Questions about Antique Malls and estate sales

I don't know if this is the right portion of the forums to be posting this, I just figured this is were people talked about what they find at antique stores, why not a question...

so I have been antique store hopping for the last month and as it is for everyone it's hit or miss, feast or famine. But one thing I have noticed is that I NEVER have luck at Antique Malls, I know they're people that just rent rent a spot in the store. I've noticed if a vendor does sell razors they are waaaay over priced and there is no way to talk to them so ur pretty much SOL. I guess what I'm trying to find out is if people have had the same experience so I can call it quits at the antique malls.

one other thing I have noticed is people selling straights they got from estate sales, so I've been contemplating trying my hand at attending those. Does anyone have advice on that or is it a waste a time since because the chance of finding straights at an estate sale is the equivalent of finding a unicorn...


thanks
fonz

Unless you like hit and/or miss leave the antique stores and estate sales to those with great patience in finding the "gems." You'll do better with established dealers, the SRP classifieds or at a regional meet of fellow SRP members.

I frequent a few antique malls, just leave a message with the store or have them call the vendor, they almost always want to deal, always helps if you want to buy a few items instead of just one. I have yet to find any really special razors but then again I'm on the west coast.

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.:)

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Unless you like hit and/or miss leave the antique stores and estate sales to those with great patience in finding the "gems." You'll do better with established dealers, the SRP classifieds or at a regional meet of fellow SRP members.

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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.

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Originally Posted by jfk742

I frequent a few antique malls, just leave a message with the store or have them call the vendor, they almost always want to deal, always helps if you want to buy a few items instead of just one. I have yet to find any really special razors but then again I'm on the west coast.

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Thanks! This is what I'm looking for! I didn't realize that you could leave messages with the vendors. Just out of curiosity what does the west coast have to do with ur luck? Humidity maybe?

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

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.:)

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I've been having a little bit better odds on my searches, I've only been doing this for 2 months so it must be beginners luck. I think finding something at the estate sales is where you would be really jumping for joy. I recently found this guy in Colorado who found something like 25 razors for $50 and I was like "wow" I got 10 of his razors for $75 dollars and we were both happy... But that's when the lightbulb went off for estate sales

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Originally Posted by jfk742

I frequent a few antique malls, just leave a message with the store or have them call the vendor, they almost always want to deal, always helps if you want to buy a few items instead of just one. I have yet to find any really special razors but then again I'm on the west coast.

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If you are a regular at a few antiQ shops, they will often give you a call when something new comes in. Remember that there are often as many as a hundred vendors in a MAll. so talking to one does not help a whole lot. They will often post a note to all the vendors for a given item or items. I have made some very good buys this way. Also, being able to give them an estimate of an item they have can be a good way to get known. ...ebay would be...XX$ for an item sold listing and I would give you x$ seems to work for me, I always start with a lower offer when I want something they are selling... Some will try to screw you but that is life in the antique trades.
Remember the "Leverite !" If it is not exactly what you want at the price you would pay, Leverite there!
~Richard

Antique malls are a good source, but don't enter one in a hurry.

Go with at least 2 to 3 hours to search.
Usually any item over $20.00 can be discounted,sometimes it is posted, sometimes not.
If there is a box in the booth not opened for view, regardless of size, open it or ask to have it opened.
Safety razors are more often found than straights, if good condition, get it & trade it for a straight with a member here.
Take a loop or magnifier.
Download the straight razor manufacturer page/list to your smartphone.
Don't tunnel vision your search to straights, look for any shaving paraphernalia & trade off what you don't want.
Antique malls near tourist routes are usually larger & a higher turnover,, meaning more new items coming in.
Use the bathroom when you first go in, nothing more irritating than having to pi$$ halfway through the hunt.
Last but not least, try to pick one with a snack bar,,, hunting can really drain your energy,, you need to refuel to finish the mission. :beer2:

Estate sales;
Join the below website to get notified of estate sales in your area. There are more going on than you think.
Some require a tax number to even enter the premises, unless you have one, forget about it.
Look for the ones that are due to elderly people passing, more chances of safety razors or straights.
Once inside, head straight to the bathrooms,,, lots of sales don't bring that stuff out to the floor, but they will sell that stuff too.
Bring cash & get there early.

Find Estate Sales

Good tips, Hirlau. May I add another?

Antique malls are badly lit. If possible look at items under natural light.

Yes,,, they are,,, sometimes I take it to the counter area & re-evaluate it & I carry a magnifier that has a light attached.

Time fo my old tale:
I was in Buda, TX at an old factory made into a Antique Mall. I told the extremely huge Denizen of the dark by the Doorway that "I was looking for..." Didn't get to finish the sentence.
He replied, "Bro;you got a flashlight?"
I said "no."
He said:
"Boy, you ain't lookin' you is hopin'!"

I carry at least one flashlight with me at all times! 'Ceptin when I am home, and then if I am in my shop!
Take time to look at all the toys you have and from different angles and partially under other stuff. Then you have a chance to find what others don't see. I got a beautiful Y/G Thuri that way. It was on a shelf above eye level with the ¾x4" dimension showing through some other stuff.
~Richard

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

I Don't go to antique malls much but a month ago I did and ended up with two w&b and two Bengall razors - about 50 bucks for em all and one needed nothing but cleaning,buffing ad honing (6/8 w&b with mop inlay) the rest needed scales but all good blades

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

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

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Boy that the truth, Magnifying glass / lighted loupe, flashlight, pocket knife a business cards with phone and email, pass them out liberally and cash in a variety of bills, exact amount, learn to talk to folks and ask, What you see in Antique Stores is a fraction of what people have at home, storage or warehouses..,

They call it hunting for a reason…

There is an "antiques dealer" (read that as hoarder) not far from me, She refuses to sell anything at a reasonable price and if you attempt to haggle with her, she kicks you out.

Needless to say I have been ejected from the premises on previous occasions lol.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Yes,,, they are,,, sometimes I take it to the counter area & re-evaluate it & I carry a magnifier that has a light attached.

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Agree completely, bring a good source of light. In this day and age I would also encourage people to bring their smart phone o get a picture.

Thanks guys! This just makes me want to hit them antique shops even harder lol... The business cards was another great idea, I need to start letting people in the area know what I'm looking for and where to contact me....a lot of helpful information guys! I knew the community would pull though

Carrying a eye loup and a flashlight really helps. Flea markets can also be a good source, especially antique flea markets. Single owner antique stores can be great as well as it's all their stuff and usually deal. Watch out for the dealers who treat their booth or cabinet (or whole store) as a museum instead of a place to sell. You will never get a deal from them.

i still love hitting antique stores and malls but the best deals have been found in small mom and pop stores. have found DEs in malls though which i sell on Ebay to fund other things.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

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

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

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

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

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best advice ever

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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.

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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...

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Originally Posted by Mephisto

best advice ever

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

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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.

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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

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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.:)

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

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Estate sales;
Join the below website to get notified of estate sales in your area. There are more going on than you think.
Some require a tax number to even enter the premises, unless you have one, forget about it.
Look for the ones that are due to elderly people passing, more chances of safety razors or straights.
Once inside, head straight to the bathrooms,,, lots of sales don't bring that stuff out to the floor, but they will sell that stuff too.
Bring cash & get there early.

Find Estate Sales

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I have to thank Hirlau for the website he advised. I had seen it once or twice in my ramblings but never signed up for it. I signed up and scored these this morning.

Attachment 213618Attachment 213619

I will be keeping the little mustache trimmer, the rest will go to fund various other obsessions :)

Holly Cow !!!!

You know I was looking at that lot on the site but it was an estate sale... I was about to call the, and ask if they would ship them to me if I paid for them but figured they wouldn't do it... I assume u live in that state？

Yes, I live about 45 minutes away. Pure luck.

Some antique Malls will NOT allow price negotiation or reductions. It is part of the T&C with their vendors. It is why you will see the same vendor at different locations in the same area.

I've had them call the vendor and had success a few times, it's worth a shot.

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Originally Posted by Orville

Some antique Malls will NOT allow price negotiation or reductions. It is part of the T&C with their vendors. It is why you will see the same vendor at different locations in the same area.

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Originally Posted by Dafonz6987

Thanks! This is what I'm looking for! I didn't realize that you could leave messages with the vendors. Just out of curiosity what does the west coast have to do with ur luck? Humidity maybe?

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I think its the fact that its so "young", the east coast guys seem to find all the good stuff. There have been established homes and communities there for much longer.

I got a buddy on the east coast looking for straight razors for me lol