A stigma on secondhand dolls?

I've purchased some of my dolls on the secondary market, and all in all, they were pleasant and successful transactions. Secondary is sometimes the only way to obtain a rare or retired doll. Also, it's nice to get a doll without the long pre-order waiting that sometimes occurs when ordering new.

So...I'm fine with ordering second-hand, or new, either works nicely for me. : )

 

Im not sure if I can ever call secondhand doll 'used' that makes them sound like an appliance or clothing.
They are art and I like to call it 're-homed'. But no, when I see a doll I don't even think to myself 'I wonder how many owners it has had' I just admire it for what it is.
These days having a secondhand doll is so common and I think it's a good thing.
It's nice to know that when you have to part with your doll there will probably be someone who value it and want to have it.

My Miyu was secondhand and even though she wasn't especially made for me, she's incredibly special and I feel like I was just supposed to have her.

 

Personally, I love second-hand dolls. I love buying a doll with a beautiful face-up already done, and I like "collecting" dolls that have been done by different face-up artists. So far, all of my dolls have been painted by someone different. I think it's also interesting to see the character they once were. I 5 out of my 6 dolls were bought second-hand. I don't think there is any stigma associated with owning second-hand dolls.

 

What do you think of owners who own predominantly or exclusively secondhand dolls?
♥ I don't mind at all.
♥ Perhaps all of his/her favorite dolls are sold out before he/she can buy it.

Do you think lesser of them or their dolls because they're not the original owners?
♥ Not at all.
♥ I don't think there's title "original owner", hahaha...
♥ First owner, second, third, so on, but I never think of "original owner"... ^^;

Is there a stigma to them, or are they differentiated in any way?
♥ Again, not at all.
♥ They don't look different for me.

Are they portrayed in a negative light?
♥ Again, not at all.

Are there any pros or positive points to owning secondhand dolls, whether having some in your collection, most of them, or almost all of them there?
♥ Even though he/she isn't the first owner, but he/she will still enjoy the excitement of owning the dolls.
♥ Knowing that the doll has moved from 1 to another owner, means finally the doll finds place we all called home. XD

 

I got my girl third hand and I had to change her face-up because her old was a bit damaged and now I have problems with her loose knees joints but you know what? I don't regret getting her here. Even with shipping included she still cost me ~$50 (or more) less than new one would have and I got a nice head (as far as I know 60cm come with no-eyehole heads) as well. I love my girl to bits. I know her previous name and it doesn't bother me. In fact it's a great backstory. A girl who left her old home to make new life in unfamiliar country.

 

What do you think of owners who own predominantly or exclusively secondhand dolls?
I think that it is great because they are giving an unwanted doll a second chance in a different home.

Do you think lesser of them or their dolls because they're not the original owners?
Nope, I wouldn't think that at all. I think it's interesting that their dolls have some sort of history.

Is there a stigma to them, or are they differentiated in any way?
I don't think that there is any sort of stigma attached to second-hand dolls. I have six BJDs and half of them are pre-owned. I don't see them as anything but my beloved tinies...it's not like I look at my puki Darjeeling and think that she's worth more because she was purchased from Fairyland, while my pukifee Luna came from her first owner's house.
Are they portrayed in a negative light?
I don't think they are.

Are there any pros or positive points to owning secondhand dolls, whether having some in your collection, most of them, or almost all of them there?
It is such a great feeling to have found a good deal on a much-wanted doll when browsing the Marketplace! I love that the three pre-owned dolls I adopted came with a whole bunch of extras (wardrobe, shoes, wigs, accessories, etc), and didn't have to sit around naked and bald while I got all their stuff together. It is nice when a doll that I bought really clicks with me, and fits in well with my other dolls. I like the idea of being a permanent home for the dolls--they're probably weary from globetrotting anyway.

 

I don't feel a huge difference in buying second-hand. I'd prefer new dolls straight from the company, but being able to see exactly what you're getting is a huge advantage for me. Some companies have such great-looking promo pics that I get disappointed once I see the doll in person - especially if the face-up is inferior to what's shown on the site. Some second-hand dolls have gorgeous unique face-ups, so there're a bit like limited editions in that regard.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a stigma about it, though. I buy about 90% of my video games used, and I've met many other video game collectors who are a bit disgusted when they find that out. So, some people are just against any used item.

 

I personally feel a lot better buying second hand! I think there is a part of me who views it as giving the doll a second chance. "Your first care giver didn't want you/you just couldn't fit with them...That just means you were meant for me!" To me,things always go to where they're meant to be and do what they're meant to do...Sometimes,they have to go through a few hands until they find that special place. (Yes,yes I know I'm odd. *Is the type of person who feels bad picking one spoon over another.*)

 

I agree with XvPandavX. And secondhand dolls feel more right to me, somehow. I would prefer to buy from an individual than a company. After buying a few dolls from bobobie, I started buying exclusively second hand.

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with second hand dolls. A lot of sculpts, second hand is the only way to buy them, as the sculpt has been discontinued, was limited, the company closed-down etc. Also buying second hand means you don't have to wait for the product to be made, and if you buy from inside your own country, you pay less for shipping, and get your doll even faster! I got two heads and a body second hand (my MNFs) and all of them had never been 'used', they were only taken out of their boxes once. So they were 'as new' and I got them faster, and for slightly cheaper. So it was great for me.

 

I have both brand new and second-hand dolls and for me when I received each of them, they were "new" for me.
I will even say than I prefer spome skin colors a little old because, like leather, they have after sometime a beautiful patina more natural than when brand new.
Someof my second-hand dolls camefromvery talented artists who did unique and beautiful make-up, so they are more special than new dolls with a compagny faceup.
So no, second hand dolls or their owner have no stigma for me !

(And if there was no market for second-hand dolls, I would probably have less dolls : first because I wouldn't have find some of my favorite ones and 2d because dolls are expensive and it's important to be able to sell them if we don't bond or if we need money ).

 

I have two (slightly) second hand dolls. I say slightly because they were heads that I purchased and hybridized with new bodies. I love them. I think I love them a little more knowing I put more work into them. I just consider them 'pre-loved'.

If pre-loved dolls are your preference, who am I to judge? If you can find exactly what you want in the marketplace, well, go for it! I think it's wonderful. And I see pre loved box openings where the previous owner is just thrilled that the new owner is happy. At the end of the day when I see my dolls I don't see secondhand or firsthand, I just see my lovely resin family and I'm happy.

 

Oh there is absolutely nothing in the world like the feeling of finding a long-sought after head or full doll in the Marketplace when it was basically non-available in any other way.

There's also a sub-set of us who thrive on "rescues." I've purchased a couple of dolls who were in rugged shape and cleaned, restrung, re-faceupped and otherwise given TLC to them, and they're wonderful - other more talented souls have done marvels of reconstruction on mods gone wrong, damages, perfectly failed faceups with wrong materials, etc.

*giggle* -- Hobby, as usual you summed it up perfectly. Stigma? "Feh."

 

I don't think it's really important. The resin dolls started as a kit/customization hobby, though it's now gone more mainstream with so many companies making lovely dolls (thank goodness.) So even if a doll is second hand, you can take it, and change it however you want to be your perfect doll. Whether it's new or second hand, that's the same. And actually, in a way, I am braver with second hand dolls. There's often not a "factory" face up to preserve, and I feel more free to go "all out" and experiment.

Rini

 

I don't even know how anyone could differentiate between a secondhand doll and a doll coming directly from the company when one is looking at gallery pictures, or when participating in discussion threads. Really, if the owner doesn't shove it into my face, a second hand doll is a doll, just like a brand new one...

So I can't imagine how having secondhand dolls could be in any way inferior...unless of course the owner herself feels like going around saying "I'm not the first owner, I feel so inferior because of this!"....

I myself own two secondhand dolls. My first (and still favourite) was bought here in the Marketplace. While the majority of my collection came right from the company, it's not because I have any preference in the question. It's more a case of me usually falling in love with sculpts that don't come up for sale secondhand - or the odd case of a limited edition, that I have to order right away unless I want to chance the aftermarket prices...

Sometimes I wish my taste was different, to be able to buy more secondhand dolls...I like the lack of waiting time, and apparently the older I get the more cranky I become when it comes to unexpectedly long wait-times...

 

i honestly like my 2nd hand dolls as much as my "company" dolls. i like the fact that they have some kind of history behind them, it's very interesting.

i also like the fact that you can find really unique versions of certain dolls rather than getting the company clone ^^

(i say this as majority of my collection is company faceups, my customs are one done by me and two second hand)

 

i don't see anything wrong with buying second hand dolls, specially if it's something that has already been discontinued or sold out and you couldn't acquire it at the time when it came out.i would do it too if i was in need, as a matter of fact if by the time iam ready to spare the money for the soom phonolus, they haven't had him on one of those special events i was told about and i am tired to wait for him, hopefully i'll be able to get it from a second hand owner but that'll have to wait yet a bit as iam getting Arvid from ipple house first

 

No I don't believe so, I have bought two dolls second hand and while they need their strings tightening everything else was all good. It saves on the long waiting that you have when you order a new doll.