Flea market advice

Ain't that the truth? Also' don't stop off at a fast food joint,like I did one time, before
heading to a flea market. I was getting interested looking at coins, with only 1 bite of my burger king steak burger? Out of No where! Came this god forsaken creature of a Dog! Grabbed my hamburger, I swear' he inhaled it so fast, it was gone by the time his
legs hit the ground. Well,,,,needless' to say' It just wasn't my day! Good-day!

 

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I've seen sets like this priced about the same. Not sure how well they sold though.



On a side note, here is the website that I ordered a bunch of frosty edge cases from to give everyone an idea of what I plan on selling:

http://www.coinsupplyexpress.com/he-harris-frosty-cases.aspx

 

Those frosty cases are a great idea.

 

Are you saying you know someone who has been robbed at gunpoint five separate times? Come on man!

Maybe it is because of my location, but the thieves around here don't bother with flea markets. The first several responses in this thread were about how cheap flea market buyers are but the thieves think it is good place to make a living. I guess the lack of security could be inviting especially for shoplifting, but the whole follow the vendor and rob them theory sounds far fetched to me. I work in a business where customers routinely carry thousands of dollars in cash on them. In my 15+ years in the business, I have never had a customer tell me they were followed from the casino and robbed at gunpoint when they stopped.

 

I just went to a local flea market and iam sad to say most of the stuff was
Just "Junk", Though i would hope that wouldnt be the theme at everyone??

 

Years ago, when I was in scouting, we used to scour flea markets and swap meets for our purchased acquisitions. We NEVER went to a coin store back then. Of course, we only had modest funds to spend, but I would think that today, you could sell coins the kids are looking for. Maybe Lincoln Memorials, Jeffersons and Roosevelts ? I think a flyer posted at a local bulletin board offering a discounts to Scouts and giving your flea market location might work. Of course, you might consider carrying supplies if you can be competitive with the local suppliers.

 

Round these parts, I have never found a good deal at a flea market.

 

Its always the last place to look,when your there.I once got a matte proof lincoln from a fleamarket. $9 had to take it home to verify it.:kewl:

 

Great find !! But would think that would be more the exception then
The rule, At the flea market i went to there was alot of people selling
Food like beef jerky and hot nuts, Almost as many as the people actually
Trying to sell there wares

 

A lot of the flea markets I attend have pretty good deals. Antique shops on the other hand, wow, their prices seem to be extremely high for coins. I went to one that wanted $2 for a common wheat penny! I had a good laugh while browsing through their selection.

A lot of people look down upon flea markets, but I enjoy them. You can find the weirdest stuff at these places.

 

Luckily I have always been a "trading nut" I always found those out of the way places,where people "classy" people dont always go.Im not trying to classify anybody specific.But people that have money dont always shop at markets,and thrift stores.I mean really,do "classy" people want to shop from some person selling used tires and beef jerky under an umbrella in the hot sun? I have had enough segregation from people in my past.I dont criticize anyone,I dont judge them,its not my place to.If I see someone at the market,and they look like their struggling,I buy anything from them just to give them some confidence.I also am a shopaholic hoarder.Not rich,but I do my part as an american and help the economy,by spending.I love the markets.and they love me in return,my patience finds treasures.Im not your average "coin" guy:hatch: Im a new bread lol

 

Where I'm at there's two different kinds of flea markets in one. There's the inside flea market, the year rounders who keep their stuff there all year. You get everyone from Avon dealers to people selling car stereos. Inside is where everyone is selling the same Chinese made junk for huge amounts of money. In the summertime, outside in the parking lot, is the real flea market. People selling stuff from coins and knives to antique signs out of the back of their car. You never get a deal, but that's where the fun is at.

I long for the days when you could go to the local drive-in movie on a Sunday morning. Now those were flea markets.

 

I miss the drive innow you got me in a sad moment....

Yeah the people outside thats where the good stuff is.And every week its diff people.diff stuff.rummaging through boxes of crap looking for gold:goofer:

 

I noticed you are from Indiana. Down here in Southern Indiana, the drive-in outside Mitchell Indiana has a flea market on their ground several times a year. I haven't been to the flea market, but seen signs for it when we go see a movie there.

The flea markets you describe are pretty much what goes on down here. There are a few of them that are set up like a normal store, and if you want coins from a certain area of the store, the cashier will have to come over and unlock the glass case they are in. The sellers pay a certain fee to keep their stuff there all month. I've obtained numerous coins from places like this.

 

There's an antique mall in Michigan City like this. Neat stuff in a semi-clean environment, but you won't find many deals.

 

Regardless of anything, I suggest you always have someone else with you. If your by yourself and someone flys by and grabs a pile of coins, what are you going to do about that? If you ran after them, might be what they want so others can rip off more. You just have to have coins of any decent value in covered cases. Its amazing how some people have those magic fingers that make coins vanish. I visit flea markets all year long. One outdoor one just got started this Month and usually has about 1,200 vendors by June. Usually several coin dealers at first but those usually don't stick around to long since so many coins just walk away. The only coin dealers that are there often are the ones with several helpers just to watch for crooks. One dealer I know that sells almost anything was telling me how he lost over 20 pair of Gym shoes on one Sunday. Crime at flea markets is really high and not much can be done about it since if someone does take something, what are you going to do about it if your alone?
On the brighter side some of the greatest coin buys I've made are from Flea Markets.

 

Good luck with the flea market business!

 

Not sure where you live but if you were around the Chicago area your entire outlook on life would be considerably different. Many, many people I know have been robbed, almost shot in drive by shootings, houses robbed, some killed, some put into hospitals. Stop by and check out the South Side sometimes and note all the stores with bars on the windows and doors. Try walking in the wonderful Parks by the Lake at about 2AM.
Every one I know that leaves a coin show, flea market, camera show or almost anywhere, check out their rear view mirror for tails.
I'd really like to see you carry thousands in cash around here and let anyone know. People in this area get robbed for a pair on Gym shoes or a neat jacket let alone cash.
Obviously you have no idea what goes on in some areas of this country.
One small correction is the Murder rate has dropped here by almost several hundred this year so far.

 

Michigan City! Several years ago, a guy bought an old fixer-upper house for $30K there. In the course of ripping out all the old plaster and wooden lath, he found that the original owner had used old movie theater posters as insulation. They were worth about $200K.

Chris