iDOLLS HAS 50% OFF SALE:   On all in-stock items.  Sale is valid until Monday, so don't delay!

eBAY KEEPS BUY-IT-NOW AS A PERMANENT FEATURE:   eBay had decided to keep "Buy It Now" as a permanent feature.  The feature has proven very popular.  The feature remains free for the time being, but eBay may decide to charge sellers for its use in the future.

THINGS LOOK BAD FOR e-TOYS:   Struggling online company eToys acknowledged Thursday that it has stopped paying some creditors, and one temporary staffing agency says it is owed $2 million,  it was announced today. This is just another sign of trouble in the very difficult online toy market--"The online toy industry, one of the hardest hit in e-commerce, has seen some of its brightest stars fade because of paper-thin margins, grueling competition, and investor apathy. Last spring, Toysmart.com, backed by Disney, and ToyTime.com closed down.  In September, the nation's second-largest toy merchant, Toys "R" Us, gave up running its own Web site and launched a joint toy-selling venture with Amazon.com."  Get the FULL story at  C-NET.com

THINGS LOOK BETTER FOR TOYS-R-US.COM:   Toysrus.com announced Thursday that its online sales for the nine weeks leading up to Christmas totaled US$124 million, a 218 percent increase over the previous year's holiday season. Find out more at CRM News. 

ARE SMART TOYS MAKING KIDS DUMB?:   Great article from the Star Telegraph exploring whether techno toys (such as computerized baby dolls) reduce or enhance ingenuity.  

eBAY TO RAISE LISTING PRICES JANUARY 31st:   eBAY has just announced that it will be raising its listing fees and also adding a charge to the 10-day listing option.  Here is the eBay announcement:   "Today, we are announcing two changes to the current eBay price structure. Effective Wednesday, January 31, 2001, we are increasing insertion fees and adding a charge to the 10-day listing option. Final Value fees, other feature fees and insertion fees for vehicles, eBay Premier and Real Estate remain unchanged.

Insertion Fees
Here are the old and new price schedules for insertion fees.

Opening Value or Reserve Price: $0.01 - $9.99
Current Insertion Fee: $0.25
New Insertion Fee: $0.30

Opening Value or Reserve Price: $10.00 - $24.99
Current Insertion Fee: $0.50
New Insertion Fee: $0.55

Opening Value or Reserve Price: $25.00 - $49.99
Current Insertion Fee: $1.00
New Insertion Fee: $1.10

Opening Value or Reserve Price: $50.00 -$199.99
Current Insertion Fee: $2.00
New Insertion Fee: $2.20

Opening Value or Reserve Price: $200 and up
Current Insertion Fee: $2.00
New Insertion Fee: $3.30

* 10-Day Listing Option
A new ten-cent ($0.10) fee will be implemented for the 10-day listing option. The three-day, five-day and seven-day auctions will not have an additional fee.

We recognize that price increases directly impact our sellers. The last time Insertion fees or Final Value fees were increased was December 1996. We will continue to build a vibrant marketplace by investing heavily in technology, marketing and customer support to make it possible for millions of people to discover and use eBay.

More information is available at:
http://pages.ebay.com/community/news/price_increaseFAQ.html "

CHAT ROOM:   The chat room is open 24 hours a day, and its free!  Just invite your friends in any time, or stop by to see who's there! And, don't miss our collectors chat every Tuesday at 6pm pacific time/9pm eastern. http://collectdolls.about.com/mpchat.htm. 

January 12, 2000:  GENE gets a male companion; more Gene 2001 news; Theriaults Auction News and Review
January 6, 2000:    Update from Theriault's Auction Weekend:  Automata; Antiques Auction.
December 30, 2000: Theriaults Auction Weekend; History of Fashion Dolls in Barbie Bazaar Magazine warehouse.
December 16,2000:  2001 Fashion Model Barbie pictures; Treasure Trove Of Vintage Toys found in Government Warehouse; Kitt Kittredge sold out 
December 7,2000:  Ferrari Evening Barbie; Power Puff Girls BAD; new Clip Art; No Toy Home-Run for This Year's Holiday Season

Click HERE for the 2000 Doll News Archive  

For all 1999 editions of "Dolls This Week" please go to the 1999 Dolls This Week Archives.

• Timeless Treasures: The Story of Dolls in Canada is on display now through  March 30, 2003 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. For more information on this huge (over 400 dolls) landmark exhibit, visit http://www.civilisations.ca/cmc/cmceng/pr113aeng.html 
• Baton Rouge Doll Show:  February 10, 2001.  Ramada Inn and Convention Center, 1480 Nicholson Drive, from 9 am to 4 pm. Competitive and special exhibits, helpers, and door prizes. Proceeds to  benefit local charities such ads JC's Christmas programs for needy children and Easter and Thanksgiving programs for seniors and shut ins; and the UFDC. For additional information contact Pat Duncan pduncan@premier.net or George Orgeron at 504-386-4291 or orgeron@i-55.com.  Stop by and see your Guide; I'll have a table at this show!

Be a Roving Reporter!! Become a Roving Reporter and write a report on a doll event!  Or, do you have a doll event to promote, a new doll to announce, or an updated web site?  Please e-mail me at collectdolls.guide@about.com and put "Newsletter" in the subject line--For events, please give me 7 to 10 days advance notice (at minimum!) in order to have your event appear on time. Some events will also/alternatively appear in the Events Calendar.

Do You Have Dolls For Sale Or Trade? Did you know that you can place FREE classified ads for your dolls for sale or trade (or, dolls wanted) in the Dolls Forum?  Dealers, collectors, everyone welcome; feel free to link to your eBay auctions as well!  Visit the Dolls Forum to find out how to place your ad; if you are not yet a member, click on GUEST, but you will need a free Forum ID to place your ad.

 Want to keep up to date on all the latest in the world of Dolls?    Sign up for the weekly About Dolls  Newsletter! It's free, and is delivered to your email address every week, full of links to new articles, new clip art, additions to the Doll Price Guide and Galleries, Forum Discussions and more!   Don't miss a single issue--- scroll to the end of this page to sign up now!

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