# Collecting Pez Dispensers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256 "2002-07-03T21:14:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleNurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@PurpleNurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleNurple)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/1 "2002-07-03T21:14:41Z")
I am thinking about collecting Pez dispensers and was wondering if they are of any real value to collect unless they are the orginal ones? Plus I was wondering if they are still consdered a collectable out of the wrapper? And last but not least, what is the first pez dispenser ever created? I like the pez dispenser, I think they are a great idea and think that the collecting of them will come back, but right now I don’t see to many in the the stores. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/2 "2002-07-03T21:28:56Z")
I have approximately 85 different varieties of Pez dispensers. (That doesn’t include different colored ones). There isn’t really any money in them. Some of the older ones do have value to hard core collecters, but I don’t think you’d have a chance of seeing one of those. I can’t remember what the first one was. If you do decide to start collecting, keep them inside the packages, or, at the very least, if you can’t stop yourself, Keep the wrappers with each one. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleNurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@PurpleNurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleNurple)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/3 "2002-07-03T21:35:49Z")
Or else I can buy two everytimes so i can play with one and keep the other for collection purposes…I guess it could get kind of expensive. I noticed a lot of these dispensers of the web are strickly bought in the states and I happened to be in Canada so this really sucks. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/4 "2002-07-04T01:40:34Z")
You may be interested in Cecil’s column [What is the meaning of PEZ?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_220.html) > [@](#): > > At first PEZ was sold in pocket-size tins. But in the late 1940s the Haas company introduced the “PEZ box,” a little plastic gadget that dispensed candies one at a time. The dispensers were unadorned, looking something like a disposable lighter. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleNurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@PurpleNurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleNurple)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/5 "2002-07-04T14:32:52Z")
Thanks I will check it out ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/6 "2002-07-04T19:30:53Z")
NEVER, NEVER begin a collection for profit. popularity of items waxes and wanes. Reproductions abound. Condition, and thus price, can vary dramatically due to tiny details. An item may seem valuable due to a generally high _asking price_ , but a much lower price at which the item will actually sell. EG (sorry the specifics elude me at the moment) the Star Trek Phaser Target game has an asking price of $40 to $75. I have never seen one actually sell for more than $30. To the right people, some PEZ are indeed worth quite a bit. A series from the 60’s includes heads molded from the popular Aurora models of the Universal Studio Monsters. Asking price is from $75 to $175 ``` In the 60's PEZ also tried a trippy model. Instead of the usual cartoon head, this PEZ is topped by a hand holding a bloodshot eye. ``` Asking price $150-$300 PEZ made 2 models that resemble cigarette lighters- the golden glow and silver glow. $75-150 I’ve done well buying things at flea markets and garage sales. The prices are low enough to allow me to undersell and still turn a profit. (Kiss Trashcan-cost to me $1 . I sold it for $125.) The few times I bought from other dealers or paid a high price in hope of selling for a still higher asking price, I’ve lost money. ``` Lastly-Gut instinct is everything when dealing with collectables and antiques. If you don't have it, this is definitely not the business for you. ``` ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/7 "2002-07-04T19:39:04Z")
NEVER, NEVER begin a collection for profit. popularity of items waxes and wanes. Reproductions abound. Condition, and thus price, can vary dramatically due to tiny details. An item may seem valuable due to a generally high _asking price_ , but a much lower price at which the item will actually sell. EG (sorry the specifics elude me at the moment) the Star Trek Phaser Target game has an asking price of $40 to $75. I have never seen one actually sell for more than $30. To the right people, some PEZ are indeed worth quite a bit. A series from the 60’s includes heads molded from the popular Aurora models of the Universal Studio Monsters. Asking price is from $75 to $175 ``` In the 60's PEZ also tried a trippy model. Instead of the usual cartoon head, this PEZ is topped by a hand holding a bloodshot eye. ``` Asking price $150-$300 PEZ made 2 models that resemble cigarette lighters- the golden glow and silver glow. $75-150 I’ve done well buying things at flea markets and garage sales. The prices are low enough to allow me to undersell and still turn a profit. (Kiss Trashcan-cost to me $1 . I sold it for $125.) The few times I bought from other dealers or paid a high price in hope of selling for a still higher asking price, I’ve lost money. ``` Lastly-Gut instinct is everything when dealing with collectables and antiques. If you don't have it, this is definitely not the business for you. ``` ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-pez-dispensers/117256/8 "2002-07-04T19:53:03Z")
IIRC the genesis of Ebay was as a way to buy and sell PEZ collectibles. So there was _some_ money (a couple billion) for one PEZ collector and her husband… [The History](http://www.witi4hire.com/companies/372.phtml) > [@](#): > > eBay was conceived initially as a result of a conversation between Pierre Omidyar and his wife, an avid Pez™ collector (she currently covets a collection of more than 400 dispensers). She commented to Pierre how great it would be if she were able to collect Pez dispensers and interact with other collectors over the Internet. > > As an early Internet enthusiast, Pierre knew that people needed a central location to buy and sell unique items and to meet other users with similar interests. He started eBay to fulfill this need. Pierre launched eBay on Labor Day in September 1995.