Flea market toy hunting is a numbers game, according to the creator behind @FroggyFlips, and most trips are average at best. Every so often, though, one of them delivers a real “wow factor” haul. After sharing an earlier, completely average trip, the creator posted a recap of this one, complete with trading cards, horror collectibles, a rare cassette and a vintage toy that was missed after being traded away.
The numbers game
The creator opened by saying that a while back they shared a completely average vintage flea market trip, and that the lesson is always the same: you have to keep going out. Since then there have been many more trips, most of them not as good. This one, they say, was different, and they promised to keep the story short.
Cards, binders and a $55 starting point
The first pickup was a pile of trading cards that came to $55 in total after some haggling. Two sealed packs came home for nostalgia, a Toys R Us baseball rookies pack and a KB Toy Stores baseball pack, though the creator doubts they are worth much. There was also a binder of loose Pokemon cards, advertised on the front as 234 rare and holo cards. The creator explains that they are mostly modern, from the last decade, and that binder cost $35.
The better deal, in the creator’s view, was two vintage Marvel binders for $20. The first holds the complete 200 card 1992 Marvel Impel base set from series three, plus the 1992 Marvel Impel X-Men 100 card set. The second has the complete 162 card 1991 Marvel Impel series two base set, the complete 1994 Fleer Ultra X-Men Greatest Battles limited edition subset, and two complete Fatal Attractions limited edition subsets, along with loose Marvel Masterpieces, Marvel Metal signature and gold foil cards. The math is simple: ignoring the Pokemon binder, $20 for all of that is a great deal.
Horror dolls, a plush and a punk cassette
The second stop was a table of horror dolls that the creator found mostly overpriced. Still, a Friday the 13th Jason plush made by a company called Good Stuff came home, which the creator guesses dates to the early 2000s, mostly because it still had its original tag. At the same table was a 1982 copy of the Misfits album Walk Among Us on cassette from Ruby Records. The creator calls it a huge find at a flea market price, though the exact amount was not shared.
A Hot Wheels toy for a wife
Next came an old Hot Wheels toy that the captions spell as “Farb,” missing its front wheels. The seller wanted $40, the creator offered $30, and the deal was done. It was bought for the creator’s wife, who loves them, and the creator says they had never been able to find her one.
The final booth and the one that got away
The last booth belonged to a vendor the creator has bought from before. Prices there run high, the creator says, but bundling items brings the total down. The creator describes paying roughly $270 for the pile, although the on screen numbers show $275 for the box plus a free hand, so the exact figure is a little unclear.
The bundle included a full set of 1986 Pound Puppies from a Hardee’s promotion, in crisp boxes with clear bags, plus a double that was also in great condition. There was a squishy severed Halloween hand by Sunway Toys, and a Hasbro WWF Wrestling Buddies Million Dollar Man, the first one the creator had ever seen. The main prize was a 1979 Mattel vampire bat toy called Gregori. The creator says they had owned one before, traded it a few months earlier, and missed it. The verdict: “Gregori was destined to come home with me.”
Paying up for the hard to find
The creator acknowledged that some people are split on this vendor. The creator says they are perfectly happy paying slightly more for high quality, hard to find pieces instead of hoping for a five dollar rarity, and called it the kind of flea market deal they live for.
What the rest of us can take from it
You do not need a big budget to hunt like this, but a few habits help.
Go often and go early. As the creator says, it is a numbers game, so the more tables you see, the more likely you are to spot the odd piece. The crowd at this market was talking about heat and October picking, so dress for the weather and bring water.
Look for complete sets. A complete trading card set is worth far more to a collector than a pile of loose cards, which is why the Marvel binders stood out. Count what is there, check the checklist when you can, and look for creases and corner wear.
Pay attention to tags and boxes. Plush and toys with original tags, and figures with clear bags and boxes intact, generally attract more interest than loose examples. Photograph condition before you negotiate so you can point out flaws politely.
Bundle and ask. Vendors who know you will often discount a stack of items more than a single one. Make a reasonable offer, as the creator did with the Hot Wheels toy, and be ready to walk away with a smile.
Check recent sold listings. Do not rely on asking prices. Search for completed sales of the same item in the same condition, and keep in mind that captions and spellings can vary, which is why the toy called Gregori also turns up in some listings as Gregory.
Finally, buy what you love. The creator bought something for a spouse, and bought back a piece missed after trading it away. Those are not spreadsheet decisions, and they are often the ones that make a trip feel worthwhile.
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