Hardy Antiques - You want me to take how much

You want me to take how much

You have an expectation of your antiques dealer. Quite right too. We should know our stock, its condition and so on, and be able to tell you about it too. In other words, we should be professional about our trade, especially when we're offering items for sale to you. But why should we be the only ones? How a bit a bit of professionalism from buyers too?

WHICH ARE YOU?
You know what I mean, not all of you, I'm talking about you smart oh so clever ones who think its good idea to come in and run everything you see down. And the more you want something, the ruder you are about it, right?Well let me tell you something: that's not professional, that's rank amateurism. It has one of two effects on me. It either switches me off so I stop engaging with you at all: you're just another tyre kicker and can go and play on the white lines with the big cars, or it makes me seethe. The prices only go one way when that happens. Compliments are what the professional buyer uses. Not brick-bats.

ITS BETTER ON EBAY
And then there's the eBay buyer. They've always seen it cheaper, better, bigger, shinier, more choclatey on eBay. Good for them. Just the one question: if it was so marvellous on eBay why didn't you buy it there and then? So the excuses come out. What it boils down to is how disappointed they always feel in eBay stuff. And really that's no surprise at all is it? Its rammed with bodge-up. fakes and cheap rubbish. So don't come in here and tell me you like my one, but you've seen the same on eBay - see the paragraph above for the net effect. The professional way to buy is to never let the word eBay escape your lips. Ever. Not once. Just..... No!

BEER & A BURGER AT HALF-PRICE PLEASE
Two rules down and one to go. Offering. How often do you make an offer in M&S, or in the local pub “two pints and packet of crisps please and will you take a fiver for cash?” Do you negotiate with the cinema, or in a restaurant, or even MaccyDees? No, Because they advertise a price and you choose to buy at the published price or not. Doesn't work like that in antiques though does it? Lord knowns why, but it doesn't and that can mean friction.
Now, I don't mind an offer. I'd rather you paid the ticket price, but I know you need to feel there's a deal in what you buy, it makes you feel better. And that's great. I want customers to feel good. But I also want them to respect me. There's a twitter thing that goes round every so often along the lines of “I find it, use my expertise, buy it, transport it, clean it, research it, mend it, polish it, label it, photograph it, list it online, insure it, display it ….and you want me to take HOW MUCH?!”
I mentioned it here before: so when you're offering be a bit professional about it. Recognise the part the dealer has played in putting this bit of stock before you and don't do what I had the other day and told you about in that same post. On an item priced at £325 he offered me £80. His was the behaviour of an amateur.

BE A BIT CLUED UP
Don't fall into his trap. Here's my tip on how to offer professionally. Don't pay one penny less than the ticket if you are using a card. If you feel you must negotiate for cash, offer at least 80% of the ticket price and expect to have to go a further 5% to 10% above that to secure the item. That way, you are allowing the dealer to make a (certainly) modest profit that means he can pay the overheads of light and heat that allow you to (pop in out of the rain) wander round his shop, and even, with luck, use his expertise, time and skill to find something else that you might like. Antiques is a tricky game these days To get the best out of it everyone needs to be at the top of their game. And that includes you.

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23/05/2016 Posted by Paul Hardy Tags: antiques, buy, eBay, buying

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