Childhood Keepsakes May Offer More Than Pure Sentimental Value
SHERMAN OAKS (CBSLA.com) — Childhood keepsakes may be worth more than pure sentimental value as some are cashing in on their classic toys.
Along with offering visitors a trip down memory lane, at Big Kid Collectable Toy Mall & Retro Store in Sherman Oaks, many classic toys are bought and sold.
"Star Wars is one of the biggest ones for longevity and value," said store manager Jill Jones, who buys most of the store's inventory.
As CBS2's Sandra Mitchell reports, a majority of the items are collections people have taken into the store to sell.
"We have, you know, 30- [or] 40-year-old men selling us their Star Wars collections, and then we have 6- and 7-year-old boys coming in to buy it again," Jones said.
For example, a Star Wars collection including a blue, 3-inch tall, plastic snaggletooth figure with white gloves and silver boots sold for $215 within days.
A Batman figurine sold by the store for $40, while his crime-fighting sidekick sold for $15 because the Robin figurine was missing his cape.
"What makes something expensive would probably be how rare it is or the condition that it's in," Jones explained.
An unopened, boxed 1979 large Captain Kirk Star Trek Mego figure is priced at $150.
"It's about the memory more than the actual product," she said.
Lunchboxes are big, too, as an early 1970s Sigmund and the Sea Monsters pail is priced at $375.
Jones says Lite-Brite patterns can probably be sold for $20 to $30.
A 3D photo Viewmaster can probably be sold for $15 to $20, and the slides range from $10 to $50.
"Mystery Date is one of the most popular board games for us. A vintage Mystery Date could run you close to $200 in good condition," she said.
For those considering selling their toys, Jones recommends the following:
• Do your research.
• Google your items.
• Visit eBay.
• Keep items in a smoke-free environment.
• Keep items in a safe place.
• And keep boxes to the toys because they oftentimes may sell on their own without the product inside.
