Your treasures could be worth a fortune: eBay sees skyrocketing prices for modern collectibles!
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They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But in this day and age, that may actually be the case. Even better – your old hobbies could be worth a fortune if sold to the right audience.
Even though our spending habits may have changed in this current cost-of-living crisis, with many of us tightening our purse strings, shoppers around Australia are still prepared to splash out on certain items.
Although the current climate has made many of us stop and think twice before making large purchases, it seems that when it comes to buying collectibles, some people’s financial approach is far from calculated.
David Ramadge, eBay Australia’s Managing Director, revealed a survey that showed the nation’s collecting habits. In it, consumer confidence was reported to ‘soften’ over the next year, with younger shoppers, in particular, keen to spend on collecting a vast array of accessories and pop culture items.
‘It is really not just your grandad collecting stamps any more, or art, or antiques. It’s modern pop culture. People are collecting sneakers, Lego, luxury handbags,’ Mr Ramadge said.
The research surveyed 3,690 consumers about their interests in collectible items. Together with its corporate consultant Deloitte, eBay revealed that 28 per cent of people see themselves as collectors. This number equates to as much as 5 million Australians if applied to the total population.
Millennials and Generation Z, in particular, are big fans of this trend, with half of the shoppers in these age groups confirming that they collect items on the side.
‘Forty per cent of these collectors are collecting with financial objectives in mind,’ Mr Ramadge said before adding that buyers are strategic, while they fork out money on expensive and limited items.
‘They’re doing it because they’re trying to make money,’ he claimed.
While they aren’t making millions, a ‘decent chunk’ of collectors that answered the survey by eBay shared that they are doing pretty well on getting their return on investment. The median profit on selling collectibles over the past few years ranged between $5,000 and $10,000.
As one of the longest-running online marketplaces in the world, eBay has long been known as a place for shoppers to buy and sell all manner of goods for hobbies – this includes collecting.
However, as COVID-19 forced home-bound consumers towards collecting as a pastime and supply chains have been subject to limitations and other issues, the prices of some in-demand goods skyrocketed.
For instance, in 2019, the average price of a Lego King’s Castle set sold on eBay was $200. In 2022, that price jumped to $600 – a staggering 200 per cent increase.
In 1999, a Pokémon Base Set Charizard 4/102 unlimited holo-trading card usually sold for $300. In 2019, the price increased to $2,400, which is an incredible 790 per cent increase. Imagine how much this trading card is worth now!
Not only that, but designer bags also increased in price over the past three years. A Hermes Kelly 32-centimetre bag would be listed for $6,700 in 2019. But this time around, the product’s average on the retail platform jumped to a whopping $25,800.
In spite of the price increase, Mr Ramadge said that the demand for these goods is going strong, with true-blue collecting enthusiasts looking to build their collections for the long term.
These figures were compared to everyday purchases, such as gadgets and home technology, where consumers were acting more ‘tentatively’.
‘They are delaying an upgrade to the latest phone. They will use those noise-cancelling headphones for one more year. We expect that trend to increase,’ Mr Ramadge remarked.
He remained optimistic about shoppers’ appetite for more eclectic, collectible assets as well.
‘We are seeing this resilience in areas that we call people’s passion or enthusiast areas. These are hobbies and passions for people, and not just commoditised purchases,’ he told reporters.
With that in mind, why not take a look at some boxes you may have tucked away at the back of your closet or items you think may have some monetary value to them? You just never know – you could have a treasure sitting there waiting to be discovered!
For collectors out there – what’s your favourite collectible item? Have you ever made a profit from selling any of your collectibles? Tell us in the comments!
Even though our spending habits may have changed in this current cost-of-living crisis, with many of us tightening our purse strings, shoppers around Australia are still prepared to splash out on certain items.
Although the current climate has made many of us stop and think twice before making large purchases, it seems that when it comes to buying collectibles, some people’s financial approach is far from calculated.
David Ramadge, eBay Australia’s Managing Director, revealed a survey that showed the nation’s collecting habits. In it, consumer confidence was reported to ‘soften’ over the next year, with younger shoppers, in particular, keen to spend on collecting a vast array of accessories and pop culture items.
According to a survey by eBay, younger shoppers are investing in collectibles. Credit: Pixabay/Pexels
‘It is really not just your grandad collecting stamps any more, or art, or antiques. It’s modern pop culture. People are collecting sneakers, Lego, luxury handbags,’ Mr Ramadge said.
The research surveyed 3,690 consumers about their interests in collectible items. Together with its corporate consultant Deloitte, eBay revealed that 28 per cent of people see themselves as collectors. This number equates to as much as 5 million Australians if applied to the total population.
Millennials and Generation Z, in particular, are big fans of this trend, with half of the shoppers in these age groups confirming that they collect items on the side.
‘Forty per cent of these collectors are collecting with financial objectives in mind,’ Mr Ramadge said before adding that buyers are strategic, while they fork out money on expensive and limited items.
‘They’re doing it because they’re trying to make money,’ he claimed.
Many collectors think of their own profits as they continue to buy limited and exclusive items. Credit: Dan Cristian Pădureț/Pexels
While they aren’t making millions, a ‘decent chunk’ of collectors that answered the survey by eBay shared that they are doing pretty well on getting their return on investment. The median profit on selling collectibles over the past few years ranged between $5,000 and $10,000.
As one of the longest-running online marketplaces in the world, eBay has long been known as a place for shoppers to buy and sell all manner of goods for hobbies – this includes collecting.
However, as COVID-19 forced home-bound consumers towards collecting as a pastime and supply chains have been subject to limitations and other issues, the prices of some in-demand goods skyrocketed.
For instance, in 2019, the average price of a Lego King’s Castle set sold on eBay was $200. In 2022, that price jumped to $600 – a staggering 200 per cent increase.
In 1999, a Pokémon Base Set Charizard 4/102 unlimited holo-trading card usually sold for $300. In 2019, the price increased to $2,400, which is an incredible 790 per cent increase. Imagine how much this trading card is worth now!
Not only that, but designer bags also increased in price over the past three years. A Hermes Kelly 32-centimetre bag would be listed for $6,700 in 2019. But this time around, the product’s average on the retail platform jumped to a whopping $25,800.
In spite of the price increase, Mr Ramadge said that the demand for these goods is going strong, with true-blue collecting enthusiasts looking to build their collections for the long term.
These figures were compared to everyday purchases, such as gadgets and home technology, where consumers were acting more ‘tentatively’.
‘They are delaying an upgrade to the latest phone. They will use those noise-cancelling headphones for one more year. We expect that trend to increase,’ Mr Ramadge remarked.
He remained optimistic about shoppers’ appetite for more eclectic, collectible assets as well.
‘We are seeing this resilience in areas that we call people’s passion or enthusiast areas. These are hobbies and passions for people, and not just commoditised purchases,’ he told reporters.
For collectors out there – what’s your favourite collectible item? Have you ever made a profit from selling any of your collectibles? Tell us in the comments!
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