Ebay have their own guides to bidding and selling, but the guide here is aimed at doll collectors and includes some Customs and VAT info.

Buying

You can pick up some real bargains on ebay, but as always - buyer beware.  It's better to ask the most obvious of questions than be disappointed - however  some of the questions are not that obvious, so learn from others' mistakes here!

Doll Descriptions

NRFB - Never Removed From Box - but what about the condition of the box? Is this important to you? If so, ask rather than receive a well creased or damaged box. Most sellers will mention box condition, but some don't.

Loose/Deboxed(unboxed) Dolls. Usually, a seller will point out any flaws such as tears or mussed/brushed hair, etc. Less obvious is whether the items are clean or have odours from smoking or dampness. These things may effect the value if they prove impossible to remedy - not all fabrics respond well to washing.

If a deboxed doll, make sure that the outfit is complete, including accessories and shoes unless otherwise stated by the seller. And don't forget to ask about the stand - is it the original one which came with the doll?  Dolls from Series' Collections usually have their own stands with a named label.

Clothes. Again question the cleanliness and if any repairs have been made as a poor repair can be worse than no repair at all. If the item is an outfit,  ask if it is complete with accessories, if included.

"1966 Barbie" Most collectors know that the majority of Barbie dolls, even ones still manufactured today, have '©Mattel 1966' imprinted on the doll. This was the year that the torso was copyrighted. Remember, the seller is not necessarily aware of this and is describing the item as he believes it to be. Looking at any accompanying photos or asking for a picture will tell you if it is vintage or not. Price, of course, should be another clue, but not necessarily!

Vintage Condition for vintage dolls is always variable and one collectors' idea of Good Condition may be another's' tat! Some sellers use the "Barbie Bazaar" grading system to describe vintage merchandise. For reference, here are a couple of the grading classifications:-

C-10 - Factory Mint. NRFB, pristine.

C-9 - Mint without original packaging

C-8 - Near Mint. Slightly handled. Doll may have been undressed/hair slightly mussed but face is perfect with original paint and there are no replacement parts.

Classification becomes difficult the lower down the scale and this is why I have listed only the top ratings.

Glossary

O/O :Original Outfit - the outfit the doll originally came dressed in.

COA : Certificate of Authenticity. Most collectable dolls come with a certificate of some sort - some are numbered, some not. Check the number on your doll matches the number on your COA. It may not matter if you decide to keep the doll forever, but could cause problems if and when you decide to sell her!

Customised - refers to a modern doll which has usually had a face repaint and/or re-rooted hair or has been altered in some way to make it unique.

OOAK :One Of A Kind - a Customised doll and/or outfit.

Straight Leg:  term usu. for vintage. The dolls' legs do not bend.

Paling : the vinyl on the head/face has paled as compared to it's body/original colour.

MIB : Mint In Box - the doll has been taken out of the box previously, but is in Mint condition and with the original box.

NM: Near MINT - Almost Mint condition

Show Me The Money ! Show Me The Money ! Never send cash. I don't care how friendly the emails have been and you feel that you've met your soul mate - don't do it. Always send a cheque or postal order. This way you will be covered should your item not be as expected or doesn't show. Ebay will not cover cash transactions against loss, so no matter how tempting it is, don't do it!

Selling

Fell out of love with your doll? Make someone else happy and stick it on eBay UK. The form is straightforward and you can specify a Minimum and/or Reserve amount. Reserve prices aren't that popular with buyers and it can often be better to decide what the least is you'd want and set that as the Minimum Bid. That way, anything extra you get is a bonus!

Describe your stuff as if you were a buyer, bearing in mind what I said earlier. Buyers don't like suprises like missing parts!

It sounds obvious, but wait for the cheque to clear or for the Postal Order to arrive before you post. Some people haven't and have regretted it!

Buying & Selling Overseas

Looking at US prices can make any UK collector drool. It all seems so much cheaper. And indeed it can be under the right circumstances. Remember these points though before you bid:-

Firstly, check that the Seller will send overseas - a lot don't and it's easy to overlook in the rush to bid. If the Seller doesn't offer Credit Card facilities,   Bidpay  and PayPal offer ways to send money in foreign currencies. If your Seller doesn't accept these, you will need an International Money Order for US Dollars from your Bank. The charge varies, but is usually around £10.00. Again eBay will not cover cash transactions. Enquire about Postage & Packing costs prior to bidding as this can sometimes be a shock! Currently (May 2003) it costs around $18 USD for a regular Barbie sent Airmail, but again this varies and your Seller may also charge packing and/or handling fees.

Duty! Strictly speaking, you can only import goods to the value of $25 USD before Duty & VAT become payable. (Duty is FREE between EU Countries - so if your French/German is reasonable you may wish to look at the eBay sites for  these countries). You will pay Duty, VAT and a Handling fee if your parcel is selected by Customs. It may not be selected, but it is better to figure on this happening so that you realise extra costs. 

 And the costs are not small. Currently (May 2002) you will be liable for VAT @ 17.5%, plus a Duty Charge and a Handling Fee (handling alone is around £7). Again,  these are variable on the cost of your purchase - if Customs believe that your goods are worth more than has been Declared, they will charge you based on what they think they are worth. If you have proof they have overestimated the cost, you can get a rebate. Be aware that the P.O. collect these Charges at the time of Delivery, at the door.

 

If you are prepared to sell to US bidders, make sure you ask for an International Money Order in GB Pounds. If your Buyer sends you one made out in Dollars, it will cost you around £10.00 to put it through your bank account. Similarly, if your Buyer sends you a US cheque from his US banking account, it costs around £15.00 to put through and can take around 6 weeks to clear.

At present, you can send Goods insured to the US is via Parcel Force International Standard Mail and as of 2003, Services offered by Royal Mail as well include their International Registered and International Recorded Services as well as Swift Air. Go to the Royal Mail website for more details and pricing. 

Now, I'm hoping this has not put you off! Bidding and Selling on ebay UK is fun, informative and exciting! The majority of people are friendly, helpful and you can meet people who share your love of dolls!

So, check it out once - why don't you? Click logo to go!