Antiques and collectibles are two hot categories on eBay. Collectibles by themselves represent billions of dollars in sales every year. This boom has been fueled by an ever-expanding e-commerce market place. No longer confined to only a local interest base, antique and collectible sellers now have a huge opportunity to cash in on their unique finds. And buyers can shop the world for the items they crave. Whether online or offline, buying and selling is the same - namely, people will continue to seek the same type of info and ask the same basic questions.

If antiques and collectibles interest you there are numerous online resources you can refer to in order to better understand the opportunities present in these categories.

Make a Friend out of Your Computer:

Plan on spending some time checking web sites devoted to antiques and collectibles. The bad news is, it takes time to look at all the good ones. The good news is, you'll not only love checking these sites out but you'll learn a lot along the way. A good place to start is with 'The Kovels' Top Twenty list' at kovels.com. While you're there get a free issue of Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles. Google, 'antiques and collectibles' to tap into a huge research database.

Visit a Bookstore:

There are a lot of great books on the shelves featuring antiques and collectibles. Your local library may have an assortment of books you can borrow free. Amazon.com offers a large list of popular books you can purchase at reasonable prices, particularly if you shop the used book bin. If you know of others interested in sharing the cost of books you can quickly save a great deal on your purchases. Form a private 'resource library' for family and friends to contribute to. And don't forget magazines such as 'ANTIQUES & COLLECTING MAGAZINE' at acmagazine.com.

Check out Forums:

As with anything in life, experience helps. Today you have that experience at hand with a few click of a mouse button. Join as many online forums and groups devoted to antiques and collectibles as you can find. You are sure to find lots of people who share your interests. Try fantiques.com, antiques-collectibles-auction-news.com, forumgalleries.com. Google 'antiques and collectibles forums' for more suggestions. And don't overlook the boards, such as HGTV's Antiques & Collectibles Message Board.

Attend Shows:

Asking questions at shows will go a long way towards building your knowledge base. Seek out those items that really interest you and ask questions. Pay attention to what is being said around you as well. Here, it pays to be a good listener. Carrying a tape recorder will help you pickup on things you may have missed or to recall those things you've heard. Having a cell phone with a built in camera can be a big plus here as well. Check out 'Google Directory for Antiques/Shows_and_Events/' for a listing of various events. Many locations publish shows and event news and can easily be found online.

Specialization: Key to focus:

It's a good idea, when starting out, that you specialize in one or two items that really interest you and that you can happily spend time learning about. The key is not to expend your energy chasing too many antiques or collectibles at once.

Gaining insight in your niche is vitally important. Mostly it takes time and a lot of questions and reading to get a good education. The more you learn about various objects the more you'll be able to negotiate for the best prices when you buy. Remember that your profit is made when you buy. Selling is something you do to claim that profit. So don't be afraid to ask questions before you buy. And, knowing your antiques well lets you negotiate the lowest prices. Asking for a discount when buying is to be expected. After all, when you sell your collectibles your buyer will also seek a discount. Plan on this when you buy. There are no "bad" prices, only bad negotiators.

Avoid Reserves When Selling:

You want to avoid reserves in the antique business when you sell. Placing a reserve price on your items is a quick way to lose two-thirds of your potential audience. If you've invested a lot in your items you can decide to set a reserve. Just remember that you will be limiting your ability to make a sale. Sometimes this won't matter, at other times it may. To get a good idea of what your items will sell for look at similar items currently being sold.

Keep Good Records:

It pays to keep good records. Along with quality photos you'll want some background information to include in the description. Get this at the time you are making the purchase! Don't wait until you've dragged the stuff home before you start asking about the history of the items you've bought. Get all the information you can while standing before the seller and TAKE NOTES! You may even want to know who was the previous owner and if it would be possible to contact them to ask a few questions as well. In antiques and collectibles having the right information, the history of each item, can be a major reason why someone is compelled to buy from you rather then from someone else. The more you know, the more knowledgeable you come across.

Assessing Value:

Save having your antiques and collectible items appraised for the most expensive items you buy. Appraisals are expensive and not really necessary on items up to a $1,000. If you must know what it is worth you can check web sites like antiquemystique.com to assess value. Or Google “appraising antiques” for additional web sites.

Are you an antique collector? Are you a serious collector that is looking for a specific antique such as a certain piece of furniture, a unique car, or perhaps a specific antique painting that suits your taste? If so, then you know it is not always an easy task to find the items you are looking for, especially if you don't know where to look.

Maybe you just love to shop for different antiques on a smaller scale. This could include collectible items such as toys and figurines. There are many different types of antique art that can be purchased and even a wide variety of antique books may be found. The key is to know where to find all of the great items that are out there.

Finding your antiques

So the question that many collectors have is just where to find the good stuff anyway? The thing that makes being an antique collector different is that you can't just go to the store and buy the item you want, no matter how much money you have. It can literally be an Easter egg hunt to try to find the treasures you seek.

When you are shopping for antique collectibles but do not have a specific item in mind or if you do not plan to spend a large amount of money, then a flea market is a great place to shop. However, if it is a specific item you are looking for, then many sites on the Internet can provide you with the location of these items. For instance, if you are looking for an automatic musical instrument, then MBSI is an organization that can provide you with many of these antiques. Several of these musical instruments may be viewed, bought or traded by its members at the conventions that are held. There are also many advertisements on the organization?s site that list antiques that people sell all over the country.

Another great organization that can supply you with automatic musical instruments is AMICA. This site can stun its visitors with their elegant antique player pianos. Organizations such as these can provide you with information on dealers both locally and from around the world. There are also many organizations that let you subscribe to lists that will tell you when they have sales and auctions for antiques.

Looking Online

There are many places online where you can look for antiques. The great thing about the internet is that it brings a much larger world straight to you. GoAntiques.com is a site that can help you locate a specific item by pinpointing precisely where you should look. If the item is being sold in more than one place, they can give you this information, allowing you the opportunity to find the best price available for the antique of your choice.

Anteq.com is another useful site. This company caters to antique collectors, antique dealers, and antique malls of the world. Anteq.com is committed to meeting the needs of the antiques & collectibles community by providing professional software and support.

eBay is yet another popular place to look online for antique collectibles. There are people from all over the world buying, selling, and trading collectibles and antiques on eBay. Some of the best deals out there can be found on eBay. Another great thing about finding your collectibles online is the wonderful and wider selection than you would find at a local show or sale. If you do not have a specific item in mind but are looking in certain categories such as, books, paintings, or coins, online sites such as eBay is a terrific place to look for these types of antiques. Antique jewelry and dishes are also a big hit with collectors and can be found on this site. It is one of the fastest and easiest ways to shop for collectibles.

Joining Clubs and Groups

You might also want to check to see if your local town or city has an antique collector's club or group that you can join. This would be a way for you to meet other people who share your passion and who can guide you to some of the best places to find what you are looking for. If none can be found in your town, why not start one yourself?

Antique collecting is a passion for many people. Finding the right collectibles may not always be easy. However, with perseverance and patience, you will be sure to find that perfect antique collectible you have been seeking.