Pricing query for male 170 swan.

I popped in to our local op-shop, where I have just got a Saturday job, and in the office, as the manager was showing me around, what should I spy, but a 170 male swan. Now I suddenly find I have the job of advising a price to put on it for their 'Yesterday's Treasures' sale which they hold a couple of times a year, selling the higher quality items that get donated. These sales are very popular and raise a good amount for them. Any suggestions as to a good price to put on it, given that it's an asking price rather than a start price for an auction!? I nearly suggested she sells it on TM.

It has no cracks or chips, and I didn't notice any crazing, but it does have a few small popped glaze 'bubbles' pinhead sized in a couple of places.

omg I am so jealous of your job !!!!!

Mostly it's just clothes though!

That is a difficult question that you are asking .....
I did a quick search on Trademe current listings and expired without cracks or chips and they sold for from $215 to $240 on auction during the last month. 
I would pass that on to the Manager and let them decide.  Pinhead popped glaze bubbles are not really regarded as detrimental. 
Swans are crazy at the moment and I can't see any improvement in prices on the horizon.

I found one for $299

http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-collectables/ornaments-figurines/animals/auction-602341511.htm

One at $405

http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/crown-lynn/vases/auction-605538831.htm

$330
http://www.trademe.co.nz/pottery-glass/porcelain-pottery/crown-lynn/vases/auction-596888142.htm


plus another half dozen or so around the $300 mark

I'm inclined to say around $250 - $275 and if it doesn't sell in the sale, then put it on TradeMe!

Did you look at just the Male swans?  Or both?  I just checked out the Male ones as they are not as popular as the Female ....
The large Mummy swans are flying higher than ever.
When we started this site in 2008 a good white one without chips/cracks sold for $50 !!
Trademe will realise a good price .....

Ah right, I was looking at both as I didn't know the females were more popular - might revise then :-)

I used to think Op Shops with dontated goods were for the hard-done-by people. Nowadays they seem to be more for the well-to-do.

The general goods that go out into the shop on a day to day basis are very reasonably priced (our op-shop has reputation as one of best and cheapest in town), however, when items of particular value are donated, it would be silly to put them out for a few dollars, when the extra money brought in by their sale at a higher price in a specialised sale event (or as we are considering, on TradeMe) enables the organisation I work for to do more to help those within our community who most need it.

I have my first ever Male 170 Swan and it's the first I've seen in the flesh (so to speak)

I think I love this shape over the female shape, therefore I don't understand why they seem to be so much cheaper in comparrison. (although I did have to pay through the nose for him).

I think I also read somewhere about male/female and that the difference was less about gender and indicated that the "male" was actually on land where as the "females" are on water??

Any truth to this theory?

:-)