Weather conditions

So my friend and I have finally built up enough stuff to be able to sell at the flea with a realistic chance of profit. Between picking yard sales, grabbing free stuff on CL and getting rid of junk in our homes we've built up a nice stash. I just have one last question before our venture: What are ideal weather conditions?

This weekend is supposed to be kind of cold (for the south, 30's low, 50's/60's high) and I'm not sure if we should wait for better weather. Spring is just beautiful around here and I want to make sure to stock up on inventory for that time, but right now I could really use some more cash to keep building inventory so I'd like to set up ASAP. It's still only January, but I've seen the flea market fill up all times of the year. What do ya'll think?

Go a head and go if not windy and raining.

We went last weekend learned a lot just being there. Did not make a lot of money but got a lot of knowledge to help with this weekend.

Can see what sells fast and what sits helps to know what to pick. Good Luck.

This questions is really dependant on your location and what your "customers" are use to.  If you live in the South of say Virginia then that weather by now is nice and many people venture out in it.  30s in my part of GA and like FL is on the colder side and most people stay home.  As I've said in other post our local flea has a 40% reduction in traffic during the winter months.

Also, this is the last weekend of the month.  Many people don't have extra cash at the end of the month.  I normally try and hit the flea right after payday.  Specially for those people that get paid only once a month.

Like money said - go if it's not windy / rainy.  You may only break even or make a little money.  However, you will learn tons of stuff your first time out.  Think about how you setup, where you setup, what were people looking at, etc.  You should do some sells just to the regular vendors.  They will be picking you over before you even get setup normally.

You should do some sells just to the regular vendors.  They will be picking you over before you even get setup normally.

Some of the regular vendors at my flea market sell to other vendors, but I've pretty much found that counter-productive. Why would I knowingly sell an item to a local vendor so HE an turn around and sell it to the end-user for more money?

If I sell an item to HIM for say $5 when I thought I could get $10 to $12 for it from an end-user, it just doesn't make sense to me. Sure I may have to bring it out a few times, but how much effort does that take.

THE EXCEPTION TO THIS (for me)...is selling an item to a vendor who I KNOW sells out of town (50 to 100 miles away). I sold a nice set of old theatre posters (Our Gang) to a guy for $50...he'll take them 100 miles away where he will get $100 for them, but he will have made a big round trip and paid $135 for two car parking spots to do so. I will never be selling there.

Another fellow buys collectible lighters, old military stuff from me, and if I'm not selling it on eBay I will sell to him for less than I would the end-user so he can drive 50 miles and sell it for 1.5 to 2 times what I am selling it for to him.

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On the other hand I love picking items from vendors who aren't too sharp in the research and pricing area, especially on some electronics and specialty tools. Buy it from them for $5 to $10 and sell for $15 to $100. I bought a gps from a guy for $5 and sold it on eBay for $65. That's a nice markup.

Some of the regular vendors at my flea market sell to other vendors, but I've pretty much found that counter-productive. Why would I knowingly sell an item to a local vendor so HE an turn around and sell it to the end-user for more money?

If I sell an item to HIM for say $5 when I thought I could get $10 to $12 for it from an end-user, it just doesn't make sense to me. Sure I may have to bring it out a few times, but how much effort does that take.

THE EXCEPTION TO THIS (for me)...is selling an item to a vendor who I KNOW sells out of town (50 to 100 miles away). I sold a nice set of old theatre posters (Our Gang) to a guy for $50...he'll take them 100 miles away where he will get $100 for them, but he will have made a big round trip and paid $135 for two car parking spots to do so. I will never be selling there.

Another fellow buys collectible lighters, old military stuff from me, and if I'm not selling it on eBay I will sell to him for less than I would the end-user so he can drive 50 miles and sell it for 1.5 to 2 times what I am selling it for to him.

******

On the other hand I love picking items from vendors who aren't too sharp in the research and pricing area, especially on some electronics and specialty tools. Buy it from them for $5 to $10 and sell for $15 to $100. I bought a gps from a guy for $5 and sold it on eBay for $65. That's a nice markup.

Yep, I have stopped putting my better stuff out first thing in the morning at the flea for the other vendors to pick. I wait till around 9:00 am and start pulling the good stuff out. My total income for the day has increased by about 25-40% on avaerage  by using this tactic. I have found although I tend to take more stuff home with me at the end of the day by not allowing the other vendors to clean me out first thing in the morning, I definitely make more money, and have more inventory left to sell. What I learned is why let the other vendors get the 25% of your best inventory and you make 30-50% less and spend the rest of the day pushing $1-$2 junk, When you can just keep the 25% best inventory make 50% more money and still push the $1-$2 junk anyway.

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely be setting up this weekend. I had no idea about other vendors trying to pick my stuff! I would have fell victim to that! Geez. Anything to make a buck, eh?

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely be setting up this weekend. I had no idea about other vendors trying to pick my stuff! I would have fell victim to that! Geez. Anything to make a buck, eh?

Hiya Shmoopy~don't freak out about that too much.  Happens everywhere and we sell to other vendors all the time!  Unlike MovieMan and Cobia, I'd rather turn and burn some inventory.  Now there are items I'll sit on for a while, but as a rule.......I'd rather make a buck today than two next Saturday.  It truly is different strokes and there is no right or wrong way to do this (well there is, but who has time for that lesson?).  You'll learn whatever works for you.....often the lesson is painful, like not taking $5 for that item and sitting on it for 3 weeks and finally selling it for $3 just to get rid of it, but learn you will!

Now I'm just venturing into ebaying again after a 6 year hiatus, so we'll see if perhaps my selling habits change, but for now......I love my fellow vendors!

Like rockin said don't worry about it Shmoopy.  You will learn quickly one way or the other

Honestly - for me I sell most of my DVDs, CDs, Games to other vendors.  I sell mine between $1 and $3 each.  From price checking on days I'm not selling most of the vendors are going $4-5 for the same items.  So if they buy it from me and can make an extra buck good for them.  If not they are sitting on the inventory instead of me.

I sold a 2' xmas tree with lights to a vendor for $1.  She put it up in her shop for decoration.  She came back a few other times that day and purchased some items for herself.  I also made a good contact with her and stop and say hello every time I'm out that way.  Is how I find out how the crowds are on weekends I'm not there.  I also learn what sells and what doesn't.  Is how I found out about forks.  The lady said she can't keep forks in stock.  So I lucked up on a lot of kitchen items and sure enough, they sold.  Something I would of only taken if I had room was taken specificly before other items due to her advice.

Now, like MovieMan I also browse around the tables of my competetion and vendors looking for good deals.  I've even purchased a few items from my competetion at the flea and then sold on ebay for a profit.

Think Movieman, Cobia, and Craigslist would have fun at our tables. LOL

We are more like Rockin turn and burn the inventory.

We were picked by the appliance vendor. He gave me what I wanted for a dented crock pot. 

One of the clothes vendors came buy asked what my prices were. Looked at a cute sparkly pair of girls jeans.  Left then buzzed back by handed me $1 and took them. (think because they caught everyone's eye.)

Good luck this weekend. If you get what you want for something then that is good.

We were selling our DVD's for $1. Vendor across from us was selling for $3. She came over and looked at our DVD's. they looked like someone played Frisbee with them. Told her why they were a $1. She was real nice, and after looking at them think she realized why I was selling so cheap.

The vendor next to us sold two electric cheap guitars for $75. Husband was blown away, can pick them up all day for $50.

Oh some advice take bags (grocery store plastic, can shove them in a tissue box for easy storage) and if you have glass take some newspaper to wrap. We forgot that. 

Lol Money - I would be one of your buyers depending on what you have.  I turn and burn most of my inventory that I get all the time.  Other items I'll hold onto for weeks or months on end.  It all depends on shed space really.  Things like golf clubs, high end electronics, etc. I'll hold for a bit.  The clubs should sell come March when it starts to get warm and the golf tournys start to come to the area.

Things that I look to buy at the flea / yard sales are:
1) old computers, parts, and accessories that may or may not work for $5 or less per cpu.
2) copper, brass, silver, etc. metal items that are selling below melt price.
3) old coins / currency that I can resale on ebay or add to my collection.
4) specialty tools to sell on ebay (Brother in law helps me here)
5) bed rails (mostly at yard sales but buy for $5 - $10 and sell for $20 - $30 to thrift / competetion)
6) Ham radio items
7) Anything that I see in wanted / barter section of CL that I think can make profit on.  Only done this once so far.