Are you collecting American Girl Doll items for yourself, your daughter or grand-daughter?

There may come a time when you decide to down-size your collection. I've been selling older "Pre-Mattel" Pleasant Company items on eBay for over 3 years now, and know what works and what doesn't when it comes to reselling these HOT dolls, their outfits, furniture & accessories. Here are some tips to make sure you receive top dollar for your items in the secondary market.

PLAYING

• Make sure hands are clean before handling the doll. I've seen some really grimy dolls and they are NOT at all pretty! So wash those hands first!
• Dressing and undressing is fun, but be careful with those shoes! Some fit so tightly that it's possible to pull a doll's leg out of it's socket when attempting to remove the shoes. Best way to avoid this is to hold onto her ankle when taking shoes off.
• Stay INSIDE! These dolls really like it in the house where they are safe from the elements (water hoses, sand boxes and the like!)
• Of course, you'll want to brush and style her hair. Always use a metal wig brush and lightly mist the hair with clean water from a spray bottle. Brushing dry hair can cause tearing and damage to the synthetic fibers. Start at the ends and work your way up to loosen tangles. Good quality wig brushes and misters are available from your local Sally beauty supply store.
• Do NOT use hair dryers of curling irons, striaghteners; they can actually melt the hair. If you want to curl the hair, you should mist it, make your curl, wrap in curling paper, then hold in place with a galvanized bobby pin or paper clip. For softer curls, wrapping the hair around an empty tissue roll works really well.

STORAGE

• Doll outfits: Keep all original boxes, tissue and product cards / leaflets. You can flatten the boxes and store in plastic bags to conserve space; could stash under the bed or in the back of a closet without taking up too much space.
• Store outfits in tissue paper when not in use. Flatten fabric and place tissue - wrapped items in large zip-lock bags. Smart to punch a few holes in the bags to avoid condensation. Shoes and heavier accessories go in the bag first, then the clothing. A note on those velcro closures! They can cause serious damage to some of the more delicate and shiny fabrics. Good idea to place a piece of removable tape over the hooked side to avoid snagging the fabric
• Actual Dolls: If you are storing for any period of time, it's smart to undress the doll, wrap in clean tissue paper, and place her face-down in her original doll box. Believe it or not, the doll's eyes can sink back into their heads if the vinyl becomes warm or damp! Also, the dye in her clothing can bleed and discolor her body. I've seen this quite often and it's not pretty! Avoid plastic storage bins because they can trap moisture and cause molding / mildew.
  
• Keep you collection away from pets, brothers and other predators! I use a large fabric covered box to store the dolls and outfits. The box measures about 6" deep and easily stores under the bed.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
Hopefully, you won't need this, but here goes...If your doll suffers a mishap, she may need therapy! I can help with that at my doll hospital. I offer hair and body repair and restoration an very reasonable prices and am WAY into the collectible nature of these dolls. I make sure the doll you receive back from my hospital is the exact doll you sent in. I have heard horror stories from collector's who sent collectible dolls to the American Girl Doll Hospital only to receive back a doll with a completely different head, which was nowhere near as beautiful as the older Pre-Mattel variety.

NEED HELP SELLING YOUR THINGS?
I can sell your unwanted items on my site as a trading assistant. It can be done on a virtual basis, which makes it really easy for you, plus, I have the traffic and feedback numbers that buyers are looking for. Here's how it works: You take a digital photo of your set, write a brief description (list what's included) then email that to me. I list the item on my eBay site which is viewed by hundreds of AG fans. Once it sells, you pack up the items. I send you a prepaid Fedex label that you print out and attach to the package, then drop off at any Fedex / Kinkos store. Then, I send payment (less fees) to you via paypal or check. Commission and fees vary depending upon the size and value of your collection. You can email me at JFD123475@msn.com for a personalized quote.