Tips for Stress-Free Flea Market Shopping

Fall and spring are the best times for vintage flea market shopping, wouldn’t you agree?  You’ve been waiting all winter for the spring markets to open and the fall has the perfect weather (and nature’s colors!) for outdoor markets.  Yet often leading up to these markets many of us get anxious: how early to arrive?  Cash or credit?  What to look for?  Fear no more – I’ve got great tips for stress-free flea market shopping.

This post includes photos from a local New England Vintage Bazaar from 2016.  My dear friend Michelle (Instagram @PetiteMichelleLouise) and I had a blast selling there and these pictures showcase our booth.  We’ve had the experience of both shopping and selling at vintage flea markets, so we’ve certainly learned a lot over the years! 

Some of my favorite farmhouse-style vintage finds are: ironstone, wood boxes/trunks, galvanized pieces, original signs, linens, blue and white china, original art and anything hand-stitched (knitted, crocheted, sewn).

Outdoor Vintage Flea Markets

My intention for this post is to give you tips specifically geared for outdoor flea market shopping.  You can find wonderful vintage buys at antique malls, shops, and thrift stores, but I’d like to focus on the temporarily set-up outdoor markets. They’re a different beast!

Outdoor vintage markets are either ongoing (running every weekend on specific days during spring/summer/fall) or they only occur during a particular week or weekend.  Either way, the vendors set up outdoor tents temporarily as opposed to a permanent shop setup. Casual flea markets may consist of a bunch of tables and boxes next to vendors’ cars, while organized market events will showcase more elaborately styled booths. The prices are ‘friendlier’ at the casual fleas, but sometimes it’s worth the higher prices for the quality and inspiration found at the curated markets.

Preparation Tips   

Before you even decide to attend an outdoor vintage market, you’ll need to determine your reasons why.  Is it just for a fun outing on a gorgeous day?  Are you hunting for items to resell yourself?  Are you on the lookout for a particular item for your own use?  It helps to make a list of must-haves and wants that you’re on the hunt for. If you’re decorating a particular room, it also helps to have a vision and color/texture scheme in mind. 

The best way to prepare for these markets before you go is to:

• Firstly, make sure you’ve decluttered and purged your home before you consider going out to a flea market (see my tips for that here).  The last thing you need is to add more stuff that you really don’t have room for.
• Confirm the exact location, date(s), and time(s) the market is open.  (Ask me how I learned this tip the hard way: my favorite flea hadn’t yet opened for the season due to rain flooding the field, but I hadn’t checked before I skipped over there one April Sunday).
• Find out the best parking situation ahead of time so you’ll know where to look.
• Prepare for expected weather (hat, sunscreen, raincoat, etc.).  I cannot stress enough to dress in layers, because the weather can change dramatically during the time you’re there and you may get warm with all the walking/lugging.
• Set your alarm if you want to arrive very early for serious hunting.  If you’re just going there for a fun outing, it may be better to arrive later (and you could snag end-of-market bargains that way).
• Decide your spending limit and only bring that much cash. It’s best to have a budget to avoid impulsive purchases.
• Pack a large (lightweight) bag lightly, with just a few essentials to carry around:
  • Keys to your car
  • CASH (it’s KING), Credit card as back-up (some vendors accept these for large purchases)
  • Phone
  • Sunscreen (only if you’ll need to reapply – otherwise, put it on beforehand)
  • Small empty bags or newspaper for packing breakables or small or dirty items (vendors won’t always have these)
  • List of what you’re looking for (or have it on your phone)
  • Small bottle of hand-sanitizer
  • Small snack or water if you don’t want to buy flea market food
  • Measuring tape (if you need it for furniture)
  • Magnet (if you want to detect real silver, which will not cling)

Arrival Tips   

• Try to park as close to the field(s) as possible in case you need to lug heavier items back & forth to your car.
• Scout out the vendors by doing a quick walk-through first.  Only purchase something during this walk-through if it’s on your ABSOLUTELY-MUST-HAVE list (and perhaps it’s a THAT-LADY-IS-EYEING-IT situation). 
• If you do find something on your ABSOLUTELY-MUST-HAVE list (or another similar I-JUST-REALIZED-I-ABSOLUTELY-MUST-HAVE list), whatever you do, do not run up to the vendor’s table to inquire about it.  If there’s no competition for the item, start looking at something else first and then casually pick up your desired item to ask about it. 
• After your initial walk-through, you can assess the quality, quantity, and prices of the various vendors.  Now you know which ones you’ll hit and which ones you’ll want to miss.
• Return to those vendor’s tables where items caught your eye.
• Inspect items carefully to ensure they’re not broken, ripped or missing crucial parts.
• Be open to using your imagination on a piece that interests you. Vintage items can often be transformed with a different look or function.
• Be willing to dig in disheveled vendor spaces since there may be a treasure at the bottom of a cardboard box!  This is where hand-sanitizer comes in handy, as well as at the dreaded porto-potty (which you should avoid at all costs).

Purchasing Tips

Once you’ve found an item you’d like to purchase, it’s time to close the deal…

• Number one rule – SMILE at the vendor.  It makes a world of difference.
• Ask the price if it’s unmarked. 
  • If the price is fair (or a steal), it’s a good idea to pay it.  Vendors work very hard for not much $.
  • If you’d like to negotiate, ask nicely if you can get it for ‘x’ amount instead.  The vendor may counter or even suggest a lower price prior to you asking (when the item is in your hands for inspection).  CASH is best to negotiate with.
• Compliment the piece and ask questions about it.  You may discover its interesting history, and the vendor would love to hear why you like it and what you may use it for. 
• Measure any large piece before you purchase to ensure it will fit in your car or home space.
• You may also be able to negotiate a lower price when purchasing several of the vendor’s items.  The more you buy from them, the happier they’ll be (and willing to negotiate).
• Continually assess your cash stash as you purchase items – try to purchase items you REALLY want/need before those that just strike your fancy.  You’ll probably have an ongoing conversation with yourself as you travel the flea, justifying things left and right as you tally.  😊

When all is said and done, have FUN!  Even if you don’t find a thing at the market, it’s always worth spending time outside, enjoying interesting conversations about antiquity, and honing your tastes and style.  And the adventure is even better when you bring a like-minded friend!