This guide is for buying genuine Blythe dolls. I am based in the US, so my advice will likely be most useful if you are also in the US. Please check out my pages on Blythe's history and my newcomers guide if you haven't already, as they provide important context for this guide.

When you search "Blythe doll" online, the first images you see will likely be of fake dolls. I feel like the way fake dolls have overtaken the Blythe name is unfortunate and leads to a lot of misinformation and misconceptions. It makes it very easy for those new to the hobby to be taken advantage of, and it is unfair to the team that produces Blythe for the hobby to become so disconnected from their hard work. I'm not an expert, but I can give you some tips to help you know what to look for when buying a real Blythe doll.

If you are going to buy a Blythe doll, you should probably have a budget of at least around $150 USD. At this price point, you can buy a brand new doll from the official Blythe seller, Junie Moon. Junie Moon is owned by Cross World Connections, the company that is in charge of Blythe's creative production. Their shop typically carries the newest dolls and a rotating assortment of doll clothes and other Blythe goods. Due to licensing restrictions, Junie Moon is only able to operate in East Asia, but they ship internationally. New dolls typically have two preorder phases before they are sold regularly (if they don't sell out from preorders, that is). To keep up to date on new dolls, you can follow one of the Junie Moon shops on Instagram, where they announce new releases and goods.

In the secondhand market, things may work a bit differently depending on what doll you're looking at. Some releases go for more due to rarity or age. But that budget of 150 USD can typically get you at least a stock doll with some of her clothes and her stand for the same price. For around 70 to 90 USD, I've seen some listings for dolls that have been slightly customized (hair and eyechip changes, faces sprayed matte) that typically come either naked or in an unofficial outfit. When I brought home Nicky Lad, I paid around 300 USD for a doll slightly used but in her box with all of her accessories. I would say this is above median secondhand price for a doll in that condition. Unfortunately some dolls will be expensive no matter where you look. I have noticed that Blythe Adores Anna Sui, Manuheali'i Paradise Girl, and most anniversary dolls go for quite a bit more than other releases.

Do NOT buy from This Is Blythe. They only sell fake dolls, most of them being the exact same dolls that can be bought for 30 USD on Aliexpress. Many people have been ripped off, defrauded, and threatened and harassed for speaking up about their experiences. They also pay for search engine optimization, meaning they are directly trying to hijack the public image of Blythe and convince people they are a genuine retailer. The domain thisisblythe.com was initially owned by Gina Garan, but when her ownership lapsed, it was swiped by this shady company. For more information, you can check out this website. This website also has really good information about buying from Facebook groups and other tips to stay safe. Edelweiss Day is also an untrustworthy seller that only sells fakes. Their images are stolen from independent customizers and their team tries to recreate the doll, but the dolls in the images are not what is being sold.

Reliable sellers include Hong Kong-based CC-toys, Singapore-based Magma Heritage, Mandarake in Japan, and Dolls.MOE in Spain. I would definitely compare listings across these sites and third-party platforms. When you buy from one of these sites, you can be assured that your item is either new or authenticated secondhand.

While I love eBay, the prices for Blythe dolls and doll clothing seem to be much higher over here than in Japan. This is likely because Blythe made her redebut there, so it makes sense that her original collector base is concentrated there. The dolls are naturally harder to come by in other countries. Collectors looking to downsize are usually Japanese women who don't want the hassle of shipping internationally, meaning they will list on marketplace sites frequented by Japanese people. I use the proxy buying service Buyee, which allows me to browse Japanese Mercari, a third-party selling platform for secondhand items. Mercari exists in the US but until recently was separated by country; it seems it is now possible to order from Japan directly through their app without using a proxy. Because I am Japanese myself, I think I have an easier time navigating listings because I don't have to rely on machine translation, so I will share my tips and tricks here with you.

In order to search for Blythe dolls on Buyee/ Mercari, I recommend the search terms: ブライス　本体
This translates to Blythe main body. Sometimes clothes and accessories may show up in the search results, but the price is usually a good indicator for whether a listing is for doll clothes or the doll itself. Doll clothes tend to be 40 USD and under, while the dolls tend to start at 70 USD. You can translate listing descriptions to see what is being sold and if there are any flaws or issues with the doll.

If you have read the newbie guide, you'll remember that genuine Blythe bodies are not articulated. Look for images where the hands are relaxed and slightly cupped, the arms don't bend, and the legs are smooth. In the caption, look for the name of the official release. You can also search by the Japanese release name if you are looking for a specific doll. Most listings for Blythe dolls have very honest descriptions in my experience. They will usually tell you around what year they purchased the doll (especially if they don't remember the release name), whether the doll was customized, any problems the doll may have (for instance a tricky eye mechanism), and what is included in the listing. It is also good to find listings that show photos from multiple angles.

I recommend going with one of Buyee's insurance plans (300-500 yen per item) for a bigger purchase. When you buy your item, it will be shipped from the seller to the Buyee warehouse. Once it reaches the warehouse they will notify you; from there you can bundle multiple items for shipping, or just have the one item shipped to you. I have the most experience with the 2-7 day option and highly recommend it. It can be pricey if you are buying heavy things of course, but I typically receive my items in 2 or 3 days from when the tracking number is created. They typically send my items with Fedex.

If you decide to buy a doll or some clothes, you can use these terms to narrow your search:

作家様 -- it means writer in most situations, but just means person who makes. This is used to refer to someone who handmakes doll clothes and accessories, or someone who customizes dolls.
ハンドメイド -- handmade
デフォルト -- default. This is how stock clothing items are referred to in Japan.
訳あり -- there is a reason for the pricing; look at caption
汚れ -- stains or dirt
変色 -- discoloration
黄変 -- yellowing
中古 -- secondhand, used item
本体のみ -- only the doll
色移り -- staining
ジャンク -- literally "junk", meaning the parts may be broken or missing key components.
カスタム（済み）-- custom, customized