Antique Stores & Malls

[hard.times.lures]

Antique Stores & Malls

I wonder how many of you find the situation at antique stores and antique malls the same as I find in Oklahoma.

I have stopped at many stores and malls over the years and find the great majority of items I am interested in priced way above market value. I realize that these places are not garage sales where prices are low, but it just seems like someone would occasionally find something good at a good price? I can and do find things at pawn shops to resell, but very, very rarely at a antique mall or shop. What is your experience?

Thanks, Bryan

 

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[BamaBill]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

Yep, these places are the tourist traps of the antique trade. I suspect that they get a lot of looks, but not that much buying so they need to make up for it by having higher than normal market prices. Believe it or not, there are people that have too much money and not enough sense and I believe these places are designed for just such people.

 

[cyberdan]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

I have stopped at many stores and malls over the years and find the great majority of items I am interested in priced way above market value.

Same here in SoCA but there is a town close by that has an antique rummage sale every month or so. The town has several antique stores on the main street. I have been in a few and all are overpriced. Even run of the mill circulated coins more than double the coin store price, only because theh have old dates on them.

But at the antique rummage sale, a local parking lot with 15-20 vendors. The prices are better and they will bargain a bit. I have gotten a few pieces of sterling at about 50-75% of spot. But I had to work to get that price. I guess they just figuered at little more cash and a little less packing. It was toward the end of the day.

 

[Charmin]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

Bryan, my sister has an antique shop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and she has lots of dealers and people who do resale that come into her shop all the time. She always does "deals" on things for people. She tries to price things so she makes money but at the same time keep stuff moving. It does her no good just to "sit" on her inventory. I know a couple of the other antique shops in town have signs that say "No discounts! Our prices are low enough!" and they will not budge from the price they have on an item. You can bet that item will still be there 10 years down the road. I think antique books and seeing big prices in print, make people greedy.
There are still deals to be had, just keep looking .
regards,
sandcreek

 

[Marty-Graw]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

occasionally you can find a deal at antique stores but i normally just use their prices as a tool to sell my item at the flea market...for example.................... "do you know what this would cost at an antique store?..you are getting a great deal"

 

[spartacus53]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

Welcome to T-Net. You have to remember that those shops are a business looking to turn a profit. It is always your best bet to hit a yard, church, or an estate sale. In those cases people are just looking to get rid of unwanted items with no idea to its value.

 

[allen]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

i usually try to talk the owner down on the prices.

 

[diggummup]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

I agree Bryan. I have found for the most part that prices in Antique Malls and Stores are overpriced. I think they look in a book and price stuff accordingly. Something is only worth what someone else will pay for it and the current economy determines that a lot of the time. Although I don't have a shop, I sell stuff on occasion (mostly vintage collectibles) and always give a good price or list it on Ebay with a low starting bid, especially if I got it for a bargain to begin with, which most of the time I do. I understand that having a shop has a lot of overhead but I don't think the customer should pay more than what something is actually worth. That's not good business. Word of mouth is the best advertising available and doesn't cost a thing. I have a saying- "Every customer is a potential silent salesman" and this I truly believe in. Treat them right and they will return.

 

[Scott (Mich)]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

I have collected comics for many years. I used to buy them at antique places and flea markets in the early 70's. Back then I never had much money but they were typically a nickel to ten cents each. Then one day when the Overstreet Comics price guide became known to them the very same stores starting putting the mint price on every comic, regardless of condition. I do not know if they ever sold any but I know I stopped buying them.

 

[BamaBill]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

Yeah, gotta wonder if anyone had ever done a study on when greed overtook common sense in this country.

 

[duffytrash]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

Yeah, gotta wonder if anyone had ever done a study on when greed overtook common sense in this country.

yup...its called the internet

 

[jamey]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

hi sandcreek,
went to an estate sale today and bought a civil war horse thing in great shape.im not sure what you call it the straps went into it the ones you pull on to tell the horse were to go has the brass us things on it rest is iron,2 bucks is what i paid for it.i too love estate sales as long as a company doesnt come in and do it. thanks for your post hope you dont mind me telling you about my find on your post jamey just relized this is someone elses post ,sales are great i really like them also.

 

[cyberdan]

Re: Antique Stores & Malls

i too love estate sales as long as a company doesnt come in and do it.

So true! I am on the mailing list of several estate sale companies only to make sure I do not add them to my saturday morning route. They are tricky in their ads to get people to come in. I was at one this last summer and I overheard the estate sale company owner on the phone with someone.

Basic conversation:
house was a dud
she brought in some silver and jewelry of her own
mentioned it in her ad
lots of people

I later asked about the silver "Oh, it sold first thing this morning"
Yea, right.

Some people that have their own personal estate sales also do not know value of items. This last saturday I stopped at one estate sale I spied a sterling salt & pepper set $10 and two small sterling candlesticks $10 I offered $10 for all four pieces and got them, after tear down got almost 2 ounces of silver. At the same sale I spotted a pile of old womens's glasses. I looked at all and found 4 that were gold filled and offered a dollar each. A different lady got insulted because these were already marked $15 to $25 each for ugly old glasses that no one is going to buy. Oh well I took my $4 and left letting her know the real value of her mother's old glasses. Bet she still has them.