Seller Tips.
Selling a Morris & James piece? Here is what we learnt over the years in the showroom about what buyers want to know.
What to put in your listingLet the market decide.
We are often asked what a piece is worth. We are not experts in the secondary market, so our advice is to list it on Trade Me as an auction. With the pottery closed, there is no fixed value for a piece any more: it is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. An auction lets the market decide, and it protects both the buyer and the seller.
However you choose to sell, whether by auction, at a fixed price or open to offers, share your listing in the Morris & James Buy & Sell group on Facebook, where the keenest collectors are. The tips below will help you give buyers the information they need up front.
What every listing needs.
From our experience in retail, these are the questions keen customers always ask. Answer them in the listing and you will save yourself a lot of messages.
- 01
Size
Height and width in centimetres. Buyers want to know if it will fit the spot they have in mind. If you are not sure what you have, the pot shapes page lists every shape and size.
- 02
Your general location
Town or region is enough. Say whether you offer pickup, delivery, or both.
- 03
Photograph any faults or repairs
Chips, crazing, cracks, old repairs. Photograph them clearly and mention them in the listing. An honest listing sells faster and avoids problems later.
- 04
Asking price or auction
Or, if you are unsure, say you are open to offers. The catalogue shows the last retail price of common first-grade items, which is useful as context.
- 05
Shipping
Pots are notoriously difficult to ship reliably. For larger pieces, pickup is usually the safest option, which is why your general location matters.