I was surprized price's are so low, when Holidays are here. Teresa

It is a buyers' market. Since I am a buyer, I have no objection to a drop in prices. I do understand sellers' frustrations, though.

I wish I lived in Japan.........I would get to meet Kirby!

I thought the market would be better I put empress josephine up which to me is a holy grail, thank god I put reserve because its up to $10, I cant believe it I researched and figured it would get about $400/$450 minimum thank god I put reserve its crazy!~

I wonder sometimes if people kind of steer clear of auctions with a reserve?  Esp. if they don't know what the reserve is?  I have watched a few, and the seem to fizzle prematurely compared to same item without the reserve.

Have also noticed that dolls are not bringing what they did just a couple of years ago.  Yet, you see Toki Doki going for up to 10 times retail.  I have been able to pick up some nice vintage barbies on my trips to the midwest.  At some very low prices.  When you begin to be able to pick up a #3 (doll head) on a nice barbie only body for $35 or a #4 with several outfits, all in good condition for $15, Midge for $10, Ken for $1,(needed reflocked), BL Midge for $5 with original hair band------I certainly don't intend to pay a high price for a doll that if I am patient enough, I may get at a good price.  If I don't find her, then i guess I don't need her.  I am downsizing anyways.  Then again with all the savings.........I could spring for a pricier doll

Anyway, I think a lot of people are probably scaling back and watching what they spend.  May be more are finding other places to buy their dolls too other than...........here.

Music touches every key of memory, and stirs all the hidden springs of sorrow and joy; we love it for what it makes us forget, and for what it makes us remember.~~L.E. Landon

dunno. i bought a few inexpensive because they were in unsealed boxes with shelf wear.

someone found a use, these are from g@@gle images

something way too sad about this OOAK jewelry

birdies4u wrote:

Good morning, I share in your frustration. Several years ago, I purchased several duplicates of popular Barbies when they were on sale at a very good price. I did this as an investment, I don't have a huge amount invested, but sure don't see a return on my money anytime soon. I have a collection to sell of other dolls from an estate and the auctioner will not even touch them, says there is no market.

So any ideas on what to do with the Barbies like the 1997 holiday etc, have thought redoing them as one of a kind...

 

No one should *ever* buy a collectible of any kind purely as an investment. If you like it and want to collect it, buy it. If you want to make a buck, there are hundreds of better places.

Hmmm....well Im new to Ebay and I too find it strange that no one is bidding on the dolls. But...........I also think you should check out Shopgoodwill.com auctions....I could not BELIEVE all of the New in box Barbie dolls. So seems like some Barbie collections are ending up in the Goodwill for some reason....I was bidding on 15 New In Box dolls all at the same time. I ended up only getting 2 of them, one being a Ken Doll from the early 80's for $7.00 and One holiday Barbie from the 80's for $9.00. I lost out to the big time bidders on a Millenium Barbie, Civil War Nurse, American Indian, and an entire set of Birthstone Barbies!!!!!!!!  I was gritting my teeth trying to get those dolls......None of them went for more than $20 each though...

Interest in vintage has been dying off since 2005 (since around 2001, actually, but became most noticeable around 2005).  Now the upper end newer stuff (Silkstone, Fashion Royalty, Tonner, Sybarites) and ooak fashion, etc. is waning as well.  A lot of people with scant budgets have had to prioritise and do without frivolous purchases.

I wouldn't count on things picking up again with a change in the economy (if there is a "change", it will likely be to worse, before it gets better), and when people are forced to make a change in values, they don't often go back to the old ones when their situation improves.

Barbie collecting has had a long run (since around 1988, basically, with the beginning of Bazaar and Miller's), but nothing lasts forever.  Including people who collect, many of whom have retired, and some of whom have passed away.