View Full Version : What to do about all that stupid fancy stuff??
So now we have BIL trying to drastically declutter the stuff he's had in a POD since he moved so that he can go out to San Diego.
And we have DH and I, also drastically decluttering stuff so we can move up to VT.
And DH still isn't that great health wise.
Can anyone say "overwhelm"?
I do have 3 kids coming to help over the next couple weeks and I think I kind of have it under control, BUT...
Both DH and I have inherited tons of nice china, silverware, and figurines and we don't know what to do with it. Yes, we can do Replacements.com, but they don't just take all the boxes, you have to send them what they're buying, which is bits and pieces of stuff.
For those of you who have done big decluttering (thinking of you, Teacher Terry) what have you done with this fancy-schmancy stuff that our mothers loved, but now no one does?
iris lilies
4-8-19, 1:01pm
So now we have BIL trying to drastically declutter the stuff he's had in a POD since he moved so that he can go out to San Diego.
And we have DH and I, also drastically decluttering stuff so we can move up to VT.
And DH still isn't that great health wise.
Can anyone say "overwhelm"?
I do have 3 kids coming to help over the next couple weeks and I think I kind of have it under control, BUT...
Both DH and I have inherited tons of nice china, silverware, and figurines and we don't know what to do with it. Yes, we can do Replacements.com, but they don't just take all the boxes, you have to send them what they're buying, which is bits and pieces of stuff.
For those of you who have done big decluttering (thinking of you, Teacher Terry) what have you done with this fancy-schmancy stuff that our mothers loved, but now no one does?
For the love of God, donate it. If you don’t love it and are not taking it with you to Vermont, donate it.
Do not spend your precious life energy trying to sell it. There is little to no market for it. Maybe you can find someone who will haul it all away and give you a little money, but that is impossible for me to know your local market.
And do not look back because the places where you donate it may pitch it.
Also you must understand that your fine China may not have a market at all. You mentioned Replacements but it costs so much to send dinnerware to them. And you have to check and make sure that Replacements even wants your patterns.
If you have sterling silver of course that is worth something, silver is always worth something. Sell thst to one of the silver pattern places including Replacements. the rest of it probably not worth much of anything.
And I hate figurines with a passion, I just hate them and think they are dumb.
I would use my “fine China “except that it has a gold edge and that stuff wears in the dishwasher and can’t be used in the microwave oven. If I was into handwashing dishes I would start using them. I think probably after we moved to Hermann, and we maintain an apartment in the city I will just use them in the city apartment for daily dishes.
Find a charity that you want to support that has a thrift shop and DONATE it. If "no one wants it", why spend life energy on it? If you want to ask someone else in your area, go talk to one or several auctioneers. They will give you the reality of stuff.
We are in the decluttering stage and several big boxes are getting filled with things that have been in closets for decades. It is all going to a garage sale held by our local animal shelter.
Either donate to a charity thrift shop or hire an estate sales person if you want some money for it. Selling bit by bit is not something you want to do if you are moving anytime soon. I hemmed and hawed about that kind of stuff when we moved and even ended up packing a few boxes of it. It's still in boxes and I don't even remember what it is. It is so liberating to get rid of it.
iris lilies
4-8-19, 2:10pm
Catherine, I suspect your brother-in-law and maybe your husband to will be concerned about all the money they’re losing if you all just donate your stuff.
People who have that idea live in fantasyland.Vast majority of factory made items, especially fine dining items. Are worthless because there is no market for them.
I was gonna post some pictures but it’s too much trouble so I’ll just tell you: there are businesses that encourage people to think their crap is worth money. Just recently the website 1st Dibs pushed some pictures of Chinese pottery to my Facebook page. I was astonished. These are the same pots that I have on my kitchen cupboards and in my living room. According to 1st Dibs I own about $35,000 worth of Chinese pottery.
hahaha
hahahaha....
Oh, and if you say well those are antique pots on that site, Iris, and you have reproduction pots let me assure you that no they are exactly the same thing as the pots I have. they probably came from the same damn factory and were manufactured about 30 years ago.
It is all a big joke.
hahaha...
But I am not stupid, I know I can probably sell it for all I don’t know maybe $250? When the time comes we will donate it all to the Lafayette Park Conservancy sale. Actually, this year I was going to start donating a few of the pots but because we are on house tour I’ll keep them for another year. But next year they are going to the LPC sale.
Thanks, IL (and bae and pinkytoe, and sweetana).
There is a profound sense of freedom in thinking about doing exactly what you say. So, there it is. I'll probably give it to the Vietnam Vets. I give to them regularly and they pick up and they take a lot of different things.
Good riddance to it, I say.
Teacher Terry
4-8-19, 3:02pm
I donated it to a husky thrift store. My hummels were worthless. Because I wasn’t in a hurry I gave away my doll collection slowly to silent auctions for a good cause.
Simplemind
4-11-19, 7:01pm
Much of the stuff that my mom collected went right back to the charity consignment antique shop she volunteered in. The bulk of the other collections were sold during the estate sale and what was left went into a ritzy vintage consignment shop. It depends on what you have and what the market is interested in but we did very well with my parents stuff. I also had the benefit of time because I moved my dad out of the house and we had months to plan how and where we were going to sell the massive amounts of stuff. They collected very specific and rare items for the most part and donating was not an option. We had to call in a pro to help with research.
happystuff
4-12-19, 6:50am
Give away or donate. We still have a somewhat active freecycle in our area, so if someone is actually taking the time to come pick something up, I have a good guess that it is continuing to be used. I like the idea of that.
If you call it stupid, it needs to just go. You don't care about it. LET......IT......GO!
Call all the kids, cousins, nieces and nephews....announce a free-for-all on XX date until noon. it's yours. Call an antique dealer and let them come from 1-3, take whatever they offer. After that, haul it to the nearest thrift store.
After that, haul it to the nearest thrift store.
And hope they take it. Around here, Goodwill in particular has gotten pretty fussy about what they will take. I understand they probably don't want to warehouse tons of Christmas decor for months at a time. But they no longer take baby things (at all), certain sports equipment (seasonal or not), and increasing amounts of electronics.
I think your advice is great, but I'd add a sentence to the end: "And then take what's left to the trash."
iris lilies
4-13-19, 8:42am
And hope they take it. Around here, Goodwill in particular has gotten pretty fussy about what they will take. I understand they probably don't want to warehouse tons of Christmas decor for months at a time. But they no longer take baby things (at all), certain sports equipment (seasonal or not), and increasing amounts of electronics.
I think your advice is great, but I'd add a sentence to the end: "And then take what's left to the trash."
i do try to not give Goodwill all the junk in the world. I toss a fair amount of items into landfill because when I shop at Goodwill I want unstained clothes and useful items in decent condition and I expect other people do as well.
And hope they take it. Around here, Goodwill in particular has gotten pretty fussy about what they will take. I understand they probably don't want to warehouse tons of Christmas decor for months at a time. But they no longer take baby things (at all), certain sports equipment (seasonal or not), and increasing amounts of electronics.
I think your advice is great, but I'd add a sentence to the end: "And then take what's left to the trash."
Steve, I'm surprised that your local Goodwill doesn't want baby items. Around here the baby and toddler-sized clothes are a good-sized part of the clothing section, and toys are always fast sellers. Since kids grow so fast, I'd think baby and kid items would still be in decent shape and would be a fast turnover for sales?
gimmethesimplelife
4-13-19, 10:20am
This right here? This I consider a perk of living in the 85006 or a similar area. Where I live, anything you don't want you can put right out on the street and by the next morning, some enterprising Mexican will have driven by and taken your stuff and will take it down to Mexico to fix/resell. People actually make a living doing this and I say, wonderful! I'd much rather them recycle unwanted goods this way than join the cartels! But yeah about thrift shops being picky - I once ran into this at the local Catholic charity for indigent pregnant women/new mothers - being very picky about used furniture, which I just put out on the sidewalk and it was gone less than 30 minutes later. Rob
catherine
4-13-19, 11:17am
i do try to not give Goodwill all the junk in the world. I toss a fair amount of items into landfill because when I shop at Goodwill I want unstained clothes and useful items in decent condition and I expect other people do as well.
Yeah, I was helping BIL sort through the stuff he was moving from the POD to the Goodwill bag.. and among the stuff were DIRTY dishtowels and old bathmats. I can't believe he was paying money to store dirty dishtowels. But I think that sometimes you see your stuff through rose-colored glasses, and it's only after you've been detached from it can you see it for what it really is.
happystuff
4-13-19, 11:18am
Where I live, anything you don't want you can put right out on the street ...
We have what we lovingly call "The Magic Sidewalk". We have never had anything sit on the sidewalk with a free sign for more than 2 days max.
SteveinMN
4-13-19, 11:23am
i do try to not give Goodwill all the junk in the world. I toss a fair amount of items into landfill because when I shop at Goodwill I want unstained clothes and useful items in decent condition and I expect other people do as well.
I fully realize many people use thrift stores as dumps. I can understand, say, concerns about accepting bedding in the age of bedbugs if the organization cannot afford to treat items for the problem before sale. It makes sense to me that a thrift store would not accept old obsolete cribs and car safety seats that may or may not have been in an accident (despite what the donor says). But some thrift stores around here will not accept an iPod or functioning loudspeakers. The local GW does not accept things like bumbo seats or "Diaper Genies" complete with the appropriate plastic bags. There's nothing wrong with these items. They're just saying 'no' for undisclosed reasons.
Who knows where the used kids' clothing they so readily accept has been been? But they won't accept a clean hard plastic dining-room-table baby booster seat. It's puzzling. And, to get into the realm of useful items, why do they still accept those plaques with talking fish? Or vinyl records without liners or jackets that look like they were used as welcome mats? [ETA] I've seen used coffeemakers for sale with coffee stains still on the carafe and some coffee grounds in the basket. Why even put that on the sales floor?
Steve, I'm surprised that your local Goodwill doesn't want baby items.
I was, too. The stuff stayed in the trunk. There are other ways to pass on those items to others. But you'd think there would be a ready market for "useful items in decent condition", especially when kids outgrow all of it so quickly.
Teacher Terry
4-13-19, 11:35am
We also have a magic sidewalk:)). Our thrift stores accepted most things except old TVs and China cabinets.
And hope they take it. Around here, Goodwill in particular has gotten pretty fussy about what they will take. I understand they probably don't want to warehouse tons of Christmas decor for months at a time. But they no longer take baby things (at all), certain sports equipment (seasonal or not), and increasing amounts of electronics.
I think your advice is great, but I'd add a sentence to the end: "And then take what's left to the trash."
I've talked to my thrift store staff. Unless it is true trash, they would rather it be delivered for resale. They trash about 10% of what they receive but find value in much that others might toss even though they have the cost of landfill trips.
Yes, any cloth is expected to be laundered. They do not launder. Soiled items would be trashed.
The only thing they won't take at this point is a Tube TV.
The only thing they won't take at this point is a Tube TV.
All I can say is you all either have much nicer thrift stores where you live or that gentrification here finally has trickled down. I know which one I'm putting my money on...
Teacher Terry
4-14-19, 2:50pm
China cabinets do not sell because young people don’t want them.
iris lilies
4-14-19, 3:09pm
China cabinets don’t sell nor does all the stuff that grannies used to display in them. Tea cup Collections. Figurines. Salt and pepper shakers. The grannies’ Handpainted china that their great aunts made. Bell collections. and etc.
Remember how useful those collections were when we were casting about for a Christmas present for granny? you could always add to her collection
Re china cabinets, whether they sell well or not must depend on what area you're in. I found one on Craigslist yesterday, finally, after looking for more than two months without finding anything nice in my price range. Admittedly since this is to house part of my teapot collection the money was coming out of my "hobbies" budget, which is pretty small, but even those priced for a few hundred were selling fast. I was sort of surprised to see that they were going that quickly and for that much because I, too, had heard that there wasn't much of a market for them. I saw one for $950 that did say it was an antique and all, but still that seemed overpriced. . . I was surprised it sold in the first week. Most were in the two to three hundred range, and the nice ones with glass were all going fast. Maybe demand is picking back up in some areas?
Rob, when I used to live in Chicago, you would put things in the alley for anyone to take. They were usually gone very quickly. Here in my apartment complex, I've seen people put things next to the dumpster, and they're later gone, so people must be taking them.
Simplemind
4-14-19, 4:54pm
I'm so thankful nobody in the family has ever invested in items from the Franklin Mint.
iris lilies
4-14-19, 6:46pm
I'm so thankful nobody in the family has ever invested in items from the Franklin Mint.
Whatchu got against those “ investments?” I smell someone who regrets decades of not buying at those low low prices !
haha, kidding.
I've come to the conclusion that nothing actually labeled "collectible" has any collectible value.
Exceptions can be made for entire collections in mint condition, but I don't think that's how it works out for 99% of what people collect.
My thought over 45 years is once the uneducated (in terms of the market knowledge not schooling) speculators get into the "market" because of anticipated great value increases or perceived "rarity", you should run fast in the opposite direction. We survived markets in stamps, coins and some stock categories by following this rule. Collectibles were the "market" people of ordinary means could "invest" in. Those who played on this hope for making money sold the product and created the secondary markets which were often smoke and mirrors. Beanie Babies, Barbies in boxes, etc. were made by the millions.
Got out when the markets were invaded by the speculators interested only in what they thought they could make buying and selling. Even stayed away from overbuying and refinancing of real estate for the same reason. Bought low, stayed low, and survived the implosion.
Now some of the things we are talking about like fine china or silver or even dining room sets, were items highly prized by generations in the past. To have a dining room, furniture and the fancy things to have at dinner were what the rich owned and I remember thinking how nice it would be to be able to set a fine table. Our lives have changed dramatically to simplicity. Finally got rid of our wedding china over 10 years ago. Still have my cut rock crystal glasses but I got them at a garage sale.
Well, my kids are here this weekend and they have been SOOO helpful! They made a serious dent in the garage--we've sorted and grouped and trashed. They've gone through their boxes and ditched what they don't want and will take back to Vermont the things they do. Plus they're coming down again to take stuff back up in a U-Haul.
I found a box of sterling silver flatware.. darn it.
iris lilies
4-14-19, 8:56pm
Well, my kids are here this weekend and they have been SOOO helpful! They made a serious dent in the garage--we've sorted and grouped and trashed. They've gone through their boxes and ditched what they don't want and will take back to Vermont the things they do. Plus they're coming down again to take stuff back up in a U-Haul.
I found a box of sterling silver flatware.. darn it.
cafherine! The sterling is like cash money! Sell it sell it sell it!
Teacher Terry
4-14-19, 9:10pm
Yes IL is right!
... Bought low, stayed low, and survived the implosion. ….
My financial philosophy in a nutshell ...
iris lilies
4-15-19, 12:20pm
cafherine! The sterling is like cash money! Sell it sell it sell it!
Without knowing the pattern, the sterling flatware could be sold for melt value. It is easy to bundle up a set of flatware and mail it off to a silver buyer.
A teaspoon will bring $10-$12 melt value at today’s prices of $15 per ounce.
Without knowing the pattern, the sterling flatware could be sold for melt value. It is easy to bundle up a set of flatware and mail it off to a silver buyer.
A teaspoon will bring $10-$12 melt value at today’s prices of $15 per ounce.
Really! Wow! I have to really take a good look and see how many are sterling I have. A lot are monogrammed so I couldn't sell them as flatware anyway.
iris lilies
4-15-19, 6:53pm
I need to back away from this thread. Silver is addictive to me. I have very little and know even less. But still, I like it all!
Anyways—depending on the pattern, date of manufacture, and collectibility, monograms are not necessarily a bad thing. Some collectors like ‘em.
I need to back away from this thread. Silver is addictive to me. I have very little and know even less. But still, I like it all!
Anyways—depending on the pattern, date of manufacture, and collectibility, monograms are not necessarily a bad thing. Some collectors like ‘em.
Let me know if you need/want any for Hermann. :) I have serving spoons as well as mismatched forks, spoons and knives.
I'll make a project of cleaning it up (it's easy to do with aluminum foil and baking powder baths) and then seeing what's what.
I started using my beloved great-aunt's silver flatware in Grand Isle, and I love it--hers is monogrammed and I love seeing her initials. It forces me to think of her every day.
iris lilies
4-17-19, 2:06pm
Let me know if you need/want any for Hermann. :) I have serving spoons as well as mismatched forks, spoons and knives.
I'll make a project of cleaning it up (it's easy to do with aluminum foil and baking powder baths) and then seeing what's what.
I started using my beloved great-aunt's silver flatware in Grand Isle, and I love it--hers is monogrammed and I love seeing her initials. It forces me to think of her every day.
Naw, but thanks for the offer! I sold the family silver, keeping only my own set.
In Hermann I use a set of family silverplate.
When I was looking up silver prices for this thread I saw the prices of the late 1970s. I remember my mom saying “the silverware in this house is worth more than this house” and I’ll she was probably right because she had 3+ sets of sterling that I know of. And it was a little ranch house she lived in.
Tangential to this discussion is what people are doing to silverplate Tea sets. They have no value so the artsy crafty girls are painting them up to look like Alice in wonderland/ mackenzie
Childs sort of things,cute and I like the trend.
2742
2743
Donate the china/decorative items. Sell the sterling.
Naw, but thanks for the offer! I sold the family silver, keeping only my own set.
In Hermann I use a set of family silverplate.
When I was looking up silver prices for this thread I saw the prices of the late 1970s. I remember my mom saying “the silverware in this house is worth more than this house” and I’ll she was probably right because she had 3+ sets of sterling that I know of. And it was a little ranch house she lived in.
Tangential to this discussion is what people are doing to silverplate Tea sets. They have no value so the artsy crafty girls are painting them up to look like Alice in wonderland/ mackenzie
Childs sort of things,cute and I like the trend.
2742
2743
I love MacKenzie-Childs! I've bought little things I can afford like their tea towels. Most of the stuff is a fortune.
I'm glad you're following everyone's advice to get rid of it all in an expedient manner. I doubt you'll regret it.
This thread reminds me of an uncle of mine. He owned several old cars. He wanted to sell them but refused to accept that their value was only what someone was,willing to pay for them so he refused every offer made for any of them. As a result they sat there and depreciated more and more until the day he died. Then his son had the task of calling the junkyard...
Give it away or donate it. If you want, see if a local consignment shop has any interest? My mother's china is all but unknown here. I have probably $1000 worth of fine German MCM china I can't sell because no one knows what it is. I have a fine, oak MCM dresser which also needs to go. Our plan is to take both of these pieces to Boston and try and sell them there. We'll take the dresser to auction and the china to a consignment shop. Anything worth <$1000 for us isn't worth the trip. I've been selling stuff professionally for 30+ years. There's a limited market for almost everything these days, look for groups on FB.
I live in S NH and spend a lot of time in Brattleboro. I know people who sell vintage clothing there and I'd recommend Experienced Goods, run by the local Hospice as a place to take donations. We're involved with a nonprofit photo gallery in Brat which sells donated 2nd hand photo equipment as well.
PM me if you want more info.
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