Cheap and Cheerful: Russians Have Fallen in Love with Flea Markets Again

On social media, in kitchens, and at student hangouts, everyone is talking about the market (in the literal sense) obsession. Even the reels and stories of glamorous divas are filled with videos of exciting shopping trips to bazaars. Is the market really the new luxury now?

…Having arrived by transfers at the trendy market on the outskirts of the city, the first thing that astonishes you is the astronomical size of the market - it stretches almost a kilometer in length! I was accompanied on the way by two male students.

• Do you come here often? Do you know where to go for good clothes?

• No, it’s our first time too. Half of our acquaintances have already been here, so we decided to come to save on clothes, - the fellow travelers replied.

And it seems that the entire bus was filled with people like us. Almost everyone was hesitantly looking for signs to the coveted kingdom of cheapness. The first thing I headed for was the heated pavilions. I was about to embark on a harsh journey through the open cold rows, where endless tiers of clothing and household goods hung overhead, and frozen sellers stood along the aisles. Shifting from foot to foot, they tried to attract the rare customers in any way.

On the way, I met a woman over 50 with a fashionable hairstyle and a bright stylish coat. She did not hide it but even proudly said that she bought the coat right here, only she forgot where exactly. This inspired me. So, it’s not just cheap goods here; there are things with taste as well. Once I reached the warmth, I entered the first boutique I found with swimsuits from Versace, Armani, Calvin Klein, etc.

• Is this original? - I dared to ask the saleswoman with eyelash extensions.

• There are no originals here, don’t even look for them! A replica for 3,000, - she replied cheerfully.

I passed a funny spot with “elite” perfumes supposedly from Moschino, D&G, Tom Ford, etc. They sell it in huge tubes of half a liter. And recognizable black and orange bags with the inscription “TSUM” hung in clusters from the ceiling. When I asked, “Do you have a branch of TSUM here?” the seller with a Caucasian accent replied something indistinct (possibly not very polite) and hurried away.

• This is the most expensive eco-fur, - shouted the owner of the stall, noticing me from the corner. - It’s warmer than natural fur, and you will wear it for many years!

• I was wondering why the price for mink is only 21,000 rubles?

• You know how many people buy from me! By the bags! This is a wholesale pavilion. There’s a fur coat no worse for 12,000, want to try it on?

And here are the Chinese entrepreneurs, where the entire stall is filled to the ceiling with packs of “branded” glasses. The same ones are sold in the VDNH area for 3,000. And here – three times cheaper! How can you resist? I bought myself a pair resembling Guess and even bargained it down to 800 rubles. Right in front of me, two girls bought several boxes of glasses. It turned out they were for resale on a marketplace.

A confused but very happy girl about 25 passed by with a bunch of bags.

• I see you’ve made some good purchases? - I stopped her. - Can you recommend where to grab something cheaper here?

• This is my first time here too. I watched my friends and social media, wrote down the pavilion numbers, but got lost and had to go wherever my eyes led me. I bought myself a suit made of alpaca wool for 8,000. And on marketplaces, such suits are no less than 10,000! But I don’t know how to bargain… I also found a jacket. I thought everything would be dirt cheap, but no. Although prices are generally lower.

And I went wherever my eyes led me. I saw homewear. I recently bought myself a cotton one on a marketplace for 3,500 rubles - a nice design. I think I’ll go compare prices. Shock! 1,500! Almost the same style and also made of natural cotton. And separately, there’s a rack with a sale of Ivanovo knitwear, where pajamas are 700! The seller even gave it to me for 600 rubles. Six times cheaper! It seems I am officially sponsoring someone’s beautiful life on a marketplace...

And what about the fake underwear from the notorious Calvin Klein, etc.? They lie there, cute, for 100 rubles each, and even cheaper in bulk.

• 200 rubles, take them! - the seller beckoned, noticing that I was examining children’s wool socks with bullfinches.

• How about 100?

• Deal!

• Will you take the same ones for adults for 150?

• Why so cheap?

• We are closing the season; we are working for the last two days.

• I wonder how much they cost on marketplaces?

• We sell there too. The same thing, but for 500 rubles. You know why? They take 50-60% commission there. Here we only pay for rent. So, do the math! Plus, on marketplaces, many buy several pairs to choose from and refuse what they don’t like. And the goods hang in deliveries. Here, wholesalers come and buy half a batch at once.

In the children’s sector, there are very few working stalls. Mostly selling Chinese and Turkish goods. In one, I found dresses from Thailand and the same Turkey. They were sold by a very stylishly dressed owner of about 60.

— Take them, last shipment, we are closing. Expensive rent... You see how many closed boxes — it’s not profitable for anyone, - the very well-groomed elderly seller confided.

• And what will you do?

• I will retire. In my time, I earned everything: houses, apartments for myself and my sons – each with an area of 100 square meters. And I’ve traveled the whole world! I had two wholesale points in different markets. People used to buy in bags! But now the times are different...

However, judging by the scale of the market and the crowds of buyers, even in such frosty weather, most merchants are doing well.

• How much would the same one cost on a marketplace? - I asked the price of a clothing steamer from a man in a fur coat.

• We have 1,500, there it’s no less than 3,000, check it out. Everyone comes and is surprised why it’s so cheap. Yes, we even bargain. And those who are too lazy to come pay crazy thousands for convenience! People buy here to later sell in stores, shopping centers, and on marketplaces.

I found a spot with carnival costumes. Here, one of the buyers was looking for a Spider-Man costume. But she came here not because of the prices, which, by the way, are twice lower than online, but because the item is needed tomorrow. I couldn’t resist the temptation again and bought a costume for my child for 800 rubles to grow into for next New Year.