A way to barter your way to an art collection without braking the bank...

The thing that Americans do alot less then people in other countries is barter. Maybe it is the abundance that we are surrounded by or that we are used to paying  more for things then what we would otherwise be comfortable. I guess this is why discount mass marketing stores appeal to so many, they have great deals you can afford without having to haggle. But in most of those places you get what you paid for.

   The Swans Morning Swim Sold $199 at auctions, artist retail $980

 Licoraice Sold at auction for $ 59 , artist retail was $690 that makes this auction less then 10% of retail. See you never know. Granted these are auctions. But if it is slow and or artist has goals to meet you could barter just as good a deal.  I haven't had any Make offer features close yet for 2007 so I used these paintings as a sample of the great steals that are out there if you keep your eyes open.

But it is a new day and you want to move your decorating skills from posters to fine art prints or dare you think original works of art? It is in this artist opinion that it can be healthy to haggle. You may find yourself with more high quality items in a price range that is less painful for you if you just ask. You may also end up with an inspiring wonderful decor to come home to (or to your office) and in addition you may have a great bartering story or two to tell your friends.

Of course it can take a tactful talent unless you have the advantage of a place like ebay in wich an offer feature is added to some stores. This can make misunderstandings less likely and hurt feeling alot less likely. If the seller placed an offer feature on the listing with no minimum limit, then they have no grounds for any moodiness. Yet they will have an idea of where you as a collector would like to start. They can reject or counter, it is up to them.  Now I admit I have had very low offers I just could not take, Yet I have had offers that where real tempting as well but where slitely lower then I was willing to go at the time. Some offers for my work have been around $450.00 some I take some I pass up. Then I have had months when I would take offers to reach goals that would result in absolute steals to the collectors. Or list auctions with No Reserves.. So you never know. It is also a good feedback system letting artist know if they get alot of offers for certain work that maybe a print would be in order (more affordable) and or they have a choice to get back to someone and take the best offer. Either way it is a wonderful system for both parties and probably why bartering has been around for thousands of years.

Now how can you use this to your advantage and pocket book restriction?

1.  Use it where offered, take your time find art you love and see if the artist has offer features on some of thier store items. Then sit and wate for that work that just screams to you take it home, make offer and hopefully it's yours. This is a great place to start.

2.  What if there is no offer feature but you found a great piece you just can't afford?  Well I am a firm believer that it never hurts to ask or delicately ask them if in the future they may ever have a sale or be considering the offer feature for that work. You never know they may of thought about it. Just make sure they are honest enough to do the listing or if they agree to sell for less, that it is done through the site, offered for your protection. You don't want something to go wrong after they offered it for less and then you can't get support. Any seller can estimate how much it would cost them to sell and make sure that is covered in the final amount you agree too. 

3. Don't buy if they say the only way they can afford that kind of discount is if your buy off line? (not through site you found it) This leaves you unprotected and it will not cost them or you that much more for that protection. If you think about it, it could cost you more not to have a sale through a third party if anything goes wrong. Just have them give you a total selling on through the site and if it is too much, walk, tell them you are interested if they can do it in the future. But always be courteous and nice. If it was through a gallery, yes galleries can be much more expensive. But I am a firm believer in not back dooring (sales started by gallery exposure then made without gallery knowledge at later date to same buyers for same work). If the artist wouldn't even have you as a collector without that gallery it is not correct to shaft them. And you might also be wondering if your artist is the most honest person to be working with,,, at what point would they be dishonest in dealing with you to make a buck?

4. Start at a comfortable price not your absolute top breaking amount you are willing to pay. That way your artist and YOU may have some wiggle room if needed but you will not brake your bank. You may even get a better price then you thought possible. If it is just too low they will tell you, or not respond? You can always just send them another higher offer. I always try and let people know and thank them for the offer. I was once offered $9.95 (I think it was) for an original oil painting I wasn't hurt or insulted, you never know.. But I did get back to the party to ask them to sign up for my personal News Letter because once in a great while I will put a painting up at auction with no reserve for $9.99 and I let people know there first.  you never know how you could get a great price.. Sure enough one sold for as little as $26. a complete steal.. But of course I had to decline his offer at that time. But would he of found out about my auction? Would I have gotten a chance to share any sales at the time if he didn't have the guts to send in the offer?

5.  If you find an artist without the offer feature ask them about it and weather or not they have Holiday or seasonal sales.

6.  Don't forget to remain friendly and professional, if you pick on the art to talk them down, they may block you and never sell anything to you ever. (artists can be  moody, but anyone can be, to rude behavior.)

7. Make sure you are talking to the correct party to make the offer (very easy with some online sales), and be honest about your goals collecting but price range you need to keep it in. Try not to get talked into more then you can afford, the piont is to feel great about your paintings you buy, not feel regret everytime you try and enjoy it.

8. Once you find the art you are interested in, mark them as favorites or find away to get notices to keep a eye on thier items. Say you have noticed a painting that is in the thousands and has been in the store a while.. You love it and months later it is still there. Now it could be in some shows or a gallery while listed in store. But the more months that go by the more you may want to make an offer.  Do it , it could be a winner!

9. If you just don't know how to begin .. 20% of the value could be a good place to start, but if you get a feeling (smaller work, maybe listed along time) start at 10% just know that in most cases and based on the artist average sale they probably can't take that. Again you never know I have sold (usually through auction) for just over 10% but at auction you are contending with others. of course on slow months or if the artist slacks on marketing (I even do once in a while) you will notice, because you have been watching (sales are slow or low latley) and you may be able to get steals both at auction and stores

 I know that offering less feels strange some time but if you are lucky enough to find an artist you like, who already offers a make offer feature, half you stress will be gone. You can get used to making offers with those artists and then when comfortable approach someone who doesn't seem to offer it but you love thier stuff, just a little pricy for you. Always keep in mind that all art prices are subject to how you and the artist feel about that particular work at that particular time. If they have had it for a while, moved it several times for shows and you just love it, they may finnaly decide to take less or have been thinking about listing it at auction. You may be one of the first to have contacted them, that could be a good thing for both of you.

I hope you have found this guide helpful or that it has given you some good ideas. Please let me know.