What is it Worth?

How is Price Determined

If you know what you want for your items bring in the items or photos and ask if anyone would be interested in accepting your offer.

If you are unsure of what the actual value of the item is you can ask the dealer to make an offer.

It is in your best interest to do some research on your items before you go to sell them. Unfortunately price guides do not reflect current retail prices for most items. Most dealers today use internet auctions and stores to determine current market value and local price trends based on their experience.

If you go to an internet auction site do not look at the asking price for an item but look at the price the item actually sold for. Also look at how many similar items have sold and what the price is trending. The most important factor once you see what the piece is trending to sell for is the condition and any special attributes of the item. Normally the top price is paid for those items in mint condition and in original packaging. Those that have a documented history will trend to be of higher value. Unfortunately verbal history and even written history from a family member may not be enough to increase the value of the item. This is called providence and this has to be proven to a level of acceptance for the most critical collector. Unfortunately there are many forgeries and reproductions that can fool even the experienced collector and dealer.

Selling large collections or contents of an estate

If you are in a position to want to sell a large collection or a houseful of items you are usually better off selling all the items together. The reason for this is that if you sell the better items separately there is no reason for a dealer to buy those lower priced items that are hard to sell. Have you ever been to a garage sale on the last day? Are you willing to even take away what is left let alone pay for the items and haul them away and pay for them to be put in storage? Usually the answer is no.

Selling large collections and household contents to Fox Den

Fox Den is interested in purchasing collections and household estates if they have not been picked over. Fox Den will send out a representative that will review your items and give you an offer for all the items. If you accept the offer Fox Den will pay you by check and remove the items at its expense.

Some of the rules that determine value of antiques, collectibles and used items

  1. Price is always determined by what a person is willing to pay
  2. Just because it is old does not make it valuable
  3. Condition will always determine price just because it is old does not make up for poor condition
  4. Demand for an item determines price and shelf life
  5. Items that are clearly marked by origin and maker are easier to sell
  6. The harder the item is to sell the less likely is a dealer willing to buy it
  7. There is a buyer for anything if the price is right