The memorabilia - drying up?

I don't think that young'uns are into collecting much of anything. Old things don't interest them because they are old and consequently boring.

Old guns are boring because they aren't tacticool. Old tools are boring because they aren't rechargable. Old cars are boring . . .

Phones and videogames. That's it.
 
You should not sale on eBay. Fees and taxes on every sale. Not worth it. From a guy with 1000’s of positive feed backs.
 
"You should not sale on eBay. Fees and taxes on every sale. Not worth it."

I pretty much gave up on sleezbay long ago. When it first started & such,, it was a good place to do some trading.
No longer.
 
I sell quite a bit on eBay. Yes, they end up taking what seems like 20% when all is said and done. However in many instances that is a small price to pay for anonymity, efficiency, and simplicity. I make my starting bid or my “Buy it now” price the least I will be satisfied with after accounting for that 20%. So simple- list item, wait a week, package and ship item, and the money shows up in your account in 2 days.

What’s really fun on eBay is when a couple of buyers try and outbid each other… and you get way more than expected.

One of the biggest benefits of eBay selling is the ease. I don’t have to answer dozens of calls or messages, respond to stupid low offers or offers to trade for 420, meet buyers in parking lots because I don’t want them to see my home, or set aside time to show items and then the buyer never shows.

The only other format they I like for selling is here on the forum. But that’s a limited audience and a specific type of item. I have boxes upon boxes of vintage items, collectibles, and junk that would take me years to list here. I’ve sold hundreds of pieces of Lladro figurines, Limoges china, camera equipment, and LGB and Marklin train stuff on eBay. Over 1200 100% positive feedback. Here’s another example: I did have a for sale post on this forum last year for 90’s 10-22 factory parts- stocks, barrels, small parts. I didn't get a peep here. But I listed them on eBay and got what I consider more than fair prices. That’s the other thing- I can put something on eBay for a stupid high price, and eventually someone will buy it.
 
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Please elucidate. As I understand it, ebay will send me a 1099 and I get to pay tax on that amount unless I can show the cost of the items sold.
It is perfectly legal to recreate lost receipts. Do your best to document what you paid for the items you sold.
 
Really? Citation please. Me typing up a receipt for my 1967 vintage "Little Deuce Coupe" sounds more like fraud.
Really? Citation please. Me typing up a receipt for my 1967 vintage "Little Deuce Coupe" sounds more like fraud.
duece isn't worth much more than 10 bucks..I'm a BB fan, Have the first 4 too I know who david marks is too His Bio by stebbins is outstanding
 
Really? Citation please. Me typing up a receipt for my 1967 vintage "Little Deuce Coupe" sounds more like fraud.
You should seek advice from a professional. Or do your own research. Start with The Cohan Rule, I believe it applies in this case.

Fraud implies false information.

You are documenting true information as best as you can.

From what I understand, it is legal to estimate your expenses, then sign an affidavit. Document anything you can.

In your case selling things that have depreciated drastically makes it easier to show you didn’t make a profit. Try to document that market trend.

As an example. If you were selling beanie babies you bought in the 90’s. Everyone would know you didn’t make a profit.

Worse case, you get audited, they don’t believe you and they dis allow the deduction, you have to pay the tax.

Again, consult a professional.
 
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That’s not fair.

That is a disclaimer not the brush off. I gave you the best info I could. Throw all your collection in the trash, for all I care.

I’m done waisting my time on you.
 
That’s not fair.

That is a disclaimer not the brush off. I gave you the best info I could. Throw all your collection in the trash, for all I care.

I’m done waisting my time on you.

Oh, I am cut to the quick.

If you read about the Cohan Rule, it doesn't say that you can recreate receipts. What it does say is that you can estimate expenses but the IRS can disallow those expenses.

Goodbye Joe. By the "waist" and "waste" have different meanings.
 
I've noticed that empty Ruger gun boxes certainly haven't gone down in value.
About 15 years ago I found an original dark blue Colt factory hinged-lid cardboard shipping box for a 1929 Colt 1911 38 Super, Match with adjustable sights. Mind you, just an empty box.
I bought it for $26 from an obscure online auction house.

I put that box on eBay (after cleaning it up a little and gluing one ripped corner), and it sold for $850 to a Colt collector that obviously had the pistol, but not the original Colt box.
 
When people go to the salvation army or such here they give you a blank receipt. If you itemize on your taxes you can claim whatever you want. Just write down donated 7 pairs of pants and 20 shirts at $10 each. It will never get questioned once in 500 times by the irs.
 
sadly, today's generation can't be bothered with family collections and such so much if it seems to be going into garbage cans, at least from what I see around here . . . . 😖
 
"sadly, today's generation can't be bothered with family collections and such so much if it seems to be going into garbage cans, at least from what I see around here"

That has happened a lot for many years.

Yet,, when it happens enough,, it increases the value of truly rare & hard to find items.
 
tried selling at the local guns shows when I can get to one , and they do NOT move at all for us, quit trying to display and set up at the OGCA years ago when Laura first got sick,,,,,,,still have catalogs left over from the shops back in the 70s and 80's and even newer ,heck few years back Bill E , was 'appleman' here on the forum they quit sending him catalogs, its ALL "online" ..............:(:rolleyes:
I remember when Don W passed and his wife and Lee S tried to sell books and that and he had LOTS , and LOTS of that stuff at the ROCS shows here in OHio......:rolleyes:
His son Brian still takes it to the local Maumee Valley gun show here in Bowling Green,Oh........:cool:
I need another 'Fargo' come over and pick it up, take it all.........and then there's all the parts!!!;)
 
I think a lot of that stuff is cool to look at.

Personally, I am not a collector of ANTYHING. Got a whole bunch of guns but no trend or pattern to them. I try not to duplicate calibers, have a variety to cover all the bases.

Never had the desire to collect coins, magazines, knick-knacks, etc. Wife is the same.

Recently her mom moved from her home to a senior facility, much smaller square footage. She had a huge collection of glass ware from Poland. Neither my wife nor her brother are collectors, they took it to an antique store and got dimes on the dollar.

It sucks but who has the time to try to look up, itemize, and hold onto it long enough to get the best price?
 
Most of my crap has been thrown out each time I re-located....
I remember keeping a 6-pack of Billy Beer that a close friend gave me from a liquor store he owned in Indiana; when he passed on, I threw it out. I do have a few Rugers; but I shoot them, so they aren't collector items (I hope). Saw a neighbor throwing out her deceased husband's stamp collection; I saved them, then sold them for half of face value. I think I netted $600.....She didn't want a penny.
I guess I just don't see the value in "things" like other folk do.
J.
 
Most of my crap has been thrown out each time I re-located....
I remember keeping a 6-pack of Billy Beer that a close friend gave me from a liquor store he owned in Indiana; when he passed on, I threw it out. I do have a few Rugers; but I shoot them, so they aren't collector items (I hope). Saw a neighbor throwing out her deceased husband's stamp collection; I saved them, then sold them for half of face value. I think I netted $600.....She didn't want a penny.
I guess I just don't see the value in "things" like other folk do.
J.
The old joke: I hope my wife doesn't sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them. Also applies to my guitars....
 
Not much Ruger stuff in my collection of "Stuff". I have some from every manufacturer. Mostly I collected ammo boxes. Mainly .22 LR, but some centerfire rifle & handgun and shotgun ammo. Have come to the conclusion that most of the ammo is now for shooting instead of viewing. Besides once the ammo is shot, I still have the boxes to look at on the shelves and display cases. As the ammo prices this course of action seems to make more sense to me.
 
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