accommodations but you don't have to prepare for a

shouting contest either.

Once you are serious about buying, another simple

question you can ask is, "Is there anything you can do

to help me acquire this work?" Most galleries have been

in business long enough to understand what you're really

saying. They will know you like the work and now the issue

is price. When the person helping you with the sale comes

back with a given price, feel free to ask for the calculator

and determine what percentage you're been given off.

Keep in mind, a ten to fifteen percent discount is a

very well negotiated accommodation. Once the gallery has

quoted you 15% off, if you like the artwork and are not a

big negotiator, I would advise you to accept the offer and go

home with your new found love. On the other hand, If you

feel yourself to be a shrewd negotiator, state something to

effect of, "I really like the piece and very much appreciate

you having made this accommodation, but I think it's still a

little bit too expensive for me and it would be better if I

thought about it for a while and came back later."

Galleries with even a small cupful of relative

experience will note you're not satisfied with the level of

accommodation given and hopefully will make an effort for a

second offer. However, if the piece is popular they may

already have decided this is as low as it gets.  In this

situation you may get a response very similar to, "that's ok,

let me give you my card, and please call us if you

reconsider."  You will also find galleries with a policy of

making no accommodations, whatsoever.

These galleries will take the position that the

reputation of the artist is too important and their pricing is

already inherently fair. At this point you would simply say,

"I would love to take the artist information home and