10 Places to Sell Used Fine China Dishes (Near Me)

Wondering who buys fine china near you?

If you have old dishware that you no longer use, here are the best places to sell used fine china dishes.

Family meals and entertaining at home have gotten less formal over the years.

While using china dishes and fine silver were once common place at home, these expensive items are now seldom used.

If you have fine china sitting around collecting dust, the good news is that it could be worth some cash!

Here is what you need to know about the best places to sell your china dishware and what to expect when selling it.

Where to Sell Fine China Nearby?

If you’re one of the many looking to downsize or clear out some clutter right now, you may be looking to part with some of your collectibles.

The good news is that these items you no longer want or need may be highly sought after by someone else.

These delicate dishes of years past are common items that many of us no longer need in today’s less formal world.

In this article, you’ll find the seven best places for you to sell your China.

Primarily online marketplaces, you’ll want to take great photos of your dishes for your listings.

You’ll also need to do a bit of research to know as many details as possible. Also, be prepared to carefully pack and ship your dishes.

If you prefer to sell your china dishes locally, you may also find antique shops or pawn shops that would be willing to purchase them.

Here are our top locations to sell used fine china dishes.

Our Favorite Side Hustles

Download these apps and make extra cash in your spare time. Get paid to complete surveys or take photos around your city.

1. The International Association of Dinnerware Matchers 

Did you know that there is an association that helps collectors find certain china pieces?

The International Association of Dinnerware Matchers (IADM) is an independent tableware dealer that assists customers in locating fine vintage china dishes. Their website also has the option to sell your fine china dishes.

Before your place your dishware for sale, you’ll want to make sure that you review their specific rules.

You’ll also have to provide all the details such as pattern, number of pieces, color, etc. 

If you choose to sell your dishes through this site, you’ll want to be aware that packaging and shipping charges are the seller’s responsibility.

IADM does outline a guide for packing your used china dishes for safe shipping. 

2. Replacements, Ltd. 

Another online marketplace focusing on fine china is Replacements, Ltd.

This online retailer has handy pattern identification guides and a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process of selling china dishes.

To get started, fill out the request form, and the staff will get back if they’re interested in buying china dishes.

3. OfferUp

Growing in popularity, OfferUp is another great destination to get the best prices on your used china tableware.

You can find many local buyers on this site and it is one of the easiest platforms to find buyers for your used china dishes.

The site sells many types of common goods such as board games as well as more unusual and collector’s items. 

4. Facebook Marketplace

Do you want to sell your china dishware locally to avoid having to package and ship the dishes?

Facebook Marketplace might be an excellent place to connect with a buyer locally to sell your collection.

When posting the items for sale online, be sure to include quality images and as much detail as possible.

You’ll also want to be open to negotiation on price since many buyers here may ask you to work with them on the pricing.

To get maximum exposure, if possible join several buy-sell groups for your area to get the most views on your listings. You’ll also want to use common sense and caution when meeting up with buyers.

Accept cash, Venmo, or PayPal only and require payment upfront before giving them the dishes.

It’s also wise to only meet up with the buyer in a public place such as a business parking lot where there are others around to view your transaction.

5. Mercari

A different type of online selling site, Mercari is the perfect place to list items for sale to a large audience.

Similar to eBay, but with flat pricing, this online marketplace is growing in popularity and is an excellent option for finding interested buyers for your china tableware.

To get started, create an account and upload high-quality pictures of each piece you have for sale.

Provide as much detail as possible in the descriptions, including information about the condition, patterns, number of pieces, etc.

While selling at Mercari, you don’t have to meet up with your potential buyer. All you have to do is ship it.

Be sure to wrap each piece carefully to protect it during shipping.

There is no cost to list items for sale on Mercari. You’ll only be charged a fee once the sale is completed.

6. eBay

Probably the best site known for reselling used items on this list is eBay.

The ultimate destination for selling and buying second-hand goods and collectibles, eBay has millions of users shopping online daily.

This marketplace offers two ways to sell goods, one is at a flat rate, the other is through auction.

Be sure to keep in mind packaging and shipping costs when you post your listings.

When deciding your pricing for selling used fine china dishes on eBay, be sure to keep the price competitive.

Most eBay users are looking for cost-effective used objects.  

7. Etsy

While well known for its handcrafted items, Etsy can also be a great online marketplace for selling collectibles.

They have a large section for those looking to buy and sell used china dishes.

With hundreds of china dishware listings on the site, quality photographs will matter when selling here and you’ll also want to keep your prices competitive.

8. Antique Shops or Consignment Stores

Antique shops and consignment stores are like treasure chests filled with all kinds of cool old stuff.

They’re perfect places to sell your china dishes, especially if they’re really old or have some special value.

What you can do is go to an antique shop. These shops love old stuff, and they might be willing to buy your dishes.

You just bring them your dishes, they’ll look at them and decide if they want them or not. If they do, they’ll offer you a price.

Consignment stores work a bit differently. You take your dishes there and they put them up for sale.

But here’s the thing: you don’t get any money right away. Instead, you get paid only after your dishes sell. So, you might have to wait a bit, but it can be worth it.

Also, you need to know that both these places usually take a cut of the selling price, which means you won’t get all the money.

It’s a trade-off because they’re doing a lot of the work for you by finding a buyer.

9. Auction Houses

They’re places where people bid on items.

The highest bidder takes the item home. So, if you’ve got china dishes that are a bit special or maybe even rare, this might be the place for you.

You take your dishes to the auction house and they’ll decide if they want to include them in one of their auctions.

If they do, they’ll give you an estimate of how much they think your dishes might sell for.

Btw, this is just a guess, the actual price will be determined by the bidders on the day of the auction.

Auction houses take care of everything – they’ll put your dishes in their catalog, handle the bidding process and then give you the money after the auction, minus their commission of course.

The thing is, you don’t get the money right away. And there’s a bit of a gamble because you don’t know exactly how much your dishes will sell for. But who knows?

If there are two people who really want your dishes, you could end up getting more than you expected!

10. Pawn Shops

They’re outlets that offer loans in exchange for personal property as collateral but, they also buy items outright, including china dishes.

If you’re not keen on the waiting game and need quick cash, this might be your spot.

You take your dishes to the pawnshop, and they’ll assess their value. Depending on the demand and their current inventory, they might make you an offer.

They need to make a profit, so expect the proposal to be lower than the actual value.

Pawnshops handle the reselling part. Once you sell, you don’t have to think about the dishes anymore.

They give you the money right there, minus any fees or commissions.

The catch? You might not get as much as you could at an auction house or a specialty store.

But the trade-off is convenience and instant cash. If you’re in a pinch and your dishes are gathering dust, why not give it a shot?

Tips for How to Sell Used Fine China Dishes

If you’re no longer using your fine china, the good news is these pieces might be worth some cash.

Fine china dishes are considered collectible by many and there are lots of places to sell used fine china dishes.

Depending on where you sell your china, when pricing your dishware, be sure to keep in mind any percentage of the sale that the online sales website might take.

You may also have packaging and shipping charges, so you’ll want to keep these costs in mind when calculating the bottom line.

To get the best price possible for your dishware, you’ll also want to know as much as possible about your dishware.

Your buyers might also be curious about how old they are, their patterns, and other information. 

Great images are important too, and you’ll want to take some quality pictures of the dishes, including some closeups to show the patterns and any possible flaws.

Also, if your china is really, really old then you should check our guide on how and where to sell antiques.

Is it better to sell your fine china dishes as a set or individually?

The truth is that it really depends on what you have, the quality and the condition.

It also depends on what you’re willing to package and ship.

It may be more convenient to sell the whole collection to one buyer, however, you may receive more money overall if you sell the dishes piece by piece.

Looking to sell other items online? Don’t miss this article on the best items to flip on eBay and places to sell your silver flatware.