I came across this one on ebay...she is nice, but not exceptional. I just wondered why she is so much more expensive than other Himmies?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ANNETTE-HIMSTEDT-ILA...86.c0.m14.l1318

Is it just that there were less available originally? Or maybe they rarely come up for resale?

Jen x

it says in the listing ery hard to find, so i think they dont come up for sale that often

Hi Jen,

I had her too! once, she's one of the few that appreciate in Value! always somehow.

She was average priced when new, hard to get hold of though, I waited a year to buy her - had her 18months. She was one of my favourites and when I needed funds she was the obvious one to go.

She is a stunning doll and if you manage to win the Lottery and buy her you will find her a "keeper".

Abientot!
Minnie in France.
XXXXXXXx

I've seen this one for sale quite a few times on eBay, and once on dollfan. And she's always sold for that kind of price... there are a few other Himmies like her, where the value seam to increase more and more with the time.
I know that Jasmin Loves Pooh was selling hers a few months ago.

Yes, There is definately something special about her. I was lucky to purchase her recently, bought paid a high price. She is the favorite of all of my 12 himstedt dolls. I will never sell her. The sculpt is amazing. Kris

This sculpt was exceptional back in 2005 but there have been better sculpts since, I feel. A lot of this doll's appeal, in my opinion, is that there is so much "isn't she wonderful?" sentiment attached to her among many who collect Himmies. In other words, "status symbol". Don't misunderstand this. There are those who love this doll for the doll itself. But there are those who love the status. But this is true with anything whether it is a Louis Vuitton bag or a pair of Jimmy Chu shoes. There are those that buy the item because they love that item and then there are those that buy the "name".

Ilai has a sweet disposition, but a lot of dolls released since 2005 have this as well. For me, Toki, Lillemore, Kindra, Tetti, Margie, Milla etc. all have that endearing disposition and in recent years the sculpt has improved technically since the smile now reaches the eyes. What has always bothered me about Ilai is that the mouth is smiling but the eyes aren't. It's also what bothered me about another very popular doll in 2004 called "Linn". But people see different things. Ultimately, different dolls appeal to different people.

Personally, I like Ilai, but I don't love her enough to buy her at any price - high or low. There are other smilers I enjoy more.

So...just liking the doll & hanging on to it/not selling has raised the price so much higher than other Himmies?


I dont really get it I could understand if it was a tiny limited edition, but if there are plenty out there it doesnt make any sense to me.
If I had the doll & knew it could fetch that much money, I would probably sell it & buy 4 or 5 other Himmies that I liked equaly well with the proceeds of the sale...wouldnt most people? Then if everyone di that the price would level out to the same or similar to the other 2005 Himmies...or would it?

Jen x

Hi Shawnah,
I got to see an Ilai recently IRL and I was not all that impressed. I thought she was kind of cute, but like you said, there are so many better dolls out there now. I don't think she's worth the asking price, but she does seem to get it. I'm not much into smilers but if I were getting a smiler it would be Milla or Tetti.

I would compare Ilai to the silicone Rowdy, Jen. There are some dolls, for whatever reason, that are more popular. I don't think it can really be rationalized, because for better or worse so many emotions can be tied up in with doll collecting.

I'm not alone! YAY!

I think she is cute, but I'm not into smilers either, Lori. I think that's why Ilai never really pulled at my heartstrings. But other smilers have since which is interesting...

ILALI HAS A SPECIAL REAL NESS SHE NOT FOR ME BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT SIZE TEETH...SHE IS A JOYFUL DOLL...i LIKE CLOSED MOUTH SUBDUDED CALMM RELAXING DOLLS....SHE HAPPY AND EXCITED.....5 DOLLS i HOPE TO BUY aRE WAY OVER PRICED TO ME, SUPPLY AND DEMAND...EBAY COMPETION , "THAT HOW MUCH i PAID FOR IT" 2005 GREAT YEAR...MATOKA,NIA,MITH,DERENA,AND AI LIEN ALL UP AT ONE TIME ON EBAY AT $3000....SVEVA AT OVER $3000......I DON'T MIND PAYING DOUBLE RETAIL BUT 2 TIMES MORE THAN MORTAGE......i AVE TO RETHINK.......LISA

I rarely comment BOUT iLAI AS i AM IN A HUGE MINORITY. sAME WITH LINN. i SAY CONGRATS as I am glad the moms love her and her outfit is GREAT! but I had her for less than 24 hours. Got her (after paying for several months) and opened it and was VERY disappointed. she has less color than most 05s and the look wasnt appealing at all FOR ME. I couldnt see the draw. I hate to say it, but she looked alot like a special needs child in my daiughters class...cute but not for a doll. Now I will get the wrath for saying this, I am sorry... MY opinion only.

I dont like Linn at all ,Ai Lien (who I had for 24 hours and gave away!), nor Lilith....thos are prob my least fav of the dolls from 04-now. I like smilers, but dont like dolls who look fake (like Shawnah said...smiling but not looking natural) or snotty.....like "the most popular girl in the class...now dont talk to me!" I dont care for that look at all. For me, the best smilers are sanrike, Margie, tetti, tinke, etc...they look genuine to me...not fake or snotty. again...just me.

the only IT girl I have really loved was MITHI....she was breathtaking IMHO and I wish I had kept her. someday I will get her back. I usually go for the NON it girls like Lihle, margie, La mei, etc.

Ilai is great for some, but I wouldnt pay over retail...she isnt worth that...to me, at least...if you want ahard to find sculpt, go for Mithi or Ntathi in my book!

hugs

Elisabeth

I have Ilai and I think she is one of the best Himstedt sculpts ever. She is so incredibly realistic-- to me and her eyes seem to glow as does her mischievious expression. It is good that we all see dolls differently.

I have Ilai aswell, and she is my all time favourite Himmie, there is just something about her that makes her really special. I have her sat in my bedroom and she makes me smile every time I walk in the room

thats right Brenda...different stroke for different folks....we cant all be the same!

She is also worth whatever some one would pay....and has gone for 5K....so to someone she is worth more than this!

Congrats to all Ilai moms!

Hugs

Elisabeth