I have a question regarding fine china.

[LuckyCharms]

I have a complete set of Mikasa fine china that is probably 60 to 70 years old that has never been used. To emphasize, this is FINE china, not BONE china.

This is a 12 place setting set with all of the extras. Dinner plates, salad bowls, fruit bowls, cups and saucers, a gravy boat, serving dishes, etc. Everything is wrapped in bubble wrap and stored in two large Rubbermaid totes with lids.

I tried to sell this at one time to Replacements.com, and they offered me some ridiculous price...they only needed dinner plates, and they offered me something like $1.00 a plate and I would have to handle the packing and shipping, and it all had to be packed perfectly according to their standards, so I said fuck that. Also, I didn't want to break up the set.

I'm going to try to sell this on Facebook marketplace. I don't have an account there, but a few friends do, so they will let me use their account.

I have asked a few acquittances if they would be interested, but no one had a need for it.

This set is sentimental to me in a way because it was passed down to me from my parents. If I cannot find someone I know to give it to, I would rather sell it instead of bringing it to goodwill. I give a TON of stuff to goodwill as it is, but I can't bring myself to do it with this set, because it will probably just get bought up by a stranger who will resell it for a good profit, and this benefits no one.

What would be a reasonable price to ask on marketplace?

Thank you in advance.

[niyad]

1. Before you do anything else, google mikasa china collector clubs

and do a bit of looking around to get a feel for interest and prices.

If I had the room for it, I would buy your set in a heartbeat.

[quaint]

2. If I has money, I'd offer $400, but the set is probably worth more.

There are some answers here:
https://www.justanswer.com/antiques/oh043-need-know-value-china-set-it-s-mikasa-fine.html

[FirstLight]

3. so sad we dont have uses for this now...

My Mom's china was beautiful, and she made payments of $15/mo for them ... but my sister threw it all away, cuz it "wasnt WORTH anything"

[Lonestarblue]

4. You might also search on eBay for similar sets to see what sellers there are charging.

Are there any estate auction houses in your area? They will sometimes take rarer full sets like yours and sell it at one of their auctions. I think they let you set a minimum price so it doesn’t sell if no one bids that price.

[kimbutgar]

5. I work as a senior move manager and after we move a senior we clear out their homes

We come across so many sets of fine China and usually donate them. But yes check eBay. Sadly people don’t use fine China anymore. I have a set that I use once a year. It seems our society has moved on from having beautiful table settings and formal dinner parties. Plus you have to hand wash some older China instead of putting them in the dishwasher. After cooking a big dinner that clean up is the last thing I want to do !

Try taking a picture on google lens and see if they have any value.

[AllaN01Bear]

9. never heard of your job before. went to google for some information. like the little robot, input . need input.

[kimbutgar]

11. We are licensed by an organization called NASMM

Last edited Sun Sep 15, 2024, 02:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Here is the link. We go into a seniors home (usually family requests) and help them downsize and then pack them up for a move to a senior community, assisted living or a smaller apartment/ house with no stairs. Professional movers move and transport all the packed boxes and furniture and on the other side we unpack them and set up their bedrooms, kitchens etc.

It is a very rewarding job see in them in their new residence. I personally try to recreate an area in their new place that is familiar to them.

https://www.nasmm.org/

[AllaN01Bear]

12. sounds very rewarding.thanks for your information.

[LuckyCharms]

15. Thank you. n/t

[yardwork]

24. You provide a greatly needed service.

My mother made several moves at short notice as her dementia progressed. I would have been grateful to pay somebody to do what you do.

Her last move was a quick downsize from independent living to assisted living. I did hire a woman who specialized in decluttering to help, and it was money well spent. She didn't handle the move or new room set-up, though.

Good for you for doing something that is so greatly needed.

P.S. to your point about collectibles, I gave away a lot of beautiful things my mom had collected, including Waterford crystal, fine china, etc., because I didn't have time to sell it piece by piece and the market for these things is so soft now.

[rockbluff botanist]

6. I have 5 sets of rare old china. No market for it

I tried to sell mine too and was told that people today have no use for it. Just like sterling silver flatware, no one is interested.

I finally sold my sterling silver sets for its value as silver.

I can understand why this is, as affording housing or a car or paying off student debt takes precedence.

Sad, that no one can afford beauty or just finds it superfluous.

[Niagara]

7. Lucky, I know zilch about vintage fine china.

Have you searched the brand and pattern out Ebay or Poshmark regarding your fine china set?


Also, do you have a reputable antique dealer near your area to ask questions? Not necessarily to sell the fine china to, just ask questions.


I found this Reddit thread about flipping china, but it seems to have some valuable information in it. Perhaps there are other Reddit threads about fine chine that can be of assistance to you.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Flipping/comments/jjawuc/where_to_sell_fine_china/


One topic in this Reddit thread brought the fact that collectors/people are only looking for replacements to their china sets. You may have to consider breaking up the set but hopefully not. Wouldn't it be cool if you found a buyer on DU that would take the entire set?

Good luck and please keep us posted about this. Inquiring minds want to know!

[LuckyCharms]

13. I worked in a china shop when I was young.

We predominantly sold Mikasa and Noritake.

I remember that a basic 12 place setting service had 96 pieces and the boxes were heavier than hell.

With all of the extras in my set, there's probably 110 pieces in there.

I've checked eBay for years.

There is currently one dessert bowl for sale for $8.99, and a dinner plate for $12.99. However, nothing is listed under "sold items'".

Local antique dealer doesn't want them.

There appears to be ZERO market for these things!

Thanks for the Reddit link...I'll check out.

[Niagara]

16. I'm like a bull in a china shop!

Watch out for the fragile items, Niagara is walking past!



Is there anyone in your family that might want or enjoy the fine china?



You're entirely welcome!

[LuckyCharms]

19. No one in my family wants it.

They all eat spaghetti with their fingers.

[Niagara]

20. It sure sounds like fine china is becoming obsolete. Perhaps we'll see it displayed in history museums one day.

Eating spaghetti with fingers is probably more productive than using chopsticks.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. $400 would be a good asking price if it doesn't have gold trim. However,

None have sold on Ebay.

[CrispyQ]

10. If you can't sell it for a good profit then I doubt someone else can either.

I'm just saying, there's a ton of china out there. I had an 8-place setting with serving bowls & a platter, a modern Noritake pattern. Never used, still in original boxes & I had it on Craigslist for months. I went from $400 to $100 & I finally donated it to an org that collects housewares for families that lost their home to fire.

Still, it's worth a shot for a few weeks anyway. You might find the one person looking for just that pattern.

[LuckyCharms]

14. Your response title makes a good point that I should have realized.

I'll probably end up donating them.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. Consider a reserve auction -- either through eBay or a brick-and-mortar auction house.

There are also online auction services, such as Invaluable.com. I've bought lots of stuff through them, but never put anything up for consignment, so I'm not speaking from experience. Auctioneers typically charge a fee, say 15-30% of the final bid price, and most will allow reserve auctions (no sale if a specified minimum isn't met).

This way you get a really wide market reach and don't have to sell too low -- though you may be charged a fee if it doesn't sell, as well. This may be your best chance of finding someone who's really interested in keeping the whole set together -- and some of those collectors go crazy when the bidding gets competitive. I've seen a number of items sell for far more than I ever thought they were worth. There are some people with deep pockets shopping those online auctions.

One thing about an eBay reserve auction -- if nobody meets the reserve price, you at least know what sort of bids were offered. I think Invaluable will give you that info too.

Specify "local pick up only" if you don't want to do packing. If you sell through an auction house, they will charge the bidder (not the seller) packing and shipping charges, which can be high. But bidders may hold back if they realize that.

Most importantly, DON'T RUSH. Find out *all* the terms of sale before proceeding. Don't get stuck with a contract you don't like.

https://www.invaluable.com/search?priceResult%5Bmin%5D=100&upcoming=false&query=Mikasa%2520fine%2520china&keyword=Mikasa%2520fine%2520china
I'm not sure if this link will show properly. They don't list the sell prices but you can limit the range of the search (scroll down, on the left).

[sdfernando]

18. My Dad bought my Mom a fine china set

In Japan when he was on leave during the Korean War. Pretty sure it was Mikasa. Plain white with a single pink rose on it and gold rim. Mom rarely used it and over the years of Army moves pieces got lost or broken. In the end I think maybe a full 4 place setting was left.

Good luck in selling, or donating your set.

[Marthe48]

21. You might have better luck dividing the set

With service for 12, you could make 2 sets of 6, or 3 sets of 4. A smaller grouping might be more saleable. And sell the serving pieces separately.
If there are coffee shops or organizations that host tea parties in your area, there might be interest in your set. I went to a tea party hosted by an historical society, and the table service was lovely
If you have any bed and breakfasts, there might be some interest from those. I was at a b&b that served breakfast on mismatched china, laid out mismatched tableware. That can be charming, but the matching service would be stunning.

I have my Mom and Dad's flow blue china, service for 12, from 1914. I'll divide it between the kids. One good thing about flow blue is that it is sought after to display.
Wish you luck selling

[haele]

22. I have 3/4 of a 1922 set of Old Oxford fine china.

The same plain white fluted edge pattern they sold the White Star line for 3rd Class. It's actually rather elegant, even without any trim. It's a complete set for 8 (3 types of plates, four sizes of bowls, 1 large meat serving plate, 2 large serving bowls, 1 oval serving bowl, gravy boat, butter dish, 4 section crudites bowl, and teapot, teacups with saucers) my grandmother got as a wedding set.
A few pieces have crazed glaze and one teacup and large bowl is chipped, but other than the missing pieces, it's a nice little set for modern family and guests at sit-down or holiday meals. My inherited table only seats 8 with the leaves in anyway. I found out that pattern was marketed as a "daily family China set", suitable for a young professional family or for the children's table at a dinner party.

I try to get a couple replacement pieces through various sources every year to make an entire serving for 8. About 20 more pieces to go, and that pattern was available from 1890 to 1935, so it's rather common.

Haele

[Figarosmom]

23. Why dont you just use it?

I've inherit like 5 sets of beautiful fine china. I didn't use it because some have gold or silver on the rims. Don't go on micro wave. Well lately I've decided I was going to use them and enjoy them. Nobody else wanted them so why not ? They are beautiful and lighter weight .Drinking tea from the teacups. Is actually quite nice instead of my regular old coffee mug.