This guide is primarily 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.

When you search "Blythe doll" online, the first images you see will likely be of fake dolls. I don't have anything against fake dolls or people who own them! In the newbie guide, I go over the pros and cons of real vs fake, and I recognize their merit. However, I feel like the way fake dolls have overtaken the Blythe name is unfortunate and leads to a lot of misinformation and misconceptions. I'm not an expert, but I can give you some tips to help you know what to look for.

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 shouldn't expect to bring home a doll new in box with all of her items. But it can usually get you a stock doll with some of her clothes and her stand. 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. Upwards of 200, and depending on the rarity of the doll, you may be able to get one new in the box. 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. Unfortunately some dolls will be expensive no matter where you look. I have noticed that Blythe Adores Anna Sui, Manuheali'i Paradise Girl, and any Kenner dolls fetch very high prices.

Do not buy from This Is Blythe. Many people have been ripped off, defrauded, and threatened and harassed for speaking up about their experiences. The domain thisisblythe.com was initially owned by Gina Garan, but when her ownership lapsed, it was swiped by a very 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.

Of course, the best place to buy a Blythe doll is from the company that makes her. Junie Moon is affiliated with Cross World Connections, the company that is in charge of Blythe's creative production. Their shop typically carries the newest dolls and an 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.

Other reliable resellers 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.

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 harder to come by in other countries. I use the proxy buying service Buyee, which allows me to browse Japanese Mercari, a third-party selling platform for secondhand items. Because I am Japanese myself, I think I have an easier time navigating the site, so I will share my tips and tricks here with you.

In order to search for Blythe dolls on 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 if they are modeled on a doll, because the seller will specify in their caption that the listing does NOT come with the doll. If you click on a listing, there will be another link to the actual Mercari page. This will allow you to see the caption. You can translate it to see if there are any flaws or issues with the doll. 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.

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. 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 some doll 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
中古 -- secondhand, used item
本体のみ -- only the doll
ジャンク -- literally "junk", meaning the parts may be broken or missing key components.
カスタム（済み）-- custom, customized