6 Collectibles NOT to Collect Anymore

Collectors want two things: to treasure items that make them happy and, if they are lucky, to collect something right before it becomes a super-hot collectible. What should be the No. 1 reason for starting a collection? Find stuff you love. Keep it. Display it. Love it. Sometimes, though, collectors go awry and buy things […]

Beanie Babies

Ty, Inc. introduced the nine original Beanie Babies in 1993, then added new characters each year until by 2005 more than 1,100 different Beanie Babies had been produced. These inexpensive, understuffed beanbag toys became hot collectibles, especially after 1996, when Ty began retiring some characters. The marketing changed, making the dolls more available; prices dropped, […]

Beanie Babies

Whatever happened to Beanie Babies? We see at least one dealer with a basketful of Beanies at every show that isn’t vetted. Price: your choice, $1.      

Disappointing Collectibles

Disappointing collectibles: Fads come and go, so here is our list of collectibles that incited a frenzy but are now hard to sell for anything at all—silver ingots, Wells Fargo brass belt buckles, limited edition plates by obscure makers, Beanie Babies, Beam liquor bottles, baseball cards in poor condition and Hummel and Precious Moments figurines. […]

Dying Collectibles

I worked at our local public TV auction and checked out the “store” where the station sells donations that don’t auction. It is a barometer of dying collectibles: Precious Moments, Beanie Babies, collector plates, pressed glass plates, black and white prints and souvenir dolls from recent trips abroad. Not seen this year but in years […]