You may remember this guest post from a while back, and today I thought I’d bring it to my home page for a little more love.
I love to shop second hand at thrift stores, antique shops, auction houses, yard sales, and estate sales for our home as well as my online shop. So today I’d like to share with you some tips on one of my favorite parts of the shopping experience: haggling! I feel like sometimes haggling gets a bad rap, but in many cases it is actually expected, and it can be lots of fun.
1. Room for negotiating is almost always factored into the price. Unless the price says “Firm” there is a little wiggle room. Most of the antique shops that I visit automatically give you a 10% discount, sometimes without you even having to ask.
2. Group things together. Sellers are more likely to give you a better deal if you are buying more from them.
3. Bring cash. Sellers would always rather deal in cash than credit cards and checks, and will often give a discount for paying with cash.
4. Revisit. If you see something you love but just aren’t willing to pay the high price, test your luck and wait it out. If you go back later, say in a few weeks or even months, and the piece is still there, bring it up to the seller. Mention that you’ve seen it there for a while and offer a lower price. Sellers are usually motivated to sell older items to make room for new finds.
5. Ask this question: “Is that your best price?” I’ve gotten a great deal on many pieces just by asking this question. Sometimes it leads to an awkward silence, but just be patient and wait for the answer. You might be surprised!
6. Be willing to walk away. If the seller can’t get the item into your price range, leave it. I have walked away disappointed plenty of times, but time and time again I quickly learn that there will be others like it.
7. This one is just a personal belief, but I don’t like to haggle at charitable stores like the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. To me, it just feels wrong.
The most important part of vintage shopping? Have fun! If you’re like me, you’ll quickly find that haggling is not only an exciting game, it’s addicting!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see all my latest finds!
I’ve found that “Will you take $x for it?” often works as well. My dad is a master haggler. He gets his best deals by basically hanging out talking to the seller for what seems like ages. He keeps asking for more discounts until they say no — his theory is that it’s up to the seller to stop if they don’t want to sell it for less. I usually get my best deals inadvertently by walking away — I’ve had sellers chase me down when I did that.
Great tips, Jackie! Thanks for sharing! :)
Great tips Sarah thanks for sharing. P.s. Your house is amazing!!
Great tips! Please tell me you bought everything in those pictures! They are all so gorgeous, especially that big mirror!
Hopefully my next antique store trip ends with me getting a great deal, thanks for sharing. :)
Oh I wish I had gotten everything! That faux draper chest is really haunting me. I did get the funky lamp though…couldn’t pass that up! :)
I’m curious if this is try at the Antique Mall type stores were the sellers each have a booth but aren’t actually there and the store is manned by a small staff? Do they have pre-approval to come down so much? Call the sellers to ask and get back to you?
I know I’ve overheard them talking with some customers about a particular seller never dropping his prices or that they would call someone back…just not sure how it works when you can’t get face to face with a seller.
Hi Karen! Every store is absolutely different, but in my experience, places with booths will generally have some sort of arrangement worked out. That arrangement may be that there will be positively no discounts given, or it may be that the owner of the store can automatically give a 5-10% discount if the buyer asks, for example. I have been in a store before where I offered a lower price and the owner had to call the seller to ask. Just be polite but remember, it never hurts to ask! ;)
Hey Sarah, I love your tips. I’m featuring you this week on Twirl and Take a bow…hope you’ll link up some more wonderful projects with us on Monday evening! We’d love to have you! ~Tammy
Thanks so much, Tammy! :)
Some good tips on vintage shopping, I must say I don’t like to haggle but it does pay off sometimes
Enjoyed this post! Next week, we will head to vacation where we will surely visit from antiquing stores. I always feel uncomfortable “haggling” as does my daughter-in-law, so this post will bring us more confidence.
I will have to try this when I go the flea market! I would love for you to share a project on my Meet Up Monday Blog Party!
http://jennymaire.blogspot.com/
great tips!
Wow, thanks for posting this! I used to feel nervous haggling, but honestly it never hurts to ask! I agree completely to never ask at a charitable store though, poor form. Found you on the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop (I’m # 179 & 180). About to follow you on Instagram!
I love your tips! Great post. Pinned. We truly love having you be a part of our party. I hope you will get a chance to stop by tonight at 7 pm. It’s not a party without you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
These are some awesome tips!
Thanks for sharing them at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party! Hope you can join us again tonight starting @ 9pm est:)
Some great tips here. Thanks for sharing :)
Alex – Funky Jungle
Great tips here! I am on the shy side so haggling is not one of my strengths. These tips will help me out at the next yard sale! I really agree with #7–there is a time and a place to haggle and charitable stores is not one of them!
Thanks so much for sharing this at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop–this post will be one of my features at our next party!
Thanks so much for the feature, Carrie! :)