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The Six Worst Mistakes You Can Make When Shopping for Antiques
Buying antiques can make a dent in your wallet, especially if you don't know what you are doing. The novice buyer can overpay for an undervalued piece. Here are some things to avoid the next time you are antiquing.
1.) Casually examining an item. Don't buy anything without looking at it thoroughly — top to bottom and inside and out. Look for potential problems — chips, cracks or marks. It's buyer beware. No refunds and no exchanges are not uncommon. A number of years ago, I purchased a pink Depression glass dish from another dealer. I just grabbed it, haggled the price down and walked away with my purchase. A few weeks later, upon closer inspection, I noticed a very small, hard to see imprint: "Made in Indonesia." So, be careful out there.
2.) Not knowing your stuff. Knowledge is power, even more so with antiques. Nothing is more heartbreaking than finding out that your English sterling silver teapot is actually electroplate on copper and made in China.
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