posted on December 17, 2000 06:40:38 AM
To anyone who thinks that antique dealers are always on the hustle--unscrupulous leeches that take unsuspecting Grandama's precious heirlooms for a pittance and laugh all the way to the bank, here's a flip side for you.
An elderly lady called me to ask if I'd like to come over and look at some things that she had (she knew I was a dealer/buyer). Of course I made an appointment with her and went.
She had no really valuable antiques/collectibles that I saw or knew about anyway. I spent 2 1/2 hours with her while she graciously showed me around her humble home.
We had agreed on a small pile of things I would buy and I agreed to pay her 125.00 for the lot, being careful to pay her what I thought were fair dealer prices for the items, and she being careful not to "give" the items away. Just doodads like a couple of old wristwatches, paper items, an old camera, a sack of marbles.
I've sold just about all of it for 153.27. The only thing I have left are some junk marbles worth almost nothing as it turns out. If one item wouldn't have brought 51.00 and another 26.00 I would have lost my shirt on this deal. As it is, I about broke even, after ebay fees and all. Lost one entire day visiting her and then listing the items.
We've all probably had days like this. If we can get deals at a Thrift Shop or elsewhere to help make up for it (as long as we're not being unscrupulous), then please don't begrudge us of it.
posted on December 17, 2000 07:09:20 AM
loosecannon
I applaud your honestly in the way you describe the way you do business. Taking advantage of anyone, will ultimately come back to you.
We also get these calls all the time - but after a couple of trips to see someone's grandmother's treasures, we stopped. 99% of the time we have found merely average furniture items, what the seller wants an arm and a leg for, [u]and[/u] wants payment for their sentimental attachment and memories. We found it an absolute waste of time, and our basic response to any call to review someone's antiques or estate, is that they don't buy from the public, and by and large we don't. We are direct importers of European furniture, for many reasons, one is we have found the English and Europeans take MUCH, MUCH better care of their furniture than do Americans, and we don't have to do hardly any work on the furniture, where as most American trash their furniture and still want a fortune for it.
We also ask people when they call if they have visited the shop. If they haven't we quickly describe what we charge for normal items, and ask them if they want to take half of that for what they are trying to sell. Normally, they get VERY upset, and say no and that ends the problem. They realize we have to make a profit, and can't pay them retail for their items, but when we normally sell buffets from $130 to $400, and wardrobes from $115 to $300; the average seller wants that much or more for their "family treasure."
We have a friend/dealer, and if the person is determined to sell to a dealer, we give them his phone number, and tell them to call him.
We did have a elderly lady call and wanted me to come see her antique sewing machine. I got the serial number from her, so I could determine its age, and decided since she was right down the street that I would drop in. Well, the head of the machine was in terrible condition, it showed LONG term use, and was useless to a collector of such, but I told her to put a FREE ad in the paper, and that I’d bet she would get a good buyer for about $100 or so – she did and was thrilled to death, and called me with endless thank you’s. I couldn’t reasonably given her $20 for the machine and the cabinet, but someone wanted it, and we made a friend, and the seller got the funds she wanted.
posted on December 17, 2000 10:20:10 AM
You said you paid what you thought were fair dealer buying prices, yet you still just broke even. You were probably making estimates, but you didn't give yourself leeway in case you were off by a margin. You could have told her she could go to different dealers who specialize in this stuff and they may pay more, but you will pay slighty less because you're not sure if it will even sell or get the price you hope for. This way, you are being straightfoward and honest, yet still buying at a lower price. Always look for a win-win. Here you're saving her a lot of run around time, so consider that in your buy price.
