Pam shop?

Re: Pam shop?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Based on my back's very slow recovery, such as it is, it will be another month before I can lift anything; but at that point I'll order wood and get going. So a strong maybe on March. Where's the flea?

Pam

Re: Pam shop?

Ernie Miller

>It's quite a ways away it's in Canton first monday flea market. We are looking for an excuse to get away from work.

Re: Pam shop?

Wendell @ Murphy, TX

>Ernie,

Are you going to sell or going to buy at Canton? I'll be interested in your impression of Canton in terms of tools finds. After reading all the flea market tales on the Badger Pond, I came away dissappointed with Canton. I think my expectations were too high. Sometimes, I wonder if the tales from flea markets shopping are sort of liking fishing stories :)

Wendell

Re: Pam shop?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Canton is about 3 hours from Austin, so not a huge trip. Plus, Homestead Heritage is in Waco, about half way, a great place to stop and have lunch, look at their workshops, sign up for a class.

It would be truly great if you came down.

Pam

Re: Pam shop?

Ernie Miller

>Wendell I am a bottom feeder so I may not find any thing. But I also have a nose for finding good bargans Just yesterday a spent $20 and walked away with a D-8 a D100 and Sanvvik hand saws all in good shape but wait there more I also got a Stanley 9 1/2, a Sterrett T bevel and a Fray brace pretty good you say? But I also made the guy throw in a Boyds angel that my wife collects. Where talking browny points there. She never saw me carry in the tools because she was looking at the angel. I have a fealing that the flea will be over priced but they have day booths where common people set up and there is where the bargans will be found in boxes and under tables. I only have to buy one item to make it a buisness trip. I'm betting I will find more than that. Every town of any size has a junk store and I will find them.

Re: Pam shop?

Wendell @ Murphy, TX

>Ernie,

Based on your past exploits, I am sure you'll have better luck than me. When I went, there were a couple fellows specifically selling tools, but they were no bargain. I ran across a few things but I have to admit I wasn't diligent about search through every box of junk. I don't think I have the right mindset for rust hunting. The incident that sticks out in my mind was this one fellow with a rusted Stanley #4-1/2 (latter type nothing collectible). It was in pretty poor shape, the blade frozen to the frog with rust but the sole wasn't pitted so I thought I 'd see what he wanted figuring on paying about $20. He response was "The book says that plane is worth $100". After nearly laughing in his face, I just walked away because I figured I couldn't convinc him that the book was talking about a plane in Mint condition in the box.

Wendell

I'm with you Wendell

Steve Kubien

>I lack the right nose for serious rust-hunting. I lack the patience to dig through every box and sort through all of the junk to find what I am looking for. Besides, I am a lousy haggler. The tag says "$20" and I decide if I want to part with my money. I don't tend to try and talk people down (unless they're on a window ledge and then it depends on the person). Just not something I enjoy. To each his own butI wish I had the drive of Ernie or Todd.

Steve Kubien

Re: Pam shop?

Ernie Miller

>I know what you mean I went to a Estate where they were sellimg LLadro's and were using a book to price stuff that was published in 1979 befor e-bay and the internet. the stuff was priced at 3-4 times e-bay so I walked from that stuff but did pick up a couple nice stones at a fairly good price.

Re: Shoot them a line

ThomD

>Which reminds me Steve, do you know when the spring tool sale is? The one that used to be at the Kahn barns, but more recently has been various places I haven't caught up with it at, like the Rec centre. Of course I am not allowed to buy anything, but sometimes there are deals you just can't pass up.

I'm not much of a hound either. Haggling though is easy, you only really need to master one phrase, like "What's the real price?" (that should go over well), or "Can you do better?" In Canada that is usally good for 1/3 off.

Remember, most of the sellers are just as scared and anxious as you are. If they give you a hard time though you need a verbal squelch. I used to just look heartstuck, gasp and drop whatever was in my hand on the concrete floor, then ask for a glass of water. Unfortunately I'm too old to take it out to the parking lot these days.

When I go to lumber and steel yards I usually ask for the "small quantity dicount". Or if you are in a DIY book store like a music book story, as for the "teacher's discount". Or if it's a Friday, the "Friday price", "what is my good guy rate", which is so preposterous, I am so stiff, it appears somehow disarming.

The main point of any kind of line is that it gets you to say it. It may have zero intrinsic value, but not asking has less.

You need to meet Elmer

Bob Hackett(Mainely,Bob)

>of "Elmer`s Barn" fame.Elmer`s is one of the more clorful of the countless "antique and second hand" shops up here.Elmer always marks some preposterous price on anything he actually does mark(an example would be the $150 tag on the rusted,broken toted,no iron,late model #5).His philosophy is that if there`s a tourist stupid enough to pay it then he`s just the man to take his money.Most of us secretly believe Elmer was born in MA.

Most of the locals go to Elmer`s during the summer more for entertainment than anything else.He had a pair of large marble lions out front(still does) and was asked how much he wanted for them by a man who very obviously was "from away".Elmer told him "40,000 for the pair".The tourist asked how much for just one and Elmer replied $60,000.When the man just stood there stunned and with his mouth open Elmer said "you ain`t very bright are ya",and walked away.

You never know what you`ll find at Elmer`s.

Mainely,Bob

Re: You need to meet Elmer

ThomD

>That's great!

I'd get totaly fleeced, the word "provincial" was invented with me in mind.