Investment 101

The popularity of Mattel's recent release Tokidoki Barbie seems to be the impetus for a recent article on doll collecting.

The Tokidoki doll, which was controversial, sold out quickly and then started fetching higher prices in the resale market.

But as the article points out:

Typically, though, the money to be made collecting Barbie dolls revolves around acquiring vintage dolls that are, optimally, still in the box with all their accessories, including the stand. Barbie was launched in 1959 and that original version, where she's wearing a black-and-white striped bathing suit, can fetch between $7,000 and $27,000 depending upon the condition.

Read the full article here.

The article is fine and all, but I wish it explored the flip side of collecting: While there are some dolls that will net thousands, the majority of Barbies (in or out of the box) are not worth all that much. The problem with articles like these is they give a false sense to people that they'll find a doll in a relative's attic and suddenly hit the big time.

No, really. The article actually mentions an attic:

Whether trying to assess the value of a doll found in an old attic or if it's worth buying the latest model of Barbie, Holder said it's worth consulting an expert. She felt it particularly gratifying to be able to give a retired couple $27,000 for a doll they brought to have appraised. They were astounded.

"They set out to buy a motor home and see the world," Holder said. "It was a very beautiful story."

It's this sort of thing that gives people false hope. And not to be the Gloomy Gus in the room, but I know firsthand about people's misaligned expectations when it comes to the value of their dolls. I would say 90 percent of the e-mails I get from people are about asking how to sell dolls for top value. Some of the people are collectors and some have acquired an assortment of dolls for whatever reason.

Most of the dolls they describe are basic, mass-produced, non-limited-edition Barbies. In short, not the type of dolls being described in that article. Yet the hope remains.
Personally, I collect to own dolls that make me happy--and not to "flip" them in the market. So I'm not an expert on all things resale. I do like that the article recommends research and time commitment, which is what people need to put in so they can better align their price expectations with the reality of the dolls in their possession.