One my absolute favorite things to do every year is attend vintage toy shows. I've gone to a couple, but the best show by far is the Chicago Vintage Toy Show. I've been going to this show for years, and it's only been growing in popularity. The show takes place twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall). Vendors and dealers come from all over the United States to set up their wares in over 8 buildings, and collectors come from miles to scour the tables of toys.
My luck finding Teddy Ruxpin and Worlds of Wonder toys have been mixed. Some years, there's a number of really good finds (my head-turning Mother Goose) and other years all I've come across is a sad looking Little Bopper and an over-priced busted Teddy.
But throughout all my years attending these shows (and this goes for any time as a toy collector you're thrift store shopping, too) there are a few things you need to know before you attend a show.
1. Know What You Want in Advance
My first show, I wasn't sure what to expect and was nervous about the pressure of looking for and buying pieces for my collection in-person. I ended up seeing way more product than I thought I would, and didn't know where to spend my money! I couldn't decide between pieces, couldn't remember what I really needed back home, and ended up leaving with nothing. It's important to go through your things and plan what you're looking for in advance so you don't come home with things you really could have done without. Looking for something rare? On my list, I'd love to come across a Julie or Pamela doll by Worlds of Wonder. I don't own one, so I make sure to save plenty of pictures on my phone to bring up as I scope out the show.
2. Do Your Research
Always take the time a good two to three weeks before a show to research prices on what you're looking for. This not only gives you the opportunity to keep up to date on what's being sold online (who knows, maybe a stellar piece could become available on eBay prior to the show!), but it can also help you wash out vendors who are selling product way above market average. On top of that, it also can help you evaluate what could be considered a good deal, or what you could possibly resell. Besides checking eBay, it's also important to check your local Craigslist and the Craigslist around the show areas to double check if vendors are selling anything in advance that you could potentially get your hands on before the crowd.
3. Come Prepared
If you don't bring a toolkit of essentials when you go to a toy show, you might as well not go! What good is it to find a Teddy Ruxpin if you have no way to test it? One of the number one things vendors will do is not provide you with batteries or a tape if they're selling an animated toy. However, they can still price the toy as high as one would be if it worked perfectly, and they tell you "I don't know, last I knew it worked, but I haven't tried it in a while. It probably works."
Let me tell you, this is a pricing tactic. Vendors often times will tell you what you want to hear in order to make a sale. It is so important to bring batteries (multiple kinds if you're looking for multiple generations of Teddy's -- AA and C), cables to connect duos like Teddy to Grubby and Mickey to Goofy, a number of *working* cassette tapes and cartridges, and a screw driver with different heads in case you come across a talker that's screwed shut. Pro tip: Buy cheap batteries for testing and a cheap screwdriver at a dollar store like DollarTree.
In the event that you can prove to a vendor that their goods aren't up to par, but you're still interested in buying, politely explain what's wrong with the piece ("I'm sorry, sir, I can tell that this is a three servo Teddy Ruxpin and at least one of the servos in the mouth piece don't seem to be working correctly"), allow them to analyze it themselves, and offer them what you're willing to pay based on your assessment of it being broken. 9 times of out 10 they'll sell it to you at the lower price because you came prepared.
4. Be Confident, Polite, and Personable
It is *totally* okay to haggle. I was shy when I attended my first couple shows, as I had never been around other toy collectors and had typically been pretty shy about my collection. The first few shows I went to, I was too embarrassed to haggle on price, and I'm sure I overpaid. If you've done your research and come prepared, be confident at what you feel a piece is valued at! And if you think you could come in with a reasonable offer, make it! Most of the vendors are not full-time collectors or experts on their piece. Many of them are either too busy and have too much product to price things according to online market trends, or they just know that Teddy Ruxpin was that one toy that showed up on that one Pawn Stars episode that one time, so it must be worth an easy 100 bucks. If it's not reasonable, or you think you can make a deal, ask! Politely, of course. For many of these vendors, this is their full-time job. Lastly, it is completely okay to ask a vendor how they came across a piece. A lot of them acquire them through estate sales or through reselling, but every so often you'll find someone who used to know someone related to Worlds of Wonder, or you'll find someone who can share a fond childhood toy memory with you.
5. Share Your Findings with the Community Online!
One of the coolest moments I had was at a show last year. I spied a Worlds of Wonder Mickey Mouse and was analyzing him. After turning him over and checking out his battery compartment (no corrosion, ftw) I realized another young guy around my age was watching the Mickey, too. He turned to me and said "Hey, that's not a bad price for a Worlds of Wonder Mickey, whether it works or not." I was so stunned (did I really just find another WOW toy enthusiast in the wild, in person!?) that I didn't know what to say and let him walk away. What I should have done is said hey(!) and high-fived him. If you find cool things at a show, share with the community! You can post a Youtube video, post on the Teddy Ruxpin forums, or comment on my blog!
Good luck and enjoy the show!
My luck finding Teddy Ruxpin and Worlds of Wonder toys have been mixed. Some years, there's a number of really good finds (my head-turning Mother Goose) and other years all I've come across is a sad looking Little Bopper and an over-priced busted Teddy.
But throughout all my years attending these shows (and this goes for any time as a toy collector you're thrift store shopping, too) there are a few things you need to know before you attend a show.
1. Know What You Want in Advance
My first show, I wasn't sure what to expect and was nervous about the pressure of looking for and buying pieces for my collection in-person. I ended up seeing way more product than I thought I would, and didn't know where to spend my money! I couldn't decide between pieces, couldn't remember what I really needed back home, and ended up leaving with nothing. It's important to go through your things and plan what you're looking for in advance so you don't come home with things you really could have done without. Looking for something rare? On my list, I'd love to come across a Julie or Pamela doll by Worlds of Wonder. I don't own one, so I make sure to save plenty of pictures on my phone to bring up as I scope out the show.
2. Do Your Research
Always take the time a good two to three weeks before a show to research prices on what you're looking for. This not only gives you the opportunity to keep up to date on what's being sold online (who knows, maybe a stellar piece could become available on eBay prior to the show!), but it can also help you wash out vendors who are selling product way above market average. On top of that, it also can help you evaluate what could be considered a good deal, or what you could possibly resell. Besides checking eBay, it's also important to check your local Craigslist and the Craigslist around the show areas to double check if vendors are selling anything in advance that you could potentially get your hands on before the crowd.
3. Come Prepared
If you don't bring a toolkit of essentials when you go to a toy show, you might as well not go! What good is it to find a Teddy Ruxpin if you have no way to test it? One of the number one things vendors will do is not provide you with batteries or a tape if they're selling an animated toy. However, they can still price the toy as high as one would be if it worked perfectly, and they tell you "I don't know, last I knew it worked, but I haven't tried it in a while. It probably works."
Let me tell you, this is a pricing tactic. Vendors often times will tell you what you want to hear in order to make a sale. It is so important to bring batteries (multiple kinds if you're looking for multiple generations of Teddy's -- AA and C), cables to connect duos like Teddy to Grubby and Mickey to Goofy, a number of *working* cassette tapes and cartridges, and a screw driver with different heads in case you come across a talker that's screwed shut. Pro tip: Buy cheap batteries for testing and a cheap screwdriver at a dollar store like DollarTree.
In the event that you can prove to a vendor that their goods aren't up to par, but you're still interested in buying, politely explain what's wrong with the piece ("I'm sorry, sir, I can tell that this is a three servo Teddy Ruxpin and at least one of the servos in the mouth piece don't seem to be working correctly"), allow them to analyze it themselves, and offer them what you're willing to pay based on your assessment of it being broken. 9 times of out 10 they'll sell it to you at the lower price because you came prepared.
4. Be Confident, Polite, and Personable
It is *totally* okay to haggle. I was shy when I attended my first couple shows, as I had never been around other toy collectors and had typically been pretty shy about my collection. The first few shows I went to, I was too embarrassed to haggle on price, and I'm sure I overpaid. If you've done your research and come prepared, be confident at what you feel a piece is valued at! And if you think you could come in with a reasonable offer, make it! Most of the vendors are not full-time collectors or experts on their piece. Many of them are either too busy and have too much product to price things according to online market trends, or they just know that Teddy Ruxpin was that one toy that showed up on that one Pawn Stars episode that one time, so it must be worth an easy 100 bucks. If it's not reasonable, or you think you can make a deal, ask! Politely, of course. For many of these vendors, this is their full-time job. Lastly, it is completely okay to ask a vendor how they came across a piece. A lot of them acquire them through estate sales or through reselling, but every so often you'll find someone who used to know someone related to Worlds of Wonder, or you'll find someone who can share a fond childhood toy memory with you.
5. Share Your Findings with the Community Online!
One of the coolest moments I had was at a show last year. I spied a Worlds of Wonder Mickey Mouse and was analyzing him. After turning him over and checking out his battery compartment (no corrosion, ftw) I realized another young guy around my age was watching the Mickey, too. He turned to me and said "Hey, that's not a bad price for a Worlds of Wonder Mickey, whether it works or not." I was so stunned (did I really just find another WOW toy enthusiast in the wild, in person!?) that I didn't know what to say and let him walk away. What I should have done is said hey(!) and high-fived him. If you find cool things at a show, share with the community! You can post a Youtube video, post on the Teddy Ruxpin forums, or comment on my blog!
Good luck and enjoy the show!