Comments on: My Disappointing Antiquing Road Trip through Western Kansas http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles Tue, 21 May 2013 11:22:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Don, The Antiquing Traveler http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-90244 Don, The Antiquing Traveler Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:58:35 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-90244 Hi Teresa! I know what you mean......Antiquing in many parts of the country is just not what it used to be. Ive been collecting antiques for about 35 years and I can't seem to find too many "treasures" out there anymore. I'm not sure if it's because I've already bought so much of what I like or maybe many of the "antiques" in the shops are things that I purchased as NEW just a couple of decades ago. Anyway, I'll keep searching the small-town antique shops, antique malls, flea markets, and garage sales because just every once in awhile I still DO find a real treasure for a great price. Keep on looking!! Don Hi Teresa!
I know what you mean……Antiquing in many parts of the country is just not what it used to be. Ive been collecting antiques for about 35 years and I can’t seem to find too many “treasures” out there anymore. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve already bought so much of what I like or maybe many of the “antiques” in the shops are things that I purchased as NEW just a couple of decades ago.
Anyway, I’ll keep searching the small-town antique shops, antique malls, flea markets, and garage sales because just every once in awhile I still DO find a real treasure for a great price. Keep on looking!!

Don

]]> By: Teresa Smith http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-83468 Teresa Smith Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:37:55 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-83468 My husband and I also love to stop at antique shops when we are traveling, and we too have been disenchanted with making a special effort to stop at small towns to find these little treasure troves. They are often closed, even though hours are posted on the windows, and do not keep to those hours! Even finding one open the prices are outrageous or non-existant! They have had some items so long the ink on the price tags have faded! But most times they are not even interested to take the time to sell something and deal on the price. We had our own antique shop in Iowa for 4 1/2 yrs, and were enthusiastic to sell our items, and giving our customers attention and keeping our prices realistic! But even after working very hard, we were victims of the economy and the apathy of the younger generation, not giving a hoot about vintage items! Because the economy and the lack of enthusiasism on shop owners, who are understandably discouraged there are antiques closing every day, and will continue to do so! I get my fix by still selling the things I love on-line and making a nice side income at the time! Teresa Smith, Iowa My husband and I also love to stop at antique shops when we are traveling, and we too have been disenchanted with making a special effort to stop at small towns to find these little treasure troves. They are often closed, even though hours are posted on the windows, and do not keep to those hours! Even finding one open the prices are outrageous or non-existant! They have had some items so long the ink on the price tags have faded! But most times they are not even interested to take the time to sell something and deal on the price.
We had our own antique shop in Iowa for 4 1/2 yrs, and were enthusiastic to sell our items, and giving our customers attention and keeping our prices realistic! But even after working very hard, we were victims of the economy and the apathy of the younger generation, not giving a hoot about vintage items!
Because the economy and the lack of enthusiasism on shop owners, who are understandably discouraged there are antiques closing every day, and will continue to do so!
I get my fix by still selling the things I love on-line and making a nice side income at the time!
Teresa Smith, Iowa

]]> By: Michelle Cooper Staley http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-83180 Michelle Cooper Staley Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:21:58 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-83180 Thank you all for your comments. To "A Collector" store owners were MIA and the employees that were working could not answer the very questions you asked, which I also asked, about what is selling, what isn't, is there a waiting list for dealers, etc. When I refer to vintage wares and retro items it is a nice way of saying things you can find at a thrift store. I did see way too much 'shabby chic' and new reproduction items... which I am going to write about too. Please don't give up on me just yet, WorthPoint.com has asked me to do some exciting things and I always welcome ideas from those who take the time to read what I write. What do you want to hear about? Thank you again, Michelle Thank you all for your comments. To “A Collector” store owners were MIA and the employees that were working could not answer the very questions you asked, which I also asked, about what is selling, what isn’t, is there a waiting list for dealers, etc. When I refer to vintage wares and retro items it is a nice way of saying things you can find at a thrift store. I did see way too much ‘shabby chic’ and new reproduction items… which I am going to write about too.

Please don’t give up on me just yet, WorthPoint.com has asked me to do some exciting things and I always welcome ideas from those who take the time to read what I write.

What do you want to hear about?

Thank you again, Michelle

]]> By: Chris Lambrecht http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-83144 Chris Lambrecht Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:23:30 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-83144 Yes, what is wrong with the "antiques" market? Though I've never been a true professional (I have another profession from which the majority of my income is earned), I have found it increasingly more difficult to support my habit through buying and selling. EBAY is dead, and local auction houses are a total crap shoot with respect to selling. There are some real indications that collecting, in general, is fading as the younger generations are more likely to buy from Ikea than the local antique malls and consignment shops. Is this just the worse economy we've had in antiques for years, or is this a trend? Yes, what is wrong with the “antiques” market? Though I’ve never been a true professional (I have another profession from which the majority of my income is earned), I have found it increasingly more difficult to support my habit through buying and selling. EBAY is dead, and local auction houses are a total crap shoot with respect to selling. There are some real indications that collecting, in general, is fading as the younger generations are more likely to buy from Ikea than the local antique malls and consignment shops. Is this just the worse economy we’ve had in antiques for years, or is this a trend?

]]> By: Susan Nicholson Barnes http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-82384 Susan Nicholson Barnes Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:40:49 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-82384 Hi, Michelle, Don't bother with the Hardware Shop in Halstead, unless you're looking for overly priced fixtures, tools or metal miscellany. Went there recently with great expectations, didn't stay any longer than the 20 minutes it took me to walk the length of the store and back. Hi, Michelle, Don’t bother with the Hardware Shop in Halstead, unless you’re looking for overly priced fixtures, tools or metal miscellany. Went there recently with great expectations, didn’t stay any longer than the 20 minutes it took me to walk the length of the store and back.

]]> By: A Collector http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-82124 A Collector Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:44:17 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-82124 The writer mentions "...vintage wares, retro items and a few antiques...", but what exactly did that mean? I waited to find out only to be given a lesson in store etiquette and local tax policies instead. Harry Rinker does that better. Nope. Need to know what she saw and what the prices were. We're here to compare, not judge. If observation isn't enough, it would have been more helpful to ask the proprietor directly what is selling the most these days, how are dealers fairing overall, are long time dealers folding up, are new dealers coming in, is the quality of items being sold higher or lower (you're one example is curious for sure, but it was only one), etc. That would have been more useful along with some more examples. Perhaps I am being overly critical and don't mean to be impolite, but the article did allow at least a glimpse as to how things are done in smaller markets. It just left me hungry for more specifics. The writer mentions “…vintage wares, retro items and a few antiques…”, but what exactly did that mean? I waited to find out only to be given a lesson in store etiquette and local tax policies instead. Harry Rinker does that better. Nope. Need to know what she saw and what the prices were. We’re here to compare, not judge.

If observation isn’t enough, it would have been more helpful to ask the proprietor directly what is selling the most these days, how are dealers fairing overall, are long time dealers folding up, are new dealers coming in, is the quality of items being sold higher or lower (you’re one example is curious for sure, but it was only one), etc. That would have been more useful along with some more examples.

Perhaps I am being overly critical and don’t mean to be impolite, but the article did allow at least a glimpse as to how things are done in smaller markets. It just left me hungry for more specifics.

]]> By: VeryVintage http://www.worthpoint.com/article/my-disappointing-antiquing-road-trip-through-western-kansas/comment-page-1#comment-82024 VeryVintage Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:39:01 +0000 http://www.worthpoint.com/?p=2501397#comment-82024 You're surprised at being disappointed in Kansas??? You’re surprised at being disappointed in Kansas???

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