Dropped $60 on a vintage Boo Berry inflatable and the seams split in two days
Heads up for anyone hunting old mascot collectibles online. I grabbed a 1998 Boo Berry store display inflatable off a seller in Toledo for 60 bucks, and the thing lost air from three seams before the weekend was over. The guy said it was stored flat in a dry basement, but the plastic was so brittle it cracked when I barely moved it. Your mileage may vary, but ask for a video of it holding air for a full day before you pay.
That line about the plastic being so brittle it cracked when you barely moved it really got me. I used to figure old inflatables were a safe bet since they never got blown up much, so the wear would be low. But hearing your seams split in two days at 60 bucks makes me think age just wrecks the plastic no matter how it was stored. The video of it holding air for a full day idea is smart, and I'd also ask for a close up of the seams so you can see if they're yellowed or flaking. Seems like a lot of these sellers just say dry basement and hope you don't test it.