How Do You Sell Antique Furniture on the eBay Platform

For a good reason, antique furnishings are becoming more popular for buying and decorating. The second-hand market size was estimated at USD 34.01 billion in 2023. So, how do you sell antique furniture on eBay? To make sure you receive the greatest price possible, here's how to do it effectively. 

How Do You Sell Antique Furniture on eBay?

The first thing you need to do is create an account on eBay.Then set the most suitable payment and be aware of additional options the platform offers. Choose the listing type and determine the item's price. Count in the shipping costs as well. Make sure to take detailed and high-quality photos and write detailed descriptions. Finish with completing the sale ensuring the customers get what was promised. 

Source the Best Pieces for Your Shop 

As a reseller, finding the best pieces for your eBay shop requires a keen eye and a proactive approach. Regularly browsing other online marketplaces can reveal valuable insights and hidden treasures. But don't stop there. Visit local garage sales, car boot sales, estate sales, second-hand markets, and charity shops, where you can uncover unique furniture gems at bargain prices. 

Stay attentive and open to diverse sources, as the most remarkable finds often come from unexpected places. Be prepared to balance online searches with in-person scouting, as both can help you build a diverse and attractive inventory.

Create a Selling Account on eBay

The pieces are prepared, now you'll have to find the perfect place to sell them. Take advantage of one of the best online-selling platforms to sell gem pieces - eBay. So, if you don't have an online resale business, it's the right time to do it and be part of this multi-vendor marketplace platform. 

To start the journey, you first need to create an account on the platform. If you're starting a business with no money, eBay is the right platform for you since signing up is completely free. Register to create a seller account - simply open the registration form and provide personal information. Here's what you must do:

• Choose an eBay ID and password,
• Provide credit or debit card and/or checking account information to verify identity,
• Get verified from the payment provider,
• Select seller fee payment method,
• Choose payment methods for your products.

Set the Payment Option That Will Work Best With Customers

After you create an account, the next step is to choose the payment option. Luckily, eBay has many options you can offer customers. Buyers can pay safely with a credit card, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. They can also finish the whole transaction on eBay and choose to save their payment information for later use. There is a money-back guarantee on eBay for both buyers and you when they pay in any of these ways.

Check Out Additional Payment Options

Once you're familiar with payment terms, make sure you tell the buyers there are also additional payment methods available. Depending on the type of item you're selling and the country where you're selling it, here are the options you can offer:

• Money orders and checks,
• Pick up with cash,
• Transferring money by wire.

Choose the eBay Listing Type

There are several ways to sell on eBay and make money. You'll need to think about this before listing antique pieces because each has pros and cons. These are the choices you have:

• Buy It Now - This feature allows you to price a vintage item and sell it without bargaining. It's a good approach for purchasers to get anything without an auction. Still, the items cannot be sold if you don't set competitive prices, and keep in mind that pricing on Buy It Now is higher than in the auction option.
• Auction - You can specify a low starting price and a reserve or lowest bid for an auction. Then buyers will compete for the item, raising the price. This works for popular and hot pieces.
• Make an offer - When offering an item as an auction, Buy It Now, or both, bidders can make an offer that you might accept, reject, or challenge. This allows you some Buy It Now pricing flexibility.

Craft a Detailed Description

Writing a compelling description is a crucial component of selling antiques on eBay. While you should make the product sound appealing, you should also be very explicit about any defects it may have. You wouldn't want someone to place a bid only to discover that it fell short of their expectations. 

Make sure everything is as clear as possible, including the item's measurements and any distinctive characteristics. Also, come up with a catchy headline for the listing. Make sure the title is spelled correctly to avoid missing out on search results due to typos. Include details about the shop's policies as well, such as where you ship, possible discounts, and how you manage returns.

Determine the Item's Price

Setting a competitive pricing for the antique furniture is important when you're on the second-hand market. Make sure the price you're asking for is reasonable, but don't go overboard or you can turn off potential purchasers. Here are some of the things to take into account when determining the price:

• The furniture's worth,
• The existing market,
• Expenses you need to cover.

Examine the Shipping Options on the Online Marketplace Platform 

Sellers are required to use the shipping option the customer choses at checkout and send things within the time required for handling specified in their description. With this platform, you can choose the best of the three options:

• Free shipping - Many buyers expect free shipment, even if the whole cost is the same. Add delivery costs to the item's pricing to satisfy buyers and give free shipment.
• Calculated shipping - This option automatically updates buyers' shipping charges based on the location, item details, and delivery service. 
• Flat rate shipping - You can specify the same shipping charge for all of your similar products and don't waste time on adjusting the cost for each item you list.

Take High-Quality Photos of Each Piece

One of the best tips to help an e-commerce business is to have high-quality photos of the objects you're selling. Don't worry, you don't have to be a professional. Just take an accurate photo that will help the potential buyer see the piece as it is. 

Once you take the photos, get the necessary help of cross-posting software to sell on both eBay and Depop and other platforms. You'll save a lot of time and energy. If you're still not sure how to take the photos, check out the video below for some tips and tricks. 

The Cross Listing Software Will Help You With Managing Sales on Multiple Platforms

Take all the help you can get from reliable multi-channel listing software. It will update all platforms as soon as a piece is sold on one of them. This means you won't have to go and manually take off that sold piece from Depop, Shopify, and other platforms. Sign in with Zipsale and let your online selling become easier and more swift with our help.