Beginner's Guide to Collecting

So you've decided to start collecting Strawberry Shortcake dolls! Great! Where to start? First I would decide if you are in this collection for the long haul. Strawberry Shortcake items can be VERY expensive. I spend thousands on my collection a year. If you are in it for the long haul GREAT! Then decide if you want MIB dolls or loose (or both! LOL) Then concentrate only on those auctions where the items are either loose or MIB. Don't try to get it all at once. It's not possible. Focus on one set of items at first. You will get better deals and dolls in better shape if you focus and not try to buy everything at once. For instance Focus on Regular issue dolls. Go for the most expensive first. Bid on Mint Tulip or Almond Tea first then make your way down to the least expensive. Then move to the Party Pleasers and do the same. It's ok to deviate and act on that urge to buy Banana Twirl, but I suggest not trying to get minis and dolls, and the berry happy home and etc. Your pulled in too many directions that way. Also don't panic! If you don't get that MIB Mint Tulip Party Pleaser the first time you see it, there will be another auction in a few weeks!

 Another word of advice. If you want complete dolls buy complete. Looking for a shoe got old really fast for me. It may seem like a barging to buy that Mint Tulip Party pleaser without her shoes and pet for 10 dollars, like I did. But in reality I was looking for her shoes for three years and I JUST bought her pet. In the end I have spent more over three years for the doll than if I had just bought her complete, and I still didn't have her shoes!!! 

The second thing you need to do is buy the Strawberry Shortcake Books. Don't bother with the Pink one: Strawberry Shortcake Collectable, that one is not even worth a penny. Unless you want pictures of naked dolls and dolls with wrong clothing and pets. The other two More Strawberry Shortcake and The Cream of Strawberry Shortcake are totally worth getting. 

Third get on Ebay and surf around on the current and completed auctions. Get to know your market before you jump in. Teach yourself to spot rare stuff in a pile of junk. Familiarize yourself with how the dolls look on the computer and also look at the auctions that people paid big bucks for. There is usually a reason that auction went for such a high price.  

Next start bidding! Try to get the best dolls for the best deals. You will get burned. It happens to the best of us. That MIB doll with the huge black mark on her cheek or that that mini that looked great on the computer but when it arrived it practically had no paint.  Don't give up! Everyone gets a bad auction once in awhile. Also don't be afraid to accumulate extra's. Those extra's will come in handy when you want to trade. 

Lastly, find some good information websites, trading boards, and feedback boards. These will come in handy for when you REALLY need an item or when you are unsure of a seller.  

Good Luck!!!