A Step-By-Step Guide to Shopping at Garage Sales, Tag Sales, and Flea Markets

An important part of good garage sale, tag sale and flea market hunting is to do your work before you leave home. Here are some tips:

• If you're looking for specific items, make a list of the exact items you're looking for.
  
  
• If an ad lists a specific item that you're looking for, you'll want to plan to arrive there first.
  
  
• Decide how much money you're willing to spend for the week's garage sales. Bring cash including some change and plenty of dollar bills. Few sellers will accept a check.
  
  
• Research the actual retail or used costs of the items you're looking for. You never want to pay more at a garage sale than you can pay for a new item or even a good used item on such services as eBay or Half.com. After you go to a number of sales in your area, you'll have a pretty good idea of what the going price is for a book or videotape. Don't pay more just because the seller doesn't know how to price items.
  
  
• Set your alarm. Good merchandise goes quickly, so you'll want to get out on the road early in the morning.
  
  
• Dress the part. Don't drive your Mercedes to tag sales. Don't dress up in your expensive jacket or wear fancy jewelry. Folks are very unlikely to give any bargains to someone who looks like they have lots of money.