What items did you collect as an investment, only to find they didn't increase in value?

adindas

Pollycat said:

NBLondon said:

To answer the question....  I've only ever collected things that I wanted to have.  Some I have sold on when I was tired of them but any money raised was a bonus.  I went through a phase of buying US comics and magazines, which I sold on after reading Occasionally I got lucky, but it was never a planned investment - just a way of part-funding the next purchase.  

Me too.
Speculating on collectibles is - imho - not the best way to invest.

Unlike antique, painting, precious stones collectible does not have a predetermined value estimated by expert. For that reason collectible has never been classified as an asset class.

By definition people are investing in asset. It is the dedication of an asset to attain an increase in value over a period of time.

As collectable is not classified as an asset, it is not an investment. It is more like a hobby.

IMO if it is not a hobby, or it does not have utility personally for you (e.g you keep using it such as cups, plates, old chairs, table, vases, etc than the person keep collecting those items might be more suitable to be called as a hoarder

Also if it is not something you like, enjoy it is a burden and for some people might be paying the opportunity cost as they take space.

soolin

If you search google there are several TV programmes, mostly from the US about people buying things for investment, mainly beanie babies. I watched a sad one about one collector or who had thousands and was buying them to put his children through college. 

When I have a moment I’ll see if I can find a link. 

Grumpy_chap

We did the exact opposite.

When we cleared out Mum's loft before she down sized, we took the suitcase of Lego to the local charity shop.

A week later, I was walking past when the assistant came out from the charity shop and thanked us for the generous donation and explained that they had taken some of the kits to be sold through auction.

A real win-win.  We had no idea and, for us, the Lego going to charity was recycling better than landfill for all the plastic bricks.  It was great that the charity shop identified the opportunity and made the most from it.  A collector somewhere also got something they desired, I suppose.

fenwick458

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

soolin

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

I’m not sure that I agree, times have moved on. The younger people today don’t seem to collect ornaments and things, and I really can’t see the current youngsters ever wanting Royal Doulton ladies or huge collections of crested souvenir ware. The houses I’ve been into recently have all had a few scented candles, maybe an IKEA vase and a couple of heart shaped or giraffe shaped ornaments- but no Nick nacks. I don’t recall the last time I was served tea from a tea pot with cups and saucers, it’s all mugs nowadays. 

I did have a moment of hope last year as I saw some Wade whimsies actually sell, but it was a one off and I’m back to seeing large lots being knocked down at auction for £10 or so.

I’m careful as I don’t want to be too exact with what I sell , but some things do still achieve money, but rarely china or glass. Vintage toys seem to be holding their own , some trains and cars , certain brands of teddy bears , Lego, but it seems to be certain items within those groupings only. 

All my china tea sets, dinner services and glass is being offered for free on Fb marketplace and even then it doesn’t always get taken. 

adindas

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

"haven't yet increase in value" could denote it will not happen during your lifetime.

Many Items will increase in value over a very long period due to their historical values.

A Romans coin  could worth $1000 or even higher nowadays. Ming Dynasty Porcelain could have value up to $500K.

If it does not happen during your life time, it is not an investment for you. You will never know what the people after you will be doing. They might just throwing them on the skip.

forgotmyname

FIL subscribed to the "collectible" coins and had quite a few but I didn't have the heart to tell him his special 18carat gold
coin he got for £199 was selling for £60 on ebay.  It was his thing and he thought he was getting a bargain.

Talked him into getting Premium Bonds instead and he was fairly lucky with just £1300 worth so he bought more of those
instead of the useless coins.

Pollycat

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

soolin said:

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

I’m not sure that I agree, times have moved on. The younger people today don’t seem to collect ornaments and things, and I really can’t see the current youngsters ever wanting Royal Doulton ladies or huge collections of crested souvenir ware. The houses I’ve been into recently have all had a few scented candles, maybe an IKEA vase and a couple of heart shaped or giraffe shaped ornaments- but no Nick nacks. I don’t recall the last time I was served tea from a tea pot with cups and saucers, it’s all mugs nowadays. 

I did have a moment of hope last year as I saw some Wade whimsies actually sell, but it was a one off and I’m back to seeing large lots being knocked down at auction for £10 or so.

I don't agree either.

A friend of mine has a collection of plates - the sort advertised on the back of magazines - all boxed and in as-new condition.
They expect to get 75% of the original value which I think is pie-in-the-sky.

Yesterday I saw a large collection of Lilliput Lane houses in a charity shop window, looked like most had boxes.
I've seen similar collections of Pendelfin rabbits and stuff like Aynsley in charity shops.
I just hope that the people who originally bought them actually enjoyed them rather than buying as an investment.

soolin

Pollycat said:

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

soolin said:

fenwick458 said:

the title of the thread should be

"what items did you collect as an investment only to find they haven't yet increase in value"

I still maintain that whatever collection you have, it will increase in value in time. so just be patient.

I’m not sure that I agree, times have moved on. The younger people today don’t seem to collect ornaments and things, and I really can’t see the current youngsters ever wanting Royal Doulton ladies or huge collections of crested souvenir ware. The houses I’ve been into recently have all had a few scented candles, maybe an IKEA vase and a couple of heart shaped or giraffe shaped ornaments- but no Nick nacks. I don’t recall the last time I was served tea from a tea pot with cups and saucers, it’s all mugs nowadays. 

I did have a moment of hope last year as I saw some Wade whimsies actually sell, but it was a one off and I’m back to seeing large lots being knocked down at auction for £10 or so.

I don't agree either.

A friend of mine has a collection of plates - the sort advertised on the back of magazines - all boxed and in as-new condition.
They expect to get 75% of the original value which I think is pie-in-the-sky.

Yesterday I saw a large collection of Lilliput Lane houses in a charity shop window, looked like most had boxes.
I've seen similar collections of Pendelfin rabbits and stuff like Aynsley in charity shops.
I just hope that the people who originally bought them actually enjoyed them rather than buying as an investment.

Pendelfin is an excellent example of how tastes have changed and I think anyone hanging on to those dreadful rabbits expecting the market to spring back is mistaken. That was a very quick downturn, one day they were worth real money the next week they were completely worthless , literally worthless, often end up in the 10p basket outside charity shops and antique centres. Most auctioneers won’t touch them as collectors get very cross when they are told their £300 investment in a collection on a stand won’t even make the £5 minimum bid.

For anyone holding Pendelfin on the basis the market will come back, go and check completed listings on eBay! (In fact completed listings on eBay is a very good starting place to check out any collectables) 

HumberFlyer

Limited edition Plates, Royal Doulton Figurines, Franklin Mint Large diecast cars costing roughly £70 each. One of them costing £230, and that was over 25 years ago. Yesteryear small diecast cars, Limited edition Steins. The wife collected limited edition dolls, not cheap. A lot are now in the loft, given to charity shop or sold for peanuts.......... Wow, spent (wasted) a lot of money over the years