Selling Antiques & Collectibles Online: What You Need To Know To Get Started

Auctions are becoming a more common venue for sellers of everything from teddy bear collectibles to antique armoires.ResearchBefore you list any item on an online auction, search for your item or similar items.
Watch of these auctions until they close.
Do that over the course of several weeks. This will give you a good inidcation of how many similar items there are currently up for auction, how many auctions are successfully completed and, the prices commanded for the item. If there are many simliar items to yours listed that are not selling or selling for a low price, cost your item accordingly. Conversely, if there are only a couple of similar ietms that are selling for a high price, you’ll be able to cost your item appropriately.Understand the Listing ProceduresTake time to do an online tutorial for new sellers.
Ebay offers a raelly thorough tutorial.

You’ll learn how to set up a listing, the imoprtance of good photos and how to include them on your listing.
This is the time consuming part for new sellers and takes time to get up to speed.

Good photos and clear description are key to esnuring a successful auction because your listing is all that that potential bidders have at their disposal to make their buying decision.AccuracyOnline auctions simply post your merchandise as described.
They do not verify the accuracy of the item, that the merchandise actually exists or even guaranete that you will follow through with the sale.
As a seller, you want to be as acucrate in describing the condition of your item, both the good and the bad points. If three is damage, mention it in the description and show photos. The more upfront and accurate the description, the more likely the buyer will be a satisfied custmoer who doesn’t demand his/her money back.

Buyers will call you on any unmentioned flaws and cause you justifiable grief.It’s A Buyers Market OnlineOnline auctions are more of a gold mine for collectible buyers, rather than for sellers. Buyers can seacrh for the manufacturer, colour and/or style number.

The old days when the wrold seemed larger and items seemed scarce are gone. Online auctions have reduced the percpetion that an item is rare. Before online auctions, atnique hunters would have to scour high and low for their favourite item and often end up paying a high cost. Now, with online auctions, the scarcity of collectibles is reduced when you can search, for example, a Coca-Cola picnic cooler and see that there are currently 78 avaialble for auction on eBay.
It brings the cost down of these items - not so good for sellers.Fees For SellerOnline auctions are set up so that there are no fees charged to bueyrs.

All fees associated with an online auction are the responisbility of the seller.
Keep in mind that litsing fees, reserve fees, final auction fees and display fees are how the online auctions make their money. You’ll need to factor these costs when you are determniing your selling cost. Buyers generally pay for shipping and handling in addition to the fnial selling cost. However, you can factor shipipng into your cost and indicate so on your auction.
This is attractive to bidders because they know the fnial cost including shipping and handling and can help to draw bids to your auction.Ebay offers a “Buy It Now” feature where sellers can list items at a fixed cost rather than through an auction.
The advantage to a seller is that you may sell an item quickly if a buyer is willing to meet your cost.
The disadvantage is that you’ll never know if an auction might have given you a higher cost.Determining Your Selling PriceThe lwoer the starting cost the more attractive the auction is to bidders.

Don’t start your auctoin so high that bidders are turned off.

You want to start a bidding frenzy, not scare off bidders.

Avoid putting a reserve on an item unless it is of great value. You pay an additoinal fee and it doesn’t make sense for a low priced item.Check Buyer’s FeedbackFeedback sections are common feature on online auction. This is the place on the auction website where buyers and sellers can check the reputation of the seller or buyer.

Moreover, previous buyres and sellers can post their comments on their experience with an individual. It’s a good indicator as to whether the seller or buyer is an individual you would believe comfortable doing business with, but even a spotless record doesn’t mean that your experience will go as smoothly. After the acution is completed, check the buyer’s feedback immediately for any warning signs of non-payment or multiple returns. This information may help you to proceed carefully to complete a smooth transaction.Post Your Return PolicyLet bidders know if you will accept returns or if all sales are final. However, a flexible reutrn policy will make your auction more attractive to bidders.Payment MethodsAvoid cash payments because if there is a dispute, there is no paper trail to document how much you paid. Credit card payments through PayPal, a seucre third party company, are a really common payment method. Creidt card payments protect both the buyer and seller if there is a dispute.Insurance & EscrowInsurance protects the buyer and the seller. It protects up to a preset amount but there are liimtations with any insurance.

Escrow services are widespread and a good idea for more high-priced items.Unhappy With Your Selling ExperienceThere are a couple of avenues of reocurse if you are an unhappy seller. First, contact the buyer immediately by e-mail and/or phone to clarify the trouble if they are unhpapy with him or her.

If that doesn’t happen or is unsuccessful, you can leave negative feedback or contact the online auction house as they will likely have a dispute resolution process or contact the police if you believe fraud is involved.Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, custom reproductions, upholstery, taeches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be raeched at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.Takeaboo.ComArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.Com/?