I'm starting to rethink my life as a flea market vendor. The past three times I've gone out, I've made just over $100... and increased my odds of having skin cancer by 500%. I'm just not sure it's the life for me. But there are some advantages:
A. I get to hang out with another human being who finds pieces of cardboard with photos of athletes interesting too.
B. I get to walk around and shop.
On Sunday, I took advantage of both.
I even made a trade with my buddy that landed me this box full of cards that included stars, rookies, inserts, and even a few vintage cards. It'll be a fun side project to go through this and pull cards for my vintage and 90's insert binders. The rest I'll add to my flea market boxes, give to my summer school students, or maybe even create a prize package for my contest.
Now onto my purchases. I ended up making only $10.50 from my sales, but that didn't stop me from spending $37 on stuff for me. Here's a breakdown of my purchases:
Purchase #1: X-Files Trading Card Collection $30
Here's an example of a guy purchasing something he doesn't need... and personally doesn't even want. However, it seemed like it was too good of a deal to pass up. The collection includes the following:
1995 Topps X-Files Season One Set (72 cards)
1995 Topps X-Files S1 Etched Foil Insert Set (6 cards)
1995 Topps X-Files S1 Finest Chromium Insert Set (4 cards)
1995 Topps X-Files S1 Promo Cards #0, P2, & P6
1996 Topps X-Files Season Two Set (72 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S2 Etched Foil Insert Set (6 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S2 3-D Hologram Insert Set (4 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files Season Three Set (72 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S3 Etched Foil Insert Set (6 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S3 Finest Chromium Insert Set (2 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S3 Hologram Insert Set (2 cards)
1996 Topps X-Files S3 Promo #P1
1997 Intrepid X-Files Contact Set (90 cards)
1997 Intrepid X-Files Contact Alien Visitations Foil Insert Set (9 cards)
1997 Intrepid X-Files Contact Colony Acetate Insert Set (3 cards)
1997 Topps X-Files Showcase Set (72 cards)
1997 Topps X-Files Showcase X-Effect Insert Set (6 cards)
1997 Topps X-Files Showcase Laser Insert Set (6 cards)
1997 Topps X-Files Showcase Promo #P1
1998 Topps X-Files Movie Set (72 cards)
1998 Topps X-Files Movie Mystery Insert Set (6 cards)
1998 Topps X-Files Movie Autographs (4 cards)
1998 Topps X-Files Movie Promo #P1
2001 Inkworks X-Files S4/S5 I Want to Believe Insert Set (3 cards)
2001 Inkworks X-Files Season 6 & 7 Set (90 cards)
2001 Inkworks X-Files S6/S7 The Truth Revealed Insert Set (3 cards)
2001 Inkworks X-Files S6/S7 Promos #P1 & P22002 Inkworks X-Files Season 8 Set (90 cards)
2001 Inkworks X-Files S8 Believe to Under Insert Set (3 cards)
A quick look on eBay shows that I should be able to get my money just from the binders alone.
If not, most of the sets and inserts sell for $5 to $10 a piece, which will help cover the four autographs I'm keeping for myself.
Purchase #2: Dick Williams Bobblehead $5
Dick Williams managed both of my favorite teams: the Oakland A's & the San Diego Padres. And he managed to lead both clubs to the World Series. So for $5, I figured this bobblehead was too good of a deal to pass up.
Purchase #3: Bumfights #3 DVD $1
I originally picked up this DVD, because it's unique and I had never seen it before. And after reading about the history behind it, I now know why. According to Wikipedia, this video (along with the other Bumfights videos) has been banned in several countries and on eBay due to its content. Not exactly sure what I'll do with it, but it'll probably end up next to my Faces of Death VHS tape. In other words, inside of a box buried in my garage, so my nieces and nephews can never find it.
Purchase #4: 1980 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Playing Cards $1
I hate the Dallas Cowboys... but c'mon, who doesn't love cheerleaders?
Okay, now that my contest has officially started. Click here if you need to review the details. Let's start earning some points.
Do you ever go to flea markets in search of collectibles? If so, what are some of your favorite flea market purchases?
1 point - Leave your response below.
3 points - Post your response on your blog and leave a link below, so others can enjoy what you wrote.
Extra Points - I'm a teacher, so don't be surprised if I give extra credit points to people who put extra effort into their posts.
Deadline - Responses for contest points on this post will be accepted until I publish my next blog post (which will probably be Saturday morning).
Best of luck and I look forward to reading your responses.
In the meantime... here are three of my favorite flea market finds:
Happy Thursday and sayonara!
54 comments:
Cards are pretty much the only thing I look for at garage sales, flea markets, etc. Occasionally, I'll pick up something else, but not often.
This topic would actually be a good idea for a post of mine, I'll have a link to it later tonight.
Thanks!
I wish I had flea markets around here. If I did, I definitely would go a time or two.
there really aren't any flea market type activities here in Calgary.... not like what you go to. However, in my dreams there would be and I would find that X-Files lot you found so I could snap that up in a second.
But no. I must read of other's triumphs on the internet and live vicariously through them.
Hey Fuj,
Nice blog. Love the treasure hunts. Check out my latest bog (ChucksUsedCards) about my finds.
My best ever, and doubt I will surpass it, was finding a T205 TY COBB tobacco card. Love the hockey stick.
I go to flea markets randomly. My parents go a lot more than me because they love antiques. I join them on occasion. Since, I live in LA, some vendors have various sports collectibles of the Dodgers or Raiders. I sometimes find old school Dodger pins, media guides and bobble heads.
The media guides or game programs are my favorite finds. It gives me the chance to read up and look at the photos of the Dodgers past. They are cool items to collect and also a great way to learn of the history of your favorite team.
Here's my post on the subject:
http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2012/06/one-track-mind.html
I often go to flea markets to find "well loved" vintage. Over the years, I have been able to find several 1971 Topps cards (including Marichal and Hodges) as well as older 50s and 60s for a dollar or less a piece. I believe my best find was a 1959 Topps Harmon Killebrew for only $5.
I love to go to flea markets in search for hidden treasures. I always have an eye out for CD's and DVD's for those collections as well as baseball cards and other trading cards as well. I only have one regularly scheduled flea market in my general area so after the first few trips of the season good scores are hard to find. Sometimes some great deals come along like full binders of star and semi star players fall into my lap for 5-10 bucks but then there are also the dealers who think that all cards from the early 80's are worth big bucks just because they are 30 plus years old. I guess you have to take the good with the bad. I also love the church sales and garage sales to try and find hidden treasures.
Thanks for the fun contest Fuji!
I answered here and on my blog to cover all bases.
http://babennysbaseballcardbuffet.blogspot.com/2012/06/hello-all.html
I went to a few flea markets with my parents when I was real young. Like ten or younger. I think they still have one here but it's not close to where I live. Seeing the rad stuff you got makes me want to check it out.
moe.
I haven't been to a flea market in years. It's odd, because I enjoy them. I love the idea that you could stumble into anything. Really, the only thing that is sticking out as a big purchase is a wax box of 1990 Donruss. It must have been after 1990 when I bought it, but can't remember when. I remember being excited about maybe getting the Juan Gonzalez error rookie card!
I know, that's one thrilling tale. Hope I didn't just scare away all your readers.
There aren't any flea markets around me. When I visit my relatives, I go to a very large one when I get a chance, but there aren't a lot of cards. (I did buy a '71 Steve Carlton one time). The last time I was there, I got awfully frustrated. I wrote about it here:
http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-weakness-as-collector.html
Its been ages since I've been to a flee market. I'm not even sure of what purchases I've ever made. Ever since Ebay I have rarely been to a flea market.
My family's church that I grew up in had (probably still has) a "thrift shop" which is sort of like a flea market I guess. I recall one time as a youth (teens maybe? early 20s?) getting a pair of brown dress shoes for like $10 or maybe less, because I needed some "good" shoes at the time.
Last Saturday I passed a church (and a house just across the street from it) that was having a "yard sale" I didn't stop but was tempted. I probably would only be interested in books and cards if they had any of either.
Oh I don't like the Cowboys either, but I have a deck of the 1981 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader cards. They look pretty much like the ones you got. Except the card back w/the star is different Ebay auction #370505153869 shows the back, another Ebay auction #140373065681 shows most of the cards. Wasn't sure how long the links would be so I didn't try copying them.
There's a flea market literally within walking distance of my house but I haven't been there in probably a year. I used to go every weekend, it had two of the best dealers I've ever seen there every week and usually at least a couple more dealers with cards. One of them was this guy who had been there for 20 years and even had a sign up "Sports card Alley". I bought most of my stuff from him, he always had cheapo boxes and packs. TONS of singles from a penny apiece on up. A few years ago the county tried to kill off the flea market by hitting it with a bunch of zoning rules but the owners did everything they asked and didn't budge. The shenanigans took its toll on attendance for about 6 months though and the guy found another flea market (In Alabama!) where he made more sales and hasn't been back in at least a couple years.
The other guy was this old dude who sold baseball cards and porn. No, really, one side was cards and the other was all magazines, probably 75% porn. He said he got most of his stock free from wives disposing of their ex/deceased husband's collection. The cards were spectacular though, all kinds of crazy old and oddball stuff. Rare autographs everywhere though. He had at least two autos of Enos Slaughter just sitting out. Every time I went in there he told me about the story of how he bought $400 of T206s from a widow in Long Island back in the day for FIVE CENTS EACH. No Wagner though! Sadly, the building he was in caught fire and he was driven out after that. The cards weren't damaged, I heard from Roger at Sports Memories of Oklahoma that they were saved and he ended up buying a large chunk of the inventory. The guy's in poor health now, I wish I could go back and get that story one more time.
I bought way too much at that flea market for one thing to stand out right now, but here's a 50-card baseball brick I bought from the old guy's shop for a buck one time. Inexplicably, this video has 18000 views.
http://youtu.be/BnKfhs8QxaY
I always mean to but I never go to them. But we did find two chairs for our current apartment at just $90. They're awesome.
Unfortunately flea markets are few and far between in my neck of the woods. I do like living vicariously through your purchases. I do get jealous of some the cool Sharks stuff you find.
I have to be honest with you, to date, I have not really spent much (if any)time at the flea markets. That is sure to change this summer though. My seven year old son has a friend who's grandmother bought a bucket of wrestling figures at a yard sale at the end of last summer. He has been nagging me all winter long to go to yard sales to look for wrestlers. I finally gave in and told him that when his baseball season ended, that we could start to go to them. Well, his season ended yesterday...I will let you know if I find any treasure!
I jave tried many times but never found any cards at either a flee market or a garage sale. I usually end up finding some fishing stuff though.
Unfortunately, in Australia we have no flea markets which means I can't obtain cards quickly. If there are just markets there are people selling the AFL and NRL cards which I'm not to big on...
Yes, I go to flea markets when I can find them. I don't really expect to find collectibles at the ones in my area.
One of my more recent favorite purchases from a flea market in Ky was my Phillies lanyard for work.
This topic continued on my blog:
http://dawgbonesaphilliesphan.blogspot.com/2012/06/flea-markets.html
Thanks for the bat a round Fuji.
Dawgbones
Hit the Kane County Flea Market a couple times a year, but usually don't find anything great. Only real purchase I made worth noting is an old clipped Wilson glove ad with Nellie Fox and Luis Aparico that hangs nicely on my wall.
There are a couple in my area, but they aren't in the greatest parts of town. I haven't mustered up the courage to venture out there, mainly because I don't have high hopes for decent stuff nor a desire to go there with a wad of cash.
Nice find with the X-Files. If I didn't already have all the sets, I'd offer you some nice dough for the lot. I would like to see if we can work out a trade for the X-Files Contact and X-Files Showcase sets...
I would have snatched up that bobblehead and the cheerleaders cards in an instant myself! Good pickups.
And my first response to your BBA prompt: http://thiscardiscool.blogspot.jp/2012/06/bba-flea-market-finds.html
I hope to follow up next week with some awesomeness. I take that back. I will follow up next week with some awesomeness, even if it's not from a flea market...
I get the attraction of flea markets for some, but I just don't have the time to devote to sifting through a lot of stuff to find those gems. And knowing me, I would walk away with more stuff that would wind up in a box in storage then I need. But I do enjoy hearing about your finds.
Short answer: not lately, but I used to.
Long answer: http://tenetsofwilson.blogspot.com/2012/06/flea-markets-and-2-contest-plugs.html
Well in UK, go for vinyl albums & occasional soccer collectibles,
I have not been out to a flea market, but perhaps I should try to sneak out to one, based on your finds (and the finds of other bloggers). That X-Files purchase is awfully good!
I *may* have been to one when we were down in New Orleans back in the mid 1990's. I came across a guy who had a complete Upper Deck Michael Jordan baseball subset (it was a 10 card set if I remember correctly). He was selling it for awfully high price (MJ was in the middle of his baseball career) but had singles for a couple of bucks, so I picked up one of those.
Due to my work schedule, I don't get to go as much I would like. I'm generally on the look out for vintage cards and comic books when I do go, though.
Never been to a flea market, and certainly never found treasures like you've discovered. It's a goal though.
My not terribly exciting answer:
http://plaschkethysweaterisargyle.blogspot.com/2012/06/piazza-pimpin-vital-draft-update.html
I'm a follower.
Pimped at http://hockeykazi.blogspot.ca/
Flea markets are where I got my start collecting cards again. This was in the early 80's and seeing the cards of my childhood brought back fond memories. Remembering the old players on the cards I used to own. Started picking them up and also the newer issues. Then it branched into all things sports. Books, jerseys, postcards. You name it. If it was available, I was there. EVERYTHING I obtain is my favourite.
I don't specifically go to flea markets, but if I do happen to see one I will look for sports cards--hoping to find hockey, but might buy other sports if I find something nice.
A few years back, I found a treasure trove of cool sports cards from the 1980s and 1990s, including:
-- a complete set of 1989-90 Hoops Basketball cards--with the bonus Detroit Pistons "NBA Champions" card--for $8.
-- a Denis Savard autograph for $2.
-- a complete set of Topps "Olympic Heroes" cards for $1.
-- several Topps and OPC box bottom cards (uncut panels) from 1990 and 1991 for $1 to $2 each
Wow... nice find. How much did you pay for the Cobb?
Looks like I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for media guides when I'm at the FM.
great post! thanks for sharing. i'm a huge fan of those oversized topps cards from the early 80's.
59 killebrew for $5? awesome find!
Lol... I completely understand what you mean. It kills me when I find "junk wax era" cards that I really want (like Gwynn and Maddux)... but they want 10x their realistic value.
One guy at my local FM has a ton of awesome 80's oddball cards. There so cool... that I check them out every time I hit that particular FM. But he is totally unrealistic in his prices, so I just look and move along. I don't even make offers anymore.
FM's in my area are very hit or miss... with much more misses, than hits. There's usually only 3 to 5 guys selling sports memorabilia at any given FM I attend... but the hunt is part of the experience.
I've been actually meaning to do a post on that card... back in the day that was one helluva find. Congratulations!
Customer service is a lost art. Thanks for sharing your story. I'll give you 2 points for this response.
thanks... I'll go check them out. can't get enough of checking out cheerleader cards ;-)
Lol... cards and porn... such a weird combination. Loved your video... I'm pretty sure I watched it back in the day. Thanks for sharing it... I'll reward you with 2 points.
Unfortunately... don't come across Sharks stuff as much as I'd like. But that's the thrill of the hunt.
I must find that Batmobile!
Lol... there are two FM I routinely go to and they are polar opposites. One is in Cupertino and contains arts and crafts... as well as nice collectibles.
The other is in San Jose... and it's like walking around a junk yard.
Hey Ryan... I'm sure we can work something out for the sets. Thanks for sharing your finds... which Bay Area FM's did you attend when you were on this side of the Pacific?
Lol... I know exactly what you mean. I have to pick and choose what I take home, because I lack space to store my stuff. Although I have a buddy who lets me store stuff in his garage and a huge part of my collection is housed in my parents home.
Great story... thanks for sharing!
I'm still drooling...
Thanks for the plug... and sharing your FM story.
Nice finds... especially the Savard for $2 and the Olympic Heroes set for $2. One of these days I'll add that set to my PC.
Comments for contest points are officially closed. I'll be posting a point total in the next 30 to 60 minutes... along with the next contest question. Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to participate in the contest!
Hey Jafronius... just found your comments in my SPAM folder. Your name wasn't listed in the contest standings, but I've updated it. So you'll see your name on the list in the next contest update. Sorry about that.
Nah, the Olympic Hereos set was only ONE dollar. I almost felt guilty buying it. I mean, what was the guy's profit margin, if any?
I don't specifically go to flea markets, but if I do happen to see one I will look for sports cards--hoping to find hockey, but might buy other sports if I find something nice.
Autograph Footballs
celebrity memorabilia
Post a Comment