The beanie baby bubble may have busted, but that doesn’t mean you throw away the vintage toy collection you’ve been holding on from the 80s or 90s. You can choose to keep it for memory’s sake and turn it into a family heirloom that you will share with your future babies and grandbabies.
The other alternative is to sell it to toy buyers and make some good bucks off something you enjoyed using some 20 or 30 years ago. But since it’s a cherished collection, how do you ensure you get the best value of your vintage toys? Check out the tips below.
Sort Your Toys First
If you have a box full of toys from when you were a tiny kid three decades ago, the first step to getting the most value out of your collection is separating the good from the bad.
Set some time aside and go through your box. Separate the toys you think are in mint conditions from those you think need to go in the trash and those you’ve decided to give as a gift to your kids, your sibling’s kids, or your grandkids. While at it, if you find toys that are part of a particular collection or series, for instance, captain power, GI Joe, or Star Wars figurines, keep them together. They may be worth more.
Research On The Value
Once you’ve made up your mind on which vintage toys you are going to sell, the next step is to find out how much value they hold. You can easily find out their value by searching on Google. This will help you decide whether to sell them or not.
Note, you can search using metrics such as age. This is because most toy buyers or collectors are often looking for vintage toys — that means those toys that are at least 20 years old. So, if you have one from the 60s, 70s, or 80s, then you can be confident that its value is high, and you’ll make some good money off it.
If you’re not satisfied with Google’s results, consider checking out collectible forums on social media platforms such as Facebook. Alternatively, you can take them to an appraiser.
Clean Them and Find Spares
If you are satisfied with the value and have made up your mind on selling them, then you should make them look valuable. An easy way to do this is to clean them. If they’ve been sitting in that box for over a decade, then they’re definitely dusty and dirty. Find the right tools, for instance, a toothbrush or paper towel and get to cleaning.
Next, if any of them has a missing part, for instance, a missing head, wheel, or sticker, you need to replace it. Get online and search for spare parts. You can find these on sites such as eBay, Craiglist, or collectible forums on social media. If you are not up to the task, then you can always sell your collection as it is, but note, this will lower the value.
Take Very Nice and Clear Photos
If you’re planning to sell your vintage toy collection online, then you need to ensure you take very bright and clear photos to bring out their best. If they have a damaged area, be sure to show this too because honesty is the way to go. If they are in tip-top condition, consider photographing them in their box! This will make them look valuable and get you the selling price you deserve.
If you’re a hoarder, you can find it hard to part with your toys. But, keeping them in a box at the darkest corner of your garage does no one any good. Make the best of your childhood by selling them to legit toy buyers like WheelJack’s Lab so they may make another kid’s childhood or a collector’s day brighter.
