Many dream of cashing in on their childhood collections, believing their old toys, figurines, jewelry, etc., can be sold for a fortune. While some collectibles hold high value, many are seemingly worthless. Here’s a list of 12 collectors’ items that won’t fetch you any significant amount of money if sold today.
Costume Jewelry
Most costume jewelry won’t fetch you the desired amount, regardless of age, condition, and design. It’s true for jewelry made with inexpensive materials, like plastic, glass, base metals, etc. Since costume jewelry is mass-produced in abundance, people can easily find the latest designs for a few dollars at flea markets.
However, you can expect to receive higher sums for designer vintage costume jewelry. People with original CHANEL gold costume jewelry list it for $1,499 on eBay, which is a reasonably decent price.
Stamps
Stamp collecting, also known as philately, was a lucrative hobby for collectors a few decades back. While these collectibles could earn you decent money in the past, their worth is constantly declining.
Even if you have unused Canadian 4-cent stamps from 1963, they aren’t worth more than face value. As stamp collecting is dying a slow, long death, prices of most vintage stamps have plummeted. You cannot get more than 5% to 20% of the stated catalog value, making them almost worthless.
Model Train Sets
Model train sets were extremely popular a few decades back, but it’s on the verge of becoming an obsolete hobby for most. The rising prices, shrinking living spaces, and an increasingly aging population are leading to fewer buyers of these sets, making these once-precious items worthless.
While some collectors may highly value some trains made in the early years, the more common ones have faded in price.
Baseball Cards
The craze for baseball cards was unreal when it first launched. Many started investing in them as collectibles that could fetch them a significant amount. While it experienced exponential growth initially, it lost popularity with time. One of the biggest reasons why no one wants to buy it now is the excessive supply, making it just another ordinary item. Even if you own baseball cards of the late 80s and early 90s era in good condition, they’re worthless as there are no buyers.
Hot Wheels
Despite being popular, Hot Wheels no longer commands the value it did during its early launch years. Their overproduction exceeded the supply more than the market demand, making them almost insignificant in value. However, rare designs still hold value.
For example, original Hot Wheels from the Redline cars and first editions are still valuable. The value of the 1969 Pink Volkswagen Beach Bomb is approximately $150,000 because of its rarity, whereas ordinary Hot Wheels are being listed on eBay for less than a dollar.
Cabbage Patch Kids
These huggable little toys were an instant hit during their launch in the 1980s. They quickly became a must-have toy for kids, making parents pay exorbitant prices to purchase one. Some even spent as much as $100/toy, which was insane for any toy during that period. It attracted collectors’ attention, making them believe it would earn them huge money in the future.
However, the cabbage patch doll bubble burst in the following years due to overproduction. Currently, these toys cannot fetch more than $20 for used dolls and up to $50 for well-preserved dolls.
Franklin Mint Collectibles
Franklin Mint marketed itself as a producer of ‘valuable’ collectibles. Every item, from plates to figurines, coins to silver ingots, was promoted as a profitable investment. People started collecting and preserving these items in their original condition, yet their value experienced depreciation as these items became common and mass-produced.
You can now find numerous Franklin Mint dolls sold in the $20-$70 range, much lower than their original purchase price.
Beanie Babies
Most people who grew up in the 1990s had a beanie baby because of their craze. While collectors considered these soft toys valuable due to their popularity, their value faded when Ty Warner produced millions of pieces of each design, leading to an oversupply crushing resale prices.
While some ultra-rare beanie babies may earn you some significant money, ordinary designs are available for a couple of dollars on eBay.
Pogs
These small bottle caps featuring various designs were remarkably popular in the 80s and 90s era.
While many purchased pogs to play fun games with their friends, some collectors invested in them, expecting considerable returns in the future. While some pogs still hold high value, especially the ones with factory errors, Stussy pogs, etc., ordinary pogs are available for less than $5. For instance, a seller is offering 200+ vintage pogs for a measly $3.25.
Vinyl Records
Vinyl records are among the most highly sought-after collectibles if they’re extremely rare. For instance, the Wu-Tang Clan album was sold for $2 million, one of the highest amounts paid for any vinyl record.
Vinyl records of The Beatles, Elvis Presley’s My Happiness, John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy were also sold for high prices. However, other common vinyl records hold little value in today’s market. Numerous vinyl record owners are selling The Beatles albums for under $20, making them monetarily insignificant.
Porcelain Dolls
Porcelain dolls were initially launched in Europe as kid’s toys during the mid-1800s, but they soon became a popular collectible item. There were different types of porcelain dolls, such as Chinese, bisque, French, German, etc., each varying in demand and price.
If you own any of these dolls, remember that only the rarest porcelain dolls can fetch you good money, such as L’Oiseleur, created by Christian Bailly, and Eloise, by Madame Alexander. Ordinary porcelain dolls no longer hold real value and are available for under $20 in online marketplaces.
Vintage Clothing
If you have grandparents in your house, you’ll probably find some vintage clothes in their closets. While they may appear fancy and worth top dollars, you won’t get much money for these dresses. Perfect-looking vintage outfits are listed on eBay in the $20-$55 range, highlighting their depreciated worth. You may receive higher prices for designer vintage outfits if they’re well-preserved in their original packaging and condition.
