As I
write this article it's 28 degrees outside and winter’s grip is fully upon us as we enter the early days of this new year 2017.
With that in mind I have for you today, my version of
baseball’s Hot Stove League.
I’m not
talking sports however, unless you consider the hunting of curiosities and
antiquities to be sport – and many people do.
In New England where I live, specifically on a 64 mile long sand bar
called Cape Cod, antique and oddity hunting is great sport during the summer
months.
In
January all we bargain hunters can do is talk about past ‘steals’ and ‘deals’
that we’ve made, while looking forward to May or June when yard sales, flea
markets, and curiosity/antique shops will be as common as beach sand.
For
veteran seekers of cast off treasures much of what follows will be old hat, but
perhaps I’ll give you a few new thoughts that might help you in next summer’s
transactions.
Many people have the misconception that
antiques cost more than they can afford. Shopping for antiques is a great way
to spend a free afternoon and you may be surprised at how many good bargains
you come across. The hardest thing is many people don’t know the true value of
the particular item they are looking at in an antique shop.
It may
have caught their attention because of the style of it or it brings back happy
memories. You never really know if the shop owner is trying to up the price or
if you are already getting a good deal. Since you can’t quickly go to another
store and compare the price you pretty much have to decide the maximum you are
willing to pay for an item and then walk away if the negations don’t work in
your favor.
It is a
good idea to do some checking into the reputation of a given antique dealer
before you even step foot into their store. You will find you are able to get
good deals on antiques when you get to know the owner of the store. If you are
a frequent shopper in the store you can build a good relationship. Bringing in
other customers to the store is something that will get noticed as well. The
owners of the antique store will want to work with you on items so that you
keep generating more business for them.
You will
be able to negotiate the price for what you want if the antique shop is
operated by the owner and not several different employees. Even though you will
find more selection at antique malls, you won’t be able to negotiate the prices
as much. Small antique shops can generally offer you some history on the pieces
you are the most interested in.
On Cape
Cod and I expect just about everywhere else, you will do much better at flea
markets, garage sales, and in the shops with cash. Money talks - the folding kind – not the
plastic variety. Cash does indeed speak and its voice is very loud.
Frequently
you will get a far better price if you approach the seller with cash in hand,
partly because the credit card fees cut into the vendor’s profit. Many of antique stores, as well as the flea
market and yard sales people are hesitant to take personal checks, especially
if you are from out of town. Showing that you do have the cash with you in an
un-obvious way is also helpful. For example, you can count it and then say, “will
you take $50 for it? That’s all I have with me today.
It is
important to remember that you will be buying antiques in the condition they
are in. Make sure you take the time to thoroughly examine what you are
purchasing. You don’t want to get home and discover what you thought was a
great bargain is nothing but junk. Most antique dealers take pride in offering
quality items but you still need to check. You will be disappointed if you
think you are going to take home an antique in mint condition for a very low
price though.
If you
are looking for certain antiques, take a look around online to get a good idea
of what the going price is for them. Try to negotiate something that is about
25% less than the rates you find online. Don’t be afraid to ask the antique
shop owner to cut you a better price. It helps if you say something along the
lines of “would you accept $100 for this?” Instead of “can you lower the price”? It
definitely helps you get what you want if you are assertive but not going
overboard.
Do not
be afraid to ask for a better price, especially at flea markets. On slow days at flea markets and swap meets some
vendors don’t even make enough sales to cover the cost of their space. If you happen to be the sale that will allow
him to at least meet his rental fee, you may be able to negotiate a steep
discount.
If you
are planning to visit Cape Cod this summer you’ll find more antique shops per
square mile than just about any other place in New England. Another source for vintage and new items as
well, are the sidewalks of the fifteen towns of the Cape. Many seasonal cottage owners frequently upgrade
their furnishings. Instead of selling
off the old items, they put them out on the sidewalks with a big “Free” sign on
them. You can find everything from
televisions, to couches, beds, bureaus, and even the kitchen sink! Beginning in May the sidewalks of the Cape
could be paved with ‘gold’ for you.
Also in
May, the new season starts at one of the best venues in New England- the Wellfleet Flea Market on Route Six,
just over the Eastham line. There are
hundreds of dealers and thousands of bargains every weekend from mid may to
Columbus Day. When the sun goes down,
the market takes off its salesman’s apron and reveals its true identity as a
delightful old time Drive -in Movie Theater.
Every night, rain or clear, Wellfleet shows two first run feature films –
an old fashioned double feature! They
even still have the vintage drive-in food available from the snack bar. Sooner or later everyone who visits Cape Cod
goes to Wellfleet for the flea and the show.
Happy 2017 and good flea hunting!
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