Tips for Surviving the Brimfield Antique Market
Written by Urban Sherp on July 16th, 2010- Most tents really do open at daybreak – vendors arrive at 4:30 in the morning! So if you want to beat the heat (I did not heed this advice) or want to get in a full day, get there early.
- Don’t park at the first lot you see. Since I was unfamiliar with the various markets within the market, I just drove in a little bit and pulled into the Quaker Acres lot. Which worked out great because you are closer to the tents which makes life easier if you buy stuff. I’ve heard that the parking lots fill up fast, but I got there at 10:30 and had no problem finding parking, and it was only $5. Figured the middle was a good spot to go for carting goods back to the car. Could see where this might be a problem when you are leaving the fair. Make sure to note your location!
- Serious market goers had handy shopping carts
or jurry rigged carts to haul their treasures. I tossed a good sized fold up bag
into my purse for ‘totable’ purchases and figured if I was making big purchases I’d take them straight to the car. But I can see where a cart would make life easier, especially for your shoulder. Most vendors will let you purchase and item and then come back and pick it up at the end of the day – just make sure where it was – take note of the show venue and the booth number. Seriously this place is a maze, even a GPS can’t get you out of it!
- There are no maps, at least none that I could find. They do have an online map of how the marts are lined up, so if you are looking for one in particular it is helpful to take a look online first. Most of the marts are free to enter, but the premier marts like J&J Promotions and Heart-o-the-Mart charge an entry fee of $5.00-6.00
- Bring cash, cash, cash or you might miss out. I only saw a couple of vendors who used credit cards – cash is king. Even if they do take credit cards it’s easier to negotiate a deal if paying with cash. There is an ATM on site, but such a pain in the butt to leave your tent, trek to the ATM and then manage to find your way back to make your purchase.
- Know your stuff – I kept wishing I had an appraisal or ebay app so I could plug in prices to see if I was getting a deal or not. I was surprised at how expensive some of the booths were. I saw many items that I’ve seen sell for much less even in retail stores – so buyer beware, just because it’s at the fair does not mean it’s deal. It seriously helps to know your prices. This fair is so big now, you’ve really got to seek out the good deals – or negotiate for one.
- Everything is negotiable. I even heard one vendor say they were raising prices because everyone seems to want a deal, so they knock it up a bit so they can knock it down. Again, I need that app! Did get 20% off my purchases simply by asking for a deal. Everyone seems pretty motivated to sell, even on the first day. Guessing they don’t want to load all that stuff back up.
- Wear a hat. Not only will you look cool, you’ll also feel cooler. Particularly nice for going in and out of the tents from sun to shade. Was definitely not alone in my hat wearing at the event, it was quite the showcase for fedoras, trilbys and sun hats
– quite festive! Sunscreen’s a great idea too especially for the July show.
- There are food vendors there, mostly heavy carnival style food (sausage and pepper subs, burgers and fried food) so if you are looking for something a little lighter, definitely a good idea to pack a lunch, and bring water, lots of it! No water fountains in sight, unless you wanted to buy one.
- Still trying to decide if you are better attending the fair with items in mind that you want to buy (I was 2 for 5) or for just going with an open mind and taking in the possibilities. I did a little of both and ended up with a prize find – metal and wood letter stamps in a lovely sans serif. Yeah!!
Curious if anyone else had luck at the Brimfield Fair this year – what was your prize find?
Click for more pictures from the 2010 Brimfield Antique Market.
Enjoy & Happy Treasure Hunting!
