Part Two: Common Pitfalls of Antique Dealers
In part two of my series ‘So You Want to Be an Antique Dealer’, I take a look at three of the most common mistakes that dealers make. These things can not only be detrimental to your business and your reputation as a seller but frequently drive collectors and buyers absolutely nuts.
Dirt is Not an Element of Provenance
One of the most common mistakes of budding and amateur antique dealers is offering a wide selection of items that are covered in dirt. Perhaps sellers think this adds a certain charm to their inventory or, as I suspect is more likely the case, they believe that a healthy coating of grime and dust is an indication of age and authenticity. Whatever the reasoning may be there is very little excuse for this and it can drive away paying customers in droves. It may come as a surprise to many, but most people do not like rummaging through dirty things. I usually will not return a second time to an antique mall where a visit to every stall requires two visits to the bathroom to wash my hands simply because I wanted to see the price of something.
Dirt is Not an Element of Provenance
One of the most common mistakes of budding and amateur antique dealers is offering a wide selection of items that are covered in dirt. Perhaps sellers think this adds a certain charm to their inventory or, as I suspect is more likely the case, they believe that a healthy coating of grime and dust is an indication of age and authenticity. Whatever the reasoning may be there is very little excuse for this and it can drive away paying customers in droves. It may come as a surprise to many, but most people do not like rummaging through dirty things. I usually will not return a second time to an antique mall where a visit to every stall requires two visits to the bathroom to wash my hands simply because I wanted to see the price of something.
RSS Feed
