Re: Solid sterling silver flatware and selling it

fthunt · ‎12-24-2010

Forgot another point in my posting - my 6 pc set had the inital "F" engraved on all the handles and that reduced the value too.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@KathyPet wrote:
Take it to a upscale consignment shop or to a auction house. It will cost you a lot of money to ship if you sell on EBAY.

I hope she checks out a few options.

On Ebay, depending on how many place settings, she can ship in Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. I believe the weight limit is 70 pounds, but must be packaged very securely ... and insured.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Jacie wrote:
Believe it or not my family had a set that we sold to an Art Fair vendor who used the set to make rings, other jewelry and wind chimes! There was a sign up in the booth so we chatted and arranged a cash deal. Sa-weet! And easy.

We felt he gave us a fair price and we liked that it would be re-purposed well!

I love silverware jewelry! This is my latest acquisition, at Xmas 😍

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

Jacie · ‎01-09-2011

@Moonchilde

That is so cool! I love it too! Very pretty and unique!

The guy we sold to made a windchime for my Mother, we thought that was really nice and unexpected, that will become the "heirloom"!

"Cats are poetry in motion. Dogs are gibberish in neutral." -Garfield

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

@ncascade wrote:
Has anyone ever done that? Looking on e-bay the price is about $3,000.

I inherited my mother's and my aunt's sets of sterling...36 place settings in all - they had the same pattern (they were not just sisters, they were BFFs).

I went to a client - a local gold and silver place that buys from jewelry stores. They are one step removed from the bottom line refiner. I didn't want to sell, but I needed a value for insurance and I was curious.

Moonchilde · ‎05-23-2010

@Jacie, I fell in love with it when I saw it :-) I loved the whimsy of silverware & the cleverness, and I love elephants as well, plus they are good luck.

I think I have seen them as windchimes as well. Hope your mother enjoyed them.

Life without Mexican food is no life at all

silkyk · ‎03-03-2011

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@KathyPet wrote:
Take it to a upscale consignment shop or to a auction house. It will cost you a lot of money to ship if you sell on EBAY.
I hope she checks out a few options.

On Ebay, depending on how many place settings, she can ship in Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. I believe the weight limit is 70 pounds, but must be packaged very securely ... and insured.

Buyer ALWAYS pays the shipping on ebay (when the listing says "free shipping" it just means the seller has already figured out shipping cost and added it in). You don't have to worry about that cost and yes use the flat rate boxes.

esmeraldagooch · ‎03-10-2010

Since you know the ebay price, you can compare your local gold/silver buyer so you can tell if they are giving you a good deal, most likely not.

Buying from you as cheap as possible and either reselling or sending them into the refinery is big money and keeps the lights on and rent payed for.

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

It's going to be tougher to sell if they're monogrammed pieces.

We ran into that with my mother's flatware. Replacements Ltd. offered pennies on just a few of the pieces because of the monogramming and didn't want most of it. My sister and I didn't want the flatware and her children didn't want it either.

We sold it to a local jeweler and with my portion of the proceeds I bought a sterling silver bangle bracelet from Tiffany. I wear it all the time and, when I look down at it, it reminds me of my mom's silver and that makes me happy.

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@Sooner wrote:
Sterling silver depends somewhat on the pattern you are trying to sell and the pieces. If some of the pieces are rare and in a popular pattern they will go for WAY beyond the scrap silver price. Of course the heavier and more intricate patterns sell for more.

Sometimes you can get more for sets or groups, sometimes not. It depends a lot on the condition. If you are going to sell on ebay get great pictures if you can, be sure to show the backstamp or maker's mark of all. Weight the pieces if possible. and POLISH THEM WITH A GOOD SILVER POLISH LIKE HAGERTY. It isn't hard, but it will increase a lot. DO NOT put it on aluminum foil and clean it that way, because you don't want to take the tarnish out of the intricate patterns in the pieces.

It is a shame to sell good pieces for scrap because they are works of art and have value for their beauty. I ihate to see it melted down.

If you have more questions, ask. A lot of us have experience with this sort of thing.

I agree with the statement I bolded, so much. My husband does scrapping of various metals (goes to auctions and buys scrap for resale), and often he gets silver (and brass) at estate sales. He used to throw it in the scrap, until I caught and "educated" him a little.

He has, in the bottom of boxes, found complete silver service for 8, Baldwin brass candlesticks and sconces and other nice things, in perfect condition. I explained that they would sell for more on ebay, and be saved for the lovely things they were designed to be. Happy to say, he has 'seen the light' LOL.