Buying Antique Furniture On-Line

Ideally we would all like to have the opportunity to view our potential purchase in person. To be able to examine the piece carefully, check its authenticity, look at the quality of the materials and the construction, check for damage, any old or new repairs and the skill involved in their execution etc.

But sometimes we just don’t have the luxury of visiting antique dealers in person. You may have short-listed a number of pieces that are located far and wide and have only the antique dealers’ description and images on which to base your decision. At times like this you may waver and ask yourself if it is safe to purchase without seeing the item first hand. These are, after all, valuable pieces of furniture which often require a substantial investment.

If you find yourself in this quandary then you may wish to consider the following points:

1. Ensure that the seller of the item is a bona-fide Antique Dealer with a physical address that you can contact by telephone and visit if you want to. Ring them up and discuss the item you are interested in or their products and services in general.
2. If possible choose a specialist in the type of furniture you are looking for as they will usually have a better selection and more expertise in the selecting quality items for sale.
3. Check whether they have a professional restoration service as this usually means the furniture will be of better quality and any restoration will be sensitively undertaken. 
4. Check that the antique dealer is an expert in his or her field with a good track record. With the economy as it is some antique dealerships have been bought by entrepreneurs from other backgrounds with no real knowledge of antique furniture and may not be able to offer the same service and advice as an expert in the field.
5. The stock that is for sale on the website should have good quality images of all aspects of the piece with additional images available on request.
6. There should be good descriptions of the item, with an estimated (circa) date and a note of any repairs, old or new, original features such as locks, handles and castors (that may have been replaced over the years) and any professional restoration that has been carried out.
7. Look for a ‘Customer Comments or Endorsements’  (this one is ours) page on their website or via a consumer or business directory with customer ratings. Feedback from other customers is generally a good indicator of a company’s integrity and customer service but of course it can and has been abused by some businesses so be guided by your common sense and instincts.
8. Customers buying on-line are also protected by the ‘Distance Selling Regulations’ in the UK, which allows for the cancellation of a purchase within 7 working days, from receiving the item.  The refund does not include the cost of transportation, which the customer will need to cover.

We have been selling antique furniture for more than 35 years now and over this time we have completed many overseas transactions where customers have purchased purely on the images we offer, condition reports and descriptions on our website: Burrells Antique Desks. 

Many overseas customers are understandably concerned about the safety and handling of their antique furniture while it is in transit to them. We can assure them that we only use specialist antique shipping companies who great care in handling all pieces of furniture and also offer insurance cover on the the cost of the item and transportation costs. Our advice to overseas customers are HERE

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