posted on December 29, 2002 06:26:57 PM new
I know someone that has a complete set of Rosebud by Shelley China - 12 place settings with serving dishes that they want to sell. I am considering making them an offer to buy the lot and sell on Ebay. Any ideas of value? The entire set is like new.
posted on December 29, 2002 07:00:51 PM new
First you need to determine if there is demand for the pattern.
Second, you need to determine if you get greater value by piecing out for china replacement value or selling as an entire set. If you piece out, you never put up all the dishes at once as separate auctions because you give buyers oversupply and you are competing against yourself for a limited number of bidders. Instead, you piece out over time, ending with the rare and desired serving pieces after all of the Shelley buyers for the pattern have learned who you are and click into your auctions, waiting for the serving pieces - i.e you maximize your bidding pool for the more valuable pieces.
Third, to find current value start by poking around online with the china replacement companies, see if you can get their china replacement prices. Be aware, if the china replacement companies do not have this pattern in stock it means: 1)it is so rare that you will get top dollar, or 2)it is so ugly nobody wants it.
posted on December 29, 2002 09:00:14 PM new
Think about offering $1 per piece, and perhaps $3 - $5 for serving pieces, and then bargain up from there if necessary. That is probably more than the seller would get at any garage sale in the world, and finding the right buyer who'd pay more would be almost impossible.
On the other hand, I just sold a teacup and saucer by Shelley (whom I'd never heard of before) for about $25. Surprised me! Shamrock pattern.
posted on December 29, 2002 11:13:26 PM newThink about offering $1 per piece, and perhaps $3 - $5 for serving pieces, and then bargain up from there if necessary.
She won't be able to bargain up from there, because anyone with half a brain would slam the door in her face. What's more, should the seller for some reason accept her offer (because the seller trusts her, for example), she can later be sued and forced to return the china or pay the seller the true market value. Is it worth it?
Look: Values on Shelley are readily available. Check any Schroeders guide. Check eBay. Check the Web. And figure that the person you want to buy from has done the same.
posted on December 29, 2002 11:27:08 PM new
I agree that offering that low of a price would be a huge insult and it could make the whole deal go sour.
This lady most likely has an idea of the value, most have some price in mind even if they say they don't. If you treat her fairly she may even recommend you to others that may want to sell their things.
If you plan to resell it on ebay keep checking the closing auctions to see what the pieces are bringing.
posted on December 30, 2002 03:15:49 AM new
Sanmar will be back from his much needed vacation and he will probably know the value of this china. Shelley is very popular and highly collectible. Their C/S go for quite a bit. I even sold a saucer for a good sum.
There is a Shelley book, maybe someone has it. Nobody parts with it because of the quality and pattern designs. Good Luck
posted on December 30, 2002 04:08:22 PM new
Once again thanks for the help. I don't want to insult them at all and would love to hear from sanmar. Vacation? What is that?
posted on December 30, 2002 09:18:12 PM new
Well, I'm back! (about 3 hrs. ago) This is a very collectible set. But, it depends on which of the 5 "Rosebud" patterns you have. Believe it or not there are 5 different patterns of Shelley called "Rosebud" Can you put on a picture or send one to me direct? I will be glad to give you an insight as to th value of this set. This is a VERY collectible set.
[ edited by sanmar on Dec 30, 2002 09:19 PM ]
posted on December 30, 2002 11:11:47 PM new
I don't have a picture but perhaps I can get specifics on the pattern if that would help??? Are they numbered differently? Any clues or is a pic the only way to tell?
posted on December 31, 2002 09:21:48 AM new
Kiara, the prices they are quoting are the selling prices, not the buying prices. It is easy to see that Roadsmith is not in the china business. One of the patterns is $161.00 per 5 piece place setting. The lowest price is $46.00 per 5 pc. place setting. On the high end, a round veg. bowl is $100.00, a small platter is $125.00, a coffee pot is $300.00. This is what Replacements will pay. This is just an example of wht I said about this being very collectible china. I would love to get a chance on this set. lol
posted on December 31, 2002 09:28:44 AM new
sanmar, I know those are the selling prices. I meant that they are way higher than the selling prices on ebay.
Yes, I would love to have the opportunity to buy this set also.
posted on December 31, 2002 11:25:02 AM new
Okay, the China is fluted shape, so I guess that helps. They were offered $600.00 Canadian for the set. I'm thinking of offering $600.00 American for the set. That would be almost double the Canadian offer. Do you think that's too much, too little? I think it would be a great deal for me and hoping it wouldn't be an insult to them.
posted on December 31, 2002 11:30:41 AM new
Okay okay, everybody! Roadsmith hereby officially announces she doesn't know everything about china. (She knows more than nothing, however.) She has now learned never to shoot from the hip with a quick answer unless she has seen the item in question. Time to quit beating up on the poor gal. Happy new year, everyone!
posted on December 31, 2002 12:13:02 PM new
pclady, I first started out on eBay by piecing out Haviland sets, identifying the patterns, made lots of profits. With eBay, though, profits gain everyone's attention and others started to copy me and saturated the categories with over supply, driving prices down to incredible lows. The other sellers buy the sets right off eBay, competing against each other, paying extraordinaryly high prices. Today their return is very little or none at all. Of course, I stay on top of my analysis and when I saw the beginning of the over supply I liquidated most of my dinner ware and changed my inventory to the special, unique, rare or beautiful, in other words my business model can not be copied easily.
When I was purchasing dinnerware sets from the little old ladies, which was several years ago, at that time China Replacements and other replacement companies/dealers used specific pricing formulas when they purchased sets. For Haviland, I knew it was $1 to $3 per place setting piece, such as plate, cup, bowl, etc, and the serving pieces were $5 to $10 depending on the type. The price range allowed for adjustments as to age, supply, desirability of pattern, and so on. Thus, when I made an offer for a set from a little old lady, I went through each piece in the set, did the math, showed her how much the replacement dealers would offer her, and I took that amount and multiplied by a percentage, depending upon the circumstances. I live my life honerably and ethically, and if the little old lady was distraught, needing to sell the set to pay medical bills, or whatever, I tended to make my percentage higher. I never lost an offer. Of course, I refused to even consider more sets than I made offers, because of pattern, condition, etc.
Today, I won't piece out dinnerware on eBay, it just isn't profitable enough for me. I see that everybody gets excited about selling a cup for $25, but I prefer to sell a cup for over $100 - more profit, less work. I am very selective about what I list for auction. Not all cups I list sell for $150, but in combination with my other auctions, my sales average each month stays at $120 or higher.
posted on December 31, 2002 12:51:27 PM new
pclady: I will give you $1000.00 for this set, sight unseen, IF you can give me a list of pieces that include serving pieces. You pay for the packing & shipping.
[ edited by sanmar on Dec 31, 2002 12:52 PM ]
posted on December 31, 2002 12:54:39 PM new
roadsmith, I am sorry if I offended you, wasn't meant that way.
hotcupoftea, I have made a bundle out of pieceing out sets of china on eBay. You have to watch the market & stay out of the more popular ones i.e. Mikasa, Noritake, etc. I go with Lenox, Franciscan, Minton, Royal Albert, Royal Crown Derby, Spode, etc. There is money to be made. I also deal with Replacements Ltd & have their Supplier Index, so I know what they are paying & can get an email of the selling prices of any pattern. I am getting ready to put ona Franciscan pattern next. Happy New Year!!!!!!
[ edited by sanmar on Dec 31, 2002 01:05 PM ]
posted on December 31, 2002 01:36:05 PM new
Sanmar: No offense taken, I assure you. I was just feeling sad about the impression I gave everyone here, my ignorance, etc. I have learned a big lesson about putting brain in gear before engaging mouth! You are a huge fount of knowledge about china, and I'm sure we all appreciate your help at any time!
posted on December 31, 2002 04:54:59 PM new
I am going to tell you something Roadsmith, there are many people like you and I am one. I really never get offended what people say to me. Most of the time in goes in one ear and out the other. I have been married 32 years and I learned how to pretend not to listen.
Welcome back Sanmar and I hope you had a nice vacation! You and Jack are alike in a way that when your gone from this board you are missed.
posted on January 1, 2003 10:38:31 AM new
sanmar, I would like to email you with the details of the pieces. If you don't want to post your email address, can you tell me if you are sanmar on Ebay?
posted on January 1, 2003 11:56:07 AM new
pclady, Good for yoiu!! I think there is more to be made selling it piecemeal on eBay than what Replacements will pay. Particularly on the service pieces, plus someone else is paying the shipping, whereas you have pay to ship to Replacements. Have you done a search of this pattern on eBay?
posted on January 1, 2003 02:34:09 PM new
sanmar I only see one fluted item on Ebay and it's a candy dish. Maybe that's a good sign. Most of what I see on Ebay is the dainty shape.
Replacements is offering $59.00 for a dinner plate in the fluted pattern and $34.00 for a cup/saucer. I may try piecing out a few items to see how it goes before I decide to sell to replacements.
posted on January 2, 2003 08:57:44 AM new
If replacements is offering that much then they should be at least 40%+ more, but then again if the buyers aren't checking ebay that week it won't go that high. Shelley is such fine China and I have sold Shelley C/S as high as $50.00. I don't think you have anything to lose. Good Luck
posted on January 2, 2003 09:13:09 AM new
Replacements would pay me $70.00 for a dinner plate, $40.00 for a c/s. I get 15% more as a Star Supplier. It costs me $200.00 a year, but I get a price index (upgraded) every quarter. Its worth the $200.00 as I make it back on the price increase. Check each piece before you pack it. They are very fussy with the high end china. Look for any chips or cracks or cut marks on the plates. They will not take anything that is chipped or cracked. They will discount for cut marks or wear.
