City-Wide Vintage Sale — Local services in Austin

I've revised my rating for this event, down to one star, because of the reply left by the event organizers on my review.

Have been coming to these sales for over a decade. Have found many wonderful things over the years, and met many interesting people. However, the past two visits, the selection was not so good as it usually has been in the past, and the last visit (which will be my last visit ever) one vendor was extremely rude. They did not say anything when I began looking, and only asked if I had any questions after I picked up one item to look at it (they then returned to talking to another person who appeared to be helping them man the tables). They did not have price tags on any items, and after I had picked up several items turning them around and looking for tags they appeared to be irritated. When I began inspecting the condition of one item they got very upset (keep in mind I was only looking at it very closely and from different angles, it being a camera lens that appeared to have some internal dirt or mold on the glass - sending this to a specialist for disassembly and cleaning can cost $200+ so of course I would look at it very carefully if I wanted to buy it) they told me that I was not allowed to look at items until AFTER I PAID FOR THEM. Then they told me to leave! I asked him how do I know what I'm getting for my money if I don't look at it first (condition is everything with collectibles!) and he insulted me. Absolutely ridiculous. Will not be back of course.

I have frequently attended the swap meets hosted by Precision Camera as a seller. I have price tags on everything. I expect people to pick up items and inspect them. If something is fragile I keep it out of reach and people may ask to look at it. This is all common sense stuff! The more I think about it, the more I am convinced this seller was irritated because he knew the item in question had problems, and he knew that I knew what to look for. In other words, I wasn't his target buyer: a sucker.

Edit: six months later, and I have not received any apology or explanation from the vendor. I have not received any explanation of changes the organizers will make to discourage or prevent this kind of behavior in the future. They don't care. I have heard a story from another person that the vendor in question has been rude to others in the past.

Edit (6/1/25): I have to add further comment, because of the reply recently left by the organizers below. I could stand indifference from them, but I won't tolerate lies. There were no signs present which asked prospective buyers to ask for assistance with the cameras. If there were, I would have done so. If such a sign were present, then it's strange the seller wouldn't have simply pointed it out at the time. The guy at the booth never mentioned such a thing. I'm an observant man, with a good memory. I still remember that I picked up three items. A Kodak VPK (which had a cracked side plate), a Pentax Auto-110 SLR, and a CZJ Pancolar lens which had mold in it. I can remember all these details, but not a sign? What a ridiculous lie for them to tell. If the seller had pointed out such a sign at the time, I would have apologized right then and there. But there was no sign. The only people tarnishing their reputation is one obnoxious and unprofessional seller, and an organizer who can't simply say "sorry that happened to you, we'll make sure it doesn't happen again." My rating for this event has been changed from two stars to...

This is a great place to do some vintage and antique shopping. It’s one of the few in Austin that is indoors so regardless of whether it is 105°, freezing cold, or pouring rain you are still comfortable while you shop. Parking is affordable, admission is super cheap, if you want to you can pay extra to do earlybird shopping and get the best selection. However I think the best deals happen on Sunday (i.e. the last day of the show). I got a pair of amazing gear shaped coffee tables that way- they are vintage Ethan Allen and super hard to find. They usually retail at $600-$800 each and I got my pair for $300. There is a wide assortment of vendors to choose from - Some carry expensive, older, higher quality antiques but there is also a large assortment of heap costume jewelry, home decor, amazingly beautiful glassware, small pieces of furniture, taxidermy, vintage and ephemera, books, clothing, fine art,bin…you name it. Oh, and if you’re looking for something in particular go to the information desk and let them know and they will make an announcement over the loudspeaker for any vendors that might be carrying something similar to what you described to come meet you at the...

In a city where most small businesses are unable to afford a brick and mortar location and the only antique mall closed a year ago, City-Wide Vintage is essential to keeping Central Texas independent vintage retailers visible. Some booths may not be for everyone but there is definitely something for everyone, at various price points. There are a lot of clothes (at great prices tho), however, there have been more vintage furniture and home goods booths popping up in the recent months, with excellent vintage quality and curation. I personally saw at least 10 booths (probably more) that had rare vintage furniture and home goods at the July show. There is no other place in Austin where you can shop this many vendors under one roof, regardless of the weather. This is definitely not a garage sale, so it’s important to align exceptions prior to attending. As someone who collects vintage pieces, I found the prices extremely competitive, and much less than what you'd find online for the same piece after doing research and a reverse image search. In the age of Amazon, I love finding unique pieces here and supporting independent and mostly...