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Frequently Asked Questions
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I have an old [fill in the blank]. Can you tell me what it's worth?
Well, it's almost definitely worth something! I once attended an auction in which the contents of an old country store in Michigan that closed in the 1970s were made available to the public in 1996. There were packs of gum that received inquiries and bids from as far away as California. One single stick went for more than $200. Knowledge Nugget #1: Everything is collected by someone out there. Therefore, you can probably find a buyer for what you're selling, as there is probably a market. For the very collectible, there are even price guides that have been published. This is true of comic books, toys & games, "Remember Pearl Harbor" collectibles, Depression Glass, Hummels, militaria, stamps, coins, and many, many other items. If the item you're selling is listed in one of these guides, think of it as just that, a "guide" (and they're usually updated annually). Don't expect to get that price. In fact, you probably won't. Knowledge Nugget #2: Something is really only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. f you're asking $200 for something because a guide says it's worth that, but someone will only give you $100, well the item is only really worth $100 (or if you don't want to sell it to the highest bidder, it's worth more to you than it is to any potential buyer). So, how might you know a more "authentic" value for your item? I suggest you spend some time searching eBay. Search for items similar to the one you have. Watch them and see what they go for. Also, in the search field you can specify that you want to search only for completed items. Currently eBay allows you to search 90 days of completed items. You may be surprised at the level of consistency a certain item auctioned for. Knowledge Nugget #3: Condition is Everything! It doesn't matter what the item, it will sell for more the better the condition it's in. A quick search of eBay's completed items (in 2006) shows that a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (first appearance of Spider-Man in 1962) with part of the cover torn away sold for $980. A copy in much better condition sold for just under $5,000 the same week. When selling, always be honest about an item's condition, and list all flaws. This will help eliminate any potential problems between buyer and seller. That's all I know, good luck!
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I have an old [fill in the blank]. Can you help me find a buyer?
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Last modified July 20, 2012