| From the beginning, eBay's primary growth came | | | | "the baby" from a locked car! Mistaken identity |
| from thecollectibles market. There are two basic | | | | issupposedly a frequent occurrence and the dolls |
| models for eBaysales: | | | | have beencounted as "passengers" on airplanes and |
| 1. Currently available consumers goods. This is a | | | | rescued from storecountertops to prevent the 'baby' |
| price-driven model, and although smart sellers can | | | | from falling. As one happyowner says, "These dolls |
| earn above-average prices, buyers are there looking | | | | are so lifelike it's uncanny." |
| for a bargain andprice is the #1 consideration. | | | | 5. American Girl dolls are loved by millions of little girls |
| 2. Other buyers are collectors, looking for | | | | (and grown ups, too!) They are not only from |
| one-of-a-kindunique items that they can't locate | | | | different timesand places, but are ethnically diverse: |
| elsewhere. Here, priceisn't as important as it is with | | | | Felicity fromcolonial Virginia; Josephina from the 1830's |
| consumer goods. The powerof this market is obvious | | | | in New Mexico; |
| because, before eBay and the | | | | Kirsten is "a pioneer girl of strength and spirit growing |
| Internet, most collectors were confined to a local | | | | upin Minnesota in 1854"; Addy is alive in the 186o's, |
| market. | | | | havingescaped from slavery with her mother; |
| Dolls have always been big sellers as eBay collectibles | | | | Samantha is "a bright |
| andeight of them are especially strong sellers: | | | | Victorian girl living with her wealthy grandmother in |
| 1. The Cabbage Patch Kids began in 1978 and are | | | | 1904"; |
| never | | | | Kit is growing up in 193os, during America's Great |
| "sold". They are 'born' at Babyland General Hospital in | | | | Depression; Molly lives in the 1940's while her dad is |
| Cleveland, Georgia and proud parents pay an | | | | awayat war; Kaya is a Nez Perce Indian living in the |
| 'adoption fee'. | | | | northwest. |
| The Cabbage Patch Kids were one of the greatest | | | | 6. Hasbro dolls are one of the products of the |
| toyphenomenons of the later 20th century. At one | | | | gigantic |
| time, it was acommon sight to see grown women | | | | Hasbro company, who claim to have been making |
| shopping and lunching withtheir babies in hand. In | | | | toys for eightgenerations, including famous games like |
| restaurants, the Kids had their ownchairs and were | | | | Monopoly, Scrabbleand Clue. |
| always appropriately dressed for theweather. | | | | 7. Bratz dolls, unlike older dolls like Madame Alexander |
| 2. Precious Moments began in the early 1970s when | | | | and |
| creator | | | | Cabbage Patch Kids, have no long history as favorite |
| Sam Butcher began drawing the endearing | | | | toys orcollectibles. Nevertheless, their price has |
| teardrop-eyechildren as gifts for family and friends. | | | | astonished eBaysellers and the Bratz collection was |
| Today Sam's | | | | one of the 'super hits'of the 2003 holiday season and |
| Precious Moments artwork is among the most | | | | sales have been strong eversince. |
| recognized in theworld, and eBay prices reflect this | | | | 8. And, no surprise, Barbie is the best-selling doll |
| popularity. | | | | oneBay. Since Mattel has recently announced that |
| 3. Madame Alexander dolls were created in 1923. | | | | Ken and |
| Thesebeloved dolls range from Charlie Brown to | | | | Barbie will no longer be an "item", dolls from the 'good |
| babies andchildren to elegant dressed women to | | | | olddays' when the name "Barbie" was rarely heard |
| glamorous and famouswomen like Greta Garbo and | | | | without 'Ken',will inevitably become more valuable. |
| Judy Garland. With all thevarieties of costumes, a | | | | Anyone who loves and understands the doll market, |
| single doll can be a 1920s flapperas easily as a | | | | can dovery well selling dolls on eBay. They've been |
| member of the court of Louis XIV. | | | | strongsellers for the 10 years eBay has been in |
| 4. Lee Middleton dolls, according to legend, are so real | | | | existence and arealmost certain to remain popular for |
| inappearance that grown men sent for a rescue | | | | years to come. |
| squad to save | | | | |