Antiques ROad Show

I think it’s when someone can’t be there in person they say what their highest bid will be

Agree with Bluebelle. If you can't be there in person you can give the auctioneer details of your lowest/highest bids and he will include your bids. Bidding usually starts using the commission bids, by taking all the different commission bids (or the lowest bid if there is only one) then working out which commission bid is higher than all the other commission bids. Then he takes any floor/internet bids against the remaining commission bidder.

Hope that's clear but I suspect not ? ? ?

Not sure they do auctions on Antiques Road Show!

They don’t Kittylester I think Franbern is getting the titles muddled up

Antiques Road Trip perhaps??

We have a fabulous antiques' auctioneers in our town that often feature on the TV programmes (Gildings). You can see the list of objects coming up for auction with the date, on line, and register an interest with a price in advance - or of course bid on line. We try to go in person whenever we can- love it.

Do you know the answer, then, Kali because I am intrigued?

I wonder if we'd get the same discount if we haggled at the antique shops as they do on the Antiques Road Trip?

I have a friendly acquaintance whose shop was featured on that programme - perhaps I should ask.

Thanks AreWeThereYet, I'll read that again!

Funnily enough, I was just chatting to DH about what we should throw out and what could be worth something.
Very odd items seem to be of value and other, lovely ones, worth little.

Yes, commission bids are those left with the Auctioneer. You have commissioned him to place bids for you.

You can haggle in antique shops but do not expect to reduce the asking price by more than 10%. We have been doing a bit of antique dealing over the last 8 years - until COVID brought it to a dead halt and get fed up with potential purchasers who have seen dealers on Antiques Road Trip give contestants huge reductions and expect antique dealers at fairs and in normal business circumstances to do the same

They do it on the show because it is a tv programme, they will be encouraged to by the producers and there is no such thing as bad publicity. But tv is not real life and most dealers need to make a living.

You will also notice how rarely items at auction make a figure above the original asking price in the shop.

Thanks M0nica

I wonder if we'd get the same discount if we haggled at the antique shops as they do on the Antiques Road Trip?

I've often heard antique dealers swearing about Antiques Road Trip because so many people now think they can get anything for almost nothing if they haggle long enough ?

Thanks everyone Apologies for original name problem, Yes, Antiques Road Trip.

Think I understand somewhat what a commission bid now is.

Must say I have often wondered how much of the haggling is carried out actually OFF camera, notice how all the normally locked cabinets are open for them to take items in and out.

There is a gorgeous little ornament that I see I the window of a nearby antiques ship. Been there for ages, I would love it - but its' £230 price is stupid. when I first noticed it, I thought about fifty to sixty pounds. Wondered if I went in there and told them that ALL the money I had left was fifty quid would they let me have and shake my hand?

Franbern, well exactly, I doubt if they would - and imagine they did the deal and you took ot to the auction, you probably would be able to sell it for over £50, but I doubt if it would fetch anywhere near what the shop was asking for it. because they do what every shopkeeper does when new stock arrives, prices it up to make sure they can keep in business. The shop owner probably knows something like this will be slow to sell, but it looks nice in the window and the price allows for the fact it will sell slowly.