Recently, I’ve been obsessed with two sources for scoring deals on unique vintage pieces and lightly used new items. One is a secret source, and one isn’t a secret at all, but I was utterly oblivious to it!
My all-time favorite sources include eBay, Craigslist, Etsy, Chairish, and good old fashion hunting in the real world, but it seems like it’s getting harder and harder to score a deal! Well, I promise, there are still deals to be found on the Internet.
Secret source:
I’ve been hinting about sharing my favorite secret source for a while, and today I’m finally spilling the beans. Let me introduce you to Live Auctioneers.
Live Auctioneers is an online auction site. Like auctions as you know them, the bidding occurs in real time, however, you can place bids before the sale begins. The best way to use the site is to find an auction house near you that participates; this makes pick up a breeze as you don't have to deal with shipping.
If you do need to ship an item, my favorite service is uShip. You can receive a quote before you bid on an item, so there are no surprises.
Pair of white candlesticks $2
copper egg poacher $20
Round gray side table $10
Antique convex mirror $10
Bentwood chair $3
Italian Painted Floral Ceramic Planter Tiffany $25
Vintage media unit $125, see the makeover here!
Antique dollhouse $125
A few things to keep in mind:
All auction houses charge a fee, be sure to understand the fee before placing a bid as it will increase the total price.
You must be approved by the auction house before bidding, make sure you do so if you plan to live bid!
Download the app for easiest use!
Not so secret source:
Facebook Marketplace (FBM) is a goldmine. I hardly ever use Facebook, and because of that, I was completely missing out on the marketplace feature. I can't believe how many treasures are posted on the daily! It seems people have stopped using Craigslist and moved on to FBM.
I love how easy it is to use, and how well the “distance feature” works. I’ve yet to buy or sell anything through FBM, but I doubt that will last very long…
Happy hunting everyone!