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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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4

Tight Times Force Sentimental Sell-Offs

But many make far less than they'd hoped from collectibles

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(Newser) – With money tight, many are seeking to part with collectibles they’d hoped to hold onto—and reaping smaller rewards than they’d expected, the Chicago Tribune reports. “I wanted my daughter to have some sort of family heirloom. It can’t be that way right now,” said a woman selling her Beanie Babies collection, which she’d hoped would help with college tuition, for just $100.

“One can make the safe assumption that a lot of people are liquidating what they can get rid of, even if it is sentimental,” said an eBay manager. Collectibles postings at the online auctioneer jumped 8% in the fall—but the figure was accompanied by a 12% drop in transactions last year. “I am disappointed,” said a man who sold sports memorabilia. “But being a father is more important than holding on to figurines.”

Alan Rutledge, left, talks with a customer at his comic-book booth at the WonderCon 2009 convention in San Francisco, Feb. 27, 2009.
Alan Rutledge, left, talks with a customer at his comic-book booth at the WonderCon 2009 convention in San Francisco, Feb. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo)
An authentic Beanie Baby is seen on display at eBay's San Jose, Calif., headquarters.
An authentic Beanie Baby is seen on display at eBay's San Jose, Calif., headquarters.   (AP Photo)
The June, 1938, cover of Action Comics is shown. The issue that was first featured the character
The June, 1938, cover of Action Comics is shown. The issue that was first featured the character "Superman."   (Metropolis Collectibles)
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skeptik
Apr 13, 09 11:09 AM CDT
Invested her kids college tuition nest egg in Beanie Babies? Wow, what a sound financial decision that was. Maybe she should take the money & use it for birth control so we don't end up with another generation of morons. Reply
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atomick
Apr 13, 09 2:50 PM CDT
It's important to have heirlooms. "This worthless piece of 90's kitsch belonged to your great-great grandmother, and now I'm passing on this crap to you." Reply
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Technicolor
Apr 13, 09 6:44 PM CDT
Tight times apparently lead to getting rid of useless crap. If only my girlfriend could see it that way. Reply
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radnip
Apr 17, 09 4:53 AM CDT
I think what's coming out in this economy is the stupidity hiding amongst us humans. Reply
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