Top Tips: Attacking the Antique Mall

Number 1: Bring a Buddy

Antique malls can be big. Like, really big. There is a lot to see.
Bringing a friend to be a backup set of eyes will ensure
that you don’t miss out on any item that you might not have seen at first glance.

This has happened to me numerous times –
I don’t see that beautiful item, but my buddy points it out to me.
Is it because I am overwhelmed or do I really need a pair of glasses?
I’ll let you decide.

Number 2: Claim the Clothespin

If you are anything like me,
you may make many purchases in one trip to the antique mall.
I will repeat it again: claim the clothespin.

An employee will offer you a numbered clothespin in exchange
for holding all of your purchases at the front counter.

Even if the mall doesn’t specifically use clothespins,
they should still offer to take your purchases off your hands
if you look more like a juggler than a customer.

Take them up on this offer.

And thank them for it.

Number 3: Diversify Your Days

If you are anything like me, you may like routine.
Or perhaps the only days you have
to even consider going antiquing are Saturdays.

These factors can cause you to stick to one set day
to voyage into the antique mall.

However, if you diversify your days
and go to the antique mall on a day you don’t usually go,
you should find that you will discover new and helpful things.

In my personal experience,
diversifying my days has allowed me to meet new people,
including the vendors of some of my favorite booths.

It also allows you to know when the booths will be stocked up on new goodies
so you can get first dibs.

Number 4: Determine Duplicates

By determine duplicates, I mean visit all the booths in the mall
and know when two of the same item is being offered
at two different prices in two different booths.

I have had this happen to me.

There was a brooch that I had picked up from one booth.
Later on in my voyage through the antique mall,
I found the same brooch in a different booth at a cheaper price.
I’m sure you can guess which one I purchased!

Moral of the story:
just be aware.

Number 5:
Don’t Buy Anything You Can Make Yourself

Oh goodness; I was doing so well with my quippy little titles for my rules…
this one is quite cumbersome, is it not?
Well, despite that…

Sometimes, there are items offered for sale in booths
that are obviously D.I.Y. projects of the vendor.

Now this is great, don’t get me wrong.
Some of these items are the bee’s knees.
And sometimes, these items may be priced well,
perhaps for less money than it would cost you to make it yourself.

However, if you know that you can make the same item for less
than it would cost for you to buy it,
and especially if you would have fun making it yourself, don’t buy it.

Go for it! Get crafty! Make it your own! Take pride in it!

I could add more, but I believe more tips will come up as I share more about
specific vintage and antique items in the future.

So, in the meantime, take the poll below
and let me know if you have any tips yourself
on how to attack the antique mall in the comment section.

This is a kind of a prelude to a series that I have coming up on the blog,
so make like a boy scout and be prepared.

Bon Voyage!