Learning to Become a Successful Bargain Hunter

Let me assure you, anyone who takes the time to become an informed, experienced bargain hunter will be successful. There is enough good merchandise out there to make it well worthwhile, at all levels. Once you learn what to look for, what has good resale potential, and what price these items will probably bring for you, you will be equipped and ready for any hunting trip. You'll be the one to find treasures. Believe me, they are out there!
Garage Sales as I have mentioned before, are absolutely wonderful for finding bargains. You have to get up early and go! Even non collectors can spot quality merchandise, and at those low garage sale prices (low, unless of course held by an owner who's done his homework) those items will be the first to move. In order to be a successful garage sale shopper, you must learn to get yourself organized. It is important to conserve your time. The sales you hit during the first early-morning hour will prove to be the best nine times out of ten, so you must have a plan before you ever leave your home. Plot your course. If a garage sale opens at 8:00, I can guarantee that customers will start arriving as early as 7:00. These are the serious bargain hunters that have no problem facing rejection, or told to come back at the specified start up time, on occasion. I am a very polite person and probably have lost out on some good deals for this reason. So, this is completely up to you:)
Competition can be fierce during those important early morning hours. Learn to scan the tables quickly, then move to the area that looks the most promising. Do not be afraid to ask for a better price if you feel it's too high, but most people have already priced garage sale merchandise so that it will sell. Keep a notebook to jot down items you didn't buy the first time around but think you might be interested in if the price were reduced later on. After going through dozens of sales (I have done as many as 25 or so in one morning) you won't remember where you saw what. Often by noon, veteran garage sale buyers are finished with their rounds and attendance becomes very thin. Owners are usually much more willing to come down on their prices, so it may pay you to make a second pass.
Flea Markets are often wonderful places to find bargains. I prefer the bigger ones, but your smaller flea markets are good too. If you have never been to a large flea market, you don't know what you are missing. Even if you are not a born-again collector, I guarantee you will love it. And their an excellent place to study the market. You will be able to see where the buying activity is; you can check and compare prices, talk with dealers and collectors, and do hands-on inspections. Your knowledge from research and reading will come in handy here! At the smaller flea markets, where it is easier to recognize, repeat sellers and dealers, I like to visit new tables. Usually these are the ones that will only set up and sell on occasion to get rid of the "so called junk" they found out of their homes after a weekend of Spring cleaning. It is also a must to get up early and go! If you have ever been in line waiting for a flea market to open, you know that cars are often backed up for several blocks, and people will be standing in line waiting to be admitted hours before the gate opens. Browsers? Window shoppers? Not likely. Competition! So, if you are going to have a chance at all, you'd better be in line yourself. Take a friend or family member and split up on the first pass through so that you can cover the grounds more quickly. It's a common sight to see the serious buyers conversing with their partners via walkie talkies, and if you like to discuss possible purchases with each other before you actually buy, this is a good way to do it. To be Continued....