Part
of the thrill of shopping for antiques is the hunt—the heady rush of
an estate sale; the chance of scoring big on a find at the flea—but
shopping for antiques online requires a little bit more patience. In fact, you
cannot decide what to buy, how to buy and where to buy from. For that, the right
online antique store can really help you.
Educate
Yourself
There’s
no substitute for thorough research. No matter your budget or agenda, “go to
find those rare and valuable names that are the masters of a certain category
you’re looking for. You must start by visiting homes and places selling
antiques to understand the price and check the items.
After
you’ve gained enough knowledge and experience, you can set forth looking for
stores selling antiques online. To become a great collector, understand
who the best are so that when you’re searching it’ll jump off the page at you.
Try Lots of
Different Search Term
It
is really about having the correct vocabulary when you are searching online.
You need to know how to communicate to a search engine what you are looking
for, and sometimes that means trying a few different phrases or descriptions.
You often need to flip-flop the words in the search terms to find a different
set of results.
Strategize
About Shipping
If
you do fall in love with an item that requires a container fee, there are some
ways to avoid overspending. If you are buying a lot, it is best to hold the
items you are purchasing until you can ship them all at one time, which can
reduce the fees. Look for online antique store that can ship your item without
any hassle.
And
on the flip side, if you are only buying a few items and willing to wait a bit,
the shipper will sometimes work with you on a deal by adding your things to a
larger shipment. There’s always some room for negotiation.
Finally,
look for out for references so you can shop for the best antiques at the most affordable
price.