Mark Lawson Antiques

If you are looking to get an honest appraisal value of an item, collection, or estate, go to an ASA/ISA professional who has no vested interest in profiting from your belongings. If you're looking to unload some gold scrap or need some quick cash, Mark Lawson Antiques is a legitimate alternative. Honestly, I think Mark is a good businessman who has grabbed the coattails of the Antiques Roadshow and held on for the ride. He is not the least bit interested in your antique or it's provenance, only how much cash he can make from it. And that's not what the Antiques Roadshow is about. Sadly, I went to him for evaluation and advice, hoping he could point me in the direction of a local auction house that specialized in fine jewelry (or tell me if his business had one coming up). I had no intention of selling my item on the spot. (Hey, he offers free evaluations, doesn't he?) Once it was clear that I was not going to sell him my item for a very low price, he showed me the door. But he really showed me that he has no class. He gives the Antique Roadshow a bad name. I will continue my search using the American Society of Appraisers and International Society of Apprisers; organizations which Mark Lawson does not claim to be a member of on his business card or Web site. more

I scheduled an appointment with Mark Lawson to do a complete estate appraisal more than a month in advance. We agreed that he would do a write up of the approximate value to the estate and highlight any key items for $375.00. A few days before my appointment his secretary called me to rescheduled and pushed my appointment out more than month and a half. The day of the appointment Mark Lawson was about a half an hour late. He casually walked in and acted as though he was annoyed and bothered by being there. He pointed out the ballpark prices of some furniture noting that the market was depressed and said there wasn’t anything that stood out to him as having good value. We showed him about 250 photos (on a laptop) of china, vases, plates etc and he clicked through them so fast I don’t know how he could have possibly know what the pictures were of. He glanced at the photos so quickly I was having trouble fallowing what they were, and I was the one who had taken the photos. He declared there was nothing there of any value. After the pictures he quickly scanned the kitchen we were in and abruptly asked if this was it. He suggested we not sell any items piece by piece, as this would reduce the interest of the people who might attend the estate sale. He recommended that we call his friend when then time came for said estate sale. Fortunately, we got a second opinion and found that this would better serve his friend and her commission than our own interests. At that point he requested his payment of $375 for his scheduled hour and promptly left half an hour early. What was especially off putting was he left his car running the whole time as though he never intended on staying long. We never received our write up of the value of the estate, and in hindsight I’m not surprised because he made no attempt to take notes while doing his hasty walkthrough. We felt that Mark Lawson was demeaning and dismissive in a house that has multiple rooms that are packed with antiques. He acted as if his paid visit was a waste of his time. We’ve subsequently obtained the opinion of other antique dealers and have received professional appraisals and feedback as to the true value of our estate. After doing our own research on eBay and other auction sites, their appraisals seem to better match the market value of these antiques. If you’re considering using Mark Lawson’s services save yourself the time money and aggravation and look elsewhere. more

If I could give zero stars I would. As the previous Events and Program Manager at the Albany Chamber of Commerce I feel like I have a pretty good handle on businesses in the area. I made an appointment to bring in pictures of antique furniture that my mother had in the basement from her great aunt. I thought Mark would go through and give us a little insight whether any of the stuff was truly an antique or just junk. When we arrived at his office on Computer Drive he couldn't have been more rude to us. His tone, actions, and words were extremely demeaning. He acted as though we were burdening him by being there when in reality this is how he makes a living. He flipped through the pictures on my laptop so fast I didn't even know what he was doing. He told us we had a few pieces of value but didn't explain anything. I would never recommend anyone to go there and waste their time. I will also be sure to pass along my experience to everyone I come in contact with at the chamber. more

They were VERY helpful to me & I HIGHLY recommend their services to all. They are NOT in Albany as listed here. They are,in fact, in Saratoga Springs,NY. North of Albany by at least an half hour but worth the trip. They have't been in Albany for awhile now but may open a satellite office in the near future. Best bet, call to confirm office location. more