There are various companies that ship antiques from Europe, and you can find their sites all over Internet. I have however come to realize that not all of these companies are equal! Some of them are very condescending, while others try to speak to “common folk” while doing business. None of this has a bearing on your bottom line!

There are a few things that you should look for when searching for an antique shipping company. I’ll list them for you.

1.Per item price. Knowing your market is so vitally important to understanding whether or not you be profitable. Keep in mind that what is quoted from company is never what item actually costs. After you have paid ship transportation, duties, documentation fees, and trucking to your facility, price per item goes up.

2.Reputation in your country. When company is thousands of miles away, many of them will often tell you what you want to hear. Make sure that you have testimonials from people who have done business with them in your country! Call these people, talk with them about their experience, and tap their brains for more information about company. Good shipping companies will always be willing to give you references from people that are satisfied with their services.

3.Company attitude. Keep in mind that you are offering to do business with them. Some antique shipping companies often come across as condescending and snobbish. Do not be afraid to ask questions, (even if they seem like stupid questions.) If they come across as rude or “snooty”, you may want to consider whether or not you wish to have a buying relationship with them.

If shipping antiques from another country seems like something that you would like to explore do your homework! It can be a lucrative move, but it can also empty your account quickly if you don’t know what you are doing.

The next morning, after more phone calls and cross-checking, she gingerly loaded painting and took it to a temperature controlled vault in same city where she urchased it. This $125. painting later sold for several million dollars at a major auction house, and this woman's financial future was changed in dramatic fashion literally overnight.

The museum curator was appalled, overwhelmed and completely flabbergasted!

Imagine that you are curator of this museum, and you placed $125. price tag on this million dollar painting! This tag sale had been held to raise money for projects around museum. If curator had only possessed knowledge to even "check it out", outcome could have been far more positive for establishment that he represented!

Knowledge and research made all difference.

Aside from curator, think of all antique dealers, collectors and enthusiasts that had toured this weekend-long tag sale. Here was an item that could change their entire lives financially, and they walked right on by. any one of them could have sold painting, banked money, and just "fiddled" around with antiques instead of trying to make a living from them. And difference was knowledge!

How to get antique knowledge.

With advent of Internet, research is easier to do, and knowledge is much easier to come by. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of sites that are dedicated to various collectibles, art and antiques.

Visiting library all day, once a month can be one of best ways to increase your knowledge of antique items. The library is still one of most untapped resources for gaining expertise on a variety of antique subjects. Talk to librarian, ask questions, and dig! The human mind is like a sponge, and someday you may need what you are learning today.

A methodical approach toward research and gaining knowledge can pay huge dividends in your antique world. It's secret that can make a huge impact in buying decisions that you make!