Readers Respond: Do You Need an Appraiser to Value Antiques & Collectibles?

"ONLY A WOMAN WOULD BE STUPID ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THEIR OWN APPRAISALS INSTEAD OF USING A CERTIFIED APPRAISER! WHY WRITE TO. HURT. THE PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY? UNBELEIVABLE. YOUU CAN RESEARCH. HOW TO DEFUSE A BOMB TOO. TRY THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING A PRO HANDLE IT!" - posted by TopHat Appraisals Antiques of Lancaster, Ohio

While this is a rather convoluted way to communicate the opinion that antiques and collectibles should only be valued by professional appraisers, this does appear to be the main idea.

Do you agree? Share Your View

Response to Top Hat

Arrogant, rude, disrespectful and very much still living in the "good 'ole boys" club ~ what world are you living in! It is the 21st century!!!!

—Guest Sandy

Appraiser's fees

I recently came across four old violins that I wanted appraised. Calling around to different business I was told fees were 75.00 for a VERBAL appraisal, 150.00 for a written one. 3-600.00 for an appraisal that would take half an hour to complete without leaving their shop. I think not.

—Guest D.Dom

To Appraise or Not Appraise

I look up items on eBay and get an idea and put a minimum price that I would be happy with, but if I went to sell more expensive items I would use a professional but I haven't yet. P.S. Love the newsletter.

—Guest Diana

What a CP!

What is wrong with the chav pig at TopHat? Like men can't make stupid statements also?? Please, let's move into at least the 20th Century, if not the 21st!

—Guest ktpugmom

April Fool ?

You HAD to have been joking right?. Just trying to get a "rise" or a "reaction" out of the readers? Please tell me that you weren't serious when you wrote (and I quote) "that only WOMEN would think it was ok to use an online appraiser"? AND.... you really actually used your (I assume) real information at the end of your comment? I am going to give you a suggestion (which I am sure you won't listen to since after all, I AM just a WOMAN, and ALSO an ON-LINE APPRAISER) I foolishly believed that if people even thought the way that you do, that they were smart enough NOT to air those thoughts in public. Since they would just end up looking like they just left cave living the day before. But regardless here goes: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE MIND? Putting aside the ON-LINE APPRAISER question for a minute here.....let me see if I understood you correctly. You are inferring/suggesting that because a person is born a female, they do not have enough intelligence?

—meddjay1

The need for a Professional Appraisal

The need for a true fair market value can be driven by many things other than insurance. For instance the collateral for a loan, the deduction from taxes (the IRS does require one after a certain value level). If you are just curious and have a few hours to spend you as an owner can certainly look around and try to compare and come up with a figure for value. The one discrepancy I see is finding a piece(s) just like yours and averaging the prices. Never would I average the selling points. Since this is a method not allowed by any industry. We never use E-bay as a reference due to the known heavy shilling that distorts value, also if no shilling occurs using E-bay just gives you an idea of what the people that found it would give. The proof is in the Viewed and Watching numbers for each item. The time that I see most people wish they had a professional appraisal completed on an entire home's contents is after a major catastrophe when the contents are damaged, destroyed, or stolen.

—Guest Coastal Carolina Appraisals and Auction

Appraising antiques

Pamela is merely providing information to help us begin to assess the value of antiques. She is not advocating that professional appraisers are never needed. I am not impressed that TopHat Appraisals uses Pamela's status as a woman as the sole reason why her post lacks credibility.

—Guest mgard

For kicks or for insurance

Really I think the only time you need a certified appraiser is if you need to get something insured. Otherwise check the books, walk into an antique mall, go on line. All these things will help you know what you can get for the item you have. I owned an antique store for many years and it is crazy what people think there stuff is worth all because the saw an appraiser appraise something on TV. Really let's all get real. An item is only worth what someone is willing to pay you for it. That's what drives the market.

—Guest Robin