Comments on: How to avoid getting ripped-off when shopping at antique stores & fairs

By: Erinn

Erinn — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:18:57 +0000

I love this! Mostly because I am from the town this "antique fair" happens twice a year which doesn't sound that miraculous until you hear the population is 71…I hated this fair growing up but now love walking miles upon miles through thousands upon thousands of tents. I work the fair once a year as my father is an avid dealer…and you are correct the traffic on the one lane road is excruciating and don't bother with the barns they just house more extreme valued/ often overpriced goods. And if any of ya'll come down to the fair in Round Top don't walk in front of traffic, don't be rude, don't leave trash EVERYWHERE…keep in mind that to 71 of us this is not a fair this is our home. Thanks! -Erinn

By: Dixie

Dixie — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:23:47 +0000

Researching ahead (I'll say it again) is an absolute must. Antique fairs are going to charge you a premium; they're not flea markets.

I buy a lot of stuff at antique malls, but I have price limits and I've learned what fair prices are for certain things. Keep your wits about you.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:32:33 +0000

this is very VERY true, i work at a popular thrift store chain, and at least half of our regulars are amature or professional antiques dealers.if you just pop into your local thrift store say, once a week until the wedding, i can almost guarantee if glass is what you're looking for you'll find a few really good finds!

By: Marie

Marie — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:44:14 +0000

I have the green jug, my mother in law bought it for me for a few bucks at a Value Village! If you know what you are looking for you can get major deals at regular thrift stores. I often see owners of antique shops in there, then they resell the stuff at triple the cost!

By: @EccoXile

@EccoXile — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:45:59 +0000

I actually have the exact same green pitcher/vase. And the matching drinking glasses, that came with a wire brass holder but we got rid of because it just takes up space . Pretty sure it's inherited from some family member…Must have been a popular design back in the day!

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:50:33 +0000

Good advice for anyone, not just brides to be! I love antiquing & hunting!

I must disagree about the glass however. My husband is a glass blower & thick glass is a sign of an inexperienced glass blower. Master glass artists produce thin even pieces. A cheap piece of glass by a new and inexperienced artist starts around $80-$150. Basically, you get what you pay for. I think you got a bargain however if you found a piece for $20 on ebay & the exact same for $175.

I like #12, remember sunblock. My first sunburn each spring happens at the flea market.

By: iLiveinmyLab

iLiveinmyLab — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:00:06 +0000

You are correct, master glass artists do produce the thin wonderful pieces, but they cost LOTS of $$$$$ to buy them and they usually don't make it to antiques stores/shows at least in the area where I live in. If you're from an area that has a rich glassblowing history or a school nearby you might have a better chance of finding something that nice. However – I did see one episode of Antiques Roadshow where a woman had a nice Tiffany flower vase and had no idea what it was because she purchased it at a store for 100 bucks, so maybe sometimes you do get lucky…

By: jx Ï‹

jx Ï‹ — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:28:57 +0000

great advice!
I started going to the Mennonite flea market with my mother when I was 7. I've been a haunter of flea markets and thrift shops ever since. if I were to add any advice – remember, there's always another deal around the corner.
if an object isn't just what you want or you can't get an agreeable price, keep walking. sometimes the vendor will concede and call you back with another offer and sometimes you'll find something better at a better price elsewhere. and a bit of Martha Stewart advice – if you lose out on a find, don't buy something else just to buy something.

By: ngaire

ngaire — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:20:01 +0000

Whoah! I have the brownish purple version of the green vase pictured! I found mine amongst a bunch of junk on a curb. It was filthy and had an impressive population of deceased spiders, but now it is cleaned up and working again. Glad I got such a great freebie!

Loved this advice article and plan to commit it very much to memory. Thank you!