Pricing and negotiating

[Kim N]

Do any of you have any tips you could share for negotiating with high end antique/estate jewelry shops? At what percentage off retail would you make the first offer? Do you have to justify why you think the piece is only worth what you offered?

And I think I know the answer to this question, but does Lang negotiate?

 

[Rfisher]

Do any of you have any tips you could share for negotiating with high end antique/estate jewelry shops? At what percentage off retail would you make the first offer?

Assuming the item isn’t newly listed - I think any antique jewelry shop that has annual/biannual/random sales is fair game for negotiating without offending. Which Lang does.
They do seem to offer varying %’s specific to each piece, so that makes it a different ballgame than other jewelry/gem places that do a flat rate across the board.

Do you have to justify why you think the piece is only worth what you offered?

And I think I know the answer to this question, but does Lang negotiate?

Have to justify? I think no but I would provide comps only if I felt the convo was going that way where it’d be well received and not deemed offensive. Comps from auction or the like to a b&m like Lang I think is also tricky.
Sometimes I see comps suggested here by some posters that really don’t have the same level of antique skilled workmanship /quality of stones and it’s suggested as ‘same’ - so that also is in the back of my mind……


So curious what you have your eye on fingers crossed for you!

 

[maryjane04]

It really depends on a range of factors. If they own the piece or if it's on consignment for example. If it's on consignment then they'll have to negotiate with the owner of the item what they're willing to accept.

I am pretty sure they have 5-10% off sales from time to time. I would probably also use cash or wire transfer and offer them 20% less. The least they could do is reject it. Good luck!

 

[Kim N]

Thank you so much for the advice, Rfisher and maryjane04! I'm realizing that the ones I've been eyeing are too high-priced to come to an agreement, but I will use your suggestions once I find something that's closer to my grasp.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I bought 2 Tiffany pieces from Lang in July a couple of years ago. It was during a sale so I got 10% off and 3% discount for a wire.

 

[Kim N]

I bought 2 Tiffany pieces from Lang in July a couple of years ago. It was during a sale so I got 10% off and 3% discount for a wire.

Thanks, Mrsz1ppy. It does sound like 10% and 3%, or being in one of the special sales like the one going on now, is the best it gets for Lang pricing.