We’ve lived in San Diego for a little over 6 weeks and have been to flea markets five of those weekends (4 Kobey’s Swamp Meet in San Diego, 1 Long Beach Antiques Market). It’s my new obsession and probably stems from our travels, where I was constantly picking up unique pieces from local artisans and markets. Now in San Diego, we finally care enough about our home to furnish it with pieces we love — pieces with history and in some cases, pieces that can be refurbished the way we want. It’s a fun, creative and cheap way to get one-of-a-kind decor.
After all our flea excursions, we’ve picked up a trick or two about how to work the system without losing our heads. So get your tape measure ready, ’cause here are my 12 tips for shopping at flea markets:
1. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear. Poorly chosen outfits is probably the number one reason for burn-out. Be prepared to walk up and down the aisles — and back again — with cushioned shoes and wear layers of clothing because the temperature can change drastically from morning to afternoon. Also, wear sunscreen.
2. Arrive early. If you’re in the market for a few bowls and maybe a hammer, this doesn’t apply. But if you want a dining table or dresser or some other big piece, those will go quickly. Yes, you won’t have as much leverage to bargain because it’ll be earlier in the day, but that piece will be yours, yours, yours. At the same time, if you’re not wed to the item, come back when the flea market is about to close and the seller will probably drop his price considerably just to get rid of the dang thing. That’s what happened with the white end table I’m carrying like a champ in the first photo.
3. Go to the ATM beforehand. ATMs at fleas come with a notoriously high service charge. Do yourself a favor and stock up on cash before arriving. (Some sellers accept credit cards, but they’re more the exception, not the rule.)
4. Bring snacks. Food at the flea is usually of the fried and overpriced variety. Pack snacks with sustenance, like water, granola bars and bananas. If you’re going to the Brooklyn Flea Market in Fort Greene, however, come hungry. Their food stalls are ridiculously good.
5. Bring hand sanitizer. All that dust, all those people — please bring hand sanitizer or wipes.
6. Make a list. It’s so easy to get distracted by the plethora of odds and ends that you totally forget what you came to the flea for. Make a list of what you really need and do your best to stay focused. Do I need rhinestone costume jewelry? In life, yes. Now? Not so much.
7. Big then small. Start your shopping trip with a search for the big-ticket items because those are the first to go. Within a couple hours of opening, I’ve seen beautiful farm tables and desks sold. Those trays and cute bowls? They’re a dime a dozen at the flea market and can wait.
8. Carry a tape measure. Rather than buying something and praying it fits into your space, why not do a little homework? Take down dimensions and bring a tape measure so you can see if something is a realistic fit. It’s useful to know if the item will fit in your car, too.
9. Bargain. I know this sounds obvious, but I’ve witnessed customers buying pieces at the given price. What? The flea market isn’t a department store, people. First, inspect the item and tell the seller about any minor scratches or deficiencies to bolster your case. Then shoot low without giving an insultingly low price. Reiterate that you don’t really need the piece. If all else fails, try the “walk away” technique — walk away like you’re not interested anymore — and the seller may finally come down.
10. Shape is important; color and fabric are not. Things can be sanded down, repainted, reupholstered. So long as the shape is to your liking, you can re-imagine it any way you like as long as you’re up for some DIY work or are willing to pay someone else to do it.
11. Be nice. We’ve often been able to knock a few dollars off an item simply because we smiled and were polite. On a related note, don’t bargain hard unless you want to buy it. It’s just poor form to get down to a low price and then walk away because you weren’t all that interested to begin with.
12. Think outside the box. A bar cart doesn’t have to be a bar cart. It can be a coffee table or a desk or even a TV stand. Think of new ways to re-purpose pieces, and you may walk away with a major steal and genius decor idea.
