posted on September 1, 2002 10:33:14 AM new
I have purchased a Johnson Bros. set of dinnerware, platter, 6 large and 6 small plates, 6 soup bowls, and 6 cups and saucers. My question is, how do I split it up for sale? I know from experience that it is more profitable to sell in smaller lots, but should I try and sell one whole place settings, or 6 plates, 6 soup bowls etc, or 3 plates, 3 soup bowls. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
posted on September 1, 2002 10:58:31 AM new
Amber, here's what my experience has taught me. First of all, how old are the dishes? The older the pattern, the more likely that buyers will be wanting to fill in for broken or chipped pieces.
If it's older than, say 20 or 30 years, what I would do is this: I'd sell the platter separately, then two each of the large and small plates (together, not dutch auction) and soup bowls. And I'd well one set of cup and saucer at a time.
With each sale, or buyer's inquiry, I'd tell them how many more of all the items I have and offer to email them when I sell the other pieces. Or, if I sold two dinner plates for a decent price to someone, I'd offer two more for a dollar or so less, just to get rid of them.
My auction description would indicate that I have more pieces of this pattern currently up for auction (if that's true!) and invite them to look at my other auctions.
The newer a pattern is, the less likely, I think, that this piecemeal approach would work. Search for the pattern and see how others have handled it. I've sold lots of *parts* of sets, silver and china, and have done it this way. (A set of sterling inherited from a relative would have brought $600 from a company which buys up sets; I made over $1,000 selling by the piece or two at a time, following the advice I give above.)
posted on September 1, 2002 12:21:44 PM new
That sounds like great advice, I was told that it was at least 50 years old, and I cannot find any similar on any website, so either it is rare, or was not popular! I think it is beautiful, so hopefully someone out there is looking for it.
posted on September 1, 2002 03:41:47 PM new
First off, do you know the pattern? If you don't, then take a photo (digital) & send it to [email protected]. They shoud be able to ID it. I would list each piece separetly. I do this all of the time. I have 31 auctions running on a set of Lenox & half of them are sold. Much easier to sell a single piece, & if somone wants more than 1 plate etc., they can bid on as many as they want. I have sold thousands of dollars on ebay this way. It isimportant to know the pattern, this way a buyer can go to search & look at what is available in their pattern. I am sorry to say that Johnson Brothers is not real popular Mfr. One of the reasons is that their glazing tends to craze. Particularly in the older china. If You have done any research on ebay there are only 22 pieces listed. Good Luck
[ edited by sanmar on Sep 1, 2002 03:49 PM ]
posted on September 1, 2002 04:04:10 PM new
I did really well with Johnson Bros Harvest Time. I sold platters and bowls separately. 2 soup bowls together. 2 dinner plates together and 4 bread and butter plates. I sold everything except the bread and butter plates. Took them to a mall space 1 day and all 16 were gone the next. You will find that even though you sell them separately your buyer will be the same on most auctions, but that doesn't mean that the same auctions will bring the same money. I had 3 auctions for soup bowls and all ended at different prices but went to one buyer. Paid $20.00 for the pieces and made over $100.00. I think on the bottom of some pieces it tells you the pattern name.
posted on September 1, 2002 04:12:50 PM new
I have sent a picture to replacements.com, but after checking all the Johnson brothers web sites, I have a feeling it is one of their many "unnamed" patterns. I thought I would put it on here in case someone recognises it. If I can't find a name, I thought I could call it "blue tartan" I does say "Old English", but when I look that up, it is a different pattern entirely.
posted on September 1, 2002 04:36:40 PM new
I took out the %20 in the url and it worked fine. It's a pretty pattern and I will post here if I find anything on it.
posted on September 1, 2002 07:15:53 PM new
I just went to replacements.com and there are numerous Old English Patterns under Johnson Bros but quite a few have no pictures. The ones they have are probably the more popular patterns. Yours is probably not popular but I bet there is someone out there that need more pieces of that pattern.
posted on September 1, 2002 07:33:03 PM new
Libra, Replacements doesn't show only about 10 per cent of the patterns on their web site. They stock over 65,000 patterns from 6000 Mfr's. As I said you have to send them a picture & maybe they can ID it. I have sold to them for 8 yrs, so know them very well.
posted on September 1, 2002 08:08:51 PM new
Yes, I have sent them a picture, probably won't hear until after the holiday. Thanks for all the great help.
posted on September 1, 2002 09:07:21 PM new
Sanmar; I have a couple of questions about Replacements Ltd. Where on their site can I go to see what they would buy pieces from me for? Second, do you have a rough rule of thumb for their selling price vs their buying price? If a dinner plate SELLS for $18, any idea how much they'd pay for it if I were to sell TO them? I know that a lot depends on how much inventory of a given pattern they have already in stock and how big the demand is for it. Any other clues?
posted on September 1, 2002 10:51:00 PM new
The best thing is to call them at 800-737-5223, ask for purchasing. As to your second question; there is no set rule. They pay according to their supply & the demand for a given piece. Many times I have shipped only parts of a set of china. I have just recently had a set of Hutchenreuther which is high quality German china, they would only pay 10 cents for a cup & saucer. I gave them away. Can't afford to wrap & ship for a dime. The thing is I know what they will pay me before I ever purchase any china, so I take that into account when I buy. Sometimes I can sell on ebay for more than they will pay.
[ edited by sanmar on Sep 1, 2002 10:52 PM ]
posted on September 3, 2002 07:57:32 AM new
There is no crazing on the dishes, it is a much thinner, lighter quality than a lot of the Johnson Bros. items, it looks almost like china.
posted on September 6, 2002 11:36:23 AM new
For all those who helped, I got a reply from "replacements" It is Pattern: JB636 by JOHNSON BROTHERS [JB JB636]
Description: OLD ENGLISH, BLUE PLAID, GOLD TRIM
posted on September 9, 2002 12:37:25 PM new
Alicia, I went to http://www.replacements.com/rephtcu.htm
I sent a picture over the internet, and what I knew about the pieces. It took a few days, but they came up with the name of it.
