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How to Safely Buy and Sell Reborns

Updated: Oct 18

Several years ago, I saw reborns online and I thought they were so neat! I wanted to buy one, but the problem I had was, I didn’t know where to buy one. I began by checking ebay, and lucky for me, I bought an authentic reborn. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky. There are so many situations where people are scammed.


Fast forward a few years, I decided it was time to sell my reborn. Unfortunately, I didn’t know where to sell him, and I sold him for five times less than what I paid only because I was inexperienced.


Now that I have much more experience, I know what to do! I’m here to share my knowledge with you.


Reborns are a costly investment. They cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. In today’s economy, such a large purchase is a big deal. Knowing where to safely buy and sell your babies is crucial in building trust and making sure you get what you paid for.


Here, we will discuss:

*How to safely buy reborns

*How to safely sell reborns

*Things to be cautious of

*What you should do if something falls through

 

Understanding the Reborn Market

Before we discuss buying and selling, let’s talk about what an authentic baby is, how how to tell if you’ve come across a counterfeit.

 

What Does “Authentic” Mean?

Authentic reborns are hyper realistic dolls that start with a sculptor making a kit from clay, which goes on to be vinyl or silicone. Reborn artists then bring the kits to life with layers of paint, rooting the hair strand by strand, and adding incredible details to make the reborn look like a lifelike baby.


Authentic reborns come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). This is like a birth certificate for the doll. The COA includes the kit name, the sculptors name, the artists signature or stamp, and many times it includes a photo of the blank kit.

 

What Is Counterfeit?

A counterfeit reborn is an illegally produced kit, mass produced from scultpors that they stole from. These dolls are sold for cheap, usually $60-$80, while an authentic reborn will be sold typically from $400 into the thousands.


Counterfeit sellers are looking for easy sales while emotionally luring buyers in by using stolen or fake photos. The heartbreaking result is that the buyer receives low quality fakes that don’t look like the photos.

 

How to Safely Buy Reborns

Research the Artist or Seller

Before spending your hard-earned money, research, research, research. A true artist or seller will make their information easy to find. They will include their name, their nursery name, and how long they’ve been selling.


*Many times, they have social media accounts connected to their nursery.

*Check out photos of previous dolls they’ve sold.

*Look at reviews from previous buyers.


If you aren’t sure, don’t shy away from asking questions and seeking additional photos or videos. A true artist won’t mind taking the time to prove their work is legitimate.

 

Verify Authenticity

Double check that the reborn comes with a COA. If unsure, compare the kit details with reborn suppliers such as Bountiful Baby or MacPhersons Crafts. Confirm the kit information is the same as the listing.

 

Use Secure Payments

Never pay with CashApp, wire transfers, or with gift cards as those are untraceable. The most reliable way to pay is through PayPal Goods & Services. This will give buyer protection. If your reborn never shows up, or it comes differently than what was described, you can dispute the charge and possibly get your money back.


Do not go through PayPal Friends & Family unless you know the seller very well because the Friends & Family doesn’t offer protection for buyers.

 

Watch for Red Flags

*If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

*Check for stolen images. Try to do reverse search if it seems odd.

*If the communication is poor, like the seller doesn’t answer back, or refuses to give proof of authenticity, don’t fall for it.

 

Best Place to Buy

The most trusted, well-known site in the reborns community is reborns.com. This website comes with built in protections that make it more secure than some other sites.

 

How to Safely Sell Reborns

Create Honest Listings

When you’re selling, you want to keep your reputation so you can continue to sell. Always provide clear, professional photos and photograph your reborn from different angles.  Be upfront about any flaws. In the detail section, and photos, be honest if there are any paint rubs, rooting issue, or scratches. It will make both you and the buyer more comfortable that they know what they’re getting.


Include details like:

*Weight and length of the reborn

*The kit name and the sculptor

*The artists name

*Materials, like vinyl or silicone, what kind of paint was used, etc.

*What baby comes home in, such as blankets, clothing, or accessories.


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Choose the Right Platforms

Some safe platforms:

*Reborns.com is the most well known site.

*EBay is good as long as precautions are taken.

*Facebook groups can be a good place to buy if you are in groups that include sellers.

 



This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission

at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I love.


Avoid craigslist, AliExpress, Amazon, Temu, and other websites where knockoffs are common.

 

Protect Your Payments

Same as buying, only use PayPal Goods &Services. This method protects buyers, but it also protects you as the seller if you can provide tracking and proof of shipment. Always be careful of buyers pushing odd or unusual methods of payment.

 

Shipping Safely

When it comes to shipping:

*Use a dependable mail carrier like USPA or UPS.

*Be sure to insure your package and receive tracking information.

*Pack carefully. Wrap the head in a diaper, wrap the doll in a blanket, and use tissue paper or bubble wrap in the packaging to cushion the baby.

*Document the process by taking pictures before, during, and after packaging.

 

Protect Yourself from Scams

*Wait until the payment has cleared before shipping. This can take a few extra days if you’re a new seller.

*Keep an eye out for chargebacks, or a buyer falsely claiming they never received the item.

*Save proof of all communication and tracking information.

 

If Things Go Wrong

Even the best can fall victim to scams. If this should happen, here’s what to do:

*As a buyer: Dispute the charge through PayPal by providing screenshots of communication, proof of payment, and details about the seller.

*As a seller: Provide PayPal with the tracking details, pictures, and proof of communication.

 

If the arrangement happened on reborns.com, you can message the site owner, Dave, for assistance. Also, post warnings in reborn scammer groups on Facebook so it doesn’t happen to others.

 

The most important thing? Stay calm and document everything.

 

Extra Tips & Resources

*Buy off reborns.com if you are new as this is the safest site.

*As you become more familiar with the reborn community, you’ll start to recognize artists and know trusted collectors.

*Always ask questions. If you’re ever unsure, speak up! Artists love talking about their work and they’ll never shame you for having questions.


Remember: Reborns start with real sculptors and artists. This artwork takes so much time and skills to accomplish a lifelike doll. Buying authentic reborns protects both your money and the artists in the community.

 

Conclusion

Buying and selling reborns should be fun and exciting! Take caution and be careful and protect yourself, your money, and the artists in the community who make this hobby so special.

 

Reborns aren’t just dolls, they’re art. By taking precautions, asking questions, and staying alert to red flags, you can make sure every transaction is safe, trustworthy, and a good experience.


Autumn by Bountiful Baby
Autumn by Bountiful Baby

 
 
 

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