They were a “thing” around here (Ohio). Of course, Ohio is the home of Longaberger! Dresden is probably 2.5 hours away and people were always arranging bus trips (pay $10, board a bus to drive down to basket heaven) full of people to go down.
@EarlVanDorn I am from that area of the country. I moved from Newark, OH back in 2002 which was at the end of the Longaberger heyday. I remember the barn being moved to Dresden because I used to live about a block from the barn as a youth in Newark. I watched as it was disassembled and then went to Dresden as it was being put back up. I watched as they built their (unique) headquarters and remember when David Longaberger purchased the 15000 square ft. mansion in Granville. The company still exists though a fraction of what it once was for just the reason being discussed. They produced so many of them that they became essentially ubiquitous so you can purchase used ones for far less than new ones. Newark is worried for the future of the headquarters building. It’s uniqueness may cause it to become an albatross. We own couple of their baskets. We’ll keep them where they are useful or ornamental.
So many things that people collected are worth so little today … Cabbage Patch dolls, Beanie Babies, American Girl dolls, Longaberger baskets … what else can you think of?
I never bought a longaberger basket because they were “collectible.” I just thought they were useful, like all the Pampered Chef stuff I bought over the years. I admit the baskets were overpriced, but mine are still useful enough - especially to be used inside of cabinets for storage.
Muffy Vanderbear
Barbies
Contemporary art by emerging artists bought at galleries and attempting to sell at auction. Gigantic spread, for the most part, but with rare and spectacular exceptions.
Really, anything that is mass produced is unlikely to hold its value. It is a fool’s game to think that a mass-produced “collectible” bought new is any sort of “investment.”
And even the kinds of things that are likely to retain their value or rise in value --certain fine art for example – is not likely to yield a profit when you factor in sales commissions through dealers or seller’s premiums at auctions. Not to mention taxes, moral rights payments, etc.
I gave away the Beanie Babies years ago. D is keeping the American Girl dolls to pass down someday. Not to make money with or as collectors items just as nicely made toys.
Happy Meal toys. 
Dept. 56 Christmas Villages.
My mother was so taken with these that she bought me and both my siblings a “starter set” of 6 pieces (church, store, school and 3 houses). Two of us sold ours after the villages remained in their boxes in a closet for 3 Christmases in a row. My sister still has hers “somewhere in the garage” 25 years later…
ETA: Just one more plug for the Longaberger ceramics. I have two sets of the mugs, one I bought and one was a gift, and one pie plate. They are 20+ years old and have held up incredibly well. I still get compliments when I entertain with them.
Lladro figurines.
Furniture. Resale shops around here are full of well-made cherry furniture selling for pennies on the dollar paid. We have an older woman at church who doesn’t want to move out of her large house because she’d have to get rid of all her valuable antiques that her kids don’t want. I’m glad not to have to be the one to tell what they eventually sell for.
Hummels. (brilliant Better call Saul episode)
Lladro.
Herend
My baskets are the sweetgrass ones from Charleston. They won’t keep their value, but don’t need to. My sisters and I will be holding on to them for dear life for a few more decades. Mostly because they bring back memories of wonderful family vacations. But also because baskets.
What actually handsomely kept their value… Chanel classic bags. An acquaintance sold hers for more $ than she paid for it - after carrying it for several years. The marketers at Chanel really know how to preserve exclusivity and when to hike their prices.
My elderly parents have a houseful of antiques that my siblings and I don’t want.
^ Not just true for antiques – the millennials don’t want the baby boomer’s furniture either.
The company that bought Longaberger then got rid of the CEO Tami Longaberger.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/10/02/tami-longaberger-sues-former-company.html
Unless the boomer’s furniture is mid-century modern classics from Knoll and Herman Miller. Then their kids will be fighting over it!
“Lladro figurines.”
Oh gosh, you’re right. There was a time when they were “all that.” Now my family has lots of them accumulated over the years and now what - we can look at them, great. But they’re not worth much on the resale market.
I have one, a 4th of July theme, which I bring potluck stuff to 4th of July parties in.
A decade or two ago some of those were worth a lot, I recall an attorney friend saying some of the rarer ones were contested items in divorces she handled.
“A decade or two ago some of those were worth a lot, I recall an attorney friend saying some of the rarer ones were contested items in divorces she handled.”
Basket Cases - lol.
^Good one!
I have several that I use quite a bit. I have one on my kitchen counter that holds my salt, pepper and EVOO bottle. I use the bread and cracker baskets all of the time. Another holds daily medicine bottles. I have about 10 years worth of Christmas baskets that I bought for each of the girls that I just started giving back to them.On Sunday I gave them their 1991 baskets filled with Christmas candles, ornaments and decor items. They are Millennials with Pottery Barn style and they loved them. Have you ever watched Fixer Upper on HGTV??? It is VERY popular with the younger home owners.The designer combines country antiques with a modern flair. Baskets are very prominent in the decor.