The Five Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying an Antique Doll Or Collectible Barbie Doll

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.

Getting Hooked On Reborn Baby Dolls

What is a reborn baby doll? It is an extremely life like doll, made of vinyl that have only been around since 1990. Reborn baby dolls are artistically created to represent a newborn baby. They are fun to collect and, as a hobby, are fun and quite gratifying to make. The artist who creates reborn baby dolls are called "reborners".

Have you seen a reborn doll up close? If you have, it is easy to understand how easily it is to become emotionally attached to them. They really do look like a living baby!

"Reborners" will tell you that creating a reborn baby doll is a labor of love. Combine that love with the level of craftsmanship exhibited by these talented reborn doll artists and you have thing of beauty. The skin coloring, the life-like expressions, the tiny veins and wrinkles all reflect the artistry and skill of the creator.

If you are new to reborning, there are options to choose from when deciding which reborn baby doll is right for you. There are starter kits that come complete with a training DVD and is a great way to make your first doll. You can choose between a boy or girl and they are available in a range of sizes:

Minis are a tiny 6 inches long
Newborns are 14" long
Preemies (or premature babies) come in 15" to 17" long
Baby dolls range from 14" to 20" in length
Toddlers which are generally 20" to 22" long

Not unlike "book clubs" you will find "reborner clubs" where once a week you can get together and create your dolls. This can be especially nice for those new to reborning as you can learn many techniques from others within the group.

There are specialized techniques for making reborns which you can learn from a class or from a DVD that you can watch in your home. The baby doll's hair can be a wig or "rooted" with mohair. The baby's limbs, hands and feet have wrinkles. There is a technique for creating the veins, and skin tones, fingernails and toenails. You can create skin tones for all ethnic backgrounds. All in all, it is a hobby that you can share with your friends and family. You will see many mother and daughter reborn doll making teams!

Dolls by Sherry (http://www.dollsbysherry.com) is a website from two very talented Reborners; Sherry Polokoff and Barbara Newman. Barbara created her first reborn doll for her granddaughter and has been "hooked" ever since. Sherry has been a porcelain doll maker for over 30 years and fell in love with reborns several years ago. Are you are interested in the art of Reborning? Get yourself a starter kit and see what it is all about. Dolls by Sherry offers completed Secrist reborn dolls for "adoption", as well as, reborn doll kits and accessories.

Genie Ladd is a website designer and blogger. http://www.thewebsitegal.com

Getting started collecting porcelain dolls

Who says that dolls are for kids? Porcelain dolls are today, the second best collectable item. Bisque porcelain and antique and are therefore very much appreciated. These dolls are also beautiful, give a unique charm to your home. Collectors should be aware of all information related to collect porcelain dolls to build a good collection representing the envy of every collector-and boy will be!

The dolls are handmade and hand painted normally high quality porcelain. The subtle expressions and eloquent poses are captured by the artist, increasing their value even more. Every minute detail has paid attention to when a collectible porcelain doll is judged, as even minor damage to it, especially the face, will reduce the value.

How expensive they are depends on the popularity of the artist and the amount of similar dolls produced. Since the dolls are for collectors for many years and adults who buy these dolls, it offers a fantastic trip back in the memory. The wonderful beauty of these dolls will remind you why you always of dolls.

If you want to start collecting, you must first determine what kind of pop you wish to collect. Research after that, the type of pop you have chosen. Duplicates of porcelain dolls are common, so be careful and your options carefully before buying one. Also understand the value of the antique pop before you in investing. This will help you save money.

Pop collection can be addictive. It's not like collecting vinyl dolls or other types of dolls. Although it takes you back to your childhood, there is intense competition to face once you a collector. You will have to attend shows porcelain doll, socialize with other collectors and keep a look out for each new porcelain doll in the market. Once you fall in love with these dolls, you will want to own every one of them. There are different types of porcelain dolls that you will encounter, so picking up the one you want to collect free over-whelming. Here are the few common types you will encounter:

Handmade porcelain dolls

These dolls are created by an artist in a limited edition and each piece is unique. No two dolls will look the same. This type of porcelain doll is extremely valuable, because of the sheer uniqueness and beauty. The popularity of the artisan adds more value to it.

Antique porcelain dolls

There are antique porcelain dolls that are hardly found. When you come across one that seems antique, make sure you verify the details, such as very realistic replicas of these beautiful dolls are created. These duplicates are sold in flea markets, garage sales and antique shops, they seem exactly as the original collectible. Do not be fooled by such replications. Make sure to verify with experts before you invest in an antique porcelain doll.

Limited Edition porcelain dolls

This is a very popular variety of porcelain dolls. Although they are mass production, it is only in a limited edition. For example, a collection of Christmas in the festive season can be released and it will sell like hot cakes! Make sure you buy limited edition dolls of a famous collector or seller of porcelain dolls.

Porcelain doll reproductions

As mentioned earlier, there are hundreds of people around the world production role models and avoid duplication of the rare and antique porcelain dolls, as well as many other types of dolls.

Porcelain dolls are created in particular in certain countries. There are Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Native American, Indian and many other ethnic porcelain dolls. They also make excellent gifts! Whether your child or a special person, a unique porcelain doll to give a memorable gift.

Collection of dolls is one of the best hobbies, such as always you young at heart. This porcelain dolls, when displayed in the right way, can a true collector's pride to add character to your House as well. Surrounded by beautiful dolls such as this one is definitely luck to add to your home. Porcelain dolls are beautiful collectibles, as they are very valuable and appreciates their value only with time. That is why it is a worthy investment.

A- porcelain dolls and porcelain-Doll.com delivers handmade porcelain dolls. They specialize in handmade porcelain dolls by internationally acclaimed artists from a variety of cultures. You can Indian dolls, Persian, Japanese dolls, dolls, dolls Irish black dolls, ethnic dolls and much more from A-porcelain-Doll.com.