Community Chat

[FastDogWalker2]

Bit of a long shot - but is there a childrens' hospital or museum near you?  They may be interested.  Good luck-you sound very generous.

[Just Bling]

@amyb 

I can give you first hand knowledge .

It's going to take a little prep work to approach a dealer.

Make a list.   Doll   Size   Any identifying marks  Maker  Approx Year

Box?  A spreadsheet would be most beneficial.

This is very important information to speak to anyone.

If you don't want to do the work, your return will reflect that.

If you have old Barbie dolls, Madam Alexander etc. those prices are be researched with books.  There are actual price books that you can use as a reference.  Also, you can check the back of the doll, neck, back and butt have the markings if they are there.

If you just want to get rid of them all, there are collectible stores that will possibly buy your entire collection.

If you want to sell them on your own, you need the above information to advertise them to the best of your ability.

You can also research doll dealers in the US but note the dealer needs to make money too and it's usually 40/60.  Also, don't let the dealer pick what they want and give back the rest, sell them as a "lot".

The 80's was a hot market for dolls, not so much anymore but there still is collectors out there, it always comes back, just don't know when.

[haddon9]

I actually have two collectible porcelain dolls.  I bought them back in the 1980s since they looked just like my son when he was a baby & little boy.  Right now they are in their boxes sitting in a storage closet in the basement and I have no idea what to do with them.  Since they are porcelain, they aren't cuddly types of dolls.

Thank goodness I never got into a big collection but I have plenty of other things (from my mother) that I need to get rid of.

It is a bit sad to see some of these items thrown away. It's too bad that many of the younger genteration (including my own two) just don't want them.

[gidgetgh]

And I personally would load them in the car, drive to Goodwill, unload the car as fast as humanly possible, and the screech of tires you'd hear would be me leaving the parking lot.  Mission accomplished.  Done.

I have 1 collectible doll.  She is 8 inches tall.  I looked her up on eBay and there were 3 or 4 of her listed.  One had sold for 80 cents.  Yes, 80 cents.  I am going to keep her.

No way with a collection would I put much effort into it.  They brought you joy at one time.  Thank them for the joy they brought and let them go.

I also am not a big fan of dropping off large collections of anything at nursing homes, fire or police stations.  I just don't think they're looking for bins and bins of dolls and stuffed animals.  But that is just my opinion.

[drizzellla]

@amyb On the TV show Hoarders (please I do not think in any way you are a hoarder), there was a lady that had thousands of dolls. She had rooms just filled with dolls.

The people from Hoarders had an auctioneer come in and check out all the dolls. He did not take all the dolls but he took quite a bit. I forget the exact amount but I know the lady made well over a thousand dollars.

[haddon9]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

And I personally would load them in the car, drive to Goodwill, unload the car as fast as humanly possible, and the screech of tires you'd hear would be me leaving the parking lot.  Mission accomplished.  Done.

I have 1 collectible doll.  She is 8 inches tall.  I looked her up on eBay and there were 3 or 4 her listed.  One had sold for 80 cents.  Yes, 80 cents.  I am going to keep her.

No way with a collection would I put much effort into it.  They brought you joy at one time.  Thank them for the joy the brought and let them go.

I also am not a big fan of dropping off large collections of anything at nursing homes, fire or police stations.  I just don't think they're looking for bins and bins of dolls and stuffed animals.  But that is just my opinion.

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@gidgetgh I have to agree with you....while it's a nice thought and one means well, it can be a lot of work for those who didn't ask for it to sort things our, etc.  Plus some of these places could end up with to them could be a lot of junk, not treasure.

[haddon9]

@Just Bling Good tips for all kinds of collectibles!

[VaBelle35]

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@Neetgal2 wrote:

I had MA dolls from only the 80's, my daughters.  She did not want them!  I kept them in tissue and boxes in my bedroom closet and I decided to donate them to a upscale thrift shop.  Several of them fell apart from dry rot or whatever.  The lady in the shop still took them and we placed them in plastic bags.  Apparently there are people who will put the back together.  I only kept one.  I checked selling the outright before donating them and there was not a market, but then I found they fell apart.

My next project is a whole drawer fill of sterling silver serving pieces from 4 generations back to try to sell.  No interest in these things with the younger generation.

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Are you talking about forks/knives, etc?  I sold two sets of sterling silver to Replacements.  The shipping and handling was not bad for these as they fit in a small box, even though very heavy.  

For my sets they didn't need the spoons and forks, but they needed all the rest.  I check once a year to see if they need the rest of the spoons and forks.

[ScrapHappy]

I too have MA Dolls.  My father started buying them for me in the 70's.  I would always get new dolls for Christmas.  Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a market for them.  If people do buy, they want MIB.  I would donate to a charity that could benefit from the proceeds or someone who would enjoy and love them as much as you did (womens shelter).

[moxie11]

Check , local library, humane society, churches,  childrens hospitals, toys for tots, radio stations for their yearly christmas drive. Organizations are gearing up for toy drives soon. Homeless shelters would accept your dolls with little open arms. I, gave four boxes of my doli and toy collection away, and my spirit never felt better. The library gave them to the children to hold during story hour and were given away to each child at end of story. There, is a sense of freedom and joy when you find such heartwarming locations to give your collection away to benefit others.When one holds on too tight to things of this world, it never serves it's true purpose. Glad your finding special places for your collection. Enjoy your journey, with much success.