They sell used shoes, old bathtubs and rusty items. “You can make money on everything”

At the Olympia Bazaar, popular among Warsaw residents, you can buy not only the cheapest fruits and vegetables in the capital. A significant part of the market is occupied by small sellers who offer old or used items at bargain prices. You can buy almost everything there, from books and encyclopedias published decades ago, through crockery, cutlery, crystal or communist china, to old devices and cassette recorders from well-known Polish companies. The sellers offered almost everything that they still had in good condition and no longer needed at home.

The flea market attracts customers. Collectors look for used ‘treasures’

Old items, which are several decades old, were of great interest to buyers. They saw sewing machines, irons, old lamps, power tools, Atari and Commodore computers, and popular cassette tapes. It was possible to get several cassettes with musical hits of that time for free.

There were also sentimental memories relating to the times of the previous era. Collectors, before acquiring a complex piece, not only haggled about the price, but also asked about every detail associated with it. Although it was impossible to check the performance of the devices in the conditions of the bazaar, the buyers took the word of the sellers.

Customers buy used shoes. They are several times cheaper than new ones.

The attention of many buyers was attracted by a rather large, but very unusual stand with used shoes. A few square meters housed several hundred pairs of shoes, both loafers and timeless boots, sports or suede shoes. Sneakers and shoes from well-known brands were also available.

The seller claimed that the shoes were brought from the UK and the Scandinavian countries. The cheapest shoes could be bought for 10 złoty. The best, such as the well-known New Balance companies, cost PLN 20. There was no shortage of used shoes. During a short conversation with the seller, several people decided to buy them.

The flea market is an oasis for collectors. They are looking for “pearls” for their home

Even more buyers interested in buying antiques could be found at the Warsaw bazaar in Kolo. Both on Saturday and Sunday, many collectors combed the bazaar in search of real “treasures” of past eras. This flea market has been well known to residents of the capital since the 1980s. At first glance, it may seem that we are transported in time to a completely different world.

Here you can buy not only porcelain and brass figurines, cutlery, which are several decades old, but also full-fledged dishes. Porcelain bowls, plates and cups are placed in cardboard boxes. Some clients keep a close eye on their content for hours at a time.

Handmade artistic items such as crystal chandeliers, silver candlesticks, paintings, mirrors, clocks and furniture are also very popular. In turn, collectors are looking for numerous World War II memorabilia and popular goods from the Polish People’s Republic.

Vendors also offer old, rusty items. And they find buyers for them.

Among the numerous antiques at the flea market, there are also heavily damaged and even rust-eaten items. Vendors offer old signs with the names of Warsaw streets, rusty keys, wires, metal rods, watering cans and tubs, i.e. popular during the Polish People’s Republic galvanized bathtubs. Some things have not stood the test of time, it is immediately clear that they are unusable.

On the pavement are not completely damaged washing machines or irons of past eras. Many avoid this place, considering these goods as unnecessary trash or scrap. - Are there takers? I ask the seller. - Certainly. I even have regular customers he nods. - You can earn everything he convinces.

Trading is the art of having a conversation. Many people are interested in antiques.

Some customers come in out of curiosity, recognize rusty parts, know what devices they come from, and remember their history. Others, on the contrary, not only chat, but also buy scrap metal out of sentiment. They claim that they once had such a device at home, and they still remember it with warmth. You can also buy damaged or incomplete pieces of furniture.

There are also old cassettes and video cassettes for sale. For a few zlotys, you can watch many popular films from the 1980s and 1990s or listen to the hits of the time. They quickly find new customers. — Trading is the art of having a conversation. It is enough to talk well and the client will quickly be found sellers note.