There’s No Swapping Titles

Is a flea market a swap meet and visa versa? Not exactly, though many people use the terms interchangeably. Flea markets, like at the Rose Bowl and Long Beach, pride themselves on antiques and collectible goods, whether that be Chippendale furniture, Deco lamps or metal gasoline station signs. In recent years, items from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s--action figures and Beanie Babies to name a few--have elbowed their way in, though it’s the old stuff that is still the main attraction.

Swap meets, on the other hand, are all about the new stuff. Many of the L.A. area’s swap meets have space for used-goods vendors, but not much. The current trend is to offer a wide variety of goods and services, wrap it in a festival-like atmosphere, so that people will spend considerable amounts of time and money there. Ferris wheels, Santa Claus and pony rides are as common as the ubiquitous underwear and car mat booths.