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I'll admit to having visions of plundering the Northeast corner of the United States as I packed the car for a week's vacation in Maine. Aside from lobster, potatoes and blueberries, mid-coast Maine is well known for its antique shops, collectibles stores and flea markets. For some reason, even after 15 years of living in the Boston area, I had never fully explored the streets and back roads of our northern neighbor. I pictured barn-sized shops filled to the rafters with vintage treasures and yard sales that stretched as far as the eye could see, and I sped north up Route 95 to see if reality matched fantasy while my wife Ina quietly read her book beside me.
I was going to make a killing on eBay.
I became even more excited as I turned east onto Route 3 toward Belfast, Maine. Flea Market and yard sale signs lined the highway like mileage markers. I restrained my desire to set a land-speed record from Boston to Belfast and stopped to investigate some of these roadside gold mines.
Now, I don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but in Massachusetts I might find one or two interesting items at a yard sale and do a bit of friendly haggling. As an online seller, I'm acutely aware of my profit margin so naturally I'm looking for bargains.
Everything was interesting at my first Maine flea market! There were antique tools, McCoy Cookie Jars, Coke collectibles, and Japanese Wind-Up toys from the 60's...everywhere I looked there were items that I was convinced would start an online bidding frenzy. I was in collectibles heaven!
I set my sights on an old advertising oilcan that was slightly rusty and had a few minor dings in it. Not very pretty, but I knew that it would probably bring $30-40 on eBay.
Here's where I was injected with the sharp needle of reality.
Instead of the $4-5 sticker I was naively expecting, I found it marked at $37.50. OK, it was a fair price, but hardly worth the effort of putting the item online for a $2 profit. I picked up a few more items and looked at the price tags. Everything was marked close to, or at, book value.
I drove on.
A few miles up the road I stopped at a dilapidated barn that had a "yard sale" sign hanging in front and found some nice pieces of Carnival Glass and old Silver Age comic books inside. Again, everything was all priced fairly, but I would be unable to squeeze a profit from an online auction. I was beginning to realize that these Mainers knew the value of their stuff! That realization was confirmed at the next few yard sales. Not only was everything priced at book value, but I began seeing the books to prove it! Many of these sellers had a Kovel's Guide or Antique Price Guide within arm's reach.
My visions of driving home with my SUV filled with a year's supply of prime eBay goodies quickly began to dissipate like a Bar Harbor fog.
Now at this point of the story, I know what you're thinking: It serves me right for thinking that I could take advantage of the good people of Maine, who have brought us such American treasures as Pepperidge Farms and Poland Springs.
Well, yes...I am somewhat ashamed and mildly humbled.
But I'd like to state for the record, that, as I started to come back to earth with my expectations, I began to talk to these roadside sellers and found them warm, friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable about vintage items. The week's stay evolved from a frenzied collectibles expedition to a relaxed tour of one of the country's most interesting and beautiful areas.
Over the next week, Ina and I investigated many of the antique stores along Route 1. We poked our heads into several more flea markets and even attended a church auction that was great fun. Along the way, we found some very nice additions to our own collections (and yes, a couple of bargains!). But the real gems of the trip were the fascinating conversations with shopkeepers and other collectors who had driven from as far south as Florida to check out Maine's coastal beauty and vintage treasures.
So what's the moral of the story?
Well, it could be that if you're looking for a bargain at a yard sale, come to Massachusetts.
Then again, it just might be that the object of going antiquing and yard saling isn't to snag a priceless Tiffany Lamp for a few dollars.
It's to enjoy the process.
There's a lot of satisfaction to be gained from getting in the car early Saturday morning, grabbing coffee from the local Dunkin' Donuts and driving from sale to sale while talking about the week's events with a spouse or friend. It's the sense of community you gain with the familiar faces that you see every weekend at yard sales and auctions. Many of them share the same passion that you do.
I really did know that already.
Maine just reminded me.
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