Featured Event Coverage Death of the Swap Meet

I sell at fleamarkets and swap meets. I price all my stuff, often I find it makes younger buyers uncomfortable to ask, so consequently they don’t. I also have a box of hot wheels and costume jewelry that the kids can pickout of for free- that can be entertaining. I try to get into a headspace where I can have a fun day, and try not to be weird or creepy- remenber you are a sales person. If the weather is decent it can be a good time for all. I try to buy car stuff at the fleamarket, and fleamarket stuff at the swap meet, because those things are generally cheaper. Of all the things you do to make a life, wasting a day at the auction or fleamarket once in a while isn’t such a bad choice.

 

This one wasn't a good example to judge by. The vendor count was way down due to the fact that it looked like it rained all day Saturday and the infield was a mud pit. Fortunately, I still found enough to justify the trip (215 miles one way for me).

 

Canfield last year I dumped all my NOS big block chevy parts, what did not sell I gave away for free months later.. what was obvious, as mentioned early in thread, younger crowd was all FI, LS, or Diesel Truck guys. Sbc & bbc was nearly impossible to move. I lowered prices until I got the green.

 

As far back as I remember, I have been going to swap meets, first as a snotty nose kid, then teenager trying to score parts for my latest custom, then a vendor myself.

The landscape has changed. As a vendor, I have been subject to the Friday night set up thieves (literally snagging parts, then convincing one of us he paid the other), good sales, swapping parts, and extreme prices for tables at locations that charge too much in order to pay for their new building.

I have always been scared to see the swap meet go by the wayside, in favor of online buy and sell. It's a part of my growing up, and now my kids love going. The sad reality is, the parts supply is dwindling (up here in Alberta), and I agree, so many tables are overwhelmed with clothes, trinkets, and flashing "Back to the Fifties" license plates. The last swap meet I had a table at in February, there were three different guys who commented they came straight to my table because they saw car parts.

I love swap meets and the entire experience, but am a little scared for the future...

 

Great post! Mom dropped me off for the day at a local Pre 1942 car show & swap meet in 1961, I was ten years old. That changed my life, saw great cars & parts, but the people were also a big part of those memories. Life rolled along, our kids went to the swap meets, now the grandkids look forward to going. It was fun to watch our oldest grand son haggle over buying something. Now at 12 he has a cellphone with some gizmo that allows him to take a photo and get the prices on the same thing on eBay for a price check. Swap meets are not dead yet.

Bob

 

Swap meets aren’t dead, maybe not as big or good as they once were but still good. I really don’t care if some are flipping parts for a profit good for them I doubt they make big $$$s, Flee market stuff I feel the same way about. If someone has something I want for the right price I buy whether it’s a vendor, old guy cleaning out his garage or a flipper. I’ve had good luck with guys selling for a profit. Last year I bought some steel 4 inch bp wheels for my Mopar project for $100 very reasonable I thought from a guy flipping and selling Mopar stuff. I was looking for a transmission he didn’t have the transmission I was looking for but walked me down to a guy who had one.
I was looking for a spare13 inch tire for my OT project I found a pair guy wanted 50 not bad. I told him I only need one he says take them both for 20 he didn’t want to haul them anymore.
I always enjoy swap meets whether I buy or not. I see a lot of interesting stuff for sure.
Dan

 

Truth be told I've scored some of my best parts at smaller swap meets.

 

There used to be a lot of small swap meets in New Jersey right around this time of year. Went with a friend in his pickup one year. A guy was set up selling a lot of Model A stuff, very reasonably. We both bought stuff and wandered back at the space after checking the others. Turned out the guy really wanted to get home and sold us everything including the space. We stayed as long as it took to pay for everything and had leftovers for the rest or the year. Fun deal.

 

^^^^^^^There is a TON of TRUTH in this statement^^^^^^^^^^^^

The number of non-interested parties walking down the middle of an aisle, not looking at booths, then bitching about not finding parts really chaps my ass. If you want exercise, go to the mall or the YMCA. Get out of the way of people and vendors looking for parts.

I vend at many swap meets in the upper mid-west. Most of them are shrinking. I will be at Jefferson in a couple of days in my usual spots. Rarely do I bring the same stuff. I have the same line I use time after time "It's not a museum, I came to sell, not show off my stuff." If someone throws me an offer, they usually get the item. I have a trailer full of parts I am likely not going to use. Earlier this month was Indy. Jefferson is next, then Torque Fest, then Monticello, IA (actually a meet that is GROWING) then the return of the Hawkeye Downs (Cedar Rapids, IA) Swap Meet. My goal is to have little, if anything, by the time Hawkeye rolls around. If I do my job correctly, this will happen. Even a couple of bucks is better than scrapping parts.

I AM RARE

If they ask about an item yet don't want to make an offer, FUCK THEM. THEY ARE STROKERS.

I would love if a swap meet had a gate check for buyers. Open your wallet. If you don't have at least $100, you can't come in. It would cut a lot of dead weight really quick.

OK. Rant over.

Happy swapping.

 

My addiction to swap meets is still there mentally at my age (78), but with the age comes the physical limitations.
I remember when the swap meet area was the first place I would head to at any event.

But now…..
As a buyer, the bad knees and aching hip joints, means going and walking miles just won’t happen.
Just get a scooter., you say. Great for outside meets but for crowded inside venues it just pisses people off.

Well, just be a vendor. Sell off your cool parts. Well, I tried that. Went to Nashville for decades. Always did good. But now, with no help to load, unload and setup, then close up, load up and drive hours home got to be more than I could deal with.

Enjoy it while you can “young” guys. It’s part of our DNA.

 

To be honest I think it is the aging process that is changing the mix. When I went to high school in 1956 you could go to a meet and almost build a car in the parking lot with what were there. now fast forward many of the people are gone along with their parts and the newer kids are looking for cars that they relate to i.e. muscle cars, rice burners later model trucks. It is in opinion what it is but it makes the search that much better

 

Without a doubt, the most memorable swap meet moment for me was a number of years ago at the Portland Swap Meet.
I was in my (outdoor) stall, kind of daydreaming after the morning frenzy (I had taken a number of pretty desirable parts).
An old guy strolls past my stall and I kind of did a double take, it was Ed Iskenderian, yep, in the flesh, in Portland.
I so wanted to call him back and have a chat but thought, what the hell would I have to say to ISKY so I thought I'd just leave him alone to enjoy his day as I figured he probably gets plenty of attention, decided to just take a little peak into his world because what could he possibly need to go to a swap meet for, he must have been in his late 80's.
I told my pal to watch the space for a few minutes and casually wandered down the aisle just to see what kind of things he might be interested in, boy, was I surprised as every space he came to it seemed like it was the old rusty tools that he was attracted to.
I'm not too familiar with the real old stuff but it sure looked like they were from the early part of the century, made sense considering he has the most recognizable gennie "T" roadster hot rod on the planet, he may be reliving his youth and working on collecting tools he grew up with.

 

^^^ Just this winter I started collecting original Ford tools. The wrenches that came with each new car. Kinda weird that after fifty years of going to swap meets I start a new addiction of some of the oldest stuff around. And most of them are the $1 to $2 variety.

 

If you are anywhere near the Buffalo/ Niagara Falls area the Rods & Customs of Buffalo are hosting their 40th Annual Street Rod & High Performance swap meet. We allow only auto related parts. On a good day we can have well over 100 vendors.

 

I got my old, tired bones home from being a seller at the Lone Star Round Up - rolled in last night. (Car Show and Swap Meet) I still have to unload as soon as I'm feeling human again. It's obvious that it still hasn't recovered to its pre-Covid status. Attendance and participation are still down. This equated to a little more elbow room between the cars in the show, and the swap meet was a bit more fluffy with the sellers spreading out into the unoccupied spaces. This made it very easy to get our vehicles in the building for setup and teardown with no congestion issues. My sales were good, though, because I half-priced everything except for a couple of top-shelf, collector pieces. I was well into 4-figures in gross receipts.
But here's what disturbs me the most: There was not one mention of the "Round Up" here on the HAMB. Usually, there are multiple threads and posts about it...... some build up, excitement, and anticipation. But only silence this year.
The famous quote from the Pogo cartoon has crossed my mind....... "We have met the enemy and he is us!"

 

I too do not understand why there were not multiple threads on the RoundUp, unless I missed them. I have wanted to go to this show for years.

 

Returned yesterday from the 60 th. annual Lawrence Ks. swap meet, usually doing a conjunction function venturing on Friday to the White Cloud Ks. flea market then on to the 15 min. hop so to the Sparks Ks. flea. market before heading out the 1.5 hr. drive to Lawrence Ks. all 3 venues seemed well attended although difficult to tell from a vendor format as the setup has changed particularly at Lawrence due to construction improvements at the grounds. In my own little world always seem to find an item or two I can't leave behind, this trip a manual tire changer & a matched pair of 32-33 Nebr. lis. plates, a full set of o.e.m. 58 Biscayne alum side trim inserts still factory packaged on wood protective slats. Most of all enjoy hearing what the long-time vendors are working on.

 

My legs still tired from Sparks on Thursday. Lots of tools.

 

My legs were cramping in the night having walked (3) meets, getting more difficult being 81, I vividly recall doing (4) meets in a week end a few years back, Des Moines, White Cloud, Sparks, & Lawence in that order, the following year or so we did it in reverse order & back home to Papillion Ne.

 

The swap today hosted by the local Buick club in Minnesota was filled with vendors and potential buyers.
It's the first big car show with swap meet of the year and has always had big crowds.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/stray-kat-500-lone-star-roundup.1334356/

 

There is a stand alone thread under Events also. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/2025-lonestar-roundup.1332681/
I’ll bet ya just missed them @The Shift Wizard.
It is when of the events on my bucket list
Dan

 

Anybody to Canfield this weekend? Just a little rain!

 

Yes, it was lovely.

 

You're fishing for the most you can get , afraid you might lose a dollar if YOU set your price , I've always hated games , put a fair price on your item , if I like it , I'll buy it , if you can't price it , I'll not bother to look .

 

I always love reading these threads and seeing the different viewpoints. Usually ‘super high prices’ and/or ‘no prices on stuff’ is the complaint from guys that shop at swaps. And ‘no buyers’ or ‘just looky-Lou’s’ is the bitch from vendors.
I vend to get rid of my own crap that I’ve collected in the past or overstock from projects that change direction and I spend a shitload of time pricing all my items before I pack up for a swap. Can’t believe how many tags seem to go missing from that time until a potential buyer picks up the part at the swap and asks ‘how much’. Stickers just magically vanish.
So before you bitch at vendors for not pricing stuff, sit back and watch how many squids pull tags off at some of our tables. Some may legitimately fall off, but I never seem to find many of them in the buckets, or on the tables, or on the floor…..so just sayin.
Maybe it’s a game or maybe some patrons just like testing our old brains/memories.
BUT, let’s be honest…for most real shoppers…the price on the tag is just a starting point for the negotiation….RIGHT?

 

We went to a nice smaller local swap meet on Sunday and had a good time. I didn’t buy any parts, but bought some good old tools.

Vendor and spectator counts seemed normal, and I didn’t see anyone asking astronomical prices, or being a jerk. But the only part I really wish I could have bought home was an excellent early T roadster body in original paint. If I was 20 years younger it surely would have come home with me.

 

looking forward to buying and selling I am sure it will be good

 

Yesterday was the LISRA show & swap meet. It was about half the size of last year, which was about 1/4 the size of years past. I think some people stayed home due cloudy weather. I still found a few trinkets

 

Don't forget the tag switchers who try and place the lower priced tags on higher priced items.