Anyone else....?

I was just wondering if anyone else is having a hard time finding ponies at flea markets and thrift stores.

I went thrifting today and was so dissapointed. we have several local thrift stores but many including our 3 GoodWills have pulled toys from the shelves completly. I am starteing to freak out since i really enjoyed the search and finds. Over several years. I am afraid this avenue for finding ponies is going to diminish. I counted only three of my normal spots even have toys any more Is this becasue of the lead paint sace or what?

there are other ways to find good deals on ponies but this was my staple for it, since e-bay can be pricey, and garage sales are usually slim to none.
i guess it is time to up date my sale/ trades / wants list so i can shop around on the TP.

I just wnated to know you thoughts on this thanks.

Ten or so years ago people would practically give me ponies everywhere I went, but now I can't find them at all. There's one lady at a local flea market that has some really REALLY nasty G1's and G3's that she wants $2 each for, but they're so nasty they're not even worth that. Good thing is, they're not going anywhere at that price so if I ever get completely desperate for baits I can go see her.

I don't live over there ... but i always check charity stores for ponies. One day i was looking at there was an old lady in there looking at the toys mumbling there were no ponies to buy her grand children ... even though its nice... but things are getting alot harder to find.

Wow ditto that. I only find G1 ponies locally about once or twice a year! And im out all the time looking for at goodwils, thrift stores etc! Ebay is super expensive, but it is good for finding that one pony you really need, etc. Lets keep out fingers crossed for some pony luck locally this spring!!!

i live very close to nebraska and yes its the lead laws.... theyve passed it for all goodwills so far and a few of the smaller ones i went to didnt have any either i know it sux i use to love the thrill of finding ponies at thrift stores.... i think salvation army still has toys...

This is so terrible!!! :[ I never got to find any ponies at Goodwill, and now I never will!

Yep.All of our shops have pulled toys,too.

Definitely for me! All the Goodwill, thrift stores and flea markets in my area never have any ponies at all. All they have is old clothes and other stuff that I am totally not interested in buying

I've never had much luck in charity shops; although I did find a very battered (as in mouldy) Seaspray once for about £1 when I was on holiday. Took her back to the hotel room, cleaned her out and played with her the sink for ages. Otherwise, not much luck. Other than the time I found a bag of pony stuff at a charity shop and tried to buy some of it separately (it had the grooming parlour in it, I already had it) but the lady almost had a fit at the idea; now I would have just bought the back, however I was 10 at the time and thus didn't want things that I already had.
Flea markets have always been hit and miss. If it was a school fair, or the one held in the guild hall then I used to do quite well. Otherwise not so much.
I've always tended to buy mine at Toy and Train fairs, it's how most of my Pony's were bought. One of the problems with being born in the late 80's, the ability to buy older ponies in shops was not high.

I guess i remember at one time when i was like 14 or 15 my mom and i used to go to the thrift stores and there was almost and abundance of G1's ! I guess things have really changed. I am however excited about this summer since my mom and i are taking a road trip and going to the longest yard sale, I also plan on hitting any thing like a flea market and any other second hand sales possible.
I was just so bummed today since I can usually find a few g3's but came up with nothing at all not even any other things i normally look for.

The last couple times I've gone to Good Will they have had NOTHING as far as toys go. A few baggies of McDonald's toys, some plush animals, and pre-school age stuff. Very sad.

Oh, I know I haven't found a pony outside of the internet in years. I remember being about 12 or so and coming across ponies in yardsales and asking my mom to buy them for me and she'd say "Your too old" and yet here I am 26 years old still buying ponies LOL

I was surprised that when I went costume shopping at Goodwill about a week ago, they had a big basket of Barbies and G3s. I don't really buy G3s second hand as I usually get the ones I want when they hit stores, but it was a good sign. Apparently not all the Goodwill locations are being strict about phasing out their toy sections.

As for other stores, I NEVER really have pony luck. I've found one antique store that carries vintage ponies, and they're typically dirty, overpriced BBE's. The only time I found ponies at a flea market was really strange - it was near my grandpa's house, and whenever I was visiting I'd thoroughly check the place on weekends. I went there about 10 times and never found anything.

Soon it was announced that the flea mart was permanently closing, and I went there the very last day it was open. Then, right there, I found a booth with about 10 G1s on prominent display. *facepalm* I bought them all then, but I wish that person had broken out the collection sooner.

At age 33, there's nothing like squeezing in between a couple of 4 year olds to dig through the piles of toys at the thrift stores! I did that last Friday, and I get to do it again tomorrow. It's kinda humorous, the shop is quiet with ladies browsing through 50% off tops and here I am *rattle* *rattle* *tink* *tink* rummaging through a bin of toys, trying to scour every inch for a hidden flash of nylon hair. It's annoying when I get excited upon seeing some, then my hand emerges with a completely NON pony thing like a troll or weird stuffed animal with a tuft of nylon hair sprouting from its forehead. But OH, the THRILL, when emerges a pony!!! Yipee! Sometimes my heart is pounding before I even start digging, on that expectant hope of finding a pony. I did find few last week, nothing out of the ordinary. I see less and less, too. My greatest day was discovering the Valentine Twins in a Mission Mart. I haven't been to a goodwill lately, but I do know the Salvation Army still has toys! They also have some sort of disclaimer posted at the register about buyers buying toys/etc at their own risk. Cool. Just keep the toys coming. And I have found G1s and G3s, but have NEVER seen a G2 for resale anywhere (except the frightening McD ponies). Also, this is my 50th post---wooohooo!!!!!! *dances around the laptop*

Stormchaser

That stupid law has stores so paranoid they are chucking alot of their toys! Makes me sick to think of all the fun toys hitting the landfills that still could have alot of good use in them!

Skylar said:

That stupid law has stores so paranoid they are chucking alot of their toys! Makes me sick to think of all the fun toys hitting the landfills that still could have alot of good use in them!

Click to expand...

I wonder ......... do you think we will have to resort to dumpster diving for those good old ponies? (or other toys) I'm not sure and i know it sounds gross but do you think or know of anyone actually doing this?

almost tempted but i think it is against the law, to dig thru their trash!! okay would you go to this extrem if you knew you would find a pony or 2?

okay thought crossed my mind and i am back to hoping i find some new additions at the few stores we have left that are still selling toys.

IDK tho i might get desperet, i just hope i come to my senses before i go dumpster diving LOL!!!!! :hysterical:

i must be very lucky, i've found tons of g1's and g3's at thrift stores.

I feel lucky too. I just went thrifting today at both of my stores and they were FULL of toys. Got quite a bit of ponies too. I really hope it doesn't hit here.

I moved to a small town and theres like NO good thrifts around here :/
Most I ever found in this tiny town was a g3 butterscotch and a REALLY Manky baby strollerwhatsherface.

I have had exceptionally good luck back in my old town though. I got a complete and mint BB Chief for a dollar as well as NM Lemontreats oodles of other ponies like brush and grows and stuff and G3 Anchors away....on two separate occasions!

I have a feeling that thrift store luck is going to dry up totally cuz of this stupid stupid law!!

*grumble grumble*

I think my local Savers either doesn't know about the law, or just plain doesn't care about it XD. I went there last weekend, and man, there were more toys there than I think I've ever seen there!

As far as ponies go, Savers seems to be a breeding ground for Moondancer and Glory. I got all three of my Moondancers there, two of them are pretty baity, and my only Glory there. I saw another Glory there last month, and lots of G3s and fakies there last Saturday.

I haven't been to Goodwill since the law took effect, or any local antique stores. I will be checking them out maybe this weekend, depending on the weather.