There is a wide range of prices for china.
On-line auction sites such as eBay have changed the market prices greatly.
China is not worth as much as it was before
as so many discontinued patterns have become so easy to get!
For example, if you are trying to sell “Old Country Roses”, “Memory Lane” , “Lavender Rose”, or “Val Dor”...it’s all about “price” as there is so much of it for sale!!!
I would look at what the completed auctions actually sold for,
not what the bidding started at.
Bidding always starts lower to attract more bidders.
If you see that no one is bidding, then the price is too high!
It’s always a gamble with on line Auctions, sometimes you can do very well with a piece and then the next time no one bids on it!
If you can’t find any thing to compare your pattern too, try looking at what similar pieces sell for.
For an example if you have an un-named teapot...the look at what other teapot’s in your size are selling for.
Un-named patterns usually sell for less then Named ones.
***As a rule of thumb any “Previously Owned” piece Royal Albert China is not worth more then the current retail prices of a comparable “New” piece. China is not a good investment and you will typically not sell you china for what you paid for it, especially if you bought each piece individually.
A “butterfly handle” piece would be about the only exception
If you have a full set in one pattern you may want to look at breaking it up.
Selling 5 piece place setting, and Trio’s in one pattern is very popular and that is a good way to break up a big set for a faster sale.
Then I would sell soup or cereal bowls by themselves. I would sell a Creamer and Sugar with tray together as a set.
As a rule, serving pieces will sell better by themselves and for more money. If you have a piece that’s hard to find, even in a popular pattern, it may be a fast seller!
Never split up a Teacup and Saucer “set”.
Don’t mix and match patterns...if you don’t have the correct match then sell them separately.
The only time I would think about selling a set together is if you had an entire series of something, like if you had all six of the “Garden Party Series”
But if you don’t have then entire Series I would sell them separately.
Some very important things to Keep in Mind:
1. Most people now days are looking for replacement pieces, not full sets.
2. Most people are also only looking for pieces in “Excellent” or “Good” condition, if it’s not then it’s got to have a good price on it!
3. If it’s a “Second” or not ”Made in England” then make sure you put that in your description. For some collectors this is very important! But that doesn't not mean your piece is worthless...I have seen “Seconds” or not ”Made in England” piece just the same price as a "First" or "Made in England" if it's in Excellent shape and is hard to find or maybe a one of a kind "Mistake"
4. Always include a photo of the back stamp then the buyers will know exactly what they are purchasing.
5. If a pattern does not have a name, then don’t give it one! You can say it looks similar to a named pattern.
6. If your pattern isn’t named, then write a very good description!!
I hope this information was helpful! Good Luck Selling!!!!
