Selling American Girl Dolls -- Ebay or Craig's List

[espana94]

DD14 and DD16 have decided they are ready to part with their AG dolls and assorted accessories. We have 5 dolls to sell.

My question to all of you...Where is the best place to list the dolls? Ebay or Craig's List? We are planning on listing each doll with her accessories, clothing, etc separately.

Thanks in advance for the advice! Espana

 

[princessnoelly]

I would look on Ebay and see what they are selling for over the next several weeks. You might also check your local paper to get an idea.

 

[rhiansmom]

Check out agplaythings.com last time I was there they had a for sale/trade board.

 

[disneystacy]

We did VERY well selling our American Girl stuff on Ebay, but it was around Christmas time. Not sure if that had something to do with it.

 

[lyncecelia]

what dolls do they have that they are trying to sell?

I'd definitely do EBAY though.

 

[ellone]

I'd go with ebay - bigger audience there.

If you haven't sold a lot on ebay, get yourself familiar with shipping options. And get packing materials.

 

[southern_redhead]

I think it depends. I've done both and I found eBay to be a hassle. I don't like shipping stuff, I visit the PO once a week (less if I can manage it.) Our UPS place is a PITA because they open like 2 hours in the am and 3 in the pm, you have to get there in those timeframes.

I've had great success, so far, with craigslist. I made $400 there in the fall on "junk" - old furniture, toys, etc.. - and they were mostly all pick ups, I did do one "meet and exchange" but only because I was going to be in that town anyway. I just listed two more, larger, toys on there today.

I haven't sold our AG things, but if you are selling "sets" I would check out the AG playthings board first. Second choice would be eBay. Craigslist people are a step above yard salers, IME. They tend to want a "deal" vs looking for something rare. If they are retired dolls in good condition FOR SURE go with the playthings board.

 

[Princess Glenda]

I'd eBay them. They are usually a popular item on eBay.

Good luck!

Glenda

 

[SalandJeff]

Why not do both? Put them on ebay (because I think you will do better there). At the same time put them on craigslist for the price you want for them. I would put that the price you put on craigslist is "firm"

If you get any bids on ebay, you can always take them off of craigslist. I think you would do well on ebay ... AG is always popular. Good luck!

 

[ellone]

I think it depends. I've done both and I found eBay to be a hassle. I don't like shipping stuff, I visit the PO once a week (less if I can manage it.) Our UPS place is a PITA because they open like 2 hours in the am and 3 in the pm, you have to get there in those timeframes.

I just drop off at both the PO and UPS store so I don't mind either. I have a postal scale (best investment ever - think I paid $19 shipped for it). They know me at the PO and I just drop my pre-paid packages on an empty counter (they even nicely scan everything as 'accepted' for me now).

UPS store is 1/2 mile down the street. We have a box there (that I actually use as my return address for shipments).

 

[luvmy3]

Also remember ebay charges fees for listing and a final value fee of 9% of your selling price. I don't think Craigslist has any fees.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I would think about this before you sell everything. My daughter has two with tons of accessories. I have everything packed away in her closet. Someday I am hoping she has a daughter who will want to play with them and that will be a lot cheaper then rebuying in 10 -15 years. Just something to think about.

Good luck selling if that is what you decide.

 

[SandrA9810]

Most the time, you're first 20 items listed at the beginning of the month free. And as a new seller, you'd probably get free listing. So depending on your starting bid, you'd probably save a buck or two on listing fees. Although be prepared for final value fees which is about 10% of your total.

On Ebay, people bid making the price go up. On craigslist, you're only going to get people asking for a lower price, with a handful willing to take at full price, no one is going to offer you more.

 

[southern_redhead]

I would think about this before you sell everything. My daughter has two with tons of accessories. I have everything packed away in her closet. Someday I am hoping she has a daughter who will want to play with them and that will be a lot cheaper then rebuying in 10 -15 years. Just something to think about.

Good luck selling if that is what you decide.

This is a good point, I had thought the same thing but didn't post it. I got all worked up over our rinky-dink UPS rant LOL I had Samantha and Felicity as a girl. My mom put them and their outfits up and when my DD turned 7 she got a ready made playset. As a bonus, by that time you couldn't buy Samantha and, of course, mine were Pleasant Company and the new Felicities were Mattel. My DD loves them and has taken excellent care of them. Inheriting my dolls also sparked an interest for her - she has saved money and bought herself another doll, and gotten 2 more as gifts for birthday/Christmas. She loves her AG dolls and I love that she has my old dolls

Sandra made a good point, as well. You might get more than you ask on eBay but you will get only what you ask on Craigslist. I might be lucky, but I've only had one person try to dicker me down. I refused, stuck it out, and ended up getting my full asking price.

Good luck, whatever you do. If you store them for future generations be sure to do it in a manner that preserves the doll. My mom kept them in their original boxes in her closet. Come to find out poor Samantha's wool school dress got a hole complimentary of moths.

 

[ktlm]

I would think about this before you sell everything. My daughter has two with tons of accessories. I have everything packed away in her closet. Someday I am hoping she has a daughter who will want to play with them and that will be a lot cheaper then rebuying in 10 -15 years. Just something to think about.

Good luck selling if that is what you decide.

This is good advice. Although having some spending money now sounds great to them, when they are grown up and have kids of their own, they may be sorry they sold them. My Mom kept my old Madame Alexander dolls and Barbies, and my DD (5) absolutely adores them. They stay at Grandma's and she plays with them all the time. It is so much fun watching her enjoy the things I had as a kid.

 

[espana94]

what dolls do they have that they are trying to sell?

I'd definitely do EBAY though.

Here is what the girls are looking to sell:

Molly doll with original outfit (-socks and collar), her accessories set, dance recital dress with crown, Christmas dress, Bennet the dog, bed and pillow, shoes.

Emily with original outfit and accessories set. We are missing her "letters and scrapbook."

Look-a-like doll -- Shorter blonde hair, blue eyes and bangs with purple jumper outfit and purple hair clips.

Josefina -- original outfit, party outfit and accessories set.

Nikki -- original outfit, horseback riding outfit, one other outfit (Not sure what it is...DD is at school.), and Sprocket the dog.

Clothing --

Marisol's ballet tutu

Gala gown set -- cream gown, cream and white shoes, cream gloves and silver tiara

Winter outfit -- Poofy white skirt, black shirt, black shoes, white tights and and fluffy collar.

As you can see, they still have quite a bit...DDs already sold two dolls and a lot of accessories last summer at our garage sale. (The garage sale stuff was gently used...these dolls are like new, so we don't want to go the garage sale route.)

Again, thanks to all for your advice! Espana

 

[js]

I have a lot of AG dolls and accessories. My dd is 17 and we live in NY so she spent lots of time in the AG store.

I do not want to keep in the house and will cross that bridge when I come to it with regards to buying new AG dolls if she has a girl, if they like AG, etc.

I just went up to the attic to look at what I have stored in the containers.
I have a doll sitting next to me now.
How the heck can I identify who I have?

Thanks so much!

 

[lori123]

I would research first to see what you think you can get for them. Then I would try craigslist - it is FREE and you may as well try it. If they don't sell there for what you want then you can move on to eBay. I avoid eBay if I can for selling anymore, too many fees and too many headaches.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I have a lot of AG dolls and accessories. My dd is 17 and we live in NY so she spent lots of time in the AG store.

I do not want to keep in the house and will cross that bridge when I come to it with regards to buying new AG dolls if she has a girl, if they like AG, etc.

I just went up to the attic to look at what I have stored in the containers.
I have a doll sitting next to me now.
How the heck can I identify who I have?

Thanks so much!

I would start by comparing the doll to the ones on the website. Some are retired so I don't know if they are still shown. Maybe you could post a picture here and someone could tell which doll it is....

My dd would never part with hers. I sure my future grandchildren will be playing with them someday.

 

[js]

I would start by comparing the doll to the ones on the website. Some are retired so I don't know if they are still shown. Maybe you could post a picture here and someone could tell which doll it is....

My dd would never part with hers. I sure my future grandchildren will be playing with them someday.

Thank you. Is that the only way I can find out whom I have is to look up pictures? There isn't a number or mark on them somewhere?

If I knew my dd would be married and have girls that liked to play with dolls I may keep but I really don't think I need to hold onto this stuff for many years when I'll just buy new if/when the time comes. I never played with dolls so maybe it is just me.

If anyone knows if there is any other way to look up dolls that were purchased about 10 years ago other than comparing pictures, please let me know.

Thanks to all!