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What does it mean when people say that their American Girl Doll doesn't have a "red x"?

We just bought an American Girl Doll Mia to sell on Ebay, and we were wondering what people meant by their doll doesn't have a red x?
We haven't taken Mia out of the box yet, for fear it might decrease her value. Is it only dolls bought online that have the red x, and not those bought in an actual American Girl store? Thanks!

American girl dolls marked with an x are dolls that have been returned for one reason or another or factory "seconds", dolls with minor and largely unnoticable flaws, and sold at the annual Madison Children's Museum Sale in Madison, WI, for the benefit of the Madison Children's Museum. This sale consists of American Girl items at a discount and is staffed entirely by volunteers. American Girl has a liberal return policy, so there are many available items donated to the sale rather than returned to stock and resold from the store.
MCM sale items are marked with x's in a non-obtrusive area. Dolls are marked on the bottom seam; furniture is marked underneath. This mark shows that an item was purchased at the sale and is not new.. Many eBay sellers note that items have no x's to prove that the item is new from American Girl and not purchased from the MCM sale.
One word of caution on doll values: while it is true that condition is important to resale value, it is NOT the primary factor in establishing value. Popular desirability (which cannot be accurately forecast), rarity and being the best example of type are more important than MIB in establishing a value on the secondary market. Since American Girl dolls are mass-produced and often well-cared for, the number of dolls in very good condition on the secondary market in the future will lower that market value. Small limited editions of high-end dolls will obviously generate more interest to collectors over time. Crazes come and go and are impossible to predict. Remember the Cabbage Patch craze? Those dolls now sell at a fraction of their original price in the '80's, even MIB. Modern dolls are wonderfully made and delightful to play with or collect on the basis of personal appeal, but are not a remunerative investment.Generally, modern mass-produced dolls will have their strongest value when they become vintage (50-75 years) and appeal to the nostalgia of the generation that played with them as children. The next generation will probably disregard them in favour of the dolls that evoke nostalgia for their own childhoods. You would have to wait longer than your lifetime to see any increased value as an antique (100+ years). Yes, take care of your Mia, but don't try to take her to the bank! Enjoy her for what she is: a doll.

For American Doll Deals Click The Blue Links Below

Most of us went through a period of spring-cleaning as we got older, where we threw out all of the toys that we were "too old for" anymore. If youÂ’re lucky, your mother (or just your good sense) kept you from doing this -- and if you are really lucky, these vintage dolls are now thought of as collectorÂ’s items.

But how do you know what these childhood keepsakes are worth? Dig out your dolls and follow these simple steps to find out!

Step #1: Identify Your Doll

Not all vintage dolls were created equal, even way back when. Just like in todayÂ’s toy market, dolls ranged in quality and cost. In general, dolls that were more expensive and of better quality when they were new tend to command higher prices now. Examples of high quality dolls that are now coveted by collectors include Madame Alexander, Arranbee, Effanbee, American Character, and Vogue.

Most of the higher quality manufacturers marked their dolls, so the first step is to check for markings. These are usually either on the back of the neck underneath the hairline, or on the dollÂ’s back. If you are very lucky, and you have the original tag and/or box, not only will you know what kind of doll you have, but also chances are she is worth more than she would be without those things.

If you canÂ’t find any markings on the doll, try to remember if anyone ever told you as a child what your dollÂ’s name was. You can also make visit your local doll hospital or shop to see if they know what the doll is. If all else fails, go through the pictures in every doll book and every website you can find, and see if you can recognize your doll. Remember, differences in dollsÂ’ facial features are subtle, so study the pictures and look at as many as possible before settling on any one of them as an example of your doll!

Step #2: Determine the Condition of Your Doll

Value is highly dependent on the condition of a doll. In order to command the highest price possible, your doll needs to be "mint," which means that she:

• Has never been played with
• Is perfectly clean
• Has all of her original clothes and accessories
• Has perfect hair
• Has bright, flawless face paint, including cheek blush
• Has her original box and hang tag whenever possible

Most childhood dolls are not mint, as they were usually toys. Played-with dolls range in condition from poor (soiled, damaged, and/or incomplete) to very good (lightly played with, more or less complete). These dolls may be worth only a fraction of the value of a mint doll.

Step #3: Research Doll Values

Once you have decided what your doll is and determined her condition, you may begin researching the values of that particular doll. Doll value books usually provide a best-case scenario: the value of a doll that is pristine mint. Doll shops, which usually charge the highest price they feel they can get away with, can tell you how values change with less-than-ideal condition. The online marketplace, such as eBay, is possibly the best place to search, as it provides you with many dolls for comparison, as well as current "market values" for your doll.

For more information on determining a vintage dollÂ’s value, please see http://ezinearticles.com/?id=473149">Doll Collecting - How to Determine a Vintage DollÂ’s Value

Katharine Swan is a longtime doll collector and enthusiast. Also a freelance writer, she has written many articles on collecting and repairing vintage dolls. Her ebook, How to Restring a Strung Doll, can be purchased for only $2.99 at http://dollstringing.katharineswan.com

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