Quote: Originally Posted by Survivalism People get discouraged when they go to flea markets and thrift stores and pawn shops because they don't find anything right away, but those are the exact places you should keep looking. You just can't expect to find something, you can only go and see what they have because you'll never know. I go to the thrift stores a few times a week and rarely ever find anything, but then you find something cool and it makes you want to try your luck again tomorrow.

Yeah, I mean, I thought the flea market was interesting, but in reality; the majority of the dealers were poorer immigrant families trying to make end's meet. Most of the stuff I found was either in a real bad condition, way overpriced, or even more likely, a combination of both (but I'm betting a more domestic-based flea market might be easier on that sort of thing), & they all really didn't know what any of their stuff they were dealing was. It's really bad when you treat a flea market stand like a poorly-managed retail store, you know?

As for thrift stores & pawn shops, again; haven't gone to too many (at least not pawn shops). I've gone to a good few before, but that was also in my old town/around in cities near my old town...which is an hour away (I got some good stuff from garage-sale hunts over there, though). I don't expect to find a bunch of stuff when I go on hunts; I really don't, but I also don't suddenly act pessimistic about not finding anything when hunting either. I know the feeling when, as you said, you find something just really nice; it's damn wonderful. I think I just need to get to know some of the ropes of yard-sale hunting...that I don't handle as much anymore as I used to.

Do any of you guys go out of your towns sometimes for garage/yard sales &/or flea markets? I think that would change a lot for me.