How to value and sell an antique/vintage ice chest

[Mittens 8776]

My father restored this ice chest in the 70s and it's still in almost immaculate condition.  Trying to figure out the best way to price and sell it.
No clue on original year constructed, but my guess is 1900-20s?  Where would I find info on comparative pricing, and what's the best platform to sell it?
Located in San Antonio and not trying to ship - it's heavy af.

Spoiler

 

[Kennythetiger 9655]

@RDCanecutter

[UTPhil2006 3930]

Whatever price it is, that thing is badass 

[Bevo 13923]

How many USB ports and does it have Alexa connectivity?

[Pato del Muerto 53581]

That thing is sexy 

[Bevo 13923]

BTW, we have a bar that is somewhat similar. I like ours as it is pretty narrow so it doesn't have a big footprint. I assume your issue is that it is too big to fit anywhere in the house.

[RDCanecutter 26917]

2 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

@RDCanecutter

Man, that thing is cool and I wish I knew how to price it. Would NOT sell it cheap. Seems like a unique item and the right person with crazy money would snap it up.

Y'all probably know way more about antiques than I do-- I would recon recon recon before listing it anywhere.

[Mittens 8776]

Thanks y'all.  Yes, the main issue is the size.  Wish I had a bigger house and/or a spot for it.

13 minutes ago, RDCanecutter said:

I would recon recon recon before listing it anywhere.

Any idea where to start?  The best source I can find now is ebay.

[thunderlounge 8465]

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/

[RDCanecutter 26917]

22 minutes ago, Mittens said:

Any idea where to start?  The best source I can find now is ebay.

I would be gathering lots of info prior to a good sale to somebody who appreciates it. Would avoid eBay, that's like an online Dollar General and you couldn't mail it anyway. You are close enough to Money in Texas that I see you eventually sending this down the road in a uhaul.

Right now, gather info. Do you have friends in the antique business? Can you poke around and spy out similar items, or at least things of similar size and quality? Maybe there is a high-quality physical store with unique furniture where you could sell on consignment?

I feel like this piece (antique dealers call things a "piece"  ) could make you lots more money in a slow sale than a quick one.

[RDCanecutter 26917]

What could also work, if you are not comfortable selling the piece yourself, is to scout around for a reputable dealer of fine furniture, maybe work a consignment deal with each of you getting a percentage of sales price. Your agent would have an incentive to put energy into promoting it, and you'd be worry-free if selling is not something you usually do. You'd be giving up a cut, but what's left over might be more than you'd get on your own. You could set some minimum price.

[4th&Five 42026]

[ScottS 1125]

[ztejas 44281]

7 hours ago, thunderlounge said:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/

This was my idea lol. 

[Prepuce of Doom 21295]

Once you get a ballpark figure, triple or quadruple it, and then send an offer to Yeti or Stanley or some other statusgrifter in the "keep things cold" industry. 

[baboso 6107]

A quick google search of antique iceboxes looks like the going rate is between $1,000 and $2,000.

[Elvis 3438]

I tried to sell a vintage chair on https://www.chairish.com/ but I didn't get any interest.  I finally just parked it in a guest room at a friend's house.

I think you could get over a thousand for it if you hit every facebook marketplace that you are willing to deliver it to.  If you want ten grand or something then you will be trying to sell it for the rest of your life.

[Reagan1k 3043]

If you want the largest audience, using one of the bigger auction houses would give you national exposure.

Someone like Austin Auction Gallery has in-person and online bidding running simultaneously in their auctions.

You'd be shocked at what the online exposure does to valuations and selling price.

There may be only a few people nationally who are into vintage ice chests, but rest assured, they're all running screens on these auction house offerings and bidding.

Those folks, plus the decorators and shop curators all run up the price above what you'd get on classified or sitting in one shop on consignment.

All you'd have to do is get it to the auction house or have them arrange to pick it up.....they'll handle the real shipping to the eventual buyer.

Call them or someone similar and see what they think. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13742]

Probably worth a lot to the right person. and most likely a small buyer group.

[Mr. Drummond 2244]

My mother has one that she re-did in the 70s that is very very similar.    She has turned down $2500.00 for it.     Told her she should have taken the money.

[DoobieWah 1537]

I knew I’d see that thing before. It belongs to a neighbor. 
 

[thunderlounge 8465]

Nice. My old man used to have one just like that. No idea what happened to it.