12 Things We Used to Collect That No One Cares About Anymore
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Collecting things used to be a popular hobby, with people amassing all sorts of items. But times change, and so do our interests. Many collections that were once prized are now gathering dust in attics or have been forgotten entirely. Let’s look at some things people used to collect that have lost their appeal over the years.
Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies were once a huge craze, with people hoarding these stuffed animals hoping they’d become valuable. The bubble burst, and now most Beanie Babies are worth very little. Many people have boxes of these toys stored away, no longer of interest to collectors.
Phone Cards
Before cell phones were common, people collected prepaid phone cards. They often featured interesting designs or commemorated special events. Now that everyone has a mobile phone, these cards have become obsolete and are rarely sought after.
Pogs
Pogs were a popular game and collectible item in the 1990s. Kids would trade and play with these cardboard discs, building large collections. The fad died out quickly, and now Pogs are mostly remembered as a nostalgic curiosity rather than a valued collectible.
CD Collections
Many people took pride in their extensive CD collections, carefully organizing and displaying their music. With the rise of digital music and streaming services, physical CDs have lost their appeal. Large CD collections are now often seen as clutter rather than a point of pride.
Stamp Collections
Stamp collecting was once a respected hobby, with people carefully curating albums of rare and interesting stamps. While some still collect stamps, the hobby has declined significantly. Email and digital communication have made stamps less relevant in daily life.
VHS Tapes
Some people built large collections of movies on VHS tapes. These collections became obsolete with the advent of DVDs and later streaming services. Most VHS tapes are now worthless, with few exceptions for rare or collectible editions.
Baseball Cards
Collecting baseball cards was a huge pastime, with people hoping to find rare cards that would increase in value. While some vintage cards are still valuable, most modern baseball card collections are worth very little. The market became oversaturated, and interest waned.
Matchbooks
Collecting matchbooks from different places was once a popular hobby. People would save matchbooks from restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions they visited. With smoking less common and stricter fire safety rules, matchbooks are less available and the hobby has declined.
Porcelain Dolls
Porcelain doll collections were once prized possessions, often passed down through generations. These delicate dolls have fallen out of fashion, with many people finding them creepy rather than charming. Large collections are now hard to sell or give away.
Thimbles
Collecting decorative thimbles was a niche hobby that has largely disappeared. People would buy thimbles as souvenirs from places they visited. With sewing less common as a household skill, thimbles have lost their practical and collectible appeal.
AOL Free Trial CDs
In the early days of the internet, AOL mailed out millions of free trial CDs. Some people started collecting these as a joke or a snapshot of the era. Now, these CDs are mostly seen as junk, with little nostalgic or monetary value.
Troll Dolls
Troll dolls with their wild hair were popular collectibles in the 1960s and again in the 1990s. People would collect different sizes and hair colors. While they occasionally see a resurgence in pop culture, large collections of troll dolls are no longer desirable for most people.
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