should I sell our *good* china that we never use?

[mafibisha]

Please give me your thoughts.

We received a full service for 12 for our wedding, approximately years ago, and have only used it maybe 3 or 4 times on holidays. Then I started getting special but not expensive dinnerware (think Christmas plates and super springy for Easter) and haven't pulled it out of the china cabinet for years and years.

None of our kids want it when they move out - I asked them. Both my mom and my MIL have many sets of china that -- one day -- I will receive and my oldest DD said she feels more of a connection to some of those (both her Grandmas cook more than I do )

So I got a quote to sell it to that big place that buys it, and it's ridiculously low. Like not even a fraction of what's it worth, a little less than $100. But it's still more $$ than I'd have before I sold it, just sitting in the cabinet.

I'm really torn. Do I keep it, in the hopes someone wants it or it goes up in value, or do I sell.

Thanks, all

 

[Darcy03231]

I've bought good sets of china at auctions, yard sales and flea markets and then pieced them out on eBay and have done pretty well. I does depend on the maker and the pattern. If you have a good maker and popular pattern you can do much better on eBay than by selling to a big company like Replacements.com.

I'd take a look on eBay and see what the pieces are selling for there and then make a decision.

 

[Janepod]

Don't let your house be filled with things you don't use. Sell it and do something fun with the money.

 

[erincon23]

I'm in exactly the same position! I have 12 place settings of china we got for our wedding 20+ years ago -- it's blue and white, and I no longer decorate in blues! I bought a beautiful neutral colored set of (cheap) "good" dishes at Linens N Things a few years ago -- $36 for 16 place settings -- and I use that now. Replacements will give me something, but the shipping costs would eat up most of what I'd get back! I think I'll try it on ebay -- it looks like that pattern is selling.

I wouldn't sell your set for $100 -- try a few different ways before you do that. Put an ad in the paper, try Craigslist, try selling on ebay (looks like if you offer as individual pieces, things sell better).

 

[clm10308]

A couple of years ago I was given to sets of old ( no sentimental value) china that had come from my grandmother. I tried for a long time to sell them. I did have someone offer me a ridiculously low amount at a garage sale. I eventually donated them to our local church based resale shop and took the tax deduction.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm struggling with the same thing, but with the added question of keeping it for sentimental reasons because my china came from my grandmother. It is old and seems to sell for rather good prices, and I've never used it. Like you I have casual seasonal plates for holidays - fall, Christmas, and spring.

Curiously, my grandmother never used it either - she had a magnet on her fridge that said "My favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations" and lived by that, and even when she did serve a meal at home she had two other sets of china that she preferred. Its like this set is destined to pass from generation to generation of M------- women without ever coming out of the china cabinet!

 

[shoney]

Hmmm....this has me thinking....

What does replacements.com offer?

I just looked up my china and it is selling for almost 100.00 a place setting. I also noticed someone on ebay selling 1 place setting for 50.00.

I received service for 16 plus serving pieces for my shower almost 20 years ago. I never used it!!!! I opened 6 place settings and displayed them in a china cabinet when it matched my decor. I never even opened anything else. Based on the retail prices, I probably have about $2500.00 worth.

I know I wouldn't get anywhere near that....but now I am wondering what is worth???

Are there other places besides replacement.com that buy china?

 

[erincon23]

Replacements pays ridiculously low. One plate of my china, which is Dansk Bayberry, is selling for $40 on Replacements, and if I remember correctly, they were going to give me either $5 or $10 (depending on whether it was made in Portugal or Japan -- mine is Japan, so the higher price). To ship this heavy stuff would take a lot of the amount they'd give me. On ebay, if it sold, two of the same plates sold for $35.99 (for the set of 2). And I can charge a shipping cost.

You can get a free estimate (not guaranteed) from Replacements -- filling out their form can be time-consuming, but might be worth it if you have an older or uncommon set. And they won't necessarily take all of your set -- they go buy how much of the pattern they already have in stock -- they might buy 5 or 3 or 12. You won't know until you get the estimate from them.

 

[wallawallakids]

You might have better luck trying to sell it online first before accepting the funds from replacement. Maybe on CL or Ebay you could get more for it than what they are offering. $100 seems really low. I would research the pattern and make sure they aren't valuable before you do anything. We got an offer not these really old plates we found up in our attic once. When I went to research the price I was floored to find out that they are really valuable and the person who offered to buy them, obviously saw them and knew that. (I had no idea) She wasn't offering even 1/4 of the worth. My point is to just check to make sure. I still have mine, I am going hand them down to my kids, even though I think they are super ugly! Lol. However, it sounds like selling yours is the way to go if you find they are not worth much. Why keep it if you aren't really going to use it and your kids aren't interested in it? Good luck.

 

[MrsPete]

China. Ah, I have such a love affair with china and dishware of all sorts. I have more than you'd believe possible crammed into my kitchen and my two china cabinets. I have more than my share of stemware and silverware too, but dishes are what I really love. Cake plates too. Having said that, it's all essentially worthless in terms of money.

I love my wedding china, I look forward to time to pull out my Christmas china every year, I love my old sets. My Fiestaware is wonderful. ALL my stuff gets used. I desperately want to buy a set of Mexican-themed dishes. But I know that no one would buy any of this for "real money".

My #1 suggestion: Start using your china. It's fun to set a lovely table. It makes even a soup and sandwich meal nicer. You own it, you can't get much for it on the resale market . . . so enjoy it!

However, if that doesn't interest you, I'd take it in this order:

Craigslist. You're not likely to get much money, but you are likely to get a local buyer; thus, eliminating the need for difficult packing.

Ebay. This gives you a wider range of buyers and is likely to result in the highest price for you . . . but shipping china isn't going to be a picnic. Be sure-sure-sure you don't shortchange yourself on the shipping. I'm not good at that myself, and once I did end up paying someone to take an item from me (I was smart enough not to back myself into that corner again).

Replacements.com. I've been to their warehouse -- it's an experience! They make $$$$$ by purchasing sets for pennies, then selling them for outrageous prices. The only deal in that place is their back room, where they sell new-but-irregular odds and ends. That's a good place to pick up mismatched bowls and platters -- things you might want to take food to a friend's house or to a church potluck, knowing that the dish may or may not return home.

 

[swilshire]

Replacements.com. I've been to their warehouse -- it's an experience! They make $$$$$ by purchasing sets for pennies, then selling them for outrageous prices. The only deal in that place is their back room, where they sell new-but-irregular odds and ends. That's a good place to pick up mismatched bowls and platters -- things you might want to take food to a friend's house or to a church potluck, knowing that the dish may or may not return home.

Where is their warehouse, please? I'd love to visit.

Sheila

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Where is their warehouse, please? I'd love to visit.

Sheila

I'm not sure if there is more than one warehouse but there's one not far from me . It's right off I40 in North Carolina, I think....Greensboro or Burlington, maybe? I know that I pass by it on the highway on our way to my inlaws but I'm usually half asleep.

 

[prncess674]

Replacements really isn't a great deal, but also do some research on what it is selling for in other markets (yard sales, Craigslist and ebay.) Remember that just because Replacements sells it for X price remember that they are getting tip top retail and they have the ability to hold china for months waiting for that perfect buyer.

Also just because you (or your wedding guests) paid close to 2500 doesn't mean you will get anything close to that. For example, I peruse CL regularly for my China pattern (Lenox Eternal) and there was someone trying to sell it for $75 a place setting. I sent him links to several online retailers that were selling it for $59.99. He was adamant that his guests paid $99 per place setting and he was "giving" it to me for 25% off retail. Needless to say I didn't buy it.

The most profitable pieces to sell are serving pieces and any soup or cereal bowls. I would sell serving pieces and bowls on ebay then just try to do a bulk sale of the place settings on Craigslist.

 

[MrsPete]

I'm not sure if there is more than one warehouse but there's one not far from me . It's right off I40 in North Carolina, I think....Greensboro or Burlington, maybe? I know that I pass by it on the highway on our way to my inlaws but I'm usually half asleep.

This is the one I've visited. I thought it was off 85 instead of 40, but directions aren't my strong point. It's impossible to miss it driving down the road: They have a HUGE building, and their name is painted on their roof. It's one of those places I always notice driving down the interstate. I'm certain you can read it from airplanes! I believe that's their only warehouse; I think they do most of their business through the mail.

Just out of curiosity, I checked the cost of my wedding china -- it was a super popular pattern back when I was married, and it's still available new today. I see that a single dinner plate sells for these prices:

Amazon.com -- $29
Replacements.com -- $28
Ebay -- $4

 

[Gigi22]

OP, I'm in the same boat--but, no kids--and I am fairly certain my nieces will get their mom's china sets. So--what to do? Right now, I've decided not to decide. DH is attached to our 'good' china set, particularly since he purchased many of the more expensive serving pieces. I am just going to clean it all, wrap it up, and store it out of sight on the theory that in a couple of years it will be easier to get him to buy into our selling/giving it away if he hasn't seen the pieces for a while. It might work.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

This is the one I've visited. I thought it was off 85 instead of 40, but directions aren't my strong point. It's impossible to miss it driving down the road: They have a HUGE building, and their name is painted on their roof. It's one of those places I always notice driving down the interstate. I'm certain you can read it from airplanes! I believe that's their only warehouse; I think they do most of their business through the mail.

Just out of curiosity, I checked the cost of my wedding china -- it was a super popular pattern back when I was married, and it's still available new today. I see that a single dinner plate sells for these prices:

Amazon.com -- $29
Replacements.com -- $28
Ebay -- $4

I have to take both 85 and 40 to get to my inlaws, so that very well may be the case. I AM usually sleeping in the car!

I just looked it up and it's on I 85/40.....so we're both right!!! It's in Mcleansville Which looks to be east of Greensboro/ west of Burlington, NC.

 

[swilshire]

I'm not sure if there is more than one warehouse but there's one not far from me . It's right off I40 in North Carolina, I think....Greensboro or Burlington, maybe? I know that I pass by it on the highway on our way to my inlaws but I'm usually half asleep.

Thanks for the info. I'll look for it if we ever drive that way.

Sheila

 

[emma'smom]

Keep it....and use it! Last night we went to a neighbor's house for a casual dinner.......it was just beer and pizza/breadsticks served right from the box.

Just for fun, the hostess broke out her gold rimmed Lenox and lit some candles----boy did it make it an occasion! Why not?

Lenox--- not just for Christmas and Thanksgiving any longer!
=)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) People think "good china" is for special occassions.
2) Nope.
3) We use ours EVERY DAY.
4) We use inexpensive dishware for breakfast and lunch.
5) We use the "good china" every night for dinner.
6) Along with the crystal and silver.
7) Why bring it out 2-3 times per year.
8) USE IT. ENJOY IT. FEEL SPECIAL EVERY DAY.

 

[shortbun]

If I was only going to get $100 for a set of 12 place settings, I'd start using it as my everyday-seriously. Use it awhile then give it away. That's ridiculously low for china. I paid more than that for an old set of Franciscan at an auction. I collect it and there were a few unusual pieces. I use it everyday because you only live once, ya know?