If you’re of the boomer generation and you’re holding onto a prized collection to try to make some cash, then we have bad news. If your collector’s items fall into any of the following 17 categories from the Boomer era, then they, unfortunately, won’t be of high value today.
Costume Jewelry
Most costume jewelry is mass-produced, making it difficult to find buyers willing to pay high prices. It’s not impossible to make a profit from costume jewelry if it’s niche and in very good condition, but it’s highly unlikely.
Serving Platters
Sadly for collectors, many vintage serving platters have limited resale value due to reproductions and the difficulty of authenticating particular pieces. Like with any antique item, condition is key, but even well-kept examples won’t fetch a lot of money when sold.
Children’s Books
AbeBooks explains that children’s books from the past can be valuable if they are famous titles that are in very good condition. But most books from decades ago won’t have much resale value at all. At most, a small percentage of each collection could have some value.
Precious Moments Figurines
Many people 30-40 years ago believed that Precious Moments figures would increase in value over time, but it just never really happened. They were often handed over as wedding gifts with a view to having longevity, and that didn’t exactly work out.
Norman Rockwell Collector Plates
Despite their iconic status, most Norman Rockwell plates have plummeted in value. This will come as a surprise to many, as once upon a time, antique valuers were convinced they’d become cherished items. However, even mint condition plates with original packaging often sell for less than $50.
Cabbage Patch Kids
The frenzy (and we really do mean frenzy) for Cabbage Patch Kids in the 1980s has certainly not translated into lasting value. Only the rarest dolls in excellent condition are sought after, while most simply sell for small amounts.
Beanie Babies
CNN reports that, sadly, very few Beanie Babies are actually able to make a profit. Only a handful of individual toys have any chance of holding some kind of value, and even then, they’ll need to be in top condition to be able to sell.
Cassette Tapes
Everybody used to listen to music on tape at one time, but nowadays, these are useless objects that have never demanded any kind of retro value. There are a few collectors remaining in the world, but they’re not willing to spend much.
Happy Meal Toys
Despite what some boomers out there seem to think, McDonald’s Happy Meal toys are generally worthless because of their mass-produced nature. There is a small chance that a complete set of mint condition toys from a long time ago could sell for value, but it’s unlikely.
Barbie Dolls
Many people have held onto their Barbie dolls from childhood in the hope that they’d be able to sell them for an increase in value later in their lives. However, most Barbies can be found for sale at around $10-$20, which is close to their original retail price.
Stamps
People used to collect stamps a lot, but sadly, the stamp collecting market has declined. Now, many stamps are actually selling for much less than their supposed value. Mass production and condition issues have made it hard to sell most stamps at a high price.
Vinyl Records
The only vinyl records that could possibly have significant value are rare items from the 1960s and 1970s that are in great condition, says Rough Trade. Mass production in later years means most releases aren’t rare, so there’s no value to them.
Black Diamond Disney VHS Tapes
Despite online myths, Black Diamond Disney VHS tapes are generally worth between $5 and $25. That’s a lot less than owners think! In fact, there are hardly any VHS tapes in the world collecting much value as they’re obsolete technology that not many people are interested in.
Modern Star Wars Toys
Toys from the Star Wars prequel trilogy are largely worthless because of overproduction. They’re just not rare enough to be able to fetch any kind of real value when sold as antiques. However, original trilogy toys have the potential to land the big bucks!
Comics from the Last 20 Years
The sweet spot for valuable comic books is anything before 1979, according to Heritage Auction. This means that anything from the last 20-40 years is unlikely to have any real value. If you no longer want them, you might as well donate them to the charity shop.
Hummel Figurines
Hummel figurines were super popular back in the day, but their value has dropped in recent years. The market has shifted, and now fewer buyers are interested in these once-prized collectibles. That’s a shame for the owners.
Pez Dispensers
Realistically, most Pez dispensers are worth only a couple of dollars despite their nostalgic appeal. People do want to get hold of them, but it’s not possible to charge a lot because there are so many in circulation. Rare dispensers can be valuable, but these are just an exception.
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