1stdibs.com is a website that sells very expensive antiques for exclusive antiques shops in the United States and other countries. The site, started in 2001, sells high-priced antiques and design, connecting interior decorators, dealers and buyers online. Dealers are charged a monthly fee, plus an additional fee for each item listed. If items are purchased through the site the dealers are also expected to pay a commission. Now, dealers feel their privacy rights are being challenged. To meet its investors’ demand for return on investment, 1stdibs wants to be sure no conversation takes place outside the website. All customer interaction must take place with monitored and recorded conversations between dealers and buyers to be sure sales aren’t privately negotiated offline. Special software is being used, so 1stdibs knows if phone numbers or other personal information is being exchanged. The dealers have privacy concerns and do not want someone eavesdropping on their conversations with clients, so they are protesting. It is a battle of the old-style antiques sales model vs. new online marketplace ideas. Auction house fees have gone up to as much as 30% since they were first introduced at under 5% in the 1970s. And all of this results in higher costs for the customers.
What disgusts me (among other things) about 1st Dibbs is its intrusiveness on the net., When attempting to do research “sterling gladiator flatware” for example what seems like hundreds of worthless images come up for 1st Dibbs. Why do I have 1st Dibbs images of sterling with BIRDS showing up? I am finding that as a long-term collect of sterling and Wedgwood that I have to work around this antique-hawking website. Savy collectors already fine laughable prices that are unrealistic and laughable. I really wish that this intense marketing didn’t so affect things I would like to do on the net. Let them sell their $300 candlestick for $10,000.00 somewhare else. What a classic example of “let the buyer beware.”
This type of market will exist if there are people to support it. Such as by those that have more money than brains. I certainly wouldn’t use it as a place to look at prices. As far as the privacy issue…if you don’t like the rules don’t play the game. Take your ball and go home, or elsewhere. There are many places to participate in this kind of commerce. ebay does offer protections for buyers and sellers who stay within their selling parameters. (plus they want their cut!)
1stdibs is in some ways a grossly overpriced venue for elitists to pay ridiculous amounts of money for items that sell on Etsy, RubyLane, and even eBay for 1/10 the price. I know because I have sold some of the same items (and I mean EXACTLY the same) that are listed on 1stdibs. I check their pricing plus those of the other online venues (and you can find Sold prices if you know how) and price my items closer to the Etsy/RubyLane crowd.
Also, I was at an auction during which I was an unsuccessful bidder for a very cool wooden folk art figurine. The winning bid was something like $75. A few weeks later I saw that item on 1stdibs for $1495. I knew it was was the same item, because the dealer even used some of the photos from the auction house.
They’re ridiculous.
eBay also attempts to limit conversation outside its site, in an effort to stop buyers from making a deal outside the site. It also attempts to stop “shilling” — the practice of getting fake bidders to increase the price on line. And, as for auction premiums: I believe they are way out of line and I have pretty much stopped bidding at those la-de-dah auctions which are asking (and getting) 25 to 30 percent.
This is a gratuitous comment, since I don’t deal in big-ticket items. However, if I did, I believe that one my more polite responses to 1stdibs would be along the lines of “go pound sand”. I foresee all sorts of problems with this. For example if, in the proper (i.e., within 1stdibs regulations) a potential customer were to mention a valuable antique for sale at below market value, what’s to prevent one of their employees getting there ahead of me and “stealing” the item? No, thank you very much, but NO. I guess I’m glad I don’t have the funds to wheel and deal – with Big Brother reading my every word.
I had won a small amount of jewelry on this auction site. Their shipping cost to me was outrageous at $68.00 for a very small, lightweight package. I had no choice in who I could use to ship it and I only found out about the cost after I won the item. I’ll never use 1st Dibs again.
ebay’s had software to keep us from making direct contact with customers. They’ve had it for years.
By the way, I know some people who subscribe to Dibs.
Monthly fees alone start at $1000.00.
There are several lucrative websites that are much less restrictive, so to me the way to deal with these types of restrictions is to find a new home for your antiques and collectibles. In addition, it is fairly easy to build your own website, send notices to prior customers about your new shop and give them some incentives for remaining a loyal customer. The idea that a business can coerce you to conduct business in a way that is not consistent with your beliefs is untenable in today’s internet society.
I would closed my account right away. I think everything is so overpriced on the site, was wondering who are the buyers.
It’s a conundrum inside a problem outside a question of privacy. I think 1st Dibs is entitled to monitor its dealers. However, the real question is are they entitled to know who the dealers’ clients are? A real potential for client theft. Of course the dealer has a real potential for percentage to 1st Dibs theft.
So, I say figure out a way to keep the dealer’s client’s name and info secret while recording it somewhere, to be saved for future conflicts of interest.
Did I say anything?
Barbara Johnson