How to Score Amazing Vintage Furniture Deals on eBay

I’m currently on the hunt for a few “new” vintage finds for my place and have been spending hours on eBay in search of the perfect pieces. I’ve had great success finding vintage furniture and accessories on eBay so I thought I would share a few of my best tips and tricks to help you score amazing pieces for yourself!

My vintage coffee table from eBay. Similar here. 

1. OPTIMIZE YOUR SEARCH TERMS
eBay filters search results using keywords so using strategic search terms is incredibly important. Also keep in mind that one seller’s credenza may be another seller’s buffet and another seller’s cabinet. So because sellers may describe the exact same items a little differently, my best advice is to always search for a particular item using multiple search terms. Take for example my 1940s French style coffee table shown above. It’s one of my favorite eBay finds ever. If you were searching for something similar, here are some search terms you’ll want to try:

Brass coffee table
Brass cocktail table
Brass and glass coffee table
Brass and glass cocktail table

Try adding the words “vintage” or “antique” in front of the above phrases. You can also try using the name of furniture makers who are known for a similar style such as: “Maison Jansen Brass Coffee Table” or “LaBarge brass coffee table.” You’ll be surprised how each of these searches can elicit different results!

2. ASK QUESTIONS
Most of the better listings contain a great deal of information but if you’re purchasing a larger item like furniture you always want to ask the seller questions to help inform your decision. Don’t like the photos shown in the listing? Ask the seller if they can post new pictures of the item from different angles. Ask for further information about the condition of an item. Sometimes a listing will simply note “good condition” which is vague. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions like whether or not there is visible damage or whether the surface has any scratches or watermarks. Also pay attention to dimensions. I once bought a cloisonne vase and I didn’t really note the dimensions listed. It looked sizable enough in the listing but when it arrived it was actually a miniature vase only large enough for a single bloom. I still love it but felt mislead by the listing and the way the photos were presented. Conversely, you’ll want to make sure you get dimensions if they’re not listed so you can know if the item will fit in your space. The last thing you’d want is to buy a large piece of furniture only to find that it doesn’t fit through your door!

Vintage Chinese armoire from eBay. Similar here & here.

3. SAVE ON SHIPPING
If you’re buying a smaller item the shipping cost probably isn’t much of a concern, however,  if you’re purchasing a large piece of furniture you should always pay attention to locality because based on where the item is located, the shipping cost can vary greatly. Suppose you live in New York like me and want to buy a pair of upholstered chairs. To have those same chairs shipped from say, Pennsylvania which is pretty close to New York would cost a fraction of the price than if you were shipping the same chairs from somewhere farther away like San Francisco. If you love the item enough the shipping cost could be worth it but if you aren’t willing to shell out big bucks for shipping, eBay has a great search filter that lets you narrow your results to sellers within a certain radius. I usually choose a 200 mile radius from New York when I’m searching for furniture on eBay. You should also ask the seller for a shipping quote before you purchase any large pieces so you know what to expect. I purchased the vintage Chinese armoire above from a seller in Queens and they were able to deliver it to me by van the next day for $50!

One of my pair of Baker campaign chests. Photo via Apartment Therapy. Similar here. 

4. NEGOTIATE TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE PRICE
It’s pretty much inherent that prices on the vintage market are always negotiable. eBay has a great “Make an Offer” feature that sellers can enable which allows buyers to submit a reasonable offer that is lower than the asking price. If the lower offer is acceptable, the item is yours! eBay’s “Watch List” is another feature I love which lets you add an item to your watch list to monitor its activity. If you notice an item has been listed for a while with a “buy it now” price and hasn’t sold, you can always contact the seller to see if they’re willing to accept a lower price even if the Make an Offer feature isn’t enabled. And, just because a listing has expired doesn’t mean you’ve lost your shot. If you see that a listing that expired without any bids, you can always contact the seller afterward to inquire and make an offer. Often, dealers just want to move the inventory and are a lot more flexible than you’d think. That’s exactly what I did with a pair of vintage Baker campaign chests that I purchased. The listing expired but no one had bid on them so I emailed the seller to ask if they were still available and if they would be willing to accept a lower price. Much to my surprise, they said yes and now they’re living happily in my bedroom.

5. WATCHING THE CLOCK CAN HELP YOU WIN
While this may not be the most polite tactic, the most successful approach for me has been to go stealth mode and watch a listing, monitor the activity and bid only within the last 5-10 minutes of a sale. Chances are, your competing bidders are not online at that exact moment and if that is the case, you have the advantage to outbid them and win the item. eBay’s mobile app also has a great notification system to remind you when a listing is ending soon so if you’re on the go you can bid right from your phone.

I hope you find these tips helpful. Happy shopping!

Promotional consideration for this post provided by eBay. All opinions are my own.