Possibly a Group Auction idea?

Hey guys! I was doing a regular research on Ebay, and I stumbled upon this 9 - 17" LE Disney dolls lot auction:


I think most of us will love to get a doll from there at a good price. I know people whose dream is to get Alice or Gothel. Others struggle to get Tiana, Belle or Rapunzel for a reasonable price. My case is a lot of regret for not getting Queen of Hearts when she retailed for a low price before the Designer Dollmagedon . And well there's also Merida, Cinderalla and Wedding Rapunzel.

Then I had this crazy idea! I'm also an active member at a Pokemon collectors community in LiveJournal, where users as us, help each other get items we are looking for. And there are various methods such as users making sales, middleman services from Japan to various parts of the world, etc. And it works!

One of the strategies that's commonly used in there, is called GROUP BUY/AUCTION. This consits on an listing that contains a lot (several items), and it's either an auction or a buy it now listing. So what is next, is that people organize and say which item(s) they wish to get, and they post the ammount of money they consider it is worth. That way people unite forces to gather the most ammount of money to make the highest bid to win the auction. Note that once all of the money is gathered, we have a nice shot to win the lot in contrast to a single user who tries to get it on its own. Then, a user volunteers (most of the time, someone who is also participating in the group auction) to place the bid, and if we manage to win the auction, the participating users send their part of the money via Paypal to this user, and once he/she gathers the total, the payment is sent to the seller. Finally we send a 2nd payment to cover shipping costs. Either the same user or another one, volunteers to receive the dolls, and he/she ships the corresponding doll(s) to each user.

Although it's kind of a complicated process, in the end it's worth it because most of the times you end up getting the item for a cheaper price of what it is originally worth. So what do you think guys?! I would be totally in for Queen of Hearts doll, but let's see what the others think. As I told you, this might be a little crazy, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to give it a try, since I have seen this technique work efficiently. Comments, thoughts?

Wow! That could possibly end up being a very good deal! I'm sorry, I don't need any of them, but best of luck to you. I hope people jump on this, because some of the prices have been crazy lately.

Depending on how this pans out, I could be VERY interested in Gothel. She's the last one I need.

I would be in for Alice.

i would possibly be in for blonde rapunzel and alice (if Mali decides against her for some reason). If Alice is for sure taken, I may also be interested in Tiana, depending on how everything works out.

The link is gone, but here are the dolls in the set and the link can be PM'd to those interested, I've just added the names of those who've said they are interested I know they may change, depending on prices.

*Most messages I have received, people are tentative about the dolls (which is fine) I just want to let everyone know, that if you have any interest in the doll, please let us know. Post on here or PM me, even if there is a name beside the doll because they may not be 100% that they will purchase*


Blonde Rapunzel - psantos
Mother Gothel - lost-sun-princess (2nd ElysionsPrincess)
Queen of Hearts - Alex555
Alice - Mali (2nd psantos) (3rd ElysionsPrincess)
Cinderella -
Belle - Zanna
Wedding Rapunzel -
Tiana - psantos
Merida -

Mali, thanks a lot for organizing this! And thanks to psantos and lost-sun-princess for showing interest and supporting the cause. I posted this as an idea wishing it would work out, but I'm so happy to see it's happening ^.^ !

Another thing I would like to add, is that if for some reason we manage to win the lot for a less amount of what we managed to raise, we will have discounts for what we were going to pay for each doll Also, unfortunately I won't be able to help as volunteer to receive the dolls, as I live an Mexico, and although we have a mailbox in McAllen TX, we don't go there frequently, because of my college schedules.

Oh and I didn't know it wasn't permitted to post ebay links here. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to add the photos included in the auction later on, for those who are interested to see how the dolls look like. According to the description all dolls are in Like New condition for the exception of Wedding Rapunzel who has small scratches in the front of the box.

Wow! I'd be in for Belle if all goes okay

No problem Alex555. I was just sitting here bored last night....

I can work on getting your great idea going!

I could volunteer to receive the dolls. I live in Canada, but use a shipping service in the US.

One thing to consider, it will cost me $27 to pick up the dolls from the shipping service (so $3 per doll). Shipping would be approximately $35 with insurance and tracking. It may be more, if you are international. Plus $11 for each doll shipping from the ebay listing. If you are purchasing multiple dolls, shipping will very likely be cheaper.

If everyone who is interested could PM their address, I can try to get a more accurate shipping quote. Also, with your message could you send me the highest amount you're willing to pay for the doll you want INCLUDING shipping (approximately $49 total). As Alex555 said, this way we can put in the highest bid we are comfortable with, but if we get the listing cheaper, everyone will receive a discount.

I would need payment almost immediately after the listing ends (if we get it) because I just don't have the funds to cover the cost, so please only message if you are serious about paying for the doll.

I think this sort of covers everything.

Alex555, please let me know if something seems incorrect! I don't want to be stepping on someones toes!

Please put me on the back burner for Alice or Mother Gothel
I can't imagine this lot going bonkers, because not a lot of people need ALL of them. Best of luck to all of you! <3

Shivatopia said:

I know the final prices are going to be based on the actual auction ending price, but is there going to be a weighted scale for dividing up that amount among the nine dolls or were you just planning on splitting the cost evenly by nine? Alice and Mother Gothel are obviously the heavy-hitter grail-level dolls, while Merida, Wedding Rapunzel, and Cinderella (ironically the ones still vacant here) tend to sell for lesser prices on the secondary market. In any case, I am tentatively interested in getting a second LE Cinderella for a project.

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Hi

I believe that the idea is to create the bid based on what people are willing to pay for the dolls. (correct Alex555?) So that we combine the maximum people are willing to pay for the doll to create the highest bid we can, and if we get it cheaper, split the discount evenly?

I'm not sure if we should maybe post tentative prices, and see who is willing to pay that, so that we have the best chance of winning?

I had been assuming that those 3 dolls would go for only slightly more than/same as retail + shipping.

May I be second on the list for Blonde Rapunzel, in the event psantos decides against her? Unfortunately... it looks like the one I bought on ebay was never shipped.

alex555 said:

Mali, thanks a lot for organizing this! And thanks to psantos and lost-sun-princess for showing interest and supporting the cause. I posted this as an idea wishing it would work out, but I'm so happy to see it's happening ^.^ !

Another thing I would like to add, is that if for some reason we manage to win the lot for a less amount of what we managed to raise, we will have discounts for what we were going to pay for each doll Also, unfortunately I won't be able to help as volunteer to receive the dolls, as I live an Mexico, and although we have a mailbox in McAllen TX, we don't go there frequently, because of my college schedules.

Oh and I didn't know it wasn't permitted to post ebay links here. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to add the photos included in the auction later on, for those who are interested to see how the dolls look like. According to the description all dolls are in Like New condition for the exception of Wedding Rapunzel who has small scratches in the front of the box.

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HEY! YOU! COME TO MCALLEN MORE!!! I live in Progresso!!!!!!

@Mali: You're doing everything right, don't worry ! All the arrangements you're doing are just how they supposed to be. And thanks so much for volunteering to receive the dolls, that's great! I will send you my Address and max bid via PM right now.

@Shiva: You're right as well Shiva, the price that everyone bids on the particular doll will depend on what each one is worth. In my case, I will be bidding for Queen of Hearts, so my offer will be higher compared to those who try to get Merida or Rapunzel. Also when we tend to give our offer, there are cases when we also say that we're willing to go higher. This is just in case that if throughout the auction the money we raised has been surpassed, we still have chances to make a comeback.

As an updtate, there's already 1 bid on the auction, but I'm not scared at all. Accoridding to some calculations I made, we could manage to raise double or more the money of the start price of the auction, so that would be a great bid . I'm so excited, we just need candidates to go for Merida and W Rapunzel, and we will have this thing starting !!!

Edit: @BugCatcherJenna: Wow really?! Awesome! We should stay in contact to meet up next time I go there ^.^ !

Also, I just saw the ebay link... someone is bidding on it already. :/

I would be interested in Merida if it was a very low price (under $100)... but I doubt that.

MegglesM said:

May I be second on the list for Blonde Rapunzel, in the event psantos decides against her? Unfortunately... it looks like the one I bought on ebay was never shipped.

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Of course!! I'm sorry, that really, really sucks! Could you PM me your address, so I can get you a shipping quote? And also what you'd like me to bid on the doll. Just in case

alex555 said:

Edit: @BugCatcherJenna: Wow really?! Awesome! We should stay in contact to meet up next time I go there ^.^ !

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Yeah, yeah yeah!! I am so shocked someone from down here is also on here...

Alex555 had some good price ideas, I agree with her!

We think these prices may be our best chance at winning

these prices have our bid price and added approximate shipping price. Shipping to the UK is approx. $72. I have asked the seller to contact me when she ask a more accurate shipping quote so I will update the prices accordingly. (She said she'll check on Tuesday).


alice $500 total =$549 (Mali)
queen of hearts $300 total =$349 (alex555)
mother gothel $300 total =$349
belle $250 total =$299
tiana $250 total =$299
rapunzel $200 total =$249 (psantos)
merida $100 total =$149
cinderella $100 total =$149
wedding rapunzel $100 total =$149

Please share your feelings on this.

I dont understand... if the auction will sell at $1000 wouldn't you guys just divide it equally between everyone?? It would be like $111 each doll (without shipping)

I am confused...


Edit: Nevermind I got cha now... that's just what you think the max bid for everyone should be?

Yeah, we are thinking max bid. Who knows how high it will go it would be amazing to have it be much, much cheaper for everyone!

I would possibly be interested in Blonde Rapunzel, Belle, or Tiana if those in front of me no longer want them.

I want it to be known that I do have a previous obligation to fill to Steamboat_Philly here before I can commit 100% to Mother Gothel. So if you are interested in her, please don't hesitate to form a line behind me! Lord knows what financial situation I will find myself in lol.

I'm not participating, but I wanted to say that this is a really smart idea!

I would be interested in a Alice!!