Toys

Toys

Toys cover a pretty wide range, for antiques to modern plastic tat; with various items that also come under the heading of collectables or memorabilia along the way. Where and how best to pass it on varies according to the kind of item, ranging from Ebay to Freecycle and Give And Take days.

Categories

Very Rare Antiques – Unlikely in the average household, one would probably have to consult major auctioneers about such things.

Old (but not antique) Toys – Selling on Ebay may be worth a try here, as might giving to a museum.

Collectable Toys Worth Selling – Some ‘Toys’ such as various types of toy car or Beany Bear teddies, have their own fan following who tend to collect the whole range. There are also many toys (dolls, jigsaw puzzles, bags, etc) made as tie-in merchandising for certain television programmes or storybook series, it is possible that some of these (especially if the toys are old – over 20 years) may have some value as memorabilia. In both cases it may be worth trying to sell on Ebay, although do do a background check on past auctions first, to see if similar items have sold, and if so how much for; to ascertain if it is worth putting the item up for auction. Remember if selling on Ebay you do not have to do the selling yourself, there are firms who will do it for you (although some of them may only try the once and if it does not sell the first time they do not relist it).

Toys That Are Collectable But Not Worth Selling Yourself – Newer toys that were part of a merchandising spin-off, or those where a lot were made; are the ones less likely to sell on Ebay. However there may still be collectors out there who would be interested in paying a small sum for these. So giving them to a charity shop or a stall at a fair may be a good option. There is also often a demand for some of the newer toys in this catagory on Freegle, Freecycle, or at a Give And Take Day.

Toys That Are Not Collectables – If in good condition a charity shop will take them, as might a stall at a fair. Freegle, Freecycle or a Give And Take day is also another possibility. For the latter two the toy does not have to be in such good condition, as long as it is in a safe condition for a child to play with. Plastic toys and games may also be donated to children’s hospital, however, it is worth noting that many children’s hospitals cannot accept second-hand soft-toys because these are difficult to disinfect; and obviously in a hospital situation (especially when dealing with children with cancer and such like, they have to be particularly careful about managing the risks of infection.