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From: Walt Vogdes
Remote Name: 24.113.95.243
Does the term "duck and cover" conjure up an image? We've all run into antique dealers who have something way overpriced. Most of them have a closed mind, and are not at all interested in our "opinions." Some dealers simply don't care about reality. Others will take the approach that sooner or later someone will come in who will buy it at the price they are asking, whether it is fair or not. Others will defend their price on the basis of "what I have into it." Add to this the problem that the dealer may be suspicious of your motives - do you want to buy it for a low-ball price? If you say you aren't interested in the piece and give a fair estimate of value, will you send a friend or associate in later to buy it for a low-ball price? My experience is that unless the dealer has already indicated that they don't know the value and is open to receiving some advice, I just smile to myself and quietly leave. Regarding the "what I have into it" line of reasoning, what the dealer paid is past history, and immaterial in determining a realistic price. We've all overpaid for some things, and balanced those things out with good buys on others. If and when we decide to sell, if we use the "what I have into it" reasoning, we will sell the good buys at too low a price, and find ourselves holding the other pieces far longer than we want to.