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

[AndreaDM]

I too enjoy using good dishes on more than just holidays, like I've said before, don't save if for the queen, she's never going to visit. That said, there's one set I rarely use because the plates are too big for my dishwasher so I end up having to hand wash them all, ugh.

 

[elcodfish]

Use it or loose it! Either start breaking it out a few times a month for dinner or sell it. Price it out on ebay or craigslist and then if that doesn't work give it to replacements.

 

[pickles521]

I vote for using it. Use it every day for the most special people in the world - YOUR family. Not company, not distant relatives, but YOUR family.

I had two hard lessons in not saving stuff for good. My mom died VERY unexpectedly and when we went through her stuff it was so sad. There were things that she loved dearly - she cried when she got them because she loved them so much - but they were still in the package. She was saving them "for good". We learned quickly if it was still in the package, it was good (good quality or family heirloom) but if she used it, it was likely a K-mart special. Then, 4 months after that, I had a catastrophic house fire - lost it all, including pieces that I hadn't quite gotten around to using because mom said they were "for good". Never again will anything be put up. If it gets broken by a child trying to use it, so be it. If gravy ruins that Irish lace tablecloth - at least it was well loved. Nothing is ever being put away for just the right occasion. TODAY is that occasion. Use it. Love it. Enjoy it. That's why you wanted it, right?

 

[CTdiznymom]

True Story:

I have been married 32yrs. and always longed for a set of China. I never bothered to register for a set when we got married. When we finally bought a formal diningroom set, all we could afford was a complete set of Heritage pfaltzgraff. I would always get compliments on our tablesettings, but it wasn't China.

My DH's aunt & grandmother passed away, and we were left cleaning out the house with another couple. The basement was a filthy, dark and scarey disaster and I got the job of cleaning off the shelves. On the very top shelf, there was a large box which I couldn't lift. DH and his cousin brought it down, and it was completely sealed. Never opened. The postmark was in the 1950's. So we opened the box, and I stuck my hand into all this straw packing material and pulled out a china plate! It was the exact same set that my own mother bought in the 50's from a door to door salesman. Tears started rolling down my cheek. The rest of the crew thought I was nuts! Needless to say, I prayed the rest of the family would let me have it. We still don't know why it was stored and never opened. BTW-the box was packed so tight that when I finally brought it home I found a service for 8 and ALL the serving pieces and platters! It's the Lily of the Valley pattern from Treasure Chest which I looked up and is worth over $2000. I'm thrilled to have it and it looks wonderful in my china cabinet.

 

[mafibisha]

I vote for using it. Use it every day for the most special people in the world - YOUR family. Not company, not distant relatives, but YOUR family.

I had two hard lessons in not saving stuff for good. My mom died VERY unexpectedly and when we went through her stuff it was so sad. There were things that she loved dearly - she cried when she got them because she loved them so much - but they were still in the package. She was saving them "for good". We learned quickly if it was still in the package, it was good (good quality or family heirloom) but if she used it, it was likely a K-mart special. Then, 4 months after that, I had a catastrophic house fire - lost it all, including pieces that I hadn't quite gotten around to using because mom said they were "for good". Never again will anything be put up. If it gets broken by a child trying to use it, so be it. If gravy ruins that Irish lace tablecloth - at least it was well loved. Nothing is ever being put away for just the right occasion. TODAY is that occasion. Use it. Love it. Enjoy it. That's why you wanted it, right?

OP here ~
Thank you for sharing your very touching story. So sorry for your losses. (((BIG HUG))) Know that telling your story will definitely help many of us, thank you again.

True Story:

I have been married 32yrs. and always longed for a set of China. I never bothered to register for a set when we got married. When we finally bought a formal diningroom set, all we could afford was a complete set of Heritage pfaltzgraff. I would always get compliments on our tablesettings, but it wasn't China.

My DH's aunt & grandmother passed away, and we were left cleaning out the house with another couple. The basement was a filthy, dark and scarey disaster and I got the job of cleaning off the shelves. On the very top shelf, there was a large box which I couldn't lift. DH and his cousin brought it down, and it was completely sealed. Never opened. The postmark was in the 1950's. So we opened the box, and I stuck my hand into all this straw packing material and pulled out a china plate! It was the exact same set that my own mother bought in the 50's from a door to door salesman. Tears started rolling down my cheek. The rest of the crew thought I was nuts! Needless to say, I prayed the rest of the family would let me have it. We still don't know why it was stored and never opened. BTW-the box was packed so tight that when I finally brought it home I found a service for 8 and ALL the serving pieces and platters! It's the Lily of the Valley pattern from Treasure Chest which I looked up and is worth over $2000. I'm thrilled to have it and it looks wonderful in my china cabinet.

Wow, that is very cool. So happy for you!!

 

[yoopermom]

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?

Not to hijack the thread, but I got Franciscan Desert Rose when I got married 21 years ago (the place settings were "new", the serving pieces antique) that are still wrapped in bubble wrap . My taste has changed, and I've been pondering selling, but wondering if there was even a market for such a, dare I say, "gaudy" pattern ? Since you're a collector, I thought you might know where I could start!

Small world...

Terri

 

[SLM]

I registered for a pattern when I got married. Fifteen years later I looked at it and thought "what the heck was I thinking?" I had since received china from family and treated myself to a pattern I love (and still use alot). So I put an add in the local paper for probably not much more than $100 for the lot and soon after received a call from a young woman. She was just starting to collect the pattern and was thrilled to buy mine. It felt so good to make her so happy-I felt like I was giving it a good home where someone would love it! If you or children have no attachment to the china, I say let it go.

 

[maggiew]

OP, what is your pattern?

Maggie

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I sold mine, but my situation was a little different. I had a very expensive service for 12 from a previous marriage and I totally loved the pattern, but every time I looked at it the word "FAILURE" went through my mind even though I tried to block it out.

When my oldest turned 13, on a lark the kids and I went to WDW for a long weekend to celebrate him becoming a teenager, and we had a blast. So, guess what my daughter fully expected when she turned 13? And she got it, and we had a blast again. But by the time my youngest was turning 13, we had had very serious illness and other financial reverses in our family, and I couldn't see any way of living up to the family tradition. My youngest had had to give up so much compared to the older two because of this, and I just couldn't stand to say, "Sorry . . . things have changed, we can't" about yet another thing. I lucked out - put my china on E-bay and it sold for enough money to pay for the trip.

Even though I estimated what I thought was enough for shipping, a PP is right - it cost well over $100 - closer to $150 IIRC - to ship to the buyer. I took a bit of a hit on shipping because I forgot to figure in the cost of the packaging and cushioning material - I just figured straight shipping.

All this to say, it can't hurt to try to sell it on Ebay, you might be surprised!

 

[scrapquitler]

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

How fancy is it? I'm thinking that your kids aren't interested because they don't feel any connection to these dishes that they have only seen used three or four times in their lifetime. If you used those dishes, the kids might feel some connection with them.

A number of years ago, Flylady had an essay about saving your things for 'good'. She mentioned that she had special dishes that she saved for holidays, special linens for guests, special towels for fancy use. And that she didn't get any pleasure out of them while they were stored away. So she decided that SHE was worth it and she deserved to use the special things to make her feel happy. Then she started using her 'good' things on a regular basis because she is worth it.

Maybe you can think about that and consider that maybe it might be nice for you to use them yourself for a while (not necessarily all the time, but once in a while, maybe for Sunday dinner once a month or something). I started using my wedding china about 10 years after we got married. I chose fairly sturdy type of china, but we started using them most of the time and we enjoyed them very much for more than 10 years. I did recently get rid of most of the remaining pieces (I donated them to goodwill, actually) but I think it was worth it. If the whole set is only worth $100, you dont' have that much too lose by actually using them.

I've tried to convince my MIL about using her China (or at least unpacking it). She's been married over 50 years, and got 12 setting of Haviland China for her wedding and has NEVER EVEN OPENED THE BOXES...they are still sealed in the orginal packaging, and she doesn't even remember what the pattern looks like, but she still says they are 'too good to use'. I told her she might as well use them now because when she dies, they are going somewhere and it isn't my house and her other son definitely doesn't want them either.

If you really think you are never going to use them, I'd suggest donating them to a battered womens shelter or somewhere that helps people in a difficult situation to set up a new household. Another option would be to donate them to a church (our church has tons of sets of china in different patterns, and uses them every time there is an event at church).

 

[swilshire]

Not to hijack the thread, but I got Franciscan Desert Rose when I got married 21 years ago (the place settings were "new", the serving pieces antique) that are still wrapped in bubble wrap . My taste has changed, and I've been pondering selling, but wondering if there was even a market for such a, dare I say, "gaudy" pattern ? Since you're a collector, I thought you might know where I could start!

Small world...

Terri

I went to an estate sale last weekend that had a set of this china pictured. I had never seen it before, but thought it was very beautiful. I don't need it at all, but might have bought it if it hadn't already been sold before I got there. No idea how they priced it.

Sheila

 

[swilshire]

We went to a wedding last summer where all the dishes were beautiful, but not matching, china. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. I later saw a caterer's website advertising the same thing.

Sheila

 

[Karenj2]

I LOVE the china I inherited from my nana! We don't use it often enough, but we use it for any holiday, birthday & other special occasion we have at our house. My problem is that my set is actually lunchware, so the plates are on the small side (and way smaller than today's humongus plates). I actually had a hard time finding out what pattern it was, because it's a Haviland china, but it's not floral, which is apparently what they're known for... Every once in a while I contemplate expanding my collection, but it seems like such a frivolous expense.

I've tried to convince my MIL about using her China (or at least unpacking it). She's been married over 50 years, and got 12 setting of Haviland China for her wedding and has NEVER EVEN OPENED THE BOXES...they are still sealed in the orginal packaging, and she doesn't even remember what the pattern looks like, but she still says they are 'too good to use'. I told her she might as well use them now because when she dies, they are going somewhere and it isn't my house and her other son definitely doesn't want them either.

Scrapquilter - if you should happen to go to your MIL's and happen to feel like it - could you see what the pattern is for me?

 

[mafibisha]

How fancy is it? I'm thinking that your kids aren't interested because they don't feel any connection to these dishes that they have only seen used three or four times in their lifetime. If you used those dishes, the kids might feel some connection with them.

A number of years ago, Flylady had an essay about saving your things for 'good'. She mentioned that she had special dishes that she saved for holidays, special linens for guests, special towels for fancy use. And that she didn't get any pleasure out of them while they were stored away. So she decided that SHE was worth it and she deserved to use the special things to make her feel happy. Then she started using her 'good' things on a regular basis because she is worth it.

Maybe you can think about that and consider that maybe it might be nice for you to use them yourself for a while (not necessarily all the time, but once in a while, maybe for Sunday dinner once a month or something). I started using my wedding china about 10 years after we got married. I chose fairly sturdy type of china, but we started using them most of the time and we enjoyed them very much for more than 10 years. I did recently get rid of most of the remaining pieces (I donated them to goodwill, actually) but I think it was worth it. If the whole set is only worth $100, you dont' have that much too lose by actually using them.

I've tried to convince my MIL about using her China (or at least unpacking it). She's been married over 50 years, and got 12 setting of Haviland China for her wedding and has NEVER EVEN OPENED THE BOXES...they are still sealed in the orginal packaging, and she doesn't even remember what the pattern looks like, but she still says they are 'too good to use'. I told her she might as well use them now because when she dies, they are going somewhere and it isn't my house and her other son definitely doesn't want them either.

If you really think you are never going to use them, I'd suggest donating them to a battered womens shelter or somewhere that helps people in a difficult situation to set up a new household. Another option would be to donate them to a church (our church has tons of sets of china in different patterns, and uses them every time there is an event at church).

OP here (again ) Love all these replies!

I agree with Flylady and don't save anything for *good*. Nothing, nada. If it's a treasure, it is used and / or displayed.

I just don't like this china. It's just not me. While not too *fancy*, it's just not me. We have lots of parties, family and friends, and I have lots of other sets and pieces I use, that I love. Most are much more casual, some more *fun* than others, but all that I really like. I love picking up misc pieces when we travel or at thrift shops ect.

I LOVE your idea of donating to church! I hadn't thought of that at all, and our church also uses many different kinds. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

 

[Evi]

Why not just use it?? I don't believe having things you can't use.

 

[hsmamato2]

sell it, and then you can stop thinking about it...and your room will have less unused clutter,and you'll have some extra $$ in your pocket to spend elsewhere.