Flea Markets are also a great source of deals. Most people who sell at flea markets are people that have been doing it for years and are generally aware of what their items should sell for. However, many flea markets also allow common folk to set up a booth for a day at certain times of the month. These generally yield the best deals as people are typically selling their items at garage sale prices, and aren’t as savvy when it comes to what their items are worth.
Flea Markets also offer a highly mixed bag of product offerings. You never know what you’ll find when you search though a Flea Market. There are occasional antique finds, but again, most dealers at flea markets are well in tune with the value of their items. Where you might have opportunity for good deals is when something has not been cleaned up by the seller, but could easily be put back into shape with a little soap and water. I once purchased an antique telephone for $12 (Western Electric 202) that looked like it had been buried in mud for the last 50 years. These types of phones are solid and knowing that it could easily be cleaned up, I jumped on the deal. Once it was cleaned up (took about 1 hour), I listed it on eBay and sold it for close to $100.
I don’t have as much luck in locating antiques at flea markets as I’d like to, but there are many other types of products out there can offer you an opportunity for success.
If you ever happen to be in the Anderson, SC area they have one of the largest flea markets in the country with over 1000 dealers covering over 65 acres. If you’re scheduling a visit, plan to get there early in the day and spend several hours moving from booth to booth. While you’re there, be sure to visit the main office where you would go to lease booth space. In the office you’ll find a number of free magazines listing sources for products, many which you’ll see as you tour the booths. If you see something you like, you can generally locate the supplier in one of the magazines.