see you at the fleas!
SPRING FLEA MARKETING
Last week I was on ChumFM with Marilyn Denis, here’s what we talked about and a link to the voice clip.
Spring is the best time of year to get out to garage sales and flea markets. Just be sure not to bring home more junk! My personal test before I buy is to ask myself - do I know where I will put this the minute I get home? If I can answer yes, I can have it. If I don’t know, I pass (or try to at least!).
Here are a couple of tips from my many experiences flea marketing:
• Be comfortable - wear layers, comfy shoes and a small over-shoulder handbag with a water bottle in it and reading glasses if you need them, cash and cheque book. You want your hands to be free.
• Dress down - this is not glamorous work girls, forget the fancy clothes and jewellery. You want to be able to climb over dust bunnies to get the best buy and haggle for it once you’ve found it (hard to do in diamond earrings 
)
• Big Wheels - the best deals happen at the spur of the moment and when you can take it off the dealers hands right then and there. This is not the day to take the little car.
• Haggle - I know it’s not the Canadian way, but the truth is, many dealers don’t really know what price to put on something - they’ve taken a shot in the dark if it isn’t a known collectible. So tell them what you’d pay for it - you might be surprised.
• Go late, don’t go home - I’ve often swung a deal near the end of the day (especially at shows). Dealers are human - and tired by the end of a long day. They may take your price just so they don’t have to load it back up.
• Go together - If you’re out with a friend and find a few things - put them together and barter for them as a group. Volume has buying power!
• Think of others - Many people don’t think of gift shopping at flea markets - do they worry that it’s tacky to give something used? I don’t. I would love to receive a collectible or great old whatchamacallit as a gift. In fact, it’s often more personal. I look for items with initials for people I know or items from places they grew up or just something beautiful - a gorgeous crystal vase is just as good 100 years later - in fact, often better. My latest thing is collecting old Molson’s “50” memorabilia - trays, bottle openers - it works great at 50th birthday parties. Am I showing my age?
Here are some of my favourite spots to hit around the GTA. It’s a good excuse to get outa town this spring…
WEST
Southworks Antiques mall in Cambridge
Market Road Antiques, St. Jacob’s
EAST
Antiques at the Barn in Fowlers Corners near Peterborough
Main Thru Church Antique Mall in Orono
Legacy Vintage Building Materials and Antiques
NORTH
Or check out www.antiquesincanada.com for shows all over Canada like the Christie Antique Show on May 29th and Flamboro Antique shows.
Write and tell us some of your favourite haunts. Happy Hunting!
Comments
I am so glad to have found you again after having left House & Home. I never got a chance to tell you that I missed your commentary and I almost always agreed with you. I hope you continue to be in our public eye and look forward to seeing more of Cobi!
The best place in the world to shop is at our own Delta Hospital Thrift Store. Your donated items are sold by the store and those funds go to the hospital. Store is run by volunteers. Once every 5 or 6 weeks they have a collectible sale where the very best stuff is sold (most of it in a day). Line ups for this sale start around 7 a.m. (store opens at 10). I had been looking for a Royal Albert Petit Point Tea Pot and a few more cups and saucers. Went to the collectible sale last year and shazam…the Tea Pot was there (no cracks, chips, glazing for $35.00, cups and saucers in mint condition were $5.00 a set). I know you collect the Air Canada trays Cobi - I got those for 2 for 25 cents, petit point, needlework pictures the most I have paid is $8.00.
Every year Delta has a free pick up - so folks clean out their house leave items at the curb and the municipality picks it up free of charge. It is what happens before the trucks get there that is interesting…everyone else goes around the neighbourhood and picks stuff up—-dining room sets, gas patio heaters, tools, kids toys, lawn furniture, kitchen cabinets, furniture - the stuff goes quick.
The other sale I go to every year is the Peace Arch Hospital’s Linen Sale - heaven!
I heard you on Chum and thought your tips were great. Thanks for the list of shows and stores. I love Legacy… its always fun to stop in there on the way to the cottage.