Spring cleaning? Downsizing? Or just wondering if that box in your basement might be worth something? You’re not alone. Every weekend at Meyersburg Flea Market, vendors are on the lookout for everyday items that folks like you might not even realize are valuable.
Whether it’s an old Pyrex dish, a rusty hand tool, or a box of vinyl records, there’s a good chance someone at the flea market is willing to pay for it. Before you toss anything out or drop it off at the thrift store, take a second look. You might be sitting on cash.
Here are 11 everyday things lying around your house that flea market vendors are actively buying.
1. Vintage Kitchenware (Especially Pyrex and Fire-King)
Old mixing bowls, casserole dishes, and serving trays from brands like Pyrex, Fire-King, and CorningWare are highly collectible. Bright patterns, pastel colours, and full sets can fetch impressive prices. Vendors at Meyersburg often stock these items because collectors and decorators are always on the hunt.
Tip: Even if it’s chipped, don’t toss it. Some buyers repurpose damaged pieces for mosaics or crafts.
2. Old Tools and Workshop Finds
That toolbox collecting dust in the shed might hold more than just rust. Hand tools, woodworking chisels, wrenches, oil cans, and vintage toolboxes are popular among antique dealers, makers, and restorers.
Why it sells: Vintage tools were built to last and are often more durable (and charming) than their modern counterparts.
3. Records, CDs, and Cassettes
You might be surprised to learn that cassettes and CDs are enjoying a resurgence. Vinyl records, especially from the ’60s to ’90s, are hot sellers. Classic rock, country, jazz, and Canadian artists tend to be in high demand at local markets.
Bonus: Even scratched or incomplete albums can sell as décor.
4. Vintage Toys and Board Games
Old toys can stir strong feelings of nostalgia—and vendors know that. Fisher-Price, Tonka trucks, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels, LEGO, and classic board games are all market staples. Packaging adds value, but even well-loved toys have buyers.
Local angle: Vendors near Campbellford often look for toys from the 1970s to 1990s to attract weekend family shoppers.
5. Costume Jewelry and Jewelry Boxes
That tangled heap of old necklaces in your drawer? Vendors love it. Costume jewelry, vintage brooches, clip-on earrings, and even broken bits are bought in bulk. Old wooden or velvet-lined jewelry boxes also attract vintage hunters and resellers.
6. Mason Jars and Antique Bottles
Blue glass, Atlas mason jars, and old soda or medicine bottles are in high demand. Many crafters and collectors buy them for projects or rustic home décor.
Hot tip: Bottles with embossing, original lids, or unique shapes sell even better.
7. Books – Especially Local, Vintage, or Series
That box of books in your basement might include titles vendors will snap up. Look for local history books, vintage cookbooks, Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, and out-of-print guides on gardening, woodworking, or farming.
Vendor insight: Books with local Ontario references or Canadian themes tend to do especially well in rural markets.
8. Coins and Old Paper Money
Even a jar of pennies could be worth a closer look. Vendors buy coins by the pound, or search through for valuable dates. Old $1 and $2 bills, silver coins, or foreign currency from the mid-20th century are also worth asking about.
9. Old Cameras and Photography Gear
Film cameras are trendy again. Whether you’ve got a dusty Polaroid, a Kodak Brownie, or a 35mm SLR with a lens, vendors may be interested, even if it’s not in perfect condition.
Why it sells: Hobbyists, collectors, and decorators all love the aesthetic and mechanics of vintage cameras.
10. Advertising Tins, Signs, and Packaging
Vintage tins for tobacco, cookies, tea, or candy are highly collectible. Old beer crates, soda signs, or metal petrol station signage also turn heads at flea markets. Packaging from local brands (even empty!) can sell well due to regional nostalgia.
11. Furniture with Character
Old wooden side tables, hutches, dressers, or chairs, even if they’re a bit beat up, can be gold to the right vendor. Flea market sellers often upcycle, repaint, or sell them to customers looking for a bargain or a project.
Rule of thumb: If it’s solid wood or has original hardware, it’s likely worth something.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Toss It—Talk to a Vendor First
If you’ve got a shed, garage, attic, or basement full of “junk,” don’t rush to donate or dump it. Bring it to Meyersburg Flea Market and ask around. Vendors are often happy to take a look, make you an offer, or point you to someone who’s looking for exactly what you have.
You don’t need to be a dealer to participate, just a local with a few forgotten treasures and the curiosity to ask, “Could someone want this?”
Visit Meyersburg Flea Market This Weekend
Located just outside Campbellford on Highway 30, the market is open weekends with vendors from all over Ontario. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just browsing, there’s something for everyone.
👉 Want to become a vendor yourself? Click here for more info.
👉 Got stuff to sell? Come walk the aisles and strike up a conversation. Your clutter might just find a second life.