Listed below are three basic methods of selling an antique clocks , each with their own range of sales techniques, options, benefits and drawbacks. The best method for you will depend on a number of factors, including how fast you want to sell, how proficiently you can use a computer, how much time, effort and expense you want to put into the sales process, whether your clock is relatively common or rare, whether you have just one or two clocks or a whole collection – even your geographic location.
The following web sites accept classified ads. We do not endorse any site in particular, nor do we profit from your use of any of these sites. If you think we should include any other sites for online classifieds, please let us know.
ClockPost (free) Craigslist (free) NAWCC eMart (members only) MonkeyAds (free) USFreeAds (free) Yahoo (cost) Antique Week (cost) Sell.com (cost) The Internet Antique Stores (cost) Antique Trader (cost) Maine Antique Digest (cost)
For a list of hundreds more web sites that accept classified ads, see FreeClassifiedAds.com . They have lists of both free and paid classifieds web sites.
Online auctions take place regularly on various web sites. The market leader is eBay , which has hundreds of antique clocks listed for auction every day. You will reach a wider online bidding audience with eBay than with any other auction site that we know of.
As with anything, online auctions can have some drawbacks. They can be time-consuming, especially if you don’t have much experience selling online. Be prepared to spend time to learn the sellers rules of the online auction, including listing fees, commissions, how to post images of your clock, how you collect from the buyer, how to protect yourself from fraud, etc. You may also need to spend time answering email from prospective bidders and dealing with billing, shipping and payment collection. Before you post your own auction listing, be sure to study how other sellers list their clocks. Pay attention to the categories they list them under. Consider the types and quality of photographs used and the quality of their descriptions. Make your own clock’s description as accurate as possible and be sure to post good quality photos. Make sure you describe any defects that you know of. Exaggerating could result in dissatisfied customers and complaints which could damage your online reputation.
If you don’t want to try selling your clock on ebay yourself you might find a friend who has an ebay account knows the ropes, and can sell it for you. There are also experienced ebay sellers who are making a business of selling items on consignment for others. Horton’s Antique Clocks Auctions holds two silent auctions online each year, each one with more than 500 clocks up for bid. You can check with them to find out what their consignment policy is.
For further tips and trick of selling online, try these links at the Online Auction Users Association web site.
If you sell your clock to a dealer, they must buy it below the retail price in order for them to resell it at a profit and stay in business! They may have to transport the clock, store it, clean it, repair it, or otherwise invest additional time and money to get it ready to sell. Paying you 50% or less of the retail price is not uncommon.
Some dealers will take your clock on a consignment basis and take a percentage of the selling price if they sell your clock. Make sure you have a clearly written agreement specifying the terms and conditions of the consignment. Consider issues of insurance while the dealer has your clock, the length of the consignment period, what happens if the clock doesn’t sell during that period, how soon you’ll be paid if it sells, the commission charged, and other related issues.
You might find a local dealer who will buy your clock outright or take it on consignment. Check under Clocks – Dealers in your local Yellow Page directory. There are also a large number of dealers with web sites. Visit their sites to find out if they sell your type of clock and if they’d be interested in yours.
Lists of antique clock dealers with web sites: The Antique Clocks Identification and Price Guide lists a large number of antique clock dealers with web sites. See the Resource Links section. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) lists hundreds of its members with web sites. Most buy and sell antique clocks and watches. The Horological Foundation lists hundreds of antique clock dealers from throughout the world, many with web sites an/or email address. Click on the “Market” link on their site to view the list. Both Ruby Lane and The Internet Antique Stores (TIAS) lists hundreds of antique clocks for sale by numerous dealers. Easy to search.