BSA Sea Scout Buttons, value?

[Sigilini]

Hello all,

I have a set of 7 vintage Sea Scout buttons and I was hoping for some feedback on value.

I searched high and low and I see a set like mine that sold on auction for about 10.00. But I don’t consider that a baseline price since it was auction with only one bid.

There are no other listings for Sea Scout buttons, mine would be the only listing.

There is a set of two, brand new (contemporary) hat pins for 19.99.

If you were to list 7 Sea Scout buttons what would you want for them?

Thank you very much for your feedback, it is always invaluable and appreciated.

https://imgur.com/a/2ijoEEM#Rx4Cvp5

[Jay]

If you want to be patient and test the waters, put $100 and “make offer”. Or whatever high price you think they could be worth.

If you really think they’re super valuable and rare, list one button with quantity.

[Sigilini]

Good morning Jay, thank you very much for the feed back.

I have never sold buttons before so I don’t yet have a feel for value. I see Boy Scout buttons but they are not rare and they worth about 5.00-25.00.

My Sea Scout buttons are rare so I was thinking of listing the lot for 24.95 but then I thought I might be under valuing, and then I thought of listing for $50.00 and I wondered if I was over shooting the mark.

I am trying to get a feel for what they might be worth by comparing what I think with what some others might think about this.

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.

[Jay]

Understood. I dont get a sense these are crazy valuable. Cool, but not priceless.

Just like any other item you sell, I’m sure you just make an educated guess and list. Getting $5 for any button is an amazing price.

[Sharyn]

I don’t see buttons on the Sea Scout uniforms available on eBay. I wonder where they came from. Maybe an adult uniform?

The uniforms are going from about $65 to $100, so I would put the buttons at a lower price. Maybe $100 is too high; maybe $50 OBO?

I have sold some BSA stuff before, both recent and vintage. They do sell, but not at really high prices. I’ve never heard of the sea scout before, so maybe they are a bit more valuable than the regular BSA.

[Jay]

I dont think Sea Scouts are part of BSA:
https://seascout.org/about/
Looks to be a much smaller organization for boys who live near the water.

Here’s info on the uniform:
https://seascout.org/uniforming/

[Sharyn]

Your first link specifically says that they are part of the BSA:

Sea Scouts, BSA is a program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14 to 20.

I’m sure it is a small organization within the BSA. My son was in the Cub Scouts, but didn’t continue. I’ve never heard of the Sea Scouts.

The uniform on your second link doesn’t show any buttons. They all seem to be pull over shirts. I did see more traditional button down shirts and cap buttons in some of the stores that they linked to. The button down shirts did not have specific Sea Scout buttons.

[Jay]

You’re absolutely correct. I missed that info at a glance. I was a boy scout for several years and never heard of them either.

Maybe because they dont sell buttons now, these buttons are valuable. I pint to my initial post of putting a super high price with “make offer”. If rare and valuable, it’ll attract offers from collectors and help set the price.

[Sigilini]

Thank you for the feedback, very very helpful, as usual.

[Steve List]

Probably too late to help, but from Worth Point, the below pair sold for $16 on June 1, 2018
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-boy-scouts-sea-scouts-nickle-1930838191
the below five sold for $14.99 on April 30, 2018
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/six-vintage-sea-scout-uniform-buttons-1926150896
this group of 4 pre-1935 buttons sold for $14.99 on May 29, 2019.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/early-pre-1935-bsa-boy-sea-scouts-2002125307

No idea if the above were buy it now or auction. I thing I’d shoot for $5-$8 each.

[Sigilini]

Thank you Steve, not too late at all! Thank you for taking the time to look at WorthPoint that is super helpful and appreciated! I have them listed for 50.00 with best offer. I already have three people watching them so I am taking off the best offer now that I have your info.

Sigilini

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by Sigilini.

[debitendcredits]

I’m with Jay – when in doubt set a very high price (too high). Then wait a week. If your item has interest value the collectors will start to watch the item and send offers. After 1 or 2 weeks if there isn’t any interest drop to something more reasonable.

[Sigilini]

DebitendCredits: Thank you! Right how I have three watchers, item was listed three days ago. And I am the only one on Ebay with those buttons right now.

It always makes me uneasy to go crazy with the price — I don’t have the courage that Ryanne and Jay have — but I am game to do the experiment. I will change the listing to 100.00 with best offer and see what happens…

[debitendcredits]

I think 100 is reasonable. Wait a few days and start sending offers to the watchers. If you send a $50.00 offer the buyer feels like they are getting a deal 🙂

[Author]

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