| In this article we're going to review pricing guides and | | | | owners heads. If a doll in the guide goes for x |
| what you need to look out for when it comes to | | | | number of dollars then each shop owner will only pay |
| using one. | | | | y number of dollars for it. And that amount won't |
| Okay, you're a collector of dolls. You want to | | | | vary by more than 2%. So you can go hunting all you |
| purchase a rare 1964 Barbie Doll. You have absolutely | | | | like, but the most that you're likely to get for that |
| no idea what the darn thing is worth. What do you | | | | Mike Hazard doll is $510. Maybe $525 if you're lucky. |
| do? | | | | That's why, as a seller, you can take those pricing |
| This is where people turn to things like pricing guides. | | | | guides and throw them out the window. You're not |
| But there are many dangers and things that you | | | | going to get anywhere near what they say the item |
| need to be aware of when using a pricing guide both | | | | is worth. |
| for buying and selling dolls. | | | | But what about if you want to buy a collectible doll? |
| Let's start with the most discouraging part about | | | | Well, that's a different story. See, when you want to |
| using a pricing guide, for when you have a collectible | | | | buy a doll, at most you're only going to get maybe |
| doll that you want to sell. | | | | 5% knocked off the guide. So if that Mike Hazard doll |
| You've got an old and very rare Mike Hazard Double | | | | you want is priced at $1500 in the guide the best |
| Agent Doll, series 1 from 1967. You've picked up a | | | | deal you're probably going to make for a mint doll in |
| pricing guide that you've already paid good money | | | | the box is about $1425. Maybe $1400 if you're lucky. |
| for, maybe even as much as $50. You see that the | | | | And as you can see, the owner who paid $500 or |
| Mike Hazard doll, in the original box, unopened goes | | | | even $510 for it isn't losing any money if he sells it to |
| for $1500. So you head down to the local collectible | | | | you for $1400. He is making plenty on the deal. |
| shop where they will buy your collectible doll, show it | | | | The sad truth is, the pricing guides are made for the |
| to the owner and he offers you $500. You look at | | | | store owners. The guides don't really reflect the true |
| him like he just killed your first born child. You point | | | | worth of the doll. Since most of the guides are made |
| out to him that the guide says it's worth $1500. The | | | | by collectors who specialize in selling anyway, it is of |
| owner of the shop then says to you that it's worth | | | | course in their best interest to jack up the price as |
| $1500 only to him if HE sells it. But there is no way | | | | much as they can, within reason. An item that wasn't |
| he's giving YOU $1500 for it. How would he make a | | | | in big demand when it was out isn't going to be |
| profit? So you haggle with him some more. You ask | | | | priced at the same price as a popular item like Barbie. |
| him why so little though. He then takes the box out | | | | That's why the first Barbie Dolls are $2500 and Mike |
| of your hands like he owns it and points out the little | | | | Hazard is only $1500. There is only so much the |
| dinks in the box, the corner that has a little wear on | | | | market will bear. |
| it. Well, you're pretty much ready to spit in this guy's | | | | Pricing guides are really only good for making sure |
| face but instead you just tell him that you can go | | | | you don't pay more than you should for the item. If |
| elsewhere and get more for the doll. That's when the | | | | you show no knowledge of what items are going for |
| owner informs you that it won't happen and then | | | | you will most certainly be taken to the cleaners by |
| proceeds to tell you why. | | | | some of these store owners. As they say, let the |
| It seems that the pricing guide itself spawns off | | | | buyer beware. |
| another pricing guide that is internal in these shop | | | | |