Antiques dealers.

[plasticpigeon]

Are they the pits? It is my experience that when I buy privately from ebay, the items can be tatty but usually honest. When I buy from dealers the items are often junk. I just did something dumb today. I picked up a chair that I bought on ebay from a shop within reasonable driving distance. It looked ok, a bit scrappy, but the upholstery was good so I took it. When I got home I realised that the joint for one of the arms on the main frame is car filler on the back (so not glaringly obvious) of the frame and was varnised over to superficially hide the repair. Other joints have little nails in to keep them together. The back is a bit wonky too. It's a piece of junk really but since I didn't have to take the chair as I collected it I will have to suck it up. However I have never bought anything from a dealer without then thinking I had ben a bit ripped off. I will only buy private from now on, and have learned my lesson about really scrutinising a piece before buying.

 

[Cubist]

In the main I agree; they'll try to bump the price well beyond market if they think they can or fob you off with camouflaged shoddy repairs. So I do try not to do business with them if I can.

I must say though that I was pleasantly surprised by one dealer shortly after we bought this old place. We moved in in late September and the First Lady had already invited ALL her family over for Christmas. This induced an immediate need for a dining table capable of handling ten adults and six kids and we spend much of October and November trying to find something that was both large enough and from a styling perspective 'fitting' to the house. As luck would have it we found something suitable, 8 x 3 foot, oak, 3 inch butchers block top so very heavy. However, it also came with an equally large sideboard and separate drinks cabinet to complete the suite. The asking price was reasonable but, as we did not want the sideboard or drinks cabinet, we made an offer for the table alone. To my surprise the dealer accepted our offer and threw in delivery but insisted that we also take the sideboard and drinks cabinet at no extra cost. :shock:

Before finding this bargain I had almost decided to give up the hunt and make the damn thing myself but frankly, for the same amount of oak I would have to spend five times more.

That is however my only good story about dealers.

 

[88v8]

It's an individual thing. Some dealers are honest, some private sellers are honest.
I bought a clock recently via eBay, from a 'clock specialist', which was not in the condition I'd expected. It was unusual, a lot of money, I could see when I collected and paid for it that the 'specialist' was little more than a flipper, and there were issues with the clock, but I'd pretty well sold it to myself. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.

What's even more annoying is that I now realise it's jolly heavy and my idua of putting it on a wall bracket is probably not on, so I don't really have anywhere to put it.
Doh.

Ivor

 

[Pennyviz]

if you can find a local auction they are usually brilliant - you can usually take a look at catalogue from home and if there is anything that looks suitable pop in and take a look, then put in a bid or bid live.

Penny