Advice For Selling Jewelry

Where is the best place to sell your jewelry? I have been out of work since December 11, 2008 per my doctor's orders. My request for short term disability from the company I work for was denied, and my benefits were suspended. I am in the process of appealing that decision. In the meantime, I am not allowed to show any other source of income. I am looking for the best place to sell some of my jewelry, and some other items I don't need.

I have amassed quite a collection of jewelry: precious and semi-precious stones set in rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants. It is my feeling that people don't come to yard sales to pay top prices for jewelry, and I want the best price I can possibly get. Our bills are beginning to pile up, and my medical expenses continue to grow. Would you suggest classified advertising, craigslist, flea markets, or some other source?

The terms of my short term disability appeal dictate that I cannot show any other source of income, so I will have to sell items for cash, which rules out eBay. I am not trying to be sneaky or to deceive my employer: I am merely trying to sell some personal items to meet expenses while I am ill and out of work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance.

Cheryl from South Carolina

Answers:

Advice For Selling Jewelry

Ebay is good place or etsy.com (03/18/2008)

By Julie

Advice For Selling Jewelry

Just be careful your workplace doesn't find out. Here is what happened to me:

I was off on medical leave-first denied by my company, than later accepted and I received back pay. (I was on bed rest for preterm labor with twins). Meanwhile I sold some items from my home on ebay, clothes and coats I had no longer been wearing, a couple of rugs, some old textbooks and some tools my husband had no use for.

The company found out, and my paychecks STOPPED. It went all the way up the chain and into the courtroom. The judge brought up my ebay account, saw what I had were common household items, and I was not running a business and I won. She got onto the HR rep and the company attorney, and I got back pay again.

But, the company continued to treat me like dirt for the next 7 years. (03/18/2008)

Advice For Selling Jewelry

E-Bay is the place. On e-bay, be SURE to set a LIMIT on the price so no one "walks away with it" for nearly nothing! You'll need GOOD, high quality pictures. Use no flash, but instead Get several lamps and hold one almost directly over-head, right over the top of the piece while your snapping the photo. Most things look good on black, but some Jewelry needs to be photographed on Gray. You background could be anything from a tablecloth, sheet, pillow case, to a plain black dress or skirt as only a small bit of the fabric will show. Craigslist is another place to sell.

Make sure you have a man with you when you show the pieces and NEVER invite ANYONE to come to your home to look at your pieces! Always meet at a place like Starbucks or a coffee shop.

Sometimes you can sell to a jewelry store. My sister worked at a "Ma and Pa" owned jewelry store and they bought and sold "estate" jewelry. They were among their best pieces! You'll be lucky if you get half what it's worth. But remember, the price of Gold is sky high right now! NEVER sell to those "scrap gold" places you see on TV. They rip you off! Chain jewelry stores in malls don't usually buy "estate jewelry." You'll have to call the ones that are owned by locals.

My ex-mother-in-law had to sell a large family heirloom diamond ring. In the 1980's it was appraised at over $8000, (we had the paperwork) but Jewelry stores would only offer her $1800, so another family member bought it for $4000. They got a good deal, PLUS, it's still in the family! If you have a friend or family member that might be interested, be sure to ask around!

*Another place is your church, you could post it on their bulletin board or let the Pastor's wife know to spread the word around. Stay away from pawn shops and swap meets. Antique shops? Maybe, maybe not, just know the value of what you're selling and have your limit. Most GOOD pawn shops will give you one quarter what it's worth. That way they can sell it for half what it's worth and still double their money. You can also go garage sale-ing and buy, then sell your finds on E-bay, some people make quite a bit doing this. Maybe you could put your e-bay account in your husbands, sisters, moms, or friends name. This way you won't be in the same bind as the "Guest Post" person.

PS. To make extra money to live on, you also could rent a space at a swap meet and sell any junk you've collected. OR, teach classes (in you home or theirs) on something you're good at, like Woodworking, Quilting, Sewing, Pottery, Knitting etc. This way, it's under the table, so no worries. Have everyone pay in cash or cash the checks directly (hopefully at THEIR bank) do NOT deposit them, as the "record" of this could be brought back to haunt you! Hope I've helped and I sure hope everything works out for you! (03/18/2008)

By Cyinda

Advice For Selling Jewelry

As others have said, ebay is the way to go. Don't skimp on your photos. Take your time and figure out how to take amazing photos. I even use a certain room and wait until a certain time of the day when the lighting is perfect. It'll be worth the extra effort if your photos are nice. Also, be sure to post your auctions on the weekend so they end on the weekend. More people are on ebay on the weekends. (03/18/2008)

By Heidi Chun

Advice For Selling Jewelry

eBay now offers FREE GALLERY PHOTOS! (03/18/2008)

By Marjorie

Advice For Selling Jewelry

You might try taking them in person, so they can be examined to a jeweler who deals in estate sales, and they would at the very least give you a reasonable idea of what you can expect. You might look on the web for someone who sells vintage jewelry and ask them if they buy and one way or another get a pix to them (03/19/2008)

By pikka

Advice For Selling Jewelry

Just ask yourself who sells jewelry like yours:

Antiques stores. People who handle estate sales sometimes bring things from other estate sales to fill out a sale.Look under appraisers.Stores that sell vintage clothing. If you aren't sure of it's value, try to get an idea of the ranges available. Etsy.com sells stuff like that. Or look on ebay and see if there's a dealer you might sell to. You won't get full price but you'll get paid a lump sum. but it's better to sell to a local dealer. As for craigslist, I feel uneasy about someone coming to your house to look at your stuff if any of it is really valuable. (03/19/2008)

By pikka

Advice For Selling Jewelry

There is a website www.etsy.com. You could post them there. People sell handmade products as well as other items. I just purchased some things from a local lady and we met in town for payment and pick up. Hope that helps! (03/19/2008)

By Tiffany Leasure