Welcome to the forum.

A couple of quick things. This is a great looking rug, seller has a great return policy if they stay true:

"No hidden charges, no restocking fees. If you do not like the rug please return within 5 business day of your receive for a full store credit or refund less shipping .If the rug was not in the condition it was described to be please contact us and we will do our best to resolve the issue and keep you a happy customer. "


Contrast is good, age I don't think is all that off, although it could be newer. The Knot count may be a little on the coarser side. If you could get a close up photograph of number 4 and number 6 this would help. They may say knot count doesn't matter but it would help to put the gauge into perspective in addition to seeing the wool. Semi antique is really for 50+ year old rugs, but that's neither here nor there with most of these guys.


A few things to ask specific to this type of rug:

Does the rug have moth damage,
Is there any color run,
Are there any repairs,
Are there any areas of lower pile.

For any of the above, be sure to get photographs. Asking the seller to send additional pictures, and how they respond in addition to the time it takes them to respond may also be an indicator of how much they're willing to appeal to your needs as a consumer.


This rug has a slight bow to it. There's also a little slack at the top of the rug in the middle where it's got a little bump. Some dealers kick the rug a little into the opposite direction to make the bow appear less accentuated. I don't think the seller has done this for the piece shown, but some do. It's not the best practice, but do know this rug may have discrepancies between length on either side, and or width at either end..... If this matters to you, be sure to clarify what the discrepancy is. I would venture to guess it's nearly 4" shorter on the right hand side. Also, I think we're looking at the dark side of a rug. Do know, while this piece may be a great deal, some carpets of this variety do not have the most colorfast reds, so if you decide to have it washed down the road, they may migrate. Not really that big of a deal, as the investment is fairly low. Some wools in these rugs are not the greatest so they may wear at a faster rate than more formal rugs which would be found at a local retailer's store. Bottom line, it's a nominal investment, and in some cases you can't even get a machine made rug for these prices.


here are some helpful posts, be sure to keep us updated:


color run
http://www.rugrag.com/post/Color-run-.aspx

curved runners
http://www.rugrag.com/po...ify-a-Curved-Runner.aspx

irregular rugs
http://www.rugrag.com/po...-Corners-not-Square.aspx

Photographs to help
http://www.rugrag.com/po...nd-Oriental-Carpets.aspx

If everything checks out with this carpet, and the seller entertains your request for photographs, I think it's an okay investment providing that there are no significant variations in the length from either side, or previously mentioned problems.

As for the price on these rugs, I cant say for sure why they're inexpensive, but I gather it's for a multiple of reasons. From my understanding and as rumor has it, many, many of these stores are all run by one parent company.

Take a look at this example here. Not sure how your eBay view is set up, but you may notice many different sellers offering the same item through multiple store names. These may be rugs which are on consignment... However, from my experience, and viewing many eBay rugs, the amount of carpets displayed by several dozen sellers in different inventories with different floor boards leads me to believe many of them are connected. I think one company may dole out rugs to certain "stores" depending on condition category, grade, etc: satellite stores for one company.

There are a lot of points to make here. My feeling is that many of these rugs can be categorized in several different ways: lower grade/coarser rugs, newly made "seconds goods", worn or previously owned pieces, carpets not "suitable" for american taste, high volume production, and general overstock.... Point is, if you have a heavy representation online, you can afford high turnover. The high majority of carpets on eBay are not what would be considered "generational" rugs. They're meant to be used, and often are not as durable as rugs which would be imported by regular wholesalers with specific quality controls. These are rugs which dealers purchase by the masses overseas, and may even spend more on importation than the cost of goods themselves. I think this rug you found would be considered a "seconds good" only because it appears longer on one end than the other, and sometimes the dyes may not be as colorfast as other carpets. They're hand knotted, but really meant to be used, enjoyed, then replaced. However, with low traffic, these can last for many, many years.

A lot of these rugs end up in antique shops around the country and may be sold for higher prices. These are "wholesale sellers" in some sense, however, some of the goods are just not what would be found in higher end "retail stores" They are some bargains to be found on eBay, but you have to look out because there are some less obvious reasons why prices are so low.

Also, a lot stuff the cost of rugs into the shipping fees, and don't pay eBay's final value fees.

Thanks again RugPro for your insightful reply and KrowGyrl for sharing your experience with me. I simply love oritental rugs and are pleasantly surprised by the lower prices that eBay sellers offer. I am definately the type of buyer who wants to purchase something that is both pleasing to the eye and useful in every day life. I've learnt so much here and will certainly learn more. Really appreciate your help!
All the best,