Use Google Lens to Determine the Value of a Vintage Item
While some people are drawn to vintage or used items such as furniture, home goods and clothing because of their style or sustainability, others buy used items because it’s what they can afford. But if you’ve ever visited consignment stores, yard sales, or flea markets in hopes of finding a specific item, you’ve probably noticed that prices on similar or even identical items can vary significantly depending on where they’re sold.
This has to do with everything from supply and demand to the reason the seller got rid of it, but it can also make it difficult to determine whether that lamp you’ve had your eye on is being offered at a decent price or if you should move on. your search is elsewhere.
Or perhaps instead of shopping, you’re cleaning out your parents’ basement and wondering if the crystal candlesticks they received as a wedding gift over 40 years ago are worth anything. Whatever the reason, if you want to get a general idea of the price range that a vintage item is currently selling for online, Google Lens can help. Here’s what you need to know about using the tool, including where to look if it doesn’t help.
How to Use Google Lens to Appreciate Vintage Items
Available in the Google app on Android and iOS phones and other devices, as well as on desktops via Google Chrome, Google Lens can help you identify everything from plants to skin rashes, as well as vintage and used items.
In addition to helping you determine the age, make, or model of an item, the visual search tool also provides a quick way to get a general idea of what online retailers are currently trying to charge for it. Of course, this isn’t necessarily what people are willing to pay for the item or its exact retail value, but it will at least give you some idea of what it might cost.
The process is the same as any other Google Lens search: open the Google app on your phone or open Chrome on your computer and either take a photo of the item or select one you took earlier and position it so it’s inside. small viewfinder window, then tap the magnifying glass icon to start searching.
Here are the initial results of a Google Lens search we performed on a vintage red rotary phone:
The search results will include products that Google considers similar, as well as the prices at which they are currently listed. Be sure to scroll through several pages of results to see the range of asking prices. For example, the first page of search results for our red rotary phone lists prices ranging from $75 to $130:
If your first search didn’t return many results (or, alternatively, gave you so many results that you need to narrow it down), try typing a few keywords into the search bar at the top. This could be the brand or manufacturer, serial number or description of the item: any additional information that can help track (or narrow down) it. For example, our phone is labeled Western Electric, so we added it to the search query:
Where to look if Google Lens doesn’t help
Also, in many cases, Google Lens does not provide any useful information. In this case, you may be better off searching without an image. Instead, go to the search engine of your choice and enter any potentially identifying information, such as the manufacturer, year or model number, and physical description of the item. You may have to play around a little and try different combinations of search terms.
It’s likely that some search results will be eBay listings. Click on one to view related listings, and then, after scrolling through the ones that appear, perform a new search for the item on eBay rather than through a search engine. Here you have the added bonus of being able to filter your search results so you only see items that have actually sold. This way, you’ll get some idea of what people are willing to pay for the item (at least online).
Don’t look in front of sellers
Let’s say you’re shopping at a flea market or antique store and an item catches your eye. You’re not sure what to make of the price and are wondering if it’s the current price or if you can find it cheaper somewhere else. By all means, look, but be careful, especially if the seller is nearby. They’ve likely spent time and effort sourcing, cleaning, repairing and listing their items and may be less inclined to make a deal with you if they notice you’re trying to find them at a lower price.