Rude, rude, rude.
Look guys, I'll be the first to admit I know jack about running an antique shop - but I'm pretty sure I've got a good idea about customer service. Between me and the fella running Brooks, that makes one of us.
Stopping into the crammed, musty shop I was interested in finding out about an imposing black lacquer jewellery box in the window. The owner seemed less interested in greeting me than roaring down the phone to a potential customer. Once he was finally willing to receive audiences, I asked where the box had come from (was it Korean, Chinese, Japanese?) I was only told it had come from a private vendor.
That's all.
Judging from the mix of real antiques and gussied-up (or is that down?) tin prints and novelty plaques, I wasn't ready for the price tag hanging off the box: €395
Yikes.
Between the cost and the dealer, I couldn't leave fast enough.
After a quick look online, I found a possible reason why the answers weren't forthcoming: that jewelry box retails for as little as $30 plus shipping.
One more time: Yikes. read more