Selling Collectibles?

[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.

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.

[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.