As both vintage toy stores and collectors ourselves, we have gained an intimate understanding of the value of vintage collectibles and toys. With this understanding, we can predict the future selling price of these collectibles on the second-hand market. We also know the tips and tricks to maintaining and improving the value of our toys. Most importantly, we understand the confusion that first-time sellers and casual collectors experience.
While some people expect every piece of their vintage collection to net high sales prices, others are taken aback to discover that items from a line that financially flopped are highly desirable. On the other hand, other collectors assume that every niche toy line and product will become valuable, only to find out that their collection has little value. While it is not always easy to know what vintage collectibles and toys will gain value, there are many shared aspects that we can explain.
What are the main factors that contribute to the value of collectibles?
No matter how uncommon the toys in your collection are, several main factors will contribute to the end value. Collectors value clean and well-maintained products that will easily fit into their displays. Beyond wanting items that feel like new, they have no interest in fixing up toys to make them feel like new. While you can have the rarest collectible to ever exist, it will not be worth anything if it is in terrible condition.
Beyond any other factor, the condition of your collectibles will determine the overall value of your vintage toys. It may be easy to assume that all elements of the condition are summed up by open box and new in box. Instead, many loose collectibles can carry a high value depending on the condition that they are in.
Clean collectibles net the highest values
The most obvious contributing factor to the value of your collectibles is their overall cleanliness. When toys and other collectibles are out for display, they will easily collect dust and become dingy. They may even collect grease and water vapor in the air, depending on where they are displayed. Unkempt environments will become plainly evident as the years go on, especially without proper cleaning and maintenance routines.
Dust is unsightly when it builds up, but it can also cause permanent damage if left unattended. Heavy buildup of dust has been known to peel or scratch paint. If your action figures have applications and stickers, dust will erode the adhesive. Thus, those toys may wind up losing the accents that collectors look for. Dust can even chip away at chrome paint and detailing.
You also want to keep your toys away from greasy or moist environments. For instance, the grease from cooking can coat plastics. After repeated exposure, affected toys will become tacky. Moreover, these substances can ruin the paint or color scheme of your collectibles.
Paint blemishes, chips, and scratches will ruin your collection’s value
You may have a near-perfect vintage toy in your collection. However, small paint chips will make the difference between tens to thousands of dollars. Buyers look for products that are pristine and look like they came out of the factory. They do not want old products that have been previously played with. So, keeping the paint of your collection in tip-top shape is crucial.
As discussed earlier, multiple avoidable hazards are present in an open-display environment. If you are serious about maintaining the value of your toy collection, you want to frequently keep them clean. You also want to avoid exposure to dust, grease, and humidity. Other environmental hazards are sunlight and heat. Both will cause damage to your collectibles and discolor the paint and plastic.
In addition to environmental hazards, there are many more ways that the paint job for your toys can be ruined. Whenever an action figure is handled, there is a chance that the paint will be scratched. Light play and positioning can leave an unsightly mark on the paint job. The risks only increase with heavy play and use.
Mint in Box collectibles
Without a doubt, the best way to maintain the value of your collectibles is to keep them in their original packaging. Since collectors seek out products that feel like they came straight from the factory, they highly treasure mint-in-box action figures and toys. However, not all mint-in-box products are the same.
Even if your collectible is in a box, it may sustain damage from sun-lit and heated environments. Some toys are so prone to failure that their leg bands and other parts will fall apart whether you open the box or not. There is even the chance for the plastic or fasteners will fail and allow the product to move about in the package. In the best of cases, the collectible will only shift about and possibly hide accessories. At worst, the loose toy will be damaged as it shifts about.
Buyers will also closely examine the condition of the factory packaging, whether the toy came in a box or on a card back. Every bend, dent, scratch, tear, and other blemish on the cardboard will affect the overall value. Similarly, cloudy, scratched, or otherwise tarnished blisters, windows, and other plastic will also make an action figure less desirable.
While many collectors are fully aware of the yellowing plastic syndrome, it is also possible for the blister and internal plastic of the box to yellow. Beyond distorting the view of the toys, the yellowed plastic becomes brittle and frail. So, buyers are less likely to want to invest in these collectibles due to the risk of cracking the plastic.
Are mailing boxes worth keeping?
Some companies will add one more layer of protection when shipping action figures and other collectibles, a thin, mailing box. While this box will provide little protection if the product is shipped in it, it will prevent other boxes from making contact and scratching each other. This mailing box can also protect a lone toy in a larger box.
To many collectors, these outer shipping boxes hold no value. So, they will toss them away so that they have an unrestricted view of their collection. However, some collectors will buy multiple toys and keep the extras in their shipping boxes. Aside from Mail-Away toys that had no original packaging, the best reason to keep the mailing boxes is for completion purposes. The value of your collection will only improve if all elements from the factory are present.
If you decide to keep the mailing box, you need to understand that its condition matters as much as any other part of the toy. A torn and dinged-up mailing box may even take away from the value. However, collectors will appreciate a pristine mailing box.
Why do two toys of the same mold and character sell for different prices?
Toy companies often reuse molds to save on development costs. While designers can create new characters by designing a new head for the mold, they also know that collectors love special edition variants. Something as simple as a new paint scheme, even a simple black one, will draw in new sales. Many of these variant colors are easy to find. However, some of them are created in limited quantities.
To stir excitement for a brand, manufacturers created limited supplies of special products. Some of these limited-edition variants were only available to customers of certain stores. Otherwise, some were only released during special events, like conventions. They even offered these special edition products as mail-away offers for loyal customers.
No matter how these variants were offered, the most important factor in their value is scarcity. If the variants are readily available, the demand for those products goes down. Moreover, it is easier to always find a cheaper option if the toy is common. However, a high-demand rare product will inevitably sell for more since there are few to no options available. So, the limited-edition color variant toys will sell for a higher price than the common, standard editions.
Sometimes, the variant element of the action figure is not the toy itself, but the packaging. Something as simple as a factory-placed sticker will drastically change the price. For instance, Funko will mass release some of its products but also release limited numbers of them to convention goers. The only difference between these products will be the convention sticker, but that can be enough. Similarly, foreign releases with package variants will also sell for a different price than the standard local version.
Why do collectibles that flopped commercially become expensive in the aftermarket
We have seen casual collectors taken aback at the prices of collectibles that had failed at retail. They assume that because no one wanted the products when they were originally available that they should be easy to nab for cheap. However, that is not how it works most of the time.
Many toys and other collectibles only receive a small, limited run if they do not find their market. Sometimes, the manufacturer would close and stop all production, further dwindling the available supply. There is also the chance that stores threw away excess stock to clear room for new products. In all these circumstances, the products become rare and hard to find as time passes by.
Meanwhile, new and old fans become aware of the collectibles that they had missed out on. When that happens, there is often a higher demand than there is available product. This leads to failed toy lines selling for far more than they ever would have at retail.
On the other hand, it is possible that a failed toy line may have had too much stock and remains widely available. These toys will gain value much slower than the rare pieces. So, it is not guaranteed that any toy from a financially failed line will soar in value.
Why do some rare toys remain relatively inexpensive?
In general, scarcity is one of the strongest factors in the value of toys and other collectibles. However, there is one other element to the formula that cannot be ignored: demand.
Many small toy lines were released regionally or to dollar stores. Since they only hit a limited market, few of them have survived to the current day. Unfortunately, even mint-in-box copies of some of these brands will only net a bit above the retail price that they once sold for.
These situations happen because the general public does not know about these toy lines. Many collectors have never heard of various obscure brands and manufacturers simply because they never encountered them. With so few people aware and looking for these action figures, they languish in the second-hand market. Moreover, it can become harder to find a buyer interested in these obscure products.
Old toys with known defects will struggle to gain value
There is another case where rare collectibles will struggle to make an impact on the second-hand market. Sometimes, toys from well-known manufacturers and franchises, like Mego’s Plague of the Zombies, will be marred by a terrible reputation. In the case of some of Mego’s action figure lines, their toys from the 1970s are well-known for deteriorating and failing. With such a reputation, buyers do not want to risk their money and invest much into the toys, even when a mint-in-box copy appears on the market.
This can even affect individual characters from a well-valued brand. Sometimes a single toy from a line gains a reputation for failing. With many collectors reporting issues with the action figure, few will be willing to spend much on it. So, a profitable franchise will not automatically make every collectible valuable.
Why some niche products become treasured collectors’ items
Not every small toy line remains obscure and unknown to the majority of buyers. Many small toy lines have become sleeper hits. While they originally reached only a small group of people, they now are treasured by a larger group who originally missed out. When toy lines are uncovered and become popular, they will begin to surge in value and sell for higher prices.
Sometimes, it is not the actual toy line that becomes popular, but the media surrounding it. When a cartoon, movie, or television series becomes a cult hit, new fans will begin to want to add the corresponding toys to their collection.
While this is generally how niche products become popular, it is not the only path. Many collectors pay attention to toy lines that bootlegged, mimicked, and otherwise were closely related to their favorite franchise. Even though a company clearly made a knock-off brand, these collectors desire to add these action figures to their collection.
Are toys with factory errors worth anything?
Sometimes, there are errors in the factory such as improper packaging, incorrect paint jobs, and mislabeling. In most cases, these errors are rare to find. So, it is natural to assume that a factory error on your mint-in-box collectible would create a unique variant. However, that is not always the case.
You may be in luck if you find a factory error that unintentionally creates a unique variant paint job. Buyers also appreciate incorrectly packaged accessories, like the wrong weapon with a sealed Star Wars toy. There may even be some who will value mislabeled packages, but this is rarer and less likely.
On the other hand, factory errors that harm and damage the toy ruin its value. Collectors are interested in pristine action figures that have no ugly paint jobs, chips, or damage. Thus, even damage done by the manufacturer will turn away buyers.
Do professional grades improve the value of all collectibles?
While it is easy to understand the mint-in-box collectible, there are ways to certify how mint the item is. In the last few decades, select groups and companies have formed to certify the mint condition of collectibles. While these companies charge a significant fee, the owner may walk away with an action figure that is worth thousands more than it was before.
Unfortunately, only the best of the rarest toys will soar in value after they are evaluated and graded. Many collectors have lost money by sending in their action figures to companies like AFA, CAS, UKG, and more. It is even possible for a collectible to receive significant damage due to improper handling by shipping companies. Thus, it is never a guarantee that your collection will gain value with a professional grade. For a more in-depth analysis of the risks of grading services, check out our guide here.
Even toys that initially gain value with a professional grade may not maintain that value. The perceived value of these collectibles hinges on the trust of the company. If buyers begin to lose faith in the company, you will lose value.
The acrylic cases that grading services place toys in also have a chance to fail. The most common failure is broken pegs that hold up the products, especially for custom cases. If these pegs fail, the collectible may become damaged.
Suggestions for maintaining the value of your collection
Understanding the factors that contribute to the value of your collectibles is only the first step. You also need to understand what you should do to keep your figures in pristine shape. Proper care and maintenance are essential if you want to ensure that your collection remains valuable.
The first step to maintaining your collection is picking the right location to store or display it. If you choose that you would rather store away your old and vintage toys, you should look for a safe location that has environmental controls. Since both heat and cold can damage plastics and metals, you want to avoid attics and uninsulated basements. You also want to avoid parts of the house that become humid.
If you choose to display your collection, you should pick a spot that does not sit directly in sunlight. One of the most destructive forces to your collection is the UV light from the sun. You also want to consider a glass display case to help protect your action figures from dust particles. You may display your collectibles on a shelf but take care to clean and dust them regularly.
Display stands are useful for creating impressive poses. However, they also have the chance to chip and scratch the paint. If paint chipping is a concern, you also want to avoid having your figures hold their accessories. Take care to avoid frequently repositioning your action figures, especially as the plastic becomes brittle with age.
Should I restore my old toys to increase their value?
Buyers look for action figures and other toys that are in new or like new condition. Many will immediately reject a vintage collectible because it has been touched up or restored. So, we strongly advise against restoring your collection, especially if you are doing it only in an attempt to improve the selling value. These attempts will only result in depreciation to the point that you may have difficulty finding a buyer.
Do you have old and used toys?
If you have a collection of old and used toys, you can turn those toys into cash. There is no reason to let those old toys collect dust. Contact us today to sell your vintage toy collection.
Our professional, friendly, and expert staff have decades of experience as collectible toy buyers. If you are ready to sell your collection today, fill out the form below or call us at 888-946-2895.
Made in Collaboration with:
Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab Pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
I’ve got these weird looking figures idk what they are could you help me.
Please send photos here https://wheeljackslab.com/sell/ and we will take a look. Thank you