When it comes to shopping estate sales, flea markets and antique malls, everyone has his or her own style.

Some like to make a fast sweep, scanning merchandise as they go. Others like to take their time and explore each table and booth. Some focus on a particular item, while others look for anything in a particular color.

I'm a sweeper but that's not because I'm in a hurry. The truth is I'm easily distracted, with a tendency to wander toward whatever catches my eye. I learned long ago to “graze” each booth several times.

The first circuit lets me make a quick scan of the sale and look for one or two specific things, like books or textiles. The next time around I'll focus on something else. Each time I stop in a dealer's space it looks a little different because of the things that other shoppers have uncovered.

I have a friend who doesn't leave a booth until she has picked up each item and examined it closely. She also strikes up a conversation (and in some cases, friendship) with the owner. She isn't the least bit concerned that someone else might be snagging the find of the century. She takes her time.

My friend's slow-and-sure shopping style means she chooses each item with care. She takes the time to thoroughly explore the contents of each dealer's space, and she thinks carefully about each purchase. She doesn't feel rushed or hurried by anyone else.

When we shop together, we are complete opposites. But as we head home at the end of the day, we're both happy with our finds and the time spent together.

This weekend, the Flea Market and Antique Collectible Show is coming to the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. While it isn't a huge one, there are enough dealers to keep you busy for an hour or two.

I do wish Spokane could put together a quality monthly flea market, especially during summer. The days are long and the weather is usually pleasant. Add a burgeoning local interest in collectibles and vintage items, and you could have a winning combination.

Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer until someone decides to look at the successful markets in other areas and produce the same kind of thing here.

Tips

I've written about what to take when you go to a flea market and covered tips on how to dress and even the best way to bargain for treasures, but I thought I would pass along a few more things I've learned:

• If you spot someone with the very thing you've been looking for, ask if they bought it for resale. If so, make an offer right away. I've picked up a few things this way, and even made a sale or two to someone who wanted what I had even more than I did.

• Make a trade. I was shopping in a crowded booth in a Pennsylvania flea market and had just paid for a small framed print when I noticed that another woman had purchased a similar print. We started talking and realized that each of us liked the other's find better than our own. We happily traded prints.

• If you find a dealer who seems to carry exactly what you love the most, ask if they have more at home. Often, dealers bring only a portion of their wares to the market. But, if they know they have what a buyer wants they'll bring it in the next day. Usually, the admission to a flea market covers the entire weekend, so there isn't a charge for returning.

• If an item is simply out of your budget and the dealer isn't ready to sell at a price you can afford, ask to leave a written offer. Leave your name and number with your offer. Then, if the dealer decides that he or she is willing to take your price rather than pack the piece up and take it home, they'll be able to reach you. Or, you could leave the offer and return at the end of the sale to see if the dealer has changed his mind. Just remember, the dealer has to make a living, too, and no one stays in business by giving away their merchandise.

Treasure hunting

Antique show

The Flea Market and Antique Collectible Show will be at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center this weekend. Admission is $4. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (208) 746-5555.