Where to Find Antique Bargains

You don’t have to give up on antiquing just because the economy is bad and money is tight. There are still many places where you can find antique bargains if you know where to look.

The main secret to finding bargain antiques is to avoid antique stores and other traditional outlets. There are a number of places to search for lower priced antiques.

They include:

• Online outlets like e-bay and Amazon. You no longer need to leave your home to find some of the best bargains. There are lots of online venues where you can buy antiques. E-bay is one of the best but so is Amazon. If you’re looking for smaller items, there are many antique stores that ship across the country.

• Thrift Shops. Almost every town in America has a thrift shop and some big cities have dozens of these. People give all sorts of things to thrift shops including antiques. Many people give antiques away to thrift shops without realizing what they are. Some charities like the Salvation Army even have thrift shops that specialize in antiques. Check into higher end thrift shops. Another way to spot bargains is to volunteer at a thrift shop that way you can spot items when they get donated.

• Garage and estate sales. These are held almost every weekend and some will have antiques. Estate sales and auctions often have some good bargains at them. Garage sales can have some bargains but you will have to take time going through them. You will also need to bring cash.

• Craigslist and other want ads. Sometimes people do advertise antiques for sale in such venues. You will have to act fast to get bargains but it can be done.

• Going out of business sales. The economy has hit the antique business pretty hard so some antique stores are going under. These may be selling off their inventories. Look for inventory reduction and other sales at antique stores. Also do not be afraid to bring cash and make lowball offers.