Hello from upstate New York.

In the boonies between Albany and Saratoga Springs. I inherited my mother's estate and a few other relative's items. My mom was really into Depression glass and Japanese porcelain. She started collecting in the 1970 when these items were popular and pricey. Nowadays, I can't give these away.

Four years ago, I sold the family home (2500 sq ft brick Victorian) and moved into a much smaller ranch style home.

The old homestead:



I've been trying to liquidate the items I just do not have room for anymore to adequately display. Unfortunately, most is packed up in boxes in the basement. It seems antiques and collectibles are a dead market around here. I've been having a garage sale once a year, when our village has their community-wide garage sale weekend in May. However, I find people have a preconceived idea that nothing at a garage sale should be over 50¢. Last year a woman accused me of operating an antique shop in the guise of a garage sale. Another woman saw the teacup and saucer sets I had out for $3 apiece. She said, "You'll never sell them at that price." Most people that stop ask if I have any free stuff.

Anyways, I am still chipping away at things, but will have many questions.

Here are some photos of the sale I had the year I moved (not everything shown - most was put back down in the basement). It was a lot of work for a woman in her 70s to do alone.







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Hi ! I lived In Albany and Troy for a while. Went to many estate and garage sales,a few town wide ones as well. One thing that struck me was how dirt cheap most things were. I thought maybe because being settled for much longer than other states that maybe there was just a lot more of it around. We went to a town wide sale in Castleton and I filled up a station wagon with everything from beveled mirrors to furniture and all in between for like $40 ! I kid you not. Mind you that was 25+ years ago . Prices were so low I didnt even bother to haggle . From what I see your things are nice enough ,but nothing that stands out . All what I call "middle class collectibles" . Every middle class home had some. Welcome aboard nonetheless.

 

I think the nature of garage sales are really very much the same all over,people expect and want absolute bargains. With the idea that the seller is clearing out and just wants to get rid of things. Sorry for your predicament. I like the liquor whiskey crate in the last photo

 

salt & peppers are making a comeback !

 

between Albany and Saratoga Springs.

I've driven that road many times......

stayed overnight in Saratoga...... coming back from Boston..

 

It's the same everywhere really. Tag sale prices are supposed to be cheap enough that buyers can resell for decent money, at least if you're a reseller. Estate sales and auctions are usually higher, with retail stores at the top. I look at items prices a "what it's worth" and keep moving myself; if I wanted to pay retail or eBay prices I'd be looking on eBay.

That said, welcome!

 

I had a dozen heavy long stem crystal wine glasses.... at $ 1 each , .& a young woman curtly remarked that she could get a dozen wine glasses for $ 7 at Ikea.

Not my Moms 1970 Crystal glasses you can't...... I retorted !

Yard sales are funny....

 

I'd have made off with Mom's so fast....(LOL)

 

Saratoga is a lovely place. Went to the standardbred racetrack there and had a great time and our horse won. I was so thrilled that I accidently threw my arms up and hit a guy standing next to me as we were headed for the winners circle. I did say I am sorry and ran to get our photo taken. Those were the days.

 

You may have some 'sleepers'- fairly normal boring things that may have a secret value to a select audience.
These are both Ebay-
Example 1- 15 yrs ago my Wife found a 2 inch candy dish/ashtray for 35 cents that had an old decal,something like-'Blah-blah Springs/Park'-on Ebay it went for $350,it was from an amusement park that'd burned down pre WWI.I couldn't find any online info on it pre-sale,I was stunned by the sale price.
Example 2-Old pair of very beat-up holey coveralls for $7,said 'Fred's Garage' on it. They went for $600,the place'd been owned by the guy's grandad.

 

I once found a little lapel pin from a railroad I didn't recognize. It turned out to be a Louisiana/Texas shortline that went out during the Depression. THe little pin was a throw-in with a $25 lot; the pin sold for $300+. Collectors can be rabid.

 

And this is why as an estate sale owner, our prices aren't 25 cents. If you clean and stage an entire home that has been added to over 40 years, it is a lot of work! We typically spend 2 weeks, 10 am - 5pm every day getting a sale staged and priced. These type of items sell much better in their natural environment (cleaned and staged) then on a table with 100 other items - although true pickers do love the hunt! Every now and then we will get someone who will ask where we get our pricing from but every sale we hear how clean and uncluttered and nicely organized we are. Some folks will not step foot in an estate sale because they don't want to pay for someone else's hard work which is fine. A lot of folks don't realize that we take on a lot; cleaning out drawers, closets, attics and basements and when the sale is over, we can hand a completely EMPTY and clean home to the realtor or family members. If you are living in the home, you really can't do this but there are some companies who will come in an photograph and do an online estate sale. These don't perform as well for us but could be another avenue for you to look into.

 

If I had popped in, I would have asked what you wanted for the whole kit and caboodle.

 

Different venues have different expectations of price. Calling it an estate sale means people expect items to cost more, so that might help.

That said, it depends on how you feel about the items and whether you really need the money--versus your time on this earth. Would it be better to let these things go cheaply or free in order to be done with the clutter and hassle? Don't feel obligated to be custodian to your mother's collection. It was for her to enjoy and not to tie you down with a part time job. Keep in mind it'll go to someone else eventually who will enjoy it and sometimes that's enough. I know I want my inexpensive collections to end up with someone else excited to have them, and it doesn't have to be family or anyone I actually know.

 

Great insight Mirana.

Talking to Dealers for the last 50 years,it's amazing what anywhere from $200 to $1000 cash will buy you ! "I'll take the whole pile"-that's 'bundling' !

 

A few years ago, a woman stopped in at my "porch and parlor" sale and saw the Patrician pattern salt and pepper shakers in the corner cabinet. They weren't in with the sale items, but people see and want what's not for sale, and not what is. She asked what I would sell them for.This was before I researched Depression glass values, so I told her that that were very sentimental to me and hadn't decided whether to sell them or not. She said, "Set a price." then I suggested $20. She got huffy and said, "I'm not paying for your sentiments." and left. I still have them.

Another man who I know is a local dealer saw the Shawnee pottery Corn King cookie jar (it's in great condition and has the lid). He was very interested. I tested his interest by saying I wanted $100 (that was the average price they were selling for at that time on eBay). He looked deflated and said the most he could offer was $20. I still have that, too.

 

Bummer Deb-Sounds like folks in your town are either broke or cheap-but one thing they definitely are is RUDE !
Maybe Pickers are getting frustrated by constantly bumping into other Pickers ? -or the dearth of thousand buck items for a quarter ?

 

I know. It's probably a general rule that dealers will only pay 10% or less of what they feel they can re-sell for.

 

I would have assuredly called her a B***H !

 

Hey All-That sound correct ? It's been decades since I've to Dealers,a decent return for me was 25-50% (50% was great). Usually I tried to directly interface with serious amateur ( deep pocket) Collectors and sell to them.
PS-You sell to poor and or cheap people to get into Heaven.