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BARBIE COLLECTING FAQs:
Which Modern Barbies Will Increase In Value?
Should I collect Modern or Vintage?
How Do I Get Started Collecting Barbie?
Many more FAQs coming soon--check for updates!!
As a collector of modern Barbie, you have two choices--keep the dolls NRFB, or take them out of the box. Many collectors believe that if you take the dolls out of the box, you destroy their value. Well, that is true of vintage Barbies--not only do you destroy the value of a vintage Barbie by taking it out of the box, but you also destroy its history. In the 1960s, when Barbie was a toy and not a "collectible," children took out the toys and played with them, usually throwing out the box in the process. That is the reason (rarity) that NRFB or MIB vintage items cost so much more than the same items out of the box.
However, with the modern Barbies, EVERYONE is stashing them away still in the box. Therefore, they are NOT rare, and therefore, they should not command a huge premium in the future. Now, it is true that because of the ingrained NRFB mentality in the Barbie world, if you take the doll out of the box, it loses up to 50% of its value. It is ALSO true that such value is book value, and that most of the collectible Barbies sold in the last three years are only worth book value (or less, in the case of the GWTW dolls, for example) due, in part, to overproduction by Mattel, and high initial retail prices. SO, buy what you like and want to keep, so you don't have to worry about the resale value and the NRFB issue, AND play with the dolls and enjoy them--some of the dolls, especially the Barbie Millicent Roberts collection, are a joy to restyle and redress. Others like the My Fair Ladies, look great displayed OUT of the box, even alongside vintage dolls.
Another concern, if you DON'T take your dolls out of the box, is that they may ultimately be damaged by the packing materials. The materials are NOT archival quality, and you may risk damage to your dolls if they stay in the box. For instance, the little clear bands that hold the shoes on dolls like Ralph Lauren and Ann Klein leave bad indents on the feet of the dolls--these will only get worse with time. Another example, the Oshugatsu Barbies, had tape which is already making marks on the kimonos.
Which Modern Barbies Will Increase In Value?:
The one thing that the last two years has proven, is that it is nearly impossible to tell!! For instance, there was NO way to tell that the Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) Barbie would increase in value so rapidly, since most of the other dolls in its series have not, and there was not much of a big fuss when the doll went originally on sale. Now, the doll regularly sells for over $150, double or triple its original price. On the other hand, you can still get most of the 35th anniversary dolls, the Star Trek Set, the Scarlett dolls, the My Fair Lady dolls, Christian Dior, Escada, and many of the reproduction dolls at or below original retail. In fact, some of these dolls were widely sold at deep discount at the retail level at the end of their production (such as Star Trek, which was widely available under $30.) Another doll which spiked in value as soon as it was released, and which has shown no sign of coming down, is the first Harley Davidson Barbie (sold regularly on Ebay for over $300--almost six times its retail price). Only time will tell if all the doll in the Harley series will maintain their value--it is possible that Mattel will produce 10 dolls in this series, therefore bringing down the price on all but the first doll in the series. Or, hoarders may have so many of these stashed in their closets that they will later flood the market. What do I do? Well, here are my strategies
 | Buy What You Like. This bears repeating--don't speculate solely for resale. If you like the doll and want to display or play with it, then who cares about the resale value? |
| Don't Buy Exceptionally Expensive Dolls. Unless you have good reason, don't buy the Barbies which are sold at the retail level at secondary market prices. I rarely pay over $100 for a Barbie, unless the doll has exceptional fabrics and workmanship, or unless I cannot live without the doll for personal reasons (such as the Christian Dior Barbies, which have a family connection and which I cherish). |
| Wait. If you can, wait. If you absolutely MUST have a doll, it can be risky waiting to see if a doll will be discounted. If you buy a doll when it is first released, you will certainly pay full price. However, if you can wait for store sales, or to see if the doll will be overproduced and discounted, then you can sometimes get a bargain, like Star Trek (still available at stores like Bloomies for $29.99, after originally selling for $75). Recently, I purchased the Ann Klein Barbie (a GREAT doll, by the way!) at Macy's at 50% off. The doll was a nice doll at $79, but a fantastic doll at $35. The Ralph Lauren Barbie doll ALSO went on sale at this price (regular price, $85). But, both dolls were snapped up VERY fast at the discount price, and are already becoming hard to find (I almost missed out on the Ralph Lauren--it took LOTS of effort to find by the second week in January, 1998, right after it was on sale!). So, this is a risky strategy! Also, I believe that Mattel is working very diligently on reducing production numbers, and also on pricing, so this strategy may be less valid as time progresses.
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Should I Collect Modern Or Vintage?
Well, this is a personal preference, but I have a few suggestions, as a long-time collector.
First, it depends what you like. If you like retro 60s and mod fashions, and the best fabrics, closures, and sewing (things that are IMPOSSIBLE to afford on dolls today, due to the costs of labor!) then vintage is for you! However, if you adore fantasy outfits, especially fancy ballgowns, or movie and TV icons (dolls that Mattel are only producing today) then you will prefer the modern Barbies.
Second, what can you afford?? If you are on a limited budget, vintage can be nearly impossible to collect, unless you have the skills to restore dolls and outfits that are not in excellent shape. However, modern dolls, especially the "pink box" variety ("pink box" meaning the play line dolls!) can be as inexpensive as $5 or so each (for instance, the Bead Blast Barbies, which very seasoned collectors are enjoying and making over!) Also, many of the very nice Pretty Treasures, Fashion Avenues and Kelly items are under $5 or so.
Third, what makes you all warm and fuzzy? If you are--ahem--as old as I am (mid 30s!) chances are you get very nostalgic around the 1960s dolls. If you are a young whippersnapper in your 20s (or even younger!) then the 1980's superstar face may be what brings back your childhood memories (I had a 22 year old in my doll workshop the other day, and SHE was gaga over the modern Barbies, since HER childhood dolls were all superstar faced!! WHAT a shock to me--she had never even seen a vintage doll before!!)
And, finally, if you STILL can't make up your mind, you can choose to do what I and many other collectors do--collect both!!
How Do I Get Started Collecting Barbie?
The Internet: Well, you have taken a great first step--you are on the Internet!! The Internet is a wealth of resources on collecting Barbie!! From my site, my About.com site, and many others, you can learn all about both vintage and modern dolls. You can find pictures of many, and also learn pricing. For instance, a good starting place, especially for modern Barbies is the official, Mattel Barbie website. My links page will take you to many other great spots to learn about, and even purchase, Barbie!! Also, if you are a member of AOL. Prodigy or CompuServe, you can learn TONS from the bulletin boards on those services. You can check current market prices on all sorts of Barbies on on-line auctions such as Ebay Finally, there are mailing lists like "fashion-l" which will deliver info on Barbie right to your e-mail address! Oh, and remember that anywhere on the Internet, rumours can circulate like WILDFIRE, so take everything you read with a grain of salt!!
Magazines: A subscription to either Miller's or Barbie's Bazaar (or both!) is probably the best source of info available today!! I prefer Miller's for info on vintage, and Barbie's Bazaar for info on modern dolls, although BOTH have great articles in both categories. Both magazines will ALSO provide you with lots of dealers from which you can get...
Lists: Subscribe to lists from all sorts of dealers!! I suggest The Doll Attic and Joe's Barbies (my two favorites!) as good places to start. I also suggest Marl's and Kitty's Collectibles, which provide large, comprehensive lists. There are many others; the two magazines listed above will provide you multiple choices. BUT, one suggestion...find out the experiences of fellow collectors, either online or locally before ordering from a particular dealer.
Stores: Yes, I am stating the obvious, BUT if you have a local doll shop, you can actually see the modern dolls (and sometimes the vintage, too) in person. Establishing a relationship with a good local store is one of the BEST ways to make sure you can get hard-to-find dolls. Also, if you have a relationship with a good store, often they will arrange lay-away for you, or give you a small discount. MAYBE your local shop is more expensive than Target or Toys-R-US BUT you will always find better and personalized service at a small shop (and you'll NEVER find vintage at the chains!)
Books: I think that several hundred books have been written about Barbie in the last several years. Well, that MAY be an exaggeration, but there has been an explosion in this category--you can find books about vintage, modern, accessories, structures, clothes, Francie, mod, Artist dolls--etc. Doll shops and shows have the best selection, or check out a large bookstore or you can search Amazon.com online.
Doll Shows: A good doll show is a basic cornucopia of both modern and vintage dolls, including modern dolls which have been retired. If you are lucky enough to live in Southern California, then you can actually attend all-Barbie shows once a month in Orange County. In most other locations, you can find general doll shows which will have a decent selection, or you can attend the all-Barbie, traveling Marl and Joe shows.
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