Woman bought 1980s Barbie dolls for $14 at thrift store — was dumbstruck when she discovered their actual value
Vintage Barbie dolls have a special place in the hearts of many millennials and other adults. They hold a nostalgic part of one’s childhood, and one would give anything to get those authentic pieces back. A woman who goes by u/wormfro on Reddit revealed that she stumbled upon two of these prized possessions — the 1985 Dream Glow Barbie and the 1984 Peaches ‘N’ Cream Barbie at a thrift store. When she went to purchase them, she saw that they were priced at $7 each. Excited to take them home, the woman later discovered that these nostalgic pieces have an unexpected value, and she might have just hit a childhood lottery.
“Rare, well-priced goodwill find. They look like they haven't even seen sunlight. I’m very happy,” the woman wrote in her caption, alongside the picture of the Barbie dolls dazzling in their pink and peach gowns, respectively. "Immediately, I knew I had to get both of them. I've never collected Barbies so it was very exciting for me to find two vintage Barbies out in the wild, especially considering how amazing their condition is,” the woman said, per Newsweek. She added that the hair of the dolls was untouched and that it was likely that a collector owned the dolls. “It's very clear a child did not play with these dolls," she remarked.
The woman purchased the dolls for $7 each, making it $14 for both. "I'm still shocked about that price, especially considering the way thrift stores like to price higher-value items," she noted. Initially, the woman tapped into several people’s childhoods by sharing her findings. u/cibolaburns wrote, “I had the Glow Barbie. She was my first ever Barbie! I’m happy you’re happy and hope you enjoy it!” u/EssentialOilsfor7 added, “Dream Glow was my favorite Barbie! I remember spending time with her in the powder room because it was the only room with no windows, to see her dress and parasol light up. Top-tier Barbie. I always wanted Peaches 'n Cream Barbie though! You’re living out the 80s kid dream!”
It was soon that the shopper realized she had struck gold. The Barbies that she got at a minimal price were actually selling for hundreds of dollars. "Peaches 'n Cream Barbie is apparently beloved, and she has a wide-ranging price point, from $40 to $400. Dream Glow Barbie ranges from $20 unboxed to $200 NIB [new in box],” the woman learned. On sites like eBay and Etsy, the prices for both dolls vary between $300 and $800. It was unbelievable that the dolls were priced at such a low range, given their high demand and sustained fandom.
i found a 1985 dream glow barbie and 1984 peaches n cream barbie, it was $14 for both of them!!
byu/wormfro inThriftStoreHauls
The woman reshared the post on the r/Barbie forum and wrote, “Did I strike gold at the Goodwill? I'm so pleased with their condition!” The members already knew it was a jackpot. u/lovefool777 said, “Ugh, lucky! Everyone overprices Peaches 'n Cream Barbie.” u/Direct_Many4375 added, “You didn't strike gold, you struck platinum! Their condition is excellent! Fantastic find!” This new possession has kick-started an adventure for the woman. She hopes to be on the lookout for other vintage toys that defined her childhood and become a collector.