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fri Weal Wide
I AOM Estate Sales
tstate Sales 10 -4
p
eople are proud of the bargains
they find at an estate sale,
says Robin Cohen, owner of
AOMestatesales@com . She agreed to
talk about estate sales.
Who goes to an estate sale?
Robin Cohen: There are those who
are looking for something specific
they collect, such as books, jewelry
or vintage clothing. Many want items
to furnish or accessorize their home
and have learned that estate sales are
a great way to do it, instead of going
retail. Some of our regulars just enjoy
the "hunt" or purchase items for resale.
Can shoppers preview items online?
RC: Yes, most sales are advertised on
a national site that's very active in the
Detroit area called www.estatesales.
net . This site provides a listing by date
of all estate sales in our area. When
conducting a sale, we stage the house
and organize items. Once that's done,
we photograph the entire home, both
room settings and individual items
of importance, and
post those photos
along with our listing
of the sale. We also
provide a complete
list of contents on
this site as well as
our own website,
AOMestatesales.com .
Esther Allweiss Ingber { Contributing Writer
sold for at auction.
What are trends in
what people buy?
RC: Mid-20th century
furniture is really big
now — American,
Scandinavian and
Italian pieces by
A 5' x 9' enameled aluminum wall
Herman Miller, Knoll,
sculpture by 88-year-old Detroit artist
etc. People also want
Charles McGee. This piece had previously What happens to
better-quality furniture
been on loan to the DIA for an exhibit of
items that don't sell?
in like-new condition
McGee's works.
RC: We are pretty
by companies that
successful in selling
include Baker, Pottery
most everything by
Barn and Crate & Barrel. Higher-end
the end of the sale, and the family
designer and vintage clothing is also
usually has us donate whatever is left.
desirable, and jewelry is always popular,
purchased by both collectors and those
How do people find out about your
buying for resale.
Is there a best day to go to the sale?
RC: The best prices are always on the
sale's final day, when most items go to
half off. But I encourage shoppers to
come early to check out the selection
and prices, especially
it they are looking for
something specific and
don't want to lose it.
Is haggling allowed?
RC: Every business
handles it differently.
We have a structured
way of dealing with
pricing and begin
How can shoppers tell A hand-wrought German sterling coffee
discounting on the
if items are authentic? and tea service including tray (sold for
second day of the sale.
RC: If it's not something $7,200).
If a customer makes an
you are familiar with,
offer we can't accept
you have to rely
at the moment, we
on the reputation of the company
encourage him or her to leave the offer
you're buying from. You have to feel
in writing as a "bid." We review and
comfortable that the seller is informed
accept written bids received throughout
and knowledgeable. We have a number
the remainder of the sale.
of subscription websites for researching
artwork and antiques. We are then
Is merchandise sold at an estate sale
able to provide information on the age,
considered a "final sale," or could
origin and value of an item, based on
shoppers return items?
prior auction sales and establish a fair
RC: By the very nature of an estate sale,
price for it. I can show a potential buyer
everything is sold in "as-is condition"
what an artist's comparable pieces have
18 I Floor Space Magazine • November 2012
and considered a final
sale. We post signs
to that effect and ask
customers to examine
their purchases for
this reason. We also
try to mark a tag if
something visibly less
than perfect is being
sold "as-is."
company's upcoming estate sales?
RC: We do more than 50 sales a year
and advertise the sales on our own
website and www.estatesales.net .
Look for ads in the IN. We also email
the sales to our own mailing list of
more than 4,000 names. Prospective
customers that see items listed online
contact us for further information and
pricing, and calls from people living
outside our area are very common
today. We do not pre-sell, however;
that's only fair to the people who arrive
early and wait in line.
Who conducts your sales and where do
they take place?
RC: I have a wonderful staff, many of
them managers or dealers from my
former Royal Oak store, Antiques on
Main. At sales, our staff members are
visible throughout the house to assist
and direct customers. We conduct sales
primarily in Oakland County, but we've
done sales all over. If it's worth doing,
we'll travel.
Visit AOMestatesales.com for more
information. Robin Cohen can be
reached at AOMestatesales@aol.com or
(248) 705-9665.