Treasure Hunting

Shopping at a swap meet can be a treasure hunt if you know what to look for. A swap meet is like a large garage sale in one place. In some states they can be over a square mile in size. To fully enjoy shopping you must plan ahead, or you may end up spending too much money on something that you do not need. If you follow some basic guidelines, you will find shopping at swap meets to be an enjoyable experience.

The first thing you need to do is plan the trip. You want to make a budget, so you will know how much money you can spend. A budget will help when it comes time to bargaining with the seller. A good pair of shoes helps to keep your feet from getting sore. It is important to have plenty to drink, especially in hotter climates. Often there are concession stands at the larger swap meets, but the prices are outrageous. Many swap meets give out maps or have maps online so you can plan what areas you want to visit. Make sure you pace yourself because it is amazing how much walking you can do at a swap meet.

The most important thing to remember is what type of vendors, the people selling products, to look for. There are two types of vendors that you should stay away from. The first is the person that has piles of rusted rubbish sitting on tarps. This individual brought boxes of worthless stuff that his wife made him take out of the garage. You might find some good deals, but you are more likely to need a Tetanus shot after picking through the junk. The second seller to watch out for has all new merchandise. Their job is to sell the products, and the only reason they are out there is to make money. All items were bought really cheap and marked up exponentially. Knowing what your budget is will help you walk by this person without being tempted to get something shiny and new. The person that will have those hidden treasures is somewhere between the two. They will have the products organized and laid out nicely. The stuff won’t be new, but it will be clean.

The key to finding “diamonds in the rough” is to keep you eyes open and know what you are looking at. If you do not know what something is, just put it back. You need to look at the items closely to check for dents, rust, and even pieces glued back on. This is why it is important to know what you are looking at. Make sure that the merchandise is something you can use, and you are not just buying it for the “wow” factor. The “wow” factor is when you see something and think, “Wow, I really want that.” Many people buy something because it looks nice, but they get home and find that it was not what they expected. A good example of this is my brothers petrified cactus lamp, which has been in storage for over ten years.

Once you find a treasure, ask the seller if they would hold on to it for you. You may just find the same thing for less money and in better condition somewhere else. If the seller does not want to hold on to it for you, it is not a good idea to buy anything from them anyways. They usually are not the type to bargain, and you will find better prices elsewhere. When you are sure that you want to buy it, you are ready to barter. You should always make sure you have enough money to pay the asking price, just in case the seller will not lower it. Bartering is more of an art than a process, and some people are better at it then others. A good starting point is around half the asking price, but with expensive items you should start at 60-70% of the asking price. Usually the seller will decline, but that is ok. Remember the seller is trying to make money, so do not expect them to just give their merchandise away. Bargaining really depends on the situation. Some sellers love to bargain and will keep working the deal until you are both satisfied, yet other want the asking price and will not take anything less.

Once the sale is completed, stick around and talk to the seller. They know who has quality products, and may be able to help you find anything else your looking for. Also, they may be able to locate any unusual items you may be wanting. If you are not careful, you may run out of room for all you stuff. Then you might find yourself selling treasures at the same swap meet where you bought them.

When you are done treasure hunting make sure, you enjoy your “booty” and brag about how cheap it was. Swap meets have new dealers and products all the time, so you will want to come back again and again. As long as you plan ahead of time, you will find going to the swap meet an enjoyable occasion. You might even find yourself going just to look around and not even buying anything.