There are a few things to consider when buying your first Blythe doll:

• New or used?
• New or old release?
• Where will you buy her from?
• How do you protect yourself?

When buying new, you have options of buying older or newer releases. Newer releases can be more easily found from official retail shops (all found online, or in-person in Asia). Older releases that are completely new, and minty, can be found via collectors selling online, or on sites like eBay.

When buying used, I would recommend joining a Blythe-oriented forum (such as Blythe Kingdom), or looking up ‘Blythe dolls’ on Facebook and seeing what Facebook groups pop up as many people list their dolls on Facebook as well. You can find both stock or customized Blythe dolls for sale when looking for used, at a very large range of price points.

I thought she was so innocent back then. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

A lot of people do buy a stock doll for their first (myself included! My first Blythe doll was a Cappuccino Chat, you all know her better as Sophie), while some do opt for a custom doll. Whomever you choose for your first Blythe doll, there are always a few things to keep in mind:

• Ask others in the doll community for tips of online retail shops. There are quite a few that will ship internationally, these retailers will often sell brand new, in-box Blythes. (e.g. Junie Moon, CC Toys, Hobby Link Japan)
• Join a forum or Facebook selling group to get a better feel for the prices of the type of Blythes that you like. You do not need to buy the first Blythe that you come across.
• When dealing with an individual person (rather than a business), you always have the option of asking for references/feedback. Ask whom they’ve sold to in the past.
• Buyers should never be responsible for covering PayPal fees. The sellers should not ask you to do this. They should be pricing their dolls accordingly to cover this themselves.
• Buyers should never pay for anything as a “gift” via PayPal, or be asked to pay as a “gift”. Protect yourself first. Pay in the correct category (for goods) and protect yourself in case someone is a scammer.

A Beginner’s Guide is a feature on BlytheLife.com that is all about going back to the basics of collecting Blythe, and being a reference tool for new and experienced collectors alike. If you have any suggestions for what you would like to see in A Beginner’s Guide, send me your suggestions!