The first quality required of a treasure hunter is to get up early. Even on Father’s Day Sunday.
“And never leave home thinking that you’re going to get a good deal, specifies Philippe, a 68-year-old Solliès-Pontois and bargain hunter in his spare time. At the risk of being disappointed very quickly.”
“For professionals and enlightened amateurs, there are now fewer valuable items in garage sales than there were ten years ago,” recognizes Gérald Piro, responsible for the one held every Sunday in the parking lot of the Centr’Azur shopping center in Hyères.
“This is partly due to specialized websites and television shows which have made the use of experts more widespread. But for others, there is always something to do, both for the seller who can make ends meet and for the the buyer. It doesn’t matter what the value is in the end. The object must please.
A bronze bought for 10 euros was worth 4,000
In the shade of the solar panels in the parking lot of the new Intermarché, in the clear and clean aisles of this weekly garage sale, the valuable objects have already disappeared after 7:30 a.m. anyway.
That’s because the Indiana Joneses of the flea markets don’t wait until breakfast time to sit down at the table. “The second-hand dealers and those with an eye are turning from the opening, continues Gérald Piro. And they can be offensive when something interests them.”
Pierre leaves happy, a parrot cage for which he spent six euros under his arm. “It’s a favorite. A beautiful decorative object, which can even remain in its original state. I like looking for rarity as much as bargaining. Once, I was able to buy a bronze for ten euros which worth 4,000 after appraisal But that only happens once or twice in a lifetime. It requires being interested in the object, its history, its journey…”
In front of her stand, Tonya, 70 years old, does not offer any nuggets. But rather a second life for objects most often coming from house clearances.
“Going to garage sales, bargain hunting, selling, is for me a way of mourning the loss of my grandson, she admits modestly. I’ve been doing this for two years and I find a certain peace in it.” An inner treasure that is priceless. And which is certainly not for sale.
