How to shop wisely at outdoor fairs!

I love to find bargains. I especially love when the item that I have bought is one that I had searched for but could not find at the right price.

It’s hard to find the perfect bargain especially at the time of year when it seems as if merchants are getting rid of older stock.

Older stock items are no longer popular or fashionable. It can also mean items that are not in the best condition as they have been sitting on the shelf for many months.

Out Door Fairs – Are they a Bargain?

I used to think that if someone set up a tent or booth in an open area such as a lawn or parking lot then the items on sale would attract a lesser price.

After all they have cut down on the expense of the store’s physical building and have the added attraction of being right where consumers are passing by their goods.

I have found in my experience at these fairs though that this is not always the case.  Sometimes the items are of poor quality or the vendors have not significantly reduced their prices.

The latest outdoor fair I attended was at Devon House lawns on December 7, 2015.  The children enjoyed the spectacle and there were plenty of rides to get them excited.  The clowns offered face painting and balloon artistry for a small fee of $100.00 to $150.00.

The items offered for sale under the tents varied from toys, clothing, jewelry, home goods and personal care products.

Shop Wisely

I noticed that some of the toys were of an inferior quality.  There seemed to be obvious tears and scratches that indicated they had been in storage for quite a while.  Some of the home goods such as plates and curtains were obviously pre owned as they showed signs of wear.

It is important to decide what you are willing to take used.  Used books for example were on sale that were in good condition. Used stuffed animals prices ranged from $100 – $500 and they too for the most part looked to be in good condition.

There is always the danger of course of purchasing an item only to discover it has a short life span. One child started crying when the light up wand she had just purchased for $100.00 stopped working only a few minutes after she had bought it.

Carefully examining the product before you buy is critical to ensure that you get value for money.  There will be no avenue to return items if they are later found to be of an inferior quality as the fair would have moved on.

It is also important to realize that goods displayed in the open can attract a certain wear and tear not seen if it was in a store. If you accept this fact then why not use any imperfections you find as a bargaining point with the vendor?

The best thing about out door fairs is the flexibility of prices as they are usually not as fixed as their store counterparts.

So enjoy your shopping and let me know what bargains you find!

Teri Ann  Renee Paisley

Gleaner Online Writer

Tags: bargain, fairs