The antique malls are not manned by the owners. I don't think you can negotiate with the cashier.

I would just email them and ask. It can't hurt to offer a price. If you don't hear back from them the answer would be "no". You have nothing to lose.

Most antique malls I've been in have one of two policies when it comes to pricing. Either they already know whether that particular vendor is willing to negotiate and will tell you when you ask, that they can drop the price 10% for example, or if you tell the cashier that you want to negotiate price or make an offer, they will take your information and contact the booth owner.

If you are pretty positive you want the desk, and you know what you would be willing to pay, then, it couldn't hurt as dilly dally suggested, to call the mall and tell them that you are calling from X City, and really love the Chippendale desk in booth 87. Ask if the owner would be willing to discuss price before you make the trip. Be ready to come up with a firm price and know that many want to see you are there in person with real interest before they talk turkey. And if you get to talk to the owner or to someone empowered to make a price, you might start with asking what their bottom line price is going to be. Then, if it's still pretty far off from yours, you can always ask to leave a bid.

Red

I can tell you what goes on at our mall (where I have a booth). The cashiers (usually other dealers who have booths in the mall as well) can take 10% off without notifying the dealer. Any other offers are posed to the owner and most times is negotiated over the phone (when the cashier calls the dealer to find out what his/her lowest price is on X item, or to convey what the customers offer might be). I would ask them what their best price is FIRST, before making any offer. this leaves you room once you arrive to inspect the desk, pick out "all it's flaws" and then counter offer.

So Definitely call the mall ahead of time and have them contact the seller to find out what the best price would be for the desk. Of course without seeing it first, it would be hard to decide if it was indeed what you are looking for. Pictures can be very deceiving, even though not intentional, sometimes they can hide flaws that you would only see in person. Also you might consider asking for close up pictures to be emailed to you. This might eliminate it for you before even making the trip. If after all this you are still really interested often times they can put the item on a temporary hold for you. *24 hours is our policy* this would assure you a chance to get there to look at it without someone else coming along while you are in route and buying it out from under you.

I have a space in an antique mall and most vendors I know expect customers to make offers. Since most vendors are not on the premises, someone at the front desk will call the vendor and give them your offer. Just today I was called regarding a particular item. Decide what price you are willing to pay and go from there. You'll probably end up meeting in the middle unless the vendor paid more that he would have liked, or he may feel by waiting a little more he'll get his price. Be sure to ask for the 'courtesy' 10% discount which most antique malls offer, but you have to 'speak up'~they won't ask if you want it! LOL

In my booths (two malls) the mall had the option of lowering the price without contacting me on any item (there could be no exclusions) by 10%. I always ask for that discount minimum at any antique mall. But if there was an offer they just gave me a buzz and I either laughed or accepted it if I was in the mood :)

Just want to point out that the statement about antique booths not being manned by the owners is not always true. Depends entirely on the mall in question. I know of several malls where the owners do work in shifts. Most sellers in most malls that I have visited will give an automatic 10% discount if the buyer requests it from the cashier. If you seek a greater discount, most sellers require the cashier to call them to inquire before knocking any more $ off the price. Good luck! :-)

I've negotiated antique mall prices by having the cashier telephone the booth owner. Only one time did I have to wait for an answer. Mall cashiers always have the correct telephone numbers of the booth owners to call, and if they can't get an immediate answer they will take your number to get back to you.

ML