8 Best Places To Sell Silver Flatware

Are you looking for the best places to sell silver flatware? Many people own silver flatware, whether it’s a single piece or a whole set, but they never use it.

If your silver flatware doesn’t have any sentimental value, you may want to consider selling it. 

We have the scoop on where to sell your flatware, ways to determine if it’s valuable and tips on how to get the best price.

Top Places to Sell Silver Flatware

There are many ways to sell silver flatware. The one you choose will depend on several factors, including how quickly you need money, how fast you want your pieces sold and how much you hope to earn.

In alphabetical order, here are some of the most popular places people use to sell silver flatware.

1. Auction Houses

Auction houses will sell your silver flatware when they hold an auction. Typically, silver flatware sells best at auction houses when it holds value outside the silver’s market price.

For instance, an auction house may be a good place to sell silver flatware if your set has been in your family for years or was owned by a well-known person in the 1800s. 

Keep in mind that you will pay a fee to sell your silver flatware at an auction house. 20% is not an uncommon selling fee if you choose to use an auction house. 

Also, you could wait a while for your payout depending on when and where the auction house is holding the auction.

2. CashforSilverUSA

CashforSilverUSA is a company that specializes in purchasing fine silver from private parties. Its sister company, CashforGoldUSA, purchases gold jewelry and other items. 

This particular method of selling your silver flatware is easy. You simply send in your silver using CashforSilverUSA’s free shipping label.

This company insures your shipment, providing extra peace of mind. When they get your shipment, they’ll analyze the flatware and email you an offer price.

If you accept the offer, you’ll get your money quickly via PayPal or check. For values over $25,000, a bank wire is an option. 

3. Consignment Stores

You can try to sell your silver flatware at a local or online consignment store. The best consignment stores will help you sell your flatware quickly.

With consignment stores, your flatware will be available for viewing. Potential buyers will have the option to buy or make an offer.

It’s important to note that all consignment stores charge fees, some upwards of 40% of the sales price. Do your research and find the consignment store that best fits your needs and charges the lowest fees. 

4. eBay

eBay is another option for selling your silver flatware. With eBay, you can choose an auction method where people bid during a certain time period.

Alternately, you can set a flat sales price and hope people will buy your flatware. Fees with eBay vary based on what you are selling.

However, you can expect to pay roughly 15% if you sell your silver flatware on eBay.

5. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace has become a premier venue for selling personal items. As a bonus, there are often no fees at all. 

This site may or may not be the best place to sell your silver flatware depending on how you choose to advertise your items.

For instance, if you sell through a community group instead of through Marketplace, you won’t pay any fees. However, the reach when selling through a community page will be much lower.

Your reach with Marketplace can be greater, but you may incur fees.

6. Pawn Shops

Pawn shops are another option for selling your silver flatware. While you can find pawn shops near you easily, this isn’t the best option for selling your flatware.

These shops buy items in order to resell them and make a profit. For that reason, you can expect an offer price that is much lower than what you’d get from places that specialize in buying silver.

While pawn shops let you sell your flatware quickly, you’ll need to evaluate if the lower payout is worth the convenience.

7. Replacements.com

Replacements.com buys silver flatware and other valuable items from private parties in order to resell them on its website.

With Replacements.com, you can get an Offer to Purchase for your items online. If you are ok with the offer, you send in your flatware. However, you are responsible for shipping and insurance.

After mailing in your items, you’ll receive a final offer 14 days after your shipment is received.

8. Silver Recyclers

Silver recyclers specialize in collecting precious metals in order to recycle them. There are online silver recyclers as well as in-person companies that recycle precious metals.

As with pawn shops, you might be offered a lower price for your flatware than what you’d be offered at a place such as CashforSilverUSA.

However, if you choose a local silver recycler, you can get your cash on the spot. Do an internet search for “silver recyclers near me” to find a location near you.

How Do I Determine What Kind of Silver I Have?

There are several different kinds of silver flatware, and some are more valuable than others. Here are some tips to help determine what kind of silver flatware you have.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is the most valuable type of silver flatware. By definition, sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver (by weight) and 7.5% other metals (by weight).

Other metals used in sterling silver are typically copper but can also include geranium, zinc and platinum. 

Silver flatware manufacturers use sterling silver because of its hardiness. Fine silver (99.9% pure silver) is much too soft to be used in a flatware manner. 

Silver Plated

Silver plated defines metal alloy flatware with a sterling silver coating or plating. The underlying metal in silver plated flatware is often copper-based or nickel-based, combined with other metals. 

Silver plated flatware has very little value. Silver buyers won’t buy silver plated flatware, although you may be able to sell it on sites like Craigslist or eBay.

Coin Silver

The technical definition of coin silver, according to Merriam Webster, is “the silver of the fineness legalized for coins (.900 in the U.S. and .500 in Great Britain). 

You might be wondering what coin silver has to do with silver flatware. Coins were often melted down and made into silver flatware and other silver pieces in the late 18th century. 

Wealthier families had this done because paper money was unstable at the time and coins were frequently stolen. 

Coins were melted and made into silver flatware and other serving pieces. Then, they were stamped with the purity level contained in the piece, usually around 90% (.900). 

While silver flatware made from coin silver isn’t as valuable as sterling silver, these pieces are still quite valuable. 

Hotel Silver

Hotel silver is silverware that was made specifically for hotels. This silverware doesn’t have much in the way of silver value because it is silver plated.

However, you might be able to find some antique hotel silverware that has value simply because of its age. That said, it won’t bring the price that you’d get for authentic silver flatware.

How Can I Figure Out the Value of My Silver Flatware?

One of the easiest ways to figure out the value of your silver flatware is to use an online silver calculator. 

In order to use an online silver calculator, you’ll need to know the weight of your silver piece and the purity level of the silver. 

You can usually find a stamp on the back of your silver flatware pieces that will indicate the amount of pure silver in the piece. 

For instance, sterling silver pieces are typically stamped with a symbol:

• .925
• .820
• An English lion emblem with a raised paw

Entering the symbol on the calculator as well as each piece’s weight (use a kitchen scale for accuracy) will allow the calculator to give you an estimated sale price.

The sale price is based on the current price silver is valued at. This does not mean that the price shown will be what you actually get for your silver piece.

Your final payout for the silver flatware piece depends on the company that you end up selling to. 

You can expect at least a 20% reduction in the value shown due to fees paid to the company that purchases your silver flatware. 

What Type of Silver Flatware is the Most Valuable?

The most valuable silver flatware is flatware that has the most sterling silver. Sterling silver contains the most pure silver.

A sterling silver piece of flatware will contain 92.5% pure silver (by weight) and 7.5% other metals such as copper.

Fine silver, which is 99.9% pure silver, is very soft and therefore is not used when making silver flatware. 

How Can I Get the Most Money for My Silver Flatware?

If you want to maximize your potential profits for your silver flatware, follow these tips.

1. Proper Storage

Storing your silver flatware properly is important for a couple of reasons. 

First, proper storage will help keep tarnish and scratches at bay. Second, it will help preserve the value of the silver flatware. 

Whether you want to keep your silver flatware or sell it, preserving the value of your flatware is a good financial move. 

But how can you properly store your silver flatware? Experts recommend only storing silver flatware in a cloth meant for doing so. 

Use a silver flatware cloth bag that holds each piece individually. Many cloth bags are designed to roll up and have cloth ties included for efficient storage and space preservation.

Then, store your rolls of silverware in wooden boxes or china cabinets.

2. To Clean or Not To Clean?

How should you clean your silver flatware? Or should you not clean it at all? Cleaning silver flatware properly is important so that you can preserve it for years to come. 

If your silver flatware is already tarnish-free and you use it during a meal, it is important to clean it as soon as possible after your meal.

Keep in mind that it is never a good idea to put silver flatware in the dishwasher. Instead, wash your silver flatware in warm water with a mild dish detergent. 

If you want to deep clean your silver flatware for the purposes of tarnish removal, you have a couple of options.

First, try to remove the tarnish with a dry silver cloth, rubbing only as firmly as you need to.

If you need additional cleaning options, try this method:

1. Line a pot or roaster pan with aluminum foil
2. Place your silver flatware on top of the foil
3. Boil a separate pot of water
4. Pour the boiling water over the silver flatware (just enough to cover it fully)
5. Immediately sprinkle a quarter to a half cup of baking soda and two teaspoons of kosher salt into the pot, over your silver flatware and the water
6. Let sit for five to seven minutes
7. Remove the silverware, give it a quick rinse in warm water and dry it thoroughly

A Note About Silver Polish

You might be tempted to clean your silver flatware with a silver polish cream that you find at the store or online. 

Most silver experts agree that silver polishes should be used sparingly, if at all. The harsh chemicals in most silver polishes can cause damage to your silver flatware. 

For that reason, it’s best to use the methods above for cleaning your silver. 

3. Shop Around for the Best Offer

It’s important to find the right buyer in order to get the highest dollar for your silver flatware. This means that you’ll likely have to shop around. 

Get quotes from a variety of buyers. If you’re considering selling to a private party on a site such as eBay, check the buyer’s eBay rating.

Be safe when it comes to selling to a private party. Take proper precautions like meeting in a public space. 

If you’re considering selling to a business, check the business’s Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot rating. 

Lastly, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. This especially holds true if the offer is from an unknown private party.

Take whatever precautions you need to take to avoid being the victim of a scam or theft. 

4. Be Patient

Patience is likely the most important strategy when it comes to finding the best places to sell silver flatware.

This type of flatware is valuable and expensive. There’s probably not a buyer around every corner. 

For that reason, you’ll want to be patient, do your research diligently and be willing to wait for the right buyer to come along. 

Summary

The best places to sell silver flatware will buy with honesty, integrity and offer you a fair price.

Finding the right option will take patience and the willingness to do your research. Avoid pawn shops if you want to get the highest price for your silver flatware.

Instead, choose a buyer that is willing to give you a good price and deal with you in a professional manner. This can ensure you make the most money possible.