Happy & Healthy

  The five golden rules

at the flea market

Next week it's that time again. Then we'll be jumping out of bed early in the morning to scour the flea markets for new gems on King's Day. Now I wish I was good at that, at scouring. I always end up paying a fortune for something that's really worth a penny and I even give a little extra because ‘those people are really trying hard’. Now Danny is my great example. Danny is the owner of Go with the Vlo, a website where all the flea market addresses are collected and where he shares his new finds. Believe me, Danny knows what he's talking about. That's why I also asked him about his golden rules at the flea market. This way we survive Wednesday morning.

1. Let the bum in yourself loose
Don't go to the flea market with your Chanel earrings, your most expensive jacket and bag, and your Prada pumps. No, let the bum in yourself loose. The market owners aren't completely crazy and have certainly built up some people skills. They can easily guess what type you are. So wear your ugliest clothes to throw sellers off track.
 
2. Bargain, but do it nicely
Bargaining is part of the game. It's not sad, it's all part of it, and traders even expect you to negotiate. If you think you're bidding too low, then it's definitely not too low. A trader still makes a profit. Just keep bargaining polite.
 
3. Poker face
If you see something at a stall, you can become incredibly happy. We understand that. But try to hold back a bit. Big eyes, a little squeal of joy: it doesn't work in your favor to ultimately pay a good price. Let's be clear: a seller can sense your enthusiasm and easily triples the price. Putting on a poker face is therefore quite important.
 
4. Go early
Most important rule: make sure you're the first. If you really want to score something good, you need to have first choice, so you need to be there first. Danny calls it the ‘annoying fly technique’: ‘Because people find it super annoying that you're already looking while they're unpacking and can't think calmly, they sell you an item faster and cheaper.’ The first step is taken.
 
5. Don't set goals
Of course you want to come home with something nice, but don't set goals for yourself. It can only lead to great disappointment. It's also a shame, because then you only have eyes for a specific item and miss out on other cool things. Let yourself be surprised.
 
Source: Go with the Vlo