A few years ago, Megan held up a coffee mug and asked me if I could believe people were reselling $5 Rae Dunn mugs for upwards of $40 each in secret Facebook groups and on eBay. It was laughable but then I started seeing very little inventory at my local Home Goods that I thought I should get in on the game of buying and selling Rae Dunn as a side hustle.
It was all about the hunt for me. But, I quickly learned that this new side hustle wasn’t much of a money maker. I bought a lot of Rae Dunn and it was not as easy to sell as I thought it might be.
Looking to Sell Your Collection of Rae Dun?
Did you fall for the hype too? I had a garage full of new mugs, canisters, serving platters, dinner plates and more. Most in the popular large letter style. Admittedly, I did fall for the collection and started keeping pieces for my own home.
It was especially hard not to get excited about the holiday collection. I love Rae Dunn Halloween and Christmas like the next basic bitch.
Related: Rae Dunn Christmas Displays
Tips to Selling Rae Dunn
Tip #1: Know what you’re selling. When I first started hunting to resell, I thought all Rae Dunn sellable. It’s not. See tip #3. Do the research to see what is popular.
Tip #2: Know the problem it solves. You’re likely not going to sell a Halloween mug in the middle of March. Your potential customers are going to shop for seasonal items about 4-6 weeks before the specific season. List your items for what’s seasonally appropriate.
Tip #3: Understand the market. It’s important to understand how the Rae Dunn resell market works before diving in. You stand to lose money if you don’t. Learn what your potential customer wants (informal research of the Facebook groups or resale websites to see what people are looking for) and identify potential problems (shipping costs, especially).
Tip #4: Quote the right price. It’s easy to get greedy when you think you have a popular or rare item. If you do, great. Price it appropriately. Do more research! What were similar items already sold for (use sold filters on Mercari to identify). Also, take into consideration the cost of shipping materials. A whole lot of bubble wrap is needed to ship these items without breakage.
Tip #5: Photography. Great photos of the items you’re selling can definitely help move what inventory you’re sitting on. Even if the items were just purchased or if you’re selling from your own personal Rae Dunn collection, take quality photos. Also be sure to photograph any imperfections so that your buyer knows exactly what they’re getting.
Tip # 6: Pre-inspect. Look over your Rae Dunn pottery closely for hairline cracks, chips and other imperfections before listing for sale. You do not want to get into a situation with a buyer who claims you didn’t disclose damage. This could absolutely ruin your reputation as a reseller in the Facebook groups or you could receive bad feedback on other sites where you might sell your items.
Tip #7 Know where to sell it.
- The Rae Dunn Facebook groups might sound intimidating (they absolutely can be) but I was able to resell quite a few items there. You don’t need to post your items, instead search what the collectors are looking for. I promise you, you likely have something someone wants.
- Instagram, Facebook, eBay and Mercari are the most used platforms for selling and trading Rae Dunn pieces. I first used Instagram using a slew of hashtags and built a quick following yet I didn’t have much success reselling any items there. I’ve sold the most Rae Dunn on Mercari.
Tip #8: Stay Organized. Keep all of your receipts and keep your items organized. HomeGoods and TJ Maxx will give your a full refund with receipt within 30 days. *Check refund policy as some may have changed due to Covid-19.
What Are the Most Popular Rae Dunn Items?
The popularity of Rae Dunn is fluid based on what’s available in the marketplace. Do your research in the Facebook groups and resale websites to see what people are looking to buy.
What are the Rae Dunn duds? If there is an abundance of items on the shelf at any given time, it’s usually the dog and cat bowls and the office accessories.
Join the Facebook Groups at Your Own Risk!
I was warned to stay away from the Rae Dunn FB groups mostly because of the strict rules and drama.
I’ve learned that there are a lot of rules but not anything out of the ordinary. Admins are especially sensitive to people criticizing resell prices. You don’t like the asking price, move on and don’t run up a thread with 150 comments complaining about a person asking $60 for a $12.99 tray. Just don’t.
Always indicate your asking price within your posts in the Facebook groups. Negotiations in the DMs are a hassle.
Did the Rae Dunn Bubble Burst?
I stopped shopping for Rae Dunn to resell a long time ago but would occasionally browse for my own collection. I definitely bought into the hype at one point and starting collecting for myself. These days, there are shelves and shelves of RD pottery waiting for a buyer.
At one time, the supply was so limited and I think that’s what turned people into frenzied hunters. Now, you can find a cookie canister just sitting there on any given afternoon.
I am still looking for the elusive Icon measuring cups. Maybe one day I’ll stumble upon them.
Related: 5 Ways to Sell Your Stuff