Empire mahogany game table

The chance of finding great antiques is higher in an area like this - we have many old homes whose owners have generations worth of stuff. When they finally pass away, the younger generation often doesn't want it all. Believe it or not, one of my favorite places is the "gift house" at the dump. People bring good items they don't want. It's run by volunteers who are mostly pickers themselves, but I've found some awesome stuff there.

 

Don't confuse my suggestions with my real life.
You see , she had insulted me, my money , & my knowledge , & treated a customer poorly with a foul demeanor & civility bordering on kicking a dawg !!!

@komokwa
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to step on your toes.
It was late last night and I was still reeling from a customer who 2 days ago, offered less than half on something that I had. I have never lost my cool with a customer until this man thought that less than half was what he thought I should take for the item and started an argument with me. It was late in the day, I was tired, hungry, and I was in pain from an injury. I've been in retail since 1972, taken a lot of abuse, get upset, but I have never gone off at a customer as I did with this guy. Literally kicked him out of my store.

Your response hit a nerve. Sorry.

Oh , & BTW....I never offered anyone $600 for a $760 anything , and seriously expected that out of the goodness of their heart that they were going to accept my 1st offer !

I often take first offers. Especially if they are reasonable. To me a 20% off the price offer is reasonable. It means I have a repeating customer. Many who become friends. Those people speak highly and recommend other customers. That to me is worth a whole lot more than the 20% discount.

The other thing to consider is if you are a regular customer and you know the item has been in the shop for a considerable amount of time, the dealer may be willing to go lower than 20% just to move it. And if you have been a regular customer, then you are more likely to get a better deal.

 

You think I'm upset.....I'm not upset .
If I were upset your toes would curl & your hair would catch fire ,while your screen melted before your eyes !

I understand you lost control because of your weakened condition.....that can happen without anyone thinking the less of you for it .

It happened to me the day I closed my Gallery......with a woman who deserved every last bit of wrath I could muster as tears rolled down my eyes !
It's a story for another time !

 

Thank you , I know you have to earn respect , & that it's not just given, so I only try to stick my nose in where I consider it may be of value, or where I feel I can add to a thread.
Like you , I have my bad days too .....so no , you didn't step on any toes, & if I came off as harsh.....I was just caught up in the moment.

I could have used a different monetary starting point other than the one I did .

 

Komo, I'm curious... why would you suggest that someone do something you wouldn't do yourself?

 

I think one of the differences in the way things may be handled regarding a discount on an item possibly stems from whether the shop is located in a small(ish) town, a large city, or, perhaps most important, whether it is located in a tourist(y) area (even if for only one or two seasons out of the year).

As to the proprietor who smashed a piece of glass to "impress/intimidate" a potential customer . . . well the "debil" would have taken hold of me, I fear, for I would have quietly gone to look at something else quite lovely, at a higher price and definitely "breakable," and really low-balled that proprietor.

 

I think it also depends upon your background. When I was growing up, there was an "I can get it for you wholesale" milieu in NYC, which colored my perception of retail prices vs discounts.

Also, NYers tended to say things more directly and openly, which can sound offensive to people from other backgrounds. When I worked in business setting in more conservative Massachusetts, I had to work really hard to tone down my NY style.

 

In the meantime, I wonder what happened to @Trislo ?

 

Clutter and I had a misunderstanding .
I used a low ball number ( in a what if , to Trislo) that irritated an already bad day she was having.
She suggested that real life event that I had was caused by my low balling a dealer in the same fashion.
I explained that it wasn't the case.

We worked it out !

( I should or could have used a higher number in my suggestion to Trislo , but the point was to start negotiations low enough so that the final result was acceptable to both parties. If you start an offer at the most you'll pay, there's no room to counter a come back offer from the dealer.)

Read the back and forth .

BTW.... suggesting that someone try a roller coaster , when they're looking for a thrill, in no way means that I have to like roller coasters , or that I have even ever sat in one..

& one more thing.
Not long ago I was at an antique show.
The dealer had a NA basket.
I could see right off that it was out of place with the rest of his items.
Long story short .....he had paid $100 , & after I gave him my professional opinion on the item he asked what it's value was.
I told him I could buy this type on eBay all day at $35 to $50 ....and offered him $35......He took it ...he wasn't happy that he over paid for it .....but he wasn't insulted by me either !

The next day I sold him 3 silver items...& he got the better of me !

 

Dear Pat:

You took one line out from several posts & based an assumption on it , clouded in a question, that casts an untoward sensibility on the veracity with which I communicate with other on this site.

Now that I've had time to reflect, & after I've tried to explain the matter at hand , I have to admit .....I don't think I like your question , or it's implication .

Komo

 

Komo, sorry if my question made you uncomfortable. No offense meant!

 

Uncomfortable ...No !
But the offence is blatant !

You could have sent that in a private message , for me to explain, but now I have to wonder just how many members read your insinuation and now consider that my help and opinions on this site are bullshit , if in fact it were true that my council is just put out there to lead folks astray..!

Which it isn't !



& now I have to wonder if my reputation as a straight shooter has been tarnished ??

 

Komo, I don't know how other people took my question, but I really wasn't trying to impune your practices or reputation. I'm sorry if what I said was offensive.

I just thought you said two contradictory things and asked you about it. I didn't mean anything more than that.

 

Komo, I'm not sure if what you said really was a contradiction or not. But even if it were, people... including me... say contradictory things all the time.

I don't think anyone thinks worse of someone because of it, or will stop trusting their judgment or liking them.

Again, I apologize.

 

I took offence at your question, you take offence at low ball offers , another took a fence and sold it on eBlech.

Just when I thought I had this typing thing all figured out , I realize that once again the less I say the better off I am.

There's now, no need to apologize.
I must have wrote stuff wrong , & read stuff wrong , & now I apologize for being overly harsh where it was not required.

I think it's time I took a rest.

 

No problemo, Komo. We're good.

I know other people do, but I don't take offense at low ball offers... I grew up in the "I can get if for you wholesale" city! It's just my mind picks up on things that sound like inconsistencies. I think I've just learned to not pay attention.

 

How about when someone says how much is that and you say 'three fifty' and they offer you a five and wait for change till you tell them that is 3 hundred and 50 (as any fule should no, to quote Molesworth.)

 

Hi,
Had that happen with a platter. I asked how much the seller says two fifty. I ask if I can write a check and he says you want to use a check for 2 dollars and 50 cents? I was stunned and then he says you thought 250 dollars and you were going to pay that? I said yes. he said we'll settle on 25 dollars. I paid the 25 dollars, he was thrilled and I was thrilled. It was a Buffalo Pottery Indian Hunt. It was 18" by 24".
greg