I was going through some old stuff from my childhood at my parents recently and came across this blast from the past that I had completely forgotten about
If memory serves me right, I collected these fun little Looney Tunes discs from packets of Walkers crisps in 1996.
Somehow, I managed to get all 50 of them – I have no idea how, and little memory of doing it (I was only 9 or 10). If I sell it, how much could I make? Elliott, Chelmsford.
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Tazo-tastic: It’s likely this folder will bring back a nostlagic feeling to 90s kids
Dan Hatfield, resident This is Money expert valuer, replies: One of the things I most love about writing this column is the nostalgic journey it takes me on each week.
This time I am reminded of the joy and trepidation 13 year-old Dan would experience each time I opened a packet of crisps.
Time travel with me back to the early 1990s and if, like me, you were a teenager back then, you’ll remember the craze that swept the nation as we all tried to collect a full house of Tazos.
I loved a packet of Cool Original Doritos, so much so, I would have a packet most days but the problem was… they would only deliver you Tasmanian Devil Tazos (numbers 21-30) from the Looney Tunes collection.
I needed to broaden my tastebuds quickly if I was going to secure every design available.
Not one to take too much persuading when it came to snacks, I was soon devouring packets of Walkers crisps like my life depended on it – and that was the ultimate goal of the Leicestershire-based snack maker.
I wasn’t the only one to be swept up by the Tazo craze. Across the country from playgrounds as far south as Cornwall and north of the Scottish Highlands, children opened crisp packets in anticipation hoping to see a picture of the Looney Tunes collection they hadn’t already saved.
So let’s journey back further than the 1990s to explore Tazo origins, or rather the concept of these collectibles and where it all started.
Worth a packet? Our reader has a complete binder – but prices online vary wildly
In the 1920s on the island of Hawaii a game was created where juice caps were stacked up and children would throw a ‘slammer’ (a heavier object) at the caps to try and flip them over to land face up.
Whoever threw the slammer would then collect any juice caps that landed face up and it wasn’t long before a beverage company decided to capitalise on the popularity of this game.
They created designed juice caps to entice people to buy their product and play with the bespoke caps, creating a buzz around who could collect all the designs first.
These decorative juice caps became well-known as POGs which was an acronym for pineapple, orange and guava – the flavours of this specific drinks brand.
But these weren’t the only collectibles designed to capture the spirit and imagination of children.
In fact, historically brands create collections for children to help sales of their products as no parent wants to be the one to say no to their child.
This was true of a young Mexican, Pedro Padierna, who as a child was infatuated with collecting sports cards.
Fast forward to 1994 and Pedro was vice president of a Mexican snack company owned by PepsiCo that were looking for a collectible they could launch into their product, around the same time that POGs were being re-launched.
Padierna caught wind of the company resurrecting POGs and did a deal to bring these collectibles to Mexico – but one thing he wasn’t convinced on was the brand name.
After plenty of consideration, he finally settled on the name Tazo, which was a well known Mexican children’s street game.
Soon this brand would evolve and it wasn’t long before huge international brands were wanting be associated with these collectibles and the Tazo discs were born into crisp packets most famously with the Looney Tunes collaboration in Britain, via Walkers.
As mentioned, these little discs evoke a nostalgic emotion of care free times and the simplicity of our youth but they could also have a financial value.
What exact financial value depends on factors such as the rarity, condition, complete collection and market demand.
Looking at your collection and I’m afraid to say, it isn’t one of the rarest that could demand a higher price point.
Most of your collection was produced around 1996 when the craze for collecting them was global so the company producing these Tazos ensured mass-production to meet demand.
You have kept your collection in great condition though which will help push the value up slightly.
You have the entire 50 design collection but I don’t see a slammer to complete it which would most certainly add another 20-30 per cent increase on my valuation.
You will benefit for a resurgence in 90s collectibles so demand is likely high at the moment, so when I factor all of this together, you’re probably looking at a value of £20-£30.
This is slightly optimistic as you’ve taken me back to my childhood and I so desperately want to give you better financial news but the reality is, whilst there are a many collections from the 80s and 90s demanding huge price tags, collections like yours which were mass produced, hold more of an emotional price tag than a financial one.
Please don’t be misled by the often over inflated price tags you might find people advertising Tazos for on eBay as scarcely will they achieve anywhere near this figure.
As I always say, there is the right buyer for everything and with that, a collector may offer you slightly more if your collection is exactly what they want but for my money, I’d keep these as a wonderful memento of your childhood and the fun you had collecting them.
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Dan Hatfield is This Morning’s money-making expert and resident pawnbroker. He is an international specialist in antiques, jewellery, diamonds and collectibles.
Dan’s first non-fiction book, Money Maker: Unlock Your Money Making Potential (£16.99, published by Hodder Catalyst) is available now.
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