Were there any toys you simply couldn’t part with when you were younger, so you put them away in the loft, hoping that one day you might use them again?
Well, experts believe that some people could have nostalgic hidden treasures lying around in their homes.
For those who have held onto popular nineties toys, they might just be sitting on a “gold mine.”;
So, if you’re thinking about doing a spring clear-out, keep an eye out for memorabilia, as it could help you gain a nice bonus – including one item that could bag you a hefty £38,200.
Beanie Toys
These were the collectables that every nineties kid had in their bedroom – and they can certainly fetch a few quid now.
Back in 2015, a couple bought a £10 Beanie Baby at a car boot sale – only to discover they’d managed to get their hands on the world’s rarest version.
The toy, worth up to £62,500, was one of the 100 Princess Diana memorial bears.
According toThis Is Money, original toys – like Flash the Dolphin or Legs the Frog – could earn a couple of hundred pounds.
Furby
Mental Flossreported that one of the original Furbies dating back to 1998 sold for $705 (£527) on eBay, while Money Digest revealed that a super-rare Bejewelled Furby sold for $6,400 (£4,800) last year.
And if you happened to own the Rainbow Furby – of which only three were ever made – then you could certainly rake in even more.
Harry Potter
For Harry Potter fans who made sure to grab a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone when it was first published in June 1997, you might just be sitting on a house deposit.
According to the Harry Potter fan siteMuggleNet, the original book, which has the first-edition cover art and typos, could fetch between $30,000 and $50,000 (£22,900 – £38,200).
Only 500 copies were printed, so if you were lucky enough to snag one, head to First Edition Books or eBay to see how much it could earn.
Nintendo Classic
Do you happen to own original games likeSuper Mario Bros. 3from the Nintendo classics?
Well, this could fetch you a life-changing amount of money.
In 2020,CNetreported that a sealed copyofSuper Mario Bros. 3earned $156,000 (£119,000) at auction.
Meanwhile,The Vergerevealed that another untouched version of the game sold for $2 million (£1.5 million).
Disney VHS Tapes
Remember the days when you’d head to Blockbuster to rent a film recorded onto a VHS tape?
TheMail Onlinereported that some classic films have sold for five-figure sums on eBay – including101 Dalmatians, which was still in its sealed packaging and sold for £15,000.
The tapes need to be in good working condition and barely touched to fetch a significant amount.
Top tips for selling on eBay
NEW to eBay? It's head of secondhand, Emma Grant, reveals how to optimise your listings:
- Use key words– eBayautomatically filters listing titles for key words, so it's crucial to use the terminology people search for – especially brand and product names.
- Choose the right category for your product– It might sound obvious but it’s important to always choose the most specific category to sell in.
- Pictures are important– Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or damage to the item.
- Be as detailed as possible – Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear.
- Look at past sold items– eBayhas a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it.
- Selling Sundays– Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for seven-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it's time-sensitive, pick seven days. December is the busiest month on eBay.
- Be realistic with pricing – Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you’re going for the right price and always ask yourself “would I pay this price for this item?”
- Donate to charity– When listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% – you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform.
