Selling antiques from France

[john456]

I got a business partner interested in selling antiques from France in USA via a LLC we would setup and ebay.com

I got a few samples. There is no brand, it is just old silver forks, knives, etc.
It looks real nice.

There is no receipt or certificate available beyond the original french auction receipt.

Are there any gotchas with antiques on ebay?

thx
J.

[Sandy D]

How do you know if they are old?

Most real silver that is old did not come from France.

With no hallmark it will be hard to sell on ebay as collectors want hallmarks, name brands.

Is it truly silver or silverplated?

Guessing they are not old and if they are they would have to be real silver to be of any value.

Buy a silver testing kit or use a magnet before touching it.

If it is not real silver pass on it there is no money to be made.

If it is real silver why would he need a partner as he could sell them for scrap silver and make money without partnering at all.

[GreenBean]

Hello scammers and here's a new account to stuff up...................

Old French silver spoons??????????

That is a hard niche.

A dangerous one full of hard-nosed buyers who know their trade better than you.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by john456

Are there any gotchas with antiques on ebay?

thx
J.

re-read that thread regarding Tiffany items.

There is a BIG gotcha with antiques.

Unless you are 100000% sure of their authenticity you have issues. Even with all the paper work in the world, sales are still open to dispute(s).

I have had the threat of SNAD on a teaspoon.... simply because the hallmark was slightly worn.

[Sandy D]

I have been dealing in antiques since I was a kid and believe me when it comes to money being spend on real antiques the buyers will eat you alive if they even think they got scammed.

Antiques is a tuff business because of the buyer being so smart these days.

High end antiques have buyers who have vast knowledge and expect you to call every little detail and if you dont they will have your lunch.

Believe me I do this all day and when I sell a high end antique my description, pictures and references is one of the best on ebay period.

When someone buys an antique with decent value they know exactly what they are getting.

Thinking someone is pulling one on you John. Or trying to.

I come across silver spoons, forks, knives in box lots that even the auctioneer missed but seldom. Even if it is well hallmarked if it is not the right pattern etc it is worth more as scrap silver.

Without a hallmark and you not knowing yet if it is real silver I would be careful.

[john456]

Thanks a lot for the tips!!!!

I trust the business partner. No problem there. The antiques come from a family friend who is a professional antique buyer/seller in France. That antique dealer has noticed over the years that his best customers are in the US.

Since my business partner is moving to the US and he knows my ebay knowledge, he has been wondering if we could sell on ebay.com some antiques purchased from the family friend antique dealer.

Lots of the forks, spoons, etc are silver plated. They are not 'high-end' by any mean. They are bought in bulk from scrap metal for penny on the dollar. Some of have hallmark, some don't. Is that worth much in US?

My main concerns really is: is selling that type of antique items worth it on ebay? should I try etsy?

thx
J.

[oompaloompa]

the plate ones are not worth much, the hallmarked ones are valuable, but actually the price of silver has gone up so people may buy solid silver to melt down unless the item is particularly beautiful. Also think about how to sell them, so selling a pair of large spoon and fork, can be a serving set and worth as a set much more than individually.

I know English hallmarked silver , which is way more valuable than french, is very very popular on ebay, you will have to check completed listings for the french ones.
I agree to study hard on it as it can be a minefield.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by john456

Lots of the forks, spoons, etc are silver plated. They are not 'high-end' by any mean. They are bought in bulk from scrap metal for penny on the dollar. Some of have hallmark, some don't. Is that worth much in US?

My main concerns really is: is selling that type of antique items worth it on ebay? should I try etsy?

thx
J.

Might be two different types of items then.

Listing something that came from the 'scrap metal pile' as antique does backfire

[Sandy D]

Silver plated are not worth much at all.

Real silver is worth the most. Depends on the hallmark also.

Even if it is hallmarked is can be worthless as a manufacture and more valuable as a piece of scrap silver. Depends on the maker and pattern.

Buy a silver testing kit to test.

Not all hallmarked flatware are silver unless it has the silver mark 925 etc on it.

Lots to learn. A tough field to get into with silver silverplate etc.

Ex Olive forks by a certain maker is worth more then a large spoon. Soup spoons are worth more then a normal spoon depending on the pattern and maker etc.

What are some of the hallmarks?
Makers are Rogers? Oneida? Barton?

[Sandy D]

Originally Posted by Greenie

Might be two different types of items then.

Listing something that came from the 'scrap metal pile' as antique does backfire

If it came from a scrap pile most likely someone has already checked it and silver plate items can be worthless.

Doubt he will find much real silver in the batch then as no real antique dealer is going to toss them into the scrap pile if they are real silver.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by Sandy D

If it came from a scrap pile most likely someone has already checked it and silver plate items can be worthless.

Doubt he will find much real silver in the batch then as no real antique dealer is going to toss them into the scrap pile if they are real silver.

Agreed.

And few of the names you mention turn up in France ( often) as antique pieces.

[rsot]

@OP, if you are certain about the authenticity and have it inspected (if not certain), eB is the good venue to sell - look at the other category listings and have a feel for what yours will sell for.

[GreenBean]

Have you ever tried selling 'silver' on ebay in any manner then, rsot?

It is not as simple as you are alluding to in your post.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Greenie

Have you ever tried selling 'silver' on ebay in any manner then, rsot?

It is not as simple as you are alluding to in your post.

Not always necessary to be selling everything that is being posted up in the forums - and to answer your question, yes - I don't really post up asking for how to sell something since you see my posts.

When I need to sell something, I get it done - experimentation or otherwise

[GreenBean]

You mention your issues many times.

Maybe a different approach might work.

For john, lots of homework to experiment with the antiques.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by Greenie

For john, lots of homework to experiment with the antiques.

Exactly - cannot just rely on advice of others (even though the advice is golden) since there is a lot of sweat and "time in the field" that goes with selling these items by other members.

Takes an extra touch of personal experience.

@Greenie, sure I mention issues but please recall, I dont really ever ask how to sell something in particular I give advice more on stealth method than business models...dropped the asking of cutz way back eh? Hah

[Sandy D]

Originally Posted by rsot

@OP, if you are certain about the authenticity and have it inspected (if not certain), eB is the good venue to sell - look at the other category listings and have a feel for what yours will sell for.

Authentic or not if it is silver plate they are almost of no value.

Since he said they are not hallmarked or have a name on them I would assume they are every day common flatware pieces.

Only if they are hallmarked, marked 925 or have one of the names I mention will they even be worth it to the OP at all.