Do you accept offers?

Offers or negotiated prices are not accepted. We do have promotions limited to the specifics of that promotion for its limited time.

Doll and Fashion Boxes

How do I get free shipping for display boxes?

There is no free shipping option available for display boxes. They are not included in the Free Shipping promotion for general inventory nor are there sales events for display box shipping. Combining inventory orders with display box orders will not qualify for free shipping. 

When do the display boxes go on sale?

Display boxes do not go on sale and are not eligible for promotions for general inventory. 

Can I combine general inventory and display box orders?

We case-by-case determine if general inventory orders and display box orders can be combined based on likelihood of damage to any product but will try to combine to save you on total shipping whenever it is safe to do so.

Dolls and Fashions

Are your items vintage and original?

Yes, unless explicitly specified otherwise.

Are your items smoke free?

Yes, we do not purchase/discard smoker items to prevent the film oily deposits from compromising the rest of our stock. 

Are the loops on outfits present and original?

While we try to check this, many pre-1980s outfits were hand done in the first place so telling original vs. replaced can be very difficult and not something we will promise. Even if they are present, the original elastic/rubber will be destroyed if you attempt to use it with how old these items now are.

On variations

Standardization

The standardization we enjoy today did not start until the 1980s. It first started in Japan then was brought to the US after they fulfilled a contract by damaging parts by hand to fulfill a misunderstood "damaged parts not to exceed" clause.

During the MOD era (late 60s/early 70s) for instance, Mattel had multiple factories around the world producing Barbie and in turn some outfits are documented to have come with up to 4 different styles/colors of shoes or different hats (such as Francie doll's "Polka Dots 'N Raindrops". 

Mattel almost went bankrupt/out of business during the mid-1970s and quality control practically went out the window as you see so many fashions were raw-edge and completely lacking the quality of their 1960s counterparts. 

Production runs

While people associated items with the first year or two that they launched, many were produced for very long times. This is reflected by how hard or easy it is to find these items. 

For example, the Bubble Cut Barbie doll was produced and offered until almost 1970 which is why you find some with MOD era lip paint and just so many available in general. She was a mail order only item in her final years and did not come in the printed solid box people associate with her but in a generic shipper instead. 

The Barbie 900s series were produced for many years but the 1600 series was produced for only a couple and their rarity is reflected in their pricing. Exclusives in general were limited to the year they were offered.