All things considered

[Marthe48]

I'm planning to close my booth the end of March. I don't want to contribute to this economy. I don't think I would if I kept going, because you can't eat vintage glassware. It was fun while it lasted.

[mahina]

1. Are sales down?

Does the booth take a lot of time to manage? Have you been doing this for a long while?

Have you noticed sales dropping?

I love using beautiful glasses. Going to look for your eBay vendor name.

Hoping you are ok.

[Marthe48]

3. I thought it over

probably since the election. I hoped through the fall that some miracle would happen and this disaster would end. But it hasn't. Closing my tiny business is about the biggest statement I can make. Along with this being a gesture, there are practical reasons. I'm not a saint!

I have made rent and all of the mandatory fees almost every month. I sold a lot of stuff I didn't want. I made some friends among the other vendors and it kept me busy. There were a few things I don't like, mainly that 10 or 12 things went missing since I opened and I don't get any credit for those losses. I took all of the smalls out, after I took a big hit last year. This year a cardboard box about the size of a case of canned goods, with 8 Christmas ornaments in it is gone. How can you walk out with something that big?

I'm okay with my decision, and I appreciate your asking. I hope you can find things you love in your local stores I've been thinking of the LA fire victims and would love to send boxes of stuff out to my nephew for him to give away. It makes me sad to think of all that families have lost along with their homes, and I'd feel so good if some of my stuff replaced things lost in the fires.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. i expect a massive and initially unmeasured contraction

and it's underway already. Small businesses will be unwilling to take on new inventory due to uncertainty of selling it. I see eBay prices falling already for things I've bought, and light traffic. But if you can sell something and people pay, you can hold onto the money. That contracts the economy.

[Marthe48]

4. That's a good point about saving

I'm worried the freak will sign an eo (legal or not) to change from the money standard we have to fruitloop bitcoin. I guess I could hide it under the mattress

[multigraincracker]

5. Good time to buy. Terrible time to sell.

I follow the markets on resale items and now is the not the time for me. Hot items are newer(to me) toys and games I have no interest in.
Watches, typewriters and advertising are still selling.
I get up very early in the morning on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to hit the yard and garage sales. Being first is a must. I was looking for vintage telephones, but that market is gone now too.
I still find goodies all the time. I sell for way under “market value” and trilled with the quick sale. PRICE SELLS. Keeps me busy and having fun. Love talking to strangers, goes with my ADHD. Sell on Marketplace and Graigslist. I’d set up at flea markets, but can’t stand the bargaining game. I have the lowest price and I have to tell them, if you can find it cheaper, buy it. When they lowball me I go way up and will not come down to the asking price. That’s just me.
When the weather gets better I’ll be out there. I shoot for breaking even, just fun to do it.
I have been buying all the cheap matchbooks I see. They use to be free. They have no longer been around for a long time. If you look on eBay they ask crazy prices and few sale for it. I think they’ll go up if I wait long enough. I’ve bought them dirt cheap.
Might just be me, but I’ve found mall owners to be some of the worse folks in the world. Megalomaniacs.
I’m still having fun.

[Marthe48]

7. I stopped buying the beginning of 2016

When my husband got sick. He made it fun. We did all that, and also took day trips along the Lincoln Buyway (US 30) The first year, the Buyway intersected the Longest Yard Sale, the 127. We never got very far, so many sales, filled the car, had a blast.
When we bought stuff, usually from a round of sales, we'd sell something that covered what we spent. So the stuff I've sold was paid for back then. I usually price at 25 to 30% of sold prices I find online. I've kept most things that are old enough for my taste
I used to have fun setting up at flea markets and other group sales. My brother-in-law came up with a filthy response to low ballers, but we didn't let him near the customers. We laughed, but they wouldn't have. Lol
I wish you and I knew each other. You could leave with a carload! We collected lighters and tobacciana the whole time were we married Lots of older match covers. One of my favorite things is a match box safe that commemorates a record trip for the Zephyr, from Chicago to Denver.
My daughter offered to set up at the local flea market with me, so we'll see.

[brer cat]

6. My sister and I closed at the end of December after 30 years.

We loved doing it, but it is not as profitable now, and at our age (78 and 80) we don't need the hassle.

[Marthe48]

8. Good for you!

I'll be 73 this year. I might keep trying to downsize another way. There are local auctions on facebook. On one, everything starts at $1 and they have local meets every week or so. I might try that one.

Hope you enjoy your retirement, if you stay retired for long

[Vinca]

9. I've been consigning stuff to get rid of old stock and haven't been doing very well at all. It makes me grateful

I'm not paying booth rentals anymore. People are closing their wallets out of necessity or protest.