The Disappearing Antique Shops

What is happening to our local antique shops? Yesterday my husband and I went out antiquing to an area which is about 40 minutes from our home. In the past we have visited the shops in this area at least once a month even during our long winters. Ten plus years ago, there were at least seven shops (mostly large group shops) along a road that stretched about five miles. During the last year, the number had decreased to three and much to our disappointment we found another one closed just over this past weekend! The recent closure was a group shop of more than a hundred dealers. What is happening? One of the two remaining shops seems to be healthy with lots of dealers and lots of interesting stuff. The other shop definitely seems to be suffering with many vacant cases. I also feel frustration with the lack of quality inventory… yard sale stuff at antique shop prices. Some dealers don’t even know the current values of their items and price them unrealistically. Are these bad economic times having a huge impact on the antique world or is it eBay where you can just search for your item and buy it at a discounted price? I do believe that eBay is partly responsible for many items losing their values. Now we have to spend higher prices for gas and come home empty handed. It is a sad picture indeed. I wonder if others have experienced this also. I still enjoy the thrill of the hunt and hope the local antique shop will someday make a big comeback!