Ask ggoblogger-GGO Decanters?

"Dear ggoblogger, I have the entire set of the GGO decanters, still sealed. How much do you think they are worth? Frances"

Frances, thanks for your email and thanks for reading my blog(s). I want to first point out that I am just a fan of the Greater Greensboro Open, and while I know a lot about its rich history, I don't appraise any of the collectible items I discuss on my site. When you talk about what an item is "worth" and what kind of "value" it has, you are often talking about two very different things.

In my opinion what an item is "worth" is equal to the amount the guy standing in front of you is willing to pay. When I think about an item's "value", I think about what someone in the future might be willing to pay. Again, this is my opinion.

So, how does this relate to your complete set of unopened GGO decanters? Here are a couple of thoughts. I think they will be "worth" more as a set. There is a guy out in the Triad that wants a complete set for his basement bar and poolroom. He will be willing to give you between $100.00 to $150.00 for your complete set. You can find him by placing an ad in the local paper. Don't spend more than $15.00 on that ad. That's ten percent of your profit.

These bottles sold for $14.95 a piece back in the 1970's and early '80's so you are getting your money back. You can try to sell them on eBay, but you probably won't get anymore for them. Keep in mind one of the major selling points to this collection is the local sentimental value. Aside from some rich golf nut in Japan, no one really cares about these bottles outside Greensboro's city limits. I can prove this by asking how many of you would like an American Legion whiskey decanter in the shape of a pelican from New Orleans or perhaps one from the 1974 Spokane World's Fair Expo?

As far as these decanters being sealed, I'm not sure that adds any real value. The whiskey inside these bottles was cheap to begin with and I have never met anyone brave enough to actually drink the stuff after it has sat in those bottles for 20 years. One of the major problems with these decanters is that the seals often broke and were not well made. I have friends with horror stories about how they displayed the bottles, only to have them leak. They also smell bad once the seals break. For the sake of this discussion I would advise you to leave the whiskey in the bottles and let the next proud owner decide if it's "worth" anything.

The 1972 Greater Greensboro Open crest decanter is considered one of the most popular. I have seen it sell at auction from between $4.00 to $20.00. This seal is the same as the one worn on the Green Coats you see each year at the golf tournament. These folks are, of course, members of the Green Coat Club-men and women that make up the past leadership of the Greensboro Jaycees and the Greater Greensboro Open.

I hope this answers your question. I will leave you with a few fun facts that may help you close your sale. Only 6000 decanters were made each year and the molds were then destroyed. They were only sold in Greensboro State Liquor Stores and the 1975 decanter took the form of a Grecian Urn.

Frances, thanks for your question. I want to again point out that I am just a fan of the Greater Greensboro Open, and while I know a lot about the tournament, I don't appraise any of the collectible items I discuss on my site. This is just my opinion.