How to Buy Glass Collectibles Online

Many collectors these days buy and sell art glass, antique glass, Depression glass and other glass collectibles online. In fact, eBay and other online marketplaces and web sites have made it far easier and cost effective to find what you’re looking for online than the old methods of driving around to local antiques and specialty shops or browsing through catalogs and dealer magazines like we used to … and some of us still do!

But really it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, say if you’re looking for a piece or two to complete a certain Depression glass set or if you’re looking to buy something like original Tiffany Studios Favrile glass pieces.

Finding Reputable Online Glass Dealers

It goes without saying that you would only want to buy glass items from reputable dealers, so your first goal should be to locate such dealers. The trick is how to build a list of dealers you will feel confident buying from and/or selling to.

First, I suggest checking out eBay; most of my most prized glass collectibles, including some pricey original Tiffany, Steuben and other designer glass items have been purchased on eBay.

The reason I like using eBay is transparency; you can easily see how many sales any given dealer has completed and how they’ve been rated by others. Also, when looking for items to bid on you can see how many bids have been made on a listing. Items with no bids are less likely to be good deals whereas you can generally feel more confident bidding on an item that has other interested bidders.

Checking Glass Dealer References

Another way to check out online glass dealers is to contact other buyers directly to inquire whether they were satisfied with the price, condition, packaging and shipping, etc. It pays to take your time and find good dealers before making purchases. Once you have a list of dealers you can always make inquiries of them when you are looking for something specific.

Ask dealers to provide customer references so that you can inquire with other customers of that dealer. This is one of the best ways to ensure a dealer’s reputation. Also be sure to get written confirmation of the dealer’s return and refund policies before making a purchase. Also ask references about other dealers with whom they do business; this is another good way to build your dealer list.

Once I have found a dealer I feel comfortable with I generally purchase a less expensive item or two before going for higher-priced “authentic” or antique pieces from that dealer. This method has proven quite effective for me in terms of establishing a comfort level with dealers around the world, opening up broader channels than I could ever do working only with local dealers.

Building Your Dealer Network

By building a dealer network this way you will have more opportunities to buy (and sell) your glass collectible online than you could ever do using the old-fashioned methods of perusing local shops, magazines and catalogs.

As your knowledge and expertise in the various types of glass items you find most interesting, you will begin to recognize deals and even begin to have dealers contacting you directly when they obtain something they know you may be interested in purchasing.

Collecting glass, whether your passion lies in Depression glass, vintage art glass or other categories is a fun hobby. While I don’t suggest anybody start out with the intention of making it a business, if you stick with your likes and interests you never know where it may take you. I have made substantial profits over the years buying items and later selling them as prices fluctuate and my tastes have evolved. Good luck and have fun with your own glass collecting hobby!