Many have the misconception that antiques are too expensive for what they can afford. Antique hunting is a great way to spend an afternoon, and you may be surprised at how many great discounts you find. The most difficult thing is that people do not understand the real value of an object that they are looking at in an antique store.
It may have caught your eye because of its design or it brings back old memories. You certainly can’t tell if the store owner jacked up the price or if you’re getting a good deal. Since you cannot visit another store and compare the price, you have to decide the maximum amount you are willing to pay. You may have to leave the store if the negotiations do not work out in your favor.
It’s a good practice to do some research on the reliability of an antique dealer before you start shopping. You will find that you will be able to get good deals on antiques once you meet the owner of the store. You can build a good relationship, if you are a frequent buyer. Attracting other customers to the store is another thing that will attract attention. The store owner will want to do business with you, so you continue to generate more business for them.
It will be possible to negotiate the price if the antique store is run by the owner and not by members of the staff. You won’t be able to negotiate prices as much as you think at antique malls even if you find a good selection. Small shops can give you a short history on the item you are interested in.
For many antique store owners, money talks, so bring plenty of money when shopping for antiques. If you do this, they don’t have to deal with credit card transactions that cost them money. Many of the older antique stores are reluctant to accept personal checks, especially if you’re from out of town. Showing that you don’t have money in an imperceptible way is also helpful. For example, you can count it and then say that you will take $100 because this is all I have with me today.
It is important to keep in mind that you will be buying antiques in as-is condition. Be sure to spend time looking at everything before you buy. You don’t want to go home to find out that what you thought was a good deal was actually rubbish. Many dealers pride themselves on offering quality products, but you still need to look into them. However, you will not be satisfied if you think that you can buy an old house in perfect condition at a very good price.
If you’re looking for antiques, take a look online to get a good idea of what they’ll sell for. Don’t be afraid to ask the antique store owner to lower the price. If you say something like “Would you take $100 for this?” Instead of saying something like “can you lower the price?” it can surely help you get what you want if you’re assertive but don’t go overboard.
