PowerMerchant Tips: Selling Antiques Online

Purchasing antiques and collectibles are traditionally done in flea markets and antique stores. But the internet has given consumers a more convenient option. Antiques are now sold online. However, selling in this niche is a totally different process than it is to sell electronics, clothes or even food online.

Below are tips to help you sell antiques online:

• Market the item properly. Don’t tag items as rare if they are not. Collectors often know what they are looking for and have done the research on the value of the items they plan on buying.
• Know the value of your listing. Do your research well, it’s difficult to judge the value of a product on just looks alone. Stamps and coins, in particular, may all seem to look alike but they often have different values based on the year and the origin.
• Include pictures with your listings. Photos say a lot about your product’s condition. Mint or very good condition items can often be priced higher. 
• Provide as much information as you can. The interior of a product can’t always be seen  in pictures, so this is something you need to be detailed on. For instance, if you are selling antique books, you need to indicate if the pages are stained or dog-eared. Are there inscriptions? Are all the pages complete? Get it all written down.
• Offer a way for your customers to get in contact with you. No matter how hard you try to give them all the obvious information they need, they will often still have questions. Give your potential buyers a way to ask those questions.
• Make insurance as part of your shipping options. Antiques are high-ticket items and chances are your customers will be willing to pay for it to keep their items safe.

Happy selling!