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.

 

Most of my secondhand purchases are from Japan, because I mostly collect Volks and I live in Australia, meaning shipping from Europe or the US is often very expensive.
I have bought a doll from the US before because she was one I had never seen on the secondhand market and a reasonable price with all ageing and damage disclosed.
As a seller, I have a doll I'm trying to sell with no luck. My location and the doll's age probably don't help, even though the weak Australian dollar is better for overseas buyers. I've tried offering layaways, dropping the price and taking clear photos of all the angles of the doll and all the damage and modifications. Looking at the advice in this thread, I think I'm going to try taking a photo with eyes and a wig, even if the doll is blank.

Thanks to everyone for their advice! I managed to sell a doll body I've had up for months

 

Ok, I said in my comment earlier that I don't mind buying from pet friendly homes, and usually, it's totally fine. I love animals, and I don't mind a random stray pet hair or feather that just happens to get in the package. But things showing up smelling like (or covered in...) pet waste is really unacceptable. Pet pee has a really strong smell, and most people who don't own pets with litter boxes or puppy pads can smell it the second they walk in the door, even if you can't. If it's not changed as often as it should be, that smell, unfortunately, does start to cling to other things in the home. Same with hair. I once bought a black outfit and it arrived caked in so much white cat hair that it looked grey. If you can't keep your pets away from your doll stuff, please at least give sold items a roll of the lint brush or wash it first? I don't think that's too much to expect from a buyer.

 

@CloakedSchemer I own cats myself so I am very forgiving of pet hair. Anything fabric that I sell, I lint roll. And launder. Most pet allergies are due to the proteins in pet skin/hair/waste. So to me, it's important to really warn about that because pet allergy sensitivities vary. I also know pet hair and dander will float so even if you do your best to keep doll stuff away from pets, a stray hair can happen unless you kept the doll clothes/dolls properly stored in an air tight container. However, what I received was a Pet Pee smelling set and that wasn't disclosed. I won't go into it but that's why my advice is to have others give it a sniff, even after washing and lint rolling.

 

Just saying, water can reactivate cat pee smell. Even if you clean it… use the right stuff or disclose it. A simple wash might not be enough (as my ticked off cat and a favorite bathrobe can attest… learned that lesson the hard way.) If the buyer tries to wash off a stain or a faint smell, it’s going to get worse.

 

As a seller, definitely offering layaway is helpful I suspect offering trades as well, though I am extremely picky so rarely engage in trades, but I know others to!
I will say that nothing irks me more as a seller than when people ask a question that is easily answered by just seeking out the original sales page.
i.e. eye size, wig size, neck circumference etc. I don't even want to tread into the realm of anything not fitting or looking 'right'.

Things I look for as a buyer; specific things already on my wishlist. I will rarely see something at random and decide I want it since a lot of time and planning goes into selecting a doll for one of my characters. I tend to gravitate towards older dolls which are harder to find now so just finding a seller is usually the hardest part rather than pricing though that will play a factor, of course.

When it comes to commissioning artists, after their portfolio, the most important factor I consider is location. I only feel comfortable shipping my dolls domestically, which has been painful at times with so many talented artists around the world but I can't bring myself to do it.

 

I've noticed that saying why I'm selling seems to get a positive reaction from buyers.

It actually can make the difference for me if I'm between two very similar listings. Knowing why makes the seller more personable but also more trustworthy because they're being open.

I know it might seem like no big deal to some, but I think all of that can make a purchase less intimidating and more enticing. It can be especially scary to ask about something expensive if you're on the nervous side or a first time buyer.

 

I have had surprisingly good luck with sales despite the current market conditions. Here are a few things I do as a seller:

• Make my Feedback accessible with links. Don't make the buyer do extra work to find it
• Have a Terms and Conditions section, asking potential buyers to read it BEFORE messaging me. It includes common things on the MP sales template, such as that I have pets, live in a non-smoking home, ship within x days etc. I also include my layaway terms. I find this reduces a lot of up front back and forth.
• Take clear photos in daylight, natural light, and with and without flash. This helps to expose any imperfections. I try to highlight any damages, no matter how small.
• Detailed descriptions of everything, including small surface scratches or shiny spots in the resin. These things do not bother me at all, but they may be upsetting to a future buyer. Being as detail-oriented as possible can help eliminate any strife
• Cross-posting on multiple platforms. Sometimes it feels like spamming, but I'd rather just do a large blast radius. I post here on DoA, Facebook legit-only sales groups, discord, and Instagram. With the removal of tags, IG is more challenging. However, I have a designated sales account and tag bjdsale and bjd__sales in the post to have them reposted. These accounts are a godsend.
• Quick updates when something is sold or pending. It's good to respect everyone's time. I try to only list when I know I'll be able to reply to messages and update listings quickly.
• Leaving sold items up until received. I feel this gives any other potential buyers confidence that the listing won't evaporate before they receive it. It's nice to have that reference when things are in transit.
• Accepting both F+F and G&S payments. Whatever the buyer is comfortable with, I will do. I will add whatever fees/taxes to my price as applicable before listing, as I don't believe it's right to tack that on after someone is interested.
• Not nickle-and-dimeing shipping rates. I save old boxes and clean bubble wrap from other packages to reduce supplies costs. I always refund any overcharge in shipping and make this known. If something costs $28.52 to ship, I usually round down. As a buyer I hate when someone charges me for every extra cent. If the doll is $800, are we really going to be specific over an extra $0.50? It's ridiculous.
• Pricing the doll well. Unless it's an ultra-rare or limited and in-demand sculpt, I am more than comfortable asking less than retail or less than I paid. It is unrealistic to expect to make everything back that we pay for these dolls. Some become sought after and expensive, and that's great. But most are just loved and deserve to be loved again. If I "lose" money on a doll I consider that the cost of enjoying it for the time I had it. It isn't a negative thing.

Some of this has already been shared! But I wanted to detail what has been working for me.

 

I'd like to add that offering overseas shipping is a great way to draw in buyers!
There is a very limited BJD community in my country, so I wouldn't sell anything unless I offered overseas shipping. Offering to ship dolls unstrung is also a way to lower the cost for buyers who prefer a lower shipping cost instead of having the doll box.
I can see how overseas shipping is more expensive and could be riskier for sellers, but being honest and upfront with potential buyers about the cost goes a long way.

 

I sold a doll for the first time last fall, and I managed to sell it by:
-posting my sale on multiple platforms (DOA Marketplace, Instagram, Facebook groups, etc)
-being open to layaways and having some flexibility on pricing

As a buyer, I look for:
-Item comes with COA/receipt and is clearly stated in listing
-well-lit photos with uncluttered backgrounds, showing multiple angles of doll (including any noted damage)
-being open to layaways

 

I offer wicked-long layaway. Like I’ll take a yearlong layaway if I’ve got to. Usually “long” is just 6-8 months and not terrible, but I have no max duration, and no minimum cost for layaway, and that’s gotten me a few sales.

Be open to trades is my only other tip. I’ve had a ton of dolls that I couldn’t sell, but could trade. It’s a double-edged sword, because sometimes you end up with trade offers that are really not ideal, and you have to politely say no, but other times you can get lucky and get something really cool in trade for a doll you don’t want.

 

I am mostly a buyer. Huge factors for me are:

1. Layaway.
2. Reasonable pricing.
3. COA, just eliminates the possibility of recasted dolls
4. Being easily contactable and fast to respond. On Instagram, I just don't get why some dealers are so hard to contact. They insist on emailing, but they don't even respond or respond on time.
5. In good/like-new condition, If old: if the stringing is loose, if you had them re-strung, I would greatly appreciate that. Full dislosure of broken parts.
6. Like someone said on here, knowing the story why you're selling tells me you're a real person and not a suspicious scammer.

 

I am usually a buyer, but also try to keep some things in mind when selling: reasonable pricing, good (and quick) communication, offering all the paperwork of the doll, good feedback, adding measurements information to the doll / sculpt / body...
I've never asked for or done a layaway, but I think it's also a very helpful tip when selling especially if the item is up the $150-200 tag.

 

A bit of context...

I live in Australia and practically never buy BJDs and BJD stuff from EN-speaking markets anymore. The #1 reason is currency conversion. The EN-speaking market (especially DoA) is heavily focused on North America and EU (Australia/NZ are negligible markets), and right now the AUD<->USD conversion rate is absolutely abysmal. In an effort to increase my purchasing power and make my Australian dollar go further, I did a lot of market research comparing prices in different currencies, and concluded that my purchasing power is the worst when I buy in USD, practically all other relevant currencies are better.

Nowadays, when I buy from Korean or Chinese stores, I buy from their local-facing stores instead of the EN-facing/USD stores, because AUD -> KRW or CNY is substantially better than AUD->USD. I do have to use shopping services to buy from Korea or China, but even with proxy fees I still pay less in my currency than if I bought from their EN-facing stores in USD. And yes, that's for the identical, new product from the very same store. The currency used for payment made all the difference.
Furthermore, when I use a shopping service, I can consolidate shipping and pay less for one big shipment home, whereas if I buy from (say) North America I have to pay individual shipping from each seller which is less cost-effective. All this ends up in real money saved.

This is a very long preamble to say that, on top of increased cost of living and less discretionary income, currency conversion means that buyers (especially non-NA-based ones like me) are looking to more varied markets in order to maximize their purchasing power and optimize shipping costs. NA-based hobbyists may be having a field day buying BJDs from overseas, but selling is likely a different story - some EN-speaking buyers (including me) probably have self-selected themselves out of EN-speaking doll markets because other markets are more competitive.

So my strong advice to EN-speaking sellers is: if your doll is made in an Asian country, do your market research against the doll's "home market" prices, convert to USD, and compare what it costs to buy a doll new or secondhand from the home market vs your doll. For Volks - look up Dollyteria or Mandarake. For KR dolls - many companies have KR-facing shopfronts (like Naver) that sell in KRW as well as their EN-facing shopfronts that sell in USD. Unfortunately for CN dolls, this is harder because Taobao and Xianyu are login-gated and you usually need the mobile app and an account to browse listings. But do your best and consider that your buyer audience may be a lot smaller and more localized/continent-based.

.
As for selling... I seldom sell dolls, but have been able to move everything reasonably briskly (within 2 months of listing). What seems to have helped me...

• market research: DoA's Sold Dolls Archive has been invaluable in helping me price things meaningfully and competitively.
• very clear photos of the resin from multiple angles, of only the things on sale. If it's in the pic, it's included. I may have one photo with not-for-sale wig/eyes on to show how a doll looks normally, but that's it.
  
• detailed written information about everything - age, provenance, condition, damage.
• I also include pertinent, helpful info such as resin matches (that I know of), important body dimensions, what size clothes the body can wear. I know that, as a buyer, if I have any doubt or uncertainty about a listing, it's much easier to go "nah, I'll give this a miss and move to the next option" than to make the effort to ask the seller for more info. So, if I can include any info to reassure the buyer and help them evaluate my listing without needing to chase me, I'll include it.
  
• shipping options and price estimates. I give a ballpark figure such as "shipping begins at USD $10" or "USD $30-40 unstrung, USD $50-60 strung in doll box". Everyone is concerned about shipping fees these days, so I don't see why I shouldn't help a buyer factor that cost. And personally speaking, as a non-American buyer, I find international shipping estimates in the listing to be a very kind and inclusive gesture to me - that the seller has given consideration to an international audience.
• being courteous, prompt and professional at all times in communication.

 

The CAD sucks almost as bad as the AUD right now. Shipping from the US to Canada is definitely cheaper than the US to Australia, but it’s not a super fair generalization to say all NA currencies are strong, when PayPal’s conversion rate for CAD to USD is like 0.68-0.70. I dunno what the Mexican Peso is at right now either, but I feel like it’s solely the USD that’s really good to buy in at the moment.

 

@Chameleon I see... sad to see CAD is performing about as poorly as AUD. That's frustrating - to have a market geographically close but not good to buy from because the currency conversion sucks. I might be wrong, but I think shipping across the US-Canada border isn't necessarily cheap either? Currency conversion really influences buying a lot... it's completely changed my BJD buying/selling patterns.

 

It’s not super cheap, but not nearly as expensive as shipping to other continents. I pay probably $40 to ship a full doll to the us, where shipping heads to Australia cost me $85.

 

I haven’t shipped any dolls from Canada to the US but here in B.C shipping even small packages weighing less than 1kg can cost over $100.

 

There’s a trick to it—if you get an account on NetParcel.com and pay for shipping there, you can get it much cheaper!

 

My response is more along the trades route, so it may or may not help people here. But!

My two cents is don’t be afraid to approach people asking if they would like to trade if they have said they’re open to it. I think there’s definitely a degree of intimidation and fear that goes into approaching someone, but sometimes all it takes is a leap! I recently did so and it worked out really well. It sounds cheesy, but you never know what will happen unless you try!

 

As a buyer & window shopper...

Two things, both related

1. I really appreciate it when someone includes a company photo of the doll that's listed for sale. This is of course, in addition to all of their own pictures, and with the specification that it's a company photo. It's not the norm at all to do this, but I really wish it was.

There are so many companies and sculpts out there and sometimes a visual reference like a company photo can really help jog my memory on what doll exactly is being listed for sale. Or sometimes it makes me remember how much I love a particular sculpt. I think it's also nice to have a picture like this when all of the other photos of the doll are nude, wigless, etc.

2. If not a company photo, some of your own photos of the doll all dressed up, even if the other items aren't included in the sale.

Companies don't solely advertise dolls nude and wigless so I am not sure why sellers don't at least include some pictures of the doll while it's dressed. Having the visual of a doll that's put together can go a long way. I'm not expecting beautiful pictures in every market place listing, but just a few of the doll in a more "complete" form is a really helpful visual.

Of the 6 second hand dolls I've purchased:
-1 included a company photo
-4 included pictures of the doll in a dressed state (3 used their own pictures)

There are also two additional dolls which were unsuccessful purchases (one never heard back from seller, the other couldn't ship to my country), but both had included both a company photo and their own photos of the doll all dressed up, posed, etc.

 

2025 thoughts and feelings on selling:
I'm in the process of evaluating my dolls and doll outfits, and as such have been selling things I no longer want.
As an Australian, I'm outside of the EU/US English-speaking markets, so a lot of my experiences are similar to @aihre above.

• If you're in a country away from the EU/US, offering to combine shipping is a good incentive for buyers, as well as small discounts for buying multiple items
• I try to offer a shipping estimate for multiple countries (Asia, EU/UK, and Canada/US are all "zones" for AusPost, so the costs are identical)
• When I list clothing, I include a picture of it on a doll, and also a link to a list of what bodies I own in case a buyer wants to see it on a particular body
• Resin comparison pictures can be helpful when selling dolls, especially if you're selling parts
• Be prepared to either discount the item or have it sit in the marketplace forever. Of the dolls I've sold this last year, only 2 sold at my initial price, and 1 of those was a response to a WTB. The others sold at $35 less (body), $100 less (head with faceup), and $50 less (head with faceup)
• Being polite with prospective buyers and answering their questions goes a long way. I've seen a lot of listings on other platforms where the seller has said they won't try an outfit on a doll and don't ask what it fits. Poor attitude and low effort are instant turn-offs
• Take time to take the best photos you can. Even if you're just using your phone, getting a clear photo with natural lighting showcases the doll/outfit. If I see a listing where items are just haphazardly shoved in the shot, it's not appealing. I take photos of individual items, as close up as possible, and take lot photos with items neatly laid out so each item is visible
• Offering a layaway is helpful to sell dolls, but make sure to clearly state your terms and conditions in the listing in case things don't go smoothly
• Provide as much information as possible: provenance, potential resin matches, what fits the doll
• Be very clear about any possible wear and/or damage. Mandarake and Dollyteria listings provide good examples of how to list and photograph damage and wear in detail. Buyers don't like unpleasant surprises. If in doubt about wear or damage, mention it in the listing
• Offering international shipping opens the item up to more buyers. I've seen lots of clothing or parts that would be worth me paying shipping from the US for, but sadly the sellers weren't willing to ship overseas
• I understand Paypal fees are ridiculously high, but I personally will never buy an item where I have to pay the fees, especially if they're in excess of $20 USD. For many buyers, doing a transaction via friends and family with a stranger is a huge risk. The prices I list items for take into account the Paypal fees – a quick internet search will find a Paypal fee calculator. The only time I have asked for my Paypal fees to be paid was in exchange for free international shipping on an item that hadn't sold in 6 months after multiple price drops

 

Honestly the major problem I see with the 2nd hand market is lots of dolls with yellowing/damage/mods/bad makeup at 5% less than they'd cost new (I'm the third owner of this doll).

 

I just want to highlight this because I see the "no xyz, DO NOT ASK!" every now and then across platforms and it has put me off from buying more than once. Even if people glance over some terms sometimes and message about them, it's not that much work to politely answer - maybe they want to still get the item regardless, maybe they'd be interested in another sale in the future. It's also a bigger chance for problems to arise or not be solved well if the attitude seems kind of rude imo. There are a lot of second hand sales to choose from these days so making the effort with the first impression really does help.

 

It’s a tough one as there are going to be so many factors to consider including luck!

As a seller:

. Honesty and details will go a long way, being vague can seem like you have something to hide or you just don’t really care that much.

. Clear, well lit photos from front, side, back, etc. If it’s a full doll then also including extra shots of the head from all sides helps too. Nude shots are a must, buyers want to see what they’re getting!

. Neck measurements. As there’s such a huge range of sizes, especially with 1/3 sized dolls nowadays including the neck size of the body or if it’s just a head you are selling then the neck sizes the head will fit is incredibly helpful.

. Stating how long you’ve had the doll even if you do not know or remember the manufacture date. This information can help more than you think as some companies may have had resin colour stability issues at certain points or even if you don’t personally see it the doll may still have naturally yellowed slightly so age can mean a lot. It also gives any buyers a rough timeline to guide them in any further research they wish to do.

. Selling overseas. Regardless of global currency issues or whatever fresh hell is going on you should always be prepared to sell overseas. Yes there will be places that are war zones or undergoing a lot of unrest which should be avoided (state that in your sale listing) but there are also countries with buyers who would love your doll or items.

. Don’t expect a quick sale unless you have something very very rare and desirable! At the best of times it can take months and sometimes even years. Update the photos or add new ones to your listing if the original ones don’t seem to be pulling any interest or add more information if you feel it will help but also accept the fact it could take quite a while.

. Be prepared to negotiate the price. Unless the doll is super new or desirable then the chances are it’s not going to go for full price. Also remember rare and limited do not always mean desirable!
Be realistic with pricing too and don’t inflate it to cover any duty fees or taxes or whatever you incurred as that’s like going out for a meal at a restaurant with someone and asking them to also pay for the outfit you bought to go there!

. We all want a quick sale but resorting to desperation needy/emotional blackmail or gaudy flashy writing type sales tactics doesn’t help, it’s tacky and unprofessional. It can make you look flaky and untrustworthy. Stick to clean, crisp photos and lots of truthful information, let the buyer decide and ask questions instead of trying to force your doll upon them. People are parting with a lot of money and in a world filled with scammers they want to know you are honourable.

. Safety! Always use safe and secure payment methods that cover you both should anything go wrong. While it may incur fees or costs to you it’s much better than having no backup at all. It will also make potential buyers more confident about dealing with you.

As a buyer:

. I like to see well lit photos taken from multiple angles and full body shots of the doll actually standing up. I’m always suspicious of listings where the doll is lying down in each shot especially if there’s no mention of stability issues. Some dolls cannot stand unaided and if that’s the case then say so!
One photo listings are something I avoid especially when accompanied by the bare minimum of sales information. It instantly makes me ask why they’re being so vague and doesn’t fill me with much confidence.

. Nude photos, if there are no nude photos of the doll then I will not even give it a second look. It makes me ask why the seller doesn’t want to show the rest of the doll.

. Dolls and parts still wrapped in packaging or in shiny reflective bags with no other photos that allow you to see what it looks like. While it’s nice that the doll is new or untouched I still, as a potential buyer, want to know what exactly I’m getting and if I can’t I will pass.
This especially goes for parts or heads that are wrapped in bags where light reflecting off of the plastic makes it impossible to see.

. Fees……ugh…another thing that instantly turns me off. There are some things we all have to accept for convenience and having to pay fees to use services is one of them. Swallow your pride and swallow up the fees please, most other people do.

. Inflating prices to cover import fees or duties/shipping costs and faceups will often make me pass over a potential buy especially if it’s a doll that I could get from an official dealer or directly from the company for less than the sale listing. I see this a lot with Fairyland minifee listings for just the basic nude doll. You do realise, especially for those of us who don’t live in the US and therefore can’t take advantage of any ‘free shipping’ offer that we can just get direct and probably pay less with waiting being the only inconvenience?

. This annoys me the most as a potential buyer…. ‘Will not ship internationally’. I can fully understand reluctance with big heavy dolls but smaller ones, heads, clothing, accessories? Really? Loads of times I’ve seen something I want to buy only to be disappointed by this. You expected the companies you bought from or other sellers to ship internationally to you didn’t you so why not extend the same curtesy to others.

Over all if something grabs my attention I will look closely at the photos first then carefully read the description before weighing up my options, any hint of sloppiness or a ‘so what’ attitude will instantly turn me off the sale. My next move is to check the feedback thread, everyone should do that whether buying or selling, and if I like what I see then I’ll contact the seller and ask questions. I also go on gut feeling a lot. The overall friendliness of the seller makes a difference too although there are exceptions to that rule as some people just don’t like to say more than necessary and some can seem incredibly nice but cause no end of headaches. I’ve dealt with both.

So be honest, be precise, be incredibly professional but most of all be patient!