Tips for finding flea markets/garage sales etc.

[backguard]

I need some pointers from the experienced collectors here!

I'm looking for tips on flea markets and garage sales. I see lots of stories on here about people picking up good stuff from flea markets. I would like to start going to them this summer when I finally have time, but how do I figure out where good flea markets are? What about good garage sales?

Any info about anything related to flea markets/garage sales would be great!

[8-bitNesMan]

Check the classified ads and cruise suburban neighborhoods early on Saturday mornings. People who have yard/garage sales usually post signs at the entrance to their neighborhoods.

[dcescott]

luck, pure luck.
When searching at flea markets, they usually push the games out since they sell well. Keep your eyes open for systems, then ask for anymore if something is out for sale.
Garage Sales:
Upper class, newer system stuff
Lower class, everything else.
Classifieds work, online classifields too
Word of mouth, some friends have given me the hookup.

[bangtango]

I need some pointers from the experienced collectors here!

I'm looking for tips on flea markets and garage sales. I see lots of stories on here about people picking up good stuff from flea markets. I would like to start going to them this summer when I finally have time, but how do I figure out where good flea markets are? What about good garage sales?

Any info about anything related to flea markets/garage sales would be great!

Simply read your newspaper classified ads during the summer because a lot of that stuff is mentioned. Then again, some people don't post those in the paper.

I've been buying and playing games forever, so I supposed I am "experienced." To this day, I just go out for a drive some Saturdays or Sundays and "find" lawn sales or garage sales. I usually have to slam on the brakes or whip my car around. So a lot of them you just find by chance. Make a point to spend part of your weekend, usually between 10 am to 4 pm, just driving around your neighborhood up and down each road. Take a different route than you usually would, along some back roads or go "the long way." Most of the time you won't find anything but that is a simple way to scour for lawn sales or garage sales. It seems like a hare brained way to do it but not everybody lists their garage sale or lawn sale in the paper. It also helps if you check the side of the road for signs pointing in the direction of a sale like that. You should know ahead of time that some sales won't have a single game there, just a bunch of old books, clothes or household items. That is the risk you take, though, and you never know unless you pull in. It would be a bigger waste to drive by without at least checking.

As for flea markets, I'd ask an older relative or someone you might work with if they know any flea markets around the area. That or you could just use the classified ads but again, they aren't always listed.

[RJ]

Well this really doesnt have anything to do w/ sales/flea mkts, but tell EVERYONE you know about your hobby/you collect video games. I got quite a few great scores that way. People just want to get rid of it.

Let others fight/haggle over the public sales, when an acquaintance wants to dump some gaming stuff, you'll be the 1st (maybe only) one in line.