Post #381180 by Psycho Tiki D on Mon, May 19, 2008 7:26 AM

At our local flea market, we have what I deem “flea market rats”. This is a group of tightly connected resellers that know what each other buy and are always on the lookout to scavenge whatever they can for each other, since most are resellers.

These guys are the ones who are pulling stuff out of the seller’s cars, trucks and boxes before said sellers can even start to set up. And they swarm. Like roaches, each trying to outdo the other. Aside from records, comic books and jewelry come immediately to mind for this particular behavior, although military and old toys items rank way up there as well. If they don’t shoulder hop you or yank something out of your hands, they will persistently try to purchase something from you after you have bought it. For most of the items I purchase, I literally have to be standing there when something is being put out to have first crack at it. Since the flea market rats are well known to the steady dealers, many items for sale are held back until the rats have a chance to look at the stuff first; often times buying the stuff for far less than the other guys would be willing to pay.

Fortunately here, most tiki stuff is largely ignored. It hasn’t been until the past year or so that dealers have really caught on to tiki and they don’t really have an idea of what is and isn’t, although most buy it hoping to make some large money on it. And sometimes they do score some pretty cool stuff.

No, it isn’t cool to reach over and grab something away from someone looking through a box or container. I would have no problem grabbing something away from someone who did that to me either. Of course, I would politely explain why I did it.

Psycho Tiki D (I know I am and I would try to be polite)!

[ Edited by: Psycho Tiki D 2008-05-19 07:28 ]