Having been a frequenter of Charity Shops here in the UK for decades I've noticed two things: 1. There are fewer vintage toys for sale 2. Any vintage games and board games that are there have shot up in price. Is this your experience as well?
I haven't had a charity shop vintage toy find in years, Woodsy. With the odd exception, I wonder if most vintage toys even reach the shelves these days? I notice a lot of charities listing vintage toys on eBay, often with high BIN prices. I wonder if the nature of charity shops, as we remember them and understood them, simply changed?
I think Ebay changed collecting everywhere Tone including Charity Shops and car boots. People got wise to the value of their vintage stuff when it came out of the attic. I suppose Charities are in the business of making as much money as poss for their causes and it's only fair I suppose that choice items get 'collectors' prices. I saw a boxed Subbuteo World Cup Rugby Set in a Charity shop last week. This one was £25. Probably a good price for a keen fan of the brand but I'm still a bargain hunter and don't want to spend that much of my finds. A good find requires a degree of vintage appeal and a low price, at least in my book! With less and less vintage stock its harder to track them down for sure.
Here in Australia, they have changed too. They have hiked their prices, check the value of things on ebay before pricing and have repositioned themselves as more "boutique"... Having said that, I found a brand new grinning monkey for $5. It was only later when I looked at the battery box, that I realised it was actually vintage 1960s - it was just in pristine condition!
I haven't had a charity shop vintage toy find in years, Woodsy. With the odd exception, I wonder if most vintage toys even reach the shelves these days? I notice a lot of charities listing vintage toys on eBay, often with high BIN prices. I wonder if the nature of charity shops, as we remember them and understood them, simply changed?
ReplyDeleteI think Ebay changed collecting everywhere Tone including Charity Shops and car boots. People got wise to the value of their vintage stuff when it came out of the attic. I suppose Charities are in the business of making as much money as poss for their causes and it's only fair I suppose that choice items get 'collectors' prices. I saw a boxed Subbuteo World Cup Rugby Set in a Charity shop last week. This one was £25. Probably a good price for a keen fan of the brand but I'm still a bargain hunter and don't want to spend that much of my finds. A good find requires a degree of vintage appeal and a low price, at least in my book! With less and less vintage stock its harder to track them down for sure.
DeleteHere in Australia, they have changed too. They have hiked their prices, check the value of things on ebay before pricing and have repositioned themselves as more "boutique"... Having said that, I found a brand new grinning monkey for $5. It was only later when I looked at the battery box, that I realised it was actually vintage 1960s - it was just in pristine condition!
ReplyDeleteLets have a look at your Monkey Lewis!
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