Jared Says for December

While I enjoy selling items using the auction sites, the best still comes from selling "live." That is, selling at flea markets or yard sales. You can't beat the personal contacts, lively negotiations, meeting new people and hearing the stories they have to tell (and sharing a few of your own too!).

I've been selling at flea markets for over 25 years. The first time was in Connecticut when I was out of work. That summer I was helping a friend paint a house for some people who were moving. He suggested that I take the stuff they were throwing away to a local drive-in flea market. I think I only made $75 at that flea, but I was hooked!

Even after I went back to work, flea markets were an attractive avenue to sell excess items; keeping the better stuff for the time I would retire. Over time I've come to concentrate on smaller,  lighter weight, and paper items since I didn't have much storage space available.

Over the years, since those earlier times, I developed a extensive buyers list system. The buyers list consists of people who give me lists of things they would like to acquire. When I go to buy items I keep these lists in mind and review them when after I'm sorting through and evaluating the things I purchased notifying the prospective buyer if I get something they are interested in.

Now I only do 3 or 4 flea markets a year and I do 2 yard sales a year at my summer place. It's like the Jackson Brown song that says "now the only time that's too short is the time we get to play."  At the yard sales I have never failed to make at least a new contact each time I sell. These contacts help me concentrate on buying the things I know will sell.

One-on-one selling still has value in the people you meet. About a year ago, I began to use eBay and while email contacts are nice they just aren't the same.

If you are interested in "selling live" some of the links to flea market information below may help.

Guide to US Flea Markets  A comprehensive guide to scheduled and ongoing flea markets in the United States.

OPENAIR-MARKET The World Wide Guide to Farmers' Markets, Street Markets, Flea Markets and Street Vendors.

Queen Flea An on-line chat with Annie Groer about flea markets, estate sales, and church rummages.

Regional Flea Markets from searching Yahoo with "Regional flea market"