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British fans who have returned from watching the Olympics in Paris are selling the merchandise online – for a huge mark-up.
Resale sits eBay and Vinted to flog Olympics memorabilia, hoping to make a killing before the fanfare ends.
Merchandise such as cuddly mascot toys, branded cups and printed shopping bags are going for up to five times – and in one case up to 25 times – their original price; as English tourists sell off their personal items to those back home eager to get in on the action.
The famous red Paris 2024 Olympics Plush Mascot, currently available at the official Olympics online store for between £7 and £27 with ‘a code’ has been spotted on Vinted for a whopping £51.10.
Meanwhile a small, 15cm version, which retails for £7.70 at the Olympics shop is being flogged by a private eBay seller for four times the price at £29.99.
The Paris 2024 summer Olympics has been off to a cracking start but now fans are heading to eBay and Vinted to flog Olympics memorabilia (Pictured: The official Olympics online store sells the Paris 2024 mascot – the Phryges – for £7 to £27)
On Vinted the plush mascot is going for a whopping £51.10
A small version is being flogged by a private eBay seller for four times the price at £29.99
The playful, triangular red mascots are called The Phryges and are the official figurines representing the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the French capital this year.
They are inspired by the conical hats – known as liberty caps – that were often worn around the time of the French Revolution in the 18th century.
The Phryges, which come complete with large eyes, a smile, tricolour ribbon and sports shoes, were chosen by the organisers as an ‘allegory of freedom.’ The mascots have become extremely popular – hence their striking resale value.
And while the multi-sport corporation is selling mugs plastered with the mascot’s face for £5.40, and ones emblazoned with the word ‘France’, for as low as £4.50, one Vinted seller has marketed a souvenir cup for double the price.
Touted as the Official Paris 2024 Olympics recyclable cup tumbler, the tall purple cup – which was purchased at the Olympic games and ‘used once’ is being sold for £11.20.
It features text in French and English and bears the image of the excited mascot celebrating with a a blue party blower.
According to the seller, the item is in very good condition and can be picked up directly from Inverurie in Scotland.
Also on Vinted, one vendor located in Belfast managed to sell a multicolour Paris 2024 shopper and key ring for £26.95.
A selection of Paris 2024 Olympic pin badges are currently priced at between £4 and £5 with ‘a code’
A similar ‘used’ Olympics pin is being sold off on eBay for almost 100 quid
Also on Vinted, one vendor located in Belfast managed to sell a multicolour Paris 2024 shopper and key ring for £26.95. Meanwhile the Olympic store’s offering can be purchased for £9.80
The price of the off-white tote bag, which comes ‘new with tags’ is a far cry from the Olympic store’s offering which currently sits at £9.80, less than half the price.
Perhaps the most shocking is the selection of Paris 2024 Olympic pin badges currently priced at between £4 and £5 with ‘a code’ – but are being sold off on eBay for almost 100 quid.
The cream-coloured pin is accompanied by the Paris 2024 flag and features the Olympic rings and famous flame.
But while the brand new item retails for under a fiver at the Olympics merchandise store, a ‘used’ version located in Japan is currently going for £97.60. That’s including a 10 per cent discount.
Meanwhile one of the most valuable Olympic torches used to ignite the ceremony flame went up for auction last month, and its bidding price started at a whopping $151,250 or £118,739.
The multi-sport corporation is selling mugs plastered with the mascot’s face for £5.40, and ones emblazoned with the word ‘France’, for as low as £4.50
A tall purple cup – which was purchased at the Olympic games and ‘used once’ is being sold for £11.20
The listing for the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics torch was created by RR Auction on June 18, and described it as ‘one of the rarest’ ever made.
The design was inspired by Ralph Lavers’ work on the Olympic torches used in 1948 and 1956. Only 23 are in existence.
As at late July, the ultra-rare Olympic torch has received nine bids since RR Auction placed the listing on its website, and it is worth more than $500,000.
Designed by John Hench, the legend from The Walt Disney Company decided to make the Winter Olympic torch smaller than others in the past, according to The Walt Disney Family Museum.
The silver aluminum torch measures and measuring 19″ long, and it was lit for the first time in Morgedal, Norway.
RR Auction mentioned that the torch has three Olympic rings cutouts around the bowl with the words – ‘VIII Olympic Winter Games’.
It also has the words ‘Olympia to Squaw Valley’ below the bowl, which signifies the torch’s initially-planned route from Greece to California.
However potential buyers should beware ‘the torch exhibits some minor scuffing to the bowl and handle,’ RR Auction wrote in its description.
