I frequently get emails asking for tips about what to ask sellers before committing to buy a doll (this would be for dolls that aren’t still in the box), and I tend to give the same advice, some of these questions really only apply to customized dolls (and also, older dolls). One of the dolls that I bought used, Kindred (Velvet Minuet, pictured above), was from a seller who was very good about disclosing any flaws. But this was very early on in my doll-buying adventure, and I didn’t know what kinds of questions to ask so I was very lucky in that regard! Here are some suggested questions to ask sellers:

• Has the doll ever been opened? If yes, are there any gaps around the scalp?
• What eyechip changes have been made?
• Are the eyelashes original?
• Are there any stains on the body?
• If there are charms on the pullstrings – how will the doll be wrapped? (The charms should be secured – rattling charms can scratch the face.)
• What has the doll been sealed with? (Has the doll’s face-up been sealed?)
• If it’s the original body – are there still red/pink nail polish on the tips of the fingers? (Some stock dolls, e.g. Punkaholic People, have painted nails.)
• Has the hair ever been cut?
• Can close-up photos of the face-up be provided?

What are some things that you think about before a new dolly purchase?