Selling a Chinese Rug
January 7, 2013 1:24 PM Subscribe
Please help me sell a Chinese rug that I have inherited.
I recently inherited a quite large (14'x9') Chinese rug (image here) that I would like to sell. It was appraised for $5800, and I know that I'll be very lucky if I get even half that. I've contacted all or most of the dealers in the Washington DC metro area, and none are interested. Cragislist hasn't resulted in any non-scammer bites, and even putting a classified ad in the Washington Post has failed. I'd take it to a furniture consignment store, but am not aware of any that are operating in the area. An auction house estimated that it would fetch less than $1,000, and I'd really like to get more than that if possible.
Any ideas?
I recently inherited a quite large (14'x9') Chinese rug (image here) that I would like to sell. It was appraised for $5800, and I know that I'll be very lucky if I get even half that. I've contacted all or most of the dealers in the Washington DC metro area, and none are interested. Cragislist hasn't resulted in any non-scammer bites, and even putting a classified ad in the Washington Post has failed. I'd take it to a furniture consignment store, but am not aware of any that are operating in the area. An auction house estimated that it would fetch less than $1,000, and I'd really like to get more than that if possible.
Any ideas?
Best answer: I suspect the $5800 appraisal is inflated (perhaps given so the rug could be insured). A quick google turns up hand knotted, new, Chinese rugs at between $12 and $16 a square foot. And a quick search of ebay shows very few chinese rugs selling for more than $1000; here's one that looks like it might be comparable to yours, it sold for $1225 (with free shipping, btw).
Also, note that the above rug was sold by a dealer with 7062 sales and a 99.2% positive rating; it is a lot harder to get a good price for such an expensive item if you don't have a track record proving you are what you say you are.
posted by mr vino at 1:53 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, note that the above rug was sold by a dealer with 7062 sales and a 99.2% positive rating; it is a lot harder to get a good price for such an expensive item if you don't have a track record proving you are what you say you are.
posted by mr vino at 1:53 PM on January 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
FYI if you're gonna put it on Ebay a high reserve will almost certainly result in a lower final price - if you get any bites at all. I have sold a lot on Ebay; this is very much tre.
posted by smoke at 2:00 PM on January 7, 2013
posted by smoke at 2:00 PM on January 7, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:31 PM on January 7, 2013