Comments on: Rinker on Collectibles: The Flaw of the Rule of 25

By: Janet Robinson

Janet Robinson — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:30:17 +0000

It will be interesting to see if the Beanie Babies get a little boost in 2018 (1993 + 25 years). The past three collections I’ve looked at for purchase, and have passed on, have included at least 100 or so of the darn things, in their original packaging…and I know of two other collections sitting boxed up in garages. Landfill? Scary!!

By: Terry Mangum

Terry Mangum — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:21:47 +0000

Harry you are once again right on the money. At our auction business, we are constantly explaining this to people. Most want to “shoot the messenger” and leave to find someone who will tell them what they want to hear.
If the buyers of Beanie Babies, Die Cast Cars and Collector Plates had spent the money on gold and silver coins they would today have dollars on the pennies and not pennies on the dollar.
Terry – Capitol Auction

By: nick ryan

nick ryan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 01:30:39 +0000

Hi harry, I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding rule 25 or any rule for that matter, however I disagree with your comment “After 1980, Americans became collectible conscious. The concept quickly spread to Europe and then to other parts of the global community”. Why do you think Collectible conscious spread from America to Europe, I have proof, my whole family as far back as I can remember and beyond from my grandmother & mother and other family members, that those previous generations were also collectible conscious – and that predates 1980 by a considerable age.

Amongst many things, my mother gained her mothers pewter collection and has expanded this. And whilst I hear you say they are not sold as collectibles, the mere fact that she has continued to collect those and many other items has also inspired her to collect more modern mundane items which will in turn pass down through me & my sister’s children NOT with speculation of huge future profits but as memories to be shared by future family generations. Often these items support family stories.

People have been collectible conscious for years & years, long before the 1980′s in all parts of the world, otherwise, for example, where have all of these autographs of famous people come from?

All the best, Nick

By: Ken Hatfield

Ken Hatfield — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:41:35 +0000

Well done, Harry. As a former comic book collector, I know from personal experience how right you are. Luckily I never speculated & only bought the books I was interested in reading. I got my value out of them that way.