Amazon is reportedly going to start selling fine art once again. The first time around it had a partnership with Sotheby’s, a well respected name in the fine art niche, which it left in the year 2000 after just 16 months. Sales didn’t take off back then but Amazon hopes, according to The Wall Street Journal, that things will be different this time around. Amazon is said to have made deals with gallery owners and a formal announcement is expected soon.
It is not known right now how this fine art section will work and what will it look like on Amazon’s website. According to the report, art houses will be charged $100 a month just to be listed on the biggest online marketplace’s fine art section. Those who sign up for its debut won’t have to pay this fee until 2015. Galleries will have to front the shipping costs while Amazon is said to keep a 5 to 20 percent cut of the sale price. It has been reported that many galleries that Amazon reached out to haven’t even responded, as they believe Amazon will not be able to offer tasteful presentation for fine art. There’s no online retailer right now that has been able to achieve this feat. Amazon obviously knows that, and for all we know, it could have a solid plan to make this work.
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