Flea Market Finds #133: Card Vendor Clearance

It's no secret that my flea market finds have been slowly dwindling over the past few years.  Not 100% sure if that's because product is drying up or if competition is picking up.  Either way, I don't go out there with very high expectations anymore.

Two weekends ago... my buddy Mike and I went out to the De Anza Flea Market which takes place on the first Saturday of the month.  My goal?  To get some steps in, breathe in some fresh air, and maybe... just maybe... add some new vinyl to my collection.

Unfortunately it fell on Labor Day weekend, so half of the place was empty.  I found about six to eight vendors with records, but either their prices were too high or they didn't have what I was looking for.

There were the usual guys with sports cards with the same stuff they always bring out.  I hung out and window shopped.  Then we came across a couple who had been in the trading card business for over two decades.  They were selling most of their inventory for pretty ridiculous prices.

Since all of my purchases came from them, I figured I'd change the format a little and break it down into parts instead.  There isn't anything too mind blowing here, but if you enjoy cheap 90's junk then this is the post for you.

Part 1:  3,500ct. Box of Baseball Card $3

Haven't had the time to really dive into this box, but it had a huge stack of early 80's Fleer baseball stickers which caught my attention.  I figured those alone covered the ten dollar price tag.  Mark the entire box down to three bucks?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.

Part 2:  Minor League Baseball Sets $3

A few years ago, I was actually looking for this 1988 Star Durham Bulls team set with Kevin Costner.  A buck each?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.


Part 3:  1990 Woolworth Baseball Highlights Sets $1

Nine out for the thirty-three cards are Oakland Athletics.  I couldn't pass this set up.  Did I mention that these sets were 2 for 25¢?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.

Part 4:  1994 Parkhurst Missing Link Set $1.25

When I saw this set sitting on their table, I realized that this couple set up last summer.  I purchased some packs of this product off of them and attempted to build this set.  This complete set came with a bunch of duplicates, so there a chance this purchase leaves me with two complete sets.

By the way, ignore that $5 price tag.  All of their completed sets were 75% off the lowest price.  $1.25 for a complete set that sold for $49.99 on eBay less than a month ago?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.


Part 5:  AGI Rock Star Concert Cards Partial Set  $2.50

If you enjoy rock bands like The Rolling Stones, The Police, U2, or AC/DC... then you might appreciate this set.  I purchased some unopened packs of this stuff back in 2014 and built a set.  Another set for $2.50?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.


Part 6:  1983 Topps Return of the Jedi Sticker Set $2.50

Topps Star Wars cards were my jam back in the day, but I had stopped collecting them and focused my attention on baseball cards by 1983.  So finding a set of cards that I should have collected thirty-five years ago, but I didn't for the price of a small latte at Starbucks?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.


Part 7:  1995 Star Wars Galaxy First Day Production Lot $3

Collectors these days seem divided when it comes to parallels.  Some embrace them, while others despise them.  Back in the 90's, they were the latest and greatest thing.  A box of Star Wars 1st Day Production parallels for less than a nickle each?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.

Part 8:  Other Sets $12.50

Top Row:  1994 UD World Cup Hologram Set, 1990 UD Comic Ball Hologram Set, 1993 UD Adventures in Toon World Hare-os Set, and 1993 UD Adventures in Toon World Hologram Set

Bottom Row:  1992 Impel X-Men Hologram Set (x2), 1992 Marvel Universe Series 3 Hologram Set (x3), 1991 Marvel Universe Series 2 Hologram Set, and 1995 Collect-A-Card Coca-Cola All-Time Sports Favorite Set

Parallels were hot in the 90's, but holograms and etched foil cards were too.  You're looking at the final eleven sets I purchased.  Less than a $1.25 for each of these sets?  Yeah.  I'll buy that.

A bunch of stuff from the Junk Wax Era?  Yeah.  But if the price is right.  I'll buy that.

I'm thinking about using some of the items in this post as part of a little cardboard flipping experiment.  As soon as I nail down the details, I'll fill you in.

Until then...

Do you ever buy stuff because it's too cheap to pass up?

Let me know down in the comments below.

Happy Tuesday and sayonara!