What Sells: Alcohol Related Collectibles
Alcohol-Related Items
Collectors of breweriana and cocktail memorabilia relish finding that rare bottle
of spirits with its label intact and its contents relatively untouched.
What Sells
The range of alcohol-related items sold online includes:
- Advertising and promotional items (posters, neon signs, etc.) from bars, breweries,
wineries and liquor companies
- Beer cans, steins, tap handles and other “breweriana”
- Coolers and refrigerators
- Figural liquor decanters
- Old or rare liquor bottles
- Vintage cocktail shakers, swizzle sticks, shot glasses and other barware (1960s
Tiki-themed items are very trendy)
Online Marketplace Restrictions
Online marketplaces generally allow the sale of unopened bottles, decanters and
other vessels containing alcohol so long as the container is more valuable than
the contents (i.e., the container can’t be purchased at a local liquor store or
supermarket). If you sell a container with alcohol, you must put a disclaimer in
your listing stating that the contents are not intended for consumption (don’t empty
the contents, as this may lower the value for collectors). Also state that you will
not sell the item to anyone under 21 years of age. Bottles of wine may only be sold
by sellers who have been pre-approved (generally this is limited to wine merchants,
brokers and other dealers).
Research Resources
The website of the Brewery Collectibles Club of America has information about different
types of beer cans, a grading system and the group’s annual CANvention. Visit the
website at http://www.bcca.com/.
The Beer Stein Collectors International website features a photo gallery, discussion
board and the “Stein of the Month.” Visit the website at http://www.steincollectors.org/.
The Virtual Corkscrew Museum contains photos and information about a wide range
of cork-removal devices. Visit the website at http://www.bullworks.net/.
Condition
Inspect your item for these signs of wear and tear:
- Chips and cracks
- Dented cans
- Leaking fluid
- Missing caps or pull-tabs
- Torn, marked or missing labels
Key Details
Include these details in your listing:
- Brand (Budweiser, Absolut, etc.)
- Type of item
- Age (if known)
Storage and Shipping
If the item contains alcohol (or any liquid), seal it in a Ziplock bag to prevent
fluid from leaking. Never place alcohol near a heat source or in direct sunlight.
The best environment for storing containers that contain alcohol is in a cool, dry,
dark place.
Glass items should always be cushioned with bubble wrap and packing peanuts during
shipment. Some shipping carriers have restrictions on shipping alcohol and other
flammable substances, so check with your carrier before committing to use a given
shipping service.
Neon signs are very delicate and require special crating. Talk to your shipper or
read the following article located at http://www.signweb.com/neon/cont/neonbreak.html for suggestions
on how to package neon for shipping.
