When it comes to selling vintage items, there is a multitude of options available for sellers and dealers, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. This post will run through the options available for antique sellers, explaining both in-person and online options.
Do I Need an Independent Valuation to Sell Antiques?
Before selling antiques, it is worth getting an independent valuation for your items if you believe they could fetch a high price. These valuations can be expensive but worth the money for high-value items if you are unsure of their true value.
Options for Selling Vintage Items and Antiques
Whether you are selling vintage furniture or an antique serving dish, you have several options to sell your items. Consider how you want to sell, where your buyers are, and what type your item is. For pricing purposes and availability, you may also want to keep in mind whether the item is vintage or antique.
Top 3 Ways to Sell Vintage and Antique Items
1. Antique Mall
2. Online
3. Flea Markets
Get a Booth at an Antique Mall to Sell Vintage Items
Antique malls are arguably the most social and collaborative ways to sell vintage items, as they offer the opportunity to mix with hundreds of other antique dealers and a plethora of potential customers. The social element of selling in an antique mall is something that cannot be recreated in online marketplaces and is definitely something everyone should experience in their lifetime!
Another advantage of selling at an antique mall is that you won’t have to worry about shipping costs for larger items. Customers will enjoy the convenience of being able to take their items home the same day.
These antique malls also offer the opportunity to get creative while decorating your booth, and additionally are a great place to add to your own antique collection! Our Highland Mall offers over 55,000 square feet of space for you to browse and sell antiques.
Sell Antiques Online via Online Marketplaces
eBay has long been the dominant website for online second-hand sales, but recently other sites, such as Etsy, have grown in popularity. eBay often suffers from items being undervalued due to a crowded market and the availability of counterfeit products; this can make it quite problematic to sell vintage items on the platform.
Etsy has a strong vintage market and is a great place to sell antiques online, but it can be difficult to get your items to stand out without paying promotion fees, which can easily eat into your profits. Most sellers will have to pay Etsy a 15% cut on sales generated through automated advertising.
There are other sites available, which are dedicated to the sale of vintage and antique items, such as Tias and Ruby Lane, but these come with a monthly membership cost.
Online marketplaces can also be quite unregulated, which can lead to problems
in receiving payments and potential scams. We recommend using sites with seller protection, such as eBay or Etsy, when you sell vintage items online.
Best Online Marketplaces for Selling Antiques:
Etsy
eBay
Tias
Ruby Lane
Sell Vintage Items In-Person at Flea Markets and Yard Sales
Flea markets and yard sales are great places to sell antiques in large quantities. There’s often a great atmosphere with buyers and sellers clamoring to find the best bargains, so you’ll have to have your negotiation skills at the ready.
These markets often have the added benefit of low selling fees, as they’ll typically only charge a fixed seller fee. But it can be difficult to find buyers willing to pay large sums for valuable vintage items. Buyers here may not be looking specifically for vintage items, and they may not have knowledge of the antique market, meaning they may not be willing to pay a sufficient price for your valuable items.
We hope you’ve gained a better understanding of which method would work best for you to sell vintage items. If you’d like to inquire about renting a booth at one of our antique mall locations, please get in touch with us at an America's Antique Mall near you.