Dos and Don’ts of Flea Market Shopping

There are several dos and don’ts of flea market shopping.

Map

The first do is to get a map of the whole market if they have one available to you. Then when you are shopping, you can mark all of the booths that you left the purchases that you made. This will make it easier for you to find the purchases quicker when you are ready to go home. You can also mark the shops that you might want to visit on another day of shopping.

Layout

The second do is to figure out the layout of the market as long as it is not random. At most markets, the booths that are inside will have the cheap imports and closeouts. But other markets will have the sellers who have the fine antiques that are inside. Sometimes the markets will place the vendors based on the type of merchandise that they are selling. Once you find this out, then you will have an easier time starting with the good stuff that you might be interested in buying while you are at the market.

Cash

The third do is to make sure that you take cash with you especially in smaller bills. This is because most of the vendors are not going to take credit and debit cards and you might not be able to find an ATM at the flea market. It is very important that you keep the cash in your front pocket or in a body bag that is positioned in front of you. You don’t need to have a bag that will swing behind you. If the market gets too crowded, then this is a great time for a pickpocket to bump into you so that they can swipe the cash that you have on you.

Large Purchases

The first doesn’t make sure that you don’t just hand over your cash for a large item unless you have asked the vendor about their policy on pick-ups. Most of the time, they are not going to mind if they hold the item until you are done with all of your shopping. But more than likely, you will need to have a conversation with them if you are wanting them until the next day.

Discounts

The second don’t is to not to expect to get a huge discount on the first day of the market especially in the morning. Therefore, if you are not in a hurry, it might be a good idea to wait until the end of the day before you make your purchase. This is because this is when the vendors are going to have the best deals on all of the items. This is the time when they are tired and they just want to get rid of their stuff so that they can go home.

Pets

The third don’t is to not take your pet to the market unless that you know for sure that they will allow it. Most of the time, the market is only going to permit service animals to be on the premises. It is important to remember that if the dog is allowed to be there, then you will be the person who is responsible for picking up the poop when they go to the bathroom. Sure the dog might be cute but the poop is not going to be. This is especially true if someone accidentally steps in the poop and then it gets smears all over their shoe.

These are the top do and don’ts to remember when shopping at the market.