The absolute best way to get a great deal when buying a collectible antique doll or Barbie doll is to be armed with information. There' no substitute for knowledge when it comes to buying or investing in dolls.
There are usually only two things you, as a doll collector, are looking for when considering antique dolls:
#1. You are looking for a very specific doll. You know the designer, when and where the doll was made and you know a lot of other things about the exact doll you're looking for.
#2. You are looking for a bargain. You are looking for any antique doll or collectible doll that is available way below it's actual value.
Here's how to get the best value for both types of dolls.
You have to approach each of these situations differently. The first situation is easier, but there are still some things that many collectors overlook. You need to do your homework and find out what dolls like you are looking for are actually selling for. And you need to know what they have sold for recently.
The market may have changed. A particular doll that was in high demand and expensive not long ago, may be a lot less expensive now (or it may be even more expensive). Either way, don't rely on your previous knowledge. Find out what the value of the doll is NOW.
By all means it's important that you don't let your emotions get in the way of logic. Of course, that's easier to say than to do. If you love antique dolls like I do, it's easy to fall in love with a doll. But remember that you will have a better chance to get the best doll at the best price, if you can remain logical and not let your emotions rule.
Of course, the condition of the doll you're looking for has a lot to do with the price. This means that there could be (and probably will be) a wide range of prices that the particular doll you're looking for will be selling for.
In the second situation where you are looking for any doll that you can get at a great price, your job is even harder. You need to know the value of many dolls in order to find bargains. Of course, you can't know the value of all dolls, but there are probably a wide range of dolls that you're interested in and have some idea about the the price range they should be selling in.
One of the best ways to find a bargain in an antique doll is to realize that a lot of people start out collecting dolls and then lose interest. Also realize that in many cases the person selling the doll wants to sell it a lot more than you want to buy the doll. Regardless of how high (or even how reasonable) the initial asking price is, make a low-ball offer and work from there.
The Internet has a wealth of information about dolls. One of the best places to find out about antique doll prices is on eBay. Be sure to check completed auctions to see what antique, collectible or Barbie dolls like the one you're looking for really sold for. You can use this information in your negotiating.
CraigsList is another good place to search for antique dolls or Barbie dolls. But remember that the prices shown on CraigsList are the asking prices and not what the doll will or did sell for.
When you're armed with all of the above information, your final step is to use the five negotiating techniques shown below and don't be in a hurry -- be the reluctant buyer.
Five Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying Any Antique, Collectible, or Barbie Doll:
1. Offer way less than you expect to have to pay.
2. Always act shocked and surprised at the other side's first price.
3. Say, "You've got to do better than that."
4. Walk away (or pretend to walk away) sometime during the negotiation.
5. Arm yourself with information. The more you're prepared with facts and information, the better deal you can negotiate. For example, say, "I have checked eBay and other Internet sources, and dolls like this one never sell for more than $200."
Use these techniques and you will come out with the best deal possible on an antique doll. Don't forget that there are a lot of collectible dolls out there, so always be willing to walk away from any negotiation.
Bottom line: Do your homework, check prices on eBay, negotiate, be patient and walk away (or pretend to walk away) from any negotiation if necessary.
You are free to publish this article as long as it is published in it's entirely including the author information and links shown below.
Jerry Minchey is an engineer, author, researcher and he holds seven patents. He cuts through the hype and gets down to the bare facts to reveal secrets that are easy to understand using non-technical terms. He has written several books and produced DVDs as a results of his research.
You can see the latest information about antique dolls (including prices that are updated hourly) at Rare Antique Dolls. At this site you can find the best prices for all types of rare and collectible antique dolls.
You can also see the latest hourly updated information about collectible Barbie dolls at Rare Barbie Dolls [http://www.RareBarbieDolls.com]. At this site you can find the latest information and the best prices for all types of Barbie dolls.
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