1. Why collect AOL disks?

Savvy collectors accumulate items before the general public sees them as valuable . Pop culture collectibles share the following characteristics:

1) They initially had little or no value. People threw them out or used them for crafts.

2) They were commonplace, but  memorable enough so that when they disappeared, everyone remembered them decades later.

3) They came in many variations, some very rare.

4) They had aesthetic appeal.

5) They were a topical product of their times and eventually no longer produced.

AOL disks have all the makings of a pop culture collectible. They come in thousands of arty designs. Different designs are sent to different regions. Some are widely distributed but others are not. Designs are discontinued as new ones appear, and some are commissioned specifically for a magazine or event. Old disks are even now hard to find, as people throw them out after upgrading. All  this creates the challenge of the hunt  collectors love. Best of all, AOL disks are distributed free of charge. Even if you choose to buy them, at this point they are still relatively cheap to collect. I expect them to eventually be catalogued the way Pez dispensers, lunch boxes, comic books, Happy Meal toys and record albums are. These are examples of items that were not sold specifically as collectibles, but ended up so due to nostalgia. 

Some  already are. AOL disks trade on eBay. While common disks go very cheaply,  rare or particularly coveted disks have fetched over $100. Now that disks aren't distributed anymore (new subscribers are told to download the software), AOL disks will eventually become antiques of the Digital Age. 

3. Where can I find current AOL disks?

 It used to be that you could find discs at displays at the check-out stand, customer service desk or main entry of a store. They were  placed on the same rack as free newspapers, bundled with newspapers and magazines,  inside cereal boxes and with computer parts. I used to find disks inside boxes of mail-order merchandise, in bulk-mailed coupon packages, at college bookstores and even with airline peanuts. When the "You’ve Got Mail" movie came out, disks with matching artwork were distributed at movie theaters. Disks with X-files artwork were distributed at X-Files conventions around the country. And you could always order one from their website or keyword "upgrade."

But since AOL stopped production of their CDs in August 2006, , they aren't widely distributed anymore and their website and keyword "upgrade" only contains download links. However, their "open source" disc can be found on some free-paper racks; check these racks at your local stores.

1. Resale and thrift shops. Riffle through floppy caddies and old modem boxes. Also look for disk sleeves, especially for those big 5.25" floppies. Buying empty sleeves is useful for when the matching disks eventually show up.

2. Garage sales. Ask the homeowners if they have any disks. I’ve never seen disks displayed, as most people are not aware they’re collectible. But if you offer money for interesting disks found, they might get off their lawn chairs and look inside.

3. Newspaper Ad. I periodically run one in the local paper with my email address and fax number. I use my fax number because the paper insists on printing a phone number, but I don’t want to be contacted that way. Place ads in the local Thrifty Nickel or Penny Saver. Put up index cards at grocery stores, the community college and where ever else there’s a public bulletin board.

4. Ask friends and co-workers. This is the most reliable (and cheapest) way to obtain disks. I also ask employees at businesses I patronize. If you know someone going overseas, or who has family overseas, ask them. Enthusiastically accept all disks given; you never know when this person will show up with something terrific.

5. Internet boards. Post your request. It’s best to say "I buy" because it takes money to motivate. Most people will not do strangers the favor of mailing items for no compensation. Furthermore, when you offer money you’ll attract the attention of flea-market and yard sale devotees who seek to resell odds and ends for a profit. They’ll keep an eye out for you. Post on boards of communities that collect other pop culture items, and offer to trade your special Beanie Baby, Disney video, baseball card or record album  for their special disk. Post on boards of foreign countries; the Babelfish translator can help.

6. Make a website of your collection. Post your URL when you participate on message boards or sign  guest books.  

7. Book stores. Search the clearance tables for outdated AOL guides. There is often a disk attached to the back cover.

8. Collectible comic books stores. Old disks were sometimes attached to the inside spine of the comic book, or shrink wrapped loose. Ask the manager to notify you if an interesting disk shows up, and leave a business card. Leave your card at resale, used computer and collectibles shops, too.

9. Computer Shops. Places that sell refurbished computers, parts and accessories sometimes have old disks.

eBay is the most convenient place to obtain disks. But since it’s also the most expensive, be a smart eBayer. For instance, don't get overly excited when new disks come up. They’ll eventually resurface and they’re most expensive when first appearing. Know, too, that many disks are misrepresented on eBay as rare, or incorrectly described.

There are a few big spenders for unusual disks, which results in bidding wars. But my observation is that once a disk fetches a high price, multiples often appear. Once the big spenders get theirs, the price collapses. After watching eBay for a few months you'll learn which disks show up repeatedly. Bidding low even on seemingly rare disks can be a good strategy, as sellers sometimes offer second-chance offers to lower bidders.

I don't think so; see #3.

I like Paypal. It’s fast and safe. I also send cash in the mail, wrapped in magazine pages. Buy money orders at Walmart or the Post Office, where they are cheaper than from the bank. 

It’s best to see a photo before buying a disc. That way you know precisely what you’re getting. Many people perceive colors differently or are poor at written descriptions. I’ve received disks that were so different from how they were described that I almost won’t buy now unless I see a photo. 

 It's kind of subjective. I base rarity on how how often I’ve seen it and how many copies I have. I also consider if a bunch appear to be available from one particular eBay seller. 

9. Why do you save packaging?

The packaging often has matching artwork and compliments the disk. Sometimes it's even more interesting than the disk. It's part of the whole collectible. Furthermore, packaged disks can be rarer than unpackaged, as many toss the packaging even if they save the disk. I do not value unpackaged disks as highly as packaged ones. I don't mind if the shrink wrap is gone, as mint condition packages with accompanying papers can be re-shrink wrapped (minus the sticker).  I mostly care that the packaging (including inserts) is present. Other collectors don't care about packaging at all and only collect the disks. 

There are many packaging styles, some common, some rare. Complete packaging varies, but in the older (version 7 or earlier) opaque plastic cases it consists of an inside printed paper  the size of the case, plus a smaller, square paper insert. Tins and wood boxes have a fitted paper the size of the tin, plus the square. Only one tin that I  know of has a cardboard insert on the outside, on which the address was printed. Old diskette packages have at least one paper insert and often a fold-out poster. Most, but not all, CD packages have stickers. The sticker has a serial number that matches the number on the disc. The newer clear plastic jewel cases are typically shrink-wrapped and have one or more paper inserts inside.

10. What makes a disk desirable?

AOL disk collecting is still at the hobbyist stage and everyone has their own criteria for what makes a disk valuable and desirable. However, the following can be a guide.

Rarity, condition, full packaging, intact address label, interesting design. Some collectors favor disks with cartoon artwork, movie themes, U.S. issues or packaged in tin cans. 

Intact software vs. overwritten . I prefer the former, especially on pre- '92s and 5.25's" since they are difficult to restore. Post '92 software can be easily restored if the diskette itself isn't bad. See my download library for specific applications. Note that each version has multiple codes (e.g., "RA40295"). A different code indicates slightly different software. My library only has one code uploaded from each version. So even though you may copy version 2.5 software to your overwritten 2.5 diskette, it may not be the precise 2.5 software that is original to that diskette.

Pure installation vs. add-on. An add-on is a disc that primarily promotes something else, such as a store, magazine or cereal. The AOL logo and software exists because AOL helped with marketing costs. I am interested in add-ons only if the logo is present on both the packaging and disc. I also prefer the logo to be a prominent design component. This  one is "barely there."  Furthermore, I only collect discs that were originally distributed free of charge, either singly or a promo with other items (e.g., magazines or cereal). I do not collect add-ons that had to be purchased, such as children's software.

About packaging differences, some are slight;  here are two packages where "The Future. Now Available." is printed in different fonts. One advertises 15 hours on the back, the other 50. The disks inside will also often have different codes. While I don't collect different CD packages, I do collect different diskette packages, as the artwork on floppy diskette packages is more varied. 

11. Are two identical disks that have different packaging, codes, slightly different colors or center holes still considered the same disk or different disks?

They're technically different (e.g., different production codes indicate different software, different colors indicate different print batches), but the value of those differences lies in the eye of the collector. l personally do not collect by number codes (including a retailer name included in the code), center hole differences, batch color differences or misprints. 

Some CD design differences are slight, e.g., the Internet Explorer logo may be present, absent, or differently drawn, or the text says "New!" instead of "All New!" I do collect those. Slight design differences correlate with slight software differences, as the different number codes will verify.

I don't care about acquiring identical CDs with different packaging (or sticker) unless the packaging is highly unusual.  Again, others feel differently and try to collect every package.

Not necessarily. It's not age so much as amount made that makes a disk rare. Some older CDs, such as the blue ray or the green/white label diskette were so heavily mass-distributed they're still easily found. Meanwhile, some newer designs  had a much smaller production run and were mailed to relatively few homes or distributed in a one-time shot with a magazine.

What makes a disk rare?

13. What's my disk worth?

It's difficult to assign a dollar value to any disc because the database for pricing them is so thin. eBay is the only place where they actively trade, and prices  vary wildly depending on who's tuned in that week and who owns it already. There is little market outside eBay. I do not stockpile copies at the same price I paid for the first. I'll pay a premium to obtain a new one for my collection, and after that I'll buy an extra for trading only if it's very cheap. I don't pay eBay prices in off-eBay transactions.

AOL disc collecting is a quirky hobby right now, not a formal genre with reliable pricing information. Disks only have value to the small group that collects them. They cost only a few dollars when found in thrift shops, whether they're rare or common.

14. How do you store your disks?

In Rubbermaid tubs and on metal shelves. I place  disks in plastic baggies to protect the paper envelopes from soil and the plastic cases from scratches. Quart-size baggies fit the large plastic cases perfectly, and sandwich-size baggies fit most others. Oversize packages fit in gallon-size baggies, and I insert cardboard as stiffeners. Name- brand baggies are best, as generics are cut smaller and larger disk packages won't fit. 

This baggie system helps with organization, as multiple copies of the same disk can be placed in one baggie. Diskettes are best kept in air-tight containers to help preserve the software. The average lifespan of a 5.25" floppy diskette is only six years.

Yes.