Dealer or Picker your choice, Or " How I found Out I was a Dealers Picker and Not a Dealer"

Too many years ago I operated out of a Big Red Barn and Farm House Dealer Mall.
Some of the best days of my life. I started with 1 Shelf in a Glass case for $45 a month and added 2 more Spaces before the shop sold.

I was a new "Dealer" and wasn't trying much more than make my rent and have some fun. Well I did both. But looking back I wish I knew then what I know now.

1st Thing I know now, is that I was in fact a "Picker" not a Dealer, even though I had Shop Space. Most of my customers where other dealers, of higher end shops. Our Barn with about 6 Dealers was well known for, shall I put it politely, "Primitives"

We had everything from Old Tire Repair Kits, to Unique Furniture. Most of us carried the "General Line" But always tried to look for the Odd Ball Items to get each others goat.
But if you found a Jim Beam or Avon Bottle, most likely a Drunk got locked in over night. We had standards after all!

I didn't have a clue to what I was doing, I knew why I was doing it, at 1st it was to keep away from BEER, I was sober and needed something to do on Saturday night, Auction Nite!

I bought things l liked and wanted, things guys like. Old Barber stuff, Telephone parts, Fishing Lures, Cast Iron Toys, Smoking related Items. Not alot of things the women would like.... while I was making some money I was missing the most important market of all Women! Women Dealers in Particular!

As my sales rose and I had some more money I'd buy very cheap but NICE Chairs.
And I could get solid Hickory seat chairs for 5 or 10 bucks! Cute beat up chairs, and nice Mahogany Round Tables, I marked up 200% or more. The women went crazy over small tables and chairs. I wasn't trying to gouge anyone, and we gave the standard 10% off if anyone asked, but no one ever said I was too expensive to buy from.

It took one of Our Dealers to clue me in. Once a nice couple came in and where looking at a stained glass window I had. Paid $50 for it, ( tell you stories later! ) Tagged it at $450, they talked and talked and said they had to go and eat to think about it.
I put the Window next to the Cash Register, too lazy to walk it back to my room.

Well another couple comes in and 1st thing they see is that window, and start asking questions, I answered them and told them another couple was lunching over a possible deal, and would be back shortly.

Now I coulda been BSin" him, I wasn't but that sure sounds high pressure to me! LOL
"Did they pay you for it yet" I was asked. "No" But I didn't want to disappoint the 1st couple. But 1st with cash is 1st in line. But before I sold it to them I asked what they were going to do with it, the lady told me they had bought a old house a few years back and where waiting to save up for a Stained Glass Window for it. Awww sweet.

"But I can't just dump the 1st couple" I said, He must of been used to negotiations, because he says, Have they made you an offer and have you excepted one?"

Nope, so he says to ease my guilt " What about $550 for it then!" Just about then the 1st couple comes back and see whats going on, Ouch, I didn;t want hurt feelings but business is business and an Extra 100 I had little choice. Couple number 1 left in a huff.

When all was done and i had made a good deal even better for me, But I did feel bad about it, until Dorothy came over and told me the 1st couple where Dealers she knew.
They where mad because the worm got ate by a pair of civilians, she further went on to say, that they where going to try and low ball me, but the raise of $550 put them off!

I should have learned at that time I was a DEALERS PICKER, not a Dealer! I got lucky with cpl #2. But I would have haggled with Cpl #1 and taken less! I was buying SO RIGHT Dealers couldn't keep away! The vast majority it turns out of my customer base where dealers. Oh and Female Artists!

So I didn't feel so bad for them after all, they did come back some time later and bought a Red Wing Yellow Piano Vase from me, at a "Reduced Price"!! ... Next we learn what " As is " really means!