If you’ve been saving old items in hopes they’ll one day be worth something one day, there are things you need to know when collecting.
Fifty-Two 80’s: A Totally Awesome Shop in Denver knows a lot about collectibles. From action figures, plush toys and sitcom memorabilia, the store transports customers back into another decade.
A majority of kids who grew up in the 80s had most of these toys, and some are worth a small fortune today.
“Star Wars is always going to be a good one; it's always going to hold its value," says store owner Tony Vecchio.
Other things that may be of value include some TV dolls, Stretch Armstrong figures, comic books and Clash of the Titans action figures. Depending on the year, Beanie Babies can go up and down in value.
"Any time you can find boxes of original items, that's going to increase the value,” Vecchio says.
Collector Rick Goldschmidt has been collecting things for more than 20 years.
“The problem with a lot of people, they collect things that are mass produced by the thousands,” Goldschmidt says. “They think that's going to be worth something 10 to 15 years later.”
His top tip on what to keep and what to throw out: make sure your item you are collecting is rare or one-of-a-kind, with preferably less than 1,000 made.
Both Goldschmidt and Vecchio say if you want to sell a collector item, start with eBay. Find out how much the item sold for and set your price from there.
There are some collectibles that are worth a couple hundred bucks. But, majority of the time, the memory of the items is worth more than the actual item itself.
