What to do with 4 Eames Shell Chairs?  

i know you don't want to use...
i know you don't want to use eBay, but honestly it is the best way to sell them. i don't like using it either but i have had to. the forum here is only a very small part of the whole modern furniture community. everyone uses eBay.
the bright side is that eames shells are relatively easy and cheap to ship. because of that people are more likely to buy that kind of item on eBay rather than a sofa or heavy chair. you can take the bases off and stack the shells into each other.
why do you want to part with them? if i had the good fortune of my family members being into modern design i would keep them as proud proof that my modern tendencies are familial.
just a warning - for some reason padded shells tend to fetch less money in general. maybe this is just on eBay but it seems to be the case. i think it is because no matter the real age of the shell, unpadded shells resemble the 'original' design the most. my rocker is padded and i wouldn't have it any other way. it's a hell of a lot more comfortable.
has anyone else noticed this? does anyone else here perfer one over the other?
good luck.

thank you whitespike
that's really good information. I will try ebay - one more thing if you don't mind. I know you haven't seen them, but is there a ballpark on what they may be worth? Thanks again.

by the way
I want to get rid of them because they are just too bulky for my home and I'm more of a traditional type (New England upbringing!)

I really think that someone...
I really think that someone else may be able to tell you better about their worth, but I would say aroudn 75-100 for each sideshell and about 150-300 for each armshell depending on condition. Age also has something to do with it and if they are good, clean, earlier examples they may be worth more. I would visit ebay and type in "eames shell" and then look at only completed listings. don't just looks at the end price - but also pay attention to the chair condition and make sure they are also upholstered and have the same base. the base also makes the price vary.
Last thing - I think you will get a better return selling the sides as a pair and the arms as a pair. Selling them all as one package would close doors to potential buyers that don't want that many or would perfer all sides or all arms. You could sell them all as singles, but I think it is nice to buy a good, clean pair.
any better insights on worth?
I think she said that the chairs are:
2 armshells, 2 sideshells. all upholstered in a golden yellow vinyl with tan backs. all on 4-star aluminum bases. Is this correct?

these auctions seem...
these auctions seem caparable to your armshells. you see how the pair sold for much more per chair. the bases on these should sell about the same as yours ... they are both very standard.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Apple-Green-Eames-Herman-Miller-Arm-Shell-Chairs_W...
http://cgi.ebay.com/1960s-HERMAN-MILLER-EAMES-FIBERGLASS-VINYL-SHELL-CHA...

that is correct information
thanks again for your generous advice