Just as it was acquiring our grails, and the odds and ends that made a smile, selling them off is even more of a journey. I will tell you the economy is not your friend, and Ebay has changed so much since 1997 when I first signed on. AI has taken over most customer service, and if you are lucky enough to reach an actual person, they’re in another country and although it’s a language barrier, sometimes, it’s also the colloquialisms that we take for granted people understand. Trust me they don’t, and it becomes an uphill battle. It has also become almost a portal to the dark web for thieves to set up fake accounts and blatantly steal. I don’t know what it’s like on the other end of Ebay once someone is paid now, or how they get their money back from these crooks, but recently it took me a month to get $175 back, and the seller had even admitted they never had the item, and I should just go cancel it.

The flipside for the seller that’s honest, is that we also get these jerks as buyers. I send out dolls in pristine condition, even though they are aging and I have a full disclaimer on my page, but people have wanted refunds due to condition, and or aging fabrics, etc. In many cases, the bait and switch is just as prevalent as it was when we started out, as people are looking for lost accessories or outfits and claim you sent them a bad doll, so they could get the good stuff back. So bottom line, be prepared for anything!

shipping also is a nightmare, because after UPS and the post office merged making ground advantage, they don’t tell you when UPS turns it over to the post office, Their liability is over, and the post office will claim no liability, because chain of custody was broken since they did not take initial shipment - UPS did. So aside from packages often taking up to two weeks to get to a client, as well as being shipped all over the country, you are running the risk of insurance as well. I only say this because I know the high-end collection you have.

As for selling, I agree lots don’t work unless they are shoes, jewelry, or an assortment of unique clothing. Reserve price auctions also seem to turn off buyers now, I just set mine for what I want to sell it for and hope for the best.

Regardless where you sell, add a disclaimer! check out my auctions and see mine, or I can send it to you. It won’t be the end all savior, but at least you have something to come back on with Ebay or a buyer if there’s a problem. Also, I know you’re aware people outside of the country have addresses at ship points, Portland, Delaware and Florida are the ones that come to mind, so be aware if you are shipping, it could be up to three months to hear back on some of them. That being said if there’s a problem, Ebay will freeze at the word chargeback, and unless you have a wonderful relationship with your Bank and tons of proof, you will lose a dispute. That in itself is frightening and why I don’t ship out of the country if I can avoid it.

In the case of just selling to a consignment or collector buying inventory, shipping is insane via any type of trucking. I’m positive you’re aware of those kind of costs, but I just wanted to throw it out there.

I think selling directly on the boards and Facebook, has been the saving grace for several collectors I work with, due to the fees Ebay and Paypal charge. However, Ebay is your larger audience, you just have to really be vigilant and check out buyer profiles and location, and don’t be afraid to block people.

I think one of the most laughable issues I had last year, was a young girl who had a storage unit and picked up several Tonner and Genes. One of the Gene dolls I recognized as being done for an auction several years ago. When the doll arrived, it was loose in the box shaking around (no outside shipping box), the dress was incomplete, and the custom hair had all come apart. I sent the girl a picture, explained that I like to help collectors and I was very sorry that the doll had arrived that way, and possibly she had no way of knowing. I redid the dolls hair, almost exact, added similar missing accessories, and tied her into the box so she looked presentable, before sending her back, since she had been incomplete it wasn’t the doll I had paid for. When she arrived, I got a horrible message back that I had ruined the box,since I had taped it back together- because she shipped it in a Tonner box only, through the mail, and it had been destroyed. I repaired the box, and put it inside a larger box with bubble wrap for shipping. However, that was her main concern, and I was awful for using tape on a box.

You will encounter all kinds! But I’m always here if you need help good luck