Frugal Facts: How to Get the Best Deals on Antiques and Collectibles

As an auction goer and antiques and collectibles dealer, I'm here to tell you that there are plenty of tips for you to get great deals on your favorite items. And antiques dealers and auction lovers would love to share those tips with you... if you'd only ask. In the meantime, here are some tips the experts would give you. Use these as a starting point, to save some money.

Always ask for a discount whether it be at an antiques mall, show, flea market or garage sale. If the dealer is located in a mall, the general practice is that a customer will be given a 10 percent discount on items with a sales price of over $20. (This varies by mall and dealer, so takes this as a generalization.) If you're at a yard sale or flea market, or even the outdoor antiques fair, always ask for a discount, or suggest the price you want to pay for an item. Even if the price is marked ask, "Would you take 'x' for this?" The absolute worst that will happen is you'll be rejected, and you'll probably irritate that particular dealer. Look around, and you'll find many more to turn to. Unless something is truly one-of-a-kind, move along to the next dealer if you get attitude.

Combine items for sale. If you see several items for sale at one place, lump them together and offer a bulk price. Some dealers double prices or go strictly by whatever price is listed in antiques market guides, but others function more on turnover. They want to move merchandise, so they want to free up the space. You can almost tell by the look of the person's set up which group he falls in.

Do you have any more of these? It follows that since dealers generally specialize in a few areas, he can help you add to your collection. A regular at a local auction I attended specialized in flags, while another dealer who frequented the auction bought up any military pins and all things Native American. Dealers often specialize....Follow it up with, Do you know another dealer who specializes in whatever? Then ask if you buy a few things, can you get a discount. If the seller knows he may have a steady customer, he is more willing to deal.

Look at the seller's set up to figure out how to determine your offer. The person who puts a huge price on what he considers one-of-a-kind items, doesn't clutter the table or booth up. You'll see several high end items. Even in this case, you will do better lumping items together and offering a bulk price if you've found a particular collectible you are fond of. For example, if you are Star Trek fan, and the person has items you've never seen, it may be the best place you are going to spend your money that day.

The person who counts on turnover more than counting on high end collectibles to reach the right buyer will have a set up that is chock full of items. You'll generally get a better deal here, but you may not have get the selection or information on the item, you're interested in.

Even the turnover antiques dealer tends to group like types together. Where you'll get your best deals from is from the person whose booth or set up is totally haphazard. More often than not the person is a beginner, or more interested in moving leftover inventory. Particularly, if you are attending a show, the person may be bringing things he can't sell at his antiques booth.

Don't be overly eager. If you are a serious collector of an item, your eye will spot from afar. Do not run to the person's area, pick up the item with glee and then try to bargain. The seller may have an idea what it's worth but maybe not entirely. If you fawn over one item, the seller may get the idea that he's priced the item too cheap, so you can kiss any discount goodbye. Do a full scope of the items. You may want to go with the standard, "That would match my furniture in my living room" sort of line. It's a little sneaky, but people get into the antiques game because they like the thrill of the hunt and the give and take that comes with it. Most sellers are also collectors. They sell to feed their own habits, so they get the game.

If you doubt this, I'll give you a very innocent example. I look for glasses that remind me of a lady who lived next door to my family. As far as I know, the glasses have absolutely no intrinsic value. They just conjure up a lot of sentimental memories for me. I attended an auction and saw a few of them which was a rare thing. The fact that they aren't abundant doesn't mean they're worth a lot.

As I was a frequent buyer at this particular auction venue, people started picking up the glasses, asking me what they were and what they were worth. I'm sure they didn't believe me when I said they were worth pretty much nothing. I looked eager. It was the sentimental spirit that just came out at a weak moment.

It taught me a huge lesson, and provided some comic relief as well. These were seriously just quasi jelly jars, but I spent many an afternoon drinking iced tea out of them with my Krissie. My glasses from her are referred to as Krissie glasses by my friends and family. After all these years, I still have no idea if they are worth anything, and I don't care.

Don't be obvious when examining items. Those who collect know what to look for. If it's glassware, you'll see the person running his finger over the rim of the bowl, glass, pitcher, whatever. If you pick up an item and start giving the history of it or check it out like a scientist under a microscope, again you may give the person the idea that the item is worth more than he has it priced for. The idea is you want to get the discount, not an increase.

This tip applies to shows, antiques booths and auctions. Do not show too much interest in items at auction as you will be surrounded by people who are really good at this game and who make a living buying and selling the items. You won't win the item, or you'll grossly overpay.

Moreover, while you want to sidle up to people at auctions so as to glean a little information on items you may like, don't run off about what you want to get or make a big deal about what you know about an item because the person dressed in the scruffiest clothing is often the most savvy auction goer. If he sees that the item is worth something, he'll surely run the price up, figuring he can research it more later.

Wait it out. At an auction, people often don't arrive at the beginning of the sale, nor do they stay until the end, so the first and last tables can bring great deals. With auctions, come early and leave late. Bring a book or other work with you to fill in the time.

The same mentality applies to antiques shows whether they be outdoor or indoor. Even veteran dealers hate the packing and unpacking that comes with doing shows, so they may be willing to take money off the item you want rather than pack it and cart it away again.

Keep your ears open. Collectors like to share their knowledge. As you see items you are interested in, take in what others are saying about it. It may change your conception on what an item is worth, which ultimately can save you some money.

Be prepared to walk away. You have to keep it all in perspective. If it's an item you know you rarely see, you want, and you have the money, get it, discount or no discount. If it's an item that comes up time and time again, be prepared to walk.

Some sellers think they should get anything they want at rock-bottom prices, yet they think their items are worth far more than they are really worth. Know what the item is worth walking in or to your car and call someone on your cell to do a quick Internet search on the item so you can make an informed decision.