Reseller Special: Inventory to Avoid

From toxic goods to human remains, if you are a vintage or antique dealer, there is definitely some inventory to avoid. Some may be hard to resell, some may be downright illegal, and some may incur penalized selling privileges on online marketplaces. Read on to learn what inventory to avoid.

Problematic Picks

While the virtue of being a vintage or antique dealer is that you can source and sell just about anything old enough, there is some inventory to pass on. Most of these items have some innately undesirable quality, whether it’s gross, in poor condition, or just hard to handle. However, some of these items are also problematic to resell and may get you kicked off some online marketplaces if you try to list them. If you want to keep a good reputation as a dealer, your best bet is to seek out other goods.

After many years of sourcing and selling antiques and collectibles, I have learned a few things about what to avoid. I now understand the “real estate” issue in the business, after acquiring one too many large pieces of furniture that are tough to transport, show, and sell. In general, I avoid selling vintage clothing because a lot of work is involved if the items need to be repaired or cleaned. Furthermore, fashion trends change too quickly. I do like to sell durable vintage goods in the glass, ceramic, and metal categories because they are easy to maintain and clean with my trusty feather duster. Ephemera sells well, but know that shoppers sometimes treat you like a library, so avoid it if that bothers you. I always account for the fact that some of my inventory will get damaged, destroyed, or even stolen. Small business insurance helps. Finally, here is my…

 Top 10: Inventory to Avoid

1. Toxic wares. Did you find a box of vintage 1970s floor tile with fabulous, funky patterns? Before you decide to resell them, be sure they aren’t made with asbestos. I also pass on certain vintage dishware if I suspect it was made with lead in the glaze.
2. Radioactive goods. You have to use your judgment with this one. Some “toxic” goods, such as vintage radioactive red Fiestaware, are highly desirable by collectors, but some online marketplaces do not allow these listings if the word “radioactive” is in the listing.
3. Offensive material. Racist, sexist, and other “-ist” material is not only offensive and inappropriate, but it is also often not allowed in some online marketplaces. If your listings are removed for offensive content, you may be penalized by the site and have your selling privileges restricted.
4. Human remains. Okay, this is a weird one; however, I’ve recently been coming upon this more as the market for “oddities” continues to thrive. Most online marketplaces do not allow the sale of human body parts, whether a collection of old teeth or a creepy skull someone found in a retired dentist’s home.
5. Huge items. Not everyone will agree with this one, but since one of my mottos is to sell items that are “small and easy to ship,” I generally avoid larger items. If you sell big stuff online, it’s a pain to ship. If you sell it in your shop or local antique mall, it takes up a lot of space.
6. Heavy items. Similar to #5 (Huge items), heavy items can be challenging to ship unless they fit in one of the “Flat Rate” USPS boxes. I sell plenty of vintage cast iron goods like doorstops and bookends that are heavy, but by and large, they fit in these “Flat Rate” boxes so the shipping costs aren’t too high.
7. Liquids. Liquids are tough since some can have value and be worth selling, like vintage perfume. You have to be sure you follow any relevant rules for mailing liquids when shipping. Avoid larger liquid items; for example, if you sell vintage brass fire extinguishers, stick with empty ones.
8. Illegal items. Ivory is a prime example of something illegal to sell in many venues, which is problematic when you find something like scrimshaw or a vintage trinket box that may be made of this material. When in doubt, forget about it. Like #3 (Offensive material), your selling privileges may be restricted for these.
9. Dangerous stuff. There are plenty of vintage knife resellers out there, but I either avoid them or lock them in a display case. Not only can they be dangerous, but they are also one of the more sought-after items by pickpockets. As for guns, fireworks, and explosives? Common sense goes a long way!
10. Poor condition goods. You must use your judgment and, again, common sense regarding poor-conditioning goods. I’m not a big fan of selling vintage clothing because of frequent condition issues, but if I found a pair of 1930s Levi’s in the back of a barn pick, I wouldn’t hesitate to resell them!

Amy Moyer is the proprietor of Antmuffin: Art, Antiques & Collectibles. She holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from Brown University and lives in Boston.

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