How I Aquired My Blythe Dolls

Finding My Blythe Dolls

I have obtained my ** Blythe Dolls ** as a result of searching flea markets, doll sales, estate sale, garage sales, thrift shops, selling hand made items, responding to and placing ads (both newspaper & online), Shops, Rinkya.com for a couple rare Takaras, online contests, online sites and auctions. Whewwww! I have pretty much finished my collection, but are we really ever done lol I have 23 – 12″ Blythe dolls and I don’t want to go over… dear Gosh, I can’t go over 23 again hahaha! The easiest way has always been through online auctions and you’d be surprised at the deals you can get.

 

Where I Searched For Blythe Dolls

 

Flea Markets, Doll Sales, Estate Sales, Garage Sales & Thrift Shops

Okay, so we all know that finding a vintage Blythe in person now a days is kinda like being struck by lightening imo.  It’s still possible, but it’s very rare. What I have done over the years is a bit outside the box. When I was searching for Blythe I simply picked up other neat little vintage things that I would sell online so that I could buy Blythe. I was able to build enough savings to buy Blythe dolls and other Blythe items. I still am searching for that box of Kenner Blythes lol! I was close to finding a 1972 Kenner Blythe in person, though… I was at a Flea Market in early 2000 and a dolly shop had just sold a minty red head two weeks prior for only $20 Canadian! Ouch lol Then at a doll show I met a vendor that had 3 originals, but not for sale. She said that she had all the hair colors and she was glad because the prices went so high! I didn't have the heart to tell her that there were really 4 hair colors.  At that same doll show I picked up a Leggy doll for a couple of bucks and sold her online for over $50 US… of course that went into my Blythe fund for buying a Blythe doll!

Ads

My very first Blythe doll was a chunky banged red head 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls found for $15 US by responding to a local Pennysaver ad in 2000! Then I placed an ad and found 2 near mint kenners for $300 US. At that time you could find them more often for $50 – 250 US, but now a days they might even ask more than a mint Kenner! I still see people finding them for a good price though so please don’t give up. I find the hunt is a lot of fun and you will always find other neat things to keep or sell for your Blythe doll fund. I have also purchased Blythe dolls and Blythe doll items through Yahoo Blythe Kenner & TIB. There are a lot of Blythe dolls to buy! 

Online

I have placed ads and responded to ads searching for “1972 Kenner Blythe Dolls” on Craigslist, Kajiji, online dolly bulletin boards and checked the classifieds for news paper websites, as well.  From 2001-2005 I found 5 Kenners that way and for a good deal also.  I sold one red head for a blonde KB that I won on an online auction.  2 of my most minty KBs were won on an online auction.  I find it’s the easiest way to find the best dolls.  They may be much more but if you sell other things you don’t want to earn the money to buy them then it’s not that bad.    

Used & Nude Takara Blythe Dolls

I bought a couple of used and nude Takara Blythe dolls that were in really great condition for a terrific price. If you are trying to save money, but can”t live without a certain Blythe, try a compromise and consider buying a pre-loved Blythe doll. If you are one that can’t stand even a hair out of place, then this is probably not a good idea for you. When you purchase anything used you may encounter a number of unsavory things, like: bad smells like smoke, missing pieces, scratches, broken part(s), stains, etc.

Rinkya

Rinkya sometimes has rare Takara Blythes on Yahoo Auctions, but there is a commission fee involved so please refer to the site info for further details.

Offers

When sellers set prices or reserves too high for Blythe dolls, most end up not selling. Look at it as an opportunity! Go ahead and make an offer to BIN (buy it now) that you think is fair and the seller may edit it to let you buy it right away. If you low ball just remember you will most likely be rejected. Be aware that if the seller asks for money order payment you risk loosing the cash. I always use PayPal for such deals because they can offer you some protection. For more details please go to www.paypal.com

Sold My Unwanted Things For Cash

Go in those all your closets & drawers, your garage, the attic, the basement, or where ever you have built up tons of what you feel is junk… hey! You may even find a vintage treasure while doing so! Maybe even a vintage 1972 Blythe Kenner! Ask you grandma to have a look too  Forget having a garage sale after you build your bounty of useless stuff, take those goodies to one of the most popular online auctions!

Selling Blythe Dolls & Other Vintage Items

At one point I had 3 red head vintage Kenner Blythes, but no blonds. I decided to sell one of my red heads to fund my blond purchase. I also had other Takara Blythe dolls that I didn’t bond with so I sold them for other Blythes. I did buy a few back because I wasn’t sure about selling them in the first place… it”s never easy selling Blythes so please be sure before you do and if you aren't then I think it’s best not to. I sold them mostly on online auctions and Facebook for members only, so please consider signing up and sign in. I also sold other vintage items as well and built my PayPal up so I could afford my Blythe Family! I even had a set of Blythe twins thanks to this. During all of this I developed a good eye for finding really neat vintage treasures. I was able to sell them via online auctions for great prices. I always learned about what I was selling before I listed. I would go into the completed auctions and look up the information about the pieces and what they were going for. I also Googled it too because I never copied other auctions and I strongly believe that doing so is not a good thing. People aren”t stupid and would notice… believe it or not it would probably effect your auction. I still sell things online once in a while to this day! It’s not only profitable, but a lot of fun!

Hand Made Items

I have made a couple dress sets and knit items that I ended up selling for Blythes. There was only Yahoo Kenner Blythe Group, Online auctions & TIB back then but now there is Etsy & Facebook! I have yet to list on there but I”m sure if you go to it you will find a bunch of information.

 

There are a lot of free patterns at yahoo Kenner Blythe group and TIB in the customization section. I do also have a pattern category if you wish to look at the auctions. I just learned of a new website that is similar to Etsy and it”s called Art Fire.

 

Online Shops

Goblin and HLJ are where I pretty much pre ordered the majority of my Takara Blythe dolls and items. To me they were always very reliable and trustworthy too.

Contests

I have entered some Yahoo Blythe Kenner & TIB contests and was lucky enough to win first prize and made off with a NRFB Takara Vino Yamaha Scooter! Thanks again for that lovely prize Blytherules & Keit at Yahoo KB Group! I am very grateful♥

Online Auctions

Believe it or not but you can still find great deals on Blythes. Amazing Ebay BINs (Buy It Now auctions) come up now and then, though it seems rare. Some Sellers will consider BIN offers if you make them an offer, but don”t be too disappointed if they reject you outright because your bid is too low for them. I had thousand of nos before I got 2 yeses on my total dream dollies! (Maria Mint Med Brown haired KB& Bella soft haired blond KB). Some sellers don”t take very good pictures, or they don”t clean them up well… that will cost them and save you too. Lately this seems a bit opposite and the most beat up 72’s get a lot more.

 

The key to all of this is that I tried and did not gave up! It took me a little bit, but it was possible for me. Even when I couldn't find a kenner in person, I earned and save up for that special dream Blythe by selling other things that I found! ♥ ♥ ♥  

Love,

AnnaBlytheDoll xo

Amazing Kenner Blythe Stories Facebook Group!

I just love hearing the stories about people finding Kenner Blythe dolls for amazing prices!  Or if you know about a public amazing KB find you can share.  Also TLC makeover stories, or people who hustle and save up for a KB!  I love them so much that I decided to start a Facebook group, Amazing Kenner Blythe Stories!  

I bet with loads of members we could fill the group with wonderful stories of what a lot of doll collectors actually day dream about so I hope you join!

I have even added one of my amazing Kenner Blythe Stories along with a picture of the doll.  I will also share some of my tips too so those that are on the hunt can try.

Thanks for your time!

Love,

AnnaBlytheDoll xo

 

 

 

The Weird Ebay Finds Website Where I First Saw Blythe In 2000

Click on the picture for a larger view

Above is the very first Blythe Doll I ever saw and it was total love at first sight!  I just had to have one and so I read all about Bonnie Burton who started the Weird Ebay Finds site had a great collection of... well, weird things that she found on Ebay, including an auburn Kenner Blythe doll that she won for a mere $18!  She featured Blythe under her Creepy Dolls section on her website.  

I was on the hunt for vintage 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls so I first went to Ebay but the dolls were much more than $18!  Try $500 and up.  I had to find other ways to obtain the dolls.    

The first Blythe that I ever owned was an original KB red head with bangs!  I actually explained how I found the doll and for how much on my last blog entry.

Looks like I found out about the Yahoo Blythe Kenner Group because of Bonnie's site, it was over 20 years ago, so no wonder I forgot.  It's too bad that the group is no more.  Now a days everything is just pictures and sometimes a little blurb.  Nothing substantial if you ask me. 

The This is Blythe forum is gone too.  I joined right when it opened up but didn't really post there much at first.  I was still on the Yahoo Blythe group mostly and then LiveJournal. 

There is a This Is Blythe website in it's place but I heard it's a scam site so please be careful if you ever go on there and want to purchase something.  I would not  recommend it so please avoid it. 

Blythe Kingdom (formerly Plastic Paradise) is still around but it's so quiet on there now, not much traffic at all.  I check in every now and then but it's not like it was before.  

I hope you enjoyed my post!  

Love,

AnnaBlytheDoll xo

 

Yahoo Kenner Blythe Group Is No More

As of December 15, 2020 all Yahoo Groups were deleted including Yahoo Kenner Blythe Group which I was a member of since the early 2000's.  At the time it was the only way that Blythe doll lovers could join in to send messages and share pictures.  It was a great group but then came Live Journal, then the forums came, then Facebook, then Tumblr and then Instagram.  

I was a member of the group even before I owned a Blythe doll.  I would post for advice and so many great people would share their tips and support.  I even found my first Blythe, a red head Kenner with bangs called Rose for a incredible price of $15 US.  I found her in the local online Pennysaver, a lady was selling her doll collection, and told me her price, so I sealed the deal!

My First Blythe Doll, My Rose, A Kenner Blythe Red Head, With Bangs

 I actually developed my own tips in my search for 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls and other Blythe dolls.

I won a Halloween Contest on the group and scored an original Takara Blythe Scooter.  It was a fabulous prize that was sent to me by one of the wonderful Admins of the group.  I remember opening it and it was full of sparkles which was a pain to clean up but memorable. lol

My winning Halloween Entry

My prized scooter I won from the Kenner Blythe Group with my Maria Kenner

We also had so many Blythe doll pictures that we posted in the photo section of the group but it's all gone now.  What a shame.  The group was not even active but I would go on every now and again to read some of the past messages and look at the photos.  

Not everything stays on the internet forever. :'(  Oh well at least Facebook and Instagram are still active.  It's not as personal as Yahoo Groups or Forums but at least it's something.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

AnnaBlytheDoll