Abacus
Antique Dealers: Antiques From Europe
Many
dealers and auctioneers have been bringing container
loads of antiques from Europe for years now. The lure
of getting "fresh to the market" antique
furniture and "smalls" is something that
can bring renewed excitement back into your antique
business.
Buying
antiques by the container load can be a mental "rush",
but is it the business builder some have made it out
to be?
Back
in 1998, while I was still in the antique and estate
auction and liquidation business, I decided to purchase
a load of antique furniture and smalls and have the
container shipped to my facility in New York State.
I’ll
spare you the details of how exactly this is done
during this article.
I
received the load buy tractor trailer, and had friends
help me unload the container. It was packed full and
tight, and the furniture was quite impressive to say
the least!
I
was impressed by the high quality and good prices,
and by the fact that I could have the load delivered
right to my place of business.
There
were twist leg oak hall trees, high relief wardrobes,
dining room suits, chairs, bureaus, desks, marble
top stands, dressers and much, much more. And that
was just the furniture!
Inside
the dressers and desks, there were smalls galore.
Tucked inside one of the dressers was a hand-stitched
sampler from 1861. The sampler was done by a mother
who had lost a child at birth, and it achieved a high
price at auction. I was most impressed with the condition
and quantity of the smalls.
I
have been in touch with auctioneers and dealers who
have had both good and bad experiences with buying
antiques in Europe. I have noticed that without exception,
the difference between a good experience and a bad
one rested solely on who they actually did business
with.
Those
that did business with the same company that I did
business had a great experience. Those that didn’t
had a difficult experience.
There
are various companies that ship antiques from Europe,
and you can find their sites all over the Internet.
I have however come to realize that not all of these
companies are equal! Some of them are very condescending,
while others try to speak to the “common folk”
while doing business. None of this has a bearing on
your bottom line!
There
are a few things that you should look for when searching
for an antique shipping company. I’ll list them
for you.
1.
Per item price. Knowing your market is so vitally
important to understanding whether or not you be profitable.
Keep in mind that what is quoted from the company
is never what the item actually costs. After you have
paid ship transportation, duties, documentation fees,
and trucking to your facility, the price per item
goes up.
2.
Reputation in your country. When the company is thousands
of miles away, many of them will often tell you what
you want to hear. Make sure that you have testimonials
from people who have done business with them in your
country! Call these people, talk with them about their
experience, and tap their brains for more information
about the company. Good shipping companies will always
be willing to give you references from people that
are satisfied with their services.
3.
Company attitude. Keep in mind that you are offering
to do business with them. Some antique shipping companies
often come across as condescending and snobbish. Do
not be afraid to ask questions, (even if they seem
like stupid questions.) If they come across as rude
or “snooty”, you may want to consider whether
or not you wish to have a buying relationship with
them.
If
shipping antiques from another country seems like
something that you would like to explore do your homework!
It can be a lucrative move, but it can also empty
your account quickly if you don’t know what you
are doing.
