I just got back from being out and about and took my first visit to the Flea Market on Roosevelt Road close to Guting MRT. I’m surprised it took me this long to go there ( I have always loved these kind of places) and from just walking past I had no idea it was so big.
Anyways my point is I am in the market for buying furniture for my secret funky bunker in the Taipei County area next to the 7-11 and wondering this: Should I buy furniture that’s contemporary but doesn’t last, or do I go to places like the flea market (are there others?) where I can spent an equal amount of money on old school stuff that has lasted for ages, but looks out of date? Has anybody got experience of buying old furniture?
I’d also say to the likes of Irishstu if they are looking for a new building/fixing project or whatever, there’s enough old electronics in there to tickle your and everybody else’s fancy. Get down there you tricky swine!
I was thinking exactly the same thing. They have all these old radios and stuff, cool!
As to the furniture, I regret not buying a humongous L-shaped sofa I saw there. For 5 thousand, a real steal, after having seen the mini-seats they sell for twice as much.
Lasting power? Yep, that stuff lasts a long time. I have a TV cabinet I am about to get rid off, for esthetics sake. Otherwise, the thing has been around longer than dust. I am buying a new, all wood one, not too expensive for the quality, but certainly no DIY for me, no matter how contemporary or fashionable.
Now, the problem you guys have convincing your wives, that’s another story.
Viva the Single Life!
I don’t know the exact address but come out of the Guting exit that is pretty much next to Dante coffee and walk straight on. Its before the fire station.
canucktyuktuk its open everyday as far as I know.
And Buttercup… I know, but in the absence of Afflecks Palace I need to get my jollies somewhere
The place everyone is referring to is OK, but it’s mostly overpriced antique type stuff. If you want to go to a real flea market and not a thrift/antique store hybrid like that place on roosevelt you need to hit up the yonghe morning market. Saturday and Sunday mornings, dawn till noon just across the fude bridge (i think that’s what it’s called. it’s the bridge that keelung road turns into as it crosses into yonghe. do you know where The Wall is, the bridge is just south of that) as you cross over into yonghe, look to your left. you will see a sea of tents and thousands of people selling their junk. super cheap, like 100-500 for most things. i bought a japanese wooden bathtub for 300 NT there last weekend. old scrolls, paintings, records, taxidermy, clothing, old metal signs, musical instruments, live and dead animals, military surplus, bicycles, and on and on… get there early and expect to spend a few hours there digging through piles of things and bargain hard.
I know that the 672 bus goes over the bridge and drops you off pretty close to the market.
also, the city puts on used furniture auctions every weekend in various locations around taipei. there is one near the neihu carrefour/ B&Q/ costco area. when you cross the minchuan bridge over the river from songshan keep going and take the last right before you come to the overpass. then, take another right when you see some strange looking buildings and alot of dumptrucks. the strange looking building on the left has some sculpture in front of it. the auction starts at 11:00 on sunday mornings but you should get there earlier to preview the available stuff. unless your going after antiques or expensive looking furniture sets, you usually don’t have much competition for bidding. there used to be one of these in yuanshan stadium every weekend and some other junk shops, but they’re remodeling the stadium now and have shut the auction down.
Thanks for the info - that market sounds more like my kinda thing. Ill make a weekend trip up to Taipei to check it out after I get some disposable income. Cheers
[quote=“z24y23”]The place everyone is referring to is OK, but it’s mostly overpriced antique type stuff. If you want to go to a real flea market and not a thrift/antique store hybrid like that place on Roosevelt you need to hit up the Yonghe morning market. Saturday and Sunday mornings, dawn till noon just across the fude bridge (I think that’s what it’s called. it’s the bridge that Keelung (Jilong) road turns into as it crosses into Yonghe. do you know where The Wall is, the bridge is just south of that) as you cross over into Yonghe, look to your left. you will see a sea of tents and thousands of people selling their junk. super cheap, like 100-500 for most things. i bought a japanese wooden bathtub for 300 NT there last weekend. old scrolls, paintings, records, taxidermy, clothing, old metal signs, musical instruments, live and dead animals, military surplus, bicycles, and on and on… get there early and expect to spend a few hours there digging through piles of things and bargain hard.
I know that the 672 bus goes over the bridge and drops you off pretty close to the market. [/quote]
According to my book Charming Traditional Markets, another “vintage” treasure cove can be found Saturdays from 10 to 5 in Xinyi district, at Songshan Road, number 294. Get off at Yongchun MRT station (blue line), from exit 5, walk 3 minutes. Yongchun Market.
Behind Shida there are several “antique” stores, and Lishuei Street also has a couple of second hand places, with interesting smaller pieces. The most “famous” is on Yonkan Street, number 60, Yinan Market.
By the way, a couple of furniture stores in Beishin Street, in Xindian, across from Tapinglin station, are really going under this time. Really cheap stuff. Look for the Taichung/Tainan bus stop, where they sell the tickets is selling at a fraction of the price.
Okay I am in shopping mode, have been to the guting place a few times over the past 2 years and bought my share of knick knacks but it is overly priced…http://tw.user.bid.yahoo.com/tw/booth/kevinboblin
All the smaller(cheapo) stuff isn’t shown on the site.
Has anyone been to these other places here and bought anything???
Oh and I need an antique shopping mate…I don’t mind if you’re young either
