Barbie Our Car Buying Role Model

Growing up with three sisters, the Barbie doll fascination just really escaped me. I wanted a Ken doll, he just seemed a bit more realistic as a role model for me. My sisters worried about nail polish and when they could wear nylons, I wanted a tree house in the back yard. I am 100% all girl and love the guys but my interests were much more athletic naturally. Check out the limited production Barbie themed hot pink bug reviewed by Car and Driver recently, is this what women want? Do we think Barbie pink when it comes to our car buying decisions?

Growing up I wanted a bike, roller skates, to go back packing and loved to camp. I loved being outside , while my sisters stayed inside and played records, painted their nails, wore rollers in their hair and played house with Barbie, yuk! Okay, I admit I was a bit of a tom-boy...I loved to hang out with my Dad in the garage while he tinkered on our family car or played hide and seek in the backyard.

As it turned out two of my sisters are nurses and one is in real estate, traditional careers for women. I took the natural path to competing in male-dominated industries beginning with the world of technology and then eventually got in through the back door to the automotive industry. I love all things car and automotive related....and have been very successful competing in these male dominated and high paying fields.

Now, lets take a look at Barbie and her role model to us girls in regards to what kind of vehicle is supposed to flip our buying switch. The good news is that Barbie did love to drive and over the years had several makes and models that little girls loved to own. Did these Barbie makes and models teach us what we should buy or what kind of automotive purchase fits us?

Barbie has owned many sports car editions,( quite a few convertible editions that punctuate the sexy Barbie image), sedans, a limo, a jeep 4x4 , an SUV, a VW van,vintage cars, remote control editions and the recent electric jeep for little girls to drive on their own. There is a selection of Barbie motor homes, RV's and camping trailers, so Barbie did like to camp, ( I have a daughter and three granddaughters who love to camp with me in my RV), thank you Barbie!

There is a NASCAR themed Barbie doll but NO Barbie NASCAR race car, Hmmmm. Reflective of this race series? Don't get me up on that soap box! Barbie did hook up with a young female race car driver in an open wheel race series in 2001 Ashley Taws, driving the "Be Anything With Barbie at Wal-Mart" car decked out in an attention-grabbing pink and purple color scheme.

Barbie's tastes in her automotive purchasing has evolved since the 60s, she even rides a Harley in today's updated version, and so do I.

Although I am tall , blonde and wear a 36 XX and to some, might think I idealize the Barbie look (certainly in my younger days), however, I have never owned a pink or purple car, truck or RV. The 2006 Barbie catalog of dolls is interesting to review and these Barbie role models are what the girls of today are looking at to form their view of what they want to grow up to be like and will influence their buying decisions.

I have three granddaughters, my seven year old loves Barbie and I am sure the younger ones will all get the Barbie influence and the Barbie world part of their upcoming birthday and holiday gift wish lists. I find the 2006 Barbie doll collection a bit disturbing, a sexy maid? a nurse? a sexy bikini? a fashion statement? a bride? a sexy cowgirl? What is Barbie saying to my precious granddaughters?

What are your thoughts on Barbie as a role model for young girls, her influence ultimately on women's car buying decisions and career choices or are the Bratz dolls going to be the new influencer's?

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The Five Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying an Antique Doll Or Collectible Barbie Doll

The absolute best way to get a great deal when buying a collectible antique doll or Barbie doll is to be armed with information. There' no substitute for knowledge when it comes to buying or investing in dolls.

There are usually only two things you, as a doll collector, are looking for when considering antique dolls:

#1. You are looking for a very specific doll. You know the designer, when and where the doll was made and you know a lot of other things about the exact doll you're looking for.

#2. You are looking for a bargain. You are looking for any antique doll or collectible doll that is available way below it's actual value.

Here's how to get the best value for both types of dolls.

You have to approach each of these situations differently. The first situation is easier, but there are still some things that many collectors overlook. You need to do your homework and find out what dolls like you are looking for are actually selling for. And you need to know what they have sold for recently.

The market may have changed.  A particular doll that was in high demand and expensive not long ago, may be a lot less expensive now (or it may be even more expensive). Either way, don't rely on your previous knowledge. Find out what the value of the doll is NOW.

By all means it's important that you don't let your emotions get in the way of logic. Of course, that's easier to say than to do. If you love antique dolls like I do, it's easy to fall in love with a doll. But remember that you will have a better chance to get the best doll at the best price, if you can remain logical and not let your emotions rule.

Of course, the condition of the doll you're looking for has a lot to do with the price. This means that there could be (and probably will be) a wide range of prices that the particular doll you're looking for will be selling for.

In the second situation where you are looking for any doll that you can get at a great price, your job is even harder. You need to know the value of many dolls in order to find bargains. Of course, you can't know the value of all dolls, but there are probably a wide range of dolls that you're interested in and have some idea about the the price range they should be selling in.

One of the best ways to find a bargain in an antique doll is to realize that a lot of people start out collecting dolls and then lose interest. Also realize that in many cases the person selling the doll wants to sell it a lot more than you want to buy the doll. Regardless of how high (or even how reasonable) the initial asking price is, make a low-ball offer and work from there.

The Internet has a wealth of information about dolls. One of the best places to find out about antique doll prices is on eBay. Be sure to check completed auctions to see what antique, collectible or Barbie dolls like the one you're looking for really sold for. You can use this information in your negotiating.

CraigsList is another good place to search for antique dolls or Barbie dolls. But remember that the prices shown on CraigsList are the asking prices and not what the doll will or did sell for.

When you're armed with all of the above information, your final step is to use the five negotiating techniques shown below and don't be in a hurry -- be the reluctant buyer.

Five  Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying Any Antique, Collectible, or Barbie Doll:

1.    Offer way less than you expect to have to pay. 

2.    Always act shocked and surprised at the other side's first price.

3.    Say, "You've got to do better than that." 

4.   Walk away (or pretend to walk away) sometime during the negotiation.

5.    Arm yourself with information.  The more you're prepared with facts and information, the better deal you can negotiate.  For example, say, "I have checked eBay and other Internet sources, and dolls like this one never sell for more than $200."

Use these techniques and you will come out with the best deal possible on an antique doll. Don't forget that there are a lot of collectible dolls out there, so always be willing to walk away from any negotiation. 

Bottom line: Do your homework, check prices on eBay, negotiate, be patient and walk away (or pretend to  walk away) from any negotiation if necessary.

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