What is this worth?!

Thisis probably the most frequently asked question when dealing with collectible, vintage or antique items. It can be a hard question to answer, but it boils down to this: What is someone else willing to pay? What was valuable and sought a er 10 years ago can wind up being of little interest or value to people today, and things people never saw as collectible are now commanding high prices and in great demand.

A great example of this is toys. Vintage action figures from the 80s and 90s are hot collectibles. If they are still in their original packaging, they can sell for hundreds of dollars. Even out of the package they’re in demand, more so if they are free of damage and have at least some of their little parts and pieces. Conversely, we handled an estate in which the owners had amassed a large, beautiful collection of vintage and antique Tiffin glass. The prices they paid for these items 20-30 years ago were still marked on some of the pieces and were at least double the price those same items would sell for today.

No one has a crystal ball to predict what will be hot in 2031 to start hoarding now. But there are some ways to nd at least an estimated current retail value for your treasures. If you're selling to a dealer, expect the o er price to be about half the retail.

A go-to for a lot of people is eBay, and for good reason, but it can be misleading. People frequently make the mistake of researching items and judging value based on the listed price. Sellers on eBay can list their item at whatever price they want. That doesn’t mean anyone will pay it. To get a more accurate idea, check the “sold items” listings.

You need to have a free account with eBay to view sold items. The values you see on eBay are not necessarily re ective of the value of an item if you were to sell it here in Fargo. There are 66 million eBay accounts just in the United States and over 180 million globally.

Etsy has become a great source for vintage items, and you can view global selling price ranges for items. As with eBay, Etsy sellers can set the price wherever they want, and the item may never sell. It is di cult to nd nal sale prices, with or without an account.

Worthpoint is an aggregator site that collects sale prices from on-line sales all over the country, including eBay and Etsy. A Worthpoint subscription is necessary to see the sale prices of items. They o er a free 7-day trial. Their subscription prices are exible but can be expensive.

Facebook Marketplace can be helpful for researching selling prices locally and regionally. The downside is that once an item sells, it disappears from the Marketplace. There is no sold items search.

The sta behind the counter at the Fargo Antiques & Repurposed Market frequently assist customers by o ering these options, and o en purchase items from them. While they are not professional appraisers and do not claim to be, they are keenly aware of what sells in Fargo and at what price.

If you have a large quantity or an entire household you’re dealing with, trying to determine the value of each individual item is a daunting task. This frequently happens when there is a loss in the family, downsizing or relocating. For those folks needing to liquidate entire contents, that can also be arranged through The FARM.

You can find additional information on how to sell to our dealers or inquire about an estate buy out in the “contact us” section of the website, farmantiques.net.

Warm summer regards, Kristi