Are Your Collectibles Valuable? Heres How to Find Out-Hobbies
Are Your Collectibles Valuable? Heres How to Find Out
The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, collectible Barbie doll, Disney collectible, or some other collectible item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea...Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.To find your item on eBay:1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectible would be likely categories.2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.3. Use your keyword to search, such as "Barbie doll". This will bring up the current auctions window.4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!
Diecast Collectibles: The Collectors? Guide to Making a Profit-Hobbies
Diecast Collectibles: The Collectors? Guide to Making a Profit
Millions of people have made a hobby of collecting items of
one sort or another, but some take it to a higher level.
These collectors view their collections as more than just
an accumulation of trinkets that they happen to enjoy; to
them, it's a business, and they're not in it to lose money.
For those who collect diecast models, making a profit can
be a challenge, unless you know the ropes of how to
effectively collect pieces and then apply the necessary
strategies to resell at an increased price.It's a good practice to collect only those items that you
truly like, and then do quite a bit of shopping around in
order to find the best buy. Market trends are never very
stable, and by collecting those pieces that particularly
appeal to you, others may view them in the same way. This
will enable you to resell them more easily. Certainly,
it's never good business practice to buy the first piece
that you find. Competition is stiff, and there are some
great deals out there that you can use to your advantage.Avoid specializing in one specific area of diecast
collectibles. If, for instance, you're interested in
collecting NASCAR models, it's best not to isolate your
purchases to those of one particular driver. That's not to
say that you shouldn't include them among your other
pieces, but there's a need for diversity if you're hoping
to eventually realize a profit. Although a piece may not
seem to have much value in today's market, that doesn't
mean that it won't increase as time goes by.Older diecast models make a nice addition to anyone's
collection, and can eventually precipitate a good amount of
sales revenue. Don't overlook what you may now see as
relics or outdated pieces. There's always someone out
there who's looking for an older piece ? whether for
nostalgic reasons, to complete a collection or for the
purposes of an eventual sale ? so don't limit yourself by
excluding the golden oldies.Some of the best deals can be found in flea markets, on
eBay and other auction sites. Not only can you find pieces
for your own collection, but these will be eventual
avenues for you to resell them at a later date. The
highlight of the auction arena is that you can set a
starting price and watch the bids increase your income
potential ? sometimes to a figure much higher than you
would have imagined. Setting a reserve price helps, too,
so that you won't lose a piece when someone comes in way
under the piece's value.Picking up models at local department stores, such as
Wal-Mart, or through TV shopping forums such as QVC is
usually a mistake. While these may have reasonable
quality, they're usually not as well constructed as what
you can find elsewhere, and tend to flood the market with
certain pieces which they sell in high volume in an effort
to gain a higher sales standing. Stick to the mainstream
collection sites and you'll do much better.Remember that you may not break the bank when you resell a
piece, but with a good sense of timing and strong
negotiation skills, you'll be able to realize some type of
profit and, with a bit of experience, will increase your
overall profit potential.*******(c) 2005 Dale Stewart - All Rights ReservedDale Stewart is a freelance author and diecast enthusiast.http://www.DiecastSecrets.com*******