How to Repair Vintage Toys and Sell Them on E-bay
Vintage toys are especially in demand on E-bay. You may have items from your childhood sitting in storage this minute that could make you a substantial amount of money. Barbie dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher Price toys and other items from the 1960s-1980s are common items kept from our early years that sell very well on E-bay.
Many times, toys have been in storage and will need to be cleaned to bring in the highest amount of money at auction. It is not necessary to spend the money to hire someone to do it for you if you are willing to spend a few minutes of your time to clean the toys yourself. It is very simple and requires only a few dollars in cleaning supplies you may even already have around the house.
Plastic and rubber dolls like My Little Pony, Barbie and Cabbage Patch Kids sometimes get marks on their bodies from play or just over time. To remove scuff marks, crayon, marker and most other damage to these items, simply use a Mr. Clean “Magic Eraser,” which can be found at any grocery or discount store for under $4. Simply wet the “eraser” sponge with water and wipe the unwanted mark briskly until it disappears.
To remove peskier stains from plastic or rubber dolls try using a little bit of fingernail polish remover. However, under no circumstances should you use this product over a doll’s face or any other painted surface (such as a My Little Pony’s painted or glitter body) because it will remove the color!
When all the marks are removed from your doll, you will then wish to concentrate on the hair. To clean the acrylic hair of Barbie or My Little Pony, fill a sink with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. It is safe to submerge the entire doll in the water as you gently lather the hair with soap. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and then apply conditioner. Just use the same conditioner you use on your own hair or buy a cheap bottle from the drug store. Smooth a small amount through the hair, then rinse.
Once the hair has been washed and conditioned, it is a good idea to spray a little detangler on it and then brush it thoroughly. The style and curl will stay in the doll’s hair and you can shape it back to its original state. Once you’ve finished, lie the doll on a clean towel to air dry.
To clean the yarn hair of dolls like the Cabbage Patch Kid, you will need to put them through the clothes washer. This is also a very effective way to clean their cloth bodies of stains as well as their clothes. Simply put the doll itself in a pillowcase and into the washer on the gentle cycle. When it’s done, take it out and lie it on a towel to air dry. I do not recommend putting a doll or its clothes through the clothes dryer, as this could cause it to melt or shrink.
Now that your toys are looking new again, it is time to do some research! Log on to your E-bay account and type in the name of the item you wish to sell (My Little Pony, for example). When the results come up, shift your attention to the left-hand column of the page where there are more specific search options. Find the box that says “search completed listings” and click on it. Now the results that come up will be auctions that are already over. This allows you to see how much the item you are about to sell has sold for in similar auctions.
It is also a good idea to view the auctions that sold the item you want to sell at the highest price to get tips on how to describe the item (but do not copy them word for word). This is also a good way to find information on the item you did not know, like the specific name of the Barbie doll or what year it was made in.
Finally, it’s time to photograph your toy. I do not recommend taking the time to clean your item and list in on E-bay if you do not plan to provide potential buyers with photographs of the item. Many people will not even click on an auction that does not include pictures. When listing the item, be sure to click the option for “Gallery” photograph, which includes a thumbnail picture of your item next to it’s title when it comes up in a search. It will cost you around 35 cents to add this feature to your listing, but it is essential.
The best way to photograph your treasure is to lie it down or prop it up against a plain background. Lie a blanket or towel over your couch for a backdrop that will appear professional on camera. Avoid background colors that are too similar to the color of the item, opting instead for a color that contrasts the item, making it more visible. Be sure to take enough pictures to show the item from the front as well as the back and close-ups of any damage that exists.
For your “gallery” photo, choose the best shot of your item because it is the first photo potential buyers will see. It is a good idea to take a close-up image of a doll’s head, for example because it will stand out amongst the other gallery images that are usually distant photos of the entire doll.
Writing a good description of your item is also an important step to successfully selling it on E-bay. Be honest in your description, including any damage or flaws that exist. At the same time, you don’t want to focus too much on the flaws, be sure to mention the great qualities of the item first. Often, it is a good idea to use the phrase, “the item is in excellent condition considering it’s age.” If the item is particularly old and has many scratches or is discolored, it is advisable to mention that these flaws “only add to the charm of the antique.”
When listing your item, you will also need to come up with a good title. Avoid trying to write anything to catchy, just write the facts. Use keywords such as, “Happy Holidays Barbie 1988 First Edition,” as opposed to “Holiday Barbie Doll Great L@@K!!!” Try to imagine what you would type into the search box if you were looking for your item. I would also advise you to check the option to add a counter to your page, a little device at the bottom of the screen that displays how many people have looked at your item. Check your ad often and if it has very few views, consider changing your title, description or price to attract more viewers.
Set a low starting bid for your vintage toy to attract more buyers. When you research completed listings, take note of how much the seller started the bidding at. You will most likely find that the bid was very low, some even starting at one cent! If you know your item is worth a specific amount and you are not willing to sell it for less, be sure to set a “reserve price.”
Selling vintage toys on E-bay can be a great experience if you stick to these tips. You can turn something that would originally sell for $5 into a sparkling clean, properly marketed item that will sell for $50! Personally, I bought 15 My Little Pony figurines from a yard sale for $1 and using the steps I have written about, sold them for $80. It can be done. Happy selling!
