Best Ways to Sell Your Antiques & Vintages
The websites and stores listed below will help you quickly sell your antiques and get cash. Depending on which option works best for you, you can sell online or locally with these options.
1. Etsy
Etsy only allows people to sell handmade, custom-made, one-of-a-kind, or vintage items. If you sell antiques, you fit into the “vintage” category.
Several types of items qualify as vintage on Etsy, including:
- Clothing
- Books, movies, and music
- Home decor items
- Jewelry and accessories
- Toys and games
2. Amazon
Another great option is to sell vintage items on Amazon. It’s not as easy as selling used items you find lying around your house on other marketplaces such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Still, you can sell products in specific categories on Amazon. Amazon is not a flea market, so you can’t sell all used or preowned items; they need to be like new or at least refurbished. Here is how to sell used items on amazon.
Amazon has imposed these restrictions to ensure that the products being sold on its website – whether used or new – are safe, authentic, and meet customer expectations.
In addition, some of these categories – such as collectible coins and entertainment collectibles – are gated, meaning you must go through an “ungating” process to sell these products.
3. eBay
eBay is the old resource for selling antiques and other items. One of the benefits of selling your antiques on eBay is its reach.
According to the eBay website, there are more than 177 million buyers, which means that the antiques you want to sell have massive exposure.
4. Flea Markets
Another option to sell your antiques could be to offer them at flea markets. There are several ways to make money at a flea market.
You can even join the traveling market that goes from town to town. Selling your antiques at a flea market is best if you have a lot of antiques to sell. Most flea markets charge rent for the booth or table you use to display your wares.
5. Pawn Shops
Local pawn shops are another place you can sell your antiques. Search online for nearby pawn shops and take your items to the store to ask what they can offer you for the items.
Make it clear that you do not want the item returned and that it is theirs to sell if you agree on a selling price.
What Kind of Antiques Are Worth Money?
We know that selling antiques on Amazon is a great way to earn money, but can you sell any item you find in your attic or basement? What kind of antiques is worth more? Here are some of the most valuable antiques and vintage items you can sell on Amazon:
- Depression glass
- Original paintings
- Rare and old books and comic books
- Sterling silverware
- Victorian-era art pottery
- Old clocks
- Old cameras and lenses
- Novelty Barware
- Old coins
- China sets
- Old Jewelry
- Antique vinyl records and players
- Old tools and toolboxes
- Perfume bottles
- Vintage tea and dining sets
- Fountain pens
Can You Sell Antiques, Collectibles & Vintage Items on Amazon?
As we mentioned, it is possible to sell collectibles on Amazon, but you have to know which categories are allowed and what rules Amazon has imposed regarding this matter. Here’s a list of all the Amazon categories that allow used items:
- Amazon Device Accessories
- Amazon Kindle
- Automotive & Powersports
- Books
- Camera & Photo
- Cell Phone & Accessories
- Consumer Electronics
- Home & Garden
- Industrial & Scientific
- Kindle Accessories and Amazon Fire TV Accessories
- Major Appliances
- Music
- Musical Instruments
- Office Products
- Outdoors
- Personal Computers
- Pet Supplies
- Software
- Sports
- Tools & Home Improvement
- Video, DVD & Blu-ray
- Video Games
If your item falls into any of the above categories, you can start selling vintage items on Amazon. Make sure that your product meets the criteria specified by Amazon:
- The item cannot be dirty with mold, heavy staining, corrosion, or other signs of uncleanliness.
- The item cannot have damage that impacts the ability to use it.
- The item should not be missing parts or accessories essential to it (not including instructions)
- The item should not need repairs
- The item should not be a copy, counterfeit, replica, or imitation of an original product
- The item should not have been created for promotional purposes, for example, a product sample or advance reading copy
- The item should not be expired or close to expiring
- The item should not have been designated unsellable by the manufacturer
Here is how to sell used items on amazon.
Amazon, eBay, or ESTY; Which is Better to Sell Antiques?
In addition to selling collectibles on Amazon, you can also sell your vintage items on other popular marketplaces such as eBay or ETSY. In this section, we’ll introduce each marketplace to see which one fits your needs better.
eBay is an online auction-system marketplace where users can place bids on items, with the highest bid winning the item at the end of the auction. eBay is great if you need an item out of your life by a specific date, as it allows you to set a timeframe for the auction, but you need to be patient and wait for the right buyer. So, if you have thousands of items you want to sell as quickly as possible, eBay is not the best choice. Also, remember that eBay has a pretty high selling fee, so make sure you take that into account.
On the other hand, Amazon is the biggest marketplace in the world, with a vast audience. To sell antiques on Amazon, you should first understand your target audience. eBay is a better choice if you have unique or hard-to-come-by items, while Amazon is more suited for sellers who need high traffic and volume. So, if you have a popular item or a large number of the same product, Amazon is the marketplace for you.
Lastly, you have the option of selling vintage items on ETSY. Compared with Amazon and eBay, ETSY is more suitable for artisans or people who mainly sell handmade or DIY items. Unique items sell well on both ETSY and eBay, but you should be prepared to commit to personal customer service if you choose ETSY. Now that you found out about Amazon vintage sales learn how to start selling on ebay 2024.
Final Thoughts
And that’s how you sell vintage items on Amazon. Before selling your antiques, get to know the market and consider using one of the marketplaces introduced in this article to gain the most profit. If you don’t have any antiques at home, you can check out your local pawn shops or auction houses to source your products. We recommend starting with books because they are relatively cheap and easy to find.
FAQs
Some apps such as WorthPoint or ValueMyStuff can help you value your antiques at home, but it’s better to visit a local appraiser, an expert who will research the market to determine the value of your vintage items.
Unfortunately, most antiques will lose all or part of their value if damaged, but the ultimate decision is up to the buyer.
Records, vintage advertising signage, books, toys, jewelry, and Art Deco are antiques with the highest demand.
Pink, green, and blue glassware from the Great Depression tend to be the rarest and, therefore, more valuable.
11 replies on “Ultimate Guide to Start Selling Antiques, Collectibles & Vintage Items on Amazon”
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