Lladro is a Spanish company best known for its porcelain figurines. Many of Lladro's pieces are considered collectibles, so the sale of discontinued or listed works can earn a fair amount of money if done right.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Do Some Research
Step 1. Do some basic research on Lladro
If you only have one piece to sell, extensive research will not be necessary. Instead, if it's a major collection, you'll probably need to dig deeper to learn more about the various finishes and brands used for certain pieces.
Focus on the information that will allow you to verify the authenticity of each item. For example, most of Lladro's pieces are marked with a bluebell which is the company's trademark, but some older ones may not have it
Step 2. Find out more about each piece you plan to sell
Try to get as much detail as possible. At a minimum, you should know the number and name of the item.
- If you still have the original packaging, your number and name should be there. In rare cases, this information may also be reported on the basis of the subject itself.
- When possible, you should also find out the date the piece was released and, if applicable, the date it was picked up. It also identifies the sculptor.
Step 3. Invest in a collector's manual
Anyone who wants to sell a lot of Lladro porcelain should invest in the recent edition of a useful manual for identification and reference prices.
- Find the most recent and look for one that shows prices in your currency. For example, if you live in the United States, choose a manual that lists the quotations in US dollars.
- If possible, choose an edition of no more than one or two years old. The information will be too outdated in any version prior to that.
Step 4. Look in the current catalog
A catalog of Lladro pieces on the market can be found on the company's official website. If the item you want to sell is part of a collection that is still on the list, the current retail price should be listed here.
- In the catalog you can also find other information, such as the date on which the object was put on the market or other production details.
- The current Lladro catalog is available online on this site.
Step 5. Research retail and auction sites to determine the current price
"Quotation" is a somewhat subjective term. You have to look up the different quotes of a specific piece and determine the actual one for sale by comparison.
- Retail quotation refers to the price a retailer will ask for one piece. The replacement price indicates the amount for which the item can be insured. The auction quote refers to the theoretical price that can be earned in an auction.
- The price at which you can sell an item will typically be closer to the auction price, but it can be a little above or below this value.
- Remember that as a casual seller you will not be able to sell a piece at the price that an authorized seller can charge.
Part 2 of 3: Finding a Place to Sell
Step 1. Sell at a local flea market
This is any place where you are allowed to sell an item in person. This solution is best if you don't intend or expect to make a lot of money from sales.
- The usual local markets include the sale of goods in the garage or in the garden, advertisements for the sale of objects, flea markets, and meetings for the sale of objects.
- Those who intend to buy goods at a garage or garden sale usually expect low prices. If you need to make money quickly, or have items that can't be priced high, this option should be considered.
- Buy and sell adverts allow you to target serious buyers, but the cost of an advert may not be justified in a small newspaper. A better solution is to place an ad in a section of a free classifieds site.
- Focus on high-end flea markets and sales meetings if you want to sell to serious vendors and make more money. Be aware, however, that you will usually need to pay to sell in these places.
Step 2. Find a trader
Traders who carry the Lladro brand, including authorized and unauthorized retailers, can purchase items from you if they are of a certain value and are in good enough condition.
- A trader will try to buy the figurine from you at a lower price, so he can deal with it and sell it to another buyer at a higher price. If the dealer doesn't believe this is possible, they probably won't buy your piece.
- You can find both authorized and unauthorized resellers. Lladro does not take part in this subsequent buying and selling process, but the company's website provides a list of authorized dealers who do:
Step 3. Use an online auction site
The most common way to sell individual Lladro pieces is through online auctions. You can try a major auction site, such as eBay, or look for one that specializes in Lladro items and other porcelain figurines.
- For best results, set a minimum price when listing an item. This will prevent it from being sold at too low a price.
- Using an online auction service will cost you money. Expect to pay a fee for listing the item on the auction list, and a commission.
Step 4. Find information on how to become an authorized reseller
If you have a large number of Lladro items to sell and would like to open a street front or online store, you may want to try to qualify as an Authorized Lladro Dealer.
- Lladro's commercial organization is divided into areas, each of which is entrusted to a branch of the company.
- Contact Customer Service based on your headquarters with the full address of the store. The request will be forwarded to the commercial director of your area and handled from here.
- To find your Customer Service email address or phone number, check the official list.
Part 3 of 3: Selling the Piece
Step 1. Include basic information in the description
When listing or posting, you need to describe each piece concisely, yet accurately. Indicate the part number and name, and all relevant information in the product description.
- If you are selling through a website or location that also sells other items, you should prefix the listing with the word "Lladro".
- When reporting the part number, ignore the leading digits (010 or 0100), and emphasize objects that are unique in their finish.
- Use the exact name. When selling to an English-speaking audience, write the English version of the name, not the Spanish version. Don't come up with a name that you think can be descriptive; you must use the original name attributed by Lladro.
- Relevant news refers to any important information related to the piece you are selling. For example, if it is damaged, write "Damaged". If it has been restored by a professional, write "Restored". If it is in excellent condition, write "Perfect" or "As New".
Step 2. Provide photos
When selling online instead of in person, you need to take more photographs so the seller knows exactly what to expect.
- Use photographs of the specific piece you wish to sell. Do not use archival ones.
- Take photos from different angles. Include close-ups of any very pretty and / or easily damaged details.
- Also provide a photo of the base. Make sure this shows the Lladro bell mark and any other identifying marks.
- Check for excessive shadows, or reflections, before using a particular photo. The colors should match the original ones.
Step 3. Describe the item in detail when required
Depending on the place of sale, you may be asked to provide a complete description of the piece. Review the basic information provided in the description before elaborating on it further.
- Specifies whether the finish is opaque or transparent.
- Indicates whether the piece is sold in its original packaging or not.
- Provide any other technical details not mentioned in the description. These include the date it was put on the market, the date it ceased to be marketed and the name of the sculptor.
- Describe the complete state of the piece. Include any important details about the history of the property. For example, mention if it has ever been damaged, if it has been in the box for years, and other such details.
- If there is no bellflower mark for the age of the piece or other reasons, point them out, and prove the authenticity in another way.
Step 4. Indicate the price
Simply put, that indicated should be the maximum price you expect someone to be willing to pay for the piece.
- Take into account the commercial value of each piece when quoting the price, but don't get fixated on that.
- Rare pieces tend to sell for a higher price than those that are easy to find. Older pieces also tend to have more value than newer ones. While these two rules are often true, however, there are also pieces that are the exception.
- Also consider your potential buyers. Serious collectors will pay more than the average customer who goes to a market in the garden.
- Also pay attention to the time you have available. If you want to sell a piece quickly, you will need to lower the price. If you don't have time problems, you can set a higher price and wait.
Step 5. Get ready to sell
After setting the price and actually putting the piece up for sale, you need to wait until someone shows up who is willing to buy it. You can advertise the item, but ultimately, this part of the process involves a lot of unproductive waiting.
- If the piece doesn't sell, reconsider your approach. Consider if you have more options by changing the sales location or if you need to lower the price.
- When making a sale, take great care of the packaging and / or shipping of the newly purchased item. If the Lladro figurine breaks during shipping, you may need to refund the money. If you don't offer a refund, your reputation may be called into question, which will make it more complicated for you to sell parts in the future.
