posted 11-07-2010 02:16 PM            

Last year, I found a nifty sterling ladle marked ONC. It was not expensive, and I thought hard about buying it, but in the end did not, as it didn't fit my collection nor did I imagine I would use it. (I'm trying to develop self-discipline!) In conversation with the dealer, I realized she had no idea what the mark was and knew nothing about Old Newbury, and was very grateful when I told her.

This year, another dealer had an item marked only as a sterling page-turner. No mention of the fact that it bore a Shiebler mark. Again, not pricey but not my thing. I considered mentioning Shiebler to the dealer, and then decided not to, thinking I might leave the pleasure of discovery to someone else.

posted 11-07-2010 07:21 PM            

My reasoning is that the dealers I buy from who treat me fairly and share their knowledge with me deserve some reciprocity in the odd case where I happen to be the better informed.

posted 11-07-2010 07:56 PM            

If I do manage by some strange chance to pass it up, I usually tell the dealer unless I actively dislike them (which is very rare).

posted 11-07-2010 10:05 PM            

In a slightly different yet related direction; what would you say if a seller asked you if you knew anything about some silver was that you were thinking of bidding on or buying?

posted 11-08-2010 08:41 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by agphile:
I would tell a dealer I know, have done business with and trust. I probably wouldn't tell one who was a stranger to me.

My reasoning is that the dealers I buy from who treat me fairly and share their knowledge with me deserve some reciprocity in the odd case where I happen to be the better informed.

However, the unknown dealer is presumably selling at a profit. I don't see why I should help increase that profit and deny another well-informed buyer the opportunity of benefiting from his or her knowledge.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wev:
Friends excepted, never. I have grown weary of being accused.

---

Blend the both of these together and that is sort of where I am on this.

When I/we walk into a booth/store there can be, and often is, something else going on.

These days dealers generally know who we are. Many are very glad to share with us and we with them. Often they are a good member of the SSF. At a large show this can greatly slow us down but it may also lead to interesting suggestions for future Guideline compliant posts.

There are also the dealers who only care about profit. So if the dealer believes we are a knowledgeable buyers, then they up their price. If we don't buy, then they put it away to find out why we were interested.

When we recognize this, we stay away until they forget that we might be knowledgeable. We can tell if they have forgotten.... when we eventually return and pick a Chantilly spoon. Then if the dealer, without waiting for a question, immediately starts to explain that the spoon is sterling and Gorham's most popular pattern etc... it is pretty clear that we are once again just another dumb customer.

When it comes to family and friends if there is a real (even if very small) interest, we don't hold back (like we could ). Over time we have learned which family/friends are only asking because they only want to know if it is valuable. For these inquires we tend to be reserved but directionally correct.

posted 11-08-2010 03:49 PM            

I would never tell something that is not correct. I might say - don't know, or not sure. But when asked directly I tell. Like we do here.

But in my time I have bought many things - at prices much to high. I call that learning the hard way. So today I don't mind doing a bargain. Remember sellers are professional - in case they are not, they could spend time learning. So all in all they are better of selling by intuition - i.e., doing a mistake from time to time.

posted 11-09-2010 12:00 AM            

One time I did tell the dealer that her item that was marked silver plate was actually sterling. She had the item priced at the sterling level, but was conducting a 20% off sale and with this discount it was a good price. Lo and behold she grabbed it from me and said it was no longer for sale. I had friends that went into her shop a year later and she still had it – of course now it is really overpriced. I decided not to go back to her shop.

In the last several years we have gotten to know quite a few dealers that set up at a large monthly antique show we attend on a regular basis. Several times after admiring an object the dealer will vent his or her frustration that “so and so” offered me this low ball price and if you want it at that price you can have it – just get it out of my booth “as I do not want it here when they come back.” These were dealers that we had brought things from previously and we have continued to buy from. They still seem grateful that we got that item out of their booth.

posted 11-10-2010 12:41 AM            

With the ones who will not raise prices when given information, the reason I have see for this action relates to a cost of doing business. Accounting for a small antique business is a real consideration. While the new info may result in a higher price, the cost and time involved in going back and redoing the books may offset any expected gain. Particularly with a hand writen inventory list, doing so is unbelievably complicated. If the items are consigned, using the information can make the dealer look less reliable to the consignor.

Then there are dealers who simply buy and sell, usually aiming for a fairly consistent mark-up. She knows what she paid and what she needs to get. And she also knows that for tax reasons it is important to maintain a fairly stable mark up. Having a number of bonanzas can attract attention, particularly if there have been audit problems in the past.

Another group of dealers that actually exist, since I have met them, are resticted in how much money they can make in a month. It may be a pension, alimony, child support or inheritance that regulates how much they can make selling antiques. I used to travel with several who would simply refuse to sell anything after they had reached their limit. Or they would have to offset any sales with loses to remain in the ballgame.