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My mom has collected items for most of her life, most not worth more than $2-$10 when she paid far more than that decades ago. Now that we are selling her house, I need to turn her stuff into cash to pay for her care home. As POA I have a few questions.1. How long do you try to sell something before you give up and just donate it? I have no room to store anything long term.2. What avenues have you found to be best for selling low value "collectables?" 3. How do you break the news to your loved one that their most valuable collections are not worth the hundreds if not thousands they expect to get out of them? As an example my mom has a collectors plate that was mass produced, and is worth about $2-$10 on a good day. She paid probably $30-$60 for it in 1990. 4. How do you sell quilts and afghans made by your LO? 5. How do you price them? We let all the family pick their favorites, but we still have tons and they smell musty in some cases.
I have about twenty large boxes of "collectibles" that she expects me to turn into cash. A yard sale is not an option. She is running out of cash quickly, which is why we are trying to get her home and excess stuff sold ASAP.

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Etsy and/or Ebay?
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lealonnie1 Jul 26, 2024
Etsy is for handmade items and eBay fees and shipping headaches are prohibitive.
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Your profile lists dementia among your mother’s health conditions. This means she’s lost the ability to reason and make sound judgments. Please don’t expect her to understand the lack of value in collectibles. It’s even cruel, without meaning to be, to discuss it with her. There’s no money to be made there to pay for her care. Making $2 to $5 per item while mailing or driving to meet a buyer is a waste of time and your energy. There is simply no real market for this stuff. At best, you may find a local antique shop willing to take items to sell on consignment. That would at least be far less burdensome for you. I wouldn’t talk with mom about this stuff again, she can’t understand the reality about her treasures. Her ongoing care will need to be paid for by the proceeds from the sale of the house, and then perhaps Medicaid.
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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I'd just tell my mother with dementia that I sold all her collectibles for $----- fill in the blank, and be done with it. Collectibles sold originally AS collectibles, like collector plates, just aren't worth your time and effort to try to sell. Especially in this economy of such inflation where not many people have extra money to spend on dust collectors. Tell her a therapeutic fib, and save yourself a huge headache in the process by donating these items.

Good luck.
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JustAnon, I remember back when my Mom had collected piece by piece expensive glassware and silver plated coffee & tea service, plus silver utensils. These were kept on hand in case my Dad called saying he was bringing his boss home for dinner. Women were expected to set an elegant table. Linen table cloth and linen napkins. The whole nine yards. I had collected the same items for my own home, but that was to impress mother-in-law and sister-in-law :)


After my parents had passed, I found there was very little interest in the above items. So I gather everything I had, along with my Mom's items and donated them to a hospital rummage sale, proceeds go for nursing scholarships. I even went to the rummage sale later in the day, and there were the items I donated, no takers :(
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Reply to freqflyer
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I would contact an auction house and offer the items in lots with a reserve of 2, 3, 4 dollars per item. This will be the easiest as long as you are realistic in your bottom dollar you will most likely be able to unload some of it.

If mom understands anything, maybe explain that the price is low because so many of the same items are available, then tell her it's for sale and you'll let her know when it sells, then forget about it unless she brings it up, then it's still for sale mom.

I see a lot of this very situation and it is so sad that people bought stuff with the idea it would substantially contribute to their finances at some point. Things have changed way to much.
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Reply to Isthisrealyreal
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None of it is going to sell. If it’s mass produced or made in China, toss. If you can’t think of anyone to give the blankets to, contact an animal rescue and see if they want them.

I’ve got the same situation with my MIL and when the time comes, I’m renting a dumpster and throwing it all away.

They are emotionally attached to it, but it’s simply junk.
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Isthisrealyreal Jul 27, 2024
Why not donate usable, good items? Just throwing something away doesn't make sense when it is in good condition and could be a blessing for someone else.
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I spoke with the owner of a collectibles store. He sold coins, stamp collections and baseball cards as well as some other items. He told me that people collect things because they like them, but he’s had to inform some that their wonderful stuff had no value beyond that they liked it and enjoyed having it.
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My MIL had a lot off low-value stuff but we were transitioning her into AL and she was basically broke. We had a "charitable" yard sale, one day only, that we advertised on craigslist.org (there was no Nextdoor.com back then).

She wasn't living in the house at the time so there was no security issues with people coming in to look at things since anything of actual value was removed. We put up a large sign that said all the sale proceeds would go to fund her in AL and that everything must go. We had brown paper grocery bags that people could fill up with items and then they named their own price to pay, so nothing was pre-priced. We didn't even think about pricing. We also said no coins, so everything had to be $1 and up.

People IMO overpaid for what they purchased in most cases. We cleared out a lot of stuff and made $5K for dozens of things like worthless ceramic lighthouses and 60 vacation sweatshirts. We even sold her appliances: fridge, stove, dishwasher, light fixtures and even water heater. As long as the buyers made all the effort and took it away themselves, that day, that was the goal.

Since MIL's quadhome was being foreclosed, we just left everything else in there, closed the door and delivered the key to the bankers.

Then later we had to sell her husband's stuff, which was more interesting, vintage stuff but required too much time to price out and sell. I grouped all of it so I could take 1 or 2 pictures. I named some of the more valuable items and posted it on craigslist.org (because you get a wider audience). I listed it as "must take all items" and listed a lump sum amount or BO (best offer). No items were to be sold separately because I didn't want to deal with that. Someone did come and buy all of it.

The rest we advertised as FREE and had people (aka hoarders) come get it so we didn't have deal with moving it.

Make it easy to sell it, make a minimal effort to sell. After that, make it easy to get rid of it. People demonize craigslist.org but it worked great for us. Nextdoor.com can work, too but depending on where you live they might not be the audience for the collectible you have to sell.

We did not allow her to attend the sale or visit the house anymore. We told her whatever made her feel good about it (therapeutic fib). SFIL had Parkinsons and had a legal guardian so the sale of his goods went to my MIL since he barely supported her during their marriage.

I know it seems overwhelming, especially if you're the only one doing the work. My advice is that if you're going to donate it, have people come get it themselves. Don't pack it up or drive it anywhere. Call a charitable organization with a truck to come get it all.
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Reply to Geaton777
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It will be a waste of your time, they have no value, no one wants these items any more.

I would donate them and take as a tax write off.
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Reply to MeDolly
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To be honest, whether you are using Etsy or Ebay or another venue, the cost of postage today is prohibitive. By the time you list, safely wrap and send things you are out a lot of money. And things aren't being "collected" by the current generations very much. The last high priced collectibles were mid century 60 vintage things.
Things such as "Franklin Mint" and so on are virtually worthless.

I would contact some one who does Ebay or Etsy and has a shop and would do a sharing where they list, wrap and send and get 60% of the profit and you 40%. In all honesty that will be very little for low priced collections if they are even interested in the slightest. You might use your android phone to do the google "lens" and see what like items are going for out there on various auctions.

Sorry to tell you that in my own humble opinion these items are likely more trouble than they are worth and most will go for very little. Like me, Lealonnie1 is a great garage sale-er, and loves all things jewels and bling. She often finds things at a great value. I once collected McCoy when it was worth almost nothing and sold on Ebay at over 100.00 for some pieces when it went popular. That is actually very rare. My brother and I, when he was alive always had a case at a collective. He was very into art pottery. I was recently gifted a Acoma Pueblo pot that was done in the 60s by a reknowned potter and is worth over 1,000. Such things are very rare finds, and that, of course, is what makes collectors collect. But most things go the way of Beanie Babies. One day "all-the-thing" and another day nothing.

How do you tell them it's worth nothing? If they are "collectors" this is a lesson most of us learn in the end. It is sad, but these things were once much loved and enjoyed. They have done their job.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Know that most "collectables" are not.
No one wants the tchotchkes that she has collected over the years.
BUT if there is a chance that any are of real value then do a bit of research.
You have the internet and Google at your fingertips. That is a good way to start.
If you find anything that might be of value search "collectors" in your area and see what they say or may offer.

You could contact an Estate Sale company and let them value and price "objet d'art" Do know that they will take a hefty % for organizing, advertising and running the sale. But it is one last thing that you have to deal with.
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Reply to Grandma1954
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lealonnie1 Jul 27, 2024
Best way to research is to look up SOLD items on eBay.
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My coworker got rid of most of her mom's stuff on Facebook marketplace. Her mother had 'collectables' too that were worthless unless you can find that one person who wants them. Killed her to give away most of this stuff for next to nothing. My other suggestion if you are getting rid of an entire household of items is to have an auction at the home. The previous owner of my current home did that. I even bought a couple pieces of furniture.
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As Alva says postage is very high. But then the buyer pays postage. I find that Market place rarely ships now, they want porch pick up. See if Facebook has a local yardsale site. But I recommend an estate sale. Everything stays in the house. The company you hire comes in and sets up everything, even prices the items. The estate sale people took 40% and we got 3k. When people go to yardsales, they expect cheap. Estate sales not so much. The estate people took the leftover items and dropped them off at thrift stores.

I collected dolls, I cannot get what I paid for them. Longaberger baskets, you can only get small % of what you paid. Those on Market place that are asking high prices, more than original price, make me laugh. You can go to flea markets and pay much less. China and Crystal, the young generation does not want it. My daughter has a set of Pfaltzgraff and uses it for everything. But vintage Corelle and Pyrex, they are going for more than sold at. Tupperware too in very good condition.

My MIL collected that magazine stuff. She paid $20 a month and got a figurine every other month. I bet those figurines went for $5 each.
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You might contact an estate sale company and have them take a look at what you have to sell. If they are interested they will let you know, and they will take a large percentage of the sales, which will be well worth it because you'll be done.
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As a rule, an estate sale company is not going to take a sale that won't NET them under $5K.

You can go to Estatesales.net and find a company in your area that buys estates outright. That might be your best bet, although they may not be willing to offer you much, if anything. There HAS to be a profit in it for them.

Some hand made quilts and Afghans may be of interest to buyers. Air them out outside for a few days to get rid of the musty smell. If that doesnt work,hang them up in a zip up garment bag with unused coffee grinds (a whole can) for 2 weeks or until the smell is gone. This method works beautifully with furs too, for any odors including perfumes or cigarette smoke.

You can list quilts on eBay at auction for $9.99 opening bid if you don't know the value. The community determines the true value. The buyer pays the shipping which you determine beforehand according to the chart you are provided as a seller. Facebook Marketplace is another good place to sell them with less hassle. I have found that my items either sell right away on Marketplace, or not at all. 2 weeks is long enough to list them in a user friendly listing format. EBay not so much. You must set up your banking with them in order to be paid by eBay as they now manage your sales and your payouts. The hassle is real.

The true value lies in crazy quilts and antique patchwork quilts. Check sold listings for items on eBay for pricing guidelines. Especially if you don't want to use the auction feature.

Google Lens is another good feature to use to find asking and sometimes selling prices on things.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Does she have any vintage Sears and/or Kenmore products or the still desirable Merry Mushroom items (clock, canister set, dinner bell)?
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Hothouseflower Jul 28, 2024
We have a merry mushroom cookie jar over here circa 1977. 😂
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I’ve found that some things that cost a lot, sell for next to nothing:
- Silver, no-one seems interested in polishing it if it’s tarnished
- Expensive crockery sets, particularly with gilt that won’t go in a dishwasher
- Fine china tea cup, saucer and small plate sets, they only sell to old ladies
- Furniture that needs mending and polishing
- Books, although first editions and out-of-print will sit on Ebay for a while and sell eventually.
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cover9339 Jul 27, 2024
There's currently a New Merry Mushroom Canister set , salt and pepper, timer and clock with a bid over $200 on E-bay. (I can definitely see why)
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Honestly ,
Don’t go crazy trying to sell stuff
nobody wants. You have enough to do.

Mom has dementia, anxiety and depression according to your profile .

Fib about how you got a large amount of money for her collectibles . Make her day .
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Reply to waytomisery
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I’m faced with the same issue right now but my mother died. Lots of cheap knickknacks all over the place. My sibs and I took what we wanted. I’m throwing everything else out. It’s not worth my time to do anything else with it.

Get the house sold, that is the priority.
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Thanks everyone! I looked up the items on eBay and Etsy and they are not selling, and there are a lot of them listed for under $10 each. One problem is my cousin who "looks up stuff online" will see something mom has and tell her it is going for hundreds when it's just someone posted it online for that price, but it never sold. Mom has two heavy piggy banks that my cousin convinced her are worth a ton, but yesterday I found the receipt and mom paid $6 for each and there are a ton for sale on sites online. Right now everything except the quilts/afghans/homemade dolls is sitting in my living room or in a small area of our storage unit that is packed full of our camping and Christmas stuff. I promised my husband that if things don't sell via Facebook within two months we will pass them along to whatever charity will take them. My cousins were kind enough to take a lot of stuff including most of the furniture, lots of home made things and kitchen stuff. I really appreciate everyone's input.
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Geaton777 Jul 28, 2024
Small, faith-based thrift stores might like to receive those donated items in time for Christmas.
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replacements.com to see if anything valuable can be sold. You ship to them. Selling collectables should be the last of your worries. Anything under $600 is not countable as valuable if you are applying for Medicaid. Otherwise you donate them to places like Habitat for Humanity or GoodWill. You will receive a recipt that you can fill out estimated value for tax purposes
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