Where to Find Vintage Items to Sell or Collect
Where we find the vintage items for our home and vintage shop
Hunting for vintage gems? In this episode, we’re sharing where to find vintage items, the best places to find antiques, and our favorite sources for stocking our own vintage shop. Plus, we break down the pros and cons of shopping at antique stores, thrift shops, estate sales, flea markets, and more. Whether you're sourcing vintage items to resell or searching for the perfect addition to your collection, we’re revealing the best places to score unique finds on any budget!
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Episode Transcript:
Amber:
Welcome to Episode 3 of the Gem Finders Podcast, where we chat about all things buying and selling vintage and antique items. I'm Amber.
Shaun:
I'm Shaun. Somehow we have made it to our third episode already.
Amber:
Woo! Today's episode is going to be all about where we find our inventory— the vintage items and the antique items that we sell. Our favorite places to find inventory, the pros and cons of where we shop.
So, whether you're looking to buy antiques or sell vintage and antique items, this is going to be a really informative episode for you to listen to.
Shaun:
And I mentioned briefly in the last episode that we take a sort of non-traditional approach to where we find our inventory.
But we are going to talk about all of the different options. We're not just going to focus on what we do. This is going to help you find inventory in many different ways—whether it's in person, online,
Amber:
And not just inventory. This is going to be a really great overview of where to find vintage and antique items in general, even if you're not looking to resell, you just want to know how we find really great items and where we look, this is an episode for you. So, as Shaun said, we don't really go the traditional route because I feel like in reselling, most people try to find things for the lowest price that they possibly can and sell them for a good bit of money.
Shaun:
And that's not a bad strategy.
Amber:
No, and that's not a bad strategy, and that is how we started. We started—I didn't pay more than $5 for anything for a very long time. So we will go over and get into that. But the approach we take now is, we find most of our inventory from antique stores, which I don't think a lot of people know.
When we post the haul videos, I think people just assume that we thrift these items. And so I want to clear the air. I want to address that misconception. Because we spend a lot of time finding our inventory. We spend a lot of money on it. And the selection and the assortment that we have, it comes from paying up and driving all over. It is not luck at the thrift stores, okay?
So let's just start with that.
Shaun:
We travel many miles frequently to find our inventory. We do have some local places that we go to. But we also don't have any antique stores that are less than 35-40 minutes away.
So even when we go to the local places, we still have to drive and it takes a lot of time. The driving takes time. Walking through all of the stores, because we walk through the stores, we cover every inch, every nook and cranny, we check sometimes twice.
Amber:
Sometimes twice.
Shaun:
That is true. So it takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of effort. And we do spend a lot of money on our inventory.
Amber:
But you can still find really great items. Maybe not at this level, but you can still find really great items from a variety of different places, whether you are looking to resell or just collect.
So yes, the main places that we find inventory or the main places that we look for items aside from antique stores. The options are thrift stores, estate, garage, and yard sales, flea markets, fleatique-type stores—which are kind of in between a thrift store and an antique store. Sometimes they have non-antique items too, but sometimes you can find really great items and really great deals similar to a peddler's market—you can also get inventory or collectibles obviously online such as the marketplace platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy—places like that.
Something we really haven't explored are auctions, both in person and online. So if you know anybody who really is good at doing those—because they overwhelm us— please tag them. So that we can invite them to talk on an episode.
Shaun:
We have explored them. At least I have.
Amber:
We haven't bought anything.
Shaun:
We haven't pulled the trigger on anything. Because it seems so expensive after you factor in what the end bid price is and the buyer’s premium, and if you're going to have to have them shipped to you, it just—I don't know, it doesn't feel worth it to me.
But I'm sure that there are some other auctions out there, some auctions that are worth exploring, some that—or in general— maybe they just aren't as overwhelming as they seem when we look at them.
So yeah, if anybody has any info or tips to help us out with that, that would be wonderful.
Amber:
Because I know a lot of people source and collect from auctions. But it seems really overwhelming. And then another thing— another issue—is that there's no condition info on anything. So you don't know if you're ending up with Fenton with a large crack or anything like that.
So auctions definitely intimidate us, so we don't source from auctions, although a lot of people always tell me that we should. And then the last one that I didn't list before is Facebook Marketplace. So those are kind of the bases we're gonna cover today, other than the auctions.
So one of the reasons that we source so much from antique stores and collect so much from antique stores is because of the quality of items that we can find.
Amber:
Antique stores have the hard-to-find items, they have the rare items, they have the really special items that are very challenging to find in other places. And that's not to say that you can't find those items at thrift stores or other places like a garage sale, but they're much more far and few in between.
Because so much of the business consumes a lot of time, and a lot of resources, and a lot of energy, we really only have so much time to source. Even though it's a lot of time, we really have to optimize that and be as efficient as possible when it comes to finding these items.
So that is why we shop mostly from antique stores, but it was not always like that. We spent so much time shopping from other places. And I spent many, many months, if not probably years—definitely into the years— where almost all of our inventory came from thrift stores and flea markets and all the other places.
So antique stores are really great, and even if you don't shop on our level yet, antique stores are a great place to grab a couple really spectacular items for your inventory. And not only are those spectacular items going to help bring customers into your page, but they're also really great content for social media.
And even if you're not reselling on social media, just to have those items on social media— if you're in any type of social media— a really great vintage or antique item can be very eye-catching and can create a lot of conversation. So if you're in branding, marketing, home decor, there are a lot of other reasons why you might wanna grab some antiques and kind of integrate them into your lives.
Shaun:
Antique stores are definitely something that you have to build up to. I feel like I don't think that most people starting this type of business are going to have the expendable income to spend on inventory at antique stores, so definitely don't think that that is where you should be starting. That will overwhelm you. That will not be a good start, most likely. Definitely start lower. I would recommend starting with free items that you get, that you already have, or that you get from family members or friends, and then work your way up.
So the next one that I will touch on is thrift stores because I would think that that would probably be the next step up from free inventory.
So I would say thrift stores are very hit or miss, very hit or miss, which is why we stopped using them as a source for inventory for the most part because we were having way more misses than we were having hits.
So that's kind of how we ended up at antique stores in the first place. So set your expectations accordingly. Thrift stores are a great place to check. I absolutely would recommend checking them as often as you can, but you never know what you're going to find.
There's a very high chance that you won't find anything, but it also depends on what you're looking for. We focus more on glass, brass, and stone pieces. But there are also other vintage items that we don't really have the knowledge of that, you know, they could be worth something, but we just don't know, so maybe there's something that is more in line with what you are trying to sell. That you would have better luck at a thrift store, so definitely worth checking out.
Amber:
And when in the earlier parts of my journey, I was selling a lot of vintage clothing. And I will say that vintage clothing, I would come across a lot more frequently at thrift stores compared to antique stores. So it really kind of depends on what you're looking for. And as we're going through the options, we'll kind of talk about what we tend to find at each.
But I think thrift stores are a fantastic place to get your hands on some vintage clothing items, vintage purses, vintage jewelry, even vintage shoes. I feel like I used to see pretty often when I was looking at thrift stores.
I also think it's worth noting that the thrift store you're going to matters. That's not to say that you're not going to find great things at a chain thrift store, but I do think that the ones that are like the church resale stores, I feel like they have better items.
Maybe they're not shopped as frequently. The smaller, random thrift stores that aren't part of a big brand, I feel like when we walk into those, there's a higher chance that we might walk out with at least something.
Shaun:
It just depends. They all offer a different variety of items. A lot of them are focused primarily on clothing, so a lot of them don't have what we're looking for. But again, if clothing is your thing, I feel like the thrift stores are probably— well, they're definitely a better option than antique stores. We don’t—you don't see any vintage clothing at antique stores very rarely, so thrift stores are going to be a better option for you.
And you have a lot more options with thrift stores than you do with antique stores. I feel like there are so many more thrift stores. There are thrift stores all over the place.
So definitely worth checking out, whether it is a bigger chain or a smaller, independent-owned, or church-run thrift store. Definitely, definitely worth checking out regardless of what you're selling.
Amber:
Thrift stores are also a really great place to find furniture. If you are looking for furniture for your home or furniture to flip, definitely start at thrift stores compared to antique stores, because the furniture at antique stores can get pretty pricey, especially if it is a really good piece. But thrift stores—we have seen so much really great furniture at thrift stores for next to nothing.
And thrift stores are also a fantastic place to find crystal. It'll be mixed in with the clear glass, because I feel like they're not really paying attention to what they're putting out. And if you are looking for crystal bowls, crystal lidded dishes, crystal anything, that's something that's great to have on your radar when you're going to walk into a thrift store.
I also think it's worth noting that the prices at thrift stores have gone up so much that sometimes I feel like they're not any cheaper than the antique stores that we walk into. So that's another reason why a lot of our inventory comes from antique stores. So just something to be aware of.
Shaun:
That's true. We have gotten pieces cheaper at antique stores than we've seen them at thrift stores, and it's more expensive or the same price. So you never know, and they're all different. That's not to place any of them in a box. They all set their own prices. But just—just keep that in mind.
Amber:
I also think a great place to start when you're looking for vintage items is going to flea markets. And I feel like we really had so much fun with this when we were first starting out. I feel like I really looked forward to going. Most Sundays, we would go to the local flea market, and it was always fun to see what we would find.
And as the quality of our inventory began to increase more and more, we started going less and less because we weren't really finding a lot of the items that we were looking for. But in the beginning, we had some great flea market days.
Shaun:
I still enjoy going to flea markets just for the experience. It's fun—you never know what you're going to see, you never know who you're going to see. So there's a lot of uncertainty, but in a good way.
You could find anything—literally anything. The vendors could have anything—you don't know. You don't know what vendors are going to be there a lot of the time. It's a very unpredictable scenario, but it's a fun, unpredictable feeling.
Amber:
And I also think that out of all of the options, flea markets are the best place to find very cheap inventory. I feel like the prices at the flea markets are the best. Now granted, like I said, it's very hit or miss, you never know what you're going to find. But I found so many depression glass plates for $1. I found a lot of milk glass for very cheap.
Sometimes you'll get people who don’t really care what they're selling, they just have all of this stuff that they need to clear out, and they're just like, “Take a whole box for $5.” So flea markets can be a very fun adventure, especially if you're just starting out and you're not really sure what you're looking for yet.
Because you can still find some great quality glassware. We definitely have come across vendors that are selling Fenton and Westmoreland and the glassware that we look for. But it's also a really great place to find those really inexpensive items.
And it's so fun when you see something good, and you're like, “How much do you want for that?” And in your head, you're willing to pay $15, and then they're like, “Oh, $3,” and you're like, “Yes!”
Shaun:
Like Amber said, you can find the higher-end art glass, Fenton, Westmoreland, things like that, or you can find depression glass plates, things like that. But I would say my biggest piece of advice is to make sure that you thoroughly inspect and check the quality of every item.
Because a lot of the times, there are people that are just trying to get rid of whatever, so sometimes they'll just be in boxes and filthy, and it's really easy to miss some small chips and things like that.
When something is especially super dirty like that, it's really easy to overlook that stuff. So I would say definitely use flea markets—they're a great resource—but just make sure that you really thoroughly inspect everything and make sure that whatever you're paying for is worth it.
Amber:
And it's really easy to get caught up when somebody’s like, “Oh, it’s $2,” and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, that’s a fantastic price!” It’s so easy to just forget to look the piece over, and then you get home and you're like, “Oh man.” So don’t get caught up in the good deals. Make sure that you’re really looking the pieces over.
I also think it’s worth noting that flea markets are a great place to start if you’re doing this with kids. Our niece would love to go with us. She would love to find things because they have plenty of kid items. I would give her like a five-dollar budget, and she would love to come with us. She's been coming to flea markets since she was like 2.
So if you're trying to, you know, make some extra money with kids, or if you want to add to your vintage collection and you have kids in your life, flea markets are such a great place to find items when you do have children around, flea markets can also be really fun to look into when you're traveling. I think it is such a fun time to look at flea markets in different states, and when you go on vacation, you know, stop by one on a Sunday morning and see what they have.
But you do really need to make sure that you do your research first because I've gone to a lot of flea markets that don't have any vintage items, and they're all just pallets from Amazon that people are getting rid of, things like that. So just make sure that you do a little bit of research and get a feel for what kind of vendors might be there. But definitely look into flea markets when you're traveling. And another great place to find vintage antique items are antique and vintage flea markets.
We don't go to them as often because you do need to travel. There aren't a ton around here, but I have found some of the best pieces at vintage and antique shows and vintage and antique markets.
I feel like it falls in between an antique store and a flea market kind of situation. But there are these markets that are a step up that really are focused just on vintage and antique pieces. And they are so fun to go to because you don't have to filter through the new stuff and the old stuff. You can just walk through every booth, and it is vintage and antique and old items. And they are a great place to really optimize sourcing.
So if you're traveling and you happen to see that there is an antique show where you're at, make sure you stop because even if the prices are high, it is so cool to see the pieces that they have. And it's a great way to kind of see what you might be interested in looking for in the future because you'll be able to get your eyes on pieces that you've never seen before, which is also hard because now you're like, "Oh man, I want this, and I have to find it on my own."
But it can be a really fun opportunity to mix in with the antique stores and the flea markets and the thrift stores and everything like that.
Shaun:
Yeah, you touched on it for a second there. I think that they definitely are fun to go to, but they are not all the same. Some of the prices at some of the vintage antique markets that we've been to are very high.
So again, I think it's another research thing. Although we do research and we'll read reviews, and they'll say the prices are great, and we'll go there and they are not great. So it's, again, it's hit or miss, but they are fun. Whether or not you walk out of there with anything, you do always see some really incredible pieces, some rare, extremely hard-to-find pieces. So definitely worth checking out regardless.
Amber:
And I think that research is such an important part of this, whether you're collecting or buying antiques to resell, because there's only so much information that can be accessed on the internet, and there's only so many pieces that are out there online.
And a lot of them are not, you're never going to see them unless you see them at an antique show or in a glassware book or things like that.
And so I think when you walk into these antique stores or an antique show and the prices are way out of your budget, don't get completely turned off because it's a great place to learn.
And I have seen things at higher-end antique stores that I wasn't aware of, and then a few months later, I have seen them at an antique store at a lower price point, and I'm like, "I know exactly what that is, and I know that it's valuable, and we should grab it."
And I would have never had that kind of train of thought if I wasn't keeping my eyes open and my mind open at these antique stores and these shows that we walk into where the prices are very blinding.
Shaun:
So from there, I think that the next closest in-between option would be Fleatiques. Fleatiques are another mixed bag of anything. Most of them are indoor. I feel like most fleatiques are indoor, so they're sort of like indoor flea markets. Which again, at flea markets, you never know what you're going to find. I think the thing with fleatiques that's different though is that most of the time, the vendors are pretty much the same because they're more like a store that's open most days of the week.
So you're not necessarily going to go there and not know what vendors are going to be there. Of course, vendors are always going to change and things like that, but for the most part, you're going to go there and you're going to have a slightly better idea and expectation of what to expect versus a traditional flea market.
Amber:
And it's important to note that fleatiques can be called a number of things. So around here, they're typically called fleatiques, that's why we use that term. We've also seen peddlers malls, we've seen vendor markets or vendor malls. Sometimes they're just called an indoor flea market, and that's kind of tricky because it's not necessarily a flea market where the vendors are changing every weekend. It is more of like a consistent store, so you just have to read the description to see if it's something that you want to explore. But make sure that you're looking for Fleatique, Peddlers Mall when you are using Google to find antique stores near you or when you're traveling.
Because if you just type in "antique store," you might miss a lot that's around the area. So make sure that you're trying a variety of search terms to be able to find some really great spots to find items at.
Shaun:
And always make sure you ask what else they have for sale because this just happened a few weeks ago. It was a listing for five toothpick holders, and we got the toothpick holders, but you also asked what else they had, and we ended up with this gorgeous iridescent pitcher. We ended up with a really, really cool Fenton piece, we got a couple of other things from them, and we wouldn't have come home with those pieces if you never asked, "Do you have anything else that you're interested in selling?" So it's a great way to kind of maximize.
Shaun:
So one big difference between Fleatiques and flea markets that we didn't really talk about when we were talking about flea markets is the ability to negotiate and haggle the price.
At flea markets, someone's going to be there because they have to set up their booth, they have to be there to collect the money. Versus at Fleatiques or Peddler Malls, whatever we prefer to call them, most of the time somebody just has a booth there, they bring in their inventory, they leave, there's a traditional cash register. So you lose that opportunity to negotiate or haggle the price that you get at a traditional flea market.
Amber:
And that applies to antique stores too.
Shaun:
That's true, and this is the haggler right here. She will negotiate any price—
Amber:
Respectfully!
Shaun:
She is very respectful, but I do not have that personality. As soon as she tries to negotiate a price, I walk away and I avoid the situation entirely.
Amber:
And I definitely haggle much more at flea markets because I feel like the people price their items knowing that there's going to be some haggling. So if somebody is like, "Well, this is $20," I have no problem being like, "Would you take $10?" Because in their mind, they're probably like, "Well, I really want 15," and then we meet in the middle. So don't be afraid to negotiate.
And then at antique stores and Fleatiques and stuff, I definitely back off a little bit because I feel like that's a little bit of a different situation. People are doing a lot more work to have their inventory there, they're managing their inventory there, it's much more of a small business situation, and I really understand that.
But even at a lot of those stores, I do feel like they inflate their prices to kind of account for that, so it never hurts to ask. It never hurts to ask, "Are the prices firm?" And sometimes people say yes, and I'm like, "Okay, great, I'm gonna buy what I'm gonna buy." And sometimes they're like, "Yes, everything above $20 is 15% off." And sometimes they have to call the vendor. So don't be afraid to ask, and I have never had anybody be offended by me just asking if the prices are negotiable.
And I have to also remind that to myself because there are times where people will ask me if my prices are negotiable, and I kind of had to determine how I wanted to handle that. And I think it is different when you are an online business. I think it's kind of a different playing field.
But when you are shopping from an antique store, don't be afraid to ask, because I find that most of the time they are looking to move their items, and even if it's just a 5% discount, that can make a difference, so always ask.
Shaun:
I disagree with the statement that most of the time they're looking to move their items, but I don't know if we need to talk about that in this episode.
Amber:
Because we walk into a lot of stores and it is the same items sometimes years later, and we're like, "Wow."
Shaun:
I have a theory that a lot of the booths at antique stores are run by people who just have a large collection that they need somewhere to store. They're not actually looking to sell them. Because some of the prices that the pieces are listed at, it's just outrageous.
Nobody would pay that for them.
Amber:
Like, it'll be higher than what we would charge—much higher.
Shaun:
Not even close—three to four times higher.
Amber:
And sometimes booths never change. Sometimes there's no new items, no sold items, and we go so much that we recognize it, and we're like, "This is the same stuff that was here last time."
So there's definitely, and I think that that's another reason that flea markets and thrift stores can be really fun because there is a lot more turnover than at antique stores and vendor-type stores. So they really do all have their pros and cons.
Shaun:
Yeah, for sure. They're all different, they all have pros and cons. That's why you should explore all of them. But we're not done, we still have more.
Amber:
And if you find an antique store near you or around you, even if you have to drive an hour, if you find an antique store that is really great about turning over their inventory and bringing in fresh items, go back often.
That should be your go-to spot. Because we find so much stuff at stores that really encourage their vendors to bring in fresh inventory often, those are where we have the best luck.
So if you walk into an antique store two or three times and you're like, "Wow, there's a lot of different stuff here," that should be a store that's on the top of your list.
Shaun:
Look for antique stores and Fleatiques. That applies to Fleatiques too— that you see quite a few booths that have discounts or discounts that rotate. Because a lot of them that we go to, there's never any discounts, and I feel like those are more of the stagnant ones, because I don't really think that they're super concerned about moving the inventory.
But the ones that we go to where they consistently have booths that have discounts going on, I feel like those are the ones where the inventory is moving very, very regularly. And every time we go back, we find a good selection of new items, and it keeps us wanting to come back.
Amber:
We want to come back to those stores that have fresh items, and as customers, even though we're reselling it, we're still supporting those businesses, and we really like to spend our money at those stores where we know we're going to walk in and walk out with a box. I don't want to walk out with two items if I spent two hours there. I want to fill my trunk.
Shaun:
Yeah, for sure. That's a big thing because it does take a lot of time, making sure that you use your time wisely. If you are going to be at a store for that long, it better be worth it.
Amber:
You better be walking out of there with a lot of stuff to make it feel like that time that you spent there was absolutely worth it, regardless of if you're buying to collect or buying to sell.
So the next place that you can look if you're looking for antiques and vintage is to explore garage sales, estate sales, and yard sales. And like everything, these can be very hit or miss, but you can also find some really great items and some really great prices.
Around us, we have had really good luck at a handful of estate sales, and I wish our time wasn't so limited because I do think that you can find some fantastic items if you pay attention to the estate sales in your area.
But it is another one of those things where you don't always know what you're getting yourself into because a lot of times they're not great about disclosing what the items are.
They're like, "Oh, something for everyone." That is my least favorite phrase to read. If you're having an estate sale or a garage sale, please do not use the phrase "something for everyone." Please tell me what is there.
Shaun:
That is a big pet peeve of hers. I hear about it constantly, but I also agree. And the biggest thing with me that frustrates me about that is if there's literally no other description, it just says "something for everyone." It doesn't have any list of what types of items are there. That, to me, it doesn't even feel like it's worth my time.
So if you are doing an estate sale or a garage sale or yard sale, I really think it is in your best interest to describe as accurately and as in-depth as possible what types of items are there and provide as many pictures as possible.
I think that you are just going to encourage way more traffic that way.
Shaun:
And you can also apply that if you are looking to go to estate sales because a lot of times, especially in the estate sale season, when there are 10 estate sales going on, you do have to pick and choose.
So look at the photos and really use that to determine where you're going to stop. Look at ones that say vintage and antique items if that's what you're looking for. I really think that it's so hard to find sales to go to when there's not a description that is worth your time.
I feel like we never have good luck if it's just like, "Garage sale, this day, at this house." I feel like we never find anything if they didn't put any thought into the description.
Shaun:
I had one time that I had really good luck—you weren't with me—but very rarely. And also, if you do go to one, if you go to any of them, I would say take note, but especially if you go to one that you like, that you find good pieces, that you find good prices, take note of who is running that estate sale.
It will do you wonders to keep track of them. Most of them have Facebook or they have websites or they have mailing lists, and you can keep up with that specific estate sale company or whoever is running it.
That way, you kind of know, "I like this company already. They have good prices." And a lot of them stick to the same styles of houses and houses that have the same sort of pieces, so you kind of also get a feel for what types of pieces you might expect from an estate sale from that company.
Amber:
It's really nice to know the experience you're walking into. We have some companies that we won't go to their estate sales again because it was a mess, it was really disorganized, and there were no prices.
And we had to spend so much of our day either trying to figure out what the price was going to be or spent a significant amount of time at checkout, and we were just like, "It's not worth it."
So having a mental list of those companies that you have had really great experiences with or people—because sometimes it's just a person and not a company— can really make your day of antiquing or sourcing or treasure hunting, whatever you want to call it, go so much more smoothly.
When you're like, "Okay, they run them well, they're organized, the prices are good." So definitely pay attention to that information. And you can also ask them if they have an email list or anything. Sometimes they'll text you if they have a sale coming up. So don't be afraid to kind of ask who's in charge, what the best way to keep up with them is, especially if you really like their sale.
Shaun:
Also, I don't know if you agree with this, but my advice for estate sales: I don't think it is hardly ever worth going at the very beginning and waiting in those long lines.
Amber:
Only if there's something in the photos that you have to have.
Shaun:
Yes. If there is something specific that you see and you're like, "I absolutely have to get this," sure.
Amber:
Be there an hour early.
Shaun:
Yeah, and that is—everybody is going to have those items that they feel like it is worth that time.
But for me, for the most part, I don't feel like it's worth that time if you're just going hoping to find some things or if you saw a few things that you're kind of like, "Okay, that would be cool if I got them," I don't think it's ever worth it.
Because sometimes you will wait for hours to get into these estate sales or to check out. That's another thing—once you're in there, it sometimes takes forever to get through those checkout lines.
So that's just my advice. Again, that's something that you can kind of judge for yourself, and it's kind of a case-by-case basis for each estate sale and for whatever items you're looking for. But again, you have to prioritize your time and weigh if the time that you're spending is worth it for what you're getting in return.
Amber:
Another thing, and this applies to estate sales, garage sales, flea markets—it applies to pretty much any time you go sourcing or antiquing or thrifting wherever— just have some bags and boxes in your car. Because a lot of times they don't have packing materials, especially if you think you're gonna be getting fragile things.
But even if you're just trying to stock up on clothing, have some reusable bags with you so that you can put stuff with you. Because I have seen so many situations, especially at estate sales, where somebody makes a pile, and then somebody grabs something from that pile, and then they don't get it when they go to check out.
Because the people who are running the estate sale are just too preoccupied with everything else that they can't watch those hold piles. So grab some nice-sized bags and make sure that you have them in your car at all times, because they've really saved the day a number of times.
And I also always try to bring some packing supplies with us too, especially if we get a really good item and they don't have any supplies there, I want make sure it can get home safely.
Shaun:
Is this where we should plug Hulken and hope that they sponsor us?
Amber:
The best thing I have ever spent my money on in my entire life is a Hulken bag. It is this massive tote bag on wheels, and it has handles. And I don't bring it into estate sales because I think it's kind of bulky.
But if I'm going to an antique show, if I'm going to a flea market, I bring my Hulken and we get stopped. Everyone's like, "Where'd you get that bag?"
Shaun:
I'm always the one who is maneuvering it, so she'll be in a booth looking and I'll have like 10 people come up, "What is that? Where did you get that? That's the best thing I've ever seen."
So we'll leave a link in the description so you can check it out. They don't sponsor us. It'd be great if they did. Hey, Hulken, do you want to send us some more bags? We love you.
Amber:
I bought two. I have two because I love them so much. But they're also great for bringing in groceries, and when I went to my mom's house for Christmas and I had to bring a bunch of stuff with me, I just threw it all in my Hulken and I just...
Shaun:
We use them very, very frequently.
Amber:
All the time. All the time. So get yourself a Hulken bag. Anyway, so bring bags with you. Bring some packing supplies. It's always a good idea to have some in your car because there's nothing worse than spending your money on something or being really excited about a piece only to get it home and realize that it broke in transit.
That's very sad. The worst feeling.
Shaun:
So, Marketplace?
Amber:
I will let you take it from here, because he is the king of finding finds on Facebook Marketplace. So give us your best tips and tricks and pros and cons.
Shaun:
Facebook Marketplace requires a lot of patience. It definitely takes some time sorting and sifting through all of the listings, but you can find some amazing things for some amazing prices. You just have to be patient.
You have to take the time to search the right things because a lot of the time the people selling the items, they don't know what they are. So a lot of the times I just have to search very broad. I'll search for "glass" or I will just search for "brass," and that takes a lot of time because that can bring up so many different results.
You'll get a lot of random glass pieces, clear glass, wine glasses, things like that that we don't source. But I have also, with that method, found some great pieces for some really, really great prices. So I search Marketplace a lot. I search it every day.
Amber:
He's always sending me links.
Shaun:
I'm always sending her links. But the biggest benefit that I think Facebook Marketplace has, in my mind, is when we're traveling, I can search ahead of time in the different areas.
So I kind of already know, like, "Hey, we're going to this area, I'm gonna search there, and then while we're out there, we can pick up this, this, this, and this." So I feel like it's great in that aspect, that it's different than if you are going to an estate sale or a garage sale or a yard sale in an area that you're traveling to. This way, you know exactly what you're getting. You already have destinations to go to.
We do this often when we travel. We will have all of our antique stores that we're going to stop at lined up along the way, but then we'll grab all these Marketplace finds in between.
So I think it is a great resource. Again, it does take time. It takes patience. But I really think that it has been really worth it, and it has been really beneficial for us to find some really good pieces that we've been able to bring to the shop.
Amber:
And if we're going on a sourcing trip, it's great to know we already have those five items that we're gonna come home with regardless. So it just kind of takes the pressure off of the sourcing day or the sourcing trip, depending on what we're doing.
And everything else can be a little bit more relaxed because we've already found some really great items.
Always make sure you ask what else they have for sale. Because this just happened a few weeks ago—it was a listing for five toothpick holders. And we got the toothpick holders, but you also asked what else they had.
And we ended up with this gorgeous iridescent pitcher. We ended up with a really, really cool Fenton piece. We got a couple of other things from them, and we wouldn't have come home with those pieces if you never asked, "Do you have anything else that you're interested in selling?"
So it's a great way to kind of maximize the effort that you're putting into Marketplace. And we also, when we pick stuff up, all the time, we're always like, "Let us know what else you have," and people will be like, "Oh, I'm going through Great Grandma's attic right now, and there's more coming." And we're like, "Okay, let us know," and then they never circle back.
Shaun:
Very rarely do we get those messages.
Amber:
But it's good to put it out there because maybe you will have somebody who will get back to you when they go through more of their stuff. So it's kind of a way to—I don't want to say network—but it's great to let people know what you're looking for and that you're willing to pay for it if they can help you get your hands on it.
Shaun:
And the other thing to always ask is about the condition, even if they have it in the description. For example, for us, we prioritize the glass pieces a lot. So a lot of times in the description, it'll say, "No chips or cracks."
You should always double-check because, one, it might be an old listing—something might have happened, and they forgot to update it. Two, it might encourage them to check it again more thoroughly than they did the first time, and they might find something.
So if you're going—especially in our case, if we're traveling, and some of these stops are a little bit out of the way—if you're going to take that time to go to that stop and to potentially go out of your way, you want to make sure that it's worth it.
Shaun:
You don't want to get there and find that the piece is chipped or cracked or broken, and then you don't even end up getting it. So definitely make sure that you cover all of your bases when it comes to the condition before you go to pick up your item.
Amber:
And it also makes it a little bit easier to back out of if there is an issue with it. You can say, "I asked you if there were no chips or cracks, and there is this huge chip."
That just happened to us not too long ago. So unfortunately, I won't be able to take it. Whereas if you don't ask those questions upfront, I feel like it feels a little bit worse to tell them, "I'm sorry, I can't buy this."
But like, if you specifically ask and they say, "It's in great condition, no chips," and then you have to let them down when you get there, I feel like it makes it a little bit easier.
Shaun:
For sure.
Amber:
Oh, and also—pay attention to measurements.
Shaun:
Oh yes.
Amber:
Anytime you're buying something on Marketplace or on eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, any of the platforms—make sure that you pay attention to the measurements in the listing.
And if the measurements aren't there—if it is anything that could possibly be a different size than you think it might be—make sure you ask.Because that's happened to us quite a few times.
Where I don't pay attention, and I buy it, and it comes—and it's tiny. So don't be afraid—
Shaun:
Multiple times.
Amber:
So don't be afraid to ask for condition details. Don't be afraid to ask for measurements whenever you're buying online.
And the last thing that you can explore, other than the auctions that we don't really know how to advise you on, is asking friends and family if they have anything that they are looking to get rid of.
You want to be careful with this because I think that so many people have things that they want to get rid of that you can end up with too much stuff too quickly.
Again, whether you're buying, selling, or collecting—you want to make sure that you don't end up with too much because space can very quickly become a stressful issue to deal with.
But if you have the relationship with your friends and family where you can narrow down what you're looking for, they can be a really great resource to help you find vintage and antiques. Because you never know whose house they're clearing out. You never know what their mom still has.
You never know what they have access to in their lives, and you might be able to get it for a really great deal. Plus, I always think it feels nice to buy from somebody you know. I feel like my grandma has given me some things to resell, and she is so excited whenever I hand her $20. It hasn't happened in a while.
Shaun:
She hasn't brought me a lot recently.
Amber:
But she has a lot of vintage stuff, and I would sell some things for her.
Shaun:
And it just felt nice to, like—you know—pay her for that.
Amber:
So don't be afraid to ask the people in your circle, especially because they might have stuff that they really don't care about, or they might not have known that you're looking for something.
Shaun:
And also, don't be afraid to tell them no. Because you might ask for something, and they will have a totally different idea about what you want. It's really easy to accumulate stuff that you don't want or junk that way, so don't be afraid—even though you asked them in the first place—to tell them no. I have a very hard time with that. And it's—it just, again—space is a huge issue for us, especially because we don't have a very large house.
So trying to find places to put all of our inventory, all of the orders that need to be packed up, all of the packing supplies—it's very limited.
And it takes up all of our house for the most part, so don't be afraid to say no if it's something that you absolutely don't want or you don't think is going to be worth it to try to sell.
Amber:
And I've had to turn down a lot of free China sets, haha.
Shaun:
China sets do not move
Amber:
No! And it's not even something that I would want for me personally. And it is hard when somebody's like, "Hey, I have this China, it's my grandma's. Do you want to buy it?" And I'm like, "I cannot. I'm sorry." So you really do have to get comfortable saying no if you're going to go that route.
Some people will reach out to me and be like, "Oh, do you want this?" And I don't really say yes often. But the few times that it has worked out, I've been able to get some really great deals on some things I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.
Shaun:
It's definitely worth asking and having those connections. But just don't feel like you're obligated because you asked.
Amber:
And do your research before you take something or buy something. Make sure that you look up sold listings. See if that brand is worth anything. If that maker is worth anything. If it has a stamp or a maker's mark on it. Make sure that you're researching your pieces before you buy them from somebody like that. Especially if you're getting a lot of pieces at once.
You want to make sure that what you're getting is going to be worth it for your life or your business.
Shaun:
One thing I wanted to mention that I forgot when we were talking about estate sales. Because you had mentioned furniture at thrift stores. If furniture is something that you're interested in selling, or you need it for yourself, or flipping—estate sales are a great place for furniture.
They just want it gone. A lot of the time, they'll give it away for free. So if you see an estate sale in your area and you're looking for furniture. I definitely would recommend checking those out.
Amber:
And like you said—not going at the beginning of the estate sale. If you go at the end. Sometimes they might just give you the furniture, or they might give you like half off. So if you are looking for any furniture pieces, check estate sales because you might be able to find some fantastic pieces at a really great deal.
And the last thing I kind of want to mention is the seasonality of all of this. Because there's not a lot of estate sales happening right now. I also don't think a lot of it is—it's January. I don't know if they'll know that when they're listening to this.
Shaun:
But this is true—
Amber:
It's January when we're filming this, and estate sales, flea markets. Garage sales—those are all slow right now.
Shaun:
But that's only—we're on the East Coast. That's not everywhere in the world.
Amber:
No, but just—if you're not having good luck on Facebook Marketplace or at estate sales, just keep in mind that when it gets warmer, there will be a lot more opportunity for all of this stuff.
And I also don't think that people are cleaning out their houses and getting rid of things the same way they do when the weather is warmer. So I feel like Facebook Marketplace in some ways slows down a little bit this time of year. Especially if you're looking for furniture.
So just keep the weather and the current conditions in mind when you're exploring all of these different ways that you can find items for yourself or your business.
Shaun:
I think we've we've talked a lot this episode, we've covered a lot. I think it's been good. It's been informative—hopefully you think so—it doesn't matter what I think.
Amber:
Let us know if this was too much rambling. Or if you enjoyed these insights.
Shaun:
We—we have zero clue what we're doing. We are just winging all of this. I have never produced a podcast or anything like this before. So this is all brand new to me. So give us all the feedback. We will take it—positive, negative.It doesn't matter. Just let us know.
Amber:
Yeah, be kind and respectful. And also, a lot of times we have differing opinions on what we think is best. Or what we think that you want from us.
Shaun:
So let us know. Prove me right in the comments. Just kidding. Just give us your honest thoughts. That's all that we ask.
Amber:
So that we can make the best podcast that we can for you.
Shaun:
Yes, and if you do like it, give us a thumbs up. If you don't like it-
Amber:
You don't have to.
Shaun:
If you don't like it, you don't have to give us a thumbs down. You can just move about your day. We don't need the thumbs down.
Amber:
No negative energy up in here.
Shaun:
But if you do like it, give us a thumbs up. And if you really like us. You can subscribe. And that's about all that I have—my tank's about on E at this point.
Amber:
So I guess this is the last episode we're filming today.
Shaun:
I don't know. They don't need to know that. We film multiple episodes in a day.
Anber:
Alright, let's go find some vintage.