Hello
 I am trying to help my mother inlaw sell her puppet collection. she has over 100 puppets and 95% are folk manis. She was a story teller for our Maryland library. She is now retired and wanting to sell her collection of puppets. We have no idea where to start trying to sell them or who might be willing to buy them without just donating them, which she need the money so that won't be an option. Any help would be greatly appreciated Thank you

You could try selling them as a lot on eBay if looking to make fast $, accepting the per puppet value will drop some when selling in bulk. Or maybe group them in packs of 10 to make the cost per purchase a little easier for some performers looking to bulk up their collections.

The time alone to list 100+ puppets online would be so daunting for store bought puppets IMO. But they do have value, especially retired puppets if she has been collecting for a while.

It sounds like some pricing research is in your future

I would have to agree with Steve.  I think your best bet might be to try eBay and to sell them in lots of 10 or more. I really doubt you'll be able to get more then $10 per puppet and that may be on the high side. This is all assuming you are wanting to move them fast.

You are also welcome to post something about it in our selling section http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/board,62.0.html No cost to you to list them there but not as much exposure.

Just finished selling my parents antique collections on ebay and it was very disappointing. We probably made more money on the tax credit when we donated what did not sell.  Ebay folks want a deal!!!  I hope you have better luck.  If you had a garage sale close to Christmas in a neighborhood with lots of kids you might fare better.  My son was telling me that there are lots more low price items sold on ebay than high price so maybe selling one by one might sell more but the postage can back fire if you estimate it wrong and the buyer is far away. I know it would mean a lot to your Mother in law to know that a puppet lover got her treasures, good luck.

Etsy would be another good place. Slap $8 to $10 per with $2 shipping and a discount if they buy bulk. As for donating them, if you have a valuation on them, you can donate them to a church, a school, a library or even a puppet museum and get a donation slip that can be taken off of her taxes at the end of the year.

Etsy and the breast actives would be another good place to buy. Slap $8 to $10 per with $2 shipping and a discount if they buy bulk. As for donating them, if you have a valuation on them, you can donate them to a church, a school, a library or even a puppet museum and get a donation slip that can be taken off of her taxes at the end of the year.

Have you got any pics of the collection?