How I did it: I shopped a few times at the flea market. Aside from toy vendors, regular vendors will sometimes have a laundry basket or cardboard box for children to look through while parents are shopping through their wares. The toy basket was almost underneath the table of books and candles. I wiped the gleeful smile off of my face (as this makes them immediately jack up the price) and put on my casual curiosity face. "How much?" I asked. "Erm," the vendor examined it thoroughly. "Fifty cents?"
I bought it. Then, at the vintage toy vendor, I tried the same thing, but they know better. "Eight dollars." I left that one. . .

Lessons & tips: Don't show your excitement at finding one unless it already has a price tag on it that you are willing to pay.
Don't buy from vintage toy vendors at the flea market. They will sell you a dirty old toy for three times what it was ever worth.

Resources:

• Um. . . A car
• Spare change?

Aug 16, 2009, 09:43AM PDT | 0 comments | 1 cheer