Way back in April, I wrote a post about how I was dying to go to the Raleigh Flea Market. If you missed it, you can read about it here. Well, after a couple months of drama and other commitments, we finally made it this past Saturday. I happily woke everyone up early, got the crew fed and we were out the door by 9 AM. Miracle. Anywho, once we got there, I tried to come up with a strategic plan for visiting all of the booths without missing any treasures, and the first thing we came across that caught my eye was this chicken coop.
Mr. Man thought it was a lobster pot, which I am sure would have fetched more $$$. I was kind of nervous to ask the price, being that I'm a flea market newbie and all, so I persuaded Mr. Man to ask for me. :) They wanted $60 buckaroos for a crate of wood that chickens have pooped in. Ummmmm, no thank you. As much as I would have liked to use it as a coffee table, I just don't have it in me for that kind of money. If it would have been a bit cheeper (hehehehe!), I would have picked it up and made it into something like this from The Lettered Cottage. They got this one for $28, and, of course, refinished it.
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| Source, The Lettered Cottage |
I was also on the lookout for some crates, and I found these from a seller that was using them as part of his display. I thought for sure I could get a good deal from him, but he wanted $25 bucks per crate. I wasn't willing to spend that much, since I would need at least 8 of them for the project I envision. I've also looked on Ebay a bit and I think $25 is a somewhat reasonable price, I just can't quite stomach it. So, if you find some cheaper crates for me, we'll party with the savings!
If the price would have been a bit lower, though, I would have totally scooped them up and started working on my shelving unit like this one.
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| Source |
I also found this super cute pig thingy. :) That's an official name! Anyway, I loved it and thought it would make such an unexpected statement in our guest bathroom downstairs or even in a kitchen. But, I flaked out on the price again. $15 seemed a bit steep for a glorified towel holder.
I also came across this vintage Orange Crush sign (over on the far left) that I thought would be perfect above our doorway leading into the dining room. I really liked the colors and the vibe. Got any guesses how much this bad boy was? I'll give you a minute to think about it, then you can scroll down to the caption for the answer.
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| Ready for the answer? If you guessed, $150 you're right. I obviously didn't get it because Mr. Man would not have been very happy with me. |
So, those were some of my favorite flea market finds. I have to tell you, though, I was pretty disappointed. A lot of the furniture that I saw had already been hastily refinished, and the sellers were asking way more money than I expected. I totally get that you're supposed to negotiate with them, but I just thought their first price was super high and that I could never get them down to what I would consider a "good deal". I also just want to clarify what I mean by hastily refinished. On some of the pieces, I actually could smell the fresh paint and see drips. Not good.
I guess I came away with a respect for the flea market. If you went every week, you're bound to get lucky and find some real treasures....eventually. BUT, I just don't have that kind of commitment or patience. I think I'll stick to Craigslist or yard sales. I think the odds of finding better pieces for less money are higher in these places. Maybe I'm wrong, but for now, I think I'm over my flea market obsession.
So, tell me what you think. Do you like going to flea markets? Have you found some great finds at amazing prices? I would love to hear your thoughts, even if you disagree with my assessment. I honestly hope I was just there on an off week!
Hope you all have a great Thursday, and I'll be back tomorrow with the dish on my big secret! :)
Normally I like flea markets, however.... I wasn't impressed with Raleigh's the one time I went. It didn't help that one of the bee raisers got all worked up when I asked her if she sold beeswax. I've thought about going back but I'll probably wait until fall. With this heat I can barely walk to my car with out feeling like I'm melting!
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad! I'm shocked by those prices, too! What are they thinking?!? I know my mom likes to go to estate sales because they have pretty much decades worth of stuff from the attic, etc. I agree with CL, though...that way you can know what you're getting into before driving anywhere!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think some sellers at flea markets are taking advantage of the junkin treasure finders by hiking up their prices. I totally understand if something is 60 or more years old but like you said $60 for something a chicken pooped in is ridiculous. I love going to Goodwill, Salvation Army and Savers around here. It's nice and cool inside the stores and you don't have to haggle with anyone.
ReplyDeleteI've found some cool stuff at flea markets before, but it's always a crap shoot (like the chicken coop? haha) as to what you'll find. Anything I've gotten I've negotiated down. Boldly ask for what you think is fair, and look as knowledgeable/sure as possible when establishing the price. All they can say is no, and you might just get what you want! A lot of times if they have a bunch of stuff, like in the picture with the pig, they are just looking to push volume and might be more willing to make a deal. Whatever you do, don't don't accept the first number they give you as the sticker price.
ReplyDeleteI got a BEAUTIFUL two-tiered pie crust table for 35.00 at my first and only flea market trip. When I looked online I discovered I got an amazing deal. I was pumped!
ReplyDeleteUmmmm, those prices were ridiculous!!! Good for you for not buying any of them! Sorry you didn't find anything!
Beth
I think that you find the greatest deals at yard sales when the sellers are looking to declutter and do not have a vision for an alternative use for what they're selling. You know the whole one mans trash is another mans treasure thing. At flea markets the sellers are there to make money and are aware of what pieces may be used for and how you pointed out that a fresh coat of paint can change a piece. I prefer yard sales and craigslist for my treasures.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visitng me at my blog and for your nice comments. I'll be visiting you again soon! Can't wait to hear what your big secret is!
Sorry you didn't get any lucky finds. I think you do have to sort of enjoy the hunt to make flea market-ing worthwhile. You find some great things elsewhere, though, so it's probably best to stick with what is obviously working for you.
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ReplyDeleteNot a fun time at your flea market! Given it's outdoors, I'd give it one more try maybe in the fall. Don't know how cold it gets where you are?
Also the "really cute pig thingy"? Could also be used as a door knocker?
Cathy
Thanks for the heads up. I was considering heading to the Raleigh Flea Market while passing through town but I had seen on another blog that it was pricey. And after reading your review, I will definitely skip it.
ReplyDeleteI have only been to 2 flea markets. One was full of cheap junk - not the cool kind, the made in china kind. The other had tons of cool stuff but with antique store prices. I know there have to be great flea markets out there but I sure haven't found them. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Carrie
www.lovelyetc.com
Bummer! I LOOOOOVE the Raleigh Flea. I find the trick is to go often. You'll see the same vendors there a lot and get to know what they have. I've ever asked vendors to find something in particular I had in mind and come back a few weeks later to find they had indeed tracked it down. I try to go at least 2x a month and I always go on Saturday by 9 am. All the good stuff is gone by Sunday and often I see the dealers buying stuff from each other before the "normal" folk get there to get the absolute best deals (they turn around and re-sell these things...I once followed an antique washtub around the market and saw it going up in price by at least $30 each time). Anyway, love your blog! Christiane tipped me off to it and thought we'd have lots in common...I think she's right!
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