Buying & Selling Guide
In this section, we will give you the tools needed to make a confident purchase or a successful sale. We want you to feel knowledgeable as you look for your next Degenhart owl or decide to part with one. Hopefully, this guide will point you in the right direction as you learn what to look for and what to avoid.
Where Do I Find One?
Maybe you've just joined our Facebook group or you've come across a picture of these elusive rainbow-hued owls. You would love to start collecting them, but where do you find them? Fortunately, there are multiple places you can visit to look for them.
1. Our Facebook group, Degenhart Owl Depot, is a great place to start. Our group often advertises Degenhart owls for sale and we even do occasional giveaways. Please click here to join.
2. eBay - Degenhart owls are listed fairly frequently on eBay. Degenhart owls listed on eBay often fetch the highest prices. This is due to multiple factors, such as a worldwide audience and potential bidding wars.
When searching on eBay, remember to look for typos. Occasionally, the name "Degenhart" may be misspelled. Sometimes sellers list Westmoreland owls as Degenhart simply because they look so similar and they are unfamiliar with the maker's marks. Sometimes a seller isn't aware of what they have and may list it as simply "Glass owl on books". Because of this, it pays to be creative with your search terms.
Here are some examples of good search terms to look for: "Glass owl paperweight," "Glass owl on books," "Glass owl figurine," "Vintage glass owl" and "Glass owl with rhinestone eyes figurine" Other common search terms would be "Degenhart owl," "Westmoreland owl" and the misspelled name "Deganhart owl." Ready to start searching on eBay? You can click any of the highlighted blue links to start. The "Degenhart Owl" search terms have already been entered for you. Find Degenhart owls on eBay.
3. Other selling platforms - Sometimes it's hard to remember that eBay isn't the only fish in the sea. There are plenty of other selling platforms to visit too! Remember, you can use the same search terms mentioned above on these sites as well. Here's a list of reputable selling platforms where collectors have previously had success finding Degenhart owls: Etsy, Poshmark, Mecari, HiBid, and ShopGoodwill.com.
4. Local Options - Facebook Marketplace is a great option. Sometimes the seller may offer shipping if you're not local. Other great places worth looking into are local thrift stores, antique stores, estate sales and yard sales. You never know when you may find a hidden Degenhart owl tucked away in a corner somewhere.
Check for Damage.
Although Degenhart owls are relatively sturdy, damage can occur. They are most prone to breakages on the ears and book edges at the base. If you happen to have the owl in person, examine it carefully. Check for flea bites or chips on the surface of the glass. Flea bites are tiny flecks on the surface of the glass that are smaller than the tip of a pencil lead, or 1/16" of an inch. Chips are larger than 1/16" of an inch. If the owl is online, make sure to enlarge all photos and carefully examine them. If in doubt, ask questions about the condition and request additional photos if need be.
Significant damage can affect the value of the owl, but some flaws may be more acceptable than others. If the owl is a very rare color, it may still be worth purchasing. If you decide to purchase a damaged owl, such as one with a broken ear, make sure to ask the seller if they have kept the broken-off piece. There is always a chance that they kept it and would be willing to ship it with the owl. If that's the case, repairing it would be fairly simple. Please visit our Care & Repair Guide for advice on how to repair your owl.
Some owls have unique factory traits that occur during manufacturing. These aren't necessarily considered damages, but they should be noted. Please visit our Unique Factory Traits page to learn all about them.
What's it Worth?
The highest sold price to date was for an Ivory Chartreuse Slag owl which sold for $227.50 in Feb 2023. The next runner-up was a Yellow Dickie Bird owl that sold for $212.50 in Jan 2023. Collectors can be pretty serious about their owls. Some colors are more rare than others and command higher prices because of this. Rubina and unusual slag colors are good examples. UV-reactive owls are also highly sought after. More common colors tend to stay around the $30 to $40 price range. Prices, just like the weather, can change frequently. A good rule of thumb is to look at previously completed sales on eBay if they are available. Decide in advance what you would be comfortable spending. Stick firm to your limit, and don't let the bidding frenzy of competitors cloud your judgment. Unless it's an exceptionally rare owl, chances are another one will eventually show up.
How Do I Ship It?
Standing only 3.5 inches tall, Degenhart owls are a breeze to ship. Make sure to use a sturdy, small box that allows enough space to comfortably fit plenty of packing material. A 5x5x5 or a 6x6x6 box is the perfect size. When wrapping your owl, make sure to create a generous cocoon of bubble wrap around the owl itself and secure it with tape so it doesn't unravel. Now that your owl has a "bubble wrap cocoon," it's ready to be placed in the box. There should be a generous amount of either bubble wrap, packing peanuts or wadded packing paper around the entire owl so that it doesn't touch the sides of the box. Remember, the post office isn't going to be gentle with your box. It may be thrown or kicked while moving through the postal network. The goal is to make sure the owl arrives safely and in one piece.
Now that your owl is wrapped, it's time to create a shipping label. If you prefer to print your label from the comfort of your own home, we highly recommend Pirateship.com. They have some of the lowest shipping rates available and cover all methods of shipping. They have a very user-friendly website, and we have been very satisfied using them.
Last but not least, whether you are an eBay seller or a private seller, it's always a wonderful idea to include a thank-you note. It only takes a few seconds to write and leaves a great impression on the buyer. If notes aren't your cup of tea, many places even sell rolls of stickers that say, "Thank you for supporting my small business" or something of a similar nature. They can be placed on the package and bring a smile to the buyer's face. The important thing is that you are leaving a lasting impression on your buyer. They will more than likely return for repeat business because of this.
