Visiting car boot sales and charity shops abroad is always fascinating as it reveals a nation's passions and obsessions. I've just been to Germany, where the 'flohmarkte' [ literally flea market or in the UK, a car boot sale] and 'Diakonie' shops are full of interesting collectables peculiar to Deutschland.
Top of the list, certainly in quantity, is Playmobil. Entire market stalls where dedicated to Playmobil boats, cars, ferries and above all, figures. Although I have no real interest in Playmobil I can see why it appeals to both young and old in Germany. Besides the vintage stuff like a big white space station I saw, Playmobil is still going strong and there's even a current magazine with a free figure in the shops.
Second are Kinder Eier toys. Again, stalls where choc full of these brightly coloured snap-together premiums. Again, I'm not a fan of Kinder toys so not seeing any astronauts on top of the piles, I moved on.
Thirdly are small plastic buildings, which I assume are for railway sets. There were stacks of them in the Diakonie charity shop, easily a hundred individual items. All priced around 2 Euros they seem good value for money, are very attractive and I can see why they are collectable. I only had time to buy one as a family member was telling me to hurry up!
What would I find if I visited a fleamarket or charity shop in your neck of the woods readers?
Charity shops rarely have any items of interest in East Anglia.
ReplyDeleteFinds are few and far between ~(although I did find a Dan Dare jigsaw). Car boots rarely have anything of interest, old matchbox cars are about as rare as it gets. Best bet are "antiques & collector's" markets and shops, which have the very occasional gem, but highly priced.