Becoming A Pro Flea Marketer/Car Booter!

[Cauterize]

I dont know if this is used in the usa, but in the uk haggaling/bartering/asking for a lower price is a common thing and you end up fighting it out with the seller for a cheaper item!

anyways, i have found out various phrases usually work to get items cheaper LOL

Console with no games
"well it doesnt have any games with it so ill have to go and buy some"
(just watch this one work like a treat, the seller gets worried!)

On sellers that wont budge on prices
"ill meet you half way!"
for example, he says 12, you say 10.. half way is 11... works great as nobody looses out on this...

Other ones ive used.....
"how can i guarantee it works..."
"im short on cash" LOL LOL LOL

Anyone want to add to this.. without the haggaling in the uk i wouldnt have half the stuff i do.... its great!

[Nesmaster]

ive used the short on cash one as well. other times i use "this is what i offer you. take it or leave it", or " this stuff is pretty old, not many people want it". if it's for something i know i want whatever the price is, i try to barder, and if no prevail i say " ah well, i was gonna buy it anyway ". im sure ive used more but thats all i can recall for now :P

[Mitch_Naz]

Heh, i've tried most of those and they usaully work, thanks for the extra lines -- I'll try them someday 8-)

[Ed Oscuro]

"im short on cash" LOL LOL LOL
Not after one sells what they've found at car boots! LOL

Erm, I try not to haggle prices downwards...not sure why, I just don't do it. o:

[soniko_karuto]

i've used something like this?

60? but i only have a 50 bill
also the other one that works charms , but you need another person:
do you remember the other one we just saw? i told you it was cheap.

[Cauterize]

after reading yours i remebered some more...

"Doesnt it have the box or manual?"
"Is that the price u put on!?!?!" (in a shocked voice!)
"...are you serious!"
"how much for the OLD computer" emphasise that "old"

hehe we shud make a car boot bible!

[Nez]

I use a tactic called walking a way, they give you a price and you give them a price. If the other side doesn't budge put it down and walk away. That changes there mind right quick.

[charitycasegreg]

I use a tactic called walking a way, they give you a price and you give them a price. If the other side doesn't budge put it down and walk away. That changes there mind right quick.

that should work. I always use this one:

The price is like 10 bucks, I say Ill give you like 5 bucks for this thing. Then he says , I cant take lower then 8. Well all I have is 5.15. Always works.

My friend sam had 3 bucks with him once and the guy wanted 10 bucks for snes with a few games and sam goes "I know your gonna laugh, but ill give you 3 bucks for this cause its all i have with me" then the guy laughed and said ok.

I was at a flea once and we found some skateboard bearing for 8 bucks and sam says "ill give you 4 bucks for these, and the guy was like "no you wont". And sam pulled out 4 bucks and said "seriously i will" and the guy was like "no!" crazy people.

And if something is overpriced and you cant get them to budge, just come back during the night and crack the lock to their garage to take the items... its worked for good ol' charitycase here! :D (jk, prolly would if i tried :evil: ... :hmm: )

[DREW]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

[SkiDragon]

Yeah, bargaining is pretty much standard for anything you buy at garage sales or flea markets. Thats why a lot of things seem too expensive at first. They are MEANT to be bargained.

[Stark]

Haggaling for a $2 item is frowned upon but say anything over $10 you can usually get for a bit cheaper by just asking. I always say "what's the best you can do on this?" and that usually lower the price every time. Then if they won't budge and you really want it just wait for the last 30mins before they close up and if it's still there they would rather sell it than have to haul it home or put back in the garage for next year (most people have a garage sale 1 time a year).

[davidleeroth]

Well this one works for the lady sellers:

Tell her she has some nice items for sale, pick up a plate, a cup, anything you know they've used themselves and tell her you remember having this thing as a child... blah blah old times... blah blah...

It usually brings a smile on her face and then you can quickly change the subject for the videogame lot as she's still dreaming about the old days when bread cost 5 cents and stuff.
You'll have a bargain and she got a smile. Perfect.

[EnemyZero]

Heres one....this took place 3 weeks ago:

Me: Excuse me, how much are you asking for the sega game gear collection? (official game gear carrying case, game gear -screen decently scratched up,ac adapter, car adapter, and about 15 some odd games)

Spanish Guy: uhhh ::looks over at his friend:: 100 bucks.

Me: pffttt are you serioud? the game gear is freakin old as hell....all this stuff here if it were sold in a store goes for 40 bucks combined at the most man, And what guarentee do i have it works? the screen is really messed up, i would have to really clean that up good.....i will give you 55 bucks.

Spanish guy: ::looks over to his friend - friend nods:: Ok its yours

:D

[Keir]

I use a tactic called walking a way, they give you a price and you give them a price. If the other side doesn't budge put it down and walk away. That changes there mind right quick.
Yup, always walk away if they aren’t budging on their price. You can always come back later. At a flea market, the best thing to do if you do come back is to make it look like you didn’t purposely come back to check out that item. Just walk by and then stop and look back and say “Hey, you’re the guy with the [whatever]. You still have that old piece of junk?” Then you tell them your price again. “Since no one else wants it.”

The key here is don’t look too interested.

The same goes for trying to get bulk discounts. If you’re trying to get that 5th game for free, make sure they don’t think you’d have bought the other 4 anyway!

[VinnyT]

None of these work, when the seller goes to this site!

[Cauterize]

Well this one works for the lady sellers:

Tell her she has some nice items for sale, pick up a plate, a cup, anything you know they've used themselves and tell her you remember having this thing as a child... blah blah old times... blah blah...

It usually brings a smile on her face and then you can quickly change the subject for the videogame lot as she's still dreaming about the old days when bread cost 5 cents and stuff.
You'll have a bargain and she got a smile. Perfect.

now that is style!

[THXII38]

My wife and I work a bootsale together, I go on ahead looking for stuff, and she looks round, often picking up bargains anyway, then cathces me up, and I say " that couple with the red ford transit, near the gate, they got a NES games blah blah, don't pay more than x for it", and she will go round again and buy it.

My wife is much better at haggling than I am too, and often astounds me, by bringing home bags fulls of Megadrive games she got while I was at work.

The trick that I like to use, is to go up to someone who has video games, suss out how much stuff they;ve got, and ask them how much a game is. Then I offer them a cash amount for the lot, and wave the note in front of them, they often say yes straight away, and we've done the deal, and I',m walking awaywith the games before they've had time tom think about it.

Also, when I buy stuff, I always factor in the junk, I assume if someone is selling i.e an N64 and games, that the N64 does not work, well might not work, at public auctions houses I assume the consoles are always all faulty.

I knocked some guys selling a Megadrive Mk2 down from £10 to £2 cos there was no rf-lead once.

However, I am never rude, or pushy, nor do I ever take offence if people want too much stuff for their goods, and I never, ever, barge in on someone along with the rabble, when late arrivals are trying to unload their car - i've found standing patiently to one side, and then making a joke about people that can't wait, when they have set up, often yields results - a better price etc etc

--

[mizarkgram]

All you gotta do is look at what you want, think about how muhc you wanna pay for it, and then pull that amount outta yer wallet, and kinda flash it while asking about the game, in my experience, a lot of sellers crumble at the sight of cash.

Now, this really doesnt work for really cheap items, like if you were buying Super Mario Bros.... i mean, if you wave around a few pennies, nobody is going to care, but if you are going to buy a big lot of stuff... and wave around a few 20 dollar bills, you may just have yourself a deal.

I once got a guy to drop from 300 to 100 Canadian just cause I pulled out a wad of 20 and 10 dollar bills and he crumbled

[Cauterize]

All you gotta do is look at what you want, think about how muhc you wanna pay for it, and then pull that amount outta yer wallet, and kinda flash it while asking about the game, in my experience, a lot of sellers crumble at the sight of cash.

Now, this really doesnt work for really cheap items, like if you were buying Super Mario Bros.... i mean, if you wave around a few pennies, nobody is going to care, but if you are going to buy a big lot of stuff... and wave around a few 20 dollar bills, you may just have yourself a deal.

I once got a guy to drop from 300 to 100 Canadian just cause I pulled out a wad of 20 and 10 dollar bills and he crumbled

That Reminds me....

ALWAYS Hold out your offer to them (like hold out a five pound note)
Greed will take over the seller (usually) and the seller will be more willing to part.... greed greed greed....

[kjmontana]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

"Only if that includes BJ's from your entire family, at my convenience, starting with you. Now." Still want it? Didn't think so. "Walk on home, boy!"(Pantera). :evil:

[qbertandernie]

the reminiscing thing works on games too...just act like you havent seen one in many years...

"oh, youve got an old atari?!! we used to have one of these...we used to play all the time...i used to love demon attack..etc.etc."

blah blagh...get to talking, they think back to fun times..youre their friend...they cant over charge a guy as nice as this just wanting to relive old times!

'just give me $xx for it'...

ive done this a lot.

the "are you serious?!" thing seems to piss people off...

i have a rule also that if something is worth way more than is being asked i pay full price. i hate when people say things like "oh yeah. i was at a garage sale and they had a neo geo AES for $20 with 5 games...i talked em down to $15."
PAY THE DAMN $5. im a cheap bastard but at least i come about it honestly.

[Simply Dave]

Though morally wrong, I've been known on many occasions to outright lie to a vendor by saying "(so and so way over on the other side of the lot) has this same game for such and such a price." It works more often then not, too. Yes, I'm a cheap bastard.

I also like to hold the money in front of them. It's hard to say no when you're waving the green at them. Especially if it's been a slow day for them.

[The_EniGma]

"Just say its in bad condition"

Also if they are selling for 15 offer em about 7 and say its more than you'll get at gamestation/stop if u trade in
:P 8-)

[DREW]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

"Only if that includes BJ's from your entire family, at my convenience, starting with you. Now." Still want it? Didn't think so. "Walk on home, boy!"(Pantera). :evil:

And the next thing you would say is what happened? how did I get here? Was I run over by a truck?

[-hellvin-]

Whenever I'm at the fucking park n swap I wanna say "Price this more reasonably or I'm going to have to shove it up your ass".

Yeah it sounds a little hostile, but I hate that place. All I say is "No problem, I'll pick it up elsewhere." if they refuse to budge. Kinda rude but works.

[Cauterize]

or if you are really really twisted in the head, say your buying the thing for a friend in hospital who gave u X amount of cash....

NO i havent used this... and i wont either!
very very twisted but hey i bet it works!

[kjmontana]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

"Only if that includes BJ's from your entire family, at my convenience, starting with you. Now." Still want it? Didn't think so. "Walk on home, boy!"(Pantera). :evil:

And the next thing you would say is what happened? how did I get here? Was I run over by a truck?

Bring it. I'm no punk. I'd "truck" him up. I don't appreciate liars ON EITHER SIDE of this argument. If I have something you want to buy, why wouldn't you pay the price? If it is not artificially over-priced, why jack'em down? Why over-price something you WANT TO SELL? You both ASSUME the other is trying to F-U so you do this garbage with a "clear conscience". You don't haggle at Grocery or Department stores. Why don't both sides give the other a break and be honest on the buying and selling price? If an item is worth it, buy it. If an item isn't worth it, don't. I agree with going back later and offering a lower amount on whatever didn't sell in the interim but jumping on ANYTHING no matter the price and INSTANTLY badgering until they give in or give attitude is not right. If you insist on talking the price down if it's obviously over-priced, do you also volunteer to pay more if it turns out it's obviously under-priced? I point out both when it is blatant. Gosh, I'm good!

[NESu]

Well this one works for the lady sellers:

Tell her she has some nice items for sale, pick up a plate, a cup, anything you know they've used themselves and tell her you remember having this thing as a child... blah blah old times... blah blah...

It usually brings a smile on her face and then you can quickly change the subject for the videogame lot as she's still dreaming about the old days when bread cost 5 cents and stuff.
You'll have a bargain and she got a smile. Perfect.

that's not evel , that's putting smiles on peoples faces LOL

[DREW]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

"Only if that includes BJ's from your entire family, at my convenience, starting with you. Now." Still want it? Didn't think so. "Walk on home, boy!"(Pantera). :evil:

And the next thing you would say is what happened? how did I get here? Was I run over by a truck?

Bring it. I'm no punk. I'd "truck" him up. I don't appreciate liars ON EITHER SIDE of this argument. If I have something you want to buy, why wouldn't you pay the price? If it is not artificially over-priced, why jack'em down? Why over-price something you WANT TO SELL? You both ASSUME the other is trying to F-U so you do this garbage with a "clear conscience". You don't haggle at Grocery or Department stores. Why don't both sides give the other a break and be honest on the buying and selling price? If an item is worth it, buy it. If an item isn't worth it, don't. I agree with going back later and offering a lower amount on whatever didn't sell in the interim but jumping on ANYTHING no matter the price and INSTANTLY badgering until they give in or give attitude is not right. If you insist on talking the price down if it's obviously over-priced, do you also volunteer to pay more if it turns out it's obviously under-priced? I point out both when it is blatant. Gosh, I'm good!

What is your problem?

I was giving my advice on a simple way to start a dialog with a seller to try and get said item cheaper. The little play with words has
always gotten the seller to stumble a little before they can answer, this has usually
ending with them giving a little smile and thus starting off on a good note.

You seem to have some sort of chip on your shoulder, Get over it.

BTW I would bet you if I was standing in front of you would never talk to me in the manor you stated earlier, I am sure you are only a loud mouth when you are sure you can't be called on it.

[kjmontana]

Try using this one, they can't answer without falling into your offer

Would XX.XX ( use any amount ) be to much to offer?

"Only if that includes BJ's from your entire family, at my convenience, starting with you. Now." Still want it? Didn't think so. "Walk on home, boy!"(Pantera). :evil:

And the next thing you would say is what happened? how did I get here? Was I run over by a truck?

Bring it. I'm no punk. I'd "truck" him up. I don't appreciate liars ON EITHER SIDE of this argument. If I have something you want to buy, why wouldn't you pay the price? If it is not artificially over-priced, why jack'em down? Why over-price something you WANT TO SELL? You both ASSUME the other is trying to F-U so you do this garbage with a "clear conscience". You don't haggle at Grocery or Department stores. Why don't both sides give the other a break and be honest on the buying and selling price? If an item is worth it, buy it. If an item isn't worth it, don't. I agree with going back later and offering a lower amount on whatever didn't sell in the interim but jumping on ANYTHING no matter the price and INSTANTLY badgering until they give in or give attitude is not right. If you insist on talking the price down if it's obviously over-priced, do you also volunteer to pay more if it turns out it's obviously under-priced? I point out both when it is blatant. Gosh, I'm good!

What is your problem?

I was giving my advice on a simple way to start a dialog with a seller to try and get said item cheaper. The little play with words has
always gotten the seller to stumble a little before they can answer, this has usually
ending with them giving a little smile and thus starting off on a good note.

You seem to have some sort of chip on your shoulder, Get over it.

BTW I would bet you if I was standing in front of you would never talk to me in the manor you stated earlier, I am sure you are only a loud mouth when you are sure you can't be called on it.

I wouldn't start anything but I wouldn't back down either. You made it sound like you held the person you quizzed in that way, to the price you quoted(whatever "XX.XX" was at that moment). That's the way I took it. If you are just "breaking the ice" as it were, that is different. I'm nice until it's time to not be nice(paraphrase from "RoadHouse" by the now 52(?) year-old Patrick Swayze). Peace! Until War. Okay, PEACE! BTW, I live in Peoria, AZ and I welcome being "called on". And I'm not loud, just set in concrete on a few levels. Peace, again.

[DREW]

I wouldn't start anything but I wouldn't back down either. You made it sound like you held the person you quizzed in that way, to the price you quoted(whatever "XX.XX" was at that moment). That's the way I took it. If you are just "breaking the ice" as it were, that is different. I'm nice until it's time to not be nice(paraphrase from "RoadHouse" by the now 52(?) year-old Patrick Swayze). Peace! Until War. Okay, PEACE! BTW, I live in Peoria, AZ and I welcome being "called on". And I'm not loud, just set in concrete on a few levels. Peace, again.

It looks like a misunderstanding, No harm done, Peace

[ianoid]

"Doesnt it have the box or manual?"
"Is that the price u put on!?!?!" (in a shocked voice!)
"...are you serious!"
"how much for the OLD computer" emphasise that "old"


Those all seem too antogonistic to me. I live in cities and the folks are uptight and defensive. If you get on the offensive with them, they may just keep it to spite you, because they all feel so powerless from city living.

[ianoid]

I am so experienced, I'm level 65 on Everquest for Flea Market crap. You want tips? I've got 'em.

Always buy in quantity. If you can find more items, always go for the quantity deal.

Never make your first offer more than 50% less than their first offer. You will rarely please them. And once their pissed, they've decided you aren't worth a deal.

I like the make them smile thing. If you can make them smile, you will always get a better than if you didn't. This can be hard with a language barrier. It can also be hard if you are the only white guy at a Mexican market or whatever.

Don't look too professional or too hip. Look normal. Look innocuous. Definitely don't reveal that you are a pro at this and that you troll eBay constantly. Don't wear video game stuff or your DP shirt to the market. It will be too obvious that you know what you're doing or are seriously into it. A casual buyer seems less likely to pay top dollar to a vendor.

Don't bring up the internet or eBay. Try not to get pissed when they do. Vendors at markets only very rarely have any clue about the reality of eBay. If they did, any valuable items would be sold there.

Always make your first offer no less than half of what you'd like to pay.

I like the 'meet you halfway thing'- it makes you seem like you're working with them. I never use it.

My favorite word at the flea market when they just aren't dropping the price: << turns back and walks away >> Nothing wrong with checking to see if they're chasing you are thinking about it once you've walked a few steps. And nothing wrong with turning back and paying for it at that point. Don't leave a good item sitting- it will be bought in less than 2 minutes by the guy you just passed up a booth or two before.

If it's cheap, when in doubt, pick it up. If you are planning to resell an item, just buy it, make too little and learn if you forgot. Otherwise, you might regret it, not do your research (easy to forget what you meant to look up when you got home) and then spend more out of regret the next time you see the item.

Don't buy classic or obvious collectibles to resell unless you totally know what you are doing. Mickey Mouse, Smurfs, Disney, world's fair, army, whatever. Most of that stuff is crap and the market on eBay is inundated. If you know what you are doing, and you should focus on a market with readily available stuff, you can buy a few non-game items and increase your budget for eBay or whatever selling stuff you don't care about. Makes me think of that hip hop guy KRS-1- which he claimed stood for Knowledge Reigns Supreme (over everyone), but I like the KRS part.

Skip the new stuff/don't skip the new stuff. If you are faint of heart, don't waste your time on the sections with new stuff. If you are endlessly patient, or like a stroll, take a close look at those isle with new taiwan crap, repro designer knock-off shows, flammable infant blanket sets and what not. Surprises may occur rarely, sometimes where you don't expect them. I tend to hit those isles 1 in 4 or 5 visits.

Never get mad. Getting in a yelling match will not help your cause. Pissing them off will not help your cause. Being their buddy will, but that doesn't mean giving them a DP guide. That will only ensure that your market's prices will take a rapid jump and that stuff may just get scooped up by your vendor before you get there, and all day long after you leave.

Don't spread the gospel. Don't tell the vendors the current eBay prices. Don't tell them that there are guides. Don't enlighten them. If you want to enlighten people get into religeon. Don't ruin it for the rest of use by making regular game vendors eBayers or mega pricers or whatever. Selling should always be 'sell at your own risk.' Noone can know every price for every item ever, nor could they know every possible worthwhile item out there. Best not to improve their access.

Get there early, get there late. At most markets I've been to, there are folks setting up throughout the day. Rarely is an entire market set up at the same time. Sometimes new stuff is unearthed by the afternoon. Although I like getting an early start, I know that at some markets I'm missing out because the vendors are so lazy, they don't even arrive until 9am, and aren't even setup until 11am. I've found stuff at all hours of the day, so it's not clear whether earlier is better or what. Try varying your timing. And the correlary:

You can never get everything. There will always be misses, competition, cast aways, overpriced stuff, and vendors saving stuff for persuasive jerks. Your time will come, if your market is worth a damn.

I may have to copy this into a column for the print version of DP... I have more, I think. And I could do the guide to Thrifting the Ianoid Way.

[kjmontana]

I wouldn't start anything but I wouldn't back down either. You made it sound like you held the person you quizzed in that way, to the price you quoted(whatever "XX.XX" was at that moment). That's the way I took it. If you are just "breaking the ice" as it were, that is different. I'm nice until it's time to not be nice(paraphrase from "RoadHouse" by the now 52(?) year-old Patrick Swayze). Peace! Until War. Okay, PEACE! BTW, I live in Peoria, AZ and I welcome being "called on". And I'm not loud, just set in concrete on a few levels. Peace, again.

It looks like a misunderstanding, No harm done, Peace

Sorry for ASSUMING, I should know better. I need to tread more carefully into uncharted waters. I just experienced all these tactics and more from my old man. He could buy a stairway to heaven from God for nothing. And make Him feel bad in the process. Again, sorry for taking the crazy train through this thread. Now, back to your normal programming.

[Cauterize]

seems we have a pro here....

[sniperCCJVQ]

I may have to copy this into a column for the print version of DP... I have more, I think. And I could do the guide to Thrifting the Ianoid Way.

Great stuff !

I'm looking for the rest of your tips Ian.

[Sosage]

I am so experienced, I'm level 65 on Everquest for Flea Market crap. You want tips? I've got 'em.

Agreed. Agreed. Agreed and oh yeah...Agreed! :D

I was about to add some of my own insight, but you covered all the bases. Go early (or as you say, late...although I hit early). Don't get pissy with the sellers. Don't bring up Ebay (EVER...this will obviously back fire on you...you're essentially asking them to up the price). Don't become an asshole when *they* bring up Ebay. Be willing to buy in bulk (I've hit some of my best swap/flea/in the wild deals when I offer to pick up everything). When in doubt, put it on the ground, wave and say "thanks anyways" and walk. It doesn't pay in the long run being a jerk at these things but it does if you're a nice guy about things (this is true in life also imo). Word spreads quickly when you're the known jerk.

Someone mentioned pulling the "long lost memories" card. In my experience, this one never works (against a female or male). You're actually pretending to be the sort of buyer they get a hard on over when it comes to the older games/comics/toys they spread out on the ground. To most seasoned sellers, these sorts of buyers come off nostalgic, romantic and ignorant as far as real world value. All this ever does is up the starting price on the item. But hey...if it works for you then it works for you. Maybe there is something in the water over there. ;)

[qbertandernie]

long lost memories wouldnt likely work on a flea marketeer, but works great on anyone at a garage sale. shouldve clarified that in my post. flea marketeers are in it for the money, garage sellers are mainly in it to relieve themselves of a bunch of crap they no longer use.

i dont really know what a 'car boot sale' is, i know the boot is the trunk, but in my part of the country(world?) we dont have those types of sales.

[sniperCCJVQ]

i dont really know what a 'car boot sale' is, i know the boot is the trunk, but in my part of the country(world?) we dont have those types of sales.


"car boot sale" (UK) = flea market (US).

[qbertandernie]

itd be kinda cool to see a bunch of people lined up selling crap out of their car trunks.. everyone here has table and boxes.... :(