The internet has transformed a myriad of industries, including the collectibles marketplace. Once upon a time, people traveled from antique store to antique store or collectibles shop to collectibles shop in the hope of finding items for their collection. Others browsed the sale section of newspapers, hoping to locate a worthy find. Today, people can now shop for collectibles from the comfort of their own home by visiting online estate sales. Finding a Mickey Mantle baseball in mint condition or a photo with Lucille Ball’s autograph may only be a few clicks of the mouse away. If you have a collection of stamps, postcards, antiques, or other collections, you can find items easily when you shop online estate sales.
Greater Variety
You’ll find that you’re likely to find a larger selection of the items you’re interested in than in physical locations. At a brick and mortar shop, you’ll only find items that happen to be available in that particular location, which is limited by geography. Online auctions draw sellers from all over the map. This means that they tend to have a much more expansive inventory of collectibles like vintage jewelry, old baseball cards, stamps, coins, and others.
Rare Finds
When you search online, you’ll find that it’s easier to locate rare items. If you’re trying to find a specific coin or book edition, you’re far more likely to encounter it online than in a local shop. Over time as you collect, you’ll probably want to fill holes in your collection. Shopping at online estate sales or simply perusing online estate sales guides widens your reach, putting you in closer proximity to collectibles that meet your search criteria.
Dynamic Pricing
Another great factor about shopping for collectibles at online estate sales is that you can shop around, trying to get a price you’re comfortable with. When you find a rarity in person, you may have the ability to negotiate its price, but you may be less likely to find the item at other local shops. On the other hand, you may find a number of examples of the item you’re searching for. You can purchase the one that best suits your budget.
Time to Think
When you shop in person or even find a collectible on an online auction site, your time is going to be, necessarily, limited. Often, online estate sales keep items posted for a much longer period of time than an online auction. You can consider whether or not to make your purchase over days; in this way, you may feel less pressure. Of course, there’s always the risk that another buyer will purchase the item, but that’s a risk associated with any sales venue.
Updated Inventory
Another great feature of online estate sales is that there tend to be lots of inventory updates. Because there’s a wide audience of buyers, there’s also the need to replenish inventories with sale items. That means, each time you visit in search of an antique bed frame or Mid Century Modern set of atomic dishes, you’re likely to find new entries that may or may not appeal to you. The constant influx makes shopping these sales fun.
What Items Are Sold on Online Estate Sales?
You’ll find a dazzling array of collectible items for sale in online estate sales. Some of the most sought-after collectibles in online auctions and estate sales include:
Coins
Coins remain highly collectible among both long-time collectors and newcomers to the field. Whether you’re interested in domestic or international coins, you can shop online estate sales to find the exact models you need for your collection–and you’ll find them in various degrees of condition just as you would when shopping with online or brick and mortar shops.
Stamps
Stamp collecting is a time-honored hobby. Rare stamps can fetch substantial amounts. Online estate sales often feature both individual stamps and collections of stamps. You’ll be able to search for stamps from various countries as well as from various eras.
Fine Art & Art Prints
If you’re an art lover, you’ll find a wide selection of original art and prints at online estate sales. Whether your taste tends to Victorian lithographs or contemporary paintings, you can search by artist, medium, or even subject.
Antique Furnishings
Whether you’re decorating Mid Century Modern or have a love for Art Deco furnishings, you can scour the online estate sale platforms to locate just about any piece of furniture you want. Because of the larger size of the items, you’ll want to pay close attention to the sale’s terms such as shipping costs. However, you’ll love the wide selection available to you on digital estate sale sites.
Vintage Jewelry
If you love old jewelry, you’ll find a wealth of items at digital estate sales. Find items like vintage bangles, Victorian jet beads, designer-signed pins, and much more. It’s possible to find very old jewelry at these sales, along with more modern jewelry pieces that you may be interested in collecting like novelty pins or even antique engagement rings.
Memorabilia
Whether you collect sports memorabilia like baseball cards or military memorabilia from WWII, you can shop online estate sales to find items in excellent condition for your collection. These online sales tend to feature a tremendous amount of memorabilia from different time periods. If you collect items associated with your city’s historic past, you can search for items simply by your city’s name.
The best way to get to know what collectibles are currently available in estate auctions is to start shopping. Set aside some time to browse and get to know the website you're exploring.
And of course, Share your finds with us on Instagram by using the hashtag #ANFinds.
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August 23, 2022 Updated 02:06 PM
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