Thank you Ron and Ali for inviting me to interview on your podcast, “So You Wanna Sell on eBay”. It was a fun chat
Here is a link to our call. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed the lively conversation.
Fleahopper and her sidekick Rambler were busy this Christmas season hitting up as many small resale shops as we could while spending Christmas with family and friends in Bavaria. We didn’t go to a single famous German Christmas market this time, but instead, spent time searching for new resale shops to hit up!
Well, we did walk through one Christmas Market before it was open on our way to a resale shop! We were on a different mission this day.
That small charity shop just past the Weihnachtsmarkt in Kempten is nestled in a side road weaving into the city center. Over the past couple of years it has become popular and expanded into a neighboring store front, doubling the fun of thrifting there. In the front half of the shop you will find seasonal items; decorations, clothing, books, cookware, etc. Toward the back is glassware, pottery, every day kitchen goods, porcelain and a “smalls” glass cabinet full of very inexpensively priced jewelry. Turn right and you’re into the annexed area stocked full of clothing and shoes.
At this shop I picked a stunning vintage plastic cuff bracelet from the corner glass cabinet. Don’t you just love the colors!
It cost me a whopping one euro (approximately $1.35 USD). I also snagged an advent garland made of felt cones for one euro. I’m hanging onto that until next Christmas season when I will have a huge vintage “German Christmas” category in my eBay store.
The following day my daughter had to go grocery shopping so while she was in Aldi I popped into the St. Mang Resale Shop across the street. It is found in a village bordering the larger city of Kempten in the Allgaeu region of Bavaria. We visited this shop during my visit in August 2017 where I found great vintage Christmas items to flip, even in the middle of the summer
Since my visit to this store this time was only a week before Christmas I was hopeful for more of the same. WOW, did I hit the jackpot! There was an entire wall dedicated to Christmas items. I was on the hunt for more vintage wax tree toppers similar to what I had purchased there previously. I didn’t find any more of those but oh, so many more items. I filled two large shopping bags! Christmas themed music boxes, nutcrackers, smokers and vintage glass ornaments.
We actually made a second trip back to this store just prior to my return to the states at the end of my trip. I wanted to check one last time in the hopes that donations had come in since my previous visit. Not much new but I did pick up a couple more Erzgebirge style wooden Christmas decorations. They sell well for me.
We then took a few days off from thrifting to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. We ate, we drank and we reveled in the wonder of Christmas morning through the eyes of my daughter’s nine year old twin boys. There’s just something so magical about that!
After Christmas, local German friends who are also fellow resale shopping lovers offered to accompany me on a trip to Munich to wander through resale shops in the “big” city. We googled store names and addresses and set out early in the morning for the two hour train ride into the city.
I was extremely thankful for their familiarity with the city and public transportation system of trains and subways and their artful guidance using google maps, to walk around and find the shops. It was a cold and blustery wet day but we were on a mission. We did a bit of walking until we finally found a shop open during the “down” season between Christmas and New Years.
This first stop was a bit of a disappointment as it turned out to be only clothing. I did pick up a pair of vintage purple Pierre Cardin pantyhose tights though! They were marked 2.99 euros. We were able to convince the cashier that they should be included in the 50% off sale for any costume related items. Wouldn’t you call purple pantyhose part of a costume? I got them for 1.45 euros (about $1.99 USD). The funniest part was that I only had a twenty euro bill and they didn’t have change. My friends paid, so my price was free!
Back to the S-bahn (subway) and we made our way into the touristy pedestrian area of Munich (the Marienplatz). We briefly browse through TK-MAXX without purchasing anything before we decided it was time for lunch. Nothing like some hearty traditional Germany fare and beer to fuel you before you step back out into the cold, rainy, snowy day!
Next stop was a chain charity resale shop called Oxfam. This small shop was a blast! It was crowded with shoppers itching for a thrifting fix after Christmas. It was stocked with good to better goods typical in most resale shops but they offered one other service that I really enjoyed. There was a cart near the entrance with a variety of items on its shelves. Shortly after our arrival the owner ran an in-store auction style sale of the items on the cart. She started them quite low to ensure a sale. The pace was brisk and the crowd was active. All items (mostly glass) went quickly and then she walked around the shop to restock her cart. There’s one way to move stale merchandise! Everyone was happy – that was my favorite part.
Back out into the wintry weather to walk a short two blocks back to our closest U-bahn station. Two stops and we exited at the Poccistrasse station. A short half block walk and we were on Lindwurmstrasse where we found a gem! Bric-A-Brac. The four of us looked like a Christmas post card of children with our cold noses pressed to the windows dreaming of owning the goods in this packed store. Bummer – it was closed! We could see a shopkeeper sitting at the counter doing paper work but even our gloved taps on the window and pathetically frigid smiles wouldn’t budge her to open the store and allow us to browse. She simply shook her head, no, without lifting it from her work!
In spite of that – I will be back! I looked to be an amazing “picker’s delight!” Stacks and stacks of true vintage, antiques and well, bric-a-brac! See you soon Bric-A Brac!
And our last stop before heading back to the train station and the warmth of the train cabins for our return ride home was a vintage lovers dream store, PICKnWEIGHT Kilo Store. Just as it’s name suggests all purchases are priced by weight. Items have a different weight price determined by their value. This place is packed with mostly vintage clothing, shoes and textiles. A huge variety of mostly good quality items. I didn’t find anything that I couldn’t live without but I’m glad we took the time to check this place out. Another fun twist on thrift or resale store shopping experience.
We were cold and tired from our day of walking the city but it was a fun time. There are so many more shops that we didn’t get to. Plenty more for next time. If you are ever in Munich be sure to add a day of thrifting to your agenda. It is very walkable city with a unique resale shop flavor. No rental car or Uber required, or probably even allowed!
My most fun thrifting experience of this trip occurred shortly before I left to come home. We had called a resale shop in Kempten called Fairkauf Allgaeu, to see if they were open between the holidays. We got an answering machine. They were not. Within seconds we got a return call from the shop owner who called us back using caller ID. My friend told him that we wanted to stop in and shop and that there was a lady from the US who was leaving to go home and she really wanted to see the store. He offered to open the shop up to us for a private shopping experience while he worked on his books. We jumped at the opportunity!
We high-tailed it over there the next day.
My only disappointment was that all of the Christmas decorations that I was hoping to find were already packed away. In spite of this I did pick up a very unique wooden Samourai smoker (15 euro) and also a vintage Christmas angel music box, that had escaped his eye when storing the items away, tucked in a glass cabinet (25 euro). I placed them on the counter for safe keeping until I was done shopping.
I’m not quite sure whether or not it was because he saw that I was buying items of a bit more value or not, but he soon offered to bring out the boxes of Christmas items that he had just packed away! I was most gracious – and thrilled!
I spent the next hour sifting through newspaper wrapped Christmas items and totally filled his counter with my finds. What do you think? Music box, smokers, nutcrackers, nativity figures, vintage cardboard angels and more! 
By the time I was done my purchases totaled ninety-four euros. He offered to let me have it all for eighty euros! Then I found a couple of miniature harmonicas for ten euros each that rounded me up to an even hundred euros. My daughter spent ten euros, my friend spent fifteen. One hundred and twenty-five euros in sales. Not bad for a day that he was not even open. Happy shopper – happy shop owner. 
He tantalized me with a mention of the stacks of boxes of new (used) merchandise that he still has to put on the floor! I am hitting that shop up early on my next visit!
As you can see, this wasn’t the typical idyllic Christmas in Germany that you see on Christmas and post cards. It’s Christmas in Germany my way! A fun holiday with my daughter and her family, great friends and great finds. A perfect Bavarian Christmas. Frohe Weihnachten.
See you all next year!
After a marathon morning of flea marketing in the hills of Bavaria, my daughter and I stopped for lunch before heading home. As we were pulling out of the driveway of the restaurant, there it was – a beacon in the field shining bright with possibilities – a new thrifting adventure. A relatively nondescript but huge roadside sign invited passersby to the 2017 Bayerischer Flohmarkt. As luck would have it, this huge market was scheduled for an upcoming weekend. Penciled into our mental calendar we made an immediate decision to be there. 
The magnitude of the market was surmised instantly by the one kilometer long string of red and white “no parking” tape flagging both sides of the roadside far in advance of the event. It was still a week away and parking prohibitions were already clearly defined.
We noted the dates, times and location. We memorized our surroundings and the exit along the autobahn that would lead us back to this field of dreams.
Once home, an internet search revealed that this annual affair is held in the expanse of field adjacent to where we had lunch. Per the website: http://www.bayerischer-flohmarkt.de/index_nn.html 2016 attendance exceeded more than 20,000 visitors and over 500 vendors . Surely there will be thousands of new treasures to explore.
With the weather gods on our side that day we left our umbrellas and jackets at home. We de-layered and headed out for an early start.
We were not alone! 
A mere half hour after opening and the line to enter the field parking lot spilled out onto the roadway and we stop-and-go’ed our way to the bowels of the grassy field-turned parking lot.
On a positive note, we were close to the exit for an easy get away at the end of the day!
We made our way through the maze of now familiar red and white tape, designating this time, a pedestrian path to the hallowed grounds. With policed safety, we wove our way to the grand entrance.
Let the thrifting begin! 
This market was a mix of just about everything. There were sellers of discount/liquidation new items, antiques and collectibles dealers and families cleaning out excess. There was leather everything, lots of glassware and the usual Tupperware, both new and orphaned parts. 
Some booths were professional while others were slipshod.
The day turned blistering hot and the sun beat down. Bargaining became easier as the temperature withered both sellers and buyers. Usual end of the day negotiating realized a few bargains.
I was particularly drawn to a single vendor.
I returned several times to memorize her booth.
I loved her style. She was selling a mix of what I would describe as steam punk fashion accessories. Frilly and laced parasols, oversize bedazzled sunglasses, scarves and every style of feathers, rhinestoned hair pieces and, especially sought out on this blistering heat day, hats…lots of sunhats! Her booth was always crowded and she was always selling…a lot!
I want to be her!
Hot and exhausted but happy with our journey, we called it a day after 6 hours of scouring the grounds. I managed to bag some Easter decorations, a pair of Converse tennis shoes, a Minnie Mouse mug, 2 antique pocket watches and a couple of Ed Hardy tops. Total investment, 51,50 euros. I hope to realize enough profit on these items for a nice down payment on my return trip to the market next year!
I am thrilled that we happened upon that huge sign along the road. Our day trip to this large flea market in a stunning area in the foothills of the German Alps turned into a promise to make this an annual event for me.
How about you?
If it sounds intriguing, let me know. I can help you plan your trip to the Bayerisher Flohmarkt 2018 in Turkheim, Germany.
Mark your calendar now, August 11, 12 and 15, 2018. I’ve provided a map for you in case you need it! If you prefer a tour guide, I’ll remember the way.
Flea market, flohmarkt, brocante, whatever the language, it has one meaning to thrifting enthusiasts around the world. It is a call to fun and adventurous sourcing for resale stock. Picking thrills abound in halls, fields and roadways in southern Germany. Bavaria, is ripe with opportunity for prime summertime picking.
When you imagine the picturesque countryside and Alpine peaks of southern Germany usually images of rolling hills, edelweiss on mountain tops and castles pop into your head. For me, it’s a dream of flea market signs dotting our scenic routes around Bavaria. My dreams came true during my most recent trip to visit my daughter.
Since her move to a small village in the foothills of the Alps sixteen years ago I have been to many flea markets (Flohmarkt) in Germany and surrounding European countries.
I now yearn for the familiar neon signs that advertise pop up local bargain hunting meccas every time that we are out and about. My heart quickens with each billboard invitation to a local market. My daughter dutifully slows our journey and appeases my passion.
Little did I realize when I scheduled a month-long stay with her in August 2017, that we would find so many opportunities to pick Bavarian fleas. I hope you enjoy this chronicle of our flea hopping adventures. Some were intentional, others pure luck.
We usually plot our strategy with the help of the local monthly periodical, the “Allgeauweit.” (http://allgaeuweit.de) In the calendar section of this monthly periodical is a listing of known local markets. Imagine my excitement when I perused the magazine online and saw three sales scheduled the first week o
f my visit. Not only could we treasure hunt on the weekend, but there was also a rare mid-week sale advertised.
Calendars were marked and shortly after my arrival, we were off! I don’t know who was more excited, my nine year old grandsons or me. Their mother, the indulgent daughter, our chauffeur extraordinaire.
Stop 1 – Wednesday. August 2
Oberstdorf, a gorgeous tourist town sitting at the base of the beautiful mountain peak, Nebelhorn, in the Bavarian Alps.
Literally at the base of the mountain, filling a parking lot and adjacent to a lush grassy landing field for daring hang gliders, beckoned our first field of treasures.
Nothing really caught my eye at this sale but the backdrop of the mountain grandeur and the bustle of the tourist village, as always, brought a calm to my soul.
The heat of the August sun and alluring scents from village restaurants provided a welcomed respite to quench our thirst and palettes.
The stroll through the quaint village alone is always worth this 30 minute drive.
Stop 2 – Friday, August 4
Memmingen
A short 20 minute drive led us to a grassy field sprawling with a rare Friday market. This is my kind of flea market. Mostly local folks hoping that their cast offs will speak to the heart of someone with a penchant for reuse, or in my case, resale! There were a few “professional” dealers as well as a couple of charity vendors trying to support their local cause.
A pair of brand new converse tennis shoes? Thank you. I think I will take those for 5 euros.
Oh my! Look at the mid century modern vintage typewriter! Hmmm, I wonder how much that would fetch in the US online resale community? For 10 euro, I accept the challenge. I’ve got lots of room and weight in my suitcase at this early point in my journey. It’s not really a common brand in the US, but I keep in mind the fact that the keys alone can be re-purposed as jewelry, desk accessories, key chains, etc. Someone will find more value than my 10 euros purchase price in this beautiful peacock blue conversation piece, if even for the parts. 
I bargain for a couple of headbands for my grand daughters and a beautiful hand beaded belt that hopefully some bride will find as the perfect accent to her wedding gown. I’ll be listing the belt for resale on Etsy soon!
And of course, souvenirs for the men in my life. Who wouldn’t love an inflatable beer stein advertising a local German beer, perfect for tubing adventures down the river near our vacation home in northern Michigan? Well, maybe a couple will end up being offered for resale, but I’ll have extras. Two euros each? I’ll take five please…and danke!
Stop 3, 4, 5 and 6! – Saturday, August 5
3 – Kaufbauren This market is hosted mostly by local residents and a few full time dealers. Today’s market was held in the outdoor perimeter of this multi purpose indoor go kart track building. In the winter, the market moves indoors and the building bursts from the seams with vendors escaping the cold winter and snow and satiates the thrifting appetite of antsy buyers going through off season flea market withdrawal! 
Today, in steaming heat and blaring sunshine, vendors snaked their tables around the perimeter and down any driveway, path or parking lot, anywhere that a table would balance on the stony terrain. While I did see a couple of “professional” vendors, most vendors were locals willing to bargain cheaply so that they wouldn’t have to pack up so many items at the end of this sultry day.
Early browsing is laden with household discards, clothes of all stages of wear and tchotchkes of every size, shape and decor. 
There were lots of souvenirs from trips long forgotten as well as old linens embellished with beautiful embroidery by the hand of a long forgotten relative.
I seize the opportunity to inherit a couple of someone else’s family heirlooms. My first purchase, a drop-dead gorgeous hand embroidered evening bag for 5 euros. I ponder the resale value of this same millennial vendors vintage fur trimmed hat. I decide it’s worth the risk and opportunity. Another 5 euros and the deal is sealed. 
Several more twists and turns along the gravely path and we make our way to the furthest parking lot area where I find my next couple of treasures. A pair of Butterfly Twists folding ballerina flats, brand new in the box for 2,50 euros. Sticker price, 29,99 euros. I should realize a good resale return on this purchase.
Our last stop and I add to the profits of my daughter’s friend. Among her tables sprawling with liquidation, new-with-tag dresses, electronics and Made in China toys, 
I find a vintage bridal veil, still in the original box. Ten euros buys me this delicate netting veil with matching floral crown. Surely this will be a hit for a future bride in the US!
4 – Kempten My go-to stop during each visit to the Allgaeu.
This market is held frequently and usually in the stalls of a multiplex of re-purposed old cow barns. On this warm and sunny summer day most vendors are outside. A few of the “regulars” escape the heat and tend their monthly indoor stands. Some spaces are empty and a few locals spread their goods on make shift tables and clothes racks and even the floor.
My only score in Kempten was a beautiful crystal vase for one euro. It was just the right size to hold a bouquet of flowers that I bought earlier in the day for a birthday gift for our friend.
And, I was on a hunt this day. A very long shot, but still ogling the masses with my eyes peeled for any sighting of a previous regret.
A word here about regrets! When you see something that
speaks to your soul…buy it! Don’t walk away from the opportunity, you will likely not get a second chance.
On a previous visit to this same market in June I saw a most unusual and intriguing “friend”. It gave me thought long enough to consider resale value, luggage size and weight availability to take back to the US and practicality. I left that trip only with the memory of the find and a photo of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Common sense over impulse drove my decision that day. I live to regret it.
So…fast forward to this visit. I scoured the market to no avail. My alien encounter proved to be a missed opportunity. No sign of him this time. I had broken my own cardinal rule when I saw him the first time. Rule #1 – When you see something and it speaks to you, buy it! Figure out the logistics later. Still kicking myself on this one.
5 – Thrift Shop Stop With a couple of hours to while away until our final Flohmarkt of this day was to open, we stopped in at a local resale shop. As local standards go, this is quite a large shop with a good variety of wares. I always head first to the cabinet items, the items considered most valuable and the most highly priced. Nothing really peaks my interest. I consider a couple Swarovski figurines, but priced too high for my liking. I really have no interest in old vanity sets or crystal glassware at this time.
My favorite in this shop is the basement where the clothing, hats, shoes, boots and linens can be found. This area is a digger’s paradise. The racks are jam packed. If inclined, you can spend considerable time to bagging a bargain. There is one section devoted specifically to local traditional trachten (German clothing). Find your size and take your pick — dirndls, lederhosen, socks, shoes hats. Oktoberfest is coming up soon. Be sure to get yours while the selection is good and at a fraction of the cost new!
Our only find here was a good one, however. A like-new pair of Nike indoor soccer shoes for one of my grandsons for 4 euros. Even the cashier was surprised that he had priced them so low.
6 – Waltenhofen 
Our final stop of this exhausting but exhilarating day was found in a small village neighboring the larger city of Kempten. This is the type of flea market where deals can be found. This market was held in the driveway of a local building supply company. It was mostly unadvertised. Even most locals did not know of this one. The only way that we found out about it was through our friend, who was selling there that day. It was apparently only advertised in the locally distributed only, small village weekly periodical.
Vendors lined the sides of the covered driveway. The lucky ones were shaded from the late day blistering sun. We arrived immediately upon opening and there was little early competition. 
Amid the few shoppers that were there was a trio of rude and obnoxious pickers on a mission…the kind who give us all a bad name. These three men darted from table to table, inconsiderate of others in their search, interrupting, loud, obnoxious, rude, reaching over others in front of them to grab their target. Not to be deterred, I skirted their obvious path and forwarded myself a few tables ahead of them. That’s where I found my jewel for this sale.
I bagged perhaps my best find of this market season, an antique ladies wristwatch. The vendor, a young woman who saw no use for her grandmother’s heirloom gold watch. Realizing that it might have some value since she knew it was gold, her first offer price was 25 euros. I countered with a respectful 20 euros offer and a sale was consummated. It even came in a watch box because it was “valuable!” I out-foxed my competition and in a polite and honorable manner, bagged probably my most profitable item.
There was a lot of children’s clothing and toys and kitchenware on almost every table along with an abundance of out of season sports equipment and gardening supplies. This sale was 100% local folk.
I again, broke my #1 sourcing rule and add a regret to my growing list. I inquired about a pair of googles, perhaps for resale to the steampunk crowd in the US, only to be informed that they were ski goggles. So as not to reveal my true intent (which is my chosen MO), I didn’t show interest, including not asking the price. I walked away! There! I’ve done it again! Broken my own rule. On our drive home I was kicking myself for not even inquiring about the price. We tried to phone our friend who was selling at the sale, with the hope that she would check them out and possibly pick them up for me. No answer! Uggg…another lost opportunity. Note to self: You have three weekends of flea markets left during this trip. DO. NOT. DO THAT AGAIN!
After hitting up four markets on this day, plus our previous weeks journey, our three day flea-a-palooza cames to an end. Exhausted, hot and ready to kick back and rejuvenate, we head home knowing that the next day we trek to what has become an annual sale for us. Once billed as the smallest flea market that I’ve ever attended, to one of the largest local community markets that I’ve attended, my anticipation is suppressed only by my temporary exhaustion from the past days of whirlwind thrifting.
More to come in my next blog on the Sontheim Flea Market day.
Guten nacht!
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