This is the time of year when folks begin having yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets are opening up. This is also the time of year when it is more important than ever to try and snag some bargains. All my loyal readers know that I am an eBay Power Seller and also sell on Etsy and I wanted to share my tips and tricks with you all when you are shopping that can save you money and get you some really great items.

Lets start right off with the “Pick it Up or Put it Down?” scenario we have all faced at some point. Today, shopping at thrift stores and flea markets is a very “in” and “hip” thing to do and we will focus our article on shopping for Vintage/Antique/Collectible items and the best part is you can actually hold these item(s) in your hands and get a really good look at them as opposed to buying online where you are taking the seller’s description and photos into consideration and not able to actually see and touch the item.

ITEMS TO PICK RIGHT UP:

• Designer & Name Brand Clothing
• Designer Accessories (Sunglasses, Handbags, Shoes, Belts)
• Limited Edition Items
• High-end Pottery and Dinnerware (Spode, Lenox, Herend, Roseville, Moorcroft, Vietri, Deruta, Limoges, Prussia) items Made in England, France, Germany and Italy.
• Collectibles with Tags and Boxes
• Singed Items With Artist or Makers Marks
• Items in Good Over-All Condition
• Items that are Strange, Unique, and Weird (these can be valuable & highly desired)

ITEMS TO PUT RIGHT DOWN:

• Items That are Dirty, Broken or Have Damage
• Items That Have Been Mass-Produced
• Items That Are “Fakes” Replicas” and “Knockoffs or “Designer Inspired”
• Books That Are Previously Loved (Ripped Pages, Stains and Damage)
• Items That Are Primarily Made in China (Lots of Pottery and Dinnerware Fall Into This Category And Are Not Vintage or Antique and are Very Common)
• Stuffed Animals (though very collectible, are not usually Clean and are Damaged)
• Items That Still Retain Their Thrift Shop or Garage Sale Tags (Look These Over Well as There May be Something Wrong With the Items Because if it Didn’t Sell at The Garage Sale or Thrift Shop You Need to Wonder Why?)

TIP:
You need to be a little cautious and Ask, Ask, Ask, when in doubt. Remember, you have an advantage when you are shopping ‘in-person’ as you can hold the item(s) in your hands and really look them over well. Hope this article is helpful to you and Good Luck at the many antique sales that are starting to spring-up now that is Spring.