Ten tips for a day of shopping at the Petaluma Antique Fair

Bring cash, water, and a tape measure (for starters)|

Slather on the sunblock and get out your oversized shopping bags, because it’s that time again.

This Sunday, for the 31st consecutive year, Downtown Petaluma will close the streets and open its arms (metaphorically) to hundreds of antique and collectible dealers from all over the state, as the Petaluma Fall Antique Fair takes place once again. Prepare to peruse a wonderland of toys, clothing, books, art, vintage jewelry, and that category of collectible known to professionals as “kitsch.”

This Sunday, September 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., over 8,000 deal-seekers and treasure-hunters will answer the call of all those potential “big finds,” and if you plan to be among those thousands, there are a number of tips and tricks and friendly suggestions you might want to consider, remember, and otherwise keep in mind.

PLAN AHEAD

Generally speaking, most professional collectors arrive early to grab the rarest and oddest and most unusual (and potentially re-sellable) items. Unless that’s you, consider having breakfast downtown first, and let the pros do their thing first. Downtown is full of great breakfast spots, but you should definitely consider partaking of the Petaluma Mason’s annual pancake breakfast, beginning at 6:30 a.m. and running through 11:30, in grand ballroom of the historic Masonic Lodge at 9 Western Ave. If getting the most for the least is your game, some experts suggest taking a walk through about mid-day, identify those items you’d be interested in, for the right price, then return about an hour or so before the end of the fair. That’s when sellers are most motivated to make a deal, just to avoid having haul all that stuff back home. Of course, that strategy is always a gamble. Some cagy collector just MIGHT beat you too it if you wait too long.

WEAR SUNBLOCK

Highs will be in the mid-70s this Sunday, and the famous Petaluma fog is expected to be gone by opening. Even so, fog only filters the cancer-causing rays, so do not forget to bring a good, effective sunblock with you, and reapply often. Don’t ‘Burn and Learn,’ just learn, and don’t burn. Bring sunblock.

BE FRIENDLY,?AND BE FAIR

Dealers are usually willing to negotiate, but be nice about it. They don’t owe you any favors, but they might be more willing to make a deal if you treat them with respect. Be fair, too. Make reasonable offers. If you begin by offering a price you yourself know is way too low, you can risk offending the dealer. Consider skipping the whole thing by just asking, “What’s the best price you can offer me for this?”

BRING CASH

Most dealers will take plastic, but if you plan to do some wheeling-and-dealing, offering cash for an item can motivate a dealer to make a better offer than if you are going to pay with a credit card.

USE THE P-WORD

The P-Word is “Provenance.” It’s a highfalutin term meaning “origin” and “history.” When discussing an antique, you should always ask about such things. And one way knowledgeable to do it is to ask about that item’s provenance. If the dealer knows some interesting tidbits about it (say, about the famous murderer who used to own that item), this would be one way to start that conversation and get that information. Usually, you’ll just learn what city the thing came from, but you should want to know that, too. It makes for a good story when some guest to your house points out the interesting antique you’ve recently acquired. Plus, if you plan to resell such items, having those stories will be useful, should someone ask YOU the provenance of that item.

GET A WRITTEN?RECEIPT

Always ask for a receipt, and a business card. On the receipt, ask for details: the price, a description of the item, and any damages you both notice and discuss at the time of purchase. This protects both of you should any surprises occur.

BRING WATER

Yes, there will be plenty of places downtown to hydrate, but it’s always good to have your own supply, just in case you find yourself waiting in the sun for a longer-than-expected time, while a dealer takes care of the customers waiting ahead of you.

BRING A TAPE?MEASURE

IF you are in the market for a piece of furniture, or a decoration of some size, you should know where in your home you plan to put it, and what space is available. Write that down, and bring a tape measure to the antique fair. Don’t trust your ability to “eyeball” an item. Measure it and be sure. Besides, if you pull out a tape measure, you’ll look very nerdy and prepared, and will intimidate the heck out of any competing buyers who failed to do the same thing.

BRING BAGS

The same reusable bags you take with you to the grocery store come in handy at open-air fairs such as this one. Dealers will usually be willing to hang onto items you’ve purchased, but don’t expect them to have bags to put them in. Another tip: bring a notepad and pen, to write down the exact location of the vendor you make your purchases at, if you decide to leave them there and come back later. It’s easy to get lost, and things change throughout the day, so don’t take a chance. Write down the location of where your purchased items are waiting for you. You could even ask the vendor for their cell number, just in case.

TAKE YOUR TIME

An antique vendor’s booth is a vast and overabundant explosion of shapes, and colors, and sizes. A quick glance around the booth won’t show you everything. It really won’t. So take some time. This is the fun part. Look around, look behind things, and never assume that the best stuff is in plain sight.

(Email David at david.templeton@arguscourier.com)

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