What To Sell On eBay :: Online Antique Auctions

Online Antique Auctions: Selling Antiques Via Online Auctions Still Pays Off

Online antique auctions were the backbone of eBay from its very early days. Unique, one-of-a-kind items were the biggest sellers on eBay for quite some time. But according to eBay itself, antiques and collectibles have dropped to about 12% of the total merchandise sold.

Does this mean that selling antiques at online auctions is no longer worthwhile? Not at all! In fact, these numbers are somewhat deceptive, in terms of opportunity:

1. Back when half, or more, of eBay sales were in the antiques category, the sheer volume of sales and customers on eBay was much, much smaller. When I began on eBay in 1996, there were only a few hundred of us, though that's hard to even imagine today. But this means that the actual number of auctions is still quite large.

2. Secondly, with the public awareness of online auctions today, it's more difficult to find bargains in the antiques and collectibles field. Just about everybody has heard of eBay, and few people give away their treasures for rock bottom prices anymore. Yet, there is still a finite supply of items - the result being that many of these treasures go for higher and higher prices.

3. Because of the fame and familiarity with the Internet, eBay and other online auction auctions, collectors from all over the world regularly scour the web looking for additions to their cherished collections. One of my students recently sold a rare and valuable Ducati motorcycle, and he had bidders from Poland, Ireland, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Honduras, England, France and Spain, as well as Canada and the US. Whew!

On eBay, the antiques are divided into the following categories (although these are subject to change at any time):

Antiquities
Egyptian
Greek
Roman
The Americas
Other

Architectural & Garden
Ceiling Tins
Chandeliers, Fixtures, Sconces
Doors
Finials
Fireplaces, Mantles
Garden
Hardware
Signs
Stained Glass
Tiles
Weathervanes, Lightning Rods
Windows, Sashes, Locks
Other

Asian Antiques
Chinese
Japanese
Southeast Asian
Other

Books, Manuscripts
American
Asian
English
European
Other

Decorative Arts
Ceramics, Porcelain
Clocks
Glass
Lamps
Metalware
Mirrors
Picture Frames
Toleware
Woodenware
Other

Ethnographic
African
Latin American
Native American
Pacific Rim
Other

Furniture
Beds
Benches, Stools
Bookcases
Cabinets, Armoires, Cupboards
Chairs
Desks
Dining Sets
Dressers, Vanities
Sofas, Chaises
Tables, Stands
Other Furniture

Maps, Atlases, Globes
Globes
Maps, Atlases
Maps on CD

Maritime
Anchors
Bells, Whistles
Clocks
Compasses
Diving Helmets
Fishing Nets, Floats
Lamps, Lighting
Model Ships
Portholes
Scrimshaw
Sextants
Telescopes
Wheels
Other

Musical Instruments
Keyboard
Percussion
String
Wind

Primitives

Rugs, Carpets
Small (1x2-4)
Medium (4x2-9x6)
Large (9x7-9x12)
Larger than 9x12
Runners
Other

Science & Medicine
Medical
Science Instruments
Other

Silver
Coin Silver
Silverplate
Sterling

Textiles, Linens
Embroidery
Fabric
Lace, Crochet, Doilies
Linens
Pillows
Quilts, Bedspreads
Samplers
Tapestries

Other

With such a gigantic assortment of antiques to sell on the online auction sites, it's easy to see that the antiques and collectibles market will be healthy and strong indefinitely.

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