Selling China on Ebay or CL or ?

[NHdisneylover]

I rarely post on this board, but you seem like THE people to ask, so I hope you do not mind my looking for your expertise

We left some of our belongings boxed up in the basement of our house when we moved to Germany. Now we are selling the house and will have to part with most of those last few belongings as shipping rates are very high.

One things we need to sell is my china.

I have a full set (service for 8) of Lennox china (I will have to have my friend who is there and helping me do that check what the name was) with several serving pieces.

I also have my mom's china which is also Lennox and has a service for 4.

And, we were gifted a set of china hat is about 70-80 years old. It is not in even numbers with some pieces having been broken.

Do any of you know if on any of these it is smarter to sell a full set together or better to break it up and sell piece by piece for people looking to replace a broken piece or two? It would be a lot more work to break ti up (and I cannot see that the oldest set would work for that as I do not think it has a specific pattern name) so would only be worthwhile if that at least doubles the value.

Is there somewhere in particular that is good for sellign china or wpould craig's list (no shipping) work as well as anything do you think?

THANKS

 

[akcire]

Most china has very little value today, people in USA do not entertain formally.

To get an idea if your patterns are in demand I would look on replacements website--just to see if they are looking to buy your pattern. If you pattern is currently being purchased you may have a winner. If not you are best off to sell it as a lot, for whatever price will not make you cry, or alternatively donate it to charity.

I recently purchased a Haviland complete service for 16 (including finger bowls) for $100 and see Lenox sets all the time priced very inexpensively. (I happen to really like china, so I buy it anytime I see a nice pattern).

Good luck

 

[Gigi22]

You could also try approaching local consignment sales stores, antique stores (for your older set), or looking into selling everything to Replacements Ltd.

 

[lisa-upnorth]

I have sold and bought loads of china on ebay. The key is identifying the rarity of your dishes.If they are the most popular line that Lennox sells then they are not worth much.Discontinued lines sell for big bucks! I have sold mugs for over $100 for a pair.I have sold a few dishes for $300 before-it all depends on the amount out there.Look on ebay at recent COMPLETED listings to see what your line is selling for.Dishes do well in Oct/Nov when people are getting ready to have large family meals.That being said, a collector looking for a pattern is always looking for certain pieces(I know I am!).

As for how to sell it, I would group items either into a 4 piece place setting or by items--say 2 plates or 4 mugs at a time.Wrap very well and add $2.00 for insurance onto all sales.Also, if the items are high dollar amounts, like $100 or more, I would add delivery confirmation too (since sadly there are bad ebayers that will claim items never arrived and demand money back)

Take great pictures and good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

Check out replacements.com.

To me, with ebay I'd get worried that I would have a scammer on the other end of the purchase. Someone who would say it had all broken, etc etc.

Replacements is a little painful if you look at what they are *selling* things for vs what they are *buying* things for, so don't look at that. You'll start thinking "I could get that for it, I should do it on my own" and then you're back to scammy ebay buyer possibilities, LOL.

They also might help you identify the really old china.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I have been a collector and seller of of china for over 20 years. right now china is at an all time low. If you check ebay you can't get much for Lennox, the older pieces possibly if they are Limonges, it they don't have markings it's going to be a lot more difficult. Replacements Limited pay about 90% less of what they are selling for so if you see a piece for $100 they are only going to offer you 10.00 to 12.00 for it. They are disgustingly low.

China is like fashion and can be really out of style, so depending on how old yours and your Mom's are, it might make it less desirable.

I would see if there is a large antique type consignment store in your area. Especially for the antique stuff.

I moved last summer and tried to sell my Lennox every day china I have the Eternal pattern ebay research was sad, it is selling really low. I opted to put it in storage and wait a few years. i would keep it before I would sell it for what people are paying for it these days.

I know that is not an option for you but also waiting until near Thanksgiving if you can would get you a higher price. People tend to think about formal entertaining around that time.

I used to head to the Lennox outlet around those times and buy china there and resell it. No more. I can't get what I paid for it sadly.

Craigslist is full of people selling their formal stuff, when you lose your job and can't pay the mortgage that type of stuff is going first.

 

[bumbershoot]

Replacements Limited pay about 90% less of what they are selling for so if you see a piece for $100 they are only going to offer you 10.00 to 12.00 for it. They are disgustingly low.

They were low when I got my quotes, but not THAT low. So things have changed.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks for the ideas everybody I like the idea of selling it all together to an antique store or replacements.com
Really, I know it will not bring much, but I have no where to store it and just need to let it go. I am trying to get down to just photos and 2-3 boxes of keepsakes (kids' old school work, first outfits, etc) plus one antique clock I love and maybe, if we can find someone to hold onto it for us, my great grandmother's table (but even that might have to go). It was heartbreaking to leave it all behind and it is more so to lose those last few pieces now, but it is what it is and we are just fortunate to have an income in this economy.

 

[prncess674]

Well if you decide to sell it on ebay you first need to learn to spell Lenox (one N) so that you get it listed properly. My mom is regular eBay buyer and has scooped of several sets of my Lenox china for me for bargain basement prices because some people listed it is as "beautiful Lennox china" or my personal favorite was "lovely Linux china"

 

[budafam]

I used to sell china on Ebay... I would go to estate sales, buy a set for cheap (yeah, cheap would mean around $400 or so) and then resell it piece by piece to make the most off of it. I sold one teacup for $120 once. As far as I know, Lenox is not worth much though. Sorry