How to be an antique collector
So many people are looking for work these days that the market is flooded. Sometimes you have to move in another direction to make ends meet. Many people have turned to eBay and other websites to try to earn a little extra money to keep food on the table. eBay has left many of those people in the dust as it courts big money companies selling TVs, Xboxes, computers and the like. Combine that with the fact that the “eBay craze” has brought far too many people into the market with old Granny dishes and prices have generally plunged. But there is still a way!
Long before eBay, there were collectors. These were, and still are, the people who spent their weekends scouring the alleyways and residential streets looking for something cheap or disposable that they could devour and turn into profit. You can do it too! Lots of money can be made with little investment other than time. Let me say up front that in this business, as in many others, knowledge is king. The more you know, the more money you can earn. But you don’t need a lot of knowledge to get started. And there is a great deal of help available. Pickers scour garage sales, auctions, estate sales, the dump, and any likely location to find something they can sell. If you have multiple items on hand, you can start turning them into cash.
Clean your items so they are as presentable as possible. Dust most things with a damp cloth, but keep in mind that not everything needs to be wiped clean. Silver must be polished, also silver, although gently. Glass and ceramic need to be cleaned. Wood products generally need to be cleaned with a damp cloth. Let the buyer polish how he wants. Swords, guns and other metal objects must be left at the discretion of the buyer.
Research them to find out exactly what they are, their retail value, how much you paid (no more than 50% of what you plan to sell) Garage sale items are usually the cheapest, but competition can be fierce and you can get your feet stepped on Country auctions are more expensive, although some sleepers can sneak in. Estate sales can be a good source, although they are usually priced quite high.
Offer your items for sale: Consider eBay, although prices there for more common items have dropped recently. eBay has started catering more to the big new product merchants, but you can still sell your products there if you’re careful. Consider making your own website. Sell to distributors at wholesale prices. You’ll earn less per item, but with quick turnover so your money can really work for you. Rent space in an antique mall. Make sure the space is well lit and (hopefully) in the middle of traffic and not in a lonely corner. Overhead at a mall adds up, but you can easily sell your best items there with a minimum of hassle. Try to make your articles a little better than the competition.
Remember to keep track of the miles you drive, the cost of your products, the extra costs of doing business, get some books to help you learn about antiques in your area. Price guides are a great help in getting you the highest prices for the perfect samples.