Featured Pricing items to sell

Hi! I'm in need of advice. My father-in-law was an antique dealer and he passed away. For many years be bought sterling items cheaply. Preferably very cheaply, and he was very good at it. He had amassed quite a collection of items and had intended on opening up in an antique mall to sell in but passed away unexpectedly.

He taught me a lot about a lot of things but he never got to the silver. "save it to later" was his mantra. We've got things from partial tea sets to carousels to lipstick holders, to cigarette cases, and the list goes on. Some of the stuff we cannot even identify.

We don't know what to do with it all. The damaged stuff, like squished tea cups, we're guessing gets simply sold as scrap. What we don't know what to do is properly price the other items. Much of what we have we've never found similar items online.

Does the weight of an item factor in to its value? Is it totally aesthetic?

Thanks!

 

For a lot of silver the weight is the most significant factor in its value.

 

A Porsche will likely sell for more per gram than a Yugo even though they have the same number of wheels and get you to work at the same rate.

 

This weekend we happened to be at a flea market and a dealer had a walking liberty half dollar that was turned into a pendant. It was hammered into a dome and had a hole at the top. No jump ring, no chain. The dealer wanted twenty dollars. The melt value of that coin is only $6.61.

This isn't something I would normally look at, much less buy, but I've been thinking about this silver stuff that I have to sell.

Is three times the silver melt value considered 'normal'? Was it that high because it was jewelry?

We have one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/311786267486. Mine weighs thirty nine grams. According to kitco, the scrap value is $17.94. The auction ended at $92.79.

This is why I'm trying to learn what to do with this pile of sterling stuff!

 

I'm not sure about that kind of item but as Terry said "A Porsche will likely sell for more per gram than a Yugo even though they have the same number of wheels and get you to work at the same rate." It totally depends upon the item, there is no one rule that applies to all.

 

While amusing, this comparison doesn't apply because with cars we have the Kelly Blue Book, and others, to get vehicle values from. If I have an item that I cannot find in a book, or online, then I have no knowledge in which to create a price for it. That's why we have a rather large pile of items that are just waiting for us to do something with.

 

having a hoard of old silver should be your worst problem.

If you don't have the time or the inclination to get a handle on the value of each item.....send it all to auction.....with no reserve...and the items will find their own value and you'll be rid of them.....and have a barrel full of cash.

 

You're right that it doesn't perfectly fit this situation and instead of explaining the parallels I'll just say Komokwa's advice is what I would follow!

 

We have had *repeated* bad experiences with auctions, both with locals and the big ones. Items that we KNEW the values on didn't get nearly what they should have because the house didn't allow reserves. We sold some stuff through Heritage, which we knew to be worth close to twenty thousand, and then they appraised for close to sixteen thousand. Our check was a little more than five thousand.

So, no, I'd rather take a crash course in "How To Price Sterling Items For Dummies".

Regarding having a hoard of old silver... It's just a pile that collects dust. It's worthless unless it's sold. We just don't want to give it away. If we can figure out that an item is worth $100, I'm ok with selling it for $85 just to move it fast. I'm not ok with selling it $35.

 

What an items is worth, & what it can be sold for....are two very different things.

If indeed it's just a pile that collects dust and you have no bond with any of the items.......consider the fast nickel ...over the slow dime theory.

 

Pictures of the items would help a great deal, some silver will be
'scrap value, be careful here as scrap value is close to -20% with most refiners" but some can command a lot more based on if someone is trying to complete a set or its old and unusual. The weight of an item can be deceptive if its marked as weighted ie a set of weighted candle sticks may weigh 300+ grams but in reality only have a little over an ounce of silver (depending on the make) Show us pictures of the item, marks etc and someone can give you a ballpark idea. I always pick up silver when I'm out at garage sales etc because I look on it as an insurance if things went south. (also good for making silver bullets for werewolves)

 

Yes, we like looking at stuff so post photos - someone will be able to help with the maker, age and what the item is. The more information you have on your items might make it easier to figure out a value

 

We have hundreds of items. They've filled up a four drawer file cabinet, two large rubbermaid tubs and a pair of milk crates. I could devote six months alone to these things.

While your offer of helping me price them is most appreciated, truly it is, what I need is to be able to do it myself.

 

I didn't mean we would price the items, just to help you figure out who and when they were made. Some items will have more value than just scrap, but it will depend on what it is, who made it and when. Learning about a few items will help you deal with the large amount you have

 

I might suggest starting with the hallmarked items as those would probably be easiest to trace and identify. In general, pricing can be tricky. The Christmas ornament you have has both silver and collectible value. That's why it sold so well. Silver is worth the scrap value, anything above that is based on the collector value. Pictures of items and marks will help us help you determine what that collector value might be.
We have some very knowledgeable silver enthusiasts here who would be happy to help.

 

Select a few key items. Go to Ebay and look at COMPLETED auctions. That way you'll see what the going rate is for similar.

 

Think of it this way. A spoon marked sterling let's say, is worth $20
The same spoon marked Oneida sterling might be worth $30.
The Same spoon marked Tiffany & co. Sterling might be worth $80.
The same spoon with 19th Century hallmarks might be worth $120.
That's why one rule for pricing won't work.

 

Thanks to all for your thoughts. We'll talk about it. We've got some other projects active at the moment. When it's time to actually post some pictures, should I continue this thread or just start a new one for an item?

 

Either way should be OK. I would probably start a new thread, and several pictures can be included in it. It might be best that way to keep track of your items and answers.

 

I would also suggest starting a new thread for the actual items. Put several items in each post & number them from 1 to whatever. That way it does not get confusing for you or those who are trying to help you ID the items.

We have folks who ID silver for "fun", but I am not one of them. We also have folks from literally all over the world & not to toot our own horn, but as a group it takes a lot to stump the folks on this forum.