Budgedad Antiques & Collectibles Blog

The fact is if an item does not have at least two of these characteristics, it is not a Collectible but a fad.  This is my definition.  Now let’s look again at Beanie Babies.  Which two characteristics did they have? 

I would collect from McDonalds Restaurants Complete sets mint in the package and put them on the internet.  I arranged for sets to be put aside by various McDonalds.  My cost $1.49 to $1.89 each which came to a max of $18.90 plus tax for a set of 10.  Then I sold them for anything from $90.00 to $150.00 on the Internet (Ebay).

Are they old?  Ty Toy Company was making them as you bought them.

Where they scarce?  I think not.  Now if we have 1000 each at a McDonalds Restaurant & there are 25,000 McDonald locations.  That makes 25,000,000 of each Beanie.  I am sure this is understated but the point is made.

Quality I do not think even this needs talking about.  Except for the one that decorated my Thanksgiving table I saw absolutely no value in this mass produced bean bag that made a mess every time one split at the seam.

My warning to you is, do not get caught up in the emotion of a fad unless you are doing it for fun.  I save the new State Quarters.  It is fun for me.  Do not be the dupe I make money off of for the next fad.

With the advent of the Internet Market we can see that many items are more plentiful than originally thought and for that reason many prices have come down.  But the truth is it also made us aware of things that are available that we were unaware of before.  I deal in antiques & collectibles primarily and have a love for art pottery.  Roseville, Weller, Rookwood and many other makers put out numerous patterns and works of art.  Some patterns are more desirable than others; items of art will always have an even higher degree of quality attached, but in all cases do your homework and find out what you should be paying.  There are books, records of past sales and the internet.  Know what you are buying.  It is not that difficult to see if an item is stable or increasing in value.

More important you do it for the love of collecting the item.  Do not get hung up in the value as much as the pleasure the item will give you.  If it is a true Collectible and you pay a fair price it will always have a generous return, if not in pocketbook then in your heart.

Although I am in this business to make a living (money) my greatest satisfaction is the knowledge that a client has purchased the item at a fair price and will enjoy the item for years to come.  That is what keeps me in this business and putting in those long hours.  Ask my three questions in the context of the pieces you want to purchase and you will never go wrong.