Selling Advice Needed

Maestro · 11-29-2017, 08:28 PM

hello all and happy holidays.
I've been away for some time due to family issues. the short of it is that I'm forced to sell off my prized possessions.

Nearly all of my various collections (e.g. lots of ww2 German memorabilia with some US & Japanese, ww1 & ww2 pistols & rifles, fountain pens, collector military books, old matchboxes and star wars toys, Zippo lighters from Nam, few collector cars, few collector guitars, collector knives, art work, collectible vinyl toys, etc.). My head is not clear as you can imagine what it is like to let go of one, not to mention, ALL.

any hoot, that's why I need your advice about your recommendation about the best way of going about it.. that is, sell on various forums, or to sell with an auction company, etc. thank you in advance

,
Darius.

MikeP · 11-30-2017, 04:49 PM

Auction company will ream you.
Selling a lot of stuff is complicated, especially if time is involved.
You may need to do that.
If you had time you might price and list some things here.
Guns especially.

Edward Tinker · 11-30-2017, 06:00 PM

A couple of threads like that on here - try some search terms of
auction
auction self
etc

As Mike said - auctions make it easier, but they like bigger items, small stuff will just sit there. I would likely look at each collection (assume you are ill or you need major bucks), so would think about, this collection to an auction house and this one sell myself or dealer.
Murphys does a lot more than guns - a member here and friend of mine now works there. Russ Withem, he might be able to steer you in the right direction.

But I would sell some on auction, while selling some here and then I would think of Simpsons LTD for consignment or Tom Whiteman for buying a number of guns. Tom will buy a complete collection and give a fair price, you could sell some that way, some auction, some here.

auctions and dealers - take 15-35% and some items just doesn't sell
selling yourself - LONG process, good stuff goes fast, other items take forever - make more money

alvin · 11-30-2017, 06:12 PM

Selling experience is very different from buying experience. The key is this -- if your items could attract buyers willing to spend money on them, you're all set. They will absorb most of your items in private sale, you don't even need to post them online, or consign to auction houses. But those people are very picky... they are not short of cash so they only like the rarest and best condition items.

Good luck. For the items that cannot sell in private, maybe post them here in WTS column, so we can have a chance?

George Anderson · 11-30-2017, 07:04 PM

Go to gunbroker.com. List your lowest quality items first with low starting price and no reserve. After sale list your better quality items one at a time in the same manner. You'll sell everything but it will take a while.

alvin · 11-30-2017, 07:25 PM

One important thing to note is : Don't do Dutch Auction in public sale. You can give buyer discount offline, but don't lower price every week in public sale. That makes people feeling (1) you have no patience and need quick money; (2) better wait lower price. Don't do that for your own goodness. If give discount, only discount offline in private.

11-29-2017, 08:28 PM	#1
Maestro User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: "Where the streets have no names" Posts: 504 Thanks: 192 Thanked 200 Times in 136 Posts	Selling Advice Needed hello all and happy holidays. I've been away for some time due to family issues. the short of it is that I'm forced to sell off my prized possessions. Nearly all of my various collections (e.g. lots of ww2 German memorabilia with some US & Japanese, ww1 & ww2 pistols & rifles, fountain pens, collector military books, old matchboxes and star wars toys, Zippo lighters from Nam, few collector cars, few collector guitars, collector knives, art work, collectible vinyl toys, etc.). My head is not clear as you can imagine what it is like to let go of one, not to mention, ALL. any hoot, that's why I need your advice about your recommendation about the best way of going about it.. that is, sell on various forums, or to sell with an auction company, etc. thank you in advance , Darius. Last edited by Maestro; 11-29-2017 at 08:30 PM. Reason: revised

11-30-2017, 04:49 PM	#2
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	Auction company will ream you. Selling a lot of stuff is complicated, especially if time is involved. You may need to do that. If you had time you might price and list some things here. Guns especially.

11-30-2017, 06:00 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	A couple of threads like that on here - try some search terms of auction auction self etc As Mike said - auctions make it easier, but they like bigger items, small stuff will just sit there. I would likely look at each collection (assume you are ill or you need major bucks), so would think about, this collection to an auction house and this one sell myself or dealer. Murphys does a lot more than guns - a member here and friend of mine now works there. Russ Withem, he might be able to steer you in the right direction. But I would sell some on auction, while selling some here and then I would think of Simpsons LTD for consignment or Tom Whiteman for buying a number of guns. Tom will buy a complete collection and give a fair price, you could sell some that way, some auction, some here. auctions and dealers - take 15-35% and some items just doesn't sell selling yourself - LONG process, good stuff goes fast, other items take forever - make more money

11-30-2017, 06:12 PM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Selling experience is very different from buying experience. The key is this -- if your items could attract buyers willing to spend money on them, you're all set. They will absorb most of your items in private sale, you don't even need to post them online, or consign to auction houses. But those people are very picky... they are not short of cash so they only like the rarest and best condition items. Good luck. For the items that cannot sell in private, maybe post them here in WTS column, so we can have a chance?

11-30-2017, 07:04 PM	#5
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	Go to gunbroker.com. List your lowest quality items first with low starting price and no reserve. After sale list your better quality items one at a time in the same manner. You'll sell everything but it will take a while.

11-30-2017, 07:25 PM	#6
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	One important thing to note is : Don't do Dutch Auction in public sale. You can give buyer discount offline, but don't lower price every week in public sale. That makes people feeling (1) you have no patience and need quick money; (2) better wait lower price. Don't do that for your own goodness. If give discount, only discount offline in private.