Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) March 20, 2015 -- Springtime means flea markets, and the Kovels have shopped flea markets for years. April and May are good months for flea markets and shows. Vintage merchandise found over the winter is finally for sale, and dealers who saw slow sales in this winter of bad weather need cash to buy more. Here are Kovels' Top 10 tips to help excited collectors get ready to buy and bargain.
Before:
1. Put together a grab-and-go "flea market kit." Gather a magnifying glass (to help read marks on silver or china), flashlight (to find labels, marks and construction clues on the bottom or the back of furniture), a small tape measure (handy to make sure furniture will fit through the door after you get it home), and a large canvas tote. If you are planning to hunt for vintage battery-operated toys, bring along some batteries – C and AA. Add some pre-moistened towlettes, a large, light rain poncho and some bottled water.
2. Be prepared to shop, share and ship with the latest smartphone apps. There are apps and websites to help collectors find flea markets, food, shipping locations – even public bathrooms and your parked car! Modern apps can also measure, magnify, evaluate prices and organize a "favorites" list.
3. Dress for the weather, in layers and bright colors (so your friends can find you!) and wear comfortable shoes and a hat. Sun-protective clothing is widely available. Be sure to use suntan lotion and protective lip balm.
4. Bring cash, a few checks and a credit card, too. Be sure it's all safely zipped away. Some dealers accept checks or credit cards, but many will not. Some shows have ATM machines available. You can often get a better price if you pay with cash.
During:
5. Try starting at the back. Some collectors start at the front of a flea market and work their way to the back. Head to the back first – things might not have been picked over yet.
6. See something you want but it's too heavy to carry around? Pay for it, then use your phone to take a picture of the item and the number on the booth so you can easily pick your purchase up later. Some flea markets have "runners" who will cart your large purchases to a pickup spot near parking.
After:
7. Serious shoppers start early. But once it gets near closing time, sellers drop their prices or are willing to bargain so they will have less to pack, especially those with heavy pieces or large rugs.
8. Have packing material like newspapers, bubble wrap, boxes or old blankets for wrapping breakables handy. In your car, keep a rope or bungee cords to hold items on top or to secure an open trunk. Don't forget a screwdriver, hammer and rust-loosening oil in case you have to dismantle a bed or table to fit it in your car.
9. Flea Market Strategies: How to Shop, Buy and Bargain the 21st-Century Way is a new booklet by Terry and Kim Kovel, and available only in the online store at Kovels.com. This 17-page booklet offers tips on spotting fakes, advice about paying for purchases, shipping suggestions and lists of popular flea markets. It also has a supplement that lists current apps and websites.
10. Don't forget the Kovels' cardinal rules: Buy it when you see it because you might never see it again," "Don’t worry about how to get it home, you can find a way,” and “Always negotiate price.”
About Kovels.com
Kovels.com, created by Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel, provides collectors and researchers with up-to-date and accurate information on antiques and collectibles. The company was founded in 1953 by Terry Kovel and her late husband, Ralph. Since then, Kovels’ Antiques has written some of America’s most popular books and articles about antiques, including the best-selling “Kovels’ Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide,” now in its 47th edition. The website, Kovels.com, online since 1998, offers more than 1 million free prices, and includes a free weekly email, “Kovels Komments.” It gives readers a bird’s-eye view of the market through the latest news, auction reports, a Marks Dictionary, readers’ questions and answers and much more.
Contact Information:
Liz Lillis
216.752.2252
Pr(at)kovels(dot)com
Liz Lillis, Kovels.com, http://www.kovels.com, +1 (216) 752-2252, [email protected]
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