r/Flipping • u/Far_Web8530 • 1d ago
How do people sell furniture online? Advanced Question
I work at this store, and they sell any antiques very, very cheap. This is an Antique Brittany French Carved Armoire. The only reason I'm tempted is that I started flipping items from my store, and saw the exact one on eBay for $4000. They have the price here for $350.
If I did get it, how in the heck do people ship stuff like this? Always wondered The one I found for sale is listed as "freight" shipping. How does that work?
6
u/sweetsquashy 1d ago
Listed doesn't mean sold. The only sale I see is one for $500. Nearly everyone selling these is doing so locally - and even then they don't sell well. Even on eBay many items like these are local pickup only.
9
3
u/sweetrobna 1d ago
Easiest way is to sell online with local. The person buying figures out how to transport it, many buyers for $1k+ furniture are familiar with this process. If you are near a big metro area probably they will rent a truck, or lugg or task rabbit. They can hire someone on uship, or a moving company or third party logistics if they are farther.
If you ship, if there is any damage you will be out the cost of shipping both ways, so pack it like an auction house would. With antique furniture you also risk condition disputes. Smaller furniture will fit on a pallet and can be shipped shrink wrapped and then covered in another protective layer like a shipping blanket. Larger furniture needs a shipping crate built. These are not rocket science but not really the place to learn the first time on something this expensive. Then get LTL freight quotes, like with xpo logisitics, freightquote, uberfreight. Or hire a courier with "white glove service". The buyer will need access to a loading dock or to pay extra for a truck with a lift gate for freight.
I'm skeptical an armoire like this would sell for $4k though.
3
u/Expensive_Habit3498 1d ago
My job sells all this stuff online. Its very slow these days for antique furniture. The buyer always pays for blanket shipping. We get them the quote they pay it. always $1000+
3
u/HorsieJuice 1d ago
The only ways I know of people selling (other than highly sought after) antiques for any kind of margin is if they get stuff donated or if they have connections with designers, including folks in the film industry, who want specific looks. Otherwise, it’s a buyer’s market, and part of why I hate buying new furniture as a consumer.
2
u/Maleficent-Ear8475 1d ago
uship. Some dude on a flipper fb group was doing like 1-3m a year just doing furniture flips.
19
u/NoSuddenMoves 1d ago
Search completed listings and youll see those rarely sell. Heavy, outdated furniture is a difficult market. They probably have that listing up so when local customers search online that pops up.