With the advent of the Internet, and the introduction of online shopping venues such as Ebay, finding and purchasing antiques and collectibles has taken on a completely new existence. What once involved footwork of untold dimensions including travel to sales, flea markets, auctions, and oftentimes countless phone calls to private and commercial contacts to track down an item, can oftentimes now be accomplished by signing onto the internet and spending some time browsing shops and auctions from the comfort of your home.

Know your Prospected Purchase

Do not be too easily fooled. Unless you are willing to invest time and research into knowledge of what you are buying, the prospect of making an online antique or collectible purchase can be more of a headache than a success. Use relevant keywords when making your initial search. If an item was manufactured over several years, and you are looking for a specific year, use the date in your search. If color is a factor, combine that into your search. Manufacturer names are a good way to define searches, as are sizes. Any specific that you deem important to your search can be used in the search field to narrow down your finds.

Whether purchasing online or via other methods, become knowledgeable about what you are buying. Read magazines and books that clearly define how to tell an item of value from a cheap copy. Learn how to decipher marks, decode dates, and distinguish a fair appraisal from an off the mark one.

Your Best Resource

Your number one resource when considering making a purchase online is to ask questions. If the item is glass, porcelain, or other easily breakable material, inquire upfront about cracks or chips. Ask if the rims are intact, or if there is any crazing. Ask the seller if they have thoroughly inspected the merchandise, and if not, who did, and why it was not them. If the item is of a material that could be damaged by being in a household where there are smokers, inquire if the item has been stored in any location where people smoke. If water damage is a possibility, ask if the item has been stored where any damp could get at it. For books, ask the seller if there is any spotting, commonly referred to as foxing, which is a sign that the paper is damaged from dirt or age. If a photograph the seller is providing does not show an area of interest clearly, ask for a better shot. In this modern age of email and digital cameras, an extra photo or two is only going to take the seller a few minutes to accomplish. If they begrudge you asking, you most likely do not want to purchase the item in the first place.

Do not rely solely on photographs though, as a defect may not show clearly, such as staining, so ask upfront. If the seller has noted any special circumstances about the item that are not clearly defined in a photograph that would affect a purchaser's decision, they will often be honest in their answers if asked directly.

Paper trails and Record Keeping

While you cannot always trust a seller to be truthful, places such as Ebay will often back up a purchase if correspondence between seller and buyer is provided to back up claims. Keep a log of any communication that is related to a deal until the item has arrived and is determined to be in the condition it was expected. This is not a guarantee that a deal that goes bad will be resolved satisfactorily, but it can only be a help to your case.

Warranty and Insurance

Rarely is a warranty issued on an antique or collectible itself, but a warranty in reference to the condition it was to be received in is occasionally offered. Insurance may be obtainable also, but with either, collecting on them can be hard. Some third party shipping companies may offer insurance, with inspection and packaging, and if breakage during shipment is a concern, this is an excellent option to consider. For example, if you were to purchase a vintage porcelain doll, which was sold under the assumption that it had no cracks or damage to the porcelain parts themselves, a third party shipper would inspect, pack, and ship the item. If it were to arrive broken, you know have a much easier recourse to obtain any insurance payout than if the seller just sent it and it was broken in transit.

Seller's Standings and Reputation

By dealing with companies that have good reputations, or sellers that maintain good records of accomplishment of solid deals, you will lessen any chance of a bad deal occurring in the first place. Check Ebay seller histories prior to making a bid. Enter online chat rooms that have discussions pertaining to particular sellers. Oftentimes other customers are more than willing to share both good and bad experiences to save other shoppers the same misfortunes or to point them in the direction of reputable sellers. If an online store also has a brick and mortar style store, and you have dealt with them in the past, mention this when bargaining or buying from them online. If they know you as a customer in one manner, you will often be treated as equally well when dealing with them in an alternative method.

A good seller is also willing to share information on an item. If you inquire about an item's markings or any history the seller may have about a particular item, a good seller is often more than willing to both reply and answer any questions. Evasive answers or questions just not responded too, should all be considered bad signs. Someone who in good faith wants to make a sale is willing to answer any question that is asked, if nothing more than an "I do not know".

Shipping Charges

Any item purchased online, whether old or new, carries with it the added burden of shipping charges. Oftentimes the charges are fair, and other times they are obviously padded to help the seller recoup their time and selling fees often associated with online auctions and stores. Be observant when considering if a shipping charge is worth its value. If an item was a good deal to begin with, and you know your chance of finding it elsewhere is small, consider these issues. In the same breadth, some sellers ship an item at a lower rate, hoping to entice a buyer not wanting to overspend. However, if that item becomes lost or damaged, your chance of recouping the item or its value is low. Pay a fair amount on shipping for an item that you want to arrive in the condition it was sent. If the seller does not offer more than one form of shipping, email him or her with your concerns before you place a bid or make the purchase.

Shopping online for antiques and collectibles should be looked at as an additional outlet to find that coveted piece you have not been able to uncover anywhere else. It also opens up a world of antique and collectible hunting to those who are unable or no longer want to traipse around in search of the next great find. Be smart, have fun, and good luck!