What are some items that have recently lost value?

[quadcitypickers]

Polaroid cameras really seem to have fizzled out.

A lot of collectibles don't move like they used to, I think mainly because more and more people of my generation want less and less "stuff".

What is something that used to be your bread and butter and is now pretty much worthless, within the last few years?

[div_style]

In 1999 I bought a salvage deal of 2500 Vietnamese music CDs, which I listed as auctions and prices went through the roof, from 99¢ start to sometimes over $20.  Now CDs in any language are pretty much dead.

[vintage-car-magazines]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

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@quadcitypickers wrote:

Polaroid cameras really seem to have fizzled out.

A lot of collectibles don't move like they used to, I think mainly because more and more people of my generation want less and less "stuff".

What is something that used to be your bread and butter and is now pretty much worthless, within the last few years?

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Coins and stamps have decreased in popularity. I still manage to sell stamps for reasonable amounts of money by taking apart cheaply purchased collections and building more interesting combinations to resell on eBay.

Today's coin collector wants packaging with their coins, not just coins in flips that were once in circulation. I've taken to investing in Mint product to try and revive my coin sales.

C.

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This is somewhat off topic but I find it interesting what the internet has done to collecting. 

Things were "rare" or hard to find when I was a kid...coins, stamps, comics, sports cards because your options were limited to a local shop or the occasional convention. For many key pieces, your choices were limited to one or none. I might get to SEE an Amazing Fantasy #15 at a convention but there are a couple dozen to choose from on eBay right now. The internet expanded your options from the local shop to the entire world. 

It some instance that change has lowered prices because there's more to choose from...that rare item was no longer so rare. In others, the number of buyers has increased causing prices to increase. 

Most interesting to me, it that the worldwide availability has been a game changer for some items. For instance, I collect antique Bicycle playing cards that came in many different back designs over the years. I could go to 1000 estate sales locally, flea markets, antique shops and find a couple of the more common ones. Online, I can search for a specific card and frequently (not always) find it. 

Holy cow, I sound old. lol

[whattheactualfox]

My Bed....lol It's from the 90's and It is...30 years old. I still use it because mattresses and beds are pricey and I am Mr.Krabs right now

[bigdeals.etc]

Toilet paper and face masks have lost value since last year.

[downunder-61]

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@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Toilet paper and face masks have lost value since last year.

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Prolly coz people who have seeds and can grow their own LOL

[hiszi-73]

Thanks you for the helful and encouraging insight.  Appreciated very much

[2013grotz]

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@quadcitypickers wrote:

What is something that used to be your bread and butter and is now pretty much worthless, within the last few years?

Never had a "bread and butter", as 90% of my items fail to move on this site. 

But I'll observe a lot of what is in demand is simple trends.  There's interest that happens and just goes away.  A new movie coming out in a series, for instance and people want stuff surrounding the older ones.  It's just a matter of hitting trends.  Or interests. 

Another one is china and fancy dishes: I've found it near impossible to move the stock of that I've had (several crates)  because people these days want usable.  And they're not very useful if they won't go into the microwave as many of them are.  Or are purely decorative and can't be used.

Or seasonal: Try moving a lawnmower in December or Christmas decorations in August.  Doesn't happen.  Yet find the right seasons and the same people that wrinkle up their noses can't get enough.  Just what it is.

[chapeau-noir]

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@div_style wrote:

In 1999 I bought a salvage deal of 2500 Vietnamese music CDs, which I listed as auctions and prices went through the roof, from 99¢ start to sometimes over $20.  Now CDs in any language are pretty much dead.

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I do brisk sales in CDs on another site.  I have a friend who specialises in CDs and also has brisk sales.

[2013grotz]

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@sin-n-dex wrote:

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Coins and stamps have decreased in popularity. I still manage to sell stamps for reasonable amounts of money by taking apart cheaply purchased collections and building more interesting combinations to resell on eBay.

That's an adventure of mine too.  I actually had to sell a rather extensive box full of stamps at a loss on here to get rid of them (cost me more to ship them than what I got).  Coins are generally uninteresting because the same designs have happened so much.  Then most really don't pay attention.   I've found any displays (boards that coin sets can go into)  I've had go pretty quickly though.  Or anything with silver content goes quick.  But I gather most that are interested in regular coins are more things to keep the kids occupied, since most of the newer stuff is pretty much worth only face denomination.  Like you said, any real collecting goes to the uncirculated mint sets these days.

[2013grotz]

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@annadryl wrote:

Oh my gosh, I forgot collector's plates! When I was a kid our neighbor had her whole house decorated with them, it was like a museum. She had Gone With the Wind, State capitols, The Sound of Music...

Ditto.  My great-aunt had a whole house full the same way.  It was kinda sad to see the prices they were going at in auction.  But then again like I said above, they weren't too useful.  Hence the prices they did run (around 50c-$1).

[postingid7659]

In general, collectible items follow a pattern where they become hot as the people who had them when they were young become old enough and wealthy enough to spend disposable income collecting things they had as kids, wanted as kids, or whatnot.  Eventually they buy all they want, or age to the point they want to downsize and get rid of it.   Also sometimes when a trend drives prices up, collectors will pick something else with less demand so they can collect on the cheap.

Beanies were hot, now you can't give them away.   I could have bought boxes of them for $5 at one auction here and I decided to pass, even just to sell to kids for a buck.  Avon bottles are the same, if you can't sell them for a couple bucks a shot you won't sell them.  

Collecting on the cheap.. I collect plastic milk crates, I have ones from around eight states plus a ton of local ones.  Never pay more than a couple bucks for them.  And I use them, all of them are full of other stuff.  I guess the old wire ones have some value, but I've never even looked to see if there's a market for the plastic ones.  

[2013grotz]

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@div_style wrote:

Now CDs in any language are pretty much dead.

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When I've put CDs up, I wouldn't call them "brisk" (failure rate on that is around 40%), but they're usually one of my more successful items to get rid of.

[moondogblues]

I haven't finished the whole thread but just wanted to point out to the let's use 'it' for skeet shooting mentality that Dickens was hot, then he was not and then he was again.  The same happened to Tiffany and people put their lamps in the garbage.  Some things (not Beanies lol) are perhaps thinking twice about before consigning to the landfill.

As for Avon...I have a tiny set from the late hmmm wanna say Fifties but probably Sixties...Here's My Heart, something Rose, Somewhere and more... I think there are 6 little sample bottles and I ADORE the scents and they are not made anymore.  I put a dab of one on my wrists every night before bed.  They are all almost empty...and I am sad about that.  Lasted me for years.  I had the little box too but it fell apart as it's so old.

[moondogblues]

please interject 'worth' in the appropriate place...

It's been a bad day for us, we had to give away a much loved but large and uncontrollable dog today.

[moondogblues]

I do agree about T Kincaid....lol.