Curt and Abrupt Antique Dealer

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
An antique dealer called me to ask if she could bring someone to look at my house contents. This is the same one that said a few weeks ago that she didn't want to do an estate sale for me, but just wanted to buy "a few items". I asked her again which items she wanted to buy and she hemmed and hawed and seemed so vague in her response - does she know what she wants or not? I also inquired whey she took so long to get back to me and she said it was "personal".

I took my appointment calendar out to find a good day. I started to say that Monday would not be good and the reason, but she interrupted me and said it had to be on Sunday and to give me a time. I said "3 pm" and she said "fine" and hung up. There was just something about the way she interrupted me and did not wait for me to tell her the day I wanted, it was the day that was convenient to her and not even a "thank you" and not giving a direct answer to which things she wanted.

Opinions?
 

The antique dealer sounds "self important", and does not deserve your courtesy. If you need to sell things, find someone else, don't give this person the time-of-day.
 

Sounds like a clear case of petty Antiques Roadshow identification-syndrome. She's too busy being 'in demand'... as the thing about Sunday gives her away.
 
So rude, I would rather give it away than sell to her. I know two wrongs don't make a right but I wouldn't cancel. When she came to the door at 3PM I'd be very nice and tell her that she certainly didn't sound very interested and you didn't want to take the chance of her not showing up so you sold to someone else who was very interested in the items you had. In fact I have my doubts that she is going to show up.
 
Why do I have to go through a dealer to sell to a collector? If she's buying to re-sell, she won't make much. I've researched my things and know what the values are and have priced them accordingly. I have a feeling she's going to try to shame me into lowering my prices. When she was here before she said my prices were "way too high" for today's market. If she has to buy to make money by reselling, I probably would have to expect she would give me about a third to a fifth of their market value. Here are some photos of the inside of my house.

front_room.jpgmiddle_parlor_b.jpgglass_cabinet.jpgfront_hallway.jpg
 
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That's funny, I have that same Shirley Temple cup on the shelf in back of me. But I agree with everyone. I wouldn't give a rude dealer the time of day.
 
She actually bought $50 - probably worth $200, but I sold some things. Didn't buy anything that would make a difference in volume (i.e. furniture); mostly glass. Here are some of the items - carnival glass compote in "Peacock Tail" pattern, a huge frosted glass plate (18" diameter), A Hull pottery jardiniere, an ornate perfume bottle, a hand-blown stoppered bottle and a Toby mug. I asked her why she didn't want to do a sale for me. She said "Oh, I don't do that anymore". I told he I went to a sale he conducted about a block away from me two years ago, and she indicated that that was the last one she did. But I feel she was being deceptive and led me on my not mentioning that she did not do "sales" any longer. I think she just wanted to come and "cherry pick".

Fenton Peacock Tail compote.jpgfrosted plate1.jpgHull planter.jpgperfume bottle2a.jpgstoppered bottle.jpg
 
Interesting pieces she bought.

Have you tried advertising in collector magazines?
I suppose those have gone to being online .

Won't suggest Craigslist ,, tried that for my settee & rocker,, got lots of "we'll send you a check,, truck will come pick it up."
Thoughts were 'yeah,, right ,, probably rubber check'.

Are there any appraisers for coins, jewelry close by?
Was surprised to learn that they will appraiser glass , furniture,etc.
 
I don't want to spend a dime on advertising - costs more that I would get back. I do advertise in a free regional classified ad magazine, but like Craig's list - you get a lot of dubious responses.

Some people that have come to my estate sales think that since I inherited everything and got it for nothing, I should not ask any money for it.
 
The only thing I can count on with antique dealers is:

If I want the item, they'll tell me it's highly collectible and very expensive

If I have it and want to sell it, they'll tell me it's very common and not worth much. I suspect it will miraculously become much more valuable and pricey as soon as they get it in their shops....hmmmm?
 

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