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How to Find a Reputable Antique Dealer

Perhaps you have so many vintage china cabinets that you can no longer park your car in the garage. Or maybe you are searching for that perfect vintage china cabinet to put a finishing touch in your living room. For these situations and others, you may need to find an antique dealer. The antique business, however, is full of rip-off artists and scams, so be choosy when looking for a dealer. You can find a reputable antique dealer with a little research and a lot of common sense.

Instructions

- 1
  Research your item. Whether you are looking to buy something or looking to sell something, you can get a feel for how much it's supposed to run by looking at antique guides. One of the most popular is "Kovels Antiques and Collectibles Price List," issued every year. Find it at area bookstores or see Resources below.
- 2
  Get a few estimates. If you cannot find your item in a guide, check around for places that will give you free estimates. You can bring your item into a few local antique places. You can also get free estimates online at Christie's auction site, see Resources below. If your item is not up to par with the high-quality, costly items they usually sell, you can find appraisals at a number of other sites, either for a very low cost or free. The website CrawfordDirect.com offers a whole list of places to try; see Resources below.
- 3
  Ask around. The best---or worst---recommendations usually come from word-of-mouth. Ask around at area flea markets, high-end thrift shops and collectors to see if there are particular dealers they flock to or avoid. You can check for collectors clubs in your area which would be a great place to see if anyone has stellar or horrific experiences with area dealers.
- 4
  Research the business. Once you've found a few dealers you may want to do business with, check out their record at the Better Business Bureau. The bureau makes it simple to research area companies with the click of a mouse through its Web site. You can find BBB accredited businesses, which have to live up to BBB standards, as well as check a business's record for complaints and inquiries about them. See Resources below.
- 5
  Further your research. Look around the shop. Take a really good luck at other antiques the dealer has on the market and a list of things he recently bought or sold. Examine the workmanship and, above all, the quality of the piece. Ask to speak to some former or current clients so you can gauge how the dealer does business. A reputable dealer will be more than happy to share this information with you. A shady one will probably balk.

Antiques