It’s not uncommon for people to find great passion in the things they collect, especially if they’ve been doing it for a very long time. We’ve all heard stories about people from all walks of life who have stumbled onto something valuable, be it through an inheritance or a garage sale, and ended up getting a major payday as a result. There are television shows dedicated to this kind of thing, which gives the impression that one person’s junk truly can be another’s treasure. But what about the items that seem like they would be valuable, but these days are worth next to nothing? Our list today explores these, which may even help you declutter your garage a bit in the coming year if you own any of them.
Antique Train Sets
Antique Train Sets
Porcelain Dolls
Although porcelain dolls aren’t to everyone’s taste, there’s no denying that the amount of craftsmanship that goes into them is astounding. Designers often spend years manufacturing these, especially if they are done by hand. The rise of technology has made it easier to mimic the process through machinery, which means that the market is saturated with a lot of similar products. That means that while some might fetch a good price, most porcelain dolls are not worth three figures.
Porcelain Dolls
Baseball Cards
Baby boomers, and even some millennials, will know all about the fun of collecting physical cards. Baseball cards were all the rage at some point, with collectors forking out hundreds of dollars in order to have the original card of one of their favorite players. These days, the craze is over to an extent, thanks to the rise of digital technology. That means that even the rarest of cards might only collect $5 to $10 a pop, on a good day.
Baseball Cards
Pez Dispensers
Who remembers Pez dispensers? Shaped like a gun magazine, these innovative little toys were used to store sweet treats and came with different designs of familiar pop culture characters. Not only did the company who made these “coin it” from the product itself, but they sold the pez sweets too. Perhaps you have some of these lying about in your home. Today, they aren’t even worth a single dollar, no matter how old they are. You may be able to get a few bucks out of an Elvis superfan if you have one of those, but that’s about as far as it goes.
Pez Dispensers
British Royals Memorabilia
God save the queen! The royals have been a long-standing symbol of power and prestige, which is why so many people like to collect anything they can relate to or designed in the image of some of the members of the family. When Prince Phillip passed away recently, sales of china featuring his face went through the roof. These blimps are unfortunately temporary, and as a whole, this type of memorabilia has more sentimental value in individual homes at the end of the day.
British Royals Memorabilia
Band Merchandise
Back when the Beatles were in their prime, people went gaga for any of their merchandise, especially their T-shirts. The same goes for other iconic bands like Queen, or The Eagles. While fans might be clinging on to these for a good payday, the most you might be able to fetch for an old shirt is somewhere in the region of $10. These days, it is so easy to reprint shirts, and even to design your own version and have it shipped to you, that people aren’t all that fussed about the history around classic items.
Band Merchandise
Antique Silverware
There were days when silverware was a rare commodity, and only the wealthiest people had access to it. A lot of effort went into cleaning it, and it was always brought out for the best family occasions alongside fine china. Nowadays, it’s far more accessible and affordable to people, so nobody wants to hang on to the silverware set passed down from generation to generation. You’re better off keeping it as something to remind you of grandma, rather than looking at it as an investment.
Antique Silverware
Pandora Charms
It’s always fun to look back at fashion crazes from days gone by, and Pandora charms are one trend that we simply can’t overlook when thinking about collectibles that are worthless today. These charms were designed to bring out personal creativity back in the 2000’s, and women from all over the U.S. bought them at an exponential rate. As they have been discontinued now, you may think that they are a rare collectible, but the truth is that people have moved already.
Pandora Charms
Beanie Babies
There was a time when people went nuts for plush toys called Beanie Babies. These toys came in all shapes and sizes, and gave the buyer the opportunity to fill their house with a range of different colorful and interesting characters. Each of these had their own backstory and everything. Although there was a small surge in sales after whispers that they might be very valuable one day, Beanie Babies are relatively worthless, unless you count the childhood memories, of course.
Beanie Babies
Modern Comic Books
While vintage comic books can make even the most experienced collector drop double or triple what they would normally pay, modern (new) comic books simply don’t have the same potential resale value. The problem these days is that digitization makes them available at an endless supply. Demand can never increase, because there is an infinite amount of comics that can be bought online. That means that you’re best off collecting something else if you’re doing it already as an investment.
New Comic Books
Stamps
We’re taking you back now, folks. In the 20th century, stamps were an integral part in getting postcards from A to B. These could be bought for a couple of cents, which would cover the cost of getting the letter to your desired destination. Stamp makers started getting creative with designs, and soon pop culture stamps were a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, even these are no longer worth all that much, so it’s best not to cut them out of that family postcard you have from 1930.
Stamps
Pogs
Although not as popular internationally, American children of the nineties will remember Pogs. These colorful discs doubled up as a collectible and a playing chip for a game, which naturally led to a lot of teachers suspending children for gambling on school property. Nowadays Pogs have little to no value, so if you’re looking to make a quick buck by selling to the highest bidder, you might only get a couple of dollars during the process.
Pogs
Modern Star Wars Toys
Who can forget the incredible Star Wars franchise, which has spawned an entire industry and created fans spanning multiple generations. You would think that there would be room for some incredible collectibles within the series, and although this was the case a few decades ago, today the market is saturated with an abundance of toys to choose from. A modern toy will fetch next to nothing compared to a vintage one, although to the right buyer, there may be more of an opportunity to earn well.
Modern Star Wars Toys
Vinyl Records
Before the days of streaming, CD’s and cassette tapes, vinyls were the only way to buy and listen to music at home. In 2017, the major labels banded together to try and reinject these into the market, but it seemed like it was a little bit too soon. Although some people rushed to buy reissues of classic albums, as a whole, it didn’t really spark as much of an interest in the general population. While there are rare vinyls that can fetch thousands, most vinyls are worth more at home.
Vinyl Records
Barbie Dolls
Barbie was born back in the late 1950’s, and she has remained a cultural phenomenon over the years. One woman in Germany owns over 17 000 Barbie Dolls! If you’re lucky enough to have an original Barbie in mint condition, you’re likely to walk away with a big payday at auction. If not, these Dolls are manufactured in the millions, so you might actually just be holding onto something plastic that is bad for the environment. We’re sure that the childhood memories are worth more than trying to get rid of these for a quick buck.
Barbie Dolls
Classic Playboy Magazines
With a history dating back nearly 70 years, Playboy has long been a magazine that has tested the boundaries of modern society, albeit in a very tasteful way. Collectors who started before the 1970’s might have some editions that could sell for thousands to the right buyer. Copies that are dated after this tend to be in less demand. Now that older issues are available digitally, anybody has access right at their fingertips, so you’re better off keeping your copies to yourself.
Classic Playboy Magazines
Precious Moments Figurines
It’s not uncommon to find hundreds of Precious Moments figurines in the attics of children from the eighties. These were a household staple for kids from the late 1970’s onwards, and although people thought the craze would never end, eventually it did. Today, these figurines are not worth all that much, and are better to hold onto as sentimental objects. They are for sale on all major second-hand retailers online in the thousands from all corners of the globe.
Precious Moments Figurines
Norman Rockwell Collector Plates
Iconic U.S. painter Norman Rockwell might have created pieces of popular culture that shook up the entire art world, but these days it is far too easy to get prints on all kinds of collectible merchandise, including plates. Although at one time the plates, in particular, were appraised upwards of $75 for each one, thanks to the internet they are no longer as scarce as in the nineties. These days, you’d be lucky to get $5 for one.
Norman Rockwell Collector Plates
Funko Figurines
Surprise surprise, we have another nineties fad to add to the list. Funko Figurines might not be as well known in Europe or Asia, but Americans lapped these toys up when they were first just a few years before the turn of the new millennium. It’s not uncommon to see these figurines in collectible stores around the world, and some people are holding out on these, hoping that they will increase in value and turn into viable investments in the coming decades.
Funko Figurines
Hummel Figurines
Hummel figurines were born out of history, when soldiers started sending these home from Germany after Hitler and his troops had been defeated in WWII. Although they might become worth something when it has been 100 years since the war, at the moment they don’t hold much more than just sentimental value. It’s not uncommon to see them in thrift shops these days, as the generation who bought them starts to die out, and a piece of history is lost along the way.
Hummel Figurines
Franklin Mint Dolls
As is the case with so many collectible types that suddenly sell for a very large sum, Franklin Mint jumped onto the bandwagon after a Barbie doll was sold for over $7000 back in 2010. They suggested that their dolls would also be worth a lot of money in future, so people rushed to get their hands on them. Today, these dolls certainly haven’t appreciated in value. They are worth roughly $25 a pop, depending on the condition.
Franklin Mint Dolls
Old School Cameras
Who could have predicted that in 2021 we would be walking around with multiple cameras packed into a single device we use for hundreds of reasons. Classic cameras have since disappeared from the market, and these days are more commonly considered to be novelty items. Although there was a period when classic film cameras would sell for a large sum, things have changed a lot. Unless you find someone who wants exactly what you’re selling, you’re not going to walk away with exorbitant profits.
Old School Cameras
DVD and VHS Collections
Oh boy. There was a time when certain DVDs and VHS tapes were considered rare, meaning they could fetch a pretty penny from the right buyer. Those days are long gone, and these days you will be lucky if you get a couple of dollars for a collection of either. When you’re trying to offload a large amount of stock, bulk sellers might offer you a couple of cents per item. Take time to research the worth of individual products, but don’t hold your breath that they will earn you a big payday anytime soon.
DVD And VHS Collections
Morgan Dollars
When mentioning the word Morgan Dollars to a grandparent, their eyes might just light up a little. These valuable coins came into circulation two centuries ago, and demand for them in the 1920’s was incredibly high. Unfortunately, as supply increased, their value dropped exponentially. These days, you’re more likely to earn a decent return from selling your grandmother’s silver set than trying to get a seller willing to fork out a couple of dollars. Nevertheless, it is still an important part of history.
Morgan Dollars
Indian Head Pennies
Exclusive minting of one cent coins called “Indian Head Pennies” back in the 1850’s led to an incredible surge of demand over the course of the next fifty years. These coins only really started to circulate properly towards the end of the century, and by 1907 there were hundreds of millions in circulation. These days, you wouldn’t even be able to give these away to a collector, as they have also been redesigned and re-released in honor of late president Abraham Lincoln.
Indian Head Pennies
Happy Meal Collectibles
Happy meals have been enticing kids to nag their parents to go to McDonald’s for over fifty years. Armed with great marketing campaigns, the collectible toys that came with each meal changed regularly, so there was an element of scarcity and time pressure to get as many as you could. These days, even some of the original toys won’t collect much at auction, although there have been exceptions where the toys have fetched anywhere from $250 to $500.
Happy Meal Collectibles
Brown Furniture
Not to be confused with all furniture of the single color, “brown” furniture refers to a type of antique furniture that used to be all the rage over a hundred years ago. These items usually belonged to historical figures, and were often found in the White House. Fashion trends have moved on, and you’re unlikely to have anybody lining up for this type of furniture in the modern and more minimalistic world of the West. It may however still make a nice talking point for your grandparents, or grandchildren.
Brown Furniture
Children’s Books
These days, getting your hands on a children’s book often involves a few clicks online. In some cases, there are classic books that even the publishers don’t have original manuscripts for. These instances are so rare, but when they happen, the seller can fetch thousands of dollars. In most cases, children’s books are now reproduced digitally all over the world, and even though some originals do still generate attention from museums, most of the iconic titles have already been scooped up by industry insiders.
Childrens Books
Cabbage Patch Kids Dolls
If you dig into news archives from fifty years ago, you might stumble onto some articles talking about parents fighting each other for the last Cabbage Patch Kids doll in the store over the festive season. Their expressive faces caught the attention of millions of children, and with some smart marketing, parents were hooked too. These days, newer generations find them fairly lifeless looking in comparison with other types on the market, which potentially reduces their value as a collectible on an exponential scale.
Cabbage Patch Kids
Classic College Pennants
Although some people find their self-worth in the name of the university they went to, most of these people couldn’t sell any pennants or merchandise from these esteemed schools for more than just a couple of bucks at a time. Although these items are highly valuable to the people who attended the school, they have relatively no resale value, especially as it is possible to find them on the internet on stores outside of the institutions themselves as well.
Classic College Pennants
Hot Wheels Racing Cars
If you’re older than twenty, you’ll know the hot wheels jingle better than you can probably remember some of the algebra you were taught at school. These miniature model cars were all the rage in the second half of the twentieth century, and although they’ve been replaced by competitor brands these days, there are still a few sentimental collectors out there. Unfortunately, they usually don’t fork out as much cash as you might hope they would.
Hot Wheels Racing Cars
Signed Sports Memorabilia
Back in the day, a signed T-shirt or ball from a professional sporting fixture could fetch you a nice bit of money with the right seller. In the days before social media, people had very limited access to their favorite sports stars, which meant that they savored any item that could get them closer to the person or team they idolised. As a result of online marketing, people feel “closer” than ever to their favorite celebrities, so signed memorabilia serves little purpose, other than a sentimental one.
Signed Sports Memorabilia
Creative Cookie Jars
Nobody wants to be caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Unless that cookie jar is made by a famous artist, or is a rare collectible that is one of a kind. Cookie jar collectors don’t tend to venture out too much when it comes to the styles they are after, and unless you own a jar that once had a link to a significant cultural figure, you’re better off leaving your jar on the kitchen counter, filled with delicious treats for everyone to enjoy.
Creative Cookie Jars
Classic Souvenir Bells
It might be hard to believe, but there was a time when people were really fond of miniature bells. And we’re not even talking about it being the case over the festive season only. Collectors loved getting their hands on all kinds of bells, especially if they were hand-designed by some of the best craftsmen in Europe. Today, souvenir bells are available in hordes and droves, so it is nearly impossible to make a profit when trying to offload these to someone else.
Classic Souvenir Bells
Salt And Pepper Combo Shakers
Condiment shakers might serve a very practical use in households all over America, but they certainly aren’t going to be turning into a major collectible item anytime soon. As with any niche collectible item, there are some buyers who are after very specific designs. Often, they are after something that reminds them of growing up, or of a loved one who has passed away. If you get more than $35 for a set, you should consider yourself lucky.
Salt And Pepper Combo Shakers
Antique Playbills
Theatre buffs are known for their sentimentality, with many keeping the playbills from any shows they happen to catch as mementos of the occasion. In some cases, these are from the only run that a play had, which increases their value for potential resale. In most cases, collectors are not going to feel as sentimental about a playbill from something they didn’t seem themselves. While there have been some exceptions, in most cases it can be very hard to get a buyer if you’re looking to sell.
Antique Playbills
Kinkade Artwork
So many creative people are only truly discovered for their brilliance well after they have passed away. Renowned artist Thomas Kinkade thought that this would not bring him much of an enjoyable life, so he produced countless versions of his artworks in order to flood the market. He made a lot of money at the time, although these days you can hardly give away a Kinkade, thanks to the fact that they sit in over 5% of American households, many of which are in duplicate form.
Kinkade Artwork
Hess Trucks
Your parents or grandparents may be more familiar with Hess Trucks than you are, mostly because they were around back in the 1960’s. A lot of the time, these toys were played with so much that they completely broke apart, leading the manufacturer to make alterations to increase strength and durability over time. Today, these iconic toys are no longer valued as much as they were, although a mint first-edition may fetch you a couple of thousand bucks.
Hess Trucks
Car License Plates
Many middle-aged men love collecting car license plates, especially if they have family living abroad, or if they have a mission to visit different states across the country and cross them off their lists. Although these can be wonderful keepsakes, they don’t exactly translate into bankable collectibles. Full collections including plates from all States, at various times in history, may end up fetching top dollar, but as for the rest, you’re better off hanging the plates up in your man cave or garage.
Car License Plates
Wearable Pins
While some pins are a badge of honor from an achievement or an award, others are simply there as a form of self-expression. Regardless of why a collector might have thousands of wearable pins, it’s worth clarifying that these have very little resale value in the market these days. The only exception to the rule would be classic Disney pins, which some collectors are happy to fork out thousands of dollars for, especially if they have been on the hunt for a very long time.
Wearable Pins
Old School College Clothes
College paraphernalia has been mentioned on the list before, but we wanted to make sure that we’re able to tick all the boxes and remind you that even clothing from another era isn’t going to fetch a sizable sum on sale these days. This is mostly because of how fast fashion has changed over the years. Some eBay auctions have ended with people earning a measly $10 to $30 for vintage shirts. Usually, the seller prefers to keep the item, as the memories attached to it are essentially priceless
Old School College Clothes
Wheat Pennies
What’s in a penny? Perhaps you’re hoping to earn a lot by reselling an old collection. If you have a wheat penny or two in there, don’t bother. These pennies might be rare because they contain a printing mistake, but they are not exactly valuable to the average collector. In the case of so many other collectibles, this would quadruple the value of the item. Sadly, this penny is pretty much only worth, well, a penny.
Wheat Pennies
Costume Jewelry
This one goes without saying. Costume jewelry might be great for making a statement during a dress-up or Halloween party, but as a whole, this type of jewelry is not something that is particularly valuable to collectors around the world. Even some of the most famous costume jewelry pieces that have made it to the red carpet in Hollywood haven’t been able to fetch all that much at auction. It seems people are more interested in affordable self-expression these days.
Costume Jewelry
Farming Tools
Got some farming tools that are gathering dust in the shed? Perhaps you haven’t even opened up the shed since grandpa left you the keys. If you’re thinking that there might be some valuable items in there, it might not even be worth the trouble. Industrialization and globalization have changed the tools required for farming so much, that it has made old designs obsolete in the process. Although some people may enjoy looking back on old designs for nostalgic reasons, it may only earn you a couple of bucks along the way.
Farming Tools
Vintage Clothing
If like so many other people you’ve spent some time digging into your grandparents wardrobe recently hoping to find a gem or two to sell, it’s not even worth going back for a second look. Older items typically have less value than they did when they were first sold, and will probably get you a little more than a bit of store credit with the Salvation Army. A better bet is to use the clothing to add to your own personal style, carrying a piece of your loved one with you wherever you go.
Vintage Clothing
Disney Video Tapes
Millennial parents are known for having some of their childhood VHS tapes in the basement, especially if their parents clung on to the tapes for nostalgia later. These tapes usually include one or more Disney films, which helped to shape the child at the time. Today, these movies are available on streaming services for very low monthly subscription fees, making the tapes themselves obsolete. Expect to earn no more than $5 for some of the better known titles in the catalog.
Disney Video Tapes
Pokemon Trading Cards
Pokemon cards were all the rage in the early 2000’s, when children traded different Pokemon for each other, fought fictitious battles, and typically spent thousands of their parent’s earnings on trying to get their hands on some of the rare collectibles in the series. Although some holographic cards in mind condition have fetched up to $2500 at public auction, there are literally a handful that will make this kind of money. The rest, as they say, is from a time long passed.
Pokemon Trading Cards
Older Newspapers
There are millions of newspaper editions in history, each telling a different story about the happenings of towns, cities, countries and even the world as a whole. Some collectors have hung on to specific editions from major events, hoping that it would one day be worth something to a museum. As digital media has been brought into the mainstream, most of these headline grabbing editions are pretty easy to track down online. This means that they are not worth anything in modern times.
Older Newspapers
Digital Music Players
If you’ve got an iPod or MP3 player, you may want to hold onto it to show your children how you used to consume music back in the day. If you’re thinking that you might make some money from it, don’t bother. These iconic music systems are now old news, thanks to the rise of digital streaming. Although they used to be fashionable items that everyone had to have, today you can’t even sell them for more than a couple of bucks at a time.
Digital Music Players
Quilts & Other Patchwork
Although exquisite creations, quilts and other patchwork designs are no longer the big ticket seller than they used to be when things were less globalized. Unless the quilt you have was made back in the 19th century or earlier, it’s likely that it holds little to no resale value these days. Perhaps you have a grandmother who used to make these, and it is worth hanging onto her creative work to pass down to your children and their children, one day.
Quilts And Other Patchwork