Wholesale Antique Tea Sets
The Trick: Knowing Where To Look
By Arnold Quickley - Antique tea sets and teapots are typically very expensive, so if you're planning to purchase one of these items, be prepared to spend some serious money. Of course, it is possible to buy antique or collectible tea items at wholesale prices, but the trick is knowing where and how to look.
Most people looking for good pricing on an antique or collectible tea item think online auctions like eBay are the way to go; and generally, this is true. However, occasionally you'll find a seller who actually knows the value of what they're selling, and this knowledge will result in a price that is usually quite high. If this happens to you, don't be discouraged
There are other ways to find good antique tea sets and other tea items at wholesale prices.
For starters, keep an eye on your local newspaper for advertised estate sales and garage sales. Typically, the people holding these sales rarely know the value of what they have. If you're lucky, you may be able to purchase hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars worth of antique tea sets, teapots, and other collectible tea items for just a fraction of their real cost. What a great way to spend your Saturday morning!
When you're buying antiques and collectibles in this way, it is important to remember not to linger on items that interest you. If you recognize that a particular piece is really valuable, you don't want to do anything that might tip off the seller. And, please, don't start feeling guilty about using this strategy. After all, it isn't your fault the seller did not get the item appraised -- as you will the minute you leave! Keep a straight face, and keep your joy about finding the deal to yourself. Pay the fifty cents, or two bucks, or whatever they want for the piece; get in your car, and head straight to a trusted source for an appraisal.
Unfortunately, sometimes these pieces aren't really worth anything. However, very often you'll stumble across some extraordinary finds. Still, even if the piece isn't worth anything, you should keep it, especially if you really like the way it looks. Simply make it another interesting addition to your current collection.
Hunting for antique tea items at yard and estate sales can be very exciting. In fact, spending your Saturday and Sunday mornings at these sales might just become addicting. Yard sales and estate sales (especially estate sales where the grand children aren't all that interested in their grandparent's ugly old stuff) can be the best sources for antique tea sets and tea collectibles.
Now, none of this should be construed to mean that there aren't some really great finds on sites like eBay. As a matter of fact, these same principles apply to online treasure hunting as well, so don't discount them when you're roaming around the web. You should not be surprised to hear that these days many people actually prefer hunting online for valuable antique pieces. Why? Well, its certainly much faster; and searching for antique deals in this way is definitely much easier.
If online prospecting is your preference, there are a couple things you should remember. First, be sure to keep a close eye on the categories that include tea sets and teapots. Also, do not forget to have a look around in the antique or vintage categories. Very often, there are plenty of good deals on tea sets and collectible tea items in these sections.
When you find something you want to bid on, make sure the seller has a good reputation. If the piece is very expensive, use the escrow service that is recommended by eBay. Also, if you need to, talk to the seller to be sure you understand exactly what is being advertised.
Finally, be patient. In the world of online auctions, the worthwhile items get the most aggressive bidding during the last minutes of the sale. Just remember to adjust your bidding strategy accordingly.
