Guide to Buying Antiques Online for Antique Dealers

The Internet offers antique dealers many outlets, services, and access to buyers

By Lorraine Savage, freelance writer and editor, Athena's Scribe

1. Try easy-to-use online auctions to find antiques for sale as a replacement for expensive and time consuming live auctions.
2. When shopping for antiques online, make sure you know what you’re buying, ask antique sellers plenty of questions, and ask for more photos.
3. When you join a community of antique dealers, request a link exchange to increase customer flow to your website and display your antiques for sale.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Navigate through the Internet to find antique dealers online

The Internet, with its vast connection to millions of people around the world, is a boon for antique dealers. You can find local antique dealers or dealers from other countries. Another advantage of the Internet is that you can search through numerous linked sites for a particular item, dealer, event, or location. For instance, if you're looking for antique toy dealers, you can narrow your search to toy dealers on the West coast, or even more specifically to one antique doll dealer in Oregon.

I recommend: Antiques-Internet.com provides searches for antique sellers and buyers. Antiques Dealer Guide helps you locate antique dealers and services.

Check the credentials of antique dealers

Antique appraisal is a skilled profession. With the advent of the Internet, it's easier to buy and sell, which might make fraud easier to perpetrate. To protect yourself and your investment, research online antique dealers before making a large purchase. When working with an antique furniture dealer, for example, look for certified and accredited appraisers. These skilled people can also help you with damage and loss claims, auction representation, and equitable settlements and disposition.

I recommend: Reference the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America. Duveen and Edwards Inc. offers information on antique appraisals.

Join a trade association for antique sellers and buyers

Trade associations are available to help both the antique dealer and the buyer. They offer information, reference material, and publications about various kinds of antiques. They can help you make contacts with appraisers and restoration services, and set you up with auctions, exhibits, and museums. Associations can also help protect you against fraud and counterfeit. You can join a national association for general information and services, a state association that helps promote local shops and events, or a specialized group, such as for antique tool dealers, antique gun dealers, or antique glass dealers.

I recommend: National Antique and Art Dealer Association of America and the Antique Dealers’ Association of America. The Maine Antique Digest provides editorials, commentaries, blogs, and news reports about antiques.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Antique dealers should be cautious when using online appraisal services, as it is difficult to accurately appraise the condition of an item through photos.
• •  Use a search service to find rare and out of print books from antique book dealers.
• •  The Internet helps antique collectible dealers find estate liquidators, flea markets, hand-made items, and dealers in specific items.