Purchasing Antique Signs at a Discount

As professional buyers, we purchase antique signs at a discount of 30-50% of their market value. This pricing reflects the various costs and risks involved in the process of acquiring, handling, and reselling these unique pieces. Sellers should understand that this approach ensures fair dealings and long-term sustainability for both parties.

Costs Incurred by Buyers

1. Packing and Crating: Fragile antique signs require specialized packing materials and crating to protect them during transport. These supplies come at a significant cost.
2. Travel and Shipping: Acquiring signs often involves travel expenses to evaluate or pick up items. Shipping costs, especially for large or heavy signs, add to the overall expenditure.
3. Risk of Damage: Despite careful handling, there’s always a risk of damage during transit, which can diminish the sign’s value.
4. Fraud and Forgeries: The market for antique signs includes fakes and reproductions. Buyers invest time and resources in authentication to avoid fraud.
5. Resale Challenges: Not all signs sell quickly or at expected prices. The risk of holding inventory and potential losses from unsold items are factored into purchasing decisions.

Factors That Influence Pricing

1. Scarcity vs. Common Signs: Rare signs in excellent condition command higher values, while common signs typically fetch lower prices.
2. Current Demand: Popular themes or brands that are in high demand may lead to a higher valuation.
3. Condition: Signs with minimal damage or original patina often attract more interest and higher offers.

Sellers Can Earn More by Hand Delivering Signs

If sellers are able to hand-deliver their signs, they can often receive higher offers. Hand delivery reduces shipping costs, eliminates the risk of damage in transit, and allows for immediate inspection by the buyer. This approach benefits both parties by streamlining the transaction and ensuring the sign arrives in optimal condition.

The Advantages of Dealing with a Local Dealer

When selling antique signs, working with a local dealer is often a better option than turning to large auction houses or other buyers. Local dealers offer several key advantages:

1. Personalized Service: A local dealer can provide one-on-one consultations, offering a more tailored and transparent selling experience.
2. Immediate Offers and Cash in Hand: One of the biggest advantages of dealing with a local dealer is the ability to get an immediate offer and cash in hand. Sellers don’t have to wait weeks or months for an auction to conclude or a buyer to finalize payment. The entire process is quick and efficient, giving sellers instant financial returns.
3. Lower Fees: Auction houses often charge substantial commission fees, reducing the seller’s final payout. Local dealers, on the other hand, typically avoid such fees.
4. Market Knowledge: Local dealers are deeply familiar with the regional market and can offer insights into what’s in demand locally, maximizing the value of your sign.
5. Reduced Risk: Selling directly to a local dealer eliminates the risk of non-payment or fraud that can occur with online transactions or large-scale operations.
6. Trust and Reputation: Established local dealers rely on their community reputation and are often more invested in fair and honest dealings.

By choosing a trusted local dealer, sellers can avoid the uncertainties and high costs associated with larger operations while ensuring their antique signs are handled with care and sold at a fair price.

Who Sells Antique Signs?

Sellers of antique signs come from diverse backgrounds and situations. They include:

• Collectors Downsizing: Long-time enthusiasts looking to reduce their collections due to space, shifting interests, or financial needs.
• Estate Sales: Families liquidating assets as part of estate settlements, often unaware of the value of individual pieces.
• Businesses Closing or Remodeling: Restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses selling vintage signs as part of a liquidation or rebranding process.
• Pickers and Treasure Hunters: Individuals who scour flea markets, garage sales, and rural properties for valuable signs to resell.

How Sellers Come Across Antique Signs

• Inherited Pieces: Many sellers acquire antique signs as part of family heirlooms, passed down from previous generations who may have owned businesses or collected memorabilia.
• Found Items: Some sellers discover signs in old barns, garages, or attics, often forgotten relics from past decades.
• Thrift and Secondhand Stores: Sharp-eyed individuals often pick up signs at low prices from thrift stores or secondhand shops.
• Auction Wins: Savvy buyers may purchase signs in bulk at auctions with the intent to sell individual pieces.
• Trade Shows and Swap Meets: Collectors often trade or purchase signs at events focused on vintage and antique goods.

Why This Approach is Fair

By offering 30-50% of the sign’s value, we account for:

• Operational Costs: These include the resources required to transport, store, and maintain signs.
• Market Fluctuations: Antique sign values can change over time, making it essential to price acquisitions conservatively.
• Ensuring Authenticity: We invest in verifying the provenance of each piece, protecting both buyers and sellers from potential disputes.

Our goal is to provide sellers with an honest and transparent experience, ensuring their antique signs are handled with care and passed on to collectors who will value them.