A man who regularly scours charity shops for bargain items to resell online recently stumbled upon what he thought was a lucrative discovery: three vintage football sticker albums from the 1960s and 1970s. However, his initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment when he noticed a significant issue with the collectibles.
The Charity Shop Purchase
Chris, a TikTok user known as @flippin_chris, explained that he was drawn to the albums, which were displayed in a locked cabinet typically reserved for rare and expensive items at the charity shop. Intrigued by the potential profit, he decided to invest £15 per album, spending a total of £45 on the three packs. He admitted that curiosity got the better of him, lured by the prospect of selling them on for a handsome return.
The Glaring Problem
Upon closer inspection, Chris realised that the albums were not complete, with many stickers missing. He estimated that each album was only about 70% full, which he believed would make it difficult to sell them for more than £15 each. This left him feeling gutted, as he had hoped to make a quick profit from what he initially thought were unique and rare items.
A Sneaky Workaround
Undeterred, Chris devised a clever plan to salvage his investment. He noticed that the stickers in the albums were not fully stuck down, as they were originally glued only at the top when first issued. He decided to use a hairdryer to carefully remove some of the stickers, with the aim of selling them individually online.
While this might seem counterintuitive, as it would leave the albums even less complete, Chris pointed out that certain individual stickers can fetch substantial amounts on platforms like eBay. For example, he cited a Pele sticker that sold for £31 and another for £42.30, as well as a George Best sticker that commanded £89. By targeting popular players and teams, he believes he can make back his money and potentially earn more by selling the stickers separately, and then also flogging the albums themselves.
Potential Profit from Individual Stickers
Chris acknowledged that removing the stickers would be a challenging and tedious task, describing it as a bit of a hassle. However, he is determined to try and make some money from the venture. He also mentioned that he could sell individual team stickers for a small profit, further boosting his returns.
Community Reaction
In the comments on his TikTok video, viewers expressed support for his plan. One person wrote, Wow, great find. Defo go down the route of selling the individuals, even that Bobby Moore would be worth a few quid I reckon. Another added, Great buy for you with your football enthusiasm and knowledge. I'm sure you will make money splitting them into separates or teams.
This story highlights the risks and rewards of buying items from charity shops with the intent to resell, as well as the creative strategies collectors use to maximise their profits in the vintage memorabilia market.
