SeeCalifornia.com

Pictured: Memorial Weekend 2013

In California you’ll find vendor booths at thousands of outdoor flea markets, farmers markets, festivals and fairs this year. Many shoppers will purchase a piece of art, jewelry, a beverage, scented candle, or even some cupcakes, perhaps.  On Memorial Weekend,  California is filled with free events and outdoor markets where shoppers browse, sample and sometimes buy things for themselves, as gifts, or for the house. If you go to one of these markets this year, here are a few tips to help you, based on our experience.

1. If you buy something, get the vendor’s name and contact info. Why? The market operators don’t usually keep an artist and crafters’ list and even when they do, they don’t have time to look up names for you, not usually.

2. If you see it and you like it, buy it. Why? Artists, jewelers and all sorts of people with products try out craft markets. If they don’t sell enough items, they don’t come back. Thus, you may never see that treasure again.

3. When you purchase something, ask the vendor if there’s any warranty on craftsmanship. If so, find out the website or contact phone number.

4.  Barter is OK. Since you are meeting people with low overhead who may or may not be making a living from what they sell, prices tend to go down later in the day. And, if you never make an offer, you won’t find out if you could have gotten something cheaper.

5. If you want to sell things at one of these outdoor fairs or festivals, be sure to ask vendors how they got in touch with the organizer.  Some events sell out their vendor spaces months ahead. You need to know that.