20 Collections You Can Sell For Money

You do realize that there’s stuff in your home, family, and friends’ places, or even in storage right now that’s probably worth a ton of cash.

For instance old vinyl records, comic books, stamps, coins, and much more. While there are people to whom it’s unthinkable to even spend a dime on what is seemingly useless, there are others to whom these have significant sentimental value. They’ll go to any length to acquire them.

This factual article delves into this issue to give you valuable information on 20 collections you can sell for money.

Collections that are worth money

There’s no useless junk; anything can be collected and sold. 

But some specific collections evoke strong emotions or are just thrilling to acquire. They’re therefore in high demand, which makes them worth significant amounts of money. 

Some examples are handbags, rare coins, vintage advertising signs, vintage furniture, and much more.

To know more about these valuable collections worth money, keep reading.

20 collections that can make you money today

It’s possible that you’re within reach of these collections and can sell them for money today.

Here’s a list with at least 20 to start with.

20. Cameras and accessories 

A new camera and camera accessories are prohibitively expensive. For a lens alone, you can cop out thousands of dollars; hence people are always looking out for excellent deals on gently used cameras and camera accessories, mostly Nikon and Canon DSLRs.

To get reasonable returns, ensure the equipment is well maintained, manuals, warranty cards, straps, cords, and discs. This will make it all the easier to sell-off. Some of the online sites to sell include KEH.com, B & H and Adorama, Sheepbuy, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Valuable camera accessories to look out for are:

• Tripods
• Batteries
• Memory cards and memory card readers
• Camera straps
• Camera bags

19. Vintage toys

Nostalgic Millennial parents want to share childhood memories with their children. Hence any toy from the 80s, 90s, and even earlier that meets the threshold could be worth some reasonable cash. 

They include diecast farm toys, specific board games like Ruby Lane, and Iconic ones like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The value increases if their original packaging and most parts are intact.

Below is a sampling of some of the toys selling well on eBay:

• A restored Game Boy – $72
• Teddy Ruxpin, the talking teddy bear – $110
• Cabbage Patch Kids brand dolls – $179
• The annoying Furby – $1000
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – $1695
• Vintage He-Man and She-Ra dolls – $2500

18. Women’s handbags

If you know anything about ladies, you’re aware that handbags are better than flowers or ice cream any day. Some handbags are a valuable investment as they can hold value well past their purchase dates. But, they need to be in good condition, of high quality and rare.

If you’ve got designer name brand handbags that meet these requirements, there’s someone out there willing to fork out a couple of hundreds or even thousands to acquire them. Auction sites like eBay and Amazon will give you reasonable prices, also rebag.com and ShopIt, amongst others.

Examples of brands that are worth money: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Dior, Hèrmes, Celine, Versace, and Ferragamo.

17. Art Deco furnishings

Interestingly, furnishings from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s are spurring current interior decor trends.

Thus, an original art deco piece is worth a lot of money if it’s functional and adequate. These items are expected to rise to the ranks of authentic antiques. Their newly acquired popularity will increase with it.

The appeal lies in their emphasis on clean lines, minimalist style, and simple outstanding coloring.

You can sell them on eBay, Ruby Lane, Etsy, Sheepbuy, and Sell.com. Marketplaces are also preferred because they’re popular, safe, and relatively easy though they take time, and you’ll be required to pay certain fees.

16. Unused makeup

Just in case you’re decluttering your beauty collection and wondering what to do with it, you can quickly turn them in for cash.

Online platforms like Poshmark, Sheepbuy, eBay, and Glambot allow you to unload these items and fully control your products, from the pictures to the price. Glambot, in particular, accepts half-used products, including sample sizes. For more information on where to sell beauty products online, check out this article.

If you still want more options, Reddit has skincare exchange and makeup exchange pages where people get to share any item, new or used, of course, within reason.

15. Vinyl records 

Digital technology hasn’t erased the vinyl record culture. Instead, it has increased demand for it, with some fans ready to pay more for a physical quality copy of their favorite music. This is in case it suddenly becomes unavailable on their devices.

Whatever the case, even if your vinyls aren’t worth anything right now, keep them safe as you don’t know what will suddenly be on-demand in a couple of years. To sell, try either eBay –which averages $15 but could be higher –OfferUp, Sheepbuy, record shops, and pawn shops.

The money though lies in well kept original pressings and rare vinyl records of in-demand idols like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Frank Wilson, and much more. A rare Nirvana record notably sold for $25,000.

14. Watches 

For the most part, highly prized watches depreciate in value much in the same way that cars do. Even so, some watches hold their value, and if you can figure out how to value and price them, they can be sold for incredibly good bucks. 

A watch’s value depends on past ownership, mechanical perfection, and beauty, often enhanced by original artwork and precious gems. For watches under $1000, don’t list them with Auction houses like Christie’s or Sotheby’s, instead sell them on online.

Some examples are:

• Rolex
• Omega
• Breitling
• TAG Heuer
• Jaeger-Le Coultre 

13. Golf shoes 

New golf shoes are insanely expensive, and not every beginner or experienced player can probably afford to cop out the cash since they’re not even mandatory. However, they’re useful for grip and traction, especially when the weather is doing poorly.

If you’ve got a pair of good quality and adequately maintained ones, well cleaned of dirt, grass, and other debris, it’s possible to sell them off for a fair price.

You can expect to make between $40 – $60.

12. Phone accessories

Phones and their accessories can burn a hole in your pocket. It’s not realistic to replace a phone every two years just because a cord is missing. 

Protective phone and iPad cases, like Otterbox, can sell well, even in used condition.

Other popular accessories are:

• Screen protectors
• Smart tags
• USB phone chargers
• Stands, and if portable, the better.

If you have Apple products you’d like to sell, here’s an interesting article we wrote.

Popular marketplaces to consider are: Gazelle, SellCell, ecoATM and also Sheepbuy, among others.

11. Video game consoles

Only rarely can you resell a video game console for thousands of dollars, especially if it’s a rare special edition. A 1979 APF Imagination Machine new in the box is worth up to $3,300, according to RarityGuide.com, while a 1997 Commodore 64 GS original in the box is worth up to $2,500. 

Even if you don’t get to sell for thousands, a few hundreds isn’t a wrongful turn for something that’s occupying unnecessary space.

To get value for your old video game consoles, check condition, color, and any add-on features such as additional storage space and motion controls. All said and done, video game consoles will likely fetch at least $30 – $80.

10. Rare coins

Before you dump your coins into a box, have a closer look because, at times, circulated coins can be valuable. 

How can you tell whether a coin is worth money?

• The lower the mintage, the higher the value
• Age
• Materials used such as gold and silver
• Coins with a mint mark
• Impeccable condition
• Demand as impacted by marketing, changing trends, and collector preferences.

To be a successful coin collector or merchant, learn about what’s in-demand – both in and out of circulation. You can sell them at Heritage Auctions, CoinsWorld, or online marketplaces like eBay or Sheepbuy.

9. Rare comic books

Say you’ve got rare comics books lying around that are barely used or are in excellent condition, perhaps even in their original packaging, it’s likely that you have valuable stock that can fetch a tidy sum.

In 2014, a copy of Action Comics in impeccable condition sold on eBay for $3.2 million, from an original price of 10 cents, making it the most valuable comic book of all time.

To determine how valuable your collection might be, check the cover price. Almost all of them have the retail cover price at the time of publication on the cover, and what you can sell for money will have 10c, 12c, 15c, 20c, or 25c on the cover.

Learn more on how to value your old comic books.

8. Empty boxes 

It may seem unbelievable, but people will actually pay for empty boxes. Here are some empty boxes that you can sell for high prices:

• Shoe boxes (like Converse, Nike, Adidas, etc.)
• American Girl boxes
• Apple iPhone or computer boxes
• Cigar boxes
• Swarovski crystal boxes

7. Disney items 

Since the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in the 1928 classic “Steamboat Willie,” Disney has become one of the world’s most beloved brands.

According to estatesales.org, Disney films – significantly older, VHS films – have become one of the hottest Disney collectibles on the market. VHS copies of lesser-known Disney films, like 1985’s “The Black Cauldron,” are few and far between – especially limited edition prints like these, making it all the more valuable to collectors.

Others are lanyard pins, like the “Hidden Mickey” pin from 1971 that sold for $12,000, and a complete collection of princesses sold for $8,450.

6. Star wars memorabilia

Star Wars is one of the most iconic brands ever created, and if you’re an ardent fan or know someone close to you who is, it’ll be worthwhile to check what memorabilia is lying around that could be worth good money. 

Below are examples of valuable collections from this iconic brand.

• Star Wars issue #1 1997
• Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Telescoping lightsaber
• Porg sneakers
• Chewbacca mask

To start your selling process, check with Star Wars related forums on Meet-up.com.

5. LEGOS

Lego is considered one of the most successful toy companies of all time. Some research by VOX in 2019 revealed that LEGOs apparently have a higher rate of return than gold or stocks. How crazy is that!

Further research from Russia’s Higher School of Economics confirmed that indeed LEGO boasts a high value when sold secondhand — and it actually has a higher rate of return than gold, bonds, and stocks.

So if you can find unopened vintage LEGO sets, you could be sitting on a gold mine. However, even assorted LEGOs can be sold, even in small lots.

4. Jewelry and gems 

You can never go wrong with this because when the stock market is declining, and the currency is losing value, highly-priced jewelry and gemstones tend to be a reliable store of value that is also compact, portable, and private. 

However, the value of jewelry and gems falls into three categories: 

• Intrinsic – metal value + gem value.
• Resale – intrinsic value + craftsmanship + ring setting style.
• Appraised – this is a retail replacement cost often calculated in insurance terms.

What you’ll get is reliant on the rarity, place of original purchase, and the type of materials used.

For reasonable rates, sell it to a jeweler or at an auction site. Avoid pawn shops unless you’ve got detailed information on pricing or desperately need money.

3. Discontinued items 

Have you ever purchased an item that you got attached to, and just when you were really settling in, BOOM! It got discontinued?

Now imagine hundreds or even thousands of people just like you and someone with about 50 pieces of that item? It could be a chargeable solar battery, a skincare product, or a type of food. 

You can actually make a fortune selling discontinued items online with a good example being Maybelline’s Dream Match powder at $400.

2. Chinaware

China is fancy dishware that is intended for fancy/special occasions. Some people use it regularly, and others barely use it instead, preferring to display it as art.

The price of Chinaware has soared in recent years, so if you’ve got it or know someone that does it’s advisable to start scouring for markets.

The first steps in establishing china dinnerware’s value begin with identifying the type of china, its age, the manufacturer, artist –sets made by Spode, Lenox, and modern designers such as Ralph Lauren are trendy.

Once you’re clued in on the information, you’ll know what it’s worth and how much it’s likely to fetch online.

1. Sports memorabilia

Sports are highly emotive. You’ll never forget the feeling at that particular moment watching with bated breath, as your favorite athlete scored a homerun or reached the finish line. So, it’s no surprise that a multi-billion-dollar industry has risen around the trading of sports memorabilia.

Items that have been in direct contact with a famous athlete can have significant monetary value.

This value is determined by what gets signed. For instance, a signed Lebron James jersey is worth a lot more than a signed Lebron James photograph. Helmets and jerseys are two of the most valuable items you can get signed. Balls, bats, cleats, and gloves (to name a few) maintain stable values.

5 Best things to collect now

There are valuable items that you can start collecting from family, friends, garage sales etc that will always be worth something, now and in the future.

1. Costumes 

Old costumes can fetch some good money if there’s a sentimental value attached—a complete “Captain America Playsuit” from the 1960s once sold for $200 on eBay.

2. Vintage advertising signs

Whether it’s made of neon lights, wood, or metal, any kind of sign could be a highly sought after decor piece on someone’s wall or a themed event. Brands like Pepsi, Coca-cola, or gas companies are popular.

3. Sewing patterns

Tailors, designers, and craftspeople use patterns a lot and would be interested in rare pattern styles. In particular, Vogue Paris is still incredibly popular, and some of the vintage patterns are worth $75 to $100.

4. Vintage posters

Because paper is challenging to preserve, old printed stuff ends up being valuable and rare. Some political and movie posters are so hard to find that they can easily fetch thousands of dollars.

5. Old technology

Typewriters, turntables, old televisions, and computers are fantastic collections for actual use or as interior decor props.

Whenever you’re ready to sell, consider listing your collections on Sheepbuy. This is an upcoming online marketplace that is perfect for startup and professional sellers alike. Unlike eBay, Sheepbuy doesn’t charge a commission on sales, and there are no premium store fees. On the basic tier, you can have up to three active listings at any given time, free of charge. For more information on Sheepbuy’s tiers, click here. 

Conclusion

Besides these 20 collections that you can sell for money, many other items are still lying around worth reasonable amounts of money.

What’s essential with these collections, though, is that they’re well maintained, have all their original parts intact, and can command fair prices.

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