Thread: Do you ever attempt to tell people...

that what they have isn't worth nearly what they're asking for it?

Vintage Straight Razor

I'm often tempted, but I don't think it's worth my time.

The "Market" should punish them for asking too much. Then again, there are buyers out there with more dollars than sense.

Nah, I gave up on that after enough of those kinds of conversations at overpriced antique shops.

I know where Rosemount, MN is. It's about 1 1/2 hours from me. Much too far and the price much too high for me to have any desire to check anything like that out.

Chris L

I tried at a couple of antique dealers but it pretty much fell on deaf ears. As far as they were concerned, it didn't matter if the blade had a crack (depth of the bevel), the scales were cracked or worm bitten to the point of swiss cheese. As far as they were concerned, if it was old that was all that mattered and it instantly meant it was worth big bucks.

Heck, I even saw a chipped blade marked firmly at $200 just because the blade had a goldwash etched design on it and they thought the scales were ivory (when they were clearly faux ivory).

I still try now and then. But, if they give me the slightest hint of an incredulous look when I make just a slight, initial mention of some of what'll need to be fixed on it to make it usable or restored, I stop right there, wish them luck, and walk away without wasting any more time.

I was tempted to PM this guy.

AMAZING ONE DAY AUCTION 7 RARE BOXES AND 2 RARE BLADES - eBay (item 150410068867 end time Jan-31-10 22:16:04 PST)

Never. The one above me is interesting. No Reserve, just an opening bid. Unusual selling tactic.

It doesn't hurt me one bit to tell them what a razor is worth as I walk out of their store. Just yesterday i walked out of a junktique store after offering $15 for a razor they had marked for $18. It wasn't anything special & had some silver celluloid scales that didn't fit & blade was hitting wedge. He "had" to have $18 because he liked celluloid. You could see that it aggrivated him a bit when I told him he could keep the celluloid scales that didn't belong & I'd give him $10. Moral of this story is that I really didn't have to have this razor & he lost a sale.

I had the same thing at an antique store on Portbello Road here in London. A shop was selling what they claimed was a Sheffield razor, but it was so rusted you couldnt see the markings..!

The scales were battered to Hell and back and, needless to say, what wasnt covered in rust was totally dull.

They wanted.... wait for it.... £275. Errm... I dont think so! I told them that in that condition it was probably worth about £20 as it needed major restoration, a rescaling and honing, but they were adamant that this was a fair price.

I did point out that this was approaching custom prices, and was the same as top of the line new production items, but it wasnt what they wanted to hear. Ah well...!

Originally Posted by Sandcounty

I was tempted to PM this guy.

AMAZING ONE DAY AUCTION 7 RARE BOXES AND 2 RARE BLADES - eBay (item 150410068867 end time Jan-31-10 22:16:04 PST)

Wow. Apparently if you put RARE and VERY RARE in your ad enough, things become worth a lot more...