A little Rant !.. not really

pauline

pauline

Registered Guest
In the UK there are two antiques TV shows with a format with two antique experts going around the country antiques shop and buying item to resell for profit in an auction or to privete people.(Any profit made goes to BBC charity)

Anyway when in these shops they always barter down the selling price to amount 1/3 the asking price and always succeed , clearly it's highly edited
Still I feel it gives the impression that the retail price is high and antique dealers are open to any silly offer.

I just wonder if you noticed any recent trend of people trying to barter you down to silly low prices ?

TV show format are sometime exported so it might be with you soon lol.
 
The Antiques Roadtrip series? They do explain either in the voice over or the credits that the sellers have been told the buyers are competing to raise money for charity - so they're all well buttered up and 'prepared' when the actual sales are shot.

At least on this program they also tell you that there is commission etc. to take out of the profits - apparently those don't exist on Bargain Hunt....

I think the bartering is much more expected in traditional antiques shops than anywhere else, it's been part of the system for a long time.
 
I do not have a problem with the format at all becuse every on is on it, Antiques Roadtrip, Put Your money where your mouth is and Bargain Hunt I not too keen on Bargain Hunt I have to say.

A lot of people watching I think might get the idea that they can pay well under even the trade price.

p.s just watching Antiques Roadtrip
 
As Melanie says, bartering has long been established in the antique world, in fact it may always have been the case!

I'm glad to hear that the dealers on the TV shows are in on the situation - they also might reduce their prices more than they usually would because they're getting publicity out of it. I'm sure it encourages people to try to bid them right down though.

Some people like to barter and I don't have a problem with that, although I find that most are happy to pay the asking price. It does no harm to ask.
 
I watch any show remotely dealing with antiques or vintage. It is what I love.
In the field since1996 and a collector forever I have or had many elderly dealer friends.
I have come to the conclusion after reading online that evidently in some places bartering in the past has been used.
Traditionally though from these older dealers there were set rules.
10% discount to customers if asked, 20% to other dealers and if repeat customers extra perks. There was also more of an etiquette to it. Lots of interesting ways they did business. I could listen forever to these old school dealers.
I would definitely think a show showing up as a dealer would be a game changer and then it is a matter of marketing..
I moved from collector to dealer when I actually won an antiques show spot in 1999. It gave me a jumpstart to my dreams for years.
 
As one of those " older dealers" my dad actually find the bartering which goes on in those shows as funny and very unrealistic in terms of the margins they get.

it's TV so it's entertainment etc. TBH if any one had tried to barter my dad down that much they would be shown the door very quickly.

I was just wondering if this was now filtering into the real world .
 
I am glad you asked this and commented back on my posts. I have thought perhaps it was an American thing in a way.
It would be silly for me to assume in the past bartering was not done but still to this day I find the traditional dealers offended to be honest.
Most are in brick and mortars but some online as well.
I could get on a soapbox about this but will refrain. I personally am torn with sharing my finds with the newbies or beginning collector but at same time want them to understand not only the items but the value of them.
I also think in the past like china on the table or dressing up things were just expected. I cannot fault those that do not know I guess I am saying. As in the past I am sure giving the royal treatment to repeat customers is what people like your dad and me really enjoyed. This is harder to do online as a time factor comes into play but I do enjoy it.
In the real world I have had other dealers save me good stuff as a repeat customer and such. I appreciate it and the time restraints of shipping and such make it harder to do IMHO. A bit OT though. In the real world I would have tea and cookies etc.
 
I sell at a vintage market on Sundays. In my booth I have vintage clothing, accessories and decorative items. My prices are reasonable but I will discount if asked.. approx. 10% to my retail customers, a bit more to my dealer friends. If people try to bargain me down beyond that I tell them I work really hard to find nice things to sell and I don't price high enough to begin with, to come down any further Most of my customers are quite understanding when I tell them that. If someone really likes something and wants it they will buy it at a reasonable price.
Melody
 
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