Tips for Vendors and Buyers

For Sellers -

Know your competition! Visit the flea market you want to sell in and see who is selling what. You do not want to be the 19th person selling door knobs!

Arrange your booth for sales. Boxes of items for sale (box lots) go under your table, not on it. Get stuff out where people can see it. You can always restock your booth in order to keep the clutter to a minimum.

Put a price on everything. Make sure you write clearly, if your handwriting is lousy then print on prices on labels and put them on. A short description along with the price is helpful. Make sure people can see the prices.

Take a look in your garage or basement for things to sell. If you haven’t looked at something in three years it’s probably time to sell it or throw it away!

For Buyers -

Vancouver flea markets have the reputation for being the bastion of sellers of stolen goods. If a price seems too good to be true there’s probably a reason for it. Beware!

Get there early. You know you’ve arrived too late if all you see is people walking out with lamps and picture frames. These, according to flea market specialists, are the two most popular items. When they’re gone, you know the place has been picked over.

If you look too dressed up, I guarantee you’ll pay more. A sweatshirt and comfortable walking shoes are appropriate attire. I once made the mistake of going to a flea market in my Sunday best. I certainly don’t remember any bargains or savings from that outing! Also bring a hat, as too much sun can deplete your energy and concentration, not to mention giving you a sunburn.

Don’t be fooled by booth appearances. A few things on a blanket will cost less than a fully arranged booth. The general rule is that the higher vendor merchandises, the more you’ll end up paying, so shop carefully. Many of these booths are simply extensions of retail outlets. If that’s the case, you might as well get the benefit of retail services and purchase the items in the store.

Make a list. Write down the accessories for which you’re searching. This prevents impulse buying and makes sure you don’t end up with something you didn’t want or didn’t need.

Bring plastic bags. Your old grocery bags will come in handy if a vendor should run out. If unused, the bags simply collapse into nothing.

Drive an appropriate vehicle. Flea-market shopping is usually cash-and-carry, and most vendors don’t deliver. Consider borrowing a friend’s truck or van if you don’t have one and know you’ll be looking for a large-sized item. Sometimes a vendor will let you pay in full for an item and pick it up later, but that makes me nervous, especially when I pay with cash.