Selling a Good Chunk of “The Master Collection” Part 1
After coming back to Wisconsin I’ve finally been able to start consolidating my collection of toys. You see, I’ve kept most of my toys in my old bedroom. Moving from apartment to apartment would have destroyed the majority of my stuff that I kept in the packaging, so it was just easier to leave it there.
While taking stock of everything that I have, I’ve decided to trying to get rid of a lot of my Star Wars figures as well as a few other miscellaneous toys. I came to this decision because I just have way too many toys and there’s a lot of them that I don’t even like anymore.
As I’ve checked what my things are going for, I’ve become depressed. Don’t get me wrong, I never purchased any of my Star Wars figures thinking they’d be worth money some day, but when I actually need money it’s sad to see that I’d be lucky to get a dollar for many of my figures. Regardless, it’s got to go. To tackle this task in the easiest possible manner and to get as much as I can for it, I’ve come up with three ways to sell my stuff:
1. eBay: There’s a few figures that I think I can get a good price for, so I’ll take my chances with eBay. I really hate the site and all the fees, but I really don’t have any other choice to get the best possible price for my toys.
2. My cousin: The strange thing about housing the majority of your toys in your old bedroom at home is that when your relatives come to visit, they take their kids to the room to admire the toys. One of my cousin’s kids is a nut about Star Wars and is completely in awe of the room. Who better to want to spend his well earned milk money on the figures that aren’t worth more than a buck or two?
3. Brian’s Toys: I’ve only ever purchased a few things from them, but as a generous sponsor to the Toy Bender Toys for Tots contest last year, I feel that they’ll be a trustworthy buyer for a couple of my things that I don’t want to mess around with on eBay. However, I’ve heard that I will be ultimately disappointed by doing this. Would anyone like to give me some input on this?
May 19th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Sadly, I’d tell you a sincere “good luck” if you use Ebay. You are destined for heartbreak. I’ve been trying to sell some of my action figures in the last couple of months, and it’s been utterly terrible. And by terrible, I mean, like, two people bid on your shit, but the auction has 35 watchers…and it ends with only the two people having bid on it, and you have to let $40 worth of toys go for $7.
After my third auction like this, I have two choices. Either put everything back in storage for a few more years, or else accept that I’m going to get pennies on the…well shit, the ten-spot. I could put a reserve, but absolutely no one will bid on it if you do.
That’s when you come to realize that those 35 (or more in one case) watchers are all desperate adults trying to sell THEIR toys and are watching with bated breath to see what YOUR toys go for.
It’s a shame I’m getting OUT of toys, and not into them, because right now, you would be able to absolutely rape people.
Good luck, man.
May 19th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Brians Toys will give you pennies for them. It sucks, but pretty much the only thing to do is ebay at a huge loss. And you have to do them individually or in small lots, because you lose even more in those huge lots.
You should post a master list on here before you go to ebay. Myself and others I’m sure would pay a fair price for figures we’re interested in. Toy Bender Yard Sale.
May 19th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Aww… had to part with ‘em at some point, eh? Unless you’re planning to be buried with your collection like Poe is. (j/k)
I gave up on eBay a while ago. I guess it still works, but between the way prices for things are going, and the multiple rapings eBay gives you in service charges, sometimes it just doesn’t feel worth it.
I’m sure you would have thought of it already, but do you have any toy/hobby/comic book shops in your area that might be interested?
What about posting your collection on Rebel Scum or whathaveyounot.
Otherwise, tell your cousin to start saving up his milk money! Even better, you might even do better with a yard sale or something.
good luck!
-x
May 19th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
There is another option. Donate it all.
TAX DEDUCTION. And I would say, as one totally and utterly unqualified to give any kind of advice on multiplication, much less doing your taxes, you can value it at what you paid for it.
May 19th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Is that what Wisconsin looks like? Faux wood paneling and lots of Star Wars toys? It’s like I always imagined.
May 19th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
DUDE… use eCrater, they take .20 cents on the sale plus 2 percent. So far I’ve sold ONE toy there in the past month BUT it was at the price I wanted (which factored in the paypal and eCrater fees) and I ended up with a spare quarter on top of the price I was willing to let it go for. So I came out smelling like roses.
Star wars and Joe stuff sell pretty good there compared to the McFarlane figures I’m trying to move. So you might want to give that a shot, better to get your money back or a couple bucks under what you paid than pennies on the dollar.
May 19th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
That and your sales site takes minutes to set up with little fuss, I might add.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Okay, new strategy based on what you fellows have said:
1. Cousin for the Star Wars figures not worth much (green cards, etc.)
2. List my other stuff here to see if anyone wants it.
3. eCrater or whatever Esbat said.
Thanks all for the input.
And Nima… it’s real wood paneling. Not my choice to be sure, but I’m a 30 year old dude living at home so I don’t have much input on that.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Post them here. Based on the photo I see something I would buy.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
lol wendell, I’m keeping 99% of the “good” stuff.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I’ve purchased a majority of my collection in the last 2-3 years, which consists mostly of Transformers & GI Joes, with assorted DC & Marvel figures. Within the last couple of months I realized how crazy and random my collection had grown into … so I went about parting ways with a good bit of them.
What I have sold, I have done through the fansites that I’m a member of TFW2005 & the HISSTANK. Much easier than eBay.
Oh and if you’ve got any TF or Joes … let me know Paul!
May 19th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Dude I’m passing your info on to a fellow collector, he’s mighty interested in older figures. Even if they’re not “rare” as he’s an army builder fanatic. Expect an email tomorrow or tonight.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
[...] comes a time in every man’s life when he must part with his massive Star Wars collection. [Toy [...]
May 20th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I sold most of mine on eBay some at cost, some at a discount.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I sold most of my Star Wars collection on eBay — some at cost, some at a discount, some at a profit.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I don’t really understand Ebay at the moment. 90% of the stuff on there toy wise is WAY overpriced. Why would I pay $25 for a Ninja Turtle that’s on the shelf at the store for $8
I’m getting very annoyed at Ebay because you used to could find good deals on there, but now it’s all crap thats priced like it’s made of gold.
And yet everything I’m watching and wanting to bid on goes for too much.
Last few items I sold on there I didn’t make much in the way of profit either. Maybe I should have priced them 80x their worth like everyone else.