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In this guide I will try to explain why I think eBay is a much better option for consumers to buy art and antiques than the large auction houses such as Christie's and Sotheby's.
Everyday, the advent of technology makes the world smaller and what was once exotic and expensive is now pretty much as close as a click of the mouse. Therefore, normal customers and serious collectors alike have many more options to choose from to find unique items to suit their tastes. Nowhere can this be more palpable than the international art market. My own little area of expertise is Latin American Art and I can say from experience that a decade ago, buying serious artwork at auction meant waiting as long as six months for the big name auction houses to hold their long awaited Latin American Art Sales. Today, things have changed, and for the most part, it has brought more and better options for the consumer.
Although the large auction houses still control the art market, some of us smaller vendors are beginning to see a change in the wind as to where people shop. Day after day, we find news stories like the $5 Charlie Chaplin film, and the Lord of the Manor of Warleigh estate and title sale have made eBay a household name around the world. It's clear that this world wide market is here to stay and gaining ground even. As demand grows, so does the supply. In the art category, eBay has been steadily rising with respected international galleries joining in to display their collections to the world.
So what is it exactly that makes eBay a better alternative than the main auction houses?
Year round availability.
You can find almost anything all the time, not just twice a year as it happens with the Latin American Sales. Ebay is open 24/7/365.
Pictures, pictures, pictures.
Often, the main auction houses just have a small picture of the item being sold. Sometimes their catalogs just list the item without even a picture! Ebay sellers are usually careful enough to add images of the items, and not just one, but many. As a seller, the experience we wish our customers to achieve is the feeling of having the item in front of them, so they can be sure of what they are getting before making any bids or offers. Live auction requires customers to attend the pre-sale show to detect any imperfections.
Superb Customer Service.
I know from years experience of selling items here, that eBay shares our commitment for customer service. Online sellers must understand that customers have not been in contact with the items they purchase so a good return policy is a must, whereas the main auction houses do not offer return policies since they sell with an As-Is policy. Frankly, I don't think any of the major auction houses would compare in ratings to reputable online art merchants like us.
Prices.
We know perfectly well that the same item being offered on eBay could fetch a better price at a major auction house. We have experience selling lots that have previously sold on Sotheby's or Christie's in the past and know how difficult it is to find a buyer willing to bid as much online. However, catalog fees, photograph fees, high commissions and other charges that the major galleries charge level the playing fields for us as sellers, so in a sense it's a win-win situation.
No Hidden Fees.
Of course, when dealing with a live auction, you always have to consider the buyers premium which can range anywhere from 10 to 20% plus tax. The part I love about eBay is that the price you set is the price you pay.
Shipping.
Usually, auction houses do not take care of shipping and when they do, they charge astronomical prices. The system that eBay has employed makes the shipping price as important as the price of the item itself so you can know beforehand how much you will have to pay to actually receive the item in your home.
I hope sharing my thoughts will help others to open up to the possibility of experiencing the purchase of art and antiques through eBay. It's no different than visiting a dealer at a market. It's easy to point out the reputable dealers based on the years of experience of their establishments and their feedback. If you exercise a little caution and limit yourself to good merchants you will undoubtedly share my opinion that eBay is in fact a much better market place for art and antiques than Sotheby's or Christie's.
Everyday, the advent of technology makes the world smaller and what was once exotic and expensive is now pretty much as close as a click of the mouse. Therefore, normal customers and serious collectors alike have many more options to choose from to find unique items to suit their tastes. Nowhere can this be more palpable than the international art market. My own little area of expertise is Latin American Art and I can say from experience that a decade ago, buying serious artwork at auction meant waiting as long as six months for the big name auction houses to hold their long awaited Latin American Art Sales. Today, things have changed, and for the most part, it has brought more and better options for the consumer.
Although the large auction houses still control the art market, some of us smaller vendors are beginning to see a change in the wind as to where people shop. Day after day, we find news stories like the $5 Charlie Chaplin film, and the Lord of the Manor of Warleigh estate and title sale have made eBay a household name around the world. It's clear that this world wide market is here to stay and gaining ground even. As demand grows, so does the supply. In the art category, eBay has been steadily rising with respected international galleries joining in to display their collections to the world.
So what is it exactly that makes eBay a better alternative than the main auction houses?
Year round availability.
You can find almost anything all the time, not just twice a year as it happens with the Latin American Sales. Ebay is open 24/7/365.
Pictures, pictures, pictures.
Often, the main auction houses just have a small picture of the item being sold. Sometimes their catalogs just list the item without even a picture! Ebay sellers are usually careful enough to add images of the items, and not just one, but many. As a seller, the experience we wish our customers to achieve is the feeling of having the item in front of them, so they can be sure of what they are getting before making any bids or offers. Live auction requires customers to attend the pre-sale show to detect any imperfections.
Superb Customer Service.
I know from years experience of selling items here, that eBay shares our commitment for customer service. Online sellers must understand that customers have not been in contact with the items they purchase so a good return policy is a must, whereas the main auction houses do not offer return policies since they sell with an As-Is policy. Frankly, I don't think any of the major auction houses would compare in ratings to reputable online art merchants like us.
Prices.
We know perfectly well that the same item being offered on eBay could fetch a better price at a major auction house. We have experience selling lots that have previously sold on Sotheby's or Christie's in the past and know how difficult it is to find a buyer willing to bid as much online. However, catalog fees, photograph fees, high commissions and other charges that the major galleries charge level the playing fields for us as sellers, so in a sense it's a win-win situation.
No Hidden Fees.
Of course, when dealing with a live auction, you always have to consider the buyers premium which can range anywhere from 10 to 20% plus tax. The part I love about eBay is that the price you set is the price you pay.
Shipping.
Usually, auction houses do not take care of shipping and when they do, they charge astronomical prices. The system that eBay has employed makes the shipping price as important as the price of the item itself so you can know beforehand how much you will have to pay to actually receive the item in your home.
I hope sharing my thoughts will help others to open up to the possibility of experiencing the purchase of art and antiques through eBay. It's no different than visiting a dealer at a market. It's easy to point out the reputable dealers based on the years of experience of their establishments and their feedback. If you exercise a little caution and limit yourself to good merchants you will undoubtedly share my opinion that eBay is in fact a much better market place for art and antiques than Sotheby's or Christie's.
Guide created: 11/11/09
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