New toy trends and fads pop up every day, but not all of them amount to anything a few years down the line. Those that do, though, can end up being rather valuable collectibles. If you saw our recent article 40 years of iconic toys and what they’re worth now, you probably noticed that the more modern toys are worth a lot less than you probably paid for them when they launched. But, will any of these top noughties toys turn their fortunes around in a few years? Here’s our take on it.
What makes toys valuable?
There are two main factors that contribute to the value of a toy at any given time. How scarce is it, and what condition is it in? First, let’s tackle condition. Logically, the better condition a toy is in, the more of its value it will retain, and the more it’ll appreciate over the years. Toys kept in mint condition, boxes and all, are invariably worth the most. However, many of us don’t consider the future value of our toys when we buy them, so we tear of the packaging and set about enjoying (read: destroying) our toys. This is where scarcity comes in. The less of an item that’s available, the more it becomes worth to those who want to get their hands on it.
At the moment, most top noughties toys are still reasonably easy to get hold of, limiting their value. However, as the years go on, they will become more scarce, and therefore worth more to collectors. Eventually, if you’ve kept hold of something that’s become pretty rare, and it’s in good condition, then you could be sitting on a little goldmine!
Remember: Any vintage or collectible items you sell are only worth what somebody is willing to pay for them, and you can never guarantee to hit the jackpot or achieve a certain return.
Will your top noughties toys be valuable in a few years?
As we’ve seen how valuable the toys of the past have become, many of us have grown more mindful of how much our top noughties toys might end up being worth. Some people even buy two of things – one to use as normal, and one to keep as a collectible! Because of these people, original items that are still in their boxes are not too difficult to come by. Items being easily available in top condition is a dream for collectors. But, not so much if you have one to flog. It’s quite likely that it’ll take longer than you expect for your noughties toys to reach their peak vintage value. Be prepared to hang onto them for a while yet!
Games consoles
The noughties was the decade that launched several iconic games consoles. In our research, the Nintendo DS, PS3, Xbox 360 and of course, the Nintendo Wii all featured among the top toys of the decade. All of these consoles have since been superseded by upgraded versions packed full of cutting edge technology. This means they’re pretty cheap to get hold of at the moment, but are a long way from reversing the decline and becoming valuable vintage items. In fact, gaming website Polygon predicts that it’ll be 2043 before the top consoles of the noughties reach vintage status and get some of their value back.
Games for these consoles, however, will see their prices rise first, thanks to what Polygon call the “pre-collectible” period. We’ve all found ourselves unearthing an old favourite in our parents’ attic and, overcome with nostalgia, playing with it again. That’s what this is, and this period of nostalgia prompts prices to start climbing back up. Either way, though, it looks like you’ve got 15-20 years to hang onto your consoles before they reach their vintage peak.
Beyblades
Image courtesy of Cristina Bejarano / Creative Commons
Beyblades stormed onto the toy scene in the early noughties and became one of the top selling toys of 2002. A kind of new-age spinning top, Beyblades came in different types – attack, defence, endurance and combination – and had different systems depending on the generation of blades they came from. On top of that, Beyblades had interchangeable parts. This allowed owners to make their Beyblades unique and formidable battle opponents in a Beystadium. Beyblades became so popular that a Manga series of comics was produced to promote the toys.
Over the years, various generations of Beyblades have been released. Each new generation featured limited numbers of each design. This makes certain Beyblades very desirable, and consequently valuable, to collectors and enthusiasts. In fact, Beyblades are one of the few toys that our research revealed to have increased in value since their heyday.
To give a couple of examples, the Dranzer GT Beyblade from the original generation is extremely sought after. It routinely sells for over £200 on sites like eBay. Even more rare is the discontinued Shining God MS Beyblade, which was among the last of the original generation released by Takara Tomy. This Beyblade is currently selling on eBay for over £1000. Not bad for something that would’ve set you back just £6 in the early noughties!
Bratz dolls
Barbie has set a precedent for becoming rather valuable to collectors over the years. So, you’d be forgiven for thinking the same applied to other brands of dolls. A little like Beyblades, Bratz dolls have gone through several different generations since their first release in 2001. Their success prompted various spin-offs, such as Baby Bratz and Bratz Boyz. The franchise enjoyed such success that there were even films, TV shows and more about the Bratz characters! But, does the popularity of these dolls mean they’ll be worth anything to collectors?
So far, Bratz dolls haven’t appreciated in value. The average doll sells for about £18, less than it’s original RRP of £24.99. However, as original edition dolls in good condition become more scarce, their value will likely go up. Original edition dolls in mint condition are listed on eBay for upwards of £100, but will they sell for that? Time will tell.
Apple technology
While not technically toys, the noughties was also the decade of must-have Apple gadgets. The iPod, iPad and iPhone all launched between 2000 and 2010, and were revolutionary when they launched. As such, they’ve become prized collectibles to some fans. A boxed 1st generation iPod can sell for up to £2500 on eBay – roughly an 8x return on its original RRP of just under £300. Meanwhile the original iPhone, which launched in 2007, has been reported to be selling on eBay for up to $8500 (£6500, roughly), since it’s now a collector’s item!
However the iPad, which is the most recent of these gadgets to launch, hasn’t attained collector’s status in the same way – yet. We’re now on the 6th or 7th generation of iPad, while the iPhone and iPad have gone through a lot more iterations. That’s not to say they’re completely worthless, though. While their value has depreciated significantly, you can still flog a working 1st generation iPad on eBay for around £50.
Have you been holding onto any of these hidden valuables? Don’t forget to check out the full list of all the most iconic toys of the last 40 years!
