Gift shopping kinda sucks this year

Normally I'll buy some generic stuff off of Amazon for a few people, but most of the people I shop for get stuff I find at little hole in the wall antique stores, flea markets, and other niche places where I can find gifts for the more hard to find people in my life.

All of those places are stripped bare of anything good or closed down.  Either they can't get out to find estate sales and whatnot to buy stuff, or people aren't coming out to their shops so they aren't replenishing stock.

I was hoping to find some vintage National Parks stuff, maybe some old tools, or some old Harley Davidson stuff and I've come up empty at every place I can think of.  I'm going to have to go with :shudder: gift cards

About the one thing I'm proud of as a gift is what I got Dad, a replacement roof for his 914, courtesy of AAZCD

I enjoy picking through junk shops and yard sales. I miss it right now. 

I'm half wondering if I can replicate the experience with some of the more esoteric magazines out there.  Lee Valley for Dad (if I didn't have his gift,) BIL something from Things-You-Never-Knew-Existed maybe.

My Marketplace feed is full of all kinds of random thrift-shop/antique stores stuff, most of it available to be shipped. 

My go-to gift place is a chain called "Tuesday Morning". Pretty much random crap on shelves at rock bottom prices. I could knock out 3/4 of my shopping in a single visit. If the one near me is still open I may throw on a hazmat suit and make a run.

Everything else has been via Amazon or Target curb side pickup.

All 3 of our local thrift style shops are open and having trouble selling enough stuff to stay that way. My wife collects old colored glass so I frequent them for a lot of gift items 

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

I try to stay off FB as much as possible. Not even sure if my account is still active.

Is there an airport near you with a Southwest terminal? 

Monoliths are hot this year. 

We are doing ok in maine with odd shops and retail, but things are different, that's for sure.

I bought a friend of mine a sextant from 1946. It was $50 on offerup and I am so excited to give it to him. Values of these things are hard to nail down, but I've found this one listed for anywhere from $350-$1500.

Check out Adam Savage's favorite tools?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtitKU0CAehVwewqUdsYrDqg9Kp1jQvj
 

Or his favorite hints for 2020?

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJtitKU0CAejPqbJHlEb96TUWlUkF_Nb_

unless you provide some specifics for interests, etc, I'm kinda at a loss...

Amazon has a section of handmade items from small businesses you might consider. You could also try Etsy. 

It's been weird for us to. I do lots of shopping at junkyards and they have been picked over clean. Also everyone I normally get stuff for has been working more than ever and there is nothing to get them. 

Mr_Asa said:

I'm half wondering if I can replicate the experience with some of the more esoteric magazines out there.  Lee Valley for Dad (if I didn't have his gift,) BIL something from Things-You-Never-Knew-Existed maybe.

Tell me more about these esoteric magazines of which you speak. I like reading about weird/niche/intersting stuff. My only mag subscription for years has been GRM.