Phone Call of a Lifetime

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by bigtrain

This reminds me of my own “old lady” story. Years ago, I had a small antique shop. An old lady brought in a 1910 vintage typewriter and said she couldn’t sell it at her yard sale for $10. I also collected typewriters at the time. Instead of paying her $10, I explained to her why it was unusual and rare. I offered her $200. She decided to keep it.

I've had more than my share of these types of stories. I don't usually do it unless I am at a show or shop and the item is already priced and the dealer should know better, but usually it is just best to pay them their $20-30 and take it off their hands, they leave happy and so are you. The likely end to this story is that she will have that typewriter until the day she passes and the person inheriting their estate will end up getting $5-10 for it.

I have had a lot of people reach out to me to sell and use my expertise [that I offered for free] against me and have it blow up a deal. Greed does funny things to people.