[gary rabbitt]

I honestly think that some so called "Antique" dealers are really a front for a tax writeoff or a money laundering scam, since they don't seem to care whether they sell anything. There are some store here that have had pretty much the same junk in the same spot for ten years with an outrageous price on it.

Some of the antique shops here are more or less a 'hobby' venture for the owners. Mainly a wife with a well to do husband that funds the shop, just to get the wife out of the way for a few hours a day. Neither one is focused on actually selling anything, the stuff is so high .
I asked one lady about the prices and she said if they were any lower, her shelves would be empty. Well duh! Isn't that the goal?
A hobby business. Usually the stuff will show up at an auction complete with the old price tags, and be liquidated in one afternoon.