Original Chorus Line Collectible Items

[loved_m]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 11:44am

Hi a few years ago i posted and received some helpful suggestions and good links so i thought i would try again - I'm still trying to help a retired musician get the best value for some rare A Chorus Line items including the long-format poster from the Longest Running Show performance... Please forgive me if this is the wrong place, and thank you in advance for your help.

My father was in the original orchestra and i am trying to help him with a little profit for some of his collection, while still holding onto memories. (I love the show and all the original souls who created it.)

In addition to the long-format longest running show (a few in rolls and two framed under glass) posters we have some tee shirts and a few other nice items.

Thank you in any advance and feel free to send private messages as well.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 11:53am

Try listing on EBAY (where you can also find price comparisons), and repost on this thread when you have the link. These items will only have value to someone who truly cares about the show. Though, if the items are not signed by the cast and/or the creative team, I cannot imagine you'd get more than $25 a piece.

[loved_m]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:02pm

Thank you and here is one of the ebay links below - I believe because the Longest Running long-format poster is so rare it is of high value to those who deeply care about the original ACL (I was able to sell 2 a couple years ago for over 300 each which helped a lot with Dad's expenses)...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/124053866861?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

(If that is not the proper link i will retry.)

Thanks again, M.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/20/20 at 12:05pm

First off, take several detailed photographs of the items as this is what collector's want to see regardless of much info you provide.  Second, as mentioned above, look at eBay and other collector sites for similar items so you have an idea what to expect on prices.  Remember, just because someone is listing something at a certain price doesn't necessarily mean that it will be sold at that price.  I can list a dog-earred/missing pages FUNNY GIRL Playbill with Streisand at $3000, but that doesn't mean someone will buy it.  You need to be realistic.  Also, collector's items aren't as valuable as they were 30 years ago due to the internet connecting people so the once-rare isn't rare anymore.  

There's a door-size poster of this performance listed on eBay.  It has a Buy Now at $520 with a start bid of $398.  There are zero bids so that should give you an idea that no one is interested in paying that let alone $520.    

https://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Chorus-Line-Poster-72-X-16-Longest-Running-Show-on-Broadway-1983-Rare-Scarce/124053866861?hash=item1ce22fc96d:g:62cAAOSwqCtd4yzR

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/21/20 at 12:20am

I think, to play into the psychology of eBay, you need to get as many people as possible considering themselves the future owner of this item, as they outbid one another and add it to their watch lists. Only then do you get the outrageous last-minute bids where the price goes through the roof. I once sold Broadway magnets, and people were bidding $500 at the end, just to ensure they had the high bid (just to ensure they were one bid increment higher than anyone else, not that they intended to pay $500, although a few got nailed by other people doing the same with other outrageous prices). Personally, I pitch every auction on eBay with a starting price of a penny. That will get you the highest number of bidders and watchers, and watchers are more important in the long run, since eBay will keep emailing them and reminding them about the item while it is listed.

If you price something high, it is just sitting there waiting for someone who wants it at that price. And the longer it sits there at that price, the more they will think they can get it for less.

For items like this, the value is only what someone will pay, no matter what you might think it is worth. It is also completely random. I've had something not sell for a penny in one auction, end up in a bidding war when I relist it and it going for $50+.

There is really no rhyme or reason to these things.