Vases that didn't sell at my garage sale

Beautiful European ceramic. Maybe $5 was too much?

 

Nope, out-of-fashion style. Although, for $5, I'd've been hard pressed to leave the Austrian one.

 

Agree 100%-not in 'fashion', but for a fiver I'd have taken the Erphila slightly-Eastlake one.Couldn't offered 'em much cheaper-tho in the current economic climate,folks might be guarding their pennies even more vigilantly ?

 

Deb after seeing so many of your items, I think you have some wonderful things.

 

Thank you, pearlsnblume.

 

Agreed with the rest unfortunately. It wasn't the price, it was the vases themselves. There's no demand for the design. Even arts and crafts pieces from 40 years earlier here are tough sledding.

 

If people don't want items, they won't want them for 5 cents either. No interest is no interest, no matter the quality of the item.

 

The only stuff I buy anymore (less it's a lifelong keeper) are items under $5 or $10 that have an extremely good chance of possibly bringing $100-$200. I can't gamble on nickle & dime stuff-I've already got a garage full of Goodwill or Dump Run merch.
PS-Even the lowest IQ rube senses something might be weird about the economy right now-lot's of caution currently.

 

This is a large, heavy serving plate I had for $3. I think it's Indiana Glass. No interest.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about items that don't sell. Give them to charity, there are always poor people in need of free household items.
Not worrying will give you peace of mind, and maybe even a sense of fulfilment to have helped someone.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean that your vases weren't good stuff -- they were at one point and would've sold for more than $5 -- but people aren't buying in the current financial climate. My daughter buys a lot of her decor at Winners (aka Marshall's, TJ Maxx) eschewing all the pretties from her grandmothers. Just ain't her style.

 

I was out tag-saling yesterday and spent a grand total of $5.50 plus about the same on gasoline. Nobody was out, but only one sale attracted any attention. They were selling sports cards etc. The rest were deserted.

 

When I go to a garage sale, I only buy things now that I know will sell.. Cook books,vintage bedding NIP, etc.
I used to bring home things I thought were pretty to take a chance. Not anymore.

When the show Mad Men was on, everything Culver and atomic was desirable. Now I am not really sure what is going to sell. And that is why I donated so many things to my super for his mother in law, and to Big Brothers Big Sisters. I know brass is still selling. My friend used to sell perfume and some of the prices were quite high.

I don't know what the current trend is except to say that people are hanging on to the money now.

 

Maybe garage sales are getting too old-fashioned a way to shop. With so many Internet sites to get things and the cost of gas to drive someplace where you may not find anything of interest it putting a damper on them. Years ago, you couldn't stand out in your driveway with the garage door up when someone wouldn't pull up and ask if you were having a sale. I know attendance seemed to be down this year from other years and those that did stop didn't buy as much.

My mom probably thought she was making a good investment buying Noritake, Limoges and Wedgwood china along with Depression, EAPG and Carnival glass, but back then they were popular and pricey collectibles. She didn't know that in the early 2000s, the bottom would fall out of the antique market. Now I'm left with a houseful of things no one wants.

I've been told a few times that some of my items aren't "garage sale" material and should be sent to auction. Unfortunately, around here there aren't that many auction houses and the ones that didn't go OOB during COVID are now only taking very high-end things. Also I've been told more than once to just donate my items to a charity shop. Same goes for those, also. Even the Salvation Army has a sign outside, "We are not accepting donations at this time."

Can't sell things or give them away.

 

There are two auction houses here with long histories. Neither is taking normal household goods any more; they don't make enough on them.

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters is pretty helpful around here as they come and pick up the items, all I have to do is pick a date and tell them via their site and put the stuff in a box or bag and they take it away. Sometimes they say what they no longer take.

One of my local thrifts makes it really hard to donate. So I stopped doing it.

I also have given things directly to a church thrift shop a number of times as they have always been one of my favorites to shop at with lots of kitchenware, books and low prices. Only issue is that it is further away from me than I like to drive.

I didn't want to donate many things as they belonged to my grandmother. But living in an apt there is only so much room.

 

Ha, two days ago I sold a vintage ashtray that is one of the exact same used on Don Draper's desk. Screenshot and everything. Guess those people are still out there.

Maybe...but there's no shortage of youtubers taking people on yard sale and estate sale hunts. I guess it depends on if you live in a city or right area though.

Yeah... This is why I tell people the stuff you buy for your hobby or collection should only be bought for you to enjoy and don't expect a return on it as an "investment." TV shows like us to believe those big ticket items are in our attics but most of it that sells for "big bucks" sold for big bucks when it was new! And now sells for less than it's original price as well! Even diamonds and most stones don't have the secondary market people like to believe. Precious metals...sure, but that market goes up and down too.

It's all a gamble, so just buy what you like and don't use the "its an investment" as an excuse to spend more than you should.

We have a high end auction house here, but also a handful of regular ones that take all. I live in a small city but until recently, the only auction house that took everything was an hour away in another county. So, you may need to look further afield. Some will do pickups as well. I know that one even took stuff from a larger city in another nearby state so... They're used to being the only game around.

Thrift shops not taking things is wild. I've never been turned away. Hmm, may have to look beyond Salvation Army? Churches, Animal Rescues, Homeless Shelters... Those are some in my city that also run thrifts.

 

There may be some community groups that are looking for household items to help people (immigrants, people who have lost their belongings in a fire, etc.) get set up. The thrifts around here usually take everything, but sometimes say they are full up of a particular item like books.

 

According to Replacements this is Classique-Clear by Colony:
https://www.replacements.com/crystal-colony-classique-clear/c/108275

 

Thanks for the ID, Marie.