Thread: Questions about Antique Malls and estate sales

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I have a small flashlight on me all the time,,

A large flashlight would just look ridiculous, like something out of Alice in Wonderland.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

A large flashlight would just look ridiculous, like something out of Alice in Wonderland.

Honest to god I saw someone in an antique store once with one of those lights you put around your forehead like a coal miner or something. He also kept telling the staff he was a "picker" like the "American Picker" TV show. I kind of doubt he got any deals that day!! lol

Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

I don't mind the hit or miss at antique stores? I just haven't been enjoying the antique malls because they have been all miss thus far... I do feel there is great reward in patience because the return on investment and time does come when you find the "gem" then those days don't feel wasted anymore. Your response really throws me off, I must have said something that rubbed u the wrong way, for whatever that was I'm sorry... I usually get really good information and help from this community, this is really different. Thank you but established dealers and classified wasn't what I was curious about.

What is this all about? I don't get how you could interpret Razorfeld's words as not helpful or "good" information.

I think you skipped over the key part of the statement in his reply: UNLESS YOU LIKE.

Dafonz6987, I was not rubbed the wrong way. As TwistedOak quoted, "unless you like..." Just wanted to make sure that you knew that you could possibly find what you want with less effort and time spent going the other way. I have a few antique stores I frequent on an infrequent basis because where I am it is more miss than hit. I do have my name on their records for interested items. At one I go to I have helped them price items that I didn't want.

The hints you've received are good ones. One additional is to carry a small hone, like barber's hone to check if the razor has a smile, a frown or is dead flat.

I enjoy antique store hopping when I am in the mood and have a lot of time. Sometimes it is funny to see some of the prices that vendors want for a generic razor. Maybe I just like being smug, who knows. Anyway, lots of good advice here. I posted a pic of a Puma razor I found this weekend. I did not pull the trigger on it because the vendor's price was more than I was expecting. I actually got tunnel vision and thought the price tag had a decimal point, but in reality there was none. The owner of the mall, even questioned if that was what I willing to pay before she rang the razor up. I was a little let down when she told me the actual price, which was listed as firm. I have gotten owners to bring the price down on a few items, generally 5-10 dollars. In general, it is always hit or miss. Sometimes, even during the feast stages the selection is still mediocre. I have been doing antique mall hunting for several years now and that is what I have come to expect. It is just the way it is. I am giving thought to the auction places now as another dimension to the hunting part. I like the thrill of finding something.It is a lot more interesting to me than going on the bay. I think there is a social component to doing shopping in malls and stores. I have bored a lot of people to tears while I discussed shaving related topics.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

[SIZE=3]
Use the bathroom when you first go in, nothing more irritating than having to pi$$ halfway through the hunt.

best advice ever

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

What is this all about? I don't get how you could interpret Razorfeld's words as not helpful or "good" information.

I think you skipped over the key part of the statement in his reply: UNLESS YOU LIKE.

No I didn't miss that portion of his reply.... I would go on about how I interpreted what he said and how the information he gave wasn't helpful to what I asked but that isn't going to get me or us anywhere. Even in my reply I wasn't trying to go back and forth but instead thanked and let him know that wasn't the information I was looking for...

I thank you razorfeld for clearing up what you said and meant, I also thank you for now giving me helpful information about bringing the barbershone, I do own one so that works for me. sorry that your original reply of just pointing me in the opposite direction threw me off... It was just different I guess

It's awesome when the community comes together after I post on the forum and they give me a ton of information... That's the reason I love SRP...

Originally Posted by Mephisto

best advice ever

I thought it was classic myself... Nothing worse than calling over the tenant to open the display while dancing around lol

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

...snip[...
The hints you've received are good ones. One additional is to carry a small hone, like barber's hone to check if the razor has a smile, a frown or is dead flat.

Carry a small Escher or Thuringer or Coticule. Then you can ask them to watch for one for you. Got a couple that way!
~Richard

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

One antique mall I frequent had the authority to deal on some vendor's items or will call the vendor. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Like Razorfeld said, I look at antique stores as very hit or miss. I am averaging one good find about every six months. But hey, I like going to antique stores and looking around anyway.

That's one of my things...............it never hurts to ask. The worst is they will say no.