If you have recently inherited a Department 56 or Lemax collection, or you are downsizing your Christmas village display, you are probably wondering where to sell it and how to get a fair price. These collectibles have a strong market in Canada, especially around the holidays, and many collectors are actively searching for retired, hard to find, or well cared for pieces.
This guide explains your selling options and why many collectors across Canada choose to sell directly to Vintage Villages in Toronto.
Understanding the value of your Department 56 or Lemax collection
Before you sell, it helps to know what factors influence value. The price of a Christmas village piece depends on:
- Series, brand, and year of release
- Whether the piece is retired
- Condition of the building, figures, and accessories
- Presence of original boxes and packaging
- Popularity or demand among collectors
- Whether the item has working lights or sound
- Rarity, limited editions, or club exclusives
Even everyday pieces can sell well if they are in excellent condition with the original box.
Option 1. Selling your collection on marketplace sites
Many people start with private selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or eBay. This approach works, but it has challenges.
Pros:
- You set your own price
- Large audiences
- Good for individual pieces
Cons:
- Meeting buyers and coordinating pick ups takes time
- Lowball offers are common
- Shipping delicate items can be stressful
- Buyers may back out
- Slow sales if you have a large collection
- This option is best if you only have a few pieces and you are comfortable shipping or arranging pickups.
Option 2. Selling through online auctions or consignment
Some sellers use consignment stores or online auction houses that specialise in collectibles.
Pros:
- They handle pricing and listing for you
- Good for rare or high value collections
Cons:
- Fees can be high
- You may wait weeks or months for payment
- You do not control the final sale price
- This option works if your priority is convenience and you are not in a hurry.
Option 3. Selling directly to Vintage Villages in Toronto
If you want a fast, fair, and professional option, you can sell your Department 56 or Lemax collection directly to us at Vintage Villages Specialty Gifts Inc. We are a Canadian retailer that buys full collections year round and specialises in both vintage and current Christmas village brands.
Why sellers across Canada choose Vintage Villages
- We buy full collections, small lots, and single pieces
- We offer fair value based on recent Canadian sales
- We handle everything professionally
- No need to deal with dozens of individual buyers
- No need to photograph, list, or ship items
- Same day or next day payment
- You can drop off locally or ship your collection to us
What we buy
Vintage Villages purchases:
- Department 56 collections
- Lemax collections
- Heritage Village, Dickens Village, North Pole, Christmas in the City, Snow Village, Alpine Village
- Spooky Town and Halloween collections
- Retired and rare pieces
- Figurines, accessories, trees, lampposts, and general village décor
- If it is part of a Christmas village display, we likely buy it
How pricing works when you sell to us
We evaluate pieces based on:
- Current Canadian market value
- Condition and completeness
- Demand among collectors
- Rarity and collectability
- Our inventory levels
Many sellers appreciate that they can liquidate an entire collection at once without spending hours listing items online.
How to get a quote from Vintage Villages
Getting a quote is easy. You can:
Email photos of your collection to info@vintagevillages.ca
- Include group photos, box photos, and any known details
- Tell us if pieces are new, used, working, or missing parts
- We reply with an offer and purchase options
- If you are in the GTA, we offer appointments for in person evaluations.
What customers say
Many people who inherit a collection feel overwhelmed. Large collections can take up a lot of space and can be difficult to price if you are not familiar with the brands. We offer a simple, straightforward process that respects your time and the sentimental value these pieces often hold.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy broken pieces?
Minor wear can be acceptable, but broken or heavily damaged pieces have limited value. You can still send photos and we will advise.
Do I need the original boxes?
Boxes improve value, but we still buy items without boxes. This is on a case by case basis and part of our valuation process.
How quickly do you pay?
Payment is sent the same day the items are received and inspected.
Do you pick up collections?
For large collections in the GTA, we may offer pickup arrangements. Otherwise you can ship the collection safely to us and we cover the process step by step.
If you are wondering where to sell a Department 56 or Lemax collection in Canada, Vintage Villages is here to help
Whether you inherited a collection, are moving, or want to reduce your display, we make the selling process simple and fair. Vintage Villages has a strong community of collectors always looking for new arrivals, and we buy collections year round.
If you want a quick quote, email your photos to info@vintagevillages.ca and we will take care of the rest.