Bargaining in Antique Shops

In the case of most single-dealer antique shops, which aren't all that plentiful anymore, you’ll be working directly with the owner or the owner’s agent when negotiating a better price. The person you’re dealing with will likely have the power to cut prices, sometimes significantly, when they see a good opportunity to make a sale.

It’s still better to use the “best price” method here, rather than making an offer, just as you would at a flea market. You never know how long a seller has had a piece in stock, or whether business was off that week and they really need a sale to pay the rent. The price they quote may be far below what you expected since they'd rather make the sale at a marginal profit than let you walk out empty handed.