posted on August 7, 2001 09:44:09 AM
Well, I have finally broken down and decided to do it.
Time to say Farewell to all of the Barbies I've been collecting and only keep the one's I display or truly love.
Since I rarely sell collectibles (I usually stick to clothing), can anyone tell me if there is a seasonal market for Barbie buyers?
Any suggestions as to listing them?
Are lots a bad idea in this category?
Only a few are Holiday or Holiday Season Barbies, if it matters.
Any contribution helps ~ I'd like this to be as painless as possible!
TIA!
only ZOOMIN here
[ edited by zoomin on Aug 7, 2001 09:45 AM ]
posted on August 7, 2001 12:03:58 PM
Thanks for the advice ~ I guess I'll have to let you know who I am in a few months!
Any input on multiple v. individual listing?
only ZOOMIN here
Maybe I can help a little. I'm not a doll collector but I had been hanging on to a large box that contained what was left of the Barbie stuff I had as a child. Earlier this summer I did just what you decided to do...I said "So long" to Barbie and her pals.
These were 60's Barbies...not the very early 59 model but some desirable Bubblecuts, Miss Barbie, an early Skipper HEAD (just the head now, no body), etc. I was flabbergasted at what I eventually got for the contents of the box.
Here is what I did.... I had some original boxes. If I had the doll for the box I put them together. If not, I sold the box by itself. One box brought $50.00.
The Skipper head I put with her box, an outfit, one shoe and her wire stand. Sold that as a lot. Got over $100 for that lot.
If I had most or all of an outfit I sold that (usually) separately. Bits and pieces I sold as lots.
By all means, if you have any of the wire stands, sell them separately. Somehow I had ended up with a ton of stands. Evidently I may have gotten hold of my cousin's stands because I am an only child. I sold them individually and got from $15 to $25 PER STAND! To me this was unreal for a piece of 35 year old wire!
posted on August 7, 2001 12:30:29 PM
You've got 'til November. Look at the current Barbie listings and compare your stuff to what's there and the prices they are bringing. That will give you an indication of a doll's value. At Christmas prices may go up, but so will supply as many dealers are also probably hanging on to their stock. Be sure to search the closed auctions. Also, check out how the sellers lay out their ad and description. See what works and what doesn't. I'd be careful about selling the dolls in lots because that tends to bring out the bargain-hunters. Good luck!
posted on August 7, 2001 01:01:20 PM
wow PF You did Great! Good job! Thanks for your input!
twinsoft:
I've been checking the listings on and off for about 8 months. I just couldn't see a rhyme or reason to the fluctuations so I thought someone here might be able to explain.
I sold off other NRFB Mattel dolls (Pocohontas, etc), however, they mostly sold for children and not collectors. I tried to "test the waters" before I dove in with the good stuff!
Thanks for the heads up regarding group listings, too!
My little brother (20 yrs old) and I just did this last year. Mama was tired of her Barbie collection. These were all relatively very new Barbies MIB (post 1995).
We split the Barbie collection in half. Then we each started selling. My brother really didn't take it seriously. You know, "dolls" didn't seem too exciting to this high-tech kind of guy. He started in late December. I know, bad move from the start. He did a couple of lots and made ~$300 on ~30 Barbie dolls and ~$25 on ~5 Barbie Hallmark ornaments.
I took a different approach and listed each individually and put some real effort into nice descriptions on each. I started listing in early November. By the time they were all out of the house (late payers, NPB relisting, etc), it was January and I had made over $1000 on my ~30 dolls. Got about $10 each on the Barbie Hallmark ornaments in my cut of the inventory.
Obviously my Mama just wanted them out of the house because some sold for less than what she originally paid. But, it was a nice way for her to help us help ourselves.
Good luck whatever you do.
[ edited by squinkle99 on Aug 7, 2001 04:17 PM ]
posted on August 7, 2001 06:20:30 PM
It's really important to look at details too. A friend of mine wanted me to sell some of her Barbies...she'd heard the stories of them bringing "big bucks" on eBay...When I searched current/closed auctions, I found only some brought $$$. The ones with the bendable legs bring more than ones with rigid legs. Hair color matters-red/blonde seems to bring more than brunette. Does she have fingernail/toenail polish? Is there "green" where the earrings are? So, my suggestion is to look yours over very carefully and compare with those on auction...Good luck!
2 summers ago I had someone ask me to sell her daughter's entire Barbie collection. All were brand new, mint in the original boxes, never played with.
She priced them out separately, and had me put a reserve on each one. Only a few of them sold (and her reserve was very reasonable - much less than half what she paid for them).
After relisting them again with the same results, she decided to have me sell them as a whole lot.
She wanted $2,000 for the lot, and they sold for nearly $3,000. She was VERY happy. I packaged them up, and shipped them by UPS 3-day air (there was no way I was bringing all those boxes to the PO!). Luckily they arrived fine, and undamaged and everyone was happy!
I would suggest when you go to list them (I agree that Christmas time would be best), try listing them all individually. The ones that don't sell, put together as a lot. I think you'd be surprised at how much you could get for them.
[ edited by zoomin on Aug 7, 2001 09:45 AM ]
