Sometimes, what’s trending as a sure investment or collectible fizzles out, leaving many to wonder why they jumped on the bandwagon in the first place. Ever wondered about those items that were all the rage but now barely fetch a dime at a garage sale?
1. Beanie Babies
Once believed to be a solid investment, Beanie Babies now linger in attics and thrift stores, largely ignored by the collectors who once scrambled for them.
2. Commemorative Plates
These plates, often bought in droves, were thought to be future heirlooms. Sadly, they’re now more likely to be found collecting dust than fetching high prices.
3. Thomas Kinkade Paintings
Dubbed “Painter of Light,” Kinkade’s mass-produced paintings were initially seen as valuable collectibles but have not held their market value.
4. Hummel Figurines
Once passed down from generation to generation, these figurines have seen a significant drop in demand and value in the modern day.
5. Franklin Mint Collectibles
Items from Franklin Mint, including coins, dolls, and die-cast cars, were sold as “limited edition” collectibles but haven’t appreciated in value as hoped.
6. McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys
While nostalgic, most of these toys haven’t increased in value, with millions made and many preserved, they are too common to be rare.
7. Furby
The once must-have toy and supposed future collectible Furby is now mostly a quirky reminder of late-90s consumer fever.
8. Precious Moments Figurines
These sentimental porcelain figurines were once thought to be a good investment but have drastically dropped in popularity and value.
9. Pogs
In the 90s, every kid thought Pogs would someday fund their college tuition. Today, they’re worth little more than the cardboard they’re printed on.
10. Baseball Cards from the Late 80s and 90s
Oversaturated markets of the late 80s and 90s baseball cards have left many of these once-valuable items worth only pennies.
11. Cabbage Patch Kids
Despite their wild popularity in the 80s, most Cabbage Patch Kids dolls haven’t retained significant value, except for some rare early models.
12. VHS Tapes
Except for a few rare horror and cult classics, the vast majority of VHS tapes are not valuable, despite the hopes of those who collected them.
13. Adult Coloring Books
A recent trend that did not pan out as a collectible, with millions sold and many unused, they haven’t retained any noteworthy market value.
14. Bobbleheads
While sports and pop culture bobbleheads were a hit for a moment, most do not hold substantial resale value today.
15. Olympic Memorabilia
Apart from a few rare exceptions, most merchandise and collectibles from recent Olympics have not performed well on the secondary market.
16. Mass-Produced Adult Fantasy Novels
Many bought these books hoping they’d be the next big series but found that only first editions of truly iconic books hold significant value.
17. Modern Comic Books
With print runs in the millions for some issues, modern comic books haven’t seen the appreciation in value that older, rarer comics have.
18. Stamps from the Late 20th Century
Once a popular collector’s item, most modern stamps are too plentiful to be worth much to collectors today.
19. Modern Artist Bears
Handmade artist bears were once a hot ticket in the collectible world, but their market has cooled significantly.
20. Trendy Kitchen Gadgets
Unique kitchen gadgets that were once thought would become collectibles due to their quirky designs have not held up as valuable collectibles.
Think Again
While it’s fun to chase the latest collectible craze, history shows that not every hot item turns into a goldmine. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the value of enjoying your collectibles can far outweigh their monetary worth. What’s in your collection that you thought would bring back a fortune?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Leenvdb.
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional advice.
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For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
