If you've been following along through the weeks, we've talked extensively about how to shop for furniture at several places other than your traditional retail stores. First there were auctions and then estate sales. Now I'd like to address the fine art of finding just the right piece at antique stores. There's an art and you'll have to get a little crafty. Are you ready for the challenge?
1. There Are Different Types of Antique Stores: Although this probably comes as no surprise, there are all different types of antique stores. There are some that deal exclusively in one item or another and some can just feel like a giant pile of junk, usually complete with one small animal that has been subjected to a taxidermy afterlife. Knowing what type of store your in is key to your success at not only finding what you want but being able to bargain.
2. Most Dealers Aren't On Site: For the most part, antique stores are comprised of individual booths that folks rent out and turn around and sell goods in. Some might sell everything on consignment, but those are more likely to be a little more high end than your typical dive. If you're looking for a bargain, get a feel for the store and find out when specific dealers are on site rearranging and straightening things up. They'll be more willing to wheel and deal if they know how much you'll truly love something.
3. Be There After Lunch: In most off-beat furniture finding adventures we'll always tell you to be there early, or better yet, really early. When it comes to antique stores, most vendors are spending their morning at auctions and estate sales. More often than not, they'll grab some lunch and head to their store to start displaying new finds. Although this isn't always the case, it's true more often than not. So don't worry about taking a full day off work to go treasure hunting, just take a half day instead and head to your favorite place to bring home a find.
4. Barter Barter Barter: Even if it doesn't seem like a "nice" thing to do, the truth of the matter is most folks who sell items at antique stores are addicts. When it comes right down to it, they're just looking to sell things so they can buy more and continue their own hunt for treasure (even if they're re-selling it to you). Just because the price tag seems a little high, it doesn't mean you have to pay it. Instead, get the vendor number and have them call to see if they'll wager with you! Cut the price in half and go up from there, if they want to sell it, they'll make a deal!
5. Best Deals On Wednesday: For those vendors who spend their weekends hitting up auctions, estate sales and garage sales, the last date to move out merchandise before moving in the new is Wednesday. It's a magical day where even the hardest seller will cave and bend the rules for you just a little. This is also a great day to find percentage off sales at many booths for the same reason!
6. When In Doubt Put It On Hold: Often times on larger ticket items (which furniture usually is), stores are more than willing to hold an item while you check on things. It might be an afternoon, a day, or even a full week, but if you're willing to pay $400 for that Eames chair replica, they're willing to wait. Just ask!
Do you have any more tips or tricks to add to the game of finding furniture at antique stores? Share your words of wisdom in the comments below!
Image: Flickr members Devil.Bunny, Chas Redmond, dumbonyc licensed for use by Creative Commons
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
This is really useful! Thanks!!
There's some helpful info here but I wouldn't go so far as to say that most dealers are collectors who sell to finance their own "addictions". Many do it for a living, or to supplement their day jobs. That doesn't mean they're not willing to barter a bit, but shoppers shouldn't go in there thinking that the dealers' profits are all going towards wants instead of needs.
I also doubt that "they'll be more willing to wheel and deal if they know how much you'll truly love something." I know many, many dealers personally and I would say most don't really care how deeply the buyer feels about an item. They want to make a decent profit in the end. Most build a little wiggle room into the pricing but you should always ask first, "Is the price firm?" Often it's not, but sometimes it is.
My husband and I are planning to go up to Hudson for my birthday in a couple of weeks and this advice will come in handy. Thanks!
You're misusing the word "barter." Bartering means trading goods instead of money. The word you want is "bargain."
Interesting... I have never heard the term barter used to mean to haggle or negotiate before. To me, it only means a kind of fair value trade of goods and services. I've also never heard wager used as a negotiating term, only in terms of betting. I live in Chicago so I doubt it's just a Midwest thing. Maybe there is a whole antique store lingo I don't know about...
Most places I've found do not put things on hold.
In my experience, most dealers will offer a 10-15% reduction if you ask "is this your best price?" or something similar in a polite manner. Also that same percentage has often been figured into the posted price. Thus everyone is pleased.
I once saw a nice antique Swedish secretary desk at a really good price. Back then, I was newly married and i didn't know much about furniture let alone antique furniture...so i let it pass then a few days later, I decided that I really loved it..called the dealer only to find out it was sold...still heartbroken by it.
yeah, you don't mean barter. you mean haggle. check out the definition of barter here: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/barter
There are great things to be found but also beware. Shop around. It is amazing how a same thing can cost hundreds more a couple booths down. I once saw a new boat chandelier $1000.00 more in the other antqiue mall. It was a modern piece. Also once I saw the same ivory chess set in two stores with $500.00 difference. Shop around, there are lot of modern pieces that are pass as antiques. Buyer aware.
Many antiques dealers source directly from antique importers, import furniture themselves, and/or purchase at antiques fairs like Brimfield (Massachusetts) and Roundtop (Texas). Both of these fairs occur in the summer (Roundtop this weekend), so dealers are likely to be clearing out inventory in late spring/early summer. Also, ask if the store has an email list--many times they will email you before a new container arrives, in the event of sales, etc.
Creative idea with the power lines art work.
A couple of additional tips. Many owners of booths in antique centers will be around the days right before the first of the month, and they'll be looking to make their booth rent. Cash talks. Also if you spot something you like but the owner isn't around, ask the cashier to phone and make your offer that way.
Your tip #4, Barter Barter Barter is the key to a good deal.
We just posted a new blog article that covers our step by step tips on how to strike a bargain. We cover haggling in a salvage yard, which is usually about the same as haggling in the majority of shops that call themselves "Antique" stores. We've acquired a good deal of our furniture and interesting home decor items in this manner. A fine antique store won't typically budge on price so easily.
One other thing that is great to do, spend some time talking with a dealer and even try to strike up a casual friendship with someone you like. Dealers often have friends along on sourcing to help out. If you want to get into antiques, there is no better way then to get instruction from a friend who is in the know.
Always haggle! I always knock off a couple $100 off the listed price and work my way up to a price I can live with. I usually save $100- $150 on each item I buy.
One time I was shopping at an antique mall and struck up a conversation with one of the managers. She took a liking to me and gave me 10% off all my purchases. Then she told me they'll do it for anyone, it was the store policy, and all I had to do was ask!
Always haggle, plus look for imperfections in the furniture that would reduce its value. Also, don't pass up pieces that don't have a manufacturer's stamp. They might not be famous but they'll be cheaper and you can use that in your haggling. I once got $100 off side tables because one of them was missing a strip of wood on the back. The damage was purely cosmetic and you would never see it from the front or sides, but I got a great deal off because other people wouldn't have taken an imperfect piece of furniture.
I’ve found that getting 10% off is pretty much a given if you just ask. This is what gets me the best results most of the time: "is this price firm?" or "are you flexible on the price?".
Be courteous.
To the author: barter does not mean what you think it means. Also "most" antique dealers are not addicts. Would you call "most" veterinarians addicts because they deal with small animals everyday??
Is AT looking for writers?
I'm a dealer and this is generally good advice. However, on the topic of haggling: personally I love to haggle, but within reason. If anyone were to ask for 50% off, I probably would simply say no with no counteroffer. Also I would not point out damage on a piece when asking to get it lower. The dealer knows about any damage whether it is stated or not. It just seems in bad taste to me, and can kind of offend a dealer.
Please do not hold anything for more than a day. If you want it, PAY FOR IT. Don't do that, "I have to measure," routine. And if you change your mind, just say so! So many things get put on hold and the buyer disappears.
In closing I'd like to say that, when you factor in the rent, commission, time, gas, tags, cleaning, etc, most of the dealers I know (myself included) don't make all that much money. That's just my experience though.
I've never thought to haggle, and as a former business owner, it felt insulting for a customer to try to get a lower price, when they knew they were already getting a better price than at my competitors'. But then, maybe I take it too personal... But I learned from this article how I could ask without it sounding insulting. Also, do people expect people to haggle? I was told that in some cultures it is expected.
I'm not so much into antiques, and definitely not in that income bracket, so I tend to go to less expensive thrift shops instead. I think its the thrill of the hunt, I just love getting something at a great price. I mean anyone can pay full price, that takes no "talent". LOL!
I like the idea that I can find a diamond among the rubble!!!!!!