Shopping Tips for Antique Markets

Transcript

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Are you going vintage shopping this summer?

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Here are my tips for shopping at antique markets.

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Wear comfortable shoes: you’re going to be on for feet for hours.

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Bring layers, because you never know when the weather might change.

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That also means have an umbrella.

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Sellers are resilient rain or shine, so you should be too.

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Pack a small flashlight and a magnifying glass to check for imperfections or even a hidden

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makers mark, and a tape measurer to help you size up furniture.

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Dealers love cash, so leave those credit cards at home, and bring your own bag or even a

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cart.

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It’ll make it so much easier to transport your treasures home.

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And it’s important to keep your energy up, so pack a water bottle and a snack just in

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case.

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When you find an item that catches your eye, compliment the piece and then ask the seller

00:58

how much he or she thinks its worth.

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That way, it forces the seller to pick a price and then you guys can work down from there

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to come up with a final offer.

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This is a good idea because that way you don’t tip off the seller how much you’re willing

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to spend right from the get go.

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Then when you’re bargaining, be brave but make sure you’re respectful, too.

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If your offer is unreasonable, it’s likely that the dealer won’t even counter.

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Here’s an example of a situation I run into often when I go to an antique market.

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Say I see this necklace and I love it and it costs $30 and maybe I don’t want to spend

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$30 on it.

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What I try to do is try to find another piece in the booth that appeals to me and try to

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throw it in and see if I can get a deal for both so that the combined value is something

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I’m willing to spend.

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Maybe I’ll get the deal and maybe I’ll walk away looking pretty stylish.

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A lot of people say end of day is when you’re going to get the best bargain, but in my experience,

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if I find something I really like I’m just gonna buy it then and there because if it’s

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something that’s really good, it probably won’t be there at the end of the day.

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Last but not least, be friendly, because it’s good karma and you never know when you might

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encounter these dealers in the future.

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Do you have any tips and trips for shopping at antiques markets?

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Let me know in the comments!

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