Antique Furniture on eBay? You've got to be kidding!

It does seem a little farfetched, doesn't it? But finding great antique furniture on eBay is not only possible, it's a wonderful way to save time, money, gas and frustration and find an amazing selection of great old furniture and decorative accessories for your home. As long time eBay shoppers and sellers, we strongly recommend pouring a cup of coffee (or tea, as you wish) and spending an hour or two perusing the listings here. We expect you'll be pleasantly surprised at the selection, price, convenience and fun of furniture shopping on eBay.

Eek! I'm still a little nervous, how do I start?

The first thing, of course, is to find the furniture. One could search for "antique furniture," but that would eliminate thousands of great pieces which don't have those key words in the title! As an example, considering a search for "antique desk," turns up this information:

Antique Desk Search Results

As you can see, it's a little crowded with over 1000 listings. Look to the left in the yellow box, under "Matching Categories." One option under the Antiques section is "Furniture." Clicking on this link thins the herd a bit, bringing up items that are specifically listed as desks.

It may seem confusing that there are several categories of items which have "antique desk" in the title. These may be pieces which serve a dual purpose or, as with many old pieces of furniture such as tables, vanities, and such, can be made to serve the purpose of desk while having the actual title of "desk."

Again, moving to the yellow category box and clicking on desks thins the findings just a bit more:

Antique Desk Category Search Results

If you're new to eBay, you may not yet be aware that besides auction listings, which are time limited and require bidding, there are hundreds of listings in eBay stores. Amazing, isn't it? Even more beautiful furniture available for immediate purchase at a set price, no bidding involved.

eBay stores can be located by clicking on the "Advanced Search" link in the upper right corner of any eBay page. That will give you a page that looks like this:

eBay Store Search Link

The same method of refining the options discussed above will help you refine the offerings in the eBay stores. The benefit of store listings is that you'll have a bit more time to make a decision (don't hesitate too long, it's amazing how once interest is expressed in a piece, someone else charges in and nabs it ~ very strange). In addition, all store listings are listed at a flat rate for immediate purchase. Some may have the added feature of "make an offer," which can be great fun and result in a better deal. One caution with "make an offer:" don't make a silly offer because once your seller denies it, you'll not be able to make another one.

Yikes! So many desks, how do I decide?

 It would be simple to say "I want the best desk at the cheapest price!" We all do, and on eBay, you'll often get it. But there are other variables to consider. We'll finish up this guide with a discussion of what to look for in a listing, but here are some basics related to buying anything on eBay.

First of all, you'll want to check your seller's reputation. Looking at the seller's feedback rating will give you an idea of how he or she conducts business on eBay. Are they willing to assist with resolving problems? Do they follow through and try to fix any difficulties that may arise? Are the seller's previous customers pleased?

If you've got a good seller with a high and positive feedback rating, the next thing to do is to look closely at the listing. Read everything in the listing, tedious as that might be, because every listing will contain important information about the sale. It's important that the seller take the time to provide information about the item, its condition, the shipping process, costs of shipping, and means to get in touch with them.

Considering the cost of shipping is a bit more important with furniture than with CDs and DVDs and purses. Shipping furniture can be pricey: it's important to get either a commitment to ship for a certain dollar amount or a range of possible shipping costs prior to finalizing the sale. Being surprised in this area post-sale can be unpleasant. An easy way to avoid any unpleasantness is to look for listings which state a flat rate shipping price up front. And remember that shopping for antique furniture on eBay eliminates sales tax, the loooong and often fruitless search for the perfect treasure, and much frustration and time. That will often balance out the cost of shipping and end up in a significant cost savings.

So what about the listing?

Photos. Descriptive information. Measurements. Condition. Beyond all of the details related to shipping, payment, that sort of thing, photos, the description and the condition are critical. Lots of photos are important when you can't actually lay hands on a piece. Measurements are mandatory when buying furniture online ~ you'll want to actually map out the size of the piece in your home to determine a good fit. Most people do not have a realistic idea of what 2' or 6" or 6' looks like: use a tape measure. Look for a seller who has experience selling and shipping large items on eBay.

Is there anything else to consider?

As with all eBay transactions, have a little fun with the process. Get to know your seller by reading their listings and/or communicating through email. Once you become comfortable with a seller and his or her way of doing business, you'll likely find yourself going back for more. It's possible to furnish your whole home on eBay and nothing beats shopping from home.