Selling Collectibles?

[Aggie_Ama]

When I was a child my Nanny and Pawpaw would buy me this Lennox Figurines and I have I think 10 or 12. I am not really into them and my husband has deemed them "creepy" (I don't know why). I would give them to my nieces but honestly they'd break them or their many dogs and cats would. Even though my grandparents thought they were something to buy for children, I really do not think they are.

I was considering selling them but don't know the best way to do so. Unfortunately my grandparents did not keep the Certificate of Authenticity on them but they are still in good condition, just taking up space in my china cabinet. Here are two of the ones I have that appear to be selling right now on Ebay. I might keep the one in the full dress if I keep any, it was always might favorite for some reason. Suggestions on what is the simplest way to get rid of them? I don't really want to put them in a garage sell and Ebay can be a pain in the rear but I will do that if needed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/House-of-Broel-Collectible-Porcelain-Cherrished-Moments-by-Lenox-/180976061560?pt=US_Dolls_Bears_Toys&hash=item2a23038c78

http://www.ebay.com/itm/House-Broel-Collectible-Porcelain-First-Waltz-Lenox-/110994138599?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D5940110952067741387%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D5%26sd%3D180976061560%26

[Irulan]

I have a collection of china horses ( Beswick, Lefton etc) that I would like to do the same with. I call them dust collectors.

[Aggie_Ama]

That is my feeling on them and honestly the china I inherited from my Nanny that I have used once. I do collect cookie jars but those are at least useful dust collectors. I kept them for a few years after my Nanny died to make sure I wouldn't feel some strange attachment to them but nope, they are just taking up space and catching dust.

[tulip]

Sell them and know that someone out there will be very happy to have them.

[Irulan]

We have an "I sold it on Ebay" franchise here. Does anyone have any experience with a service like that? I rather someone take a commission that have to deal with it myself.

[withm]

Hmm - I'd check on Ebay for completed sales to see the prices that these things actually sell for. Then decide if the hassle is worth it - you could minimize it by selling 1 or 2 groupings, but probably you would get more revenue by selling each piece separately. On the other hand, if it were me, I'd probably just box them up and give them to the local thrift shop and take the tax deduction. And yeah, if they had been mine, they would be soooo gone by now.

[Crankin]

Do not sell that china, Aggie, unless you feel it's really ugly. We didn't get china from anyone for anything, and after I had been married a couple of years, I wanted some for holidays, etc. So we bought some very pretty and cheap china, mail order (before the web). But, now, after 30 years, the silver-ish rim is peeling off. I use it 4-6 times a year and I am glad I have it.
I keep thinking about the setting for 12 Rosenthal china my mom had and wondering where it is... although I know in my heart it was sold after she died to pay bills. I would have gladly paid my dad for it, as it was beautiful and classic and I am pretty sure nothing would be peeling.

[Irulan]

Do not sell that china, Aggie, unless you feel it's really ugly. We didn't get china from anyone for anything, and after I had been married a couple of years, I wanted some for holidays, etc. So we bought some very pretty and cheap china, mail order (before the web). But, now, after 30 years, the silver-ish rim is peeling off. I use it 4-6 times a year and I am glad I have it.
I keep thinking about the setting for 12 Rosenthal china my mom had and wondering where it is... although I know in my heart it was sold after she died to pay bills. I would have gladly paid my dad for it, as it was beautiful and classic and I am pretty sure nothing would be peeling.


I disagree. While some heirloom china might be worth keeping if you WANT it for entertaining, if a person feels bogged down by it, or that it takes up too much room, or they never use it, or it's dated and/or ugly....by all means get rid of it. Maybe it has emotional value, maybe it doesn't. Me, I hate hanging onto stuff that serves no current purpose and doesn't have emotional value. I gave away my silver to my sister because in 20 years I never use it, and she entertains. She also has the other half of the service.:) so now she has service for 12... and I don't have to store it, or clean it, or insure it.

[Aggie_Ama]

My Nanny's china is a very classic pattern, Lenox Eternal (ivory with platinum band). I won't get rid of it but there is no sentimental value. My Nanny bought it upon retiring in 1989 because she never had china, we used it twice before she died in 2009 because she worried about breaking it. So any memories I have are of my Nanny's tendency to want things for the looks but nothing more. We personally don't like entertaining but at the moment I see no point in selling the china set. It won't ever go out of style so it isn't like I can't sell it for likely the same price in 10 years. Our house has a formal dining room (we don't really use it) and it would be empty if I got rid of the china and formal table. So I guess it is good for keeping the room from being empty. :p

So far I am coming up with Craigslist and Ebay for the dolls. Neither look like a great option, I was hoping there might be a store that buys such things but so far all I am finding are ones that specialize in toys mostly.

[Irulan]

http://www.877isoldit.com/

We have one of these in town. I checked, they take anywhere from 30-40% commission but they do everything from photos and listing to shipping it. For me, that's worth the 30% just for someone else to do it.

I sell things on Craigslist just to get rid of them, but people want to buy super cheap on CL.

[emily_in_nc]

I inherited a bunch of Lennox bird figurines from my grandmother when she died. I was already selling stuff on ebay and didn't find it that difficult, so I went ahead and sold them that way. I didn't have the certificates either. At the time, they actually sold pretty well so long as they were in perfect (or near perfect) condition. One with a chip did not sell, so I donated it to Goodwill.

As for china, my mother gave me a very nice set of hers and my father's (they later divorced) that I ended up liking better than what my DH and I picked out when we got married. So we sold ours on ebay as one large set (six place settings plus lots of serving pieces) and kept Mom's. Hers is an aqua blue with simple platinum band, simple and classic. Even though it's in boxes now since we are in Belize and even when we move back to the US don't plan on buying a home for a few years, I am still keeping it because I love it, and perhaps I'll find my inner Martha Stewart when I am a bit older and decide to entertain. Stranger things have happened. :D

[Penny4]

Emily...you said your mom's china is aqua with platinum? What kind is it? That sounds so pretty. I love aqua and haven't seen anything like that. Just curious...

[emily_in_nc]

Hi Penny4,

It's OLD. They got married in the '50s. I can't even tell you the pattern now as the china is in NC, and I am in Belize. It's between aqua and light blue, so possibly not what you are looking for, but I absolutely love it. It's like mid-century modern now. :-)

[Crankin]

I love entertaining, although most of it is not the kind where I would be using the china :). I don't have "chatchkes" and I hate clutter, but I do have a very nice collection of silver pieces and crystal stuff, courtesy of my mom. My sterling, I bought myself, about 10 years ago. My fancy glassware is cheap, but nice. But, when I use my parents' sterling pitcher or platters, I feel like it's a connection. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I know both of my DILs like this stuff, too and they are 25 and 33.
Figurines are things that no one in my family has, so thankfully, I don't have to worry about getting rid of that stuff. While I probably will sell my formal dining table and hutches, I will not get rid of my good dishes, silver, and crystal when I downsize. My kitchen table extends to a size that's comparable to my dining room table (I've only done this once), so I look forward to many years of family/friend holidays, even if I'm in a townhouse. In fact, I told my DH that all I want for my 60th birthday (in November) is to have both of my sons and their spouses here for Thanksgiving. Since one of my kids is back in school and so is his wife, my present is DH paying for them to fly here from California. I look forward to using every piece of my "fancy" stuff then.

[malkin]

You could also look around locally for a consignment shop that would take them.
I'm lazy enough now, that unless the $$ value is large, I usually just donate stuff and take a tax deduction.

[PamNY]

Definitely check completed listings on Ebay, as suggested. When I was selling my mom's belongings, I found many, many optimistic listings with high opening bids, but very few completed sales on items comparable to what I had. I ended up donating anything that didn't sell at the estate sale.

[Aggie_Ama]

My cousin has a consignment shop in a nearby town, I am checking if she knows anyone who might sell these type of things. They don't really fit in her "shabby chic" shop but they have a lot of little shops. I would prefer not to do Ebay just because it is more effort than I want to deal with.

[Grits]

There is a company called Replacements Unlimited that buys collectibles as well as china and silver and resales it to people who need to complete their pattern or replace a piece. You can send them pictures for a quote. I have bought items from them before to replace broken pieces. http://www.replacements.com/collect/manu/h.htm

We just moved my MIL into a retirement community and had an auction company come out and give us a price on the items remaining in the house. LOTS of figurines and assorted glass and crystal pieces along with some furniture. They would take everything and auction it for us for 35% of the sales or just give us a flat amount, which is what we did. It ended up being around $1,000. We are going to take one set of china that none of the children want to Replacements Unlimited. Doing this really makes you want to avoid accumulating stuff.

[shootingstar]

Hope people here find some sales for their figurines.

As for china dishes, it might be useful to at least consider keeping a large serving platter or set of 2 or 4 teacups, their saucers and teapot. This is what I would keep if...I ever had china set. Which I don't and I never will. For the latter tea set, sometimes it is lovely (to me) to serve an elegant dessert with coffee/tea. Similar in my mind, to serving wine for guests or with your loved one.

I guess I would appreciate a teacup set because my partner makes lovely desserts at home....we both appreciate gourmet tarte/cake on special occasions. It brings back for us, when his mother baked her lovely multi-tiered tortes and incredible cookies in true pastry chef German style. If you have a baker /cook like that in the family, food like that deserves presentation in that manner. As time passes by, that type of gift/skill in a family becomes precious.

My partner has a handmade complete pottery handmade dish set (from Denmark) in rustic style. it does not fit your dainty china designs, but it was still expensive. I have this feeling his children will appreciate it. He also has a son who is a serious chef for restaurant in Toronto that he runs.

[OakLeaf]

I didn't even think about Replacements Ltd. buying used china ... I thought it was just factory overstock and seconds. I have bought from them, two different patterns, and I've been really pleased with their service. So IF the other end of that company is just as good, I would recommend them.

[emily_in_nc]

I didn't even think about Replacements Ltd. buying used china ... I thought it was just factory overstock and seconds. I have bought from them, two different patterns, and I've been really pleased with their service. So IF the other end of that company is just as good, I would recommend them.

I requested a copy of their guidelines when I decided to sell our wedding china and crystal. They were so restrictive and difficult, and they don't pay nearly as much as I'd hoped. There were only a couple of pieces I had that they were even looking for and would not take the whole set of either china or crystal. So ultimately I decided to sell it on ebay myself and did better than I would have with Replacements, Ltd.

[eofelis]

I have a collection of china horses ( Beswick, Lefton etc) that I would like to do the same with. I call them dust collectors.

I know people who are avid collectors of such china horses. I may be able to put you in touch with some of them.

[Irulan]

Well that would be cool.

[eofelis]

Well that would be cool.

PM sent to you....

[Koronin]

Replacements Unlimited might not be a bad idea. We may contact them at some point in the future about getting a replacement for a platter I have. It's flow blue turkey collection that I inherted from my parents (well my parents have given it to me, although they are still very much alive, but it's part of my inheritence). The platter is actually broken and has been basically glued back together, but it would be nice to have one that is not damaged. (Otherwise I'll just deal with a damaged one, the way it is displayed you can't see the crack if you don't know where to look).