Have some antiques or collectibles you want to sell? Selling vintage wares and antiques can be a good way to make some money.
Buying and selling antiques is a big business. According to the IBIS World, the online Antiques & Collectibles had a market size of about $2bn (yes, $2 billion) in the U.S. alone.
But where do you start though? Just what is the best place to sell your antiques?
Whether it’s art, furniture or stamps you want to sell, take a look at our list.
Below, I cover the best places where you can sell your antiques both online and near you.
Table of Contents
Where Can I Sell Antiques Near Me
Maybe you want to sell stuff near you? Selling locally is a good option for larger items, like furniture, where you want to avoid high shipping costs.
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Also, it’s a good way to get money fast because many local antique dealers & people who buy antiques near you will pay you on the spot.
Here are some great places to sell antiques near you.
1. Local antique stores
- Best for: Convenience and selling multiple items
Okay, your first port of call is at your local antique store. Most cities and towns have at least one antique store that will purchase stuff.
Get in touch with stores near you and ask if they would be willing to purchase goods from you.
Many stores will definitely be open to the option since they’re always looking to restock their inventory with new pieces. Some stores even allow you to rent a space at their shop if you have several antiques to sell.
Now, the only problem with selling through local antique stores is that you don’t tend to get the highest price. After all, these stores need to make a profit so will often buy your item for a lower price, and then they sell it for a profit.
Still though, it’s a convenient option as most people have antique stores nearby. Give this one a try if you have a lot of items to sell and want something easy!
2. Flea market
- Best for: Making money fast
Does your town have a flea market? If so, consider selling your items there. If you have a variety of things to sell, then this can be a great option. You can put your antiques up for sale as well as any other unwanted items that you’re looking to make money from.
Now, the only issue with selling at a flea market though is that you generally have to pay to rent a table or booth so that cost can cut into your profits a little. Still though, it’s a good option because you can set your own prices and get cash on the spot!
For making money fast, flea markets are definitely one of your best options.
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3. Yard sale
- Best for: Selling multiple items fast
Your good old fashioned yard sale can also be a great option for vintage items. Art, jewelry, furniture, you name it, can be sold at a yard sale. This is a convenient option, and it’s a good way to sell multiple items.
I would recommend yard sales if you just want to offload your items and aren’t really bothered about getting the highest price possible. This is because people like yard sales because they can find some great bargains. So you won’t necessarily get as much cash for items as you may elsewhere.
It can be a good idea to set your prices a little higher so that shoppers have room to haggle a little. Decide beforehand how low you’re willing to sell each item for. If your goal is to simply get rid of some antiques while making a little cash in the process, then you should definitely try having a yard sale. But, if that’s not the case, and you want to get the most money for your stuff, then skip this option.
4. Craigslist
- Best for: Setting your own prices and convenience
An option that most people simply don’t consider is Craigslist. And, that’s a shame because Craigslist is actually a great place to sell antiques.
There are lots of reasons for this too:
- You can set your own prices. So, you’re not at the whim of a store to give you a price that may be lower than what you’d get elsewhere.
- There are lots of people using Craigslist: So, depending on the city you live in, your listing could get 100s or even 1000s of views.
- It’s convenient for selling stuff locally. Since each city has its own section on Craigslist, you get your items in front of people who live near you. This means you don’t have to ship your antiques. You can simply meet your buyers in person instead.
It’s a great option that you should definitely consider. If you’re wondering where to sell antiques locally for the most cash, I would definitely give Craigslist a try.
5. Local consignment stores
- Best for: Selling items nearby
Next on the list we have local consignment stores.
With a consignment store, you bring in your item to the store where the employee evaluates it and quote you a price. If you agree to sell to the store, your item is displayed for sale in-store.
Now, consignment stores have their good side and their downsides too.
The good thing is that they really push to sell your items because well, the store is making a profit on your stuff too. So it wants your items to sell!
The downside to consignment stores though is that once the item sells, they take a commission.
Like I said, these stores feature your items in-store and push to sell them. For providing these services, they take a cut of your profits.
Depending on the store, they’ll take a cut of 20% to 40% or even more than that of what your antique item sells for.
Now, it’s important to note that each consignment store sets its own rules and policies for the percentage of the sale it takes. That’s why you should ask about the rules and commission rates before you place an item for sale with a certain store.
Aside from charging commission, some stores charge you a fee if your item doesn’t sell. So make sure that you learn about the cancellation rules, if any, that the store has.
6. Pawn shops
- Best for: Getting paid fast
Next on the list we have pawn shops. If you’re looking to make money fast, then you may want to give this option a try.
You can find local pawn shops by entering the term “pawn shops near me,” into Google, or “pawnshops [city name or zip code]” and you should get plenty of results near you.
Now, the thing about pawn shops is that they want to make a profit. Generally, their aim is to buy low and sell high to make a profit.
So, they’re really not going to offer you the best price for your items. If it’s big profit that you are looking for, give this option a miss.
On the other hand, if you want to just get rid of your antiques and hope to make a little cash, then pawn shops can be a good option.
7. Local auction houses
- Best for: Valuable items and making a profit
If you’re looking to get the most money for your antiques and collectibles, then local auction houses are definitely the way to go.
This is a particularly good option if you have some highly valuable antiques. And, you may also want to consider it if you have a large number of antiques you’d like to sell.
Auctions houses will sell your items at an auction and then they take a percentage of the profit when the item sells.
Now, what’s good about auction houses over, say selling on Craigslist, is that they are highly experienced at getting antiques out there in front of people. Depending on the auction house, they can bring in a large audience.
The auction may be advertised in order to attract a larger audience. And, that’s not the only reason to go with this option.
What’s interesting about selling antiques through auction houses is that they foster an atmosphere of excitement. This makes people eager to bid. People love going to auctions for the excitement of competing with others when bidding on items. This competitive element can really drive up the price your item sells for resulting in bigger profits for you.
You see, auction houses want to get the most money from your antiques because it increases their profits as well. That’s why they try to promote this competitive and exciting atmosphere at their auctions.
Now, like I said above, auction houses do take a cut of the profits. So that’s something to keep in mind if you are considering this option.
8. OfferUp
- Best for: Setting your own prices and finding local buyers
For local sales, an option to consider is OfferUp. It’s basically a website and app where you can buy and sell stuff locally. Now, OfferUp is good because you can list whatever you want for sale on there, including antiques, vintage items, and collectibles. Whether it’s vintage clothing or antique furniture, you can sell it with OfferUp.
Now, you can create a listing for your item on there for free!
That’s great, right?
You don’t have to pay any fees to use OfferUp, making this a great option if you’re looking to bolster your profits.
The site offers lots of different categories you can sell in, including antiques. So it’s definitely worth a try if you’d like to sell your antiques to someone locally.
9. 5miles
- Best for: Avoiding fees and selling for a profit locally
Next on the list we have 5miles. Like Craigslist and OfferUp, 5miles allows you to list stuff for sale locally. You can sell art, automobiles and everything in between.
The best part about 5miles is that you can list stuff for sale for free on there. I would recommend this site if you have a lot of different things to sell. If you have some collectible or valuable pieces, options like auction houses may work better for you profit-wise.
Still though, 5miles is a good option if you’re looking to sell items to people nearby, and don’t want to have to pay to list stuff for sale. Also, what’s good about selling through the platform is that you can set your own prices giving you more control over what you earn.
10. Apfelbaum, Inc.
- Best for: Selling stamps nearby
Have some vintage stamps to sell? If so, then I would recommend that you check out Apfelbaum, Inc. The company has been buying and selling stamps since 1910, making it a highly established place to sell through.
What’s good about selling stamps to Apfelbaum, Inc. is that you can get an immediate cash payment.
Now, the company travels to view and evaluate stamp collections. But, if you prefer, you can just ship your stamps to the company for free! The company even offers a free, comprehensive appraisal of your stamp collection.
11. West Coast Stamp Company
- Best for: Selling stamps locally
If you have some stamps to sell, another company to consider is the West Coast Stamp Company. It purchases stamp collections of all sizes and from every country.
The best part is that the company offers a free stamp collection appraisal!
If you’re looking to sell locally, the company will travel to you. Or you can choose to ship your stamp collection – the company will pay to ship it.
You also get paid the same day via bank wire transfer, which is great.
12. Facebook Marketplace
- Best for: Setting your own prices and local sales
Facebook Marketplace is another one to consider because you can list stuff for sale on there for free. So you don’t have to worry about wasting any money if your items don’t sell.
You can sell everything from vehicles to apparel on there. If you have a few antique items, you may want to list them on Facebook Marketplace. I would say that for more valuable pieces, there are better options like auction houses and consignment stores.
But, if you’re just looking to declutter a little and want to make a little cash in the process, the Facebook Marketplace is definitely one to consider. You can sell your antiques locally.
Where to Sell Antiques Online
Selling antiques to places and people nearby is great. But, it’s certainly not your only option. Selling online is also a great choice.
Now with some of the options above, you could also choose to sell online, as well as in person. In this section, I have even more options for you. If you would prefer to sell antiques online, then you should definitely give the sites below a try.
13. Etsy
- Why it’s good: Millions of customers looking for antiques and vintage items
One of the best places to sell antiques online is with Etsy. Since it’s known for handmade and vintage items, Etsy has a dedicated customer-base that’s on the look out for antiques.
Sure, sites like eBay and Craigslist are great because they get so many visitors. But, both of those are generic marketplaces where you’ll get people looking for everything from clothing to sports equipment. This means that although a lot of people visit those sites, they might not be looking to purchase antiques specifically.
That’s why Etsy is a great option. Many of its customers, the ones not looking for handmade items, are looking for vintage items, collectibles, and antiques. So, you get a more targeted customer base.
The site gets millions of customers each month. What’s great about Etsy is that it doesn’t charge a monthly fee for using the site.
The downside is that you do have to pay to list items for sale on there and the site does charge you commission when your stuff sells.
It costs $0.20 to list an item for sale there. You pay a 5% transaction fee and 3% plus $0.25 payment processing fee when your item sells.
Now, there is a “Plus” account, which is a premium membership that you can pay to get access to extra features. This costs $10 a month.
Etsy offers lots of tools to help you set up your store. Selling through Etsy is a good option if you have multiple items to sell.
14. TIAS
- Why it’s good: Targeted towards antiques specifically
Next on the list we have TIAS, which is an acronym of The Internet Antique Shop. The website features more than half a million vintage, antique, and collectibles for sale!
There are tons of different categories available on there, like:
- Architectural Antiques
- Art
- Autographs
- China and Dinnerware
- Clothing
- Coins and Currency
- Comics
- Jewelry
- Kitchen Collectibles
- Limited Edition Plates
- Memorabilia
- Porcelain and Pottery
- Sports
- Stamps
- Tobacciana
- Toys
- Vintage Electronics
- Vintage Sewing
If you have just one or a few items to sell, then you can place a classified ad on the site. Or if you have multiple items to sell, you can open an online shop.
What I like about TIAS is the fact that the site is aimed specifically at people who’re looking to purchase antiques.
So, you won’t find people looking for crafts as you would on Etsy or a multitude of different items as you would on more general marketplace sites like eBay. So, this is definitely one of the best aspects of using the TIAS.
You can sell stuff for a fixed price or at auction. On the homepage, which is linked in the heading of this section, simply click on “Sell Now” next to where it says, “Do You Have Something To Sell?”
Now, you do need to pay commission when your stuff sells. You pay 10% on the items that you sell at a fixed price on TIAS.com or a 2% commission on items you sell at online auctions through TIAS.com’s auction loading/management system. You may also need to pay a monthly fee.
You can learn more about fees charged by the site here.
15. Chairish
- Why it’s good: Great for vintage furniture and art
Chairish is another one to consider if you’re looking to make money from your old stuff.
On Chairish, you can sell vintage furniture, décor, and art.
The website allows you to list stuff for sale on the site for free. You can add photos, a story, and some details about a piece, and set your price.
The site approves items that appeal to its shoppers. Then, you can receive and respond to verified offers and questions. You can even opt in to offer discounts to interior designers. Once your item sells, the site will handle the shipping details for you, or you can opt-in for local pick-up and delivery. After the 48-hour return window, you get paid. You are sent 70% or more of the sale price right to your PayPal account.
16. eBay
- Why it’s good: Get your antique in front of millions of customers
For selling vintage items, antiques, and collectibles, eBay is one of the best sites around. While it’s not focused on antiques specifically, offering more of a general marketplace, it’s still worth your while.
The site has sections dedicated to things like antiques and collectibles.
The best part about selling through eBay is just how many visitors the site gets. To say that eBay is a popular site would be an understatement. It’s incredibly well-known, with millions of visitors each month.
You can list 50 items on the site for free. After that, you need to pay 30 cents per listing.
The only downside to the site is that it charges a 10% commission fee when your items sell.
So, do factor that in when you are pricing your items for sale on there.
17. Bonanza
- Why it’s good: Less competition than sites like eBay and Etsy, and no listing fees
For selling collectibles, Bonanza is great. It’s also awesome for antique and vintage items. It’s sort of like eBay, except, well, it’s way less competitive.
Sure, eBay and Etsy are great, but both feature a TON of listings, meaning that yours can get lost in the pack.
With Bonanza though, that’s not the case. The site is home to just 25,000 sellers, which is way less than the 2.5 million sellers on Etsy and the 25 million sellers on eBay. This means that your listing isn’t going to get lost among the competition.
It’s free to list stuff for sale on there, which is great. The only downside is that you have to pay a 3.5% commission fee when your item does sell. You can also opt-in to the site’s advertising program, and you can choose from a variety of different commission rates.
You can choose from a rate of 9%, 13%, 19%, or 30%, and, according to Bonanza, higher rates mean more buyer visits from Google Shopping and other sources.
18. Heritage Auctions
- Why it’s good: Great for valuable items
Next on the list we have Heritage Auctions. This is a well-known company that’s been around for 48 years. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Heritage Auctions is a reputable place to sell antiques.
You can sell lots of items like art, sports memorabilia, historical items, books, and coins through the site. It calls itself the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer.
If you have a lot of items or some valuable items, it’s worth selling on consignment with Heritage Auctions.
19. Sotheby’s
- Why it’s good: Incredibly reputable and you can sell a variety of antiques
Sotheby’s is an auction house where you could sell your antiques.
It’s a super well-known company having been founded in 1744!
Sotheby’s, which handles both auctions and private sales, is one of the world’s largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewelry, real estate, and collectibles.
You can sell silver, antique furniture, paintings, rare books and all sorts of stuff on consignment.
You can get an estimate for your items online too. You can submit photos of the item, and provide information like the dimensions of the item, it’s history, and any documentation. Then, submit it and the company’s specialists will review your submission.
20. Ruby Lane
- Why it’s good: Less competitive than eBay and you can sell a variety of items
Next on the list we have Ruby Lane. It’s a website where you can list stuff for sale. You can sell a variety of antique items on there and collectibles. You can sell everything from vintage jewelry to antique art.
You can list 50 items for free on there. But, you do have to pay a maintenance fee of $54 a month. After listing 50 items for free, it costs, 1 cent to 30 cents per listing depending on the number of items that you have listed on there. Also, the website charges a service fee of 6.7% based on the Purchase Order total (this does not include Sales Tax), and it is capped at $250.
I think this site is a good option because compared to places like eBay it’s not quite as popular, which means your listings are less likely to get lost among the competition.
Having said that though, the fact that you have to pay $54 a month is a bit of a downside. But the site is still worth considering.
21. ArtFire
- Why it’s good: Ad-free product listings, and you can sell a variety of items
With ArtFire, you can sell a variety of items including antiques. What’s good about the site is that it automatically shares all of your items to the major search engines. And, it also gets millions of shoppers. Interestingly, there are no ads on shop or item pages, which makes your listings look great.
Now, the downside to this site is that you have to pay a monthly fee to sell on there. This can be $4.95 a month, $20 a month, or $40 a month depending on the membership plan that you choose.
Now, with the $4.95 membership plan, you do have to pay to list items for sale on the site. It costs 23 cents per listing. If you don’t want to pay listing fees, then you will need to upgrade to the $20 a month plan.
Aside from those fees, the site also charges commission. You would think that since you’re paying a monthly fee, then you wouldn’t need to pay any commission. Sadly, that’s not the case.
Here’s what you have to pay:
- 5% final valuation fee with the $4.95 plan and you are limited to 250 listings.
- 5% valuation fee on the $20 a month plan and the $40 a month plan. And you are limited to 1,000 listings with the $20 plan and 2,500 listings with the $40 plan.
These fees are definitely the biggest downside to the site.
FAQs
Okay, so in this section, I just wanted to cover some answers to some common questions regarding antiques.
When it comes to selling antiques, I’ve seen people asking these questions a lot. I thought I’d share some answers and some tips too, which will, hopefully, help you to sell your antiques for the most cash!
How do I know if my antiques are worth money?
It can be tough to know whether or not an antique is actually valuable.
There are a few things to look out for though. If your item fits any of the criteria below, then it could be valuable:
It’s rare
Generally speaking, the rarer an item is, the more money you are going to get for it.
But, how do you know if it’s rare?
Well, here’s what to look out for:
- There are not many of the item out there: Perhaps there weren’t many of the item made in the first place. That’s not always the case though. No, an item can be rare even if it was once manufactured in large quantities. This is because items, particularly ones that were fragile, such as tea sets, porcelain items, or crystal items, can break. So, over time, the amount of them diminishes. Also, even items that aren’t particularly fragile can get damaged over time, and they’re eventually discarded.
- It’s not being reproduced: Do you have an antique that’s difficult to reproduce, or people just aren’t reproducing it? Those types of items are rarer, so they could bring in more cash.
- The piece is unusual for that type of item: Does the antique feature a rare color that’s not normally associated with that type of item? Or is it a more unusual size or shape? These things all make an item rare, and therefore, increase its value.
It’s in demand
Items that are currently in demand or on-trend can be more valuable. For example, Tiffany lamps are now highly sought-after decades after they were created.
The condition the item is in
Generally speaking, the better condition an item is in, the more money you will get for it. Also, the less that’s been done to alter the original item, the better in terms of value.
Authenticity
Do you have documentation to prove the item’s authenticity? Can you prove it’s from a particular time period? Or that it’s from a specific artist (is there a signature?)
If you can prove an item’s authenticity, you’ll, generally, get more money for it.
What type of antiques are worth money?
It depends on lots of factors, but a few valuable antiques include:
- Midcentury barware
- Vintage comic books
- Frist edition books
- Rare books
- Vintage typewriters
- Antique furniture
- Concert posters
- Milton Bradley board games
- Lunch boxes
- Art deco clocks
- Duck decoys
- Baseball cards
- Ozark tourist pottery
- Postcards
- Cast iron doorstops
- Lamps
How should I price my antiques for sale?
If you’re working with a place like an auction house, auction store, or pawn shop, they’ll give you a price or appraisal.
But, what if you’re listing your antiques for sale on a site like Craigslist or selling them at a yard sale or flea market?
Just how do you determine the right price to sell them for?
If you’re selling the items directly on a site like Craigslist, 5miles, or eBay, then you’ll need to set your own price.
Look online to see what others are selling for: Go onto eBay or whatever site you plan to sell through and type in the name of the item you want to sell. Then, you’ll be able to see what other people are selling similar items for.
How can I sell my antiques fast?
Okay, so there are a lot of options when it comes to selling antiques. Each one has its own benefits. Selling to an auction house is ideal for valuable items and they often seek to get you the most money.
But, it’s not always the quickest process for making money. If making money fast is your main concern, then selling to a pawn shop is a good idea. While they generally don’t offer the highest prices, they do pay you on the spot. So this is a great option if you want to sell antiques quickly. Other good options for making money quickly include selling at flea markets and yard sales.
Where can I sell my antiques?
There are so many options for selling your old stuff, which I covered in more detail above. This can include:
- Pawn shops
- Antique stores
- Yard sales
- Flea markets
- Etsy
- Heritage Auctions
- Chairish
Make sure you check out the list above for even more options.
Do antique stores buy antiques?
Yes, many antique stores do purchase antiques. They do this because they’re looking for stuff to add to their stores. Most of the time, these stores sell your stuff on consignment, so you get a percentage of the sale price.
So, Where Should You Sell Antiques?
It’s really up to you!
The best place to sell your antiques depends on your needs.
For example:
- If you want to make the most money, try an auction house like Heritage Auctions or Sotheby’s or a local auction house.
- If you want to make money fast try selling to a pawn shop or at a flea market.
- If you’d like to be able to set your own prices and have more control over the process, try selling through a site or app like Craigslist, Etsy, or Bonanza.
It’s really up to you! Think about what you want, and then choose a place from our list that best suits your needs.
What do you think is the best place to sell your antiques? Let us know in the comments section below.
eduard
yes i think its a relly good place to sell stuff
edward meyers
i got star war collectibles item from the 1977 to 1998 i got kenner /memorabillia and lot more to sell