How to Sell Antiques: Terrific Advice from Our Specialists
When it comes to selling antiques, the best advice comes from the antique experts. Seasoned antique buyers and sellers know how to sell antiques. Below you will find a priceless recommendations from the best of the best in the antique industry.
Get to Know Antique Buyers
As with any business, getting to know your customers is imperative. Find out what antique buyers are looking for and deliver the goods. Learn where and when they tend to make their purchases and BE THERE! Even better is to find out what antique buyers want, but have trouble finding. When the demand for a product outweighs the supply of it, you are in business!
Where to Sell Antiques
If you are wanting to sell a number of antiques retail, you can do so at a flea market, an antique market, or you can sell antiques online. If you have just one or a few antiques, you may want to take them around to various antique buyers. Compare the offers and go with the best. Keep in mind, the best price isn’t always the best deal as discussed below.
Reputable Antique Dealers
Some antique dealers will promise the moon but only deliver disappointment. Especially dealers who pop up at flea markets or online can take your item and run or may convince you that your antique isn’t worth much when, in fact, the opposite is true.
To prevent getting ripped-off, know all about the person or company you are dealing with. A reputable antique dealer will have credentials, a length of time in business, lots of verifiable references, and will be happy to provide all that information for you. A scam artist will pretend to be insulted when you ask for proof that they are a reputable antique dealer.
Selling Antiques through a Broker
Many who sell antiques go through the service of a professional broker who sells the antique item for you on your behalf. They take their cut off the selling price and give you your part. This method can take some time though. So, if you are in a rush for your cash, you may not want to use a broker.
Generally, brokers are able to get more for their wares, so the price you get is about the same as you would get selling it on your own. This type of selling eliminates some huge risks you’ll encounter when selling on your own and saves you time and effort as well. Still, you’ll need to make sure you go through a reputable broker or you could end up losing all.
Sell Antiques Online
There are a myriad of spots to sell antiques online. You can do a Google search for antique buyers and check each one out until you find someone who is reputable with lots of references. You can also sell your antiques through platforms like Ebay, Etsy, and Craigslist. Keep in mind that some online resale sites charge a listing and/or post-sale fee. Most require you to pay shipping or for you to charge your customer for shipping. Some, like Craigslist, may even have you meet your customer which can pose risk and danger. Many antique sellers go these routes, just be aware of all that’s involved before you commit.
Selling antiques is a profitable, yet tricky business. Antiques hold sentimental value as well as cash value so proceed with care. Whether you are looking to make a one-time, one-item sell, or are wanting to make it a business, you’ll want to take the above suggestions to heart for they are priceless.
Where Can I Sell My Chinese & Asian Antique items?
Chinese antiques are intriguing. Through the years, many have become interested, and even obsessed, with collecting them. They are addicting! But, there may come a time when you are ready to sell your Asian antiques. If so, there are some things you should know, especially if you live in the state of Connecticut.
Have you inherited Chinese antiques you’d like to sell? Perhaps you’ve been collecting Asian or Chinese antiques for years and are ready to liquidate. Maybe you have run into a financial hardship and are being forced to sell your treasures. Or, you may have lost interest in your once beloved antiques and simply want to get rid of them. No matter what your particular situation is, you’ll need to decide where to sell Asian antiques to get the most profit possible.
Local Antique Dealers
Antique buyers are not all honest and reliable. Some are out to give you the least amount of money possible for your antiques. When you are selling Chinese antiques, finding Chinese antique buyers can be even more challenging.
If you live in Connecticut or will be in the Connecticut area, check for listings online of dealers in the vicinity. Find out how long the dealer has been around and be sure they have an online presence and plenty of verifiable references. Also see what credentials they hold. You can’t be too safe, even when the dealer is local to Connecticut.
Finding a local dealer will help ensure you won’t get stuck out. There are shady dealers who act as if they are experienced Chinese antique buyers, but they give you far less than your Asian antique is worth. Or, they take your item and run. That’s why it’s imperative to find a dealer and appraiser in Connecticut if you live in the state.
Verify that they are truly local and are approved by the state. The best Connecticut Asian antique buyers will come with plenty of credentials and will be recognized within the antique buying community as well.
Best Place to Sell Asian Antiques
Chinese antiques come in all shapes and sizes. Furniture, jewelry, snuff bottles, sculptures, textiles, and paintings can be classified as Asian antiques. They can range from Imperial art works to folk art pieces. Being an expert takes training and experience. The best places to sell Asian antiques will definitely depend on the Chinese antique buyers’ knowledge in the niche industry.
Do a little research yourself. Find out, if possible, some history on your Asian antiques. The origin, age, condition, and nature of the item will make a big difference in the selling price you will get for it. The more you know, the more the ball is in your court rather than vice versa.
While you can opt to go to vintage shops, you’d do best to find an appraiser who mentions that they specialize in Asian antiques on their website or has an acknowledgment of Chinese antiques somewhere in their advertising. Chinese antiques are a special field within antique buying and not just every antique dealer is qualified to give you a fair price for them because they may not adequately appraise them for lack of knowledge.
Where to sell Asian antiques is a personal choice. Whatever you do though, make sure you sell to the Chinese antique buyers that gives you the most for your treasure and who treats you with the respect you deserve.