posted on November 1, 2003 07:27:08 AM new
Probably Sanmar is the only one who can answer this question:
I have a box of Noritake that I picked up at a garage sale for $20 : Platters, cups, dishes, even a coffee pot! I have the pattern and even when it was made (1967) and discontinued )1973) Thanks to Replacements. (Gotta love that company) If I sell these items to them, I would only get maybe $4 for a cup, $6 for a plate and $12 for the coffee pot.
Question is, should I just pack it up and send it all to them or try to sell them on ebay. There have been NONE listed in this pattern on ebay for atleast 6 weeks (I have been watching) and Replacements have none to sell! Whatcha'all think??????
posted on November 1, 2003 09:02:34 AM new
Replacements will give you 10-20 percent on the current market price only if they already have someone in their database looking for that item.
Otherwise they'll give 1-10%
list one or two pieces on ebay and see what kind of interest you get. You said there haven't been any of that pattern up in awhile, so who knows? Take your findings and go from there. If it goes really low, you still have most of it and can sell it to replacements. If not, you know where you should be selling it.
posted on November 1, 2003 10:38:10 AM new
I think in 6 weeks I could turn that kind of money over maybe 100 times or more. SELL IT ANY OLD WAY YOU CAN and use the money to buy more to sell. Good Luck.
posted on November 1, 2003 02:54:34 PM new
paloma; look at it this way, you paid $20.00 for it, what will Replacements pay you for it? How much will it cost you to ship it? Will you make any money? My rule of thumb is, I have get at least $100.00 more than I paid for it. This for a complete set. If it is just a partial or a few pieces, then double what I paid for it. I just bought a partial set of Noritake this morning, paid $65.00 for it will get $150.00 less shipping. I also bought a service for 8 of Lenox, paid $250.00 will get approx. $450.00. Should net about $160.00. Not too bad for an hours work. I know how Replacements works & yes, they pay about 15 % of what they sell it for. It doesn't bother me as I know they have a huge overhead. As long as I can sell the volume of china that I have over the past 9 yrs. I am happy to do business with them. By the way, am a Star Supplier & get a pricing guide (new each quarter) This costs me $200.00 a year but I get at least 15% more than you who are not. I also know what thje pattern is worth before I buy it. I also get almost instant reply when I send in a picture for ID. I know what they won't buy too.
[ edited by sanmar on Nov 1, 2003 03:00 PM ]
posted on November 2, 2003 12:43:31 PM new
Sanmar: I don't know where you are getting your figures on Replacements. A few weeks ago they sent me a buy list for Woodstock Noritake. On the items they were buying, and this excludes their offers for a nickel or a quarter for items they didn't want, their offer was from 25% to 40% of their selling price. I realize this is a statistical sample of one but it is the only real sample I have.
Fluffy: Also, I don't think the IRS will allow you to buy an item(s) for $20.00 and donate it to a thrift for a value of $200. In fact I'd bet on it. If so, you could buy for $20.00 sell for $170.00 and declare a loss of $30.00. Sounds good but I don't think it will work.
[ edited by getalife on Nov 2, 2003 12:44 PM ]
[ edited by getalife on Nov 2, 2003 12:46 PM ]
[ edited by getalife on Nov 2, 2003 12:47 PM ]
posted on November 2, 2003 01:22:44 PM new
getalife: I respectfully suggest you're not familiar with the IRS regs regarding charitable donations. There is no "what you paid for it" rule. The amount you claim is (as I said) the Fair Market Value, which the IRS defines as what a willing knowledgeable buyer will pay a willing knowledgeable seller when neither are forced to buy or sell.
Paloma could justify a FMV deduction of the amounts that Replacements is willing to pay for her dinnerware...which ends up being quite a bit more than what she paid for it.
And she wouldn't have to pack the stuff up and ship it.
--
PROCRASTINATION: Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now.
posted on November 2, 2003 03:20:26 PM new
peiklk; If you ship to Replacements, Ltd, you pay the shipping costs.
getalife, I have been selling to Replacements for over 9 yrs.I know what they pay me & I know what they sell things for. I have often asked for a retail price list to find out what I can sell for on eBay & be under them in price. I sell between $10,000.00 & 15,000.00 per year. I am sending about $1,000.00 worth this week.
posted on November 2, 2003 05:13:29 PM new
peiklk, Wish I could afford to scoff at making $4.00 for a coffee cup and $12.00 for a coffee pot too! I did NOT get an entire set for $20. Just alot of pieces. I know how much replacements ltd will pay for it. I just wanted to ask someone with experience which the best way to go with this. Ebay first and then replacements or what? Fluffy came up with a wonderful idea. I am going to hold on to it. Sanmar has wonderful insight and experience with china, lots of it, So does drcomm, horsey88 and the rest of the posters here.It is better to make a decision with lots of info rather than on a few bits of info. Right? !! I don't usually sell china, especially Noritake. There are folks on this board who have years of experience in this area and are willing to share their knowledge. I appreciate it all and I think they all know it.
posted on November 2, 2003 05:26:47 PM new
Paloma - are you going to keep us in suspense much longer? What was the retail estimate for the items you got for $20? Since I've been offering china pieces on eBay, I've run into several that have been very worthwhile.
In one case, I bought a few pieces for about $3.00 and sold them for more than $50.00.
It all started when we bought about 25 pieces for $25.00 at an auction. Had a guy stop me on the way out to "let me know" that what I bought really wasn't worth a whole lot... (He had been my opposing bidder.) Honestly, if he had offered me $50.00 I would have handed the box over to him right there... But he didn't.
It took about 3 weeks, but we sold that $25 of blue and white English Village Old Staffordshire for more than $350.00. His loss.
On an unrelated topic, I had a similar experience in buying a lot of Heritage Village accessories at an auction a few months ago. I didn't know just how many pieces were in this lot and the auctioneer took my high bid of a whopping $3.00 each... found out there were 17 pieces not the 8-9 I thought. Held my breath until we sold all but one for a total of more than $300 (again). Had one lady who approached me while we were packing up each one of them. She said she would like to buy one from me. I was very polite to her and explained that I buy to make a profit. And, I said I'd accept $6.00.
You would have thought I peed in her coffee cup!
She stomped away muttering - "You only paid $3.00. I'm not paying you $6.00..." I had to laugh - almost out loud.
I sold the one piece she wanted to a very nice customer for $10.00. Her loss, again...
Just like telling that story.
Wayne
Trying to Make a Difference - One Satisfied Customer at a Time....
posted on November 2, 2003 05:43:52 PM newShe stomped away muttering - "You only paid $3.00. I'm not paying you $6.00..." I had to laugh - almost out loud.
I've had stuff like that happen before and they seem to always base their indignation on the price you paid and not what the thing is worth. I feel like saying if I bought a box of 100 trinkets that are worth $50 each for $5 would they expect me to sell them to them for a dime because I paid a dime apiece?
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on November 2, 2003 10:50:38 PM new
TheFamilyBiz, I have no idea what they're worth. I listed 2 of the items from the set on ebay. One didnt sell (I think due to the crappy foto I took) and the other one, a bowl, sold for a whopping $8.00. Not much but better than I could have gotton at replacements. I am going to list a few more and see what happens. I was able to take some better fotos today as well so I will go ahead and relist the one that didnt sell. Now it's raining like crazy. Good thing I took the fotos today, I probably wouldnt be able to take any outside for alteast a week. Here is going to rain rain rain here.
Auctionace, I've had that happen to me too. They get so mad. I had one guy do that to me, got really angry because I wouldnt lower the price (At a stupid garage sale no less) He was yelling, waving arms and hands. I thought he was going to hit me. The more he yelled the slower and calmer I spoke, hoping it would calm him down. It didnt. He finally gave up, went to his car, came back, grumbled, paid the money, took the stupid stuff and left. You get all kinds.
posted on November 3, 2003 07:42:51 PM new
I had a set of china that Replacements offered me $100 but I didn't sell it and I put it away in storage then 3 months later they sent me an e-mail and offered me $378. because they sold out of the pattern and needed more.
posted on November 28, 2003 07:52:13 PM new
Hi Sanmar (and the rest...) I have a set of Older Mikasa in a hard to find pattern. Not sure how collectible it would be because it has a blue and grey floral with a white background and platinum trim. Do you all suggest I Ebay it by the place setting, the whole lot or wait for Replacements to offer to buy it?? I filled out their form last night, said I was interested in selling. Received an automated buyer's price list today, but no seller's offer.
Plus, how does one ship 60 some odd pieces of china at one time!???
posted on November 28, 2003 11:29:42 PM new
BTW - Did nyone else see the report on Replacements on the Today Show last week? They stated that they recieve over 60k pieces a week. YIKES!!
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 29, 2003 08:02:15 AM new
Just an update. I listed one of each piece on ebay, only one bowl sold. I relisted them and nothing at all sold. Before I listed them, I did ask replacements for a quote which they provided. If I do nothing, will they send another one? Or do I have to be one of their "suppliers" ?
posted on November 29, 2003 02:39:21 PM new
ltray; I buy used "dish packs" from a local van line co. I use poly foam to wrap the pieces. On the flats I sandwich the pieces with a piece of foam & then double wrap the entire bunch. With B&B's & salad plates, I usually oput 6 in a pack. With Dinner Plates I put only 4, & double wrap both ways. I use shredded paper to pack with. I shred several garbage bags at a time. I am talking about the big big bags, 55 gallon size. I start packing with plate7n platters on the bottom, then place a piece fo cardboard over that then more shredded paler, then the smaller pieces ith cups on the top layer. I usually make 3 layers in a box. Make sure you have at least 2 inches of packing on the outside edges& pack TIGHTLY. You don't want anything to be able to shift. BTW, I pay $4.00 per box. The Van line that I get them from knows me very well & makes sure I get premium boxes. A new box cost about $9.00. The ones I get have been used one time & are just like new.
