Girls like toys too!

Something I've been noticing more and more lately is how unbalanced the collectible toy world really is when it comes to gender. I'm not kidding, for years every time I go to a flea market or a toy show or anywhere you would expect to find vintage toys, table after table is filled with people hawking Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and Matchbox cars, but almost no one has My Little Ponies, Care Bears, or Strawberry Shortcakes. Barbies you can sometimes find, and there are bins of Beanie Babies, but where are the 80's girl toys? I see all kinds of boy's toys from the same era, many of them still in the package even, but trying to find girl's toys is like... well, I hate to get all cliched already when this is only my second post here, but it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack!

It's the same thing in collectible toy stores. Now, there is a great little store not too far from us, over the state line in New York... my husband and I just discovered it this summer, and it's a fantastic place, filled to the rafters with all kinds of vintage action figures, but hardly any girl toys. And I wonder why that is. Why does no one want to cater to the girls? Do they not realize that there is a market there? Because there definitely is, and I have my eBay sales to prove it!

I mean, don't get me wrong. I suppose I should be happy about this. It means that these dealers aren't looking for such things, which means more for me when I'm out running the yard sale and thrift store gauntlet, am I right? But at the same time, sometimes I would like to have my pick of the entire flea market, just like all of the male collectors do. I would like to be able to walk around and actually find My Little Ponies prominently displayed, without having to dig around in gross 25 cent bins filled with dirty McDonalds toys. I would like it if the dealers didn't look at me like I had a second head when I ask if they have ponies, or Care Bears, or you know, something besides their carded action figures and Hot Wheels cars. Because let's face it. The boy toy market is pretty saturated.Why wouldn't you want to expand your market to include girl toys?

I also always find it amazing that these dealers know the exact market price of every single video game and action figure they have, but they never know how to price the girl toys. For example, at that little toy store in New York I mentioned above, I recently scored 3 mint in package Mattel Little Pretty Perfume Pets, for only $5 each! I turned around and resold them on eBay for $50 each, and they were snapped right up within the hour of me posting the Buy-It-Nows. I'm not saying that to brag, I'm just illustrating my point, which is: just because it might be pink and girly doesn't mean it isn't valuable.

And don't even get me started about all of the rereleased toys that get put out for male collectors. He-man, Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Star Wars, G.I. Joe... the list goes on and on of old 80's and 90's toys reissued, in retro style packaging and everything. But what do we get? My Little Pony turns 30 this year. And what have we got to show for the 30th anniversary? The god-awful Equestria Girls. And have you seen some of the monstrosities that they have recently released, sullying our childhoods? I bring you today's Sea Wees, Popples, Care Bears, Polly Pocket, Strawberry Shortcake, and Rainbow Brite.

That kind of thing would never fly with the male collectors. So how come we have to take it? Listen up, guys. Girls like toys too!

Introduction and all that jazz

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am a 30-something year old female toy collector who grew up in the 80's and early 90's, AKA the time with all the best toys! Okay, so I might be a little biased. But then again, have you visited Toys R Us lately? Sadly, many of today's children grow up far too quickly and drop their toys in favor of electronic devices.  I think that's a terrible thing, and I will probably be tackling this topic in a later post.

My Little Ponies are my main collection, especially the vintage ones from the 80's.  I also buy and sell regularly on eBay. I will be posting a lot about eBay and my business there. (insert shameless plug for Good Boy Toys here). I have been an eBay member since almost the beginning, so I will also be sharing tips and tricks for buying and selling that I've picked up over the years.  I will also be sharing my knowledge about various girl toy lines, which is fairly extensive. Needless to say, I won't be running out of topics anytime soon!

I am married, with two cats, but no children yet. However, since I am a toy freak, and my husband is a gamer, believe me, our future kids will never lack for playthings! Is it bad that I have several hundred children's books I have purchased at yard sales and flea markets? I love to write and draw cutesy things. I have nearly every Disney and Pixar film ever made. I regularly rescue cute secondhand plushies from the plushie bin at Goodwill. And I still refuse to eat my peas.

So anyway, I just wanted to say hello to anyone who may be reading. I am working on another post to put up soon so keep checking back!