Pricing Vintage Jewelry

This is an area that confuses me greatly as I see such a vast array of prices for the same item!

When it is a signed "book" piece, it's easier to research and get an idea of value and then price at what is competitive. But with unsigned pieces it gets much harder, especially when similar pieces are in such a very wide price range. I have been settling for somewhere in the middle or, where possible, coming in lower than others (provided that meets my profit margin).

As the whole area of selling vintage costume jewelry is new to me (I have mainly collected, based more on what I liked rather than anything else)....I would really like some input on fair pricing guidelines from those with more experience

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Permalink Reply by Luv2LuvAntiques on November 15, 2011 at 8:06pm

Hello Cheri!

You raised a really relevant question! I have seen a wide array of list prices! Doing a search on Etsy for example, as I have a shop there, you will see everywhere from what I call 'give-away' prices, to extremely high, in my opinion, for a more common piece. I know the collectors books may help with list prices, but most of them put extremely high prices on jewelry. I think it is all subjective to the seller. I cannot understand how some sellers price so cheaply that they cannot be making money...it is a waste of time after supplies, selling and listing fees, and your time! I also think it is terrible to 'devalue' a vintage or antique jewelry piece...poor market or not....

I base my price on the quality, price I paid, if it is marked, and rarity of the piece. I allow for a little extra to put the piece on sale. If I were to find a really rare marked piece, I would put a very high price on it, of course. You also have to remember the poor economy right now, and that everyone luvs a sale, so allow leaway to put the item on sale. What I do is check websites of sellers I know for similar pieces, etsy, ruby lane, etc. I find etsy is 'bad' for removing the selling price of an item!

All in all...I try to price moderately, and if I buy something for a really low price, my customer will save too. Try looking at selling sites of sellers you know, who have jewelry and are more of an 'expert'.

Take care, Diane :O)

Permalink Reply by SelectionsBySusan on November 15, 2011 at 8:16pm

I find it is a game in itself on pricing.

Sometimes a Google search will give you the price of a sold Etsy item, or the Find. Some people charge more for shipping and Ebay, if more than one of the same item is listed will help price it.

I always think it is subject in how quickly you want to move an item.

Also it has been said with Etsy, you need to keep renewing to stay at the top of searches. I find it also can be luck!

I am also finding when I list an item it has been getting more hits from Artfire than Etsy for the same item. Maybe this has something to do with the age groups that frequent each venue.

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on November 15, 2011 at 8:21pm

Thanks so much for the input Diane.

Yes, I am doing a lot of my research by going to the various venues and comparing and yes, the range on Etsy is vast! but then I also find some independent online sites that seem to have pieces sold for much higher than the average, which adds to the confusion.

I know my ignorance resulted in selling some pieces at way lower than their value, even tho it was still profitable to me. I also don't want to price so low that I am driving the market value down for other sellers so am conscious of that too.

Thanks again for your input. :)

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on November 15, 2011 at 9:07pm

Thanks Susan...just saw your post! and yup...pricing sure is a game in itself!!

Permalink Reply by Craig Phillips / B & C Emporium on November 16, 2011 at 9:20am

the many prices are nothing new at the shows for years in booths next to one and other something might be $10. in one and $45 in another,

Craig Phillips

B & C Emporium

http://www.b-c-e.biz

http://bandcallegan.weebly.com/index.html

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BandCEmporium

http://www.bonanza.com/booths/BandCEmporium

Permalink Reply by Graceful Antiques on November 16, 2011 at 9:35am

As dealers all items come with different variables.

I find vintage clothing and jewelry is the most range though.

Location, overhead, real vs faux, particular dealers wants and needs etc..

Reminds me of the time I was doing a show and selling some Ruby glass. At the time every single ruby glass flew off of my tables and I felt I had things at a reasonable price to share ( I always feel I am sharing my inventory as I would keep it all if I could) and make a reasonable profit.

Anyhow this person came to my table and told me she just bought some like I had across the room for about 1/2 the price.

I suggested to her she may want to go back across the room and see if this person could find her some more.

At some point the integrity of the whole antiques, vintage and history IMHO has to be protected.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Beautiful jewelry with designer names that have lasted for years in nice shape should be worth something more than a paltry sum. IMHO again. Same with glass, textiles, clothing, pottery, etc. etc.

Permalink Reply by Melissa Hatfield on November 16, 2011 at 10:04am

I would like to add something here. Many online sellers have brick and mortar stores, and their location has a lot to do with their pricing. I could never get east or west coast prices here in Central Texas out in the country. And my customers that come into the antique mall often browse my website, as not all of my jewelry is in the shop. I can't have two sets of prices, one online and one at the shop. I do quite a bit of research, but in the end, I am the only one who can price the item. I know that many pieces that were shown "sold" online for extremely high prices were not sold online, but out of a shop in a high priced area where such pricing is not uncommon, say LA or New York. There are so many variables, and in the end, you just have to do the best you can.

Melissa

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on November 16, 2011 at 10:51am

Thanks so much for all the added views :-)

Very helpful! so keep 'em coming as I think we can all learn from these kinds of discussions

It never occurred to me that perhaps the "sold" prices may reflect items sold in upscale B&Ms rather than what they sold for online so thanks for that comment Melissa

Permalink Reply by Melissa Hatfield on November 16, 2011 at 11:26am

you are welcome!

CheriShops - Admin said:

Thanks so much for all the added views :-)

Very helpful! so keep 'em coming as I think we can all learn from these kinds of discussions

It never occurred to me that perhaps the "sold" prices may reflect items sold in upscale B&Ms rather than what they sold for online so thanks for that comment Melissa

Permalink Reply by CheriShops - Admin on November 18, 2011 at 10:30am

As I move along on this learning curve, I am making sure I have fair offers open on my jewelry listings so in case I am pricing anything too high lol potential customers may just make reasonable offers :) I dont mind losing some off their "true" value, if I have priced them a bit low, as I got most either years ago for myself (I am 50s vintage ;) ) or from my Mom, or as boxed or bagged lots at estate sales. I've picked through those and found Hattie Carnegie, Haskell and more!! which all have sold as soon as I listed them ! :) probably for waaaay less than they were worth!

My concern is more over pricing on things that I don't yet know enough about. Give me glass and some pottery and I am usually spot onnish ...but I am having to learn a lot more about the vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry market from the seller perspective!

Permalink Reply by Suzy's Timeless Treasures on November 20, 2011 at 12:14am

Just to share that I've definitely made some mistakes selling an item at too low a price but as long as I've made a profit on the piece, I try not to worry about it. I'm happy someone got a good deal. I do all the research I can online and in the reference books I have for pieces that I am not sure about, but sometimes after an item sells, I'll find it in one of my books. (Mental head slap!) That hasn't happened too many times, thankfully!

I read an article on the RL blog about different pricing theories--there are some sellers who set a price for an item and are not willing to part with it for lower. They'd rather put it away for a few years and try again than discount it now. And there are sellers who price for faster turnover. It really depends on your personality, I think, to some degree. It is a game and games are supposed to be fun!

I also try to be cognizant of the RL marketplace pricing for similar items as I don't want to lower the value of pieces. I've contacted other shop owners on RL, Etsy, etc once in a while if they have an item or have sold an item that I have to offer for info on how they determined pricing (I only do this for bigger ticket pieces). Everyone I've talked to has been super helpful, one gentlemen admitted he priced the item too low as it sold within 10 minutes of listing and suggested a higher price for mine.

I've had jewelry pieces on sale for a month and right after I switch my sales items, one that went back to regular price will sell at regular price! I say in my shop info that I am open to offers on all items, so I figure that covers me if I've overpriced something.

I agree that location counts as a factor. I see it at estate sales depending on where the ES company normally holds sales. I live near the Chicago area and there is a definite difference between the northern and southern suburbs. When a firm that usually holds sales up north comes down south by me, their pricing tends to be way higher and they tell me that different items move quicker up north. Some of the prices they want for costume jewelry make it hard for me to turn a profit.

There is definitely a lot to learn in vintage jewelry!

Permalink Reply by Gizmos on November 20, 2011 at 12:28pm

Hi, not sure if this is the correct location to ask this, but I have a vintage/antique 14K large amethyst ( and rose gold?) ring that has flowers and doves decorations. I had a jeweler look at it and they told me it is amethyst, but did not get a size on it or approximate value. Does anyone know of an online site that gives appraisals, or estimates of value. I can guesstimate the value through research, just don't want to undersell this beautiful ring.

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