The Bradford Exchange

[EarlofShrewsbury]

Having a browse on the Bradford Exchange is a guilty pleasure of mine.

I seem to end up there once every couple of years and I'm always surprised to see it's still going. It's quite a wild place, is it even real? Who shops there?

It's like a time machine.

https://www.bradford.co.uk/dianabag.html?_gl=11ceiu7y_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g7jAf3sGoiMDuKK2spZyQbMhoVEVd5VCCsKbLCF3D2iKpfm3y0FL8RoCCHcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Diana bag anyone?

I've never bought anything from there but I bloody love it for a browse. Reminds me of my nana.

Ok, some of the Christmas snow globes are quite pretty. 😳

www.bradford.co.uk/gifts-by-category/christmas-decor/snow-globes-and-water-globes/?themes=14

I am so glad you posted this. My friend and I talk about this all the time and follow them on FB. Our theory is that it’s all speculative and none of it actually exists until some sucker shells out for it. How many people are still buying Elvis plates and Elton John cuckoo clocks anyway?!

I used to work there, as a temp contract in between jobs, it’s actually a lovely place to work, great company and nice coworkers, so I really enjoyed my time there. So, my job was in returns and I always remember one return of one of their ‘real life’ baby dolls. At this time (20 years ago) people used to leave voicemails regarding reasons for their returns and a lady had said that she’d received her highly anticipated baby doll and was utterly horrified by it…she bought it out and it had made her children cry! I know it’s cruel to find that amusing but I just couldn’t help this comedy scenario coming into my head…’look kids what Mama bought…’ ‘waaaaaah!!’
also when I worked there they used to sell these Elvis Christmas tree trains! Amazing!

Beg to differ on the stuff we've had the misfortune to receive. Quality is dire

Kind of wish we'd been gifted the muppet swiss clock that sold for 1.5k on ebay!!!

It's really difficult to know what the antiques of the future will be though, and we've all seen something pretty ordinary selling on the antiques roadshow for a fortune.

But for something to be valuable it needs to be rare and well-made. OK, so their Princess Di plate costing £250 has 22 carat gold on it. It is not cheap. But despite the use of terms like exclusive, heirloom or collectable, they do not say how many of these items have been produced. A certificate of authenticity means bugger all.

If you really wanted to collect with the idea something will appreciate in value, you'd be better researching up and coming ceramicists and buying a one-off piece for £250.

Tesco could start labelling their beans as 'desirable' and 'collectable' - based on the fact that thousands of people snap them up each week.

Or do they not count as they're actually useful?!

If any discerning MNer investors are interested, this one-off masterpiece is still available!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387811154041?_skw=twelve+days+of+christmas+table+decoration&itmmeta=01KAGD09KMGNXZ1T3MRZJFJXNN&hash=item5a4b589879:g:UUwAAOSwosFUVmhG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fgT%2B3%2Bm1D7MPydbmi9BhnnsszUrWnhy9ErBfVWFVqlVZ5W685tKzHRZcC8LxwB%2FmicBJ80wOt5N0b0MjwK4%2BC7wsmwl5yQwU4LYKy%2FfmRFURR%2BuGjWVtsZQ9RYH7UhRCttnVZzoM62ubMNTn9VPAFoHCBJpnM7CAWpNR9i5go25F9R7NeEdfC7Aq1HuqEAVAluPC4zXNuIudhdpVQ05hxN2UiSpfGbBqwghhVtcj5wJqg59QIbAnifdmPt3rYMxrInjkhnTGclR5LKQMHUhpRfrfjCPQtIneV13vkL5eK%2FU562K%2B5ZDbUVeqZcs7NNk%2B8%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4yagY3UZg

This is a timely thread, because an advert of theirs popped up on Facebook yesterday with something I was sorely tempted to buy!

You are all shaking sanity back into me.

(It was this:

www.bradford.co.uk/hauntedmansionbge.html

I remember the Daddy I did a poo poo doll

I bought my friend the "Life of Christ in cats/dry for all our sins" tea towel but it mysteriously got ruined by her putting a burning hot pot on it

The Diana bag should be on everybody's wishlist.

Is this that 12 days of Christmas?
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS MASSIVE TABLE CENTER PIECE DECORATION ALL DAYS / FIGURES | eBay UK

Cross-posted! Hasn't the year flown by?

OMG, the price!

Speaking of collectibles, my mum bought me a Charlotte Di Vita mi iature teapot for my birthday many years ago - apparently they are all individually hand painted and supported some kind of charitable foundation in Africa.

https://uk.pinterest.com/nivagcollects/charlotte-di-vita-teapots/

The one she got me was this.

https://nivagcollectables.co.uk/p/6659/charlotte-di-vita-teapots/chicken-teapot

They seem to sell for £30-£100 these days. It has grown on me over the years.

I've started getting Bradford Exchange ads on Facebook now 😀I don't mind as they're funny

I thought this would be shares or banking lol

Yes! I don't know why the link I ended up with was so massive and gobbledegooky - and the preview disappeared.

Actually hahahahahahahaha at this so much

I like that they've got their workshop aprons on to show they are skilled craftsmen, like in the Elves and the Shoemaker. The shots of the tree are either too close up or too far away, as watching them eat chocolates is more important.

This is the best item they sell: "The John Wayne American Icon Cuckoo Clock"

😂

Oh I need a video of that working😹😹😹

Oops! Always read to end of thread. That's so bad is fantastic, but not at that price🙀

Omg I want one, that's on my list if I win the lottery

I was just thinking last night that I hadn’t seen The Monstrosity posted so far this run-up to Christmas.

They advertise in the TV guides most weeks. DW and I always joke about what sophisticated gift we are buying this week, not to mention how many easy payments plus £9.99 p & p w need to make.
I reality of course, it's all tasteless crap and we can't imagine who would buy it.
But then as the American journalist said: "No one in this world has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. "