are unsure of where your local flea market is – you can perform a quick google search. They will show you the hours and location of the flea market and may even showcase some of the more popular booths. This can give you an idea of what kind of items to expect – as there tends to be a difference in what kinds of items you can find. There are also plenty of outdoor flea market directories you can use to find market events in your area.

Show Up Early: Depending on its size and location, a stop at the flea market can be a hectic endeavor. Battles for items, deals and even parking spots can be waiting for you if you wait too long to arrive. Showing up early helps ensure that you will get a nice parking spot that is close to the venue, as well as giving you the best opportunity on premium items.

Bring Cash: Flea markets are a call-back to the olden days of commerce – a packed venue with people selling what are often hand-crafted or hand-made items in a non-retail space. This mode of business isn’t quite caught up to date with the age of smartphones and mobile tech. Not to say that there will be no booths that accept credit cards, it is just a good idea to bring cash if you actually want to make a purchase.

Check the Condition of Premium Items: The flea market isn’t a place that is typically known for quality items, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t surprises waiting for you to find. Often you will be able to find rugs, furniture, lighting or other furnishings at a lower price than a traditional brick-and-mortar operation. As with any big-ticket item, be sure to check the condition of the pieces. Flea market sales are often final and you don’t want to end up with a big expensive piece of garbage.

Haggle: Any experienced flea market vendor is going to expect to have to negotiate at least a little bit throughout their day. If the item is priced at a point you think is too high – make an offer. Most vendors leave room for haggling in the ticket price.

 What to Avoid

Passing on Damaged Items: Sure, you are likely going to see a lot of items that may not be the quality that you are used to seeing in a retail setting. However, that doesn’t mean you should write them off immediately. You may find that the cost of repairing the item paired with the vendor’s price may still be less than what you would pay at a retail furniture store for a similar item.

Expecting a Great Deal in the Morning: Just because you arrived early doesn’t mean that that is necessarily when the best deals are going to be made. You may get some consideration on behalf of the vendor, but they are going to want to field a few offers before settling on what they perceive to be the best option. If you are planning on staying all day, when the vendor is packing up is typically the best time to approach with a very low offer, as they are likely tired and wanting to go home.

Forgetting to Bring Snacks: While there are most likely to be concession stands available, the prices will be high and the lines long. If you are planning to be there a long while, it is a good idea to bring water, coffee or snacks for the kids (if you are bringing them along) to hold you off until it is time for lunch.

Sketchy Vendors: As with all aspects of life, it’s best to take a careful approach with you to the flea market. If something seems off about the vendor, or you think you might be getting a raw deal, just walk away. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re locked in to something that seems fishy.

If you follow this simple guide of things to look for and things to avoid, you’ll be sure to have a great time at your next trip to the flea market!

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