Many dedicated shoppers know the story. In 1991, a shopper bought an old painting solely for its frame at an East Coast tag sale. When he tore off the brown paper backing to remove the old painting, he discovered an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. This amazing find later sold for $2.4 million.
It’s stories like this that inspire us. But it’s the small victories—a vintage teacup, an early American basket, an art deco lamp—that keep us rummaging year after year. Below you’ll find lots of tips to help you make the most out of your flea market adventures. Who knows, you may even find a priceless work of art hiding underneath a velvet clown painting. Good luck and happy hunting!
When is the Ideal Time to Shop?
Contrary to conventional wisdom, arriving early isn’t necessarily the best timing. Although many diehard shoppers and professional antique buyers arrive early for the widest selection, you’ll often find your best deals at the end of the day when sellers are more willing to let things go for a steal. This is especially true if the seller is hosting a moving sale or a garage-cleaning sale. The thought of dragging unsold items back inside has a way of inspiring drastic price reductions.
What is the Best way to Bargain?
Rule number one, always assume there is room to negotiate. And don’t be shy about suggesting a lower price. For example, if an old table is marked $8, ask, “Would you be willing to take $5 for this?” Often the seller will agree to the lower price or come back with a counter offer. Many sellers are simply happy to get rid of their clutter. Fortunately, in the world of tag sales, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
Don’t be shy about asking the price of unmarked merchandise. If the price is too high, simply say, “No thanks. I’m not interested at that price.” If you’re in love with the item, suggest a lower price; if not, leave it at that. Don’t feel obligated to buy something simply because you inquired about the price. And remember, some sellers determine the price of unmarked items by evaluating your level of interest, so control your enthusiasm.
Keep in mind, some merchandise warrants a higher price tag because it’s in pristine condition or because it’s a rare antique or a collector’s item. There are also times when it’s inappropriate to negotiate, such as at charity benefits.
Transforming Trash into Treasures
As your wood care resource, we thought it only fitting to offer you some helpful hints for fixing wooden tag sale treasures—from furniture to frames
Crayon Marks on Wood Tables: Simply spray the marks with Orange Glo® Wood Cleaner and Polish and wipe the mark away with a soft cotton cloth or shammy.
Loose Frames: Frames that have separated at the corners can often be fixed fairly easily by replacing the old loose nails with a slightly larger nail.
Minor Nicks and Scratches on Table Tops: Apply Orange Glo® Wood Cleaner & Polish to a soft shammy or soft cotton cloth. Then gently buff the scratch until it disappears or becomes significantly less noticeable. Be careful not to rub too briskly or you can cause buffer burns.
Cracked Rocking Chair Rocker: Pull the two pieces apart enough to add a thin layer of epoxy glue. Hold together with a C-clamp until the glue dries.
Sticking Drawers: Rub soap or a candle on the edges of the drawer.
Burns: use a wax fill stick, available at hardware stores. Rub into the burn and buff with a clean cotton cloth. Fill sticks come in a range of colors to match your furniture, and many manufacturers also keep them in stock.
White Spots or Watermarks: Often watermarks are in the wax, not in the finish. So once you remove this excess wax, they will disappear. To remove the wax, spray Orange Glo®, Wood Cleaner and Polish on the mark and gently rub with a shammy or soft cotton cloth. (Don’t saturate the spot or let Orange Glo® sit on the spot.)
Removing the Paper Backing of Frames: Take great care! Don’t simply rip into it, a priceless treasure may be hiding underneath.
A Word of Caution on Choosing Wood
When buying secondhand furniture, don’t be fooled by fanciful names for wood. Some wood furniture is stenciled with terms, such as “Royal Oak,” “Early American Maple,” or “Regency Mahogany.” These terms often refer to the color of the wood and not to the actual wood. Instead look for the term “Genuine” before the name of the wood (“Genuine Oak,” “Genuine Maple,” “Genuine Mahogany”).
Not All Veneers Are Bad
Some of the finest furniture of the past is made with rare veneers, a thin top layer of wood. Don’t automatically rule out a beautiful old dresser or table simply because it is veneered, especially if the veneer is on top of a finely crafted quality hardwood. You can easily restore an old veneer top to its former luster by spraying and gently buffing it with Orange Glo® Wood Cleaner & Polish.
Don’t Rule Out Items With Nicks and Scratches
Before you pass up a worn picture frame, table, or dresser, keep in mind that imperfections can lend character to the piece, especially if it’s an antique. For example, the antique wooden frames displayed in many of the world’s most prestigious art galleries show off their age, with chipped corners, missing moldings, and discoloration. These “beauty marks” add charm to the frames, which are pieces of art in their own right.
Ten Treasure-Hunting Tips
- Bring cash.
- Before going, empty out your car so you’ve got plenty of room for your purchases.
- Never assume a price is firm.
- Put furniture to the test. Sit in chairs, open dresser drawers, crawl under tables to check the joinery, do what it takes to evaluate the quality.
- If you’re seriously considering an item, carry it around until you decide so you don’t lose it to a fellow buyer; you can always put it back later.
- Take old grocery bags, sacks, newspaper, and old blankets with you to wrap and transport your items.
- Don’t wear expensive clothing and jewelry; the seller may assume you can afford top dollar and be less willing to negotiate.
- Bring a measuring tape to ensure your purchase fits in its designated spot. It’s amazing how much smaller furniture looks when it’s displayed outside.
- If you’re looking for antiques, learn how to evaluate their authenticity and worth.
- Resist buying something you don’t need because it’s a “great deal.”
A Few Hints for Dating Your Finds
Bottle seams: Bottles made before 1840 have no seams because bottle molds didn’t exist yet. Instead, they were blown and hand-finished. After 1890, bottles were made entirely by molds, so they have a seam that reaches from the bottom of the bottle to the very top of the lip.
Zip codes: Items bearing a zip code were made after 1963.
UPC codes: Items with UPC codes were most likely made after 1973; although the UPC code existed before this, it wasn’t widely used.
Codes and dates: always turn over ceramic pieces to see if the bottom is marked with a date.
Signatures: some furniture bears the signature of the cabinetmaker, which can be used to date the piece. But beware, there are also fake signatures out there. So if you’re shopping for pricey pieces, learn how to authenticate antiques.
