There are two things to remember when you are looking to buy dolls online - firstly, there's a difference between buying antique dolls and modern dolls online.

Modern dolls such as the the Barbie collection can be easily purchased online and generally are pretty durable to be sent through postal or direct delivery means. On the other hand, antique dolls can be a bit of a challenge if you're buying them online especially as they compass a long history and different types have there own uniqueness especially in the clothing department.

In recent years, buying dolls online over platforms such as Ebay has become extremely popular and the great thing to keep in mind is that while pricing will determine overall purchase, buying online has some big advantages than going to a physical outlet and making a purchase. The emphasis is on deals and dolls deals online are big business. More importantly, you as the buyer can be in a strong position to grab a great deal especially if you're following auctions.

There are basically two types of doll enthusiasts - those who revel in the enjoyment of enjoying eras gone by with antique doll collecting and those who are more modern orientated or people buying for kids.

Buying Antique Dolls Tips

Here's a few things to keep in mind when buying an antique doll. These tips can save you a lot of frustration.

#1. Because they are older there is always a concern that they may be hiding some issues. Things to look for include cracks which can put a dampener on your purchase. Especially look for hairline cracks.

#2. If you are buying the doll physically then ask that you can remove things like the hair so you can check beneath. Always remove the body or ask the seller to do it for you. This only makes sense because when you're looking at shelling out hundreds of dollars you want to make sure your purchase isn't flawed.

#3. Make sure the doll is original if that's what it has been advertised as. This can be difficult to check online and that's why buying through platforms such as Ebay are great in that you are protected in many areas from purchasing a dud.

#4. Also, buying the complete original doll and by complete we mean it has it's original clothing intact can be important. It depends how badly you want it but inexperienced collectors should be aware that replacing parts and clothing can be expensive. It's almost like buying new parts for a motor vehicle - they always seem to be priced over the top.

	7 Pairs of Shoes Made to Fit the Barbie Doll Sale Price: $3.00
	Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin...

	Barbie Store It All! Doll & Accessory Rolling Bin (NEW) Sale Price: $28.99
	Barbie Store It All! Doll & Accessory Rolling Bin Storage Case. New design! A durable storage case designed to fit in your closet or roll in the house! The main compartment of the case stores over 15 Barbie dolls, fashions, playset accessories and more! Ages 3 & up.

	7 Pairs of Shoes Made to Fit the Barbie Doll Sale Price: $3.25
	Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin...

	Wilton Wonder Mold Kit Sale Price: $13.55
	Creates an elegant 3-D shape for decorating fabulous dress designs. Use with our Teen Doll Pick to make the doll of your dreams. Pan is 8 inch diameter and 5 inch deep; takes 5-6 cups of firm-textured batter...

	Barbie My Favorite Peaches N Cream Barbie Doll Sale Price: $33.99
	"My Favorite Barbie" collection returns with beloved Barbie dolls, recreated in loving detail. 1985's Peaches 'n Cream Barbie doll is an especially cherished doll. Beautiful peach gown, stole and opulent design made this doll a favorite...

	Barbie Doll fashion aqua socks - Barbie water shoes Sale Price: $21.00

	Doll Bra and Underwear Set in White with Nightgown Made to Fit the Barbie Doll Sale Price: $4.50
	Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. In a series of novels published by Random House in the 1960s, her parents' names are given as George and Margaret Roberts from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin...

	Barbie Collector Twilight Saga New Moon Jacob Doll Sale Price: $8.99
	Doll is inspired by the Jacob Black character from the New Moon movie, which is based on Stephenie Meyer's New York Times Best Selling book series Twilight. The stunning doll is created in the image of Taylor Lautner, who portrays the handsome and protective Jacob werewolf character...

	Collectibly Yours Barbie Doll 1980-1990 Sale Price: $23.99
	A must for all fans of 111/2-inch fashion dolls, this newest book by Margo Rana is an identification and price guide to all of the variations of Barbie play and collector dolls which were manufactured by Mattel in the decade of the 1980s -- the favourite period of the 'pink box collectors'...

	Barbie My Design Scene Fashion Accessories Blue Platform Boots Purse Sale Price: $1.99
	Coordinating shoes and purse to add to Barbie's wardrobe. Fits most Barbie sized dolls. Easy to get on and off!

As winter approaches, it is that time to shop for boots to get you through the cold and still have you looking good. There are many different types of boots for women in the market and it could be a daunting task trying to wade through the jungle of the best winter boots women would want to identify with. To aid you in knowing which boots are out there and what to do with them and what they can do for you, we have put together a brief summary below.

Platform Boot
Platform boots are like on a perpetual rebound. They are always making a come back. They look great in knee length types and are on the opposite spectrum with stiletto boots. They are great for the snow with a wide sturdy base. They look great with jeans and are the ideal platform for the always on the go lady.

Faux-Fur Boot
Faux-Fur boots are one of the most common boots worn by women of all ages. They are comfortable and inviting. Not only do they look warm and inviting, they are actually warm and cozy. They come in a variety of colors and designs and look great when worn with large sweaters. Faux- Fur boots portrays a casual playful appearance; an adventurous girl who is ready for anything.

Sweater Boot
Sweater boots are the ideal trendy winter boot that gives the Barbie doll look when worn with a cool sweater. They help winterize your wardrobe and are great leg warmers. The sweater boot will keep you warm and is one of the most sort out styles for the winter.

Wedge Boot
Wedge boots are light and comfortable for those late fall days as winter quietly creeps in. They are wonderful for the snow, provides you a great sturdy base to walk on the snow and at the same time keeping you warm. Throw on a large sweater over a pair of jeans with your wedge boot on, and you can navigate any snow filled terrain with ease and at the same time looking elegant.

Ankle Boot
Ankle boots are for the high fashion elegant woman that wants to look confident and sexy and while keeping her feet warm. Pair an ankle length boot with high heels with a pair of skinny jeans or tight sweater dress, and heads will turn in your direction. Ankle length boots will get you through a busy day with little snow. They also look great with pants and dresses.

Stiletto Boot
These are for the sexy and daring lady. They come with a classic high narrow heel and are not for the faint of heart. These go well with jeans and makes and the gal in a stiletto boot radiate a confident glow seen only in fun loving sophisticated women.

To learn more about getting the right winter boots to keep warm and also look confident and sexy, visit Italian boots women [http://www.italianbootswomenlove.com/] Love for expert guidance and where to get a great deal.

Do you agree that girls are more expensive than boys?

I mean, with girls. The expense costs more because you have to buy barbie dolls for them, makeup, twice as much clothes than boys, accessories, bags, purses, shoes, beauty products, tampons, flat ironer, get their nails done, take them shopping at least twice a week, etc...

It probably depends...
Tomboy girls? They don't care half as much about clothes and makeup... or Barbie dolls... they'd cost less than say, a technology-obsessed boy who wanted all the latest electronics!
... It depends on their interests, really =P You can't judge by gender!

	Barbie Collector Twilight Saga New Moon Jacob Doll Sale Price: $8.99
	Doll is inspired by the Jacob Black character from the New Moon movie, which is based on Stephenie Meyer's New York Times Best Selling book series Twilight. The stunning doll is created in the image of Taylor Lautner, who portrays the handsome and protective Jacob werewolf character...

	Barbie Jailhouse Rock Elvis Barbie Doll Sale Price: $13.80
	Elvis Presley in Jailhouse RockELV75 Birthday 2010Pink Label Barbie CollectorSinger, dancer, and actor, he starred in 33 movies,including Jailhouse Rock, which inspiredthis portrait doll

	Collector's Ency of Barbie Doll Collector's Editions (Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Collector's Editions) Sale Price: $15.44
	Due to the overwhelming response to the bestselling Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Collector's Editions, Collector Books has produced this all-new second edition. Over 150 new dolls have been added to this volume, bringing the total number of dolls and fashions featured in this book to over 1,000...

	Barbie Collector's Request Vintage Reproductions - All That Jazz Barbie Sale Price: $31.00
	Representing the happenin' fashions of the late l960's, All That Jazz Barbie doll proudly joins The Collector's Request Collection. Chosen from the Barbie archives, All That Jazz Barbie doll reflects the bright, colorful mood of the mod decade! The bold, geometric design and hot colors are completely on-trend in this favorite fashion that debuted in 1968 as #1848 in the 1800 series fashions...

	Hollaback Gwen Sale Price: $8.95
	Hollaback Gwen

	Cra-Z-art Fashion Designer (12420) Sale Price: $6.20
	Create Doll Fashion Designs by simply rubbing your Crayon Holder over the fashion plates and then color and deign the outfits with the Colored Pencils

	Star Trek 30th Anniversary Barbie and Ken Collectors Watch Sale Price: $5.99
	This is a wonderful edition for any Star Trek or Barbie fan. Comes in collectible tin w/ Barbie and Ken in their Star Trek uniforms. Issued same year as the Barbie & Ken Star Trek Doll set.

	Warman's Barbie Doll Field Guide
	This fun, affordable and fact-filled guide allows you to bask in the beauty of Barbie, while providing details to help you identify and assess the value of the dolls in your collection, or those you dream about owning...

Barbie: A Fairy Secret (Deluxe DVD Gift Set with Costume Fairy Wings) Sale Price: $19.88

This special edition Barbie: A Fairy Secret gift set includes costume fairy wings just for you, with elastic straps that slip over the shoulders! Get ready for Barbie: A Fairy Secret, an amazing adventure with Barbie where she discovers there are fairies living secretly all around us! When Ken is suddenly whisked away by a group of fairies, Barbie's two fashion stylist friends reveal they are actually fairies and that Ken has been taken to a magical secret fairy world not far away! Barbie and her rival Raquelle take off with the fairy friends on an action-packed journey to bring him back...

	Harley Davidson Motorcycle Barbie Sale Price: $69.99
	Item is in stock and ready to ship.

In this article we're going to discuss a doll that was made specifically for boys, the classic G.I. Joe.

Back in the late 50s and early 60s dolls were just not something that boys played with. Your typical doll, even before Barbie came out, was a baby doll, maybe with a bottle and rattle. These dolls were made specifically for girls because boys didn't play with dolls. If they did, they were looked at as sissies.

So Hasbro had its work cut out for them. They already had great success with their Barbie Doll but wanted to break into the doll market for boys if it was at all possible. After a lot of thought and careful research, Hasbro decided that if they were going to make a doll for boys to play with then it was going to have to be a doll that ONLY boys would want to play with. It had to be tough and rugged, just like boys were supposed to be. So in 1964, Hasbro introduced the first doll made specifically for boys, the G.I. Joe Doll and ever since, it has been one of the most popular dolls in history.

G.I. Joe was indeed tough and rugged. The doll stood one foot high and had moveable joints so that it could be posed in a number of ways. He was a private in the United States Army and came with dog tags and boots and that was it. He was a pretty bare bones doll for boys to play with. And therein lies the genius of Hasbro's thinking.

If a boy wanted accessories for his fighting man he had to buy them separately. The doll itself sold for around $5.00. But where Hasbro really made its money was on the various accessories and uniforms that you could get for the doll.

The accessories were sold in flat packages as opposed to the dolls which were sold in boxes. The accessories usually sold for about $1.50. Some were more and some were less. They were usually sold in logical sets. For example, there was the infantry set which came with an M1 rifle, belt, helmet and hand grenades. Most accessory packages didn't contain more than 3 or 4 items in it. Some accessories, like the sandbags, came alone. Hasbro made a mint with these as there were just so many of them.

Aside from accessories, you could also buy different uniforms for G.I. Joe. You could dress him up as a Marine, Sailor or Pilot. In later years you could dress him up as an astronaut and even get a space capsule for him. The capsule was quite a piece and sold for about $10. Back then that was a lot of money.

In the late 60s, with growing outrage against the war in Vietnam, G.I. Joe became a very controversial figure. But Hasbro had won its own war. Boys were totally taken by the doll and it went on to become one of the best selling dolls of all time even though it only appealed to one segment of the child population.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Collectible Dolls
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im 27and i want to become an out of box barbie collector?

im 27 and i want to become a out of box barbie collector but there is one problem my mom she says that im too old to buy barbie dolls and barbie clothes and barbie cases and she also tells me don't waste my money on buying the dolls and clothes but i want to because the barbies and barbie clothes that i want are so pretty how can buy and hide the barbie dolls and clothes and cases with out her finding them ?

Tell your mom that it's your money and you are a grown adult for crying out loud!!!

You should be able to collect whatever you want...geez...