Antique,Bargain,Hunting,Barge, travel,insurance Antique Bargain Hunting on Barge Holidays in France
Like any American, traveling occasionally is just what I love doing and I bet you share the same stuff with me. But traveling does not mean that you would be safe. Escaping from our job and other stressful activities is just something that w Torres del Paine is among the biggest of Chiles national parks, occupying almost 600,000 acres (242,000 ha) of land in the south on the border with Argentina. It is also among the most important, receiving a significant proportion of domes
If you're dreaming of barge holidays in France that involve spending lazy days drifting along the river, stopping off to explore ancient towns en route, you might be interested to learn you can indulge a passion for antique hunting at the same time!Antiques in AbundanceOn any of the barge holidays in France, you will typically have the opportunity to explore some truly beautiful and ancient towns on the itinerary. In France, antique collecting is probably not quite as commonplace and widespread as a hobby as it is in the UK, so what this means is that you may have rather more chance of finding a genuine bargain than might be the case back home. Just like in Britain, antiques here can be found in antique shops, charity outlets, online, through the classified ads and of course, in public auctions.However, in France there are two additional outlets that probably don’t have a British equivalent - The Dépôt Vente and the Brocanteur. The Dépôt VenteYou’ll see these in most French towns and cities and even sometimes in the smallest villages. They are places where people can take their old and unwanted goods and deposit them for sale. The person running the dépôt will take a percentage commission of any sales they make on vendor’s behalf (paid by the vendor of course – not you).Typically, a lot of the items in these stores and warehouses are old and perhaps not in the best of condition, but you may find the odd gem that has not been recognized for what it is. It’s perfectly OK to try a bit of negotiation and to offer a price that you feel comfortable with - nobody will be offended and you may even get a genuine bargain.The BrocanteurIn France, there is a specific job called a ‘Brocanteur’. These are people who move around public auctions and estate clearances, purchasing old goods in bulk and then taking them to their warehouse, where they will offer them for sale. They are typically different to an antique dealer, in that they will not usually have a plush city centre shop and their items may be more affordable. They also probably will not specialize in any particular type of antique item. Their items are often fairly haphazardly displayed in large warehouses and, once again, you may find the odd real bargain. You can negotiate on the price they are asking and don’t be put off by pretend looks of shock and horror. They will usually have a very substantial mark-up on their asking price and will also usually be very keen to make a sale, which is an opportunity for you.What’s cheaper?Obviously if you're visiting on barge holidays in France you are going to be rather limited in terms of the volume of any items you purchase (although some vendors may offer to ship for you – but don’t count on it). Copper and brass second-hand items are usually good value, as are ceramics, porcelain and glass. Jewellery was traditionally also a good buy, although bargains have been fewer over recent years due to the rise in the price of precious metals such as silver and gold.Exploring the country on one of the many barge holidays in France might give you a real opportunity to have a rake around some ancient items at very reasonable prices. If that’s the sort of thing you enjoy, then you will relish the experience.
Antique,Bargain,Hunting,Barge,