Visit One Antique Shop...
Visit Many!

An antique shop is generally owned and operated by a private individual.

Or, it could be a plush shop located right off the town square selling fine antique art paintings!

Or, it could fall somewhere in between these two examples.

If you are out "antique collecting", be sure to stop at each and every shop.

Sometimes, finding the shop can be a challenge in itself.

(Those are often the best ones!)

Are you comparison shopping or trying to find the antique value of your paper collectible?

Ask the shop owner/dealer.

They, often, can point you in the right direction.

Here's a few interesting books on antiques...

Some advantages...

In many cases, the owner will do all of the buying, personally. This allows them to "pick-and-choose" the style of shop that they want to operate. Normally, they will travel the region seeking out estate sales and private collections to obtain merchandise for their shops. Owning their own business allows them the flexibility to come and go at their discretion.

Now, you may ask, how does that help me?

When you shop at an antique shop, chances are, the owner is nearby! That gives you the opportunity to deal directly with them. Big advantage!

They know their inventory better than anyone; where it came from, condition, when it was purchased, etc.

Having this knowledge at your fingertips can save you a lot of research time and eliminate a lot of questions.

Antique Shop Owner's Have Valuable Knowledge!

Most shop owners have an area of expertise, such as antique glass, jewelry, or furniture.

But they also have a pretty good knowledge of all antiques in general. Asking for their opinion doesn't cost you anything! Try it!

They can help you in many ways:
• by providing you with specific product knowledge
• having the abilty to directly control their prices(and expenses)
• providing you with quick answers to your questions
• having the resources to find the answers to your questions

So does that mean that you will get a better deal from a privately owned shop? Not necessarily! That depends on how motivated they are to sell!

But it does mean that you'll probably come away from their shop knowing more than when you came in! Believe us! Knowledge is critical when it comes to collecting valuable antiques.

Random Notes...

Our advice?

Ask questions! Build a relationship with the owner! Shop in their shop! Over time, they will get to know you. In some cases, they may purchase select items...just for you! In this case, the price you pay for your item may include a lot more than you think!

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