What Is Hot And What Is Not In Avon Collecting

For the absolute best advise in Avon collecting, nothing can beat something old and in new condition. This of course is the California Perfume Company products. This is the original Avon Product's name from the late 1800's to 1939 when the name was changed to Avon Products Inc. as it remains today. Almost anything in mint condition with the CPC label will sell quickly and usually bring a good price. It's like any other collectible, the older the better. CAPE COD, Mrs. Albee PORCELAIN DOLL AWARDS, DECANTERS, FIGURINES, both men's and women's, STEINS, SOAPS, KID'S TOYS, SETS, AVON REPRESENTATIVE AWARDS, OLD FRAGRANCE LINES both men's and women's, PERFECTION PRODUCTS. OLD MISC. BOTTLES 1935 or older. These are the collectables that are hot if they are older and in mint condition.

What not to Collect for Future Resale

We have removed from my Avon book all items listed because they are mass produced in the millions of pieces and may never have a value for resale. We have left only the older items in each category that is truly rare or harder to find for a collection. Any new items will not be included in this book in the future as collectors just do not want them. We suggest you dispose of them.

Items not to collect are avon jewelry, all tubes, tin cans, misc. bottles, stuffed animals or non porcelain head dolls, any plastic bottles unless it is part of a set or a children's toy, unless it is listed in the book. This goes both for American and Canada and Foreign products. All fragrance lines from 1975 up should be avoided as there is little or no resale market for them. Any Avon item may be collectible after a period of 30 to 50 years. Otherwise when they become a antique. People will buy anything old.

Collect only what you truly enjoy for yourself. You may collect any of the things I have listed as not collectible as long as you understand that there is not much of a resale market for them. Otherwise when you are done with them, dispose of them.

Grading Condition of Avons

People have asked me WHAT A BOTTLE IS WORTH WITHOUT A LABEL. If it's an old bottle where the label is the main thing that identifies the bottle and it is missing, then it's worth whatever you can get, which is usually not too much. If it is a new figural bottle, then it will usually take a few dollars off the price. MINT CONDITION means items must be in new condition as originally sold, with all labels bright and correct, and cap and/or stopper. Items need not be full or boxed, but will bring a higher price in most cases if they are in the box. All items in the book are priced empty in mint condition only with the right cap and all labels. Bottles with no cap or label are of little or no value.

If any Avon is damaged in any way - I would not buy it. Collect only mint Avons and throw away the less than mint ones in the Avon Line. IF ANYTHING IS TOO BADLY DAMAGED, DON'T BUY IT OR SELL IT!

Avon Sets - Many sets have a premium value because they display so well. They are packaged in unusual ways and are much harder to find with perfect box and superior contents. I agree with the statement: Poor box - poor set, subtract 50% to 75% of listed value. A mint box is at least twice as hard to obtain as the mint bottle that came in it. As good as Avon is in packing - order 10 items of the same thing and only 4 will be truly mint boxes and containers. That is: creased or crushed box, corner of label not securely glued. Several people ask about INSURANCE ON BOTTLE COLLECTIONS. Bottle insurance is available through your home owners policy. Check with your local agent.

Bottles will differ in color shades due to various dates in manufacture. It is difficult to get exactly the same color each time. Unless a bottle comes out in a completely different color, it will be of the same value.

THE SILVER METAL SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS WITH AVON PAT.DATE 1926-28, are not Avon Products Inc. items. THE AVON NAME WAS NOT USED UNTIL 1929. The name Avon has been used by several companies and still is. Only the name Avon Products Incorporated is copyrighted.

For the new collectors and to refresh seasoned collectors - we have found collecting, like other investments, has rules to follow for the best results: If you don't like an item, don't buy it no matter how much of a bargain it seems to be. The only good investments are those that are enjoyed.The old goes up in value, or at least retains its resale value. New items take longer to increase in value and stay around longer. Buy it when you see it. If you don't know your dealers, be sure you know your Avons. •

It is acceptable to haggle - it cannot hurt to ask if there is a lower price. Often in a booth or flea market there will be a better price available - don't be timid. Start small and learn the market. Browse, study the Avon Encyclopedia and learn all you can before you start buying. Measure your space - don't be the collector who buys a lot of items only to bring them home with no place to put them. Don't change your item in any way - don't paint it, wash it in water, add lettering, remove labels, etc. . .this may destroy the value.

The above rules are good ones to keep in mind - the advice I've found most helpful is to have FUN while collecting . . .whether it be at a flea market, garage sale, or Avon Collectors Show and Sale or Annual Avon Collectors Convention. Bud would like to have your comments on his new 16th Edition Avon Collector's Encyclopedia™ book, (corrections, price changes, suggestions, etc.)
Send to Bud's Florida address.
Contacting Bud Hastin:
If you would like to contact Bud Hastin direct. Send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to:
Bud Hastin
PO Box 11004
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33339

Always include your area code and phone number and best time to call you. His home phone is 954-566-0691 East Coast Time. No calls before 10am or after 9pm please. You can E-mail Bud at: budhastin@hotmail.com
Bud Hastin will have his own Web Site soon. The web site he now has is not working and has never worked correctly. Go to www.avonpriceguide.com (link will be activated when Bud gives the okay ) after 1 November, 2000.

About the author:
Bud Hastin's is famous in Avon Collecting Circles as the authority on Avon Collecting. His Avon Collector's Encyclopedia is #1 among Avon Collectors. . Bud can be contacted through the information included in the article.

Order Bud Hastin's 16th Edition of the Avon Collector's Encyclopedia now at :
Bud Hastin's Avon & C.P.C. Collector's Encyclopedia : The Official Guide for Avon Bottle Collectors (16th Ed)

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