Pram Watch: The Blog of The Pram Museum

I  discussed pram valuation in a previous post.  Here are a few completed listings from eBay as example of issues mentioned in that article.  All of these listings are for post-WWII items (with the possible, but unlikely, exception of the Pedigree, which I haven’t specifically tracked down); partly because that’s my focus area, but also because wicker carriages, and pre-WWII baby carriages, are another story.  Those are often bought, sold, and displayed as decorations.

In contrast, post-WWII buggies are generally bought as “nostalgia” items by people who remember them from childhood, or because the intention is to use them as quaint transportation for a modern baby, which means that they appeal to a different market.

These are all of the relevant completed listings.  All were pulled on a single, recent, day.  All prices are in USD (US dollars).

Did sell, Danish Odder pram, for $49, plus $85-100 shipping (but note that the buyer may have made private arrangements to pick-up):

Did sell, Emmaljunga, modern-style, with carriage body, basket, and seat, $27  (shipping $80, but may have been picked up locally):

Did sell, Emmaljunga, portabed style,no seat attachment, $85.50, shipping $75:

Note that these last two models are similar, but that the one without the basket, and without the stroller seat, actually sold for more than three times as much as the one with the additional pieces; this is a perfect example of how much a seller is dependent on finding the right buyer, and an idea of how capricious the market can be.  (In addition, the seller of the more expensive pram noted that it had a rather serious rip along the top edge.)

Did sell, Silver Cross, 1980s, $59.99, shipping $133.47, but may have been picked up locally.  (The carriage bed is on backwards; that usually is no help in selling a pram, as the profile isn’t the one that makes most people go “ahhhhh”):

Did sell, Marmet modern blue, $125, local pick up:

Did not sell, Hedstrom stroller, $9.98, local pick up:

Did not sell, Hedstrom lightweight collapsible, 1950s, $74.99, $49.99 shipping.  These older, cheaper-style models are generally difficult to sell, though they had an important place in lower and middle class US homes (and in US pram history):

Did not sell, Stroll-O-Chair, $75 local pick-up, the seller says that he/she paid $200 at antique store:

Did not sell, Silver Cross Kensington, starting bid $124.95, or buy immediately at $149.95, local pick up:

Did not sell, Pedigree, 1940s, $250, gorgeous, the buyer claimed it was made in France (but that’s wrong; it’s English), local pick up:

Did not sell, Inglesina,  $400, shipping $40 (color is not a popular one in the US, the busy, and alarming,  background probably didn’t lend the air of “class” that could have helped  this one appeal to a buyer):

Did not sell, Gendron stroller, pram combination, $50 USD, shipping $100 (in BC, Canada, offered on US eBay, price is USD).  This is another one with the bed put on backwards:

Did not sell,  $80, local pick-up:

Did not sell, Perego, 1979, reserve not met at $278.80, shipping $24.08.  A particularly elegant chassis with 14 inch and 18 inch wheels.  This modern wicker version is usually easier-to-sell than most, but not, apparently, at a high reserve.)  The seller says he/she paid $500 for it when new, from Saks (which would have been just about right):

Did not sell, incorrectly listed as a 1950s model (it’s newer), but vintage, $175 plus $135 shipping:

Did not sell, vintage Perego, $301, shipping $50, carriage configuration:

Same listing, stroller configuration (this model comes as a combination):

This is one of the Perego combinations I refer to above as sometimes selling in the higher price range.  Although this set is beautiful, it didn’t sell.  Go figure (but I’d say the price was too high).  It does appear to be missing the pram apron and the accessory boot for the stroller, but most buyers wouldn’t notice (or, perhaps, care).

Did not sell, 1961 Marmet, $400 local pick up:

Did not sell at $179, a 1973 Babyhood Wonda-Chair, local pickup  (and a favorite USA nostalgia item).  $700 in 1973:

This sale included all the available pieces to the full set (ie, many different parts for a large number of configurations), except the optional car seat.  The original booklet was also included.  These sets (Babyhood, Stroll-O-Chair) are amazing, but virtually impossible to give away, much less sell.  Still, it’s always worth trying, although Craigslist is a much better bet when there are so many heavy parts to consider.

Note that eBay sellers are notorious (at least in my mind) for inaccurate listings.  A number of items I surveyed on this particular day were incorrectly described as “baby carriages”, when, in fact, they were “doll carriages”.  Those weren’t included in this selection; doll buggies are a rather different market than full-sized baby carriages or strollers. Stated ages were often wrong; and, despite seller claims, none of these buggies are “leather”.  But that’s a post for another day.

The last paragraph of my previous post bears repeating:

Strollers, whether a $1,000 Orbit, a Stokke or whatever, are not an investment.  They are transportation.  Nor is that vintage pram you  covet an investment.  If you love it, buy it and hope you can sell it if you need to, or want to, but don’t expect it to appreciate in value;  that’s extremely unlikely to happen.

Even your trendy Bugaboo only has value as long as a market exists; if it hasn’t been beaten up too much in use; if there aren’t a huge number of similar used ones available; and if there are people with disposable income who want to buy one.  And even then, you won’t set the price; the market will.  And it won’t be nearly what you paid for it new, almost certainly.

This post is the first of two.  The second post, which will show up in a few days, will give some examples of what I discuss here.

The  most common question sent to me, as Curator of The Pram Museum, is the one above:  “What is my stroller/pram/carriage worth?”  There’s a short answer, and a long answer.  The short answer is this one:

It’s worth what someone will pay for it.  No more.

Here’s the long answer:

With rare exceptions, the most popular models (the ones that look like  pretty, usable, or classic baby carriages) generally sell for from 30 to 60 dollars, occasionally up to 100 dollars.  But — and it’s a huge qualification — that’s if they sell at all.

As strange as it seems, sometimes it’s impossible to give a pram away.

The problem is finding someone who will buy it.  Does that sound odd?  Doesn’t everyone love old prams?  Well, yes.  Loving a pram, though, is a completely different matter than storing one. Few people have the room to store a buggy the size of a small couch, or, these days, a lifestyle that lets them use a baby’s vehicle that’s larger and bulkier than an adult mountain bike.   For instance, you won’t be putting a pram into the back of a mini-van if anyone else needs a seat.

As a result, valuing a pram or vintage carriage or stroller is tricky.  In general, the values I cite above are accurate, with a few exceptions.  Currently, one exception would be the more modern prams from the 1970s and later made by Perego — which can go as high as $200.00 [USD] if they are in excellent shape and/or come with the complete stroller attachments as well as the pram bodies.

Peregos  may sell better than other brands because the brand is a current one — Peg Perego makes hugely popular contemporary strollers and has an excellent reputation for quality, both now and then.  Another exception, though, is any clean, attractive, pram that looks usable for a modern baby; the price point always may be higher if someone actually intends to use the carriage.  Used Emmaljungas from the 1980s and 1990s may bring a slightly higher price, too.

Another exception is the Inglesina classic prams, which are still sold, new, in the USA.  Used Inglesinas, with or without the corresponding stroller seat, often sell for $400 to $600.  (Depending on the model, a new set costs around $1,000.)  And there’s always another exception — the buyer who falls in love with yours and must have it, no matter the price.  It’s rare, but it does happen.  The sky can be the limit in this case — but it’s a very rare exception.

In other words, it’s always possible that you might find a buyer who would pay  more than is typical — maybe a lot more.  But, it’s not likely, and it’s finding the buyer that is the issue.

Even if you do find a buyer, geography can be a significant obstacle.  Some strollers can be shipped conventionally with careful packing (I’ve done it myself; others have also shipped foldable models to me this way.)  Full-size carriages and prams are another matter.

Vintage Peregos can be broken down carefully, if you know how to do it, and shipped in several cartons — but they’re still heavy, and it’s expensive.  Other vintage prams must be crated, and shipped by bus, train, or truck, often at a cost of several hundred dollars or more — along with a lot of inconvenience.  (You may need a truck yourself to pick it up at a freight depot.)  Most people aren’t willing to go to these lengths to own a baby carriage that they’ll use for only a brief period of time.

Collectors are a different matter, but, even for collectors, the transportation issue isn’t trivial.  We’ve taken some crazy trips ourselves to pick up prams, but even we have had to pass up some lovely things when geography proved too much of an obstacle.

Strollers, whether a $1,000 Orbit, a Stokke, or whatever, are not an investment.  They are transportation.  Nor is that vintage pram you  covet an investment.  If you love it, buy it and hope you can sell it if you need to, or want to, but don’t expect it to appreciate in value; that’s extremely unlikely to happen.

Even your trendy Bugaboo only has value as long as a market exists; if it hasn’t been beaten up too much in use; if there aren’t a huge number of similar used ones available; and if there are people with disposable income who want to buy one.  And even then, you won’t set the price; the market will.  And it won’t be nearly what you paid for it new, almost certainly.

Related:  What’s It Worth?  Part 2