Is it rude?

[Former_Member]

To ask a seller how much they sold an item for? (Not in the handmade realm, more of a vintage directed question)

It's so difficult to find exact values of vintage items, and sometimes the only reference I have is a sold item in someone's shop!

Now if I ask (obviously politely haha) do you think that's rude, and they'd get offended? If someone asked you, how would you feel? Just curious!

Thanks everyone! :)
Kelly

[Former_Member]

I would never ask. It is rude, yes. There are tons of vintage shops on etsy where you can see pricheck feel free to check mine
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PachamamaLove?section_id=10436913

[Former_Member]

I have been asked before regarding my vintage items. I dont mind sharing. I know the feeling. I do hours of research on my collectibles. Hence the reason not many vintage items are listed in my shop lol. I think it just depends on the person really. I personally dont ask, but if someone has a question for me I dont mind helping them.

[Former_Member]

I don't sell vintage, but if I did, I wouldn't mind the question.

[Former_Member]

I wouldn't ask, but that's just me. If anything, don't feel bad if they don't respond/tell you.

[hipposdream]

I also got the question and I did not mind answering. The person was very polite in her question and it did not feel rude at all. I was just glad that I could helop somebody.So fo me no problem at all.

[Former_Member]

I dont mind in my vintage shop as it is the market not what I make or want for it.
Some people will mind tho so that is the hard one what you do is ask first not about an specific item just ask if they mind sharing information back and forth and go from there

[Former_Member]

Charley from vtgcharleys1 says
what you do is ask first not about an specific item just ask if they mind sharing information back and forth and go from there
=========================================
This seems a sensible way to open the question without causing any offense. *I* can't see a problem with asking but everyone is different so 'asking to ask' would be prudent.
I would hope that most would respond positively but who knows.

[Former_Member]

I wouldn't find it rude at all, it never hurts to ask!

[MythOfTheWild]

I wouldn't have thought it was rude if it was vintage at all. Handmade, yes, a bit, but if it wasn't made by them, ie Vintage, then it would probably have an expected value which is okay to ask about. It's also less likely that a vintage seller will have several of the same item to sell, so by telling you, it's not like they're going to lose out on business, either.

[Former_Member]

I don't do vintage stuff, but as a buyer if I see something I like, I look around at other shops to see what their prices are and I even check to see what something is going for on Ebay just to make sure the sellers aren't overcharging.
But I like Chas Holley's answer

[CatherineMarissa]

If you are unable to get an idea of the going rate by checking on here and on Ebay, I wouldn't think it would be rude to ask. I also don't think it would be rude of the seller if they chose not to reply.

[Former_Member]

I don't see why its rude for a vintage item! As long as its asked in a respective and not demanding/competing kind of way. Just be like I saw you sold xyz, I have a similar item and I was wondering if you could tell me a little about it as I'm having a hard time researching it! If they don't answer, oh well. But maybe you'll make a friend out of it, or gain a valuable research tip for next time!

[Former_Member]

I wouldnt ask, but you can do some research for similar items

[Former_Member]

I think if you have the same item. then it would be fine to ask but if not I would just search for other vintage items similar related items.