I started thinking about how to go
about telling our buyers about the sale we prepared in Cowpens, SC for
a while. This has caused me to ponder collectibles,
something I've thought a great deal about over the years. The owner collected,
or compiled, a lot of what I find to be interesting old stuff. Almost none of
it has much, if any, intrinsic value. It is material which was common and of
low value when it was new long ago, but now that it is old and no longer
commonly found it is, dare I say, it is collectible. I've said to myself, "These
things are cool. People like this stuff". These are THE REAL collectibles:
things made for a practical purpose, meant to be used, and because they were used they became broken, worn-out, and
thrown away. Those still around are uncommon.
Collectible. I
don't like that word. I cringe a little when I hear people use it. Too often
they are proudly referring their collection of possessions manufactured and
marketed as collectibles, i.e. Beanie Babies, Franklin Mint, Department 56, and
the like. Deceptive marketing gimmicks trick people into believing those items appreciate
in value. Most don't. The post WWII baby boomers were, and are, the big buyers
of collectibles. The youngest of them are now in their 60s. When they pass their
stuff has got to go somewhere. The younger generations don't want it. The market is saturated with collectibles of
all kinds and it will never recover for the likes of those mentioned above. For
collectibles to be good financial investments knowledge of the market, good
timing, and luck are required. Some collectibles can provide a financial return
on investment: art, baseball cards, comic books, Hot Wheels, and Star Wars toys
are examples, but it depends upon how much a buyer is willing to pay for the
item when it is time to sell. More often than not the re-seller gets a skinny
wholesale price for things for which they paid full retail. Best to buy "collectibles"
just because you love them and can enjoy them for purely aesthetic reasons.
Regarding collectibles, we are
seeing higher selling prices for categories of items which no one wanted a
short time ago. Examples are '70s-'80s computers, video games, film cameras, USA
made bicycles, Craftsman tools made prior to 1970 (really all USA made tools), and
'60s-70s audio equipment. Being successful collecting, especially if collecting
to resell, requires product knowledge, a discerning eye, understanding the
market, and a willingness to research.
Oh yes! I was supposed to
be discussing our Cowpens sale! Cowpens will be composed almost exclusively of well-selected
items 40 to 80 years old, in excellent condition, and most of which are, like I
said above, very cool. If you saw it you'd be inclined to pick it up and
example it and try to figure out what the heck it was used for, or, it would
remind you of something last seen in grandma's house, or in grandpa's garage