Selling Tips in a poor Second-hand Market

I don’t have a lot of tips as a seller but as a buyer these are things I look for. A lot of pictures, list and picture of what the sale includes, some good feedback but if they have none I’ll give them a chance if everything is covered, PayPal goods and services, and prompt communication.

Try to describe the doll with enough information to eliminate questions a buyer may have, if they have to message you for more pictures and information some people will not bother. Extras are not a real incentive to me unless it’s extra parts for the doll or neutral accessories, a lot of buyers are particular about wigs and clothes.

 

Not a seller, but a buyer!

For me, I like to see nice, clear pictures of everything the sale includes. Unless I'm really, really looking to buy that particular sculpt, I immediately move on when I see there's only one photo for a full doll and I need to send a message to see more. I don't mind it so much with heads where you can usually get a clear idea from one photo, but with a full doll, I at least want to be able to see the head and the body clearly. I also like to know outright if there is/isn't a COA/ original box and what kind of damages there might be. Disclosing that information outright just saves everyone time.

Having the option to ask for a custom faceup is also appealing to me as a buyer! The option to buy extras (wigs, eyes, clothes) is also nice, especially if the doll is in an unusual size or a size I don't currently collect. They don't necessarily need to be freebies for me; I'm fine just seeing that the option is there if I may want to take it.

If it's a sale for clothes, I also like to at least see the original promo photos so I know what it's meant to look like. I'm always looking at clothing sales and then moving on because I have no clue what the outfit is supposed to look like. It's even worse when it's just a photo of it in its original packaging...

 

Layaway is a good idea as not everyone has a large sum of money sitting around, especially in this economy. I also try and give people a rough estimate on shipping cost. Overseas can be expensive so that can kill a sale. I also feel used means less then new so understand people may look for the same doll more in their budget. Don't be offended that some dolls faced up sell better while blank maybe better as people may want a different look on a doll. Good luck.

 

When I've passed up on buying a sculpt I wanted second-hand, it was because:
1) I didn't like the face-up, and it seemed like a shame to buy a doll then immediately wipe her
2) I could get the sculpt new for the same price
3) It didn't have the option parts I wanted, so it seemed easier to buy straight from the original company.

I think point 2 & 3 I would be willing to ignore if the seller could include a custom face-up... but of course then you have to be someone who does face-ups!

Personally, extras like wigs and clothes aren't very enticing to me, unless they happen to be exactly the thing I had in mind for my doll already... which seems super unlikely

 

I think for me a big deciding factor in buying second hand is "is it reasonably priced for what it is" because I feel like it's not quite fair to ask for what one paid new if an item has been handled a lot or adding other fees one had paid for it (customs, shipping they paid originally), and totally ignoring what the rest of the market is doing. I always feel safer buying from someone who has done their research before listing what they want to sell, it'll usually indicate a smoother transaction overall where everyone will be happy. It's often less about the price and more about the trust, too. Loads of clear images and thorough descriptions are also always a huge plus!

As a seller - I definitely go the heavy discount route most of the time I know extra items or faceup won't usually attract anyone to pay more (I do love adding freebies nevertheless) and I appreciate a quick sale for less rather than a dragging sale. So yeah, also for selling all I've found to work is a low price.

A good tip for clothes/wigs/shoes though - selling items separately drags a lot but selling them in lots? I am always surprised how much faster things go when listed that way instead.

 

I believe photographing your doll from all sides naked, and a good close up of the head/face up are critical. Also, taking the time to dress up the doll and photograph it creatively also helps sell the doll, especially if you are selling the outfit with the doll. After all, isn't that exactly what hooks us into buying a new doll from the makers - the doll's personality coming through in beautiful photos? I also list why I'm selling.Something like, "I love this doll but she's bigger (or smaller) than my other dolls and so she doesn't fit in." I keep my dolls in the dark and I always mention that, too. I just keep reducing the price of my dolls until they sell, because I don't want them just sitting around unused and unappreciated - such a waste!

 

I've bought most of my dolls secondhand, and from my experience, providing a lot of pictures and information helps. No one wants to buy a doll if they have 1 or 2 photos to go off of and nothing else. It's an expensive purchase and the less risk, the better. But if I'm honest... discounting the doll is also very important to me. I've passed up on a lot of dolls I liked simply because they were asking for as much or almost as much as it would cost to buy the doll new. I understand wanting to get back what you put into them, but shipping and importing fees can be deal-breaking. I've paid $75-120USD on shipping, and I'm Canadian, so that's a lot for me. If a used doll is negligibly cheaper than getting it from Alice's, who usually offers free shipping, I'll just buy it there to save on costs. I don't mind waiting the 3-8 months on average if it means staying more in my budget. If I buy them new, I'm less likely to have work to do on them too, like restringing, reapplying eyelashes, wiping and getting a new face done, sanding down scuffs, gluing in magnets, removing staining, etc.

As for freebies/extras, they don't incentivize me. Usually, I don't like the outfits/wigs/etc provided and/or I have a different look in mind for the doll. I know some people will charge extra if they bought the doll a custom face-up from a face-up artist, too, and I avoid those completely. I'd rather send the doll to a face-up artist I already like with my own instructions or get a company face-up. I might even use it as a practice head. Because of that, the extra charge is a turn-off. I'd also feel bad about wiping away an independent artist's hard work.

I actually prefer paying less for damaged dolls than more for pristine ones, too. The secondhand dolls I bought were mostly discounted dolls whose sculpts I've already liked. My first was a HDF Madeline I got for $100USD plus shipping. She was in great condition, came with extras (that I don't use and were shoved in a closet), and had minimal even yellowing. Her company face-up is still flawless. Another is a HDF Pudding which was a little more but required a lot of the above-mentioned work. She's been my practice doll who I've restrung and done lots of maintenance to. And yet another was a MYOU 1/6 Delia who was super cheap, came severely unevenly yellowed with her eyelashes falling out, scratches, and a damaged face-up, and she was my first project doll. It took months to her fixed up, and cost even more for her face-up, but I love her a lot now. It's fun taking old, beat-up dolls no one wants and giving them some life.

Lastly, unfortunately, the economy is horrible right now. This is an expensive hobby and buying a doll is only the start of your expenses. Rent and grocery prices are insane, no one can afford houses, and everything is terrible, so budgeting for dolls is more difficult than ever for a lot of people. I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping your prices at what you're comfortable with, and in that case, I think patience is your best bet. Eventually, someday, someone is going to want your doll! But being prepared for the long wait is important. It could take months or years, and that's okay! But ultimately, if you want to sell quickly, discounts are the best way to make that happen. The secondhand market is oversaturated with dolls right now and people are putting less money into the hobby, so it's sadly the most efficient route

I wish you the best of luck!

 

Most of the time when I'm selling I add extras, I comp a certain amount of shipping (i.e. free in my country and I have comped a certain amount for int'l purchasers), and every several weeks the posting is listed I go in and lower it a bit by increments until I don't feel comfortable going any lower. Also refreshing pictures with new angles or new scenery after a couple months can get new eyes on it.

These things don't always work, and sometimes I have failed to sell an item and need to have it hang out with me longer. But I'm also not looking to get back 100% of what I paid (that isn't realistic for most doll purchases).

In a couple instances I have fully put things up for trade only. I know some people would never, but I'm generally pretty open minded. I mean, I can totally understand that in this hobby sometimes you end up stuff rich and cash poor. But things I have traded had pretty low cash values to start with, as well.

 

I’ve only been a buyer so far, and what I usually need is at least a few pictures, good communication, possibly good feedback (but if a seller is new, a friendly attitude, willingness to answer a few questions and show proof of authenticity make me feel safe enough too), and reasonable prices. I understand some people try to get a bit more than they paid for, but sometimes I see dolls that are still in stock being sold on the second hand market for more than they go for. Or just older dolls that are being sold for 2 or 3 times the price.

Face ups and extras are nice but not a big incentive usually.

I think a good seller is one who is friendly, open about the condition the doll is in, willing to listen and answer a few questions, and to work with buyers if they need a short layaway or a different shipping method, things like that.

 

As a buyer, several things that are critical:

-Clear, basic photos in good lighting. If it's blurry or too dark, it makes me worry that there might be damage or yellowing being hidden.
-Clean setting! No, I don't expect anyone to clean their entire house spotless just to sell a doll. But at least toss down a clean sheet, towel, posterboard....something. Seeing a doll with a bunch of trash in the background, pet fur caked on everything and the doll casually placed in all this mess is a hard NO for me. It just makes me feel like the seller is careless and the doll will arrive filthy and smelling bad....
-Which leads me to: clean doll! I don't really even care if I still need to give the doll a quick wash, but if it's going to be very dirty or have layers upon layers of damaged or amateur blushing/painting....clearly note that and let the price reflect it. Some people don't mind rescuing a project, but it is a nasty surprise when you don't expect it.
-A good description. I see a lot of listings that have one sentence or less about the doll. Unless the price is extremely low, if it doesn't have enough detail, I'm wary of buying. I want to know yellowing, damage, what comes with it, who did the faceup/blushing (if it has any, and if it's amateur, then what materials were used), any weird quirks about it, the size and/or what fits (especially for the large and tiny categories, since they can vary so much!), and if anything needs to be fixed about it (like needs new stringing, might need wiring or sueding, etc).
-non-smoking home. Please PLEASE answer this honestly! Including vaping or smoking non-tobacco things. It might not matter to some people, but for others, it can range from unpleasant to a health risk (allergies, asthma, migraines...) and probably negative feedback or a PayPal dispute. Personally, I'm not as picky about pets, candles/incense, or perfume, but those are important to list too. Be honest and keep your buyers safe and happy!
-be available. Ignoring my message for weeks means I am not going to buy.
-Accept PayPal goods & services, and don't charge fees. If I have to give up my safety net and/or break PayPal's ToS to buy a doll, it makes me very uncomfortable that something shady is going on and there's a reason the seller doesn't want me to be able to get a refund. Charging fees guarantees that will not buy from you. If that amount is that important not to lose, then list your price high enough that you'll be happy with what you get after fees. And I will not pay via friends & family, unless we actually are friends or family, or I'm buying in person at a meet and can see what I'm buying and have it in hand immediately.

Things that aren't critical, but might entice me to buy:

-A super low price. It encourages me to impulse buy things I didn't plan on getting.
-Includes box and CoA. Missing these things isn't always a dealbreaker unless the legitimacy is in question or it's a highly recasted sculpt, but I do like to have them when possible.
-Extras! Of course, it depends on the extras, some things aren't useful to me and would just be getting gifted/resold/traded, but if the extras are something I can use, or extra parts for the doll, that's possibly going to make me more likely to buy.
-Open to trades. Obviously depends on if they like anything I have to offer and if they have plenty of positive feedback..
-International shipping, free shipping, or listed flat rate shipping. I buy from all over the world, but it does depend on shipping costs. It's not the seller's fault, but sometimes shipping is just far too high for me to justify. As a US seller, I've mostly stopped shipping internationally, since it costs about $120+ to ship large dolls, when some dealers are offering free shipping! Some dolls, even within my own country, have cost $50-75....it's ridiculous. Knowing up front if a seller will ship to me, if it's included and if not, what it might cost helps me decide without bothering the seller if it's out of my budget.

Things that don't make a difference to me personally but might be good for a lot of buyers:
-Faceup/blushing, I do my own
-Layaway, I don't usually buy until I save up enough to pay in full. Though this could be very important to a lot of buyers.

 

I've bought and sold in a lot of hobbies over the years and as for selling, this has applied to all of them: manage your expectations.

The truth is, once you're past a hobbies peak, very rarely will anything appreciate in value. It's more like buying a car, the value goes down the second you drive it off the lot. Most of us are not buying dolls to flip for profit so the reality is when it's time to sell you will not make a profit, you'll probably not even make your money back. I've sold a lot of dolls and most for less than what I paid. I consider it a fee for enjoying them the time that I had them.

Not using comps properly is a huge pet peeve of mine. What something has sold for is indicative of the market value, all the unsold ones sitting about mean nothing.

Aside all that, essentially what everyone else has mentioned. Clear quality photos of all aspects of the doll undressed. Mentioning any flaws that the doll might have and not just forcing buyers to spot flaws in photos. A nice dressed portrait photo is good for attracting attention but beside that I only care about the condition of the doll. I won't buy if a listing is just a bunch of photoshoot photos, no matter how nice they look.

Extras are not enticing to me anymore. When the hobby was still new and wigs and outfits were much harder to get it was one thing. Now collectors have such specific ideas for their dolls in mind that you'll probably not hit the mark with included items. I also found that dolls with amateur face ups having their face up wiped first was a plus. Unless it's the original or done by a highly regarded face up artist the buyer will likely repaint them and it saves them the trouble of doing it themselves.

 

It's truly a buyer's market out there, especially with the economy, but yeah, I can't stress this enough. I will not sell a doll above comp market value, but there are plenty of collectors out there who want to sell for what they paid or above what they paid. The problem is, the doll is not worth that anymore, and let's say the next day, I wanted to sell for the same price, I can't and I automatically lose money. I don't personally believe that is fair, both as a buyer and a seller. Also, dolls that have been heavily played with, but are supposedly sought after or limited, but again the buyer wants more than market value. I don't think is right. Limited only goes so far when several fingers are missing and the resin has turned bright yellow. And I want to stress anyone can sell for whatever they like, but don't expect to find immediate buyers.

 

I haven't sold doll items for a long time. But as a buyer...
custom face ups have to align with my tastes and be visibly undamaged or they are a deterrent. I don't want to pay extra for something I will remove And even if it's gorgeous but not my taste, it feels like a shame that I'd remove it so I'll pass! Body blushing that's damaged is also a deterrent (I know it gets damaged easily, but I dislike body blushing in general) If the seller offered the option to remove damaged make upon purchase, that would be an incentive in my mind. Maybe that is too personal but oh well. (service I would pay for I should add, bc I know it uses their time and materials)

Extras are not an incentive. But, I don't mind other items being offered as bundles with prices listed for the items and the opportunity to refuse them. I would rather pay for extras I want, than take on "free" clutter. Eyes being the exception since they're small and versatile enough.

When I'm hunting for a doll secondhand, I don't expect perfect conditions. What I do expect is clear documentation of the doll's condition, the seller seems knowledgeable about the doll and its history and is willing to answer a few questions.

I won't buy a secondhand doll at or around the same price I could currently buy it new. "Skip the wait" is not an incentive because I'd rather endure the wait in exchange for easier after service

Location is one too, importing from certain countries is really expensive right now. I don't expect sellers to eat that cost! But that just means the listings are going to sit for longer until someone more local or someone willing to pony up comes along.

One incentive for me that seems a little more rare these days, is willingness to split. I know bodies are a harder sell than heads, but I've gladly paid a little extra for a split-off head so I can leave the burden and cost of selling the body with the seller. Willingness to layaway is nice too but I understand it can't always be offered.

If you're open to haggling please note it. I'm not a haggler, so if I think an item is a bit overpriced, I skip on it. When I was active in FB, it's expected that everyone haggles so sellers tended to mark up the price more than what they want. But I kinda assume that's a FB thing, so I don't try for dolls I think are overpriced unless the seller says OBO.

 

I haven't sold dolls (though I have sold other things in the past on other platforms...and I guess I did sell a head on here once but it was so long ago, I don't even remember how much I asked for it) but I try to sell at a discount. I don't have the energy to research how much X costs now because it is Y rare and people are willing to pay Z to get it. I don't have the time - plus I find it annoying as a buyer. I try to combine shipping if selling multiple things to one person or meet in person so all we do is spend money on gas for our cars. I also accept reasonable offers - if I am trying to sell something at $20, you offer me $10, I will counter with $15. If they accept, great. If they don't, bye. I'm in no hurry to move what I am selling. That being said, I have taken things to stores I know will buy collectibles and take what I can get if my "AH I NEED MORE SPACE!!!!" anxiety gets bad (but TBF those are for off topic collectibles that probably have not gone up in value and I get store credit).

As a buyer for BJD, I look for certain things:
-Are there a lot of photos of the head/the body? Different angles? Different lighting?
-Are they accepting offers if I think the price is out of my budget?
-Are they doing layaway if not accepting offers?
-Are they including shipping? If not, how much is it? (I love free shipping but I know it isn't always possible.)
-Do they have the CoA? Original Papers? Original Box? I don't always need original full sets but I have put out WTB posts for full-set, all the bells and whistles for dolls I missed out on at close to their original price back when I first started collecting.
-Will they answer questions? Do they answer within 48 hours? I know we all have lives outside of this forum so expecting a response within 24 hours is a bit much for me.
-HONESTY. I have been really burned by someone who owned pets. Yes, they told me they had pets. They did NOT tell me that what I bought would smell like the pets PEED on them. Safe to say, I don't really use that platform to buy BJD stuff anymore. I stick to DoA, legit proxies, and legit companies. Be up front with any damage there is to the doll or doll items - yes, I've contacted sellers before because as I inspected something under a different light source, I found damage that wasn't mentioned in the sales post. I've refused to sell something because I found stains as I was getting ready to ship it that I didn't see before because the lighting was different. Be very thorough in checking for damage and ask someone who doesn't live with you to smell it if you can (I know we all go nose blind after X amount of minutes in our own home). If there is damage and you photograph it, circle it for us buyers - each screen varies and we might not be able to see it as clearly as you.
-Be open to offers/refunds. One reason I don't use a certain place anymore is how much I had to FIGHT to get a PARTIAL refund over the Pet Pee item. If you didn't realize there was something wrong and a buyer brings it to your attention as soon as they receive the doll/doll item, work with them to make it right. It builds trust between us and means I can recommend you as a seller to others. That being said, don't roll over and give me all my money back. I still got a doll/doll item, just part of it isn't so great. The buyer has to be reasonable too. Same with offers. If you're selling something for $100 USD and someone offers you $70, see if they'll meet you at $85. They still get a bit of discount (that yes! Woohoo! feeling) but you still get closer to what you wanted for it.

Faceups are hit or miss for me - if I like, I'll ask to keep it. If not, I'll ask you to wipe it.
As for freebies...if I can see them before hand, I can tell you if I want them or not. I have so many doll things hahaha.
But really the bullet list is what makes it for me. At this point, I am so picky with what I buy that sometimes I won't make an offer if I can tell the price has already been lowered. But that's me. (And yeah I'm still not over the Pet Pee incident - that is going to stick with me for a very long time.)

 

Usually I'm flexible with my sale. Layaway is 100% Ok with 1 and only condition that all the payment are not refundable. I also willing to negotiate the price. Consider what I'm doing is to find doll a good home, if someone want him/her I don't mind getting less money. It is better than let them sitting around unattended, after all.

In contrary, I'm quite strict when it come to what to keep and what to buy, since I've changed to collect only 1/4 scale lately, many old dolls have to go to new home and anything out of this size is a NO. Doll that won't speak to me also need a new home asap and I join a no-buying thread here in DOA for a semi-no-buy plan. (Still can't do totally no-buy, and think I can never do lol )

It's wasn't that I can't afford it, it's about can't spend quality time with them, so I choose not to buy or let go of many beautiful sculpts.

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These might consider as some suggestion,

For buyer part, think before buying, so you will have less to sell. And if it's really what you want, put up a [Wtb thread] for that doll. (When I do that it's mean I'm serious, and will likely to consider any offer about that doll )

For seller part, my suggestion is to reach out and post your sale on many platforms if you want item to sell fast. Prompt in communicate and willing to negotiate. Also please check the wtb before you list anything. Sometime the way to your doll's new home are just always there.

 

For me, sales have been pretty ok. I bump my posts on the Bjdsale and Bjd__sale tag once a day and offer short layaway terms. Some people may not be willing to do this, understandably, but I will lower prices quite often. This usually gets people to bite.

 

I am in a similar situation with a doll in a not very popular size. I don't think I can add much to what others said, but showing you're a reliable seller with some feedback and being available to quickly contact interested people or even quickly answer to the comments on your sale posts can help. Finding the right place to post your sales is important, but also keeping an eye on WTB posts as well (I think there is a dedicated group on facebook about that), you cannot post your sale there but you may find a person who's really interested in the doll you have or in a doll size similar to what you have.

But yes to be fair, secondhand market is quite slow nowadays, I don't see a lot of reactions on sales posts on facebook, reddit or IG and collectors seem quite reluctant to purchase, which is understandable. As I have been told, and I agree with that, it's all about finding the perfect seller for your doll, sometimes it's fast, sometimes it can take months or years, so manifesting and keeping a positive spirit can help if you are into these beliefs, in the meantime all you can do is wait and keep your items updated

 

Going to add in something that I, as a buyer who loves to hybrid, is always looking for....Resin matches and neck sizes!!!

I see SO many sale threads selling JUST a head with no information as to what bodies that head might fit on, what size neck it will need, or what resin it might match. Obviously resin matching isn't easy to do, and is so subjective on casting year, lighting, personal preferences, and so on...but even saying that a head is similar in color to a 2017 Fairyland, or has yellow vs pink undertones, is amazingly helpful. Neck sizing even more so. I love seeing the rare sale thread that says hey, this head needs a 9.5cm neck, or a 11.5cm neck. As a hybrid lover, that will tell me a lot and I can decide if that head might work for a body I have or if I can hybrid on a cheaper body and save some money. I mean honestly, saying the wig size is also great. (example: This head takes a 7-8 wig and 14mm eyes with a 9.5cm neck)

Just something additional to think on, and something I think about constantly as I browse the MP daily searching for bodies that might work for the last few floating heads I have. I would always rather buy second hand over new if I am able to.