No offense, but most of the dealers at Brimfield deserve what they get. Their prices are absurd, their attitudes suck and they're too eager to remind potential customers that they don't have to come down on price because they can always "get more for it on eBay."
posted on May 16, 2001 11:44:27 AM
Spaz, have you had first hand knowledge of this...I mean were you there or is this something someone told you.
As a seller I am aware of being tuned into the potential customer. I spend time answering questions and offering information on the pieces that make them unique. I also give a receipt with each sale and package carefully. Ebay is never mentioned by me but the occasional NON buyer does delight in telling me that they bought one just like what I have for 1/2 the price. Good for them. I paid more than 1/2 what I am asking and if you are here to gloat do it quickly cause there are folks who would be tickled to buy the item that they can see first hand is without flaws...in excellent condition. No postage, or handling fees either.
posted on May 16, 2001 11:55:07 AM
Spaz is absolutely right, and not just at Brimfield is his comment applicable.
All of the wondrous advantages that are mentioned here pale quickly once the ridiculous price is known, and I think that in most cases the only party who is convinced is the seller in their self rightiousness.
To all in person sellers who claim that "get more for it on eBay." -- why don't you then?
I can tell you why..it's because you're full of it, that's why.
I have gone to Brimfield at least once a year since 1989 ... It's about a 3 hour drive each way for me, no biggie.
I think the food is the best part of the whole experience. Because many of the dealers just leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Godzillatemple always goes to Brimfield. He seems to like it. In the past couple years he has started a few lengthy threads about Brimfield. Don't know if they were purged. But I posted many of my objections to Brimfield, along with anecdotes about specific bad experiences with dealers, on those threads. You might want to try the "Site Search" feature to see what you can turn up.
posted on May 16, 2001 12:44:24 PM
Spaz -- why go once a year if it sucks? My husband and I are considering make Brimfield's one of our stops this year -- but it sounds as though your experience is telling me not to bother...
Don't let my cynicism deter you. Anyone in this business should visit Brimfield at least once. And as I said, some people really like it.
There are two philosophies, go early in the week when it opens to get the good stuff, or go late in the week to get the good deals. Of course if you go from Tuesday-Saturday (or does it open on Wednesday?), you get the best of both worlds.
posted on May 16, 2001 04:17:42 PMXifene Do make Brimfield a stop in your trip plans...I just hope you are planning on September as opposed to July. All the physical deterrents are present in July, extreme heat and dryness (lots of dust)
In any event, good walking shoes, hat, bottle of water, back pack or cart to haul the goodies (layered clothing and umbrella)...Money orders are always helpful if you are an out of stater or cash.Personal check are accepted but not by some dealers.
We rent a 20' x 20' tent, preparation starts well in advance of Brimfield. Our field allows us to set up our tables and display cases on Monday after 2 PM. We are not allowed by the Town to put out our wares until 6 PM....NO SELLING until Tues at 6AM. Oh some do, but the POLICE are there handing out $40.00 tickets to the dealers that get caught. And some of 'em work undercover to entice you to sell or take a deposit. For all the effort, tolls and travel time (one hour out and back) each day...wind,(the most feared for those of us with breakables) thunderstorms, extreme cold or heat, DIRT blowing (couldn't put out linens). They used to water the road ways to keep dust down back in the 80's. We had our own small sprayer with us that we used to try to keep down the dust but every time a truck went by to P.U. something WHAMO instant gray!!
I've been doing Brimfield as a dealer and buyer since the mid 70's NO MORE
You want to buy cheap go to ebay!! Course you won't get to see the unusual Unless you know the name of the item, it is unlikely that you will know any historical information should you trip over it in your searches...but there are advantages to each venue.
Just a year ago I was making more on ebay for many of my items than I could make at any show..without paying the horrendous prices for space rental...it cost me $600 plus for the tent and space this year and it will go up again for September...enuff I hope to hear from Toke to see how it went for her.
posted on May 16, 2001 04:28:06 PM
Dealers at Brimfield price with an archetypal customer in mind -- the wealthy New York City man or woman who drives out to the country for the day in his/her Lexus, then walks around buying at whim, price no object.
Such customers do exist, but they are few and far between. The rest of the crowd consists of ordinary people, dealers, collectors, etc. We don't have a fortune to spend but do we have some money. Too bad the Brimfield dealers can't put reality ahead of their greed-driven fantasies because they're losing a lot of sales by pricing us regular folks out of the running.
posted on May 16, 2001 04:33:33 PM
Well, I can't say that I've ever been to the Brimfield Flea Market before, but I did just go to the Brimfield Antique Show once again....
In recent years I have found it more and more difficult to get great "bargains" in the area I collect [pocket watches]. Either there weren't a lot of watches for sale, the watches that were there were mostly junk, or the prices were too high. Still, I usually managed to find a few "special" items for my collection and enough other stuff that I could resell to pay for the ones I kept.
Now that I have given up selling on eBay, however, I had a different philosophy -- I went there solely looking for some nice items for my collection. Now, don't get me wrong -- that doesn't mean I was looking to pay top dollar for things. But it does mean that I didn't have to get a "bargain" on everything I bought.
And you know what? I had a BLAST! I simultaneously bought less items and spent more money than usual, and I ended up with some very nice watches at very reasonable prices. One watch in particular will probably end up being one of the premier items in my collection, and I actually did get it at a "bargain" price [if you consider paying $1400 for a watch I could easily resell for $2500 a "bargain", that is]. Other watches I was able to buy for low "book" value, which was perfectly fine since I am not planning on selling them.
One other interesting thing about this show. I have often brought watches with me to use in trade, but most of the time I can even get dealers to pay half of what my original cost was. This year, however, I was able to turn over 4 different watches at decent profits, and used the proceeds to purchase some of the "special" watches I otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford.
I suppose it's still possible to find a few "bargains" at Brimfield, but my feeling is that if you are going there solely with the hope of finding "flea market" prices and cheap items that you can resell on eBay, you will likely be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you are going there hoping to find decent prices on antiques and collectibles at reasonable prices, there's a heck of a lot of great stuff to be found.
Can't wait until September! Hopefully my feet will have stopped hurting by then....
Oh -- the one disappointing thing for me is that MY favorite place to eat was gone! There used to be this stand near Heart of the Mart that sold Angus Steaks by the ounce. It was all paved over, though, and a crappy little "food court" was in its place.
Regards,
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on May 16, 2001 04:53:25 PM
We're looking to attend this September -- assuming all goes well with finances and family. Our family tends to look at these long distance buying trips are 80% vacation and 20% business -- which tempers any disappointment at the finds. My husband is far more thrilled by the idea of spending a day wandering in dusty fields looking for that one special something than am I -- but Brimfield's has always seemed like an event you're just supposed to attend some day... sorta like going to your high school prom even if it didn't turn out to be particularly engaging.
posted on May 16, 2001 08:33:29 PMBarry I know the Promoters refer to it as Brimfield "Antique Show"...however, as you drive down the street and into the fields you will find newly made garden architecture, rusted and stressed to look old, newly made stained glass lamps and windows, repro furniture and buckets painted lavendar, orange and yellow that have cutouts of flowers and halloween motifes, my fave "new" thing was Japanese baskets just off the boat made to look antique...not really ANTIQUE SHOW...FLEA MARKET BETTER SAYS IT TODAY..sure there are some desireable antique pieces but the ratio is dwindling every year in favor of STUFF!!
GLad you could find some good watches and work a decent trade or sale on the others.
posted on May 16, 2001 09:17:09 PMSpaz I really don't know but I saw so many of em being carried around I knew me and my product were in big TROUBLE...that and new little garden onrnaments bees on a stick etc. Plus most of the dirt kicked up and blown into my tent was from trucks and SUV's going in to pick up repro (just off the boat) Furniture. Pizzzed me off to say the least.
posted on May 17, 2001 05:59:55 AMgarden onrnaments bees on a stick
I like the bees on a stick. I prefer the flamingos though. Good thing we live in the middle o' nowhere.
Ob on topic: Sounds like as Brimfield makes the slow transition to flea market it might become more interesting to me; there's nothing like mass crass consummerism to bring out the oogler in me.
posted on May 17, 2001 06:22:25 AM
You could probably say what you've noticed about Brimfield to ANY Antique Show. We just did a show a couple of weeks ago and it was PATHETIC, both from a buying and selling standpoint. We bought one teeny tiny little piddly thing, sold okay, but well under last year's sales for the same show. We buy not only for resale, but for our collection(s) as well.
People just weren't spending their money on Antiques and older Collectibles, they were spending them on crafts!!! Crafts DO NOT belong at an Antique Show promoters. Are you listening?
posted on May 17, 2001 07:02:29 AMflynn I am so with you, unfortunately they will keep doing it as long as the gate supports this ploy. What we and many other dealers have done is let the promoter know that we will no be doing the show due to crafts being intermixed with the antique collectibles....if they want that gate they better keep the two totaly separate and adverstise it that way. I am tired of entertaining the craft buyers with information they will never use.
posted on May 17, 2001 07:14:34 AM
My impression is that there has gradually been more flea market type stuff at Brimfield over the past few years. I was only able to spend a couple of hours there last week (my wife is pregnant and got tired and demanded to be taken home). I don't really consider stuff from the 1960s "antique" no matter how popular it is with the Baby Boomers. It's flea market crap.
We were looking for a nice table that would fit in with our Eastlake Victorian living room. I'm sure we would have found something if we stayed longer, but I wasn't about to pay $400 for that one with the cracked marble top.
On several occasions I did overhear customers talking together about what they could get if they resell an item on eBay. I don't know if the dealers overheard too, or were part of the discussion, but it wouldn't be my style to have this discussion out loud.
I do remember Brimfield as being better, or at least more antiques and less flea market crap, ten years ago when we first started going. It may just be an impression, though. Last fall we did spend numerous hours there, during the week and on the weekend. Ironic though, last fall we had less money to spend but did manage to spend a few hundred dollars. This year we had a lot more extra cash we could have spent, but didn't get anything. Maybe next time I can go by myself (somebody has to stay home with the baby) and spend lots of $
Brimfield certainly HAS changed, though it's probably only considered a decline by antiques dealers. How do you like the stuffed chickens? LOL!
We started doing it in the late 70s, and have stuck with May's field all along. I hate the hassle, but love the bidder excitement his horrible method of set-up creates... Our sales are always fantastic...no kidding. Only limited by the weather (shudder) and the stock we bring.
This years sales weren't as good as last May...but then we didn't have a booth full of Stickley, either. Sometimes I think our sales are helped by all the junk. Seems like we have a lot less competition for the good buyers, now.
I DID notice a marked reduction in European and Japanese buyers, this year. I didn't like that much. They are some fine customers, don't you think? In the past, I've actually sold eighteenth century American painted furniture...to be shipped to Japan. That floored me...
Another change...our sales are better in July than they used to be. Maybe not this year, though...we are seriously hurting for stock. Also, I don't know if I can stand any more heat and dust. This May was the worst ever for that. My eyes still haven't recovered...
Which field opens Monday? How long do you stay...or do you hop? I dunno where people get the strength to keep packing and unpacking and setting up, virtually every day. Folks tell me it's worth it...but, I'm waaaay too lazy for that.
posted on May 17, 2001 08:40:57 AM
Hi Toke, glad to hear from you. You were the only one on the boards that I knew sold at Brimfield.
We have been in Central Park, across from the New England Motel. We are allowed to set up on Monday but we cannot sell until Tues at 6AM. No field hopping for me. Too many breakables and we fill a 20 x 20 tent. We don't usually carry furniture but I had some wonderful Victorian Mirrors,(Gilt and Oak) Japanes wood block prints, Phones from the late 1800s Oak Wall Mount and early 1914 Brass candlestick, toasters from the 30's late 1800s wooden cameras and early 1900's to 1950's cameras including stereo. Stereo photographic cards and 2 viewers and 1920 -30's elegant glass (don't bother with victorian anymore) every one wants it for $25 to $30 for an ornate piece.
You are sooo right no Japanese or German buyers for us. Even the Brits didn't turn out. We have been on the same field for 7 years so they know where we are.
Used to do May's or J&J's back in the 70's I worked with my Dad, his mainstay was edged weapons, arms and some armor. Along with eclectic antique smalls. What a wild time trying to find things and watch what was out as the crowd came pouring in with everyone asking for something different. He did Brimfield right up until he was 72 years old and had more energy than I ever had.
The dust was horrendous this year...do you remember when they used to have the trucks out to spray the road to keep down the dirt. May of 95 was terrible dust wise, I kept trying to keep things clean enough so you could see color...what a loosing battle.
posted on May 17, 2001 08:44:52 AM
Just a postscript: It fractures me the way the buyers get so excited about J&J's nothing set up until they are on the field...course most of those dealers have been on at least one or two fields by the time they take there stuff to J&J's and they
could have bought the same item earlier in the week for less money from the first dealer that owned it. Irony!!
posted on May 17, 2001 08:48:45 AMToke: Interesting that you should mention May's. That's actually the one field I decided to skip this time around. As a buyer, I have just gotten fed up with:
1. The huge waiting lines to get in and all the traffic problems caused by the dealers trying to get in to set up at the same time the buyers are lining up to enter.
2. When you *DO* get in, many of the dealers haven't finished setting up yet.
3. This is the one field where I have consistently found a lot of sellers asking ridiculously high prices for merchandise. In fact, I don't think I've ever actually bought anything at May's.
4. A number of dealers who set up in May's set up at other fields as well, either earlier in the week or later, and why should I pay $5 to see the same stuff again? And yes, I realize this is a problem with all the premium fields and not just May's, but it was just one more reason to not bother going this year.
Of course, had I known that YOU were there, Toke, I would have gladly paid the $5 just to meet you in person and say "hi"!
None of the fields officially open on Monday. I usually get there bright and early on Tuesday morning [6:00 AM] and hit a couple of the "free" fields like Mahogany Ridge and Sturtevants. Then, I hoof it to the end of the road and hit a couple of the Premium fields [Dealer's Choice at 11:00 and Brimfield Acres North at 1:00]. Then I head back to my car making stops at some of the other free fields like Central Park and Crystal Brook.
On Wednesday, I get there at 6:00 once again and check out some of the other free fields like Shelton and The Meadows until 9:00, at which point I head over to Heart of the Mart. That's big enough to keep me occupied well into the afternoon. Then, once again, I head back to the car looking at more of the free fields.
Thursday I skipped all together this year, since I didn't want to bother with May's and my feet hurt.
Friday, it's time for my favorite field of all: J&J's. They open at 6:00, and I'm there when the gates open. I usually find enough stuff to keep me busy there until early afternoon, at which point I either check out a few of the fields I missed [like Hertan] or head home, depending on the state of my feet and my wallet.
Some years I go back on Saturday if I have friends and family members who want me to play "tour guide". This year, though, I called it quits after Friday.
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on May 17, 2001 08:56:12 AMZilvy: I'm glad I'm not the only one who found the dust horrendous. I was wearing dark brown Doc Martins that were light tan with dust at the end of the day, and each night my feet were BLACK! I had to spend 1/2 hour scrubbing before going to bed so I didn't ruin the sheets...
As for J&J's, as I mentioned above it really is my favorite field. You mentioned the dealers not setting up until they get on the field? Well, either the dealers are extremely fast or else they are allowed to set up ahead of time, because everythgin seemed set up when I got there at 6:00 am. I believe they can actually set up Thursday afternoon.
And, believe it or not, there really are a large number of dealers who ONLY do J&J's, and I always manage to get some good stuff there. Yeah, there's the one guy selling magnifying glasses who sets up at Brimfield Acres North, Heart of the Mart, May's AND J&J's, but fortunately he seems to be the exception, at least in my experience.
Of course, maybe it depends on what you are looking to buy. As I said, I know of a number of dealers selling clocks and watches that ONLY set up at J&J's, but it might be very different with other collectibles.
Regards,
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
posted on May 17, 2001 09:03:06 AM
Speaking of J&J...I heard a lot of gossip about that field, this time. Heard they didn't fill the field...in MAY???
I know some unhappy dealers there. The girls have disallowed dogs and issued a bunch of autocratic and pronouncements, according to my sources... The word was that the money is out of there Thursday night, now.
Another change...we were mobbed with retail on Friday. Friday is ALWAYS dead for us...everyone is usually at the Girl's. Not this time, though. Not that it did us any good...we do mostly a dealer business. Think we did a huge $200 for all the suffering...lol. Everything was absolutely filthy. I just love having to wash and retag everything...blech.
You're right, the chaos at May's is dreadful...but, we find it really jacks up the buyers. Downside for us (besides exhaustion) is there's a lot of theft. It's hard to setup and watch your merch at the same time.
It's true. Lot's of dealers have been hopping fields all week. BTW...those are the ones that also do the Girl's... And, yes...the dealers at the Girl's set up ahead. The field is well-picked by the time the customers get in. That shouldn't hurt a specialist like you, though...
I also hear lots of complaints about high prices...but I hear those at every show we do. Maybe that's why we do well? The only price jacking we do is the same we do everywhere...raise it enough so we can give a good discount to please the customer... It appears to be essential to sales, sad to say.
posted on May 17, 2001 10:54:33 AM
Much as it goes against my nature, I have to agree with Barry -- J&J is the best field of all, at least in terms of offering interesting, high quality stuff. I find it's also better organized than the other fields, easier to navigate. I also like having the big concession stand right there with the picnic tables and the roofed-over dining area. Pricewise, the dealers are as guilty of gouging there, maybe even more so, than other fields.
LOL, we should have an AW reunion at Brimfield -- zilvy, toke, barry, jen, me ... It would be interesting, to say the least.
posted on May 17, 2001 11:22:56 AM
LOL, toke. Is Francesco's that little Italian restaurant in the middle of the madness? I ate there last time I went. It was actually pretty good -- then again, I was sitting down, it was air-conditioned ... I guess even Taco Bell might have tasted good under those conditions after a day of walking the fields.
My husband is far more thrilled by the idea of spending a day wandering in dusty fields looking for that one special something than am I -- but Brimfield's has always seemed like an event you're just supposed to attend some day... sorta like going to your high school prom even if it didn't turn out to be particularly engaging.
I prefer the flamingos though. Good thing we live in the middle o' nowhere.
They are some fine customers, don't you think? In the past, I've actually sold eighteenth century American painted furniture...to be shipped to Japan. That floored me...