2014 Barbie℠ Fan Club Membership

Club renewal begins tomorrow, 1/8/14. If you have not been a member in 2013, membership will open on 1/15/14.
Cost $24.95

Benefits:

• Up to $80 in BarbieCollector.com Online Shop rewards – $20 per calendar quarter*
• A Barbie^℠ Fan Club card case** – your gift with membership (and sent with free shipping)
• Quarterly “Designer Videos,” sneak peeks at upcoming releases, downloadable goodies, and access to the exclusive Barbie^™ Bulletin Board
• First access to audio interviews, collector spotlights, Fun Facts, and looks “behind the glam” with the passionate people on the Barbie^® Collector team
• The opportunity to purchase four (4) Club-exclusive dolls, as announced*** (doll purchase is NOT a requirement of membership)

Some sneak peeks at what's in store.

Project Typhoon Haiyan Goods Received

Two of the four items I bid on in the Project Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda Fundraising Auction arrived today. They are both Ashton Drake Gene Marshall dolls.
First is the "Love Paris" Gene doll dressed in the lovely wedding ensemble from the 1995 Gene in Monaco.

Next is the 1998 Creme De Cassis Gene Doll.

Both of these dolls, among other items, were contributed to the auction by the very generous Franklin Lim Liao.

I Wasn't Going To Do It...

Famous last words.
The Tonner virtual factory sale began about 2 hours ago. I took a few looks and in some cases couldn't believe my eyes. The prices on several items had to be at or below wholesale. Perhaps there was only one left...
For example:
Antoinette's Fanciful Outfit was priced at $40! I paid way more for that gown and that pisses me off.

It's not like it's from last year or anything.  

Seriously?

These two new dressed Tiny Kitty dolls are priced at $60. each. That's less than half the discounted price.

Getting even more pissed. My feeling is to never again buy anything Tonner before it's been out for 4 months. I got these two Tiny Kitty dolls on October 18, 2013. That is less than 2 months ago. 

WTF???

Any dealers who still have these items in stock are screwed. 

There are a few good buys remaining such as the original Glinda, The Good Witch at $95. Although, she's been around for quite a while, her original issue price was over $200. 

As of right now, very few items are sold out.  

Here's the link: http://www.tonnerdoll.com/virtual-factory-sale?page=0%2C0

Knock yourself out.

Tonner: 75th Anniversary Collection - Wizard of Oz

Tonner revealed five new Oz family dolls. This time the twist is that they are all on the 19" Wilde Imagination Evangeline body.
Have they done an Amelia sized Oz yet? 
Oz lovers who also love big-headed dolls will go for this collection.

Castle Stroll - Outfit

$139.99

GLINDA THE GOOD WITCH™

$249.99

WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST

$249.99

Absolutely WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST

$149.99

The fifth doll was a sketch of a basic Glinda. Apparently the photo wasn't ready because it says that the doll is available to ship.

I understand it from the company's point of view why stands are not included with these dolls. It's not like finding a stand for 19" dolls is easy. The Evangeline stand is a good stand and for dolls priced like these, the stand should be included.

Picture of the Day: Ernesto Padro-Campos

It's always a joy to look at Ernesto's photography. Today he sent this charming shot of Agnes Dreary to me in an email. Isn't she just wonderfully creepy?

Pay particular attention to the lighting - how it models her face. Also, see how the lighting on her hands and her face get your eyes to travel back and forth between these two most important parts of the image. Masterful work!

It Pays to Pay Attention!

I sell doll stuff on eBay occasionally. Today I received this lovely message from a buyer who had just received his purchase:

______________________________

From: XXXX
To: golden_country
Subject: XXXXX

Sent Date: Jan-02-14 18:18:09 PST

Dear golden_country,

I just wanted to pass along a sincere thank you on the wonderful way you packaged this item. I have had expensive items come folded, in a next day letter envelope without so much as paper around it, but sincerely, thank you for treating this like a real first class transaction! I was surprised and shocked when I got it and opened it and saw the care that was taken. Anyway, there's not enough space to put that all on feedback but wanted you to know you are clearly a step way above the norm! Very much appreciated!

- xxxxx

 ______________________________

 

I package things the way I would like to receive them.