Accidentally Buying a Copy: What Should They Do?

In all honesty, I think I'd feel sort of betrayed by the doll. I'd feel super embarrased about making the mistake, stash away the doll somewhere wishing it would disappear, and never mention it again. I'd probably get it out sometimes and look at it, and I don't think I'd be able to throw her away entirely. I wouldn't be surprised if I was put off the entire hobby, especially if I was attacked online for the mistake.

But then, I'm very cautious in nature, and I don't like ebay especially, so I would never buy a doll from there in the first place-I would never buy anything of value from ebay. I am also very unlikely to buy a doll even from the marketplace here, despite it being far safer than ebay, I'd much rather just buy direct from the companies and save myself from unneccesary worrying.

But it is incredibly unfair to judge someone for making a mistake, and attack for it. I would feel just so incredibly sorry for her, especially if like in the scenario she doesn't have a lot of money. I would think the best way to deal with someone who has posted a fake doll was to send her a PM and tell her in a kind way. If it was a genuine mistake you'll know pretty quickly that way, before causing further distress. She is a victim in this situation too. Sadly I know not everyone would do this.

 

I believe that she should be able to continue posting photos of her doll as long as she always posts that it is indeed a copy. It was a mistake, but if the doll is beloved, it should be shared with the world.

 

That's actually against DoA's rules, though. You can't post pics of copies here -- he/she could on their own website, but that's about it. This is done in order to discourage people buying copies intentionally -- after all, if they can do all the same things with them that you could with a legit doll, then there would be less incentive to avoid bootlegs.

 

I have a friend who had something similar happen to her I think. none of us have the heart to tell her,but it's very clear that her doll is made of PVC. (because he's very shiney and I compared him to the skin on my RS song, just to make sure, they feel completely different D: ) I think deep down she knows, because she's since gotten a Soom doll, one of the tiny fairies. Rose I think her name is? I really don't think she should love him any less, I know I wouldn't. he's still a beautiful doll and really I don't think you could tell the difference in photos. in all honesty if people were angry with her about it, I'd probably defend her and say 'so what, she didn't know.'

honestly though, the situation can be avoided if you do your research before getting your doll. I learned from her mistake and made damn sure I knew what I was getting before I ordered him.

 

Revisiting Recasts, Bootlegs and DoA

 

I'd say keep the doll. Like everyone's been saying, it's not her fault. It was an accident. I've had this problem with anime before. And it kind of makes you feel all ugh about it as soon as you realize it. But if you grew attached to a doll before realizing what it was I don't think you'd have the same feeling.

Can't always write ebay off though. I got my first doll on ebay and she's awesome. I got her b/c I liked the ebay sellers face-up better than AoD's and plus it was free with the doll. But I emailed AoD first to make sure that the seller was indeed a official distributor. So like other people have said, research is very important.

 

I'd say, make your researches first, but, as a noobie, you can't always know the good sources to get your information. I'd say, keep your doll, but don't post photos of him/her or about him/her on DoA. You could post about this doll on other sites, but as the rules of DoA are what they are, don't go against them.

 

Anyone who accidently purchases a fake doll should have no reason to be ashamed, nor should other hobbyist make them feel this way. It was a mistake; people make them. It's how we learn. Sure, more research should have been done, and that would have likely prevented it...but we're all human and we make mistakes.

If they love the doll, they are under no obligation to get rid of it, and no one has the right to tell them to do so. I know I personally would be very torn between destroying one and still keeping it, if I'd ever made this mistake.

They should however let it be known to other forums and communities they are a part of that they were sold a bootleg doll so as to prevent others from being duped. They can post pictures on a blog of their doll, find difference in it and the legit counterpart, so as to educate others. I certainly would not say that someone who has made an honest mistake should drop off the face of DoA; if they want to remain a part of the forums, they most certainly can and should.

They should also respect any forum rules that bar bootlegs from being displayed. Post to a personal blog, or just enjoy the doll all on their own. It's their's, therefore their decision. Just as long as they obey the rules and they don't try to sell it off as the real thing.

 

If I truly didn't know then I would absolutely keep the doll! Who could judge someone for that? If you're new to something and have been tricked that is NOT your fault. And I would in no way think that they owed it to anyone to get rid of their doll!!!!

 

i wouldnt post on doa but, if it make you happy keep her.

 

The way I see it it wasn't the owner's fault that the doll was a recast, especially if she had no idea. You can do research all day every day but honestly, DoA has been the only place I've seen online that contains as much information on how to avoid buying a recast and in this hypothetical case, the owner didn't even join until she had already bought the doll. With that being the case I'd say she should keep the doll, even if she can't post it here.

 

I think the best thing to do would be to report the seller of the doll for making fakes and keep the doll. Even if it wasn't expensive she still bought it with money she's been saving up for a long time and it was a great experience for her to buy a doll she really loved. Just because people are furious with you, you don't go like "oh ok I'll just throw the doll I love away even if she still costed me $200." Your happiness comes first. It was a mistake and there isn't much you can do about it. I wouldn't hate on someone for accidentally buying a fake even if I don't support people buying fake dolls.

 

Lets tread carefully, Our children might hear. The one you love will never be the same as a replacement,
If you do love Him/Her 2 are never the same!

And seriously....Would you throwaway the time and money away, you Wanted it you paid hard earned money for it.
It's like if you lost your engagement ring and you get the insurance to replace it, it will never be the ring you were proposed to with.

I love all my dolls and would not like to have to sell any of them. If Anyone has a problem with any of my dolls, it's their problem. Let them deal with their drama.

 

She should definitely keep her doll, it wouldn't be right not to.
Let's say you had a daughter. You love your daughter, and you guys are best friends. Then on her 18th birthday you find out that your daughter wasn't really your daughter; the hospital swapped your child and someone else's by accident. Do you disown your child? Of course not!
Anyway, (as much as I love DoA ) posting on DoA isn't the only reason to get a doll, so why should it matter?

 

After I would probably go hulk for a very long time, I would think of something to do with that doll. Maybe I'll finally get over myself and start modding. I don't care what it was worth, it'd still be something for practise.

 

I don't think it is right to be furious with a person who lands in this situation through lack of experience. She would be one of the victims here. I can understand not allowing the pictures on DOA. That might encourage people who might try to deliberately purchase such a doll. If she loves the doll, I think she should keep it and enjoy it with a clear conscious. The next she purchases a doll she will know better.

 

I heard that some copied dolls are made of resin that can be harmful to a person. I'd check to see what it was made of before making a decision. If it was made of a hazardous resin, I'd do all I could to persecute the seller and get it returned and get my money back or something. But if I loved it, it wasn't harmful to me, I'd keep it and love it. I think it's unkind to persecute the newbie if it wasn't intentional to buy a copied doll, persecute the company, not the buyer especially when they had no clue. Of course, since I never buy dolls from ebay or anything, I'd be safe from this scenario. I only buy from companies and preferably from well-known companies.

 

This was mostly true for recast made a few years ago. They sometimes really had iffy resin. I haven't really seen one in person, but from what I've heard, the newer recasts are actually of a reasonably good quality (resin wise).

 

As I understand the DoA-rules, this person would be banned for posting those photos at all, regardless of if she knew it was a copy or not? So that would close the discussion on whether or not she should/would stay on the forum... But if the rules are more lenient than the impression I've got or, let's say, she maybe didn't post any photos here yet but found out some other way, that's a different matter.
Either way, if it were me, I'd make sure to put out a warning to anyone I could about the company/person I bought it from, go to the police with the information I have, with the hope that they could do something about these jerks, but like most others, it seems, (if the police didn't take it for evidence) I would keep the doll. What else? I couldn't possibly sell it, I believe that would be illegal, and even if it wasn't it wouldn't feel morally right to put it on someone else, not even if I warned them from the start that it's a recast. And I probably couldn't just throw it away, either, unless I found that it was dangerous to my health or some such. Unfortunately I don't think I'd be able to love it quite the same way again, though. Seems a bit sad, but I really think it would make me feel guilty anytime I looked at it. Maybe I'd get over it, but I hope never to have to find out...
About staying on the forum, assuming non-banning, I don't think I would if the reaction from people around me were that severe. I'd take it personally, and it'd scare me off... but that's just me, I'm quite sensitive to such things, there are stronger people than me around. This hypothetical girl should stay, that's my opinion, and not care what people said - respect the rules, oviously, and not buy any more recasts, but that kind of mistake shouldn't hav to scare anyone off.

 

If a member buys a recast doll unknowingly and later finds out that the doll is a recast, the expectation is that member will remove all pictures of the doll from the forum, their profile doll list and signature graphics and keep the doll off DoA from that point onwards. If a member is concerned about whether their doll is legitimate or not, they can always ask a moderator by PM or post in the Ask the Moderators subforum for advice. Between us we own a wide variety of dolls and can help the uncertain or unwary determine whether there is a reason to worry or relax

The moderators of Den of Angels don't concern ourselves about what DoA members get up to off forum. Of course the moderation team are all uniformly against recasting and art theft entirely, but we understand that not everyone thinks as we do and we can't control what other people collect and nor would we try! What we do expect from members is that each of you will respect the rules of the forum and the express wish of the moderators and forum owner that recasts be kept off Den of Angels completely.

Members who knowingly own recasts and still post those recasts to the forum in discussions and Galleries or try selling those recasts in our Marketplace against the known wishes of the forum staff will receive a ban. Fair warning has been given several times now, so there should be no one on this forum unaware of the moderators' stance against recasting.