Make Money Flipping Flea Market Junk

If you are one of the many people who are passionate about finding antiques and collectibles, and want the accessibility of your search to be at your very fingertips, our online service is for you! This article will serve as a resource for you to come to a better understanding of how to sell antiques/collectibles online.

It’s fun to walk around your local flea market on a Saturday afternoon to spend some of your time off work, but what if you utilized that walk-around time for some extra cash? Below you’ll find some useful information on how to do just that!

Before you embark on your routine outing to the local flea market, there are a couple things you need to bring first:

  • Cash. This is so important! Most vendors prefer cash, even though they would likely take a check. However, if your goal is to talk down the price, you will have a much easier time with it if you have cash handy!
  • Checkbook. For more expensive pieces, it’s good to have the option to write checks. Also, having multiple options for paying is a great idea! You never want to miss out on a good item just because you don’t have the means to pay for it.
  • Smartphone. It is imperative that you bring your handheld device, as it holds a couple invaluable resources. The first is your phone’s camera! There’s no easier way to keep track of all the things you are interested in than to snap a quick picture of them. The second is the ability to use Google, eBay, or your very own PrairieGrit to help research the kinds of items you should purchase.
  • Notebook. Your best bet is to buy the item right away, but if you don’t, you will need to keep track of where you found it. This is another easy way to keep track of all of items of interest. Be sure to write down exactly where and when you found an item. Here is an example:
Vendor A: Closest to entranceCool set of vintage Tonka toy cars

Found at 7:30 AM

Vendor B: 3 vendors down from the first

Mostly furniture

Antique lamps

Found at 8:45 AM

Vendor C: Across the street from the second vendor

Lots of musical instruments

Old Trumpet w/ Case

Found at 9:15 AM

Keeping track of the time you found your item will enable you to remember which items to go back to first. It’s possible that by the time you take a second loop around the flea market, the items will have been marked down in price, but it’s also possible that they have been taken! Use your best judgement when it comes to items you think you will be able to sell.

Once you’re all set to go, create a list in your notebook of things you are potentially looking for, so you don’t get distracted by the many other things in your way! Have your smartphone handy with the resources you want to utilize already opened. An easy way to know what to buy something for is to simply check the price of the same item on eBay or Amazon. Always shoot to purchase an item for less than what you want to sell it for!

A list of things you are liable to find at a flea market is an incredible resource, and we are more than happy to supply you with it! It’s so easy to get distracted by all of the impressive pieces, but don’t forget that your objective is to find the items you can turn around for profit. Here is a guideline for some items to look for that are typically easy to turn around and sell:

  • Kids toys. This is an incredibly diverse arena for items, as there are countless providers and makers of toys since the mid 20th century. That being said, always do your research! You can make some big bucks on finding the right toy. Vendors sometimes aren’t even aware of the value of some of these smaller items, so it’s always good to try and have the upper hand!
  • Tools. From your everyday garage tinkering tool kit, to a more specialized one, tools tend to have a long shelf life. The things that have been sitting in someone’s garage for years can be an invaluable piece to someone else’s collection! You could just happen to be the mediator between such a transaction. Look for the small stuff, tools that are atypical, or old, and you might be able to sell them to a buyer who is looking for that exact piece!
  • Games. Board games, model sets, puzzles, etc., are a huge asset to average collectors. Look for anything that is dated back to the mid to late 20th century, and you will be able to find someone who used to play that game as a kid.

These are just a few items that you should keep an eye open for whilst checking out your local flea market. By all means, don’t limit yourself to these! Purchase anything or everything that you have a hunch will be able to turn a profit. It’s easy for items to go fast, so make sure to be at the marketplace in the early morning before the best items are gone.

Now go and start perusing the flea market with a purpose!