Trends For Dolls and Collectibles on eBay
Griff said that the strongest overall trend on eBay for collectibles is growth—that the “number of items that are listed and the number of items that sell are constantly growing.” Collectibles overall continue to be of huge importance to eBay, in fact, Griff pointed out, that “eBay was built on Beanie Babies” and we can continue to see the importance of collectibles on eBay with the recent surge of Webkinz plush toys there. This importance is also historical—Collectibles was one of the four original eBay categories, and dolls was separated out as a category at least by May of 1996. The doll market on eBay continues to be an unusually strong one, and I asked Griff why he thinks that is. “Dolls are easy to photograph and ship, and they turned out to be the perfect marriage with eBay” he said. He also said that it continues to fascinate him how “even the rarest of dolls eventually show up on eBay.” I had to agree with him there; I’ve also been shocked at dolls that you rarely see anywhere else showing up for sale on eBay!
Pricing Trends for Dolls on eBay
Overall, Griff doesn’t think that the pricing trend for dolls has been either up or down as a whole. “The laws of supply and demand are not suspended,” said Griff “eBay has simply allowed a more accurate view of supply that may have been hidden before. eBay makes supply transparent.” He admits that things have been a bit volatile, and that there has been a “shake out” for doll and collectibles pricing in the past 10 years, courtesy of eBay, in the mid to lower-level categories.” However, he is quick to point out that “this hasn’t happened for pricing for the rarest of items.”
Follow The Golden Rule When Buying Dolls on eBay
Here, Griff stated the “golden rule” of collecting, one that I’ve also been a vocal proponent of in my nearly 10 years here at Doll Collecting at About.com: “By the rarest and the best that your pocketbook will allow.” The reason for the golden rule is simple—items which are truly rare or hard to find have the most insulation against wild market swings, and they will always be items where demand will greatly outstrip the supply. As a collector, as you move up, you need to continue to trade your collection up. This is where eBay has always shined—as a sales outlet for collectors who are selling earlier acquisitions and trading up to rarer and better items. “You can never have too many dolls, but you should always be trading up—take your lesser and lower end dolls and sell them to the new collectors in the marketplace. You keep spiraling u the quality of your collection, and, of course, eBay is the perfect place to do that.”
Griff Collects On eBay: Why Collecting Fish Decoys is Like Collecting Dolls
It helps Griff speak intelligently on buying collectibles on eBay because he has bought collectibles on eBay for many years. He used to buy lots of rugs, textiles and paintings. He says that he “tends to get into an area of collecting and go at it intensely for a year or so.” Right now, Griff’s current collecting love on eBay is fish decoys, and believe it or not, Griff sees lots of similarities between dolls and fish decoys. “I collect fish decoys even though I don’t fish” he says. “I find it wonderful to learn about the makers of the fish decoys; just like you learn about the makers of dolls. Every doll, every fish decoy, has its own story, and collecting is really just a sharing of stories.” To this end, Griff pointed out to me that eBay Sellers are wonderful conduits of those stories to their buyers. “The eBay listings do a great job of informing you of the stories behind the items you are collecting” he said, “they take you down the path and before you know it you have a house full of fish decoys.” Or, if you are like me or like most of my readers, a house full of dolls.
Griff’s Advice for Doll Buyers on eBay
Finally, in addition to the Golden Rule, Griff has more advice for doll buyers on eBay. “Get to know your sellers,” he says “The best of eBay sellers are gregarious, and will respond to questions and form a relationship with you.” This leads to a better experience, and a buying experience on eBay that is more fun. In fact, although there is a new star-rating feedback system for sellers, Griff doesn’t rely too heavily on this. Griff says that what the seller says in their listing descriptions and how they say it is much more important. “The listing description tells me all about them” he says. Part two of this interview will focus on Griff’s advice for sellers on eBay and the excitement of the eBay auction experience.
