Seeking out the places that will buy your old and used Transformers toy collection is full of hidden potholes. While you feel tempted to turn to the closest retailer, will you receive the best price there? Do you know of the hidden fees found on auction sites?
We have been toy collectors and sellers for more than two decades, so we know you want to both get a fair value for your vintage Transformers toys as well as know they will find a new home that loves them. We know all the details about finding places that buy Transformers Toys, so we will help you figure out what way works for you. In this article, we will tell you how to figure out what your toys are worth and how to decide the best way to sell them.
Before you sell your Transformers Toys
It is important to do some organization and research before you seek out the places that buy Transformers. If you have not taken the time to determine an estimated value of your Transformers collection, you will get less money than you otherwise could have, and you may have a harder time selling them in the first place.
Are You the Original Owner?
It is easiest to sell your vintage Transformers toys if you can sort them out into matched sets, which can be awfully hard to do if you are not the original owner. If you have acquired an enormous collection secondhand, it can be impossible to organize it all. If you find yourself in this situation, give us a call or an email, and we can help you out.
Categorizing Your Toys
As we mentioned, to price and sell your toys, you will want to organize them, at least by brand, and by toy line if possible. If you are the original owner, then you know your collection well, and it should not be hard to sort by label or trademark. You will need to be able to name each of your Transformers toys as accurately as possible to figure out what they are worth. Start with the company, like Hasbro, and then try to get more specific if you can, finding the lines your particular Optimus Prime and Starscream are from. This will make valuing them much easier.
Finding Prices for Your Toys
Once you have organized your Transformers collection, you can find an estimated value for each of them by searching on eBay or other sites. You will want to look for sold listings, not current ones—people can set any price they want, so the only way to get a true estimate of value is by looking at what people have been willing to pay.
As you search for the Transformers toys you own, you will find that the same toy will sell for a range of prices. To see where in this range your exact toy falls, you will need to look at the condition of your toys. People will pay more for a toy that is in mint condition than they will for one that has a lot of wear and tear. Look for listings that describe toys in a similar condition to your own to get a much better estimate of what you can expect to get for your Transformers figures.
More About Condition
While some normal wear and tear from play mean you will not get top dollar, it certainly does not make your collection worthless. However, excessive damage can reduce the value and even in extreme cases make them unsellable. Damage from insects, vermin, or pets is very undesirable, and very dirty toys that have collected layers of dust over the years are also in poor condition. Also consider how you have stored your collection: exposure to smoke, direct sunlight and heat, and moisture can also cause severe damage or discoloration.
If your toys are discolored, here’s some advice that may help you improve their condition.
Places That Buy Transformers Action Figures
There are several diverse places that will buy your Transformers action figures. Which you choose will be dependent on how much time you are willing to spend. If you want to take the time to list each of your toys individually and deal with shipping yourself, you can get higher prices, but it is a lot of work. If you need cash quickly, you can opt instead to sell the whole collection at once to a reseller. Here is a look at the pros and cons of each choice.
Local Auction Service
Pros
The benefits of taking your toy collection to a local auction service are that you do not have to deal with shipping, and it is quite simple to just drop off your toys and let them handle the rest.
Cons
On the other hand, this means you are giving up any control over the price you will get since it just depends on who shows up for the auction. You will pay a lot in fees, and the turnaround time is quite slow. There are few specialists in toys, so your collection will not get the best value it could.
Pawnshop
Pros
Like an auction house, a local pawnshop makes selling your toys easy—simply drop them off and get paid. Unlike with auctions, you do get your cash up front, so if you need cash fast, it might be an effective way.
Cons
Pawnshops need to make a profit, so you will not get the full value of your collection. Since they are not experts, you will get a lower amount than you would from a specialist, and as a captive audience, they will never offer you a significant percentage of what they think they can make selling your toys.
Local Toy Dealer
Pros
If you want to stay local, another choice is a local toy dealer. By going to a specialist, you might be able to get better prices. It is still fast and easy, and you can always check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure you are working with a reputable operation.
Cons
You will not get full value, and although they may be able to better estimate the value of your collection, they still will not give you a high percentage, since you are there as a captive audience, especially if your collection is exceptionally large and they will have to box them back up once you leave with your cash.
Online Auctions like eBay
Pros
If you choose to sell online, eBay has the benefit of providing a large customer pool, especially if you are willing to ship internationally, and since you are usually selling to collectors rather than resellers, especially if you list your toys singly instead of in a batch, you can get better prices.
Cons
The trade-off you face if you choose to sell on eBay is that listing all your Transformers and managing all your auctions is very time-consuming. You cannot be sure how the bidding will go, and you will have to pay seller fees and deal with shipping. You also must be willing to accept returns.
Online Swap Pages like Facebook and Craigslist
Pros
Another choice for selling online is using Facebook, Craigslist, or other swap pages. Like eBay, you can reach a large potential customer base of collectors willing to pay decent prices, and here you will not have to deal with fees.
Cons
On the downside, it is again very time-consuming, and here you must be aware of the potential for fraud, or even people who will just waste your time looking with no intention to buy. If you are sticking to your local area, you may have less success, and you will have to handle shipping on your own if you advertise in a wider community.
Online Toy Dealer
Pros
Finally, you can choose to sell your Transformers collection to an online toy dealer. It is fast and easy, so you can get paid quickly, and you will not even have to pay for shipping. You can also check with the BBB to make sure that you are working with a reputable dealer.
Cons
As a reseller, an online dealer will not give you the full value of your collection, but you can often get better prices since online sellers have lower overhead costs and they are aware that you have many options.
Wheeljack’s Lab: the place that buys old Transformers toys
If you have never sold a collection before, it can be a surprising amount of work, especially if you have a lot of Transformers toys to sell. It can take a lot of time to clean, organize, and value all of them so that you can get the best price you can. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this process, we can help. As experts in vintage toys, we can quickly evaluate your collection and get you paid fast. Get in touch at 888-946-2895 or by email and we will help you sell your action figure collection.
We have been in this business for more than twenty years and we are a well-known name in the field. Our team loves what we do, and we pride ourselves on providing great customer service, with fast responses and fast payment, along with free shipping, or even pick up for the right collection. We will give you an offer within 24 hours, and you can be assured that your toys will find new homes with people who will value them as much as their original owners did.
Do you have old and used Transformers 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 Transformers 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.
About the author
Author: 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 own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!
Ready to check the best choice out of the places that buy Transformers toys?
If you are not already convinced that Wheeljack’s Lab will give you the best price and service for your toys, just check out a small sampling of the Transformers that we have bought and sold:
