Investing In Toy Collections
Almost every adult, at one point or another, will come to the sudden realization that they would be set for life, if only their parents had not thrown out their old toys. In reality, most toy collections won’t give you the security you need to retire on, but they can be an excellent and fun investment opportunity. Here are some things to look for when investing in toy collections.
1) Rarity
Supply and demand is crucial in toy investing. Obviously, the items worth the most are those that many people want, and few people have.
When toys are easily destroyed, or come with accessories that are easily lost, it becomes harder for collectors to find pristine examples. This drives up the value of toys that are still carded or in the original boxes. When toys are left in toy boxes or thrown in with other toys, there may also be paint loss, paint “rubbing”, or small dents. Particularly rugged toys, or toys that did not have small pieces, may have a better chance of surviving rugged play and therefore, there may be more high quality examples available for future collectors.
2) Popularity
Popularity can be both a negative, and a positive. On the one hand, popular toys are more likely to be fondly remembered by collectors, if for no other reason than because it seemed like everyone had that toy. Unfortunately, this may also mean that there are many examples of this toy available for collectors, reducing the potential profit.
Toys with the greatest profit potential are often rare, hard to find or obscure toys, within popular toy lines. For example, while online auction sites may be filled with listings for Masters of the Universe or Star Wars toys, many of those listings will be for common figures that were produced in high quantities. More obscure characters or figures produced toward the end of the line often had smaller print runs and become increasingly popular amongst collectors hoping to “finish” a set.
3) Variants
A brown stripe, different color scheme or rare package can sometimes have a huge effect in the value of your toy. Although these variants or minor differences from one toy to the next may appear trivial, some collectors will pay a considerable premium for these variants. Be sure to do your research before making your purchase because some sellers may be unfamiliar with the toy line’s variants, and you can sometimes find a great deal.
Beware of fake variants however. Unscrupulous individuals have been known to cut open a toy’s packaging and then, after reversing or exchanging the figure, attempt to sell it as a “packaging error”.
4) Genre
Some types of properties are eternally popular, while other genres and licenses come and go. Comic book heroes have been around for generations, so 1960′s board games featuring Superman or Spider-Man still appeal to today’s collectors.
Contrast that, however, with toys based on some of the more obscure Hanna Barbera cartoons, or on Westerns which have smaller, more niche, audiences. These niche audiences can still be profitable for investment purposes, however. Die-hard fans of smaller properties may be more willing to pay a premium for related toys, which may have had smaller production runs or far fewer types of merchandise.
In conclusion, investing in toys can be a fun hobby, but it’s not always as easy as sorting through your box of childhood memories. Collectors are looking for complete, undamaged and hard to find pieces. Educating yourself about a type of toy or a particular toy line can help you make wise choices and avoid unwise investments.
Categorised as: Investments, Toys