7 Tips for a Great Day at a Swap Meet
One seemingly universal side effect of our collective affliction of interest in old mechanical objects is the near-perpetual need for parts. A vintage car that still sees use will eventually need service, and at that point, something is often worn past the point of no return. We are then faced with three options:
A. Repair and recondition said failed piece ourselves
B. Pay someone else to repair it
C. Replace the part
There are no small number of factors that go into how that decision is made, from the skills, tool, and times required, to the availability of replacements. A quick phone call or internet search might locate replacement parts, but the quality of new castings might be questionable or you might prefer to use the original part since it has the right finish. A usable original part is ideal. But where do you find that?
If you want a good deal on said part, you go to a swap meet.
A swap meet is nothing more than a garage sale of only the cool stuff that goes in garages. Piles and bins and piles of bins of anything you can think of that might attach to, or enhance the function of an old car, truck, or motorcycle. While walking the aisles of this year’s Barber Motorsports Museum Vintage Festival, I put together seven tips for anyone headed to a swap meet based on my years of digging through cardboard boxes and plastic bins in search of carburetors, hardware, or that one out of production performance part.
Know what you are looking for
This comes down to needing to know your stuff because the seller might not know theirs. In my travels, I have seen sellers who would just reply “yes” when asked if a half-rusty and fully greasy part fits something. They are sellers who are trying to sell things. That does not mean the seller should never be trusted, but if you show up armed with what you are looking for and how to identify it you are much more likely to buy what you are looking for versus buying something you were looking at.
Know the value
While some put prices on everything as the parts get laid out on tarps or in bins, some don’t and often put the onus on the buyer to make an offer. I’m all for trying to get a deal, but tossing out $50 for a $500 part or piece is not the way to do it. Scripted reality shows should not be your guiding light for negotiating purchases. Instead, have a real discussion with the seller about what the thing is, the condition, and an appropriate offer. In the past, I’ve found that showing that you know what you are buying helps them see that the offer you make is not as insulting as it might feel without a discussion.
Bring cash
While there is the chance that a seller has entered the 21st century and trusts digital payment solutions, the reality we live in at swap meets is that cash is king. If you are impulsive and trying not to be (I know the feeling), leave the cash secure in your car and use the trip to go get it to think long and hard about the decision. Or just buy what makes you happy. That’s a good plan too.
Offer a trade
Most anyone with enough stuff to have a space in a swap meet likely has a mind like yours, which means anything you thought was a fun toy might be something they find as a fun toy—they just didn’t know they needed it yet. On my latest trip to the Barber Vintage Festival, I brought a bike to sell and before I had even written up the sign it got traded to a seller in the swap meet for a bike that caught my eye. When I asked for some details about his Honda that was for sale, I mentioned that I would need to sell what I brought before handing him cash, to which he replied he was interested in trading for what I had. You never know when the stars will align, but you have to be looking in order to know when they do. We shook hands and both rode away on new (to us) motorcycles. Shockingly simple.
Talk to anyone who will listen
Tell them what you are looking for, nearly everyone walking a swap meet is a potential second seat of eyes for your search too. I’ve had great luck striking up a conversation with someone walking the opposite direction as me who went on to tell me there was a booth just a couple rows further on that had some of what I was looking for. The swap meet is not a zero-sum game. We are not all looking for the same parts and pieces. If I can help someone get a deal or find something that I don’t need, that’s a win for everyone.
Have a plan for carrying stuff
Think there is even a chance you might buy something large, clunky, or otherwise heavy? Even just getting something back to the truck can be a task. At minimum a backpack is a good idea, and if the things you are looking for weigh enough to make a backpack uncomfortable or otherwise can’t be carried by hand, bring a cart. An old Radio Flyer wagon is a great example, especially if the bottom is solid and won’t let some grimy part leave an oil trail for the rest of your trip.
Enjoy the view
Without a doubt, there will be some weird and wonderful things on display, and that’s part of what makes a swap meet fun. There will be stuff you wish you could afford, and stuff you know you shouldn’t buy but are far too tempted by. Even if you don’t find something you couldn’t live without, it’s possible to have a great time walking the aisles. It’s a bummer to leave empty-handed sometimes, but at least you spent a few hours out looking at cool stuff, meeting new people, and learning new things. If you did all that, how could it be a bad day?
I love swap meets. Lately (the last 4-5 years) I’ve been selling more than buying, which has resulted in some space being opened up in my shop and garage, plus it gave me a little more pocket money a time or two. But it really wasn’t about making money – it was about putting a few things into the hands of others who likely have better use for them than I did (especially when I think about how much dust and cobwebs I had to contend with while loading it up). Last month, I KNOW I made some people happy by letting things go for reduced prices, just because I figured those people were actually going to put those items to good use. So I would add to Kyle’s list to look for sellers who are motivated to go home with an empty truck or trailer. Those are the folks you want to chat up and work your deals with – although maybe not a trade so much!
Bring enough vehicle to haul back what you intend to buy. It is a shame to find ‘the thing’ and realize it won’t fit in your trunk
Final rule of swap meets (and flea markets) – The bigger, uglier, heavier, greasier, dirtier, more awkward, harder to lift or carry the item you just bought is, and the more other items you are already carrying, the further away you have parked your car or truck.
Ummm, I don’t think that is a rule. It’s an irrefutable law of physics.
Potato – potahto. Whatever, it’s true!
“Junk’s Law”, geez don’t you guys read technical manuals? This is clearly spelled out in the Guide to Old Car Ownership in chapter 5.
“Cash talks, B.S. walks” Don’t be afraid to make an offer when you found something you want. The seller brought it either to go fishing or because they don’t want to take it home. Bundle deals are another hot tip, as a vendor I am much more willing to make a package deal with someone buying multiple items than someone walking up to lowball me on one part.
Express interest at the beginning of the day… and stop by the table at the end of the day and see if it’s still there. If it is, there is probably more room for a deal
This is true. I had an old, home-built welding table with an ancient vise attached to it that I just don’t have room or need for. I had nothing into it – it came out of a building my daughter bought years prior. It was rough, but quite large and rugged as heck. I started out early in the day fishing for $100 for it, figuring there was about 1% chance I’d get that. A guy stopped a couple of times and expressed interest, so I told him $75 just to gauge his interest. About the third time, he said he’d like it but had no way to get it home. I was going to offer to drop it off for him if he came back again. But at day’s end he came by and said if I’d take $50 he would call a friend with a truck to help him get it home. He got his cart, I got the space, and I assume we are both happy about the exchange.
Lost many of items I “should have bought” by doing this. I am now in the habit of never going more than 100’ from the seller before turning back. If they are going to cave on an offer, they do it before I leave their sight. If I want it, I want it. It likely won’t be there when I come back. Certainly it depends what we are talking about, but I recall one time running nearly a mile because I decided I was stupid and I really wanted something. BTW—I did get it!
about ‘know the value’…i was at the buick nationals in bowling green, ky some years ago. one of the chapters had a booth selling t-shirts among other things. he said ‘$10’. i said jokingly, ‘2 for 10? great. i’ll take ’em!’ he responded, somewhat dryly, ‘my grandmother was a great woman. i admired her. she told me under a similar situation, ‘there’s a fine line between an offer and an insult’. so, i make sure, before i’m serious and give a lowball offer, that the seller understands i know they likely could get more, but my offer would stand at the end of the day if it didn’t sell.
like this article says, you just don’t know what a seller is thinking regarding their stuff. example: when i hauled 3 rear live axle assemblies and a jaguar complete rear irs & diff to the annual nashville auto parts swap, i REALLY didn’t want to drag them back home. sold all but one, and took a small hit on the irs. but with $$ in hand and some bulky stuff out of my shop, it was a win-win. that’s what this seller was thinking.
There is a difference between ‘sellers’ and ‘vendors’. A seller is clearing out excess; a vendor is making a living. Bargains from vendors are few and far between.
Excellent point. Talk to the seller at the outset to determine his/her attitude. Some want to move merchandise, others think they possess a collection of holy grails. Unless you are desperate for a particular rare part, don’t waste your time with the latter.
My favourite sign on a vendors table is” This isn’t a museum this sh*t is for sale”
Get a swap space. Real trading is done the evening before- bargain items are cherry picked, often by dealers. Early AM trades are also good. Get in at the opening and go to the back of the meet and work forward. The seasoned dealers near the front- what I call the “chicken wire crate” venders are usually a walk by for me. So are the big vendors with a semi trailer. I look for the guys who want to clear out parts and are willing to negotiate. I care not if the vendor thinks it’s an insult. Many have to be shocked into reality if they want to move an item. You can usually sugar coat the lowball. This may sound as if I’m an ogre, but I’m not. I will pay fair prices. I often look the vendor in the eye and say “How are ya doin’ today” or such. Get a conversation going. Often, I find common ground that the parts didn’t show. “Oh, You’re a Nash guy!”. I’ve met some real nice folks at swaps, along with the guys who think their rusty pile is solid gold.
I’ve only been swapping for, oh, half a century or so.
I don’t know if you truly “KnowItAll”, but you know quite a bit about swap meets, sir – solid agreement from me! 👍
This is the way.
Two things pop into my mind: First, if you see something and you know that it is pretty rare–and it’s something that you need–do NOT wait until the end of the day to return to see if it’s still there. Spending a little more money for something which you really need and can’t find elsewhere–is a good investment! Secondly, I used to do speedometer repairs. I learned NEVER to purchase a speedo (or other instrument) if it showed ANY moisture damage! I found it to be wasted money and a lot of wasted effort later at my workbench! Oh, one more thing–if you are selling at a swap meet–work your tables–do NOT allow anyone to pass your tables without speaking with that person! Make talk. I never let a person pass my swap area without conversing. I often made a sale that otherwise might not have happened–AND, I probably made a new car friend. Also, I was generous with my hobby cards–people looked at those cards later and put them in their “possible parts drawer” for later. It was unbelievable how many people would call, even years down the road, to ask about parts or to tell me that a car friend had given him my hobby card. Proactive–is THE word!
In the words of Kaspar Gutman from The Maltese Falcon, “I’m a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.” Mr. Salser, you are a seller I would be happy to do business with!
Excellent quote cite — but let’s bear in mind that ‘some evil vendors’ have picked up even more of Gutman’s retail approach. Palming the bill, the cheap overcoated gunsel, and drugging Bogey are not outside the range of behaviors. Then again, if you lose a son, you can always get another…
I chose the best of my parts lots to take to the Swap Meets. Most people do not know how much work goes into preparing for a Swap Meet. Pricing–then loading, then unloading tables–then the goods. Everything had to have a place–not just a “pile of parts”. I did not go to all of the trouble of preparation and driving to sell junk. My parts were clean so that customers did not get dirty handling them. Did I make money–you bet. But, it was not from selling junk. After several years of LOTS of work going to Swaps–I began selling Online. Now, I had to be even more resourceful–which still included choice, cleaned and well-priced parts but also careful packaging and shipping at a fair price (no money made on shipping, in other words). AND–I never said “what you see is what you get!” as some sellers say. There is nothing I love better than a Satisfied Customer! And a Repeat Customer is the Pinacle!
If it’s something hard to find and in my price range, I snap it up.
If it’s something I’d like but over my budget, I wait till the final day when vendors begin packing up. If the item’s still there, I pull out what I prefer to spend, put on my best puppy dog eyes and make my pitch. At those points, they are getting weary, want to pad their bottom line and ultimately, don’t want to miss a sale or pack it up…again.
My tip? Go early and stay late.
I like to go really early to get the gotta-have-its. If there’s something rare, or even unusual and it’s something I truly want I’ll get it. If they’re still pulling in and setting up I don’t want to get in their way, but that’s the time to take stock in things from a (slight) distance. Once they’re finishing up and more relaxed I’ll start talking with them.
I also like to go towards the end of the meet to see if there’s something I can convince the seller they really don’t want to drag home. If it’s large, cumbersome, and something I truly want then so much the better.
A plan for carrying stuff! I went to the Pomona swap and was quickly overloaded. I saw a $10 dolly, the type that converted to a wheeled trolly. That got me more stuff. I still have it 30 years later.
Most other big swap meets do this as well I imagine, but at the Portland PIR and Expo Center swap meets in April, entrepreneurial kids with wagons wander around with “For Hire” signs on them. They’re great for hauling your score back to the car or gate for later pickup. Scored a screamin’ deal on a third member diff last April at the meet and had a kid help me haul it back to the car. Most of the kids were charging $5, but this kid was fast and polite with a pneumatic tire wagon, so I gave him $10.
I sadly haven’t been to a swap meet for years but I bet the same rules that I used then will still work.
1. Be early. If the item you really want is fairly priced, buy it then because it certainly won’t be there later.
2. Stay late. Real bargains are to be had at the very end of the day when the tired seller is realizing he has to lug this stuff back home.
2. Stay later. You’d be surprised what is left there when the seller goes home. Certainly, it’s probably not of great value but it’s free if you need/want it.
Also, unless the seller has a completely unreasonable price on something, don’t insult them with a stupidly low bid. When I was selling stuff I would reply to these offers with “No” and then attend to someone else or busy my self with something to tell the source of the offending offer that not only was I not accepting their offer but I wasn’t going to deal with them at all.
To keep from offending a seller on an item I would do this: If it was priced high I would first ask what they can do about the price. Their answer would allow me to determine if they their interest in dealing. If they lowered the price $10 on a $250 part then there is not much use in offering $175(only insulting). If they lower the price $40 they further negotiations may be fruitful. If they aren’t sure they will take your offer then I say “I will $175 for it and pay with cash.” Remember “I will give $175” for it is an offer and “would you take $175” for it is a fishing expedition!
To quote the late Frank Fritz, “the right time to buy something you need is when you see it.”