Collectibles make great accessories---
Accessories & Collectibles make great gifts!!!

WHERE CAN I FIND GREAT ACCESSORIES?

Want a great looking silver tray to serve you famous cheesecake?

Need 6 matching individual casseroles for you next dinner party?

Don't know where to start?

One can always go to the department stores at the mall. And, there are literally tens of thousands of little specialty stores popping up. But, if you want an item with character and history---something that marks YOUR personality---and have fun looking for it, then try shopping where millions shop today......thrift stores, flea markets and online auctions. Here is just a "tiny" example of some of the great finds I have made:

• A pre-1850s ironstone coffee pot. No stains or cracks. All the appropriate and stamped marks of a highly sought after maker. Found in a small charity thrift store for $15.00.
• An 1890s etruscan revival 9K yellow gold brooch with granulated design. No damage and no repair. In an antique mall for $7.00.
• A 1930s signed Suzie Cooper 10" plate with a turkey in the center. Found at Goodwill for $2.99.
• A Smiley Pig cookie jar with fold trim and florals. At a flea market for $100.
• 3 pieces Majolica with mauve interior, roses and pansy design, impressed marks. At a flea market for $3.00 each because they had a flake chip on bottom rim.
• Numeous old yellowware mixing bowls. Some with brown & white bankds. Some with colbalt blue decoration. Various sizes--4" to 14". Found at flea markets from $1.00 to $30.00.
• Hand-hammered copper with brass wash Roycroft letter holder. Mint condition. Signed on bottom. Found at an antique mall for $15.00.

That was just a small sampling of the more than 5,000 items I have purchased in the past three years. Some things I just can't part with. Others I pass on a great prices on eBay---the #1 on-line auction.

 Below are some tips for maximizing your purchasing power:

1. Always politely ask if the price is firm. Sometimes the seller will lower it a little. NEVER use the phrase..."I'll give you $$" for this. You're not "giving" them anything. The seller had to travel around to buy the item, transport it, and is trying to make a little money on it (and is probably paying rent for his little spot to sell it). "Would you take $$" is a much kinder way of asking.

2. Don't neglect any of your local antique shops or antique "malls", thinking that they are probably too expensive for your budget. Typically a dealer becomes an expert on things he or she enjoys. But no one can be an expert on everything. So, often great buys are made in antique shops on items the seller didn't know much about. And--often, the selling price is based on what the owner paid , not on some "book" value.

3. On a regular basis, at least for a while, check all of your local church and charity thrift stores. Donations are made daily. Inventory changes daily. You never know what might have just arrived. In most of these stores, the prices attached to an item are the opinion of a volunteer staff person.

4. Check out you local flea and farmers markets. Walk around the perimeter. This is where the household items and odds & ends are being sold. Get here EARLY!

5. Most areas have antique extravaganzas or large shows. Just a short drive from my area is a large show 3 times a year It is always open Fri-Sat-Sun.
   Fridays cost more to get through the gate as it is considered early-buyers day. I find it's worth the extra gate fee because most of the dealers are just unpacking and you get to view the wares before other dealers have snatched up the bargains.
   Saturdays are crowded and difficult to park. And usually no discounts are offered on tagged prices.
   Sunday morning is another good time to shop. Rather than pack things up to move on to the next show, many dealers prefer to sell out what's left at drastically reduced prices. Expecially if the first two days were profitable for them.

6. And finally, make a regular search on some of the internet auction facililties. There is Yahoo, Amazon.com and. of course, eBay.
   Be sure to read the description carefully. View all of the pictures. Write the seller and ask questions. Make sure you know BEFORE you bid how much the shipping will be. If it doesn't mention, ask if there are any chips or cracks. Check the seller's feedback rating and read a few to see what other buyers have to say about how well the seller packs and ships.
   You must keep in mind that these are "auctions". You can't just return the item because you don't like it. You can't change your mind and decide not to pay for it after you've won the auction.
   However, once you receive the item, if it is not as described or was falsely represented, you have every right to return it for a refund.
   Also, don't get caught up in a bidding frenzy. Establish in your mind what the maximum amoiunt is that you're willing to spend on this item and bid that amount. After all, if you don't get this one, another one like it will soon come along.

7. There are literally MILLIONS of items for sale on eBay.

Have fun! And Good Luck!