Featured Full Set of Navarre Fostoria

My parents acquired a full set of Navarre Fostoria a while ago and are looking to sell it for a collectors price. They want it to go to someone who will appreciate the value and history of it but they are in need of money. They are aware of the value and the somewhat obscure collectors market for them. My parents aren’t really “dish set” people nor are they collectors but it would be nice knowing whoever buys them knows the value.

I’m looking for advice on where to look for collectors. I’ve tried Facebook and some other places online and in real life but I can’t seem to find anyone. I tried telling my parents they could try and donate them to a museum for a tax write off but they told me that they could really use the money now, not in May.

call it shallow about the money but it could really be a few extra feet of rope for the extensive hole they are in.

thanks so much for any help or advice in advance!

 

See what https://www.replacements.com/sell-to-us would offer? Ebay? There's little interest in most glassware anymore, especially if you are trying to offload it all in one big lot. Most buyers are probably looking for certain pieces to complete the sets they already have.

 

I sympathize with your folks dilemma but SO many factors in play here. 1st that comes to mind is location. Shipping is out of the question for most things right now,so unless you live in or near a larger city it would be a hard sell. 2nd is its only worth what someone will pay for it. Values from previous years mean nothing. The markets have tanked for most dinnerware,china etc. I see lovely stuff like this all the time in thrifts now . I used to buy it but then realized theres barely a secondary market anymore plus who the hell am I going to throw a dinner party for ? You might very well get lucky and someone will want it all, but I guarantee they arent going to want to pay much. Not in this market. I wish you luck and hope you get what you need.

 

Some pieces of that pattern seem to do well on eBay. You'll want to check completed listings first which will give you an idea of where collector demand lies. And then check current listings to see what the supply is like. As above, also check replacements.com to see if they would be interested. Don't forget to contact local auction houses to see if they'd have any interest.

Debora

 

it's not shallow , when one is in need of funds.........but this is not the item that will get u there.

some of the pieces will have more value than others.... and a collector...will not need a complete set......nor will they want to pay collectors prices...... whatever that is.....

 

You have to give up the notion that you will someone who will appreciate and care about the value. It is like selling a piece of glass 'to a good home'. It doesn't work that way. While it is one of Fostoria's most popular pattern, we practically give it away at estate sales. Being popular can mean saturation - it isn't rare or scarce. Piece it out - you will not be able to find anyone who will purchase the whole entire set unless you price it cheap.

 

There is a Fostoria collectors group on FB. It is also for selling, but remember, collectors know the market and they know how to get things for a good price.
I wish your parents good luck, and hope things will be better soon.

 

Replacements pays pennies on the dollar and you will have to pay shipping

 

We're assuming that your Navarre set is all clear glass, correct? If it a color (like blue), that's a different story. Is the set all stemware or do you have several other shapes? I just checked ebay to find that there are over 1,000 active listings for Navarre. Then I checked the Sold listings and there are 238 offers that sold. Not a great sell-through rate. However, compared to other etched patterns, Navarre does a little better. Do you know how to use ebay? Would you be comfortable packing delicate glassware for shipping? If not, you could try FB Marketplace of other local venues. But the bottom line is that you could only hope to make a few hundred dollars, not thousands.

I'm VERY into setting an elegant table, however, my idea of desirable stemware is not etched glass, but crystal. I mostly have Waterford along with other nice crystal. As for American brands, I have some Fostoria and Lenox, but it's mostly for day to day use. Bottom line for younger people (which I'm not), is the glassware must go into the dishwasher and be able to hold up under rough treatment.

 

I have had some luck selling stemware locally at deep discounts off the going rate for sold items on ebay. I currently have a set of 6 Navarre ice tea glasses priced at $30.00 and 8 champagne glasses at $40.00. Condition is perfect. They have yet to sell but think they will eventually. Customers these days prefer simpler more modern patterns and I often price these even cheaper.

I am buying stemware at 25 cents or less per stem at the thrift stores. I have a total of $3.50 in the 14 pieces of Navarre I detailed above. The shop I am in gives me a good consignment rate (20%). This, combined, enables me to sell cheaply. Even then, it is hit and miss. For example; wine glasses sell better than, champagne glasses, which sell better than cordials. I often pass by the latter for this reason. I probably would do better selling on ebay but I do not want the ordeal of shipping fragile items.

If selling locally, I think you need to think pennies on the dollar for your set. Someone needs to recognize that you are offering an incredible bargain. That someone will likely be a dealer. Otherwise, ebay is probably your best bet. Your chances of selling there increase greatly if you can price significantly below what others are asking and keep your shipping costs low or, better yet, free.

 

The folks above have offered excellent, broad spectrum counsel...accurate an' nuanced. You may be disappointed in their assessment of your parents goods an' potential...which is perfectly understandable...but there are options an' methods for consideration in them, worthy of investigation. Don't let your spirits flag...an' Carry ON! Best of luck to you, an' to them.

 

I learned some hard lessons about crystal/glassware along the road.
For example, just because I saw a single stem sell on eBay for $80 (pulling a number out of a hat), didn't mean I could price my set of ten for $800 and expect a sale. That one stem sold because someone had seven and wanted to complete their set of eight (or whatever number of place settings) and was willing to pay the price. A buyer just starting out and looking for a complete set of used crystal/glassware is not looking to pay top price... and neither are collectors.
So, you will get significantly more money piecing out your parents collection but it will be a lot more work and take much longer.
And, as others have already said, interest in fine dining ware has tanked. The younger generations don't hold many dinner parties, and if/when they do, they want everything to go in the dishwasher.
Unfortunately, there is no magic place to go to sell all our great stuff... if there were, we'd all be there and we'd all be rich!