Your Barbie collection could be worth up to £580 – and they don’t even have to be in the box
Collections of used Barbie dolls are selling on eBay for more that £500 and they're not all in mint condition
WE'VE all owned a Barbie doll at one point in our life - if it wasn't your own then it was definitely your sister's.
And the person with the the biggest collection was the coolest on the school playground. But imagine if one of the dolls is now worth a small fortune?
Collections of the dolls are selling on eBay for hundreds of pounds and they're not even in mint condition, let alone in their original box.
Usually, for a toy to become a collectable it must be in perfect condition and still in the original packaging which increases its value.
But a collection of 15 Barbie dolls - including one Ken doll - , even though none of them had a box.
Another collection from the same seller also sold on the auction site for a for 13 dolls.
The group of Barbies were from various eras and none of them came in their original packaging.
Not all of the listings specified what dolls were included in the bundle, meaning you don't always have to be an expert on what you're selling, although it does help.
Another collection of ten dolls and featured the Escada doll, the Vera Wang Bride and the Princess and the Pea.
There was also a Barbie Basics Ken doll, Daphne from Scooby Doo and the inspirational Barbie for President.
On its own and in mint condition, the Vera Wang doll is worth around £100 and the Princess and the Pea doll is worth around £15 unboxed.
By selling them in batches, the less valuable dolls push up the prices of the more valuable ones. Even though they're not in mint condition, the buyer is getting more dolls for their money.
But don't go thinking that the Barbies you gave a buzz-cut and Biro tattoos is going to be worth more than what you paid for it.
How to avoid the dangers of selling your Barbie on eBay
SELLING things on eBay can be a big money earner - when you're doing it right. Here are the dangers you need to avoid if you want to make a profit:
- You need to set a minimum price on your auction. It needs to be higher or at least value to what you're selling, otherwise it could be bought for less than it's worth. This is exactly what happened when someone sold a new £10 note for less than a tenner.
- Even if your item sells, there's no guarantee the buyer will cough up. When you set up the auction you can opt for the highest bidder to pay straight away.
- Don't forget that eBay will charge you a sellers fee if you sell your item. If you're selling up to 50 items a month - and you're not a business - you'll be charged 10 per cent of the sale. Take this into consideration when you're listing your item.
Even though the dolls have sold for hundreds of pounds in less than perfect condition, the sellers have described them as being "almost immaculate".
Toymakers Mattel first released the Barbie doll in 1959 and ever since there have been thousands of different designs.
But they have always been a hit with collectors.
Mattel released a line of dolls in 2009 called Barbie Basics which have a ModelMuse body. It's thinner and has tiny realistic details like on the neck and collarbones.
These were part of a Black Label collection which was aimed at adult collectors only.
A batch of ModelMuse Barbie dolls can also be valuable to the right buyer. Recently a collection of ten nude dolls sold for £375 on eBay.
What are the designs to look out for on their own?
Barbie dolls are often more valuable sold on their own - if you have the right design in the best condition.
Here are some examples of what has recently sold on eBay for a small fortune:
Number 3 Barbie, £500
This vintage model of Barbie was only the third design ever to be made and were released in 1960.
They came in two hair colours - either blonde or brunette - and they have blue eyes and red lips.
A used one of these .
Barbie La Belle Epoque Paris, £390
These glamorous looking dolls were made exclusively for fans who attended the Paris Fashion Doll Festival in 2012 and were designed by Robert Best.
They are part of the adult-only collection and one of these , but was brand new and unopened.
Gold Label Goddess of the Galaxy, £299.99
These epic looking dolls were produced in 2011 and designed by Bill Greening.
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They're not uncommon but if it's in a decent condition, you'll be able to sell it for a good price to the right bidder.
A doll that was still boxed - with a few scratches on the packaging - sold for £299.99 in August this year.
What should you do if you have a valuable Barbie?
IF you think you’ve got a Barbie that’s worth a bit extra then you should start by doing your research
Find out how much your toy is worth to a collector by checking the same or similar Barbies under “sold listings”.
Compare your Barbie to other higher selling auctions and ask yourself if it’s in a similar condition? Is your toy authentic? Does it still have the labels on? Is it still in it’s original packaging?
If it’s in mint condition then it might be worth selling it through an auction house or directly to a collectibles website. If it’s not, it’s probably worth sticking it on eBay for a moderate sum.
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