$ Price Check $ Are people still buying?

[CloverBlossom]

This feels like a dumb question to ask on an MLP forum, but I haven't collected in 15 years and I think I'm ready to sell my large-ish G1 collection. I guess I want to know if people are still buying ponies. I have 400+ in my collection. I don't think I have the time or interest to be a full-time seller and get top-dollar for them, but I also don't want to throw them out (they'd still be useful at a daycare or goodwill, I know kids or customizers might like them). They're all pre-owned (obviously) and most of them are in fairly-good to played-with condition, as opposed to mint or pretty condition (such as with washed and styled hair).

Should I consider selling the whole collection to a someone who has an online store to give them inventory and finally free up space in my house, or should I just bite the bullet and stumble my way through the Dark Forest of Ebay myself?

 

[peepersponies]

Absolutely! You can sell them all here on the "want to sell" board, and experienced collectors can even advise you on prices and such in the "Price Check" board!

 

[Draco]

I’d love to see what you have available! I know it’s a daunting task for so many ponies but I’m sure collectors here would love a peek

 

[Rebeldream]

Agreed with wanting a peek here!

 

[CloverBlossom]

Well, ok then, sounds like there's some interest. I'll take another look at the Pony Selling FAQ. And prep a space in my guest room for taking pics. It would be nice to sell here to collectors. Thank you for your responses.

These are some pictures I took back in 2008. (I was so proud of my collection back then, I feel nostalgic about it now.) I bet if I could just create a photo album for myself, I wouldn't feel so bad selling these girls.

Actually, if any of you could give me tips for what settings to use for my phone camera. Like lighting, or file size. I did some individual pictures of a maybe 50 of them years ago, but the light is a little more yellow than other pics I've seen. I may need to shine a brighter lamp on them. And of course people will want current pics of them. A lot of them have migrated from the bookshelves to tote bins.

 

[Twinkle-eye]

So many lovelies!

 

[OctoberMoon]

We can certainly help you clean your house out lol.

 

[Daintress]

I am definitely still buying ponies. Lol! Feels pretty constant. I should cut back, but...there are so many I don't have!

 

[Stellaluna]

That's a beautiful collection!

I wish I could offer camera tips, but I'm pretty bad at taking pony photos myself. I just know that lots of natural light usually looks good.

There are folks on here that are super skilled with photography that may have some tips for you!

 

[Draco]

You have a few I'd be interested in!

As for photo tips, I wouldn't worry too much about the settings as long as you photograph all the flaws (any marks, chewed spots, ect) and the photos are clear. natural light would be best.

 

[CloverBlossom]

You have a few I'd be interested in!

As for photo tips, I wouldn't worry too much about the settings as long as you photograph all the flaws (any marks, chewed spots, ect) and the photos are clear. natural light would be best.

Good tips. Natural light is best, and photograph flaws. This will take some time and work. But at least I already know their names and such.

Thank you all. You've been so helpful.

 

[LadyMoondancer]

What a beautiful collection! People are definitely still buying! If you want to sell everything at once, you'll make less money. (People don't pay full price-per-pony in lots, which is what make lots appealing.) But that is the fastest way to sell everything. Selling individually will make you the most money, but will take more time . . . both in the sense that it may take a long time to get buyers for every pony and in the sense that you will be spending a lot of time packaging up ponies. You could also sell in small lots (maybe by set, like "the Sundae Best ponies", "the Sparkle ponies".)

My advice: On USPS.gov you can schedule package pickups; your mail carrier will take pre-paid-postage packages at the same time as they deliver your mail. This is an amazing time-saver! If you sell on eBay or Mercari they will generate the postage label for you and you just have to print it; if you sell privately then you can purchase & print postage directly from USPS.gov.

You will also need a mail scale. They are pretty inexpensive.

Also, you can purchase padded envelope mailers in bulk from Amazon.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[CloverBlossom]

What a beautiful collection! People are definitely still buying! If you want to sell everything at once, you'll make less money. (People don't pay full price-per-pony in lots, which is what make lots appealing.) But that is the fastest way to sell everything. Selling individually will make you the most money, but will take more time . . . both in the sense that it may take a long time to get buyers for every pony and in the sense that you will be spending a lot of time packaging up ponies. You could also sell in small lots (maybe by set, like "the Sundae Best ponies", "the Sparkle ponies".)

My advice: On USPS.gov you can schedule package pickups; your mail carrier will take pre-paid-postage packages at the same time as they deliver your mail. This is an amazing time-saver! If you sell on eBay or Mercari they will generate the postage label for you and you just have to print it; if you sell privately then you can purchase & print postage directly from USPS.gov.

You will also need a mail scale. They are pretty inexpensive.

Also, you can purchase padded envelope mailers in bulk from Amazon.

Hope this is helpful!

This is great info, thank you! (First of all, sorry for the late reply. I came down with a cold this weekend that really knocked me out. )

Is it safe to mail ponies in padded mailers? I feel like they mostly came to me in boxes, but maybe that's because I tried to buy in lots back when I was collecting.

I realize I will have to weigh the costs and time spent vs. how fast I want to clean out my Pony Room. I know I won't get my whole investment back, but that's okay because it was fun while I was collecting, and I got to play with them with my nieces on holidays. Besides, I think Target might be selling G1 anniversary ponies, so people may not be buying the ones that got remade for a lot.

I guess I should upload pictures of the ponies as they are now...

They're mostly in bins from the last time I played with my nieces a couple years ago.

Thanks all of you for the good advice. I think I ought to go through them and find 50 or so that I'd like to keep and display, and take pictures of the rest to put in a photo album, while I document flaws and such for selling, kill two birds with one stone.

 

[Alstroemeria]

Sorry about the cold! I hope you're feeling much better.

I've had both ponies and accessories shipped in padded mailers. Boxes look nicer but I haven't had anything arrived damaged. It's not like Amazon mailing me glass stuff in a mailer... lol

You had some I was interested in, too, so if you sell on here I might be in for multiples rather then one or two. After your favorites are picked out, of course.

 

[LadyMoondancer]

Wow, those totes of ponies are a beautiful sight! So many ponies!!

It's safe to send ponies in padded envelopes unless there's something especially fragile about them, like flutter ponies with wings, Dream Beauties (because they're hard plastic and could shatter), Summer Wing and Windy Wing ponies because of their butterfly wings, etc. *tries to think of other fragile ponies* I would probably ship Precious Pocket ponies in a box if they had their pocket still.

 

[CloverBlossom]

Yep, that was the reason I didn't put the Summer Wings and Windy Wings in the totes. Didn't want their wings to get bent. I think bubbled mailers should be cheaper than boxes so that might keep costs down. Thank you for the good advice.