Every year I do an observational analysis on the overall antiques and collectibles trade and provide my insights into some of the hottest and some of the not so hottest markets. My last article looked at five collecting categories that went gangbusters in the year 2020 and should do remarkably well in 2021. This article looks at five collecting categories that have been declining in popularity and value as of late. You are welcome to disagree with my findings, as I base this solely on my own observations and experiences within the trade. I try to tread carefully here, but please know that certain collecting categories have been experiencing a downturn for some time, with few exceptions. It should also be noted that the top 1 to 5 percent of some of these categories listed may still be going strong, but that does not mean the overall health of the market in general is gaining traction. In order for a collecting category to survive into the future and prosper, more collectors and enthusiasts need to be entering the market on average than those collectors that are leaving it. Unfortunately, the decline of collecting categories is nothing new, for as I have said before: the only constant in the antiques and collectibles trade is change. 5. Vintage Toy Trains and Model Railroads, in General. I have said this many times before. While a lot of baby-boomers have actively collected in this market for some time, younger collectors are not interested in vintage Lionel and other toy trains. This collecting category is predominantly made up of the over 60 crowd, with few exceptions. Each year the market for these items gets worse and worse, in my opinion and experience. If you are thinking of selling, do your own research and make an informed decision. Most prices will not be rising anytime soon. Advice to collectors: If you are thinking of entering this market because you may have a passion for these items, certain prices are down 30 percent or more. That said, do not think these prices will be going up anytime soon. Use caution and judgment. 4. Vintage Tin Toys and Battery Operated Robots. Yes, the top 5 percent of this market is still going very strong with auction records being broken for the coveted gang of five rare robot toys made by Masudaya and released in limited quantities in the 1950s. Now that I said that, feel free to do a value assessment of the average vintage tin toy or battery-operated robot over the last decade. I guarantee if you chart the prices for most of these items correctly, you will see that most of the average pieces, even if in near mint condition or better, are trending sideways or even losing value. Younger collectors in their 20s coming into the trade in full force are fixated on vintage video games, Pokemon cards, and Magic: The Gathering, not vintage tin toys and robots from the 1950s or later. Advice to collectors: If you regularly read this column, you know that I was once a huge fan of this collecting market. I happily sold my collection through auction in 2017 and have no regrets. Unless you own pieces in the top 5 percent of the market, if you want to maximize profits when you sell, I would advise you to do the same. This market appeals to mostly baby-boomers and the eccentric Generation X collector who was introduced to this market by another older collector. 3. Vintage Metal Lunch Boxes. Several auction companies that used to gladly take these items on consignment have now established conditions for agreeing to consign these items. Now a lot of auction houses will only take vintage metal lunch boxes if the item is in immaculate condition or it is based on a still relevant licensed property like Star Wars or G.I. Joe. Prices are down with some exceptions, and, again, younger collectors are not overly excited to enter this market. Advice to collectors: There was a time when high profile auction houses would take consignment of these items. Today, even metal lunch boxes from once popular 1980s properties like The Muppets or the A-Team are being ignored. Lunch boxes based on Western themes like Gunsmoke sell best on eBay and collecting forums. Star Wars themed vintage lunch boxes, however, always sell well. 2. Vintage Machine-Made Marbles. With names like Akro-Agate, Peltier, and even Christensen Agate, vintage machine-made marbles really started to come into their own at the turn of the millennium when prices for handmade antique marbles started to skyrocket. Today, it is obvious that the truly scarce antique handmade marbles were and are the better investment. To be fair to collectors (as I am one), prices have been stagnant over the last few years, but ask any young collector, and the writing is on the wall. Eventually, these are going to go the way of eight-track tapes, with few exceptions. Advice to collectors: If a regional or high profile auction house agrees to take loose, but near mint of better machine made marbles in the year 2021, consider yourself lucky. Your best bet is to sell online. If you have boxed sets of these marbles and they are in excellent or near mint condition or better, certain top tier auction houses will still take them on consignment, and they will sell. Note to any new collectors: Pay up and go after the true handmade antique marbles that are truly scarce. 1. PEZ Dispensers. I will most likely be hated for this list, but this being the number one entry is going to rub a lot of collectors the hardest. PEZ was all the rage and even went through a massive speculative bubble in the 1990s with the advent of eBay. Today, even vintage pieces are not being accepted by most well respected auction houses. Be very careful in this market going forward. Ironically, there is some demand for dispensers from the 1980s and 1990s. Advice to collectors: The market is not coming back. The prices on most vintage pieces from the 1960s and 1970s are equal to what collectors were paying in the late 1990s. Face it, younger collectors are no longer interested in PEZ. In conclusion, I understand that this list is a hard pill to swallow for all of us. However, with careful study I think you will find these assessments accurate in a market where the future belongs to millennials. Thank you for reading. Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.