So, I went to my first swap meet of the season up here in MN. It was small, and I figured there wasn't gonna be much worthwhile, but last time I got a 55 chev speedo for $5 so I played the you never know.... game.

While getting ready, I actually avoided wearing my GM Performance Parts jacket or my Chevy Racing jacket, and went for a ratty Dale Jr #3 Delco jacket and Western Plow hat.

It got me to thinking: What are your swap meet tricks for getting the best deal or selling for the highest price??? Here's some of mine:

Buying:
Dress for getting dirty
Don't wear something that shows you're an "expert"
Let the seller offer a price for unmarked stuff before giving him a price
Bring a set of 2 way radios (I don't have a cell)
Have numbers ready if you're looking for a specific thing
If the price is too high, as how much for a bunch of stuff, then divide out only what you want---for a lower total price.
Have pics of what you need to match
Bring a friend and swap lists so you can cover more ground faster
get there before it opens and look in trailers while they're waiting to get in and set up
make a mental note, and go back for a last-ditch offer before you leave
You can always come back and take a chance

Selling:
clean stuff up
bring a few misc tools for dis-assembly
bring a friend so you can get food, pee, look for more stuff
price it unless you'll take anything for it
bring lots of small bills-even change
bring hand cleaner
make it look organized and easy to look at
Be ready to sell while waiting in line to get spot, some of the best deals are made before the swap starts
tag parts when you take them off so you know what they're for
the more you have, the more likely someone will stop to look. put the crap you probably won't sell in the center, with the good stuff on the ends or up higher.
Don't turn down a lowball offer. An offer means a buyer, find a good price
Don't take checks
Delivery for a fee

What else do you have???

I thought the swap meet days were fading fast. I haven't been to one in quite a few years. They seemed to have turned into more of a flea market setting with toy cars and cheep trinkets.
I do need a few things for a 70 chelle so I might hit a couple this year. What is the best one to hit this spring in Minnesota.
Dave

Make a list of what you really need and research pricing. Have it with at all times.
Always bring a wagon for carrying your treasures.

Bring lots of drinks, especially WATER! They want $2 for a bottle of water here. Once, we brought 8 cases of H2o from Walmart and sold them all for a $1. We cleaned UP on that deal, and gave every other thirsty sucker a 50% savings. $2 is like a 200% mark up and that's Thievery for someone trying to stay alive!

Get there early and start shopping right away.

Cel phones - NEVER leave without them fully charged.

Selling: Always mark everything with price, what it will fit, what condition, what a new one costs, etc. I try to put as much information as possible to keep the buyer there, make him feel like it's a good deal (which it always is) and keep from having to answer dumb questions. ALWAYS mark up from your rock bottom price to leave negotiation increase the chance of a sale.

Bryan" There was a swap meet & no one told me!! man I would have loved to have gone. Hey listen next time there is one. E mail me at home. Thanks. Rick

I thought the swap meet days were fading fast. I haven't been to one in quite a few years. They seemed to have turned into more of a flea market setting with toy cars and cheep trinkets.
I do need a few things for a 70 chelle so I might hit a couple this year. What is the best one to hit this spring in Minnesota.
Dave


Same here - the last couple I went to were almost all junk.

When you find a part you want, ask the seller if it'll fit a '76 Gremlin (he'll immediately know you're broke) - when he says, no, it's for a Chevelle, tell him you think you can make it work if it's cheap enough. :D

Same here - the last couple I went to were almost all junk.

When you find a part you want, ask the seller if it'll fit a '76 Gremlin (he'll immediately know you're broke) - when he says, no, it's for a Chevelle, tell him you think you can make it work if it's cheap enough. :D

You must be referring to the Ft. Worth meets. Those are getting lame, but I'll still go because you never know.
The one at Decatur a few weeks ago was LOADED with good deals. I bought a lot of parts, and my friends bought & sold too.

Pate is REALLY good. 3rd largest in the USA. You may have to walk ten miles a day, but there are deals to had and treasures to find.
I understand the flea market concept, and strays from the original concept, but they contribute to the overall success year to year and that's what keeps the traffic and $ flowing.

I actually prefer to buy new parts from suppliers at the meets for a few reasons. I'll call them ahead of time to let them know what to bring. 90% of the time, they're cheaper, some don't charge sales tax, they don't charge for shipping and you get to eyeball the part before taking it home. I like laying my hands on something before I buy it, like a body panel or trim piece.

You must be referring to the Ft. Worth meets. Those are getting lame, but I'll still go because you never know.
The one at Decatur a few weeks ago was LOADED with good deals. I bought a lot of parts, and my friends bought & sold too.

Pate is REALLY good. 3rd largest in the USA. You may have to walk ten miles a day, but there are deals to had and treasures to find.
I understand the flea market concept, and strays from the original concept, but they contribute to the overall success year to year and that's what keeps the traffic and $ flowing.

I actually prefer to buy new parts from suppliers at the meets for a few reasons. I'll call them ahead of time to let them know what to bring. 90% of the time, they're cheaper, some don't charge sales tax, they don't charge for shipping and you get to eyeball the part before taking it home. I like laying my hands on something before I buy it, like a body panel or trim piece.

I hate you guys.....LOL:D :D :D Never knew how much I would miss the Pate, and Arlington swap meets
I thought all states, cities had swap meets......aparently NOT...this state sucks if you plan on being a car guy.

isn't there swap meets in & around Daytona ?

The only advise I have to add would be to RUN if you ask the buyer what does it fit, and he answers "what do you have...............Oh ya, that'll fit " ;) :beers:

I thought the swap meet days were fading fast. I haven't been to one in quite a few years. They seemed to have turned into more of a flea market setting with toy cars and cheep trinkets.
I do need a few things for a 70 chelle so I might hit a couple this year. What is the best one to hit this spring in Minnesota.
Dave

The fairgrounds ones are OK, Back to the '50s is decent. They seem to have been taken over partly by the toy vendors. I got a flier for one at the Anoka fairgrounds coming up I'll reply with when I get home.

Bryan" There was a swap meet & no one told me!! man I would have loved to have gone. Hey listen next time there is one. E mail me at home. Thanks. Rick

Not this one. Definately wouldn't be worth your gas money. Wasn't worth mine, and It was only about 3 miles away.... plus $4 to get in.

Looked like 10 guys emtied their garages and barfed them all over the tables and floors, plus one engine builder who's at every stinking show ever thought of. He's part of the good ole' boy network, so he goes to try to sell, but ends up leaning on a table jaw-jacking with his buddies. I would too.

Get this: Spectre plug wire separators: $20!!! outtayerfrigginmind!!!

Here's the next one I know of right off-hand:
Sat 4/28 8-4pm, Anoka County Fairgrounds $5 entry www.mdra.com

I don't remember this one being here before, I think it was the old FriendlyChev show being with MDRA and all.

plus one engine builder who's at every stinking show ever thought of. He's part of the good ole' boy network, so he goes to try to sell, but ends up leaning on a table jaw-jacking with his buddies. I would too.Does it start with an "M" and end with an "agnum Superchargers"? I see him at all the swaps, even some of them down by me... wonder if he ever sells anything? :o

Most of the ones this time of year seem to be all dirt-tracker parts... works OK for me, since I've got a lot of roundy-rounder parts on my car. :D A couple weeks ago, I bought a new helmet at a swap-meet... got home and found I could get it $20 cheaper online. (was nice to test-fit it before buying though :) )

www.jeffersonswapmeet.com

99 acres of cars, junk, and yes! a few gems.... If you look correctly ;)

one thing I learned, I usually do better by going by myself, I usually zip through it once, grab anything I really want, mark the stuff I think I might want, go through the 2nd time to see if I really need what I passed on the first time. then go through the third time just incase.
Last few times I went with friends, lots of fun, but by the time we got done yakking I missed out on a 12 bolt for a125 bucks, a glass hood for a camaro for 20 bucks,
theres two coming up soon my and a friends thinking of taking stuff out there, but looking at my parts pile, it seems most of the stuff is going to go into one car or another. And the stuff thats getting replaced I don't think I can give away. Jim

isn't there swap meets in & around Daytona ?
twice a year, turkey rod run....and the spring fest which is this weekend....NOT near enough and only 3-5 64-65 Malibus' in the WHOLE dang place.

Does it start with an "M" and end with an "agnum Superchargers"? I see him at all the swaps, even some of them down by me... wonder if he ever sells anything? :o

I was going to say the same thing. Sounds just like it was him to me. I have seen several fairly priced items he has had in the past. He had a fully rebuilt Chevelle 12 bolt posi complete with even brand new brakes too. Less then 1300ish give or take a 100 bucks. I thought that was a pretty good deal actually.

I thought the Anoka armory deal was last weekend?

Yeah it was sunday. probably half the regular sellers there. I saw lots of parts from the doorway so I figured it would be OK, but once I got in and looked, it was not much for me. One guy had tons of Thunderbird stuff.

Yep, it was Magnum. This week on his little trailer he had a 290hp or so (I forget, but it was way underpowered) smallblock for something like $2K, and a couple more reasonably priced engines. He didn't have anything else worthwhile this time. I've sold/bought stuff from him over the years (hell, I bought a fuel pressure gauge from him on a Sat, then re-sold it to him on Sun once-he never realized it was the same one) and he does have some decent deals, but not this time.

I thought the swap meet days were fading fast. I haven't been to one in quite a few years. They seemed to have turned into more of a flea market setting with toy cars and cheep trinkets.


One of the reasons I quit going to one of the big ones near here (Lawrence, KS)
I don't want to walk for miles to look at NON car related junk and they were letting more and more of that stuff in every year.

I am with you guys on our Texas swap meets. Pate just not the same at TMS, the new parking lot used for Arlington in Fall disrupted flow of folks, Ft. Worth is just OK and internet has sucked a lot of people away. Went to Decatur this year and was disappointed but wind had a lot to do with that. We are becoming a vast wasteland for Chevelle cars and parts anyway. See ya'll in FT. Worth . We'll be pulling our wagon enjoying canned sandwiches and havin' too much fun.