Are you tired of your 9-to-5? It’s possible to sell antiques as an exit strategy. Maybe, you have a couple of rare finds that your grandpa left behind, and you are running out of room to keep them. Or you are planning to begin a side hustle buying vintage and antique items from yard sales and then reselling them online to make extra money per week.
Selling rare antiques can prove to be very lucrative and rewarding if you find the right buyer. This is evident in two cases. A 1909-1911 “Jumbo T206 Honus Wagner” baseball card sold for $3.2 Million in 2016, while a 2004 18th-century Florentine ivory chest sold for $3.6 Million at a London auction.
While not every antique item in your house is worth a fortune, there are a few that can fetch six to seven figures. Where can you sell antiques for the highest cash price?
Selling in antique shops, consignment and pawnshops can be a good way to start making money. However, they are more likely give you a lowball deal because they are also in it to make money. To get the best price for your antiques, look beyond this. The big question is, where can I sell antiques?
Short Answer : Buying antiques online may be the best way to go. There are many places you can sell antiques online, such as ArtFire, Ruby Lane and Etsy. Bonanza, eBay and other consignment shops or auction houses near you.
Sell Antiques Online for Cash
eCommerce continues to connect the world without showing any signs of slowing down. More consumers are jumping on the eCommerce bandwagon. More than 29 million people buy jewelry online every day in 2020! No wonder that eCommerce is your first port of call when looking for the best sites to sell your antiques.
One advantage of online selling is that you can quickly expose your vintage or antiques to a broader audience. It takes just minutes to upload photos and a short description online, and your antiques could be sold within minutes.
Here are some top online platforms to sell your antiques at a profit.
1. Etsy
Do you have vintage items that are at least 20 years old? If so, Etsy has a huge marketplace for antiques. As of Q2 2020, there are more than 60 million buyers on Etsy! With such a large customer base, you can maximize your sales by interacting with a lot more buyers.
Etsy offers a vintage category for rare and unique items. It allows you to sell unique, vintage, or custom-made items that have been around for at least 20 years.
Your antique items can be sold under the Vintage category. This includes jewelry and accessories, vinyl records and media (books movies and music), toys, games and decor. Listing an item on Etsy takes 20 cents for each month. Esty receives a 5% commission on the total sale and shipping fees when an item is sold.
Website: Etsy
2. TIAS (The International Antique Shop)
TIAS has been an online platform since 1995 for selling antiques, collectibles and other items. TIAS provides a free 60-day trial. You don’t need to pay any setup fees. After your online shop has been set up, upgrade to the $39.95 monthly plan in order to begin selling.
If you are only looking to sell a few antiques, and don’t have the time or desire to run a web shop for the long-term, then this monthly plan is right for you. The International Antique Shop offers a $34.95 one-year contract if you’re a committed and confident merchant seller.
Unlike Etsy, TIAS doesn’t charge per-item listing fees. You can list unlimited items for free. The resale site has over 700,000 customers visiting TIAS monthly!
Website TIAS
3. Bonanza
Bonanza’s motto states that you can sell anything. It is the fastest growing online marketplace where antiques can be sold. Bonanza attracts a lot of traffic from around the world, even though most of its customers are located in the United States.
Bonanza does not charge listing or setup fees. You won’t pay a dime unless your antique sells. Once you make a sale, the platform takes a flat 3.5% cut of the total sale, but if you want your antiques promoted via google ads, sellers can pay a 5.5% fee.
Website: Bonanza
4. Ruby Lane
Are you looking to be a regular antique dealer? Ruby Lane is designed to help you sell vintage items. It attracts more than 1 million users monthly, who use it to find antiques art, vintage collectibles, costume jewelry, and other items.
How much do Ruby Lane listing charges?
The fees are high enough, which limits it to serious sellers on the platform. A $100 one-time setup charge is required. To keep your antiques’ path on Ruby’s, you will need to pay $69 per monthly. Monthly listing fees are 39 cents per item.
On top of that, sellers need to follow the required listing rules. At all times, there must be at minimum ten items up for sale. Your vintage collectibles have to be at least 20-years old with a minimum sales price of $5.00
Web: Ruby Lane
5. OfferUp
OfferUp quickly became a popular alternative to Craigslist with more than 33 million active users. It is a mobile-first C2C marketplace where people can buy and sell locally. This makes it an excellent choice if you are looking to sell antiques in your area.
Used furniture, electronics, and used cars are among the top-selling items on OfferUp. The resale platform also has a section for antiques. This makes it easier to sell your items to serious buyers.
OfferUp doesn’t charge any listing or selling fees. You can sell your antiques online for cash and no additional fees with OfferUp.
Website – OfferUp
6. Craigslist
Craigslist was founded in 1995. It’s an online C2C marketplace which allows users to buy and sell almost any item. The site’s online classifieds platform can be geo-targeted so that local sellers and buyers are encouraged. Craigslist makes it a powerful platform for antiques sales near you.
Most buyers live locally so you can meet them to arrange pickup and drop-off. Shipping fees are not charged to you.
Craigslist has no listing or selling fees. This is unlike eBay. With more than 55 million monthly visitors, your items will be seen by more people in a short period of time. This increases your chances to sell your stuff quickly.
Craigslist can be a problem because so many items are listed daily, meaning yours might get lost in all the other listings. Also, no one intervenes to solve buyer-seller disputes, which means you have to hash it out on your own.
Consider selling on other websites like craigslist too if this is a reselling option you prefer.
Website: Craigslist
7. ArtFire
ArtFire, an Arizona-based marketplace, allows you to sell your vintage collectibles or handmade goods. ArtFire could be considered an Etsy alternative, for both sellers and buyers of similar goods.
ArtFire will require you to start your online business. There are three options available: a monthly plan with increasing perks, such as a lower commission, more active listings, no listing fee, no ads on the sales page, and increased exposure of your site to potential buyers for artistic goods.
- Standard Shop: This goes for $4.95 a month. The final valuation fee is 12.75%, and the listing fee for each item is 23 cents. You can list as many as 250 items.
- This plan is $20 per month and comes with a 4.5% final valuation fee. There are no listing charges and you may list up to 1000 items.
- Featured shops: The cost for this plan is $40 per month. There will also be a final valuation charge of 4.5%. No listing fees are required for items up to 2,500.
Website: ArtFire
8. eBay
eBay has become a household word. It’s the marketplace most people think of when you say you’re an online seller. You can sell almost anything on eBay, including antiques, vintage collectibles, trendy clothes, and other valuable items. You can sell antiques worldwide to more than 177million buyers through the resale website.
Individual sellers pay only a 10% final transaction fee with no listing fees. But if you want to set up a business account, you have to subscribe to one of the shop plans eBay has in place. Alternatively, you can put up your antiques for auction. It is an easy way to get quick cash, but not the most profitable one.
If you feel that your antiques have something special, consider eBay. Otherwise, you are more likely to face stiff competition from other sellers with similar old things. If your item isn’t distinctive, buyers will search for the lowest price, starting a price war among sellers.
Even though you can still sell your antiques online for a profit, it can sometimes seem like an endless race to the bottom unless you have a unique item.
Website eBay
9. Facebook Marketplace
What are you able to do on the largest social network in the country? It is a great place for connecting products to people, right? Statista says there are around 2.8 Billion monthly active users. This is according to Q4 2020. This means that your antiques could be easily found on Facebook within minutes.
Facebook lets you sell in any of these ways:
- Post the item on your timeline: This is a good option for someone with a substantial social following. You never know who your friends may be looking for antiques, or who may know someone selling them. The best part about this is that you’ll be dealing with your inner circle, and will have a level of trust.
- Facebook Marketplace Anyone with a Facebook seller profile can create a Facebook Seller account and post items to be sold. You can sell yard tools and hay bales to video games and gift cards or collectibles and jewelry. Facebook Marketplace offers a variety of items that you can offer your customers.
If you are looking to start a business selling antiques online, Facebook Marketplace could be a great option. You can make your items more visible to a wider audience by listing them on Facebook Marketplace.
It is absolutely free to list on Facebook. You should consider selling your vintage goods on the platform. If you sell items for less than $8, you will only be charged a 5% commission. For items that are $8 or above, you’ll pay $0.40.
10. Amazon
Amazon is really big! Amazon accounts for 49% in the US eCommerce market. Amazon has more than 197 millions customers around the globe.
Amazon books are one of the most popular items. It makes it an ideal place to make money online, selling rare books, art, paper collectibles, art, and photography. Amazon offers unique products that include signed books, first editions of magazines, broadsides (magazines), vintage photography, watercolors, original art and postcards. There are also many old comic books that sell well.
Amazon charges a 15% referral commission on all books. A $1.80 closing fee applies to all media items, books included. If you’re an individual seller, your item price will be $0.99 Professional sellers pay $39.99 per month.
Website: Amazon
Antique Buyers in Your Area
Selling your antiques online may be more profitable, but it comes at a price! You have to go through the hassles of setting up your shop, promoting your products, and juggling with listing and seller fees for most online resale platforms.
You should also remember that not everyone is online. Sometimes it is more convenient to meet your buyer face-to-face and view the product in real life. If you don’t wish to shift online, here are some of the best places you can buy antiques.
11. Flea Markets
One way to sell your antiques nearby is to peddle them at a stationary or traveling flea market. Stationary flea markets can be found in either a big parking lot or a building where you can rent space for your stuff.
A traveling flea market, on the other hand, goes from town to town. The booth will be rented to display your goods. As the market moves around, antiques will be available for sale.
Flea markets are a great place to sell multiple antiques or if you have several non-antique items that you want to sell.
12. Consignment Stores
Local consignment outlets are another option to sell your antiques. The owner of the store or their employees will value your items before they are displayed in the store. The store will split the profits at a set percentage once your antiques are sold.
A consignment store commission can be as high as 50%, 30%, 40% or 30% depending on their resale policy. Make sure you understand all the rules and policies of your consignment store. If your items do not sell, make sure you check the cancellation policy and whether fees will be charged. In some cases, the store will allow you to pick up your unsold merchandise first and then donate them to local charities.
13. Yard and Estate Sales
Estate and yard sales are a great way to sell antiques close to you. This is especially true if you’re looking to get rid low-value collectibles or other items you don’t use. Some people choose to live a minimalistic life rather than hoarding things.
Yard sales are great for estate-wide, citywide or municipal sales. There is more chance of people buying your items. Because shoppers will expect to find more products, it can be even more fun to do this with your neighbors.
Your yard and estate sales will be more successful if you are flexible about your prices. Make sure that your antiques are priced accordingly to allow for bargainers.
14. Local Antique Shops
Do you have lots of antiques for sale? Antique shops provide great places to sell antiques near you. You rent a space at the antique shop and then display your items for sale. Customers will buy your items when they visit the antique shop.
An alternative way to make a living is to be an antique dealer. This will allow you to source antiques from garage sales, flea markets and estate sales. Then resell them at antique shops near you.
15. Pawn shops
Pawn shops can lend money to you, and they will often buy your antiques from you. Pawnshops and similar businesses became popular during the Great Depression and seemed to thrive when the economy turns lower.
Keep in mind, however, that pawnshops may buy directly from you with the intention of making a profit. While you might make more selling through intermediaries than at other locations, you may not be able to make as much. Either way, they provide a quick way to sell your antiques nearby.
16. Auction Houses
Are you a collector of valuable antiques, such as cars? You might want to consider selling your antiques through auction houses. When you bring your antiques to an Auction House, they will advertise it to a targeted group of buyers.
Your items will be sold to the highest bidder. Auctioneers know how to create the much-needed excitement to make potential buyers compete and pay more. Auction houses want their items to fetch the highest possible price. This is because they are entitled to a share of the sales price. An auction house can make you money quickly if you have the right items.
Related Questions
When will antique buyers visit your house?
Antique buyers in your area are always more than willing to come to your home and see what you have for them. Here are some antique purchasers who would like to visit your home.
- Yard and Estate Sales – Buyers come out in large numbers during the yard and estate sales to find valuables nearby. If you’re still holding on to possessions that you don’t want or are unable to donate, it’s time for estate sale cleanout services. If you have lots of valuable possessions, I suggest that you find an estate cleaner near your house.
- The Best Place to Sell Large Antiques
- Consignment Stores – Consignment stores are among the top buyers that will come to your house to check out any valuable possessions. Consignment stores in your locality will pick up items and take them away with a truck. Don’t need a truck. Here are 23 side jobs to do with a pickup truck.
- Buyers – Some online buyers via sites like Craigslist/OfferUp will come to you to inspect your antiques and take them home quickly. However, it’s not a wise idea to invite someone into your home.
Top Tips To Get The Most From Your Antiques
While you can always find buyers from the options mentioned above, just listing your antiques online might not be enough to get them sold. You might get scammed or low-balled on your price, which could mean that you are not making as much as you should.
These steps will allow you to determine the price of your goods so that you can choose the right seller.
Do Your Research
Do a Google Search to see the average price of similar antiques. Although it might not be possible to determine the exact price due to the fact that your item is an antique, you could look online at similar items being sold and get an idea of their average prices.
Once you know this price range, you can list your antiques for a slightly higher price than the average. This will let you negotiate.
Try to sell and list antiques of the same category every time that you put out a list. For example, if you post a list of antique furniture that you’re trying to sell, people might consider you a collector and believe that you know how much your items are worth. This will give you the credibility to be an antiques dealer.
Check your crowd
You might get contacted by many people on the internet to search for the best price for your item. Some people will ask for payment for shipping and then promise to pay cash once you have delivered the item. You should be wary of scammers like these.
Take a look at the profile of a potential buyer on social media. See how long they’ve been using Facebook. Also, take a look at their reputation in the marketplace. Then you will be able to tell if the buyer is serious about buying your antiques.
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If you feel that an item in your collection is worth a significant amount of money, you should make sure to get insurance. Your item could get damaged during transport, and you could end up losing a lot of money. While insurance may cost you a small amount, it will protect your larger investment.
Where can I sell my antiques to get cash?
It can be lucrative and enjoyable to sell antiques. It can also be exhausting and frustrating, especially if it isn’t clear what to do. You can find buyers online or offline, no matter if you are looking to sell a few items once or start a side business selling antiques.
Do a little research for price discovery and then choose one of our suitable suggestions above to find a willing buyer. You never know!
This article should answer your question “Where can i sell my antiques for cash?”
Our other articles cover similar topics like living affordably, earning extra income, or starting a side-business.