As we get two miles from the center of the action men and women crowd the highway on foot, pushing shopping carts and baby carriages piled high with bags. Shuttle buses careen in and out of the area rushing the other hunters in and out of the center of action. Hand-written signs appear on every block now, beckoning the less adventurous hunters to park their vehicles for five dollars. As we walk towards Main Street I explain the strategy to my friend. A Find is a collector's item that has not yet been snatched up by antique dealers.
Junk is, well, junk.
Stuff that wasn't even that good when it was new. It is the stuff that either ends up on tables in flea markets or passed on from one garage sale to the next. The key to a successful hunt, I went on to explain, is when you spot A Find, do not ever let on. Acting excited only serves to alert the owner that they have something of value. This is not only bad for negotiation but it increases the risk of alerting the other hunters.