Does that $5 entrance fee go to the school?

Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 8:49 PM

My question is, are all the vendors going to be there at 8 a.m.? otherwise it seems like a waste of money.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 10:29 AM

does this mean the gates will be open to the vendors earlier to allow time to set up?

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 12:08 PM

i guess asking questions on here is a no no...

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 8:06 PM

As a treasure hunter, I understand the thrill of the hunt for early birds, but as a vendor, I find people trying to rummage through my stuff while I am trying to set up, extremely annoying and distracting. Often, if I get things last minute, I don't have a chance to write out the price tags until the day of the flea. That, of course, is when someone comes in and wants to look around.

However, and this is a big however, if this brings in people who expect to pay a fair market price for larger ticket items, bring 'em on in!

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 9:57 PM

does this mean the sign-in process will go quicker/smoother? The front door dude is well-intentioned (although remarkably unfriendly whilst wandering around the flea - does it hurt to say "hello" back?) but there's waaaaay too much time wasted looking for names on the sign-in sheet. maybe an alphabetized list would work better than a location-based list.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:36 AM

Worst idea EVER,

As a loyal customer who has been to the flea EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY since it opened at 10 am when it opened to get an early but just as fair shot as everyone else at the "good stuff", I now have lost interest in the flea going forward since you have created a situation where I no longer feel that getting there when it starts makes any sense now.

As a regular citizen, and not a professional dealer or reseller I do not feel that I need to now wake up to get to the flea market by 8 am to now compete with professional dealers scooping up all the real bargains before the public arrives at the regular free starting time.

Thanks for ruining this whole thing now.

While I was excited so far each and every weekend to go to this, I now have passing interest as I know that arriving when the gate formally and officially opens, means that there have been two entire hours beforehand of sharks gobbling everything up. So there's less of a point now. No difference arriving at 4pm than 10am now

Thanks again for pandering to the dealer, or store owner more than the average customer.

That being said, also thanks for making it additionally stressful for not only the customer collector but the vendor as well (as posted by a vendor above).

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:04 AM

Terrrible terrible idea. You just wiped away any interest that a normal collector might have who is not a dealer. Congratulations! You really have turned this into an Antique Show marketed as a neighborhood flea market, Go blow!

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:06 AM

UM...COMPLAINERS AT 11:04 AND 11:06.

You DO realize that if you want the "good stuff" so badly that you can also go at 8am.

And hopefully you also realize that 99% of Flea Markets in the country start at 8am and are picked over at 7:59 by dealers...

Are you both this pathetic to make it sound as though the world is ending because of a few knick knacks???

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:44 AM

11:44. obviously I can pay the $5 and go in at 8am if I wanted, but by creating this option it has just made this whole thing less fun. That's all I'm saying.

How many people who aren't into this game for the profit are really going to happy about arriving at 8am on a Sunday. Arriving with everyone else at 10am was fun knowing that I had a fair shot as any other non dealer from within as getting some cool swag. Now I have to get up two hours earlier and pay five bucks to do this with a bunch of profit seekers.

And btw, there's a big difference between the dealers that are setting up there having first crack at other dealers stuff before the gates open to the public (that's to be expected and there's nothing I can do about it) than for the gates to open two hours early and to have to pay for the privilege of shopping with all the outside dealers.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:08 PM

"You DO realize that if you want the "good stuff" so badly that you can also go at 8am."

Yeah, but most normal customers who are not dealers aren't going to do this so this just eliminates even more affordable stuff for the average flea market goer during normal operating hours which in essence makes the flea market that much worse for the average customer visitor, which ultimately isn't a good thing.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:11 PM

I've gone to the flea market a few times and walked out empty handed. Why would I want to pay five bucks to do this and wake up early?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:11 PM

"And hopefully you also realize that 99% of Flea Markets in the country start at 8am and are picked over at 7:59 by dealers..."

Yes but this isn't the rest of the country. The time schedule here is different. Stoop sales start later, flea markets start later and most people don't come out until later in the morning on a Sunday. The average NYC flea market sale doesn't get really going until around 10 and stays open until 5 or later. In most of the rest of the country they start at 8am or earlier but are closed up and packed up by 2 or 3 pm.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:17 PM

just another example of creating more elitist options for people with more time and money on their hands to get things before others.

I just wonder how many people that are connected to the flea in some way will get in early without paying the five bucks.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:22 PM

Here's a good idea.... why don't you open at 7am, and give ME five bucks and blow me!

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:24 PM

you people are such losers

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:35 PM

flash: luxury skyboxes at the brooklyn flea selling like hotcakes, with each jam packed with amenities even the most discerning shopper is sure to appreciate. low monthly fees include admission to the flea, and a 10% discount on all merch. or, if you don't want to rent, buy one outright, only 20k. what a deal.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 12:51 PM

this really is not that great an idea I agree.

I don't think that lots and lots of people are going to be coming at 8 am and paying five bucks for this privilege and the few select profit seekers, businesspeople, and/or obsessive collectors who do will just ruin the potential for affordable finds for regular folks later the day.

I know an argument can (and already has) been made that anyone can come at 8am and pay and get the same chances at cheap and good stuff, but most won't and the nutjobs and profit people who do will benefit from this bullcrap and the normal day long flea goers will ultimately get screwed out of cool stuff.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:24 PM

yeah great, as a customer it's nice to know that when I show up during normal operating hours, the place has already been gone through by obsessive collectors and people who own antique stores already for hours earlier. Then what's the point for the rest of the day?

Why not just open the damn thing at 8am then?

What your sayin is that basically the flea market now opens at 8am, but you are charging people five bucks to get in. Once all the good stuff has been picked over for two freaking hours you can then come in for free if you want, since there is then no reason to and no one would want to pay five bucks when there are no bargains left.

Nice spin on the opening hours/admission new thing.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:32 PM

It doesn't matter because some day soon this whole lot will be built over with luxury condos.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:33 PM

It was just a matter of time before this hipster elitist flea market became even more so.

nice job.

I'm predicting that the plan all along was to eventually charge people a dollar to get in all day like the 26th Street Flea market in Manhatan used to do.

Is this five buck early admission a back door way of eventually introducing the dollar admission for the rest of the day?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:37 PM

Hey there.... I'm going to come at 4am and wait for the vendors to arrive like a flea market stalker and then when they arrive and start unpacking between 6am and 8am, I am going to hassle them while I look at everything they are unpacking out of their vans and trucks and then I will get bargains even BEFORE the 8am early admission because I am going to get the good stuff as it is being transported from their vehicles before it even reaches the inside of the schoolyard.... I will save five bucks and beat all of you!

I am the Flea Market stalker! See me Buy!

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:42 PM

I heard that they were going to start selling early admission tickets to the flea market on Ticketweb on the Friday before. But they will be having a presale of tickets on the Thursday.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:46 PM

Flea Market Stalker: I have you beat!
I am buying a listing of the home addresses of all the vendors. I will visit them the day before on Saturday and see what they are selling before they even leave for the flea market. I will buy all the treasures the day before at their homes/stores.

Ha ha ha

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:50 PM

Gee what a way to make the already too expensive junk even MORE expensive after 10am....

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:51 PM

How much for the bird in the picture? Is it vintage? How early an I come to get it?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:52 PM

why should people have to pay to get in early? at the flea market in the city you can hang around before the dealers arrive and shop as they are unloading. that's the nature of the antique / vintage business. the smart ones (normally dealers and designers) always shop early. most flea markets set-up at dawn and people are shopping before eight. making people pay to have the privelege of browsing early is odd considering the vendors are the ones paying to be there and most likey would not get a cut of that admission fee. it's not an antique fair. it's a smallish flea / artisan market in Brooklyn. there are too many browsers complaining about spending five dollars on objects anyway to raise such an ante, in my opinion.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 2:06 PM

Way to go to begin to kill this potentially growing weekly event before it even took off for a full season.

Isn't the idea to try and build momentum for this flea market as the weather gets nicer and nicer for a larger percentage of the population in order to have more and more customers there throughout the day shopping? Instead it seems that this early admission/paying thing could potentially work against this happening.

I predict that once word gets out of the early opening admission thing, most people that come to the flea market looking for cool and affordable vintage stuff will now do only one of two things:

a) get there at 8am and shell over five bucks for the privilege and then leave after about half an hour of shopping

or

b) avoid the flea market completely for the whole rest of the day if they weren't able to get there at 8am.

So the biggest crowds you'll have all day is the one between 8am and 10am, and then the place will be a ghost town for the rest of the day.

Good thinkin'.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:44 PM

yeah, who exactly is pocketing this $5 charge?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:45 PM

"there are too many browsers complaining about spending five dollars on objects anyway to raise such an ante, in my opinion."

Obviously the people who run this thing are less concerned with browsers and general customers anyway. They seem to be more interested in catering to other dealers and people with stores.

Why not just make this an invitation only flea market? You would have to be 'in the business' to get in and shop.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:49 PM

"We've noticed folks snooping around from fancy shops on Atlantic Ave., the LES, and the like, and we want more, since a healthy buying crowd is the lifeblood of a successful market.

So if you're from "the trade" ....."

This post is obnoxious.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:50 PM

I always had a love/hate relationship with this flea market.

I have now lost interest ion this flea market completely.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:51 PM

Exactly. Is everyone going to be completely set up by 8am? Or does my five bucks buy me a two hour wait while vendors spend two hours setting up with some vendors not fully set up until the 'crowds/ come at 10 anyway ? which would put me right back where I started from.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 3:59 PM

This just means that there will be less stuff for the regular folks at 10. Less incentive to go now,

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 4:00 PM

If I go at 8 and don't get anything, do I get my $5 back?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 4:00 PM

Are you going to have an early, early bird soon where you open at 7am and charge $10?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 4:01 PM

You didn't do this right. If you are going to open early and charge, you should be charging more than $5. That way it is actually a significant difference and people would make the decision accordingly. With more at stake you would seriously weed out the really obsessive people and the regular Joes. If someone was willing to pay $10, $12, $15, or even $20, to have the option to grab stuff before anyone else, then I would say they deserved that ability. To make this just $5, as opposed to free a little later, you are just making this annoying for everyone, as it just amounts to opening earlier and charging a small admission. Therefore what's really the point of coming later than 10am for free now? If it's only Five bucks to get there when it opens. But who wants to wake up that early?

You guys are really irritating.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 4:06 PM

I've been every week. The food is great.

Sorry, but I have never seen anything for sale that's worth paying 5 extra bucks and getting up at 8am for.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 4:38 PM

Irritable vendor(9:57)here again. Part of the fun of going to somewhere like Brimfield, MA, is getting up at the crack of dawn and watching the trucks unload, and snagging that original whatever for $100 bucks that the ignorant vendor didn't know was an original.

But this ain't Brimfield, and vendors are not that ignorant anymore. As a vendor, already up since 5AM, sans coffee, and trying to set up in a timely manner, I'm not inclined to be all that receptive to someone trying to get a "deal" before 10AM. The end of the day is when the real deals are made, so I don't have to carry the stuff back home again. I don't want to sell short before the doors are opened, when the possibility of someone buying for full or nearly full price lies in front of me. But that's just me.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 5:54 PM

This flea market is beginning to take itself way too seriously.

Get over yourself Flea Market.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:19 PM

This flea market is beginning to take itself way too seriously.

Get over yourself Flea Market.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:19 PM

So if you are opening the flea market two hours earlier, are the vendors setting up two hours earlier than that? Or is it as the irritable vendor states.... you are bothering them while they are setting up?

-Irritable customer

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:21 PM

BACKFIRE!! BACKFIRE!

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 6:21 PM

Most people who come aren't looking for and don't know a "steal" when it's there: only collectors and dealers do. The rest wander in and are looking for a 50's table and chairs, etc. and if they come at 2pm, certainly all the "best stuff" has been picked through but clearly not everything. Though I'm not in favor of the early bird special, I don't think it will hurt the market. What the early birds want is something the dealer doesn't know the true value of. The people who are against it are usually those who will gladly pay $50.00 for a $1,000.00 painting and laugh as they leave a dealer who made $25.00 on it. So let them pay the $5.00 and if they don't get their moneys worth, they won't be there at 8am. I'm always sold something as I unpacked: always have and always will. And yes I find people snooping through my stuff annoying.In Chelsea they looked through my pick up truck at 4 am with flashlights.

Fred from Silver Fox I'll be back there on the 15th and 29th this month and I'm warning you the real Hoofenfeffer is for sale for $50.00 if you can recognize it.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 8:33 PM

In the Amazon, they have worms big enough to eat birds.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 8:34 PM

Terrible idea. And did you inform your vendors about this? How are we supposed to set up now with people wandering in? How are we supposed to keep are third eye on people and set up.

You should have told your vendors about this!

Not well thought out at all.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 6:04 PM

Why must there be separations even in a flea market? The 'real' collector, from the "fake." The early bird, the come when it opens bird.

Why must something as simple as a flea market be placed into an elitist style like this.

Your lack of respect for the vendors on this one is troublesome.
Great venue, but not the best plan.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 6:06 PM

How much for the bird in the picture? Is it vintage? How early an I come to get it?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 1:52 PM

LOL

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 6:08 PM

This is just such a terrible idea I can't stop posting. All the good antique stores on Atlantic are long gone, that was one of the reasons to even enjoy the flea. Who are these "trade" people. If you want to do a trade show, then do that. I just can not get over the obnoxious slant of this idea. You are catering to a very small crowd, vendor and dealer wise, they are not going to be your bread and butter. All that planning and then this ridiculous idea.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 6:18 PM

Even with a flea market if you can pay you can play, apparently.
People from the "trade" buy wholesale. We are trying to sell retail. If they are snooping around let them do so at the same time as anyone else, especially since these are the people who will probably want the most bargains of all.

Me thinks ze flea is perhaps not what it was hoping to be.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 6:38 PM

every post on this thread is from the same person.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 10:52 PM

No sir, just the last 4. Which does not detract from the fact that this was a really dumb idea, and was not mentioned to the vendors.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 11:48 PM

dudes, CHILL with your class-warfare crap.

Show up at 10am and look around, what is this, a job? People go there to stumble on something fun, look around, enjoy the day. If someone really NEEDS to get their little antique, let them get up extra early when they could be sleeping in, pay $5, and knock themselves out.

And you know what, if they charged a friggin $1 admission, the sky would not fall. Who cares? You too poor to pay a single friggin $1? How on earth do you pay for rent and food and still have time to chill out on sundays if a $1 is too rich for you? Geez.

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 1:36 AM

why didn't you tell the vendors about this first? I usually don't finish setting up until 9:30ish and it's nice to have a few minutes to price things AND get a cup of coffee before the lines get too long. the front gate is already a bit crowded with everyone trying to load in and you've just made it worse because you KNOW the "early birds" aren't going to get out of people's way.

Not to mention the security issues - right now I can leave my items at my spot and run back to the car and feel they're safe, now I have to worry about people poking through (or worse) my stuff when I'm not there.

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 6:56 AM

Above not written by the same person by the way!

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 7:31 AM

"We've noticed folks snooping around from fancy shops on Atlantic Ave., the LES, and the like, and we want more, since a healthy buying crowd is the lifeblood of a successful market.

So if you're from "the trade" ....."

The fancy shops pushed out the old vendors who were on Atlantic. Now those vendors are actually selling at the flea. Now you are opening early, charging so those same "fancy" shops can buy stuff from the store owners who used to be on Atlantic. Now that is an absurd food chain if ever there was.

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 7:50 AM

and still....

every post on here is from the same psycho.

btw, the vendors WERE made aware. perhaps you were too busy posting 50 comments on bstoner to have received the news...

please shut up. if you don't like it, there are another 500 vendors who would be MORE than happy to take your place!

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 10:59 AM

I don't think it is psycho to be annoyed by a stupid plan, that no, no the vendors were not informed about. If so, please post the email where they were informed Mr. 10:59.
Maybe some vendors were? That would make even less sense.

Another 500 vendors? Really?

still a dumb idea, and still not the same people posting.

Sorry nut job, calling someone psycho, and writing shut up, does not make your point sound sane or full of sense.

Posted by: guest at June 1, 2008 11:14 PM

I really don't know why there is so much hate for an early entrance. It is simple...either go early for the "opportunity" to get first pick, or don't...

Do you really think vendors are going to make the serious deals first thing in the morning? That deals only get better as the day wears on..

As far as the fee goes, five bucks is nothing...go to a record show and you will pay $20. for early admission...go to a tag/estate sale and you might pay as much as $50. for a low number in line...

The better fleas do charge admission, be happy that this one does not...

As a vendor, the most important thing of an early admission is to make sure the same security measures are in place, just at an earlier time...the bathrooms should be open...the grounds secured..both inside and outside the gate...I certainly do not want to leave my stuff where someone will grab something...

that said, ultimately, it is the vendors who should decide, as we are the ones that have to get there early...send out an email and ask for opinions...

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 9:38 AM

there are bathrooms??

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 10:58 AM

shame on you 10:59, you know you're just trying to stir up trouble. we were NOT told about the early bird hours. To echo 11:14, prove it if you were.

If someone is willing to wait while I set up to purchase some of my items early that's fine, I just worry about security (as stated by 6:56 and 9:38) and the front gate being too crowded. PLEASE tell me there will be two separate payment lines (vendors and early birds.)

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 11:11 AM

As a vendor, the most important thing of an early admission is to make sure the same security measures are in place, just at an earlier time...the bathrooms should be open...the grounds secured..both inside and outside the gate...I certainly do not want to leave my stuff where someone will grab something...

that said, ultimately, it is the vendors who should decide, as we are the ones that have to get there early...send out an email and ask for opinions...

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 9:38 AM

EXACTLY, and as vendors, we were not told. Simple as that.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 11:16 AM

the bathrooms are for the vendors...it is part of the package that is built in to the space rental, and before there are any comments...let me point out, that as a vendor, I am not going to use a bathroom down a dark hall that 20,000 people have access to...it is an accident waiting to happen...

If you took away all the extras that this particular flea market includes in its rental price, you wouldn't find many vendors willing to risk it..no more flea market...

and no, I have no connection to anyone running it...just met the guy a few weeks ago when someone referred me to this market...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

good suggestion, 11:11...exactly what I meant by dropping the hate posts and hashing out all the little bumps that are bound to crop up with something so new...

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 11:30 AM

greediness is next to godliness?

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 12:26 PM

Most flea market earlybirds are by nature insane, obsessive and ultra aggressive.

Anyone willing to shell out five bucks and arrive at 8am on a Sunday is going to be the biggest pain in the ass aggressive "Customers" in the yard by far for the entire day.

I feel for the vendors that would have to put up with these idiots, and the regular customers that come later that have less merchandise to browse.

Why are you rewarding aggressive, obsessive behavior?

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 3:08 PM

I'm confused. If the vendors were not told abou this, then how would anyone know to show up?

Seems the vendors who say they were not informed are lying.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 3:37 PM

I was told that over 800 vendors have expressed interest thus far in the Flea. So if you don't like it, there are tons of others who would like to take your place, 11:14.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 3:39 PM

Set up is 7-9:30 so they are there. You are not making any point. Vendors were not informed.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 3:40 PM

you haven't made a point with your 60 other comments, 3:40, but you continue to make them over and over again.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 3:51 PM

Really, you can't understand the point? Come come now.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 4:10 PM

I do not understand your point.

You made it 69 times, but I still do not get it. The Flea yesterday was a huge success. I think you need to step aside and let someone who doesn't complain as much as you take a stab at it.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 4:39 PM

what I don't understand is why brownstoner or Eric just don't comment here and clarify the situation.

why would we lie about not being told? none of us have said we don't want to be there - we're just annoyed that we weren't shown a modicum of respect and told that there would be early bird hours. for that we should bow out of the flea? you're just a very silly person.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 5:31 PM

No one is arguing or complaining about the success of the flea, they were simply upset about not being told before hand about something that actually would affect their work and arrival, if you can not understand that, sorry for you. So Mr. 4:39, it is not clear what the agenda of your 69 posts are, but you are the one not making much sense. Is it you we should step aside for?
If we get our information from this site, then the vendors will likewise respond on the site apparently. Chances are most vendors are not checking the site for misc. info like this.

Posted by: guest at June 2, 2008 11:57 PM

The early bird gets the antique worm at half price.

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 11:44 AM

I'm sick of people who say "its not fair" all the time. Get over it. Life isn't fair. Let people run their business. Why does anyone have to answer to you jerks? I hate the internet.

Posted by: guest at June 28, 2008 9:27 PM