Q: Should I try to sell art over the Internet? I've seen several advertisements for sites that specialize in selling antiques, collectibles and art. They put "for sale" pictures up along with contact information for very reasonable commissions. I've also visited Internet gallery sites on the Worldwide Web that say they buy art. I can even advertise my art for free in art, antiques, and collecting newsgroups.

A: The Internet is a pretty much of a free-for-all as far as selling art goes and unless you're anything less than fully on top of the market, think twice. In addition to knowing what your art is worth and how much you want to sell it for, you also must be able to show it to interested parties, mail it out on approval if necessary, and get paid in full if you sell it. This can be difficult when dealing with people who you've never met and who may live hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Unless you know who you're dealing with, the anonymous nature of Internet presents problems particularly in the areas of buying and selling art. For example, a small percentage of dealers and collectors spend their time searching the Internet for unsuspecting sellers who underprice their art. Some may also request detailed information about your art seemingly to help them decide whether or not to buy when what they really intend to do is offer it for sale elsewhere, while acting like they're the ones who actually own it. Some don't even ask for details-- they take what they need from your posting and offer it for sale like it's their own. You never know the difference. Consequently, art can get pretty badly shopped around in cyberspace.

As for gallery websites that advertise as art buyers and sellers, some of the finest dealers in the world are online. Unfortunately, some of the not-so-finest are also fully operational. The nature of the Internet is such that a lavish high-end website may be that of a four-story Manhattan gallery or it can be a telephone sitting on a coffee table in someone's den. Telling the difference can be pretty difficult unless you know the art business and are familiar with the players.