Buying a pre-owned doll vs. buying a doll from the company

I would prefer my dolls "newborn" as then they would be mine. If I bought a doll from someone else they wouldn't really feel as if they were mine because they've already been personalized by someone else. I suppose that you could always make a doll your own by doing your own thing with it (customizing etc), but since I don't plan on doing much of that at all, I'd rather have them all mine to begin with ^_^

 

I think I prefer newborn, since the first thing I'd do with a doll would be to wipe the face-up off and repaint it myself.
Pre-owned dolls have their own faceups which were made with a lot of love and care.

I think in a way I'm glad I couldn't take Val's Bestman Jun because I'd hate to wipe a Heavybomb faceup. ops:

 

I agree. I don't really mind, as long as it's the doll I want. :3
I do like the fact that the preowned ones already have an interesting story to tell.

 

I prefer both,
At first I only wanted new dolls but after awhile I change my mind and
decided that buying a 2nd hand one wouldn't be so bad. :grin:

 

Hm, I have both.. ^^ Since people tend to keep their dolls in wonderful condition, I don't mind having a previously owned doll.. BUT.. if that doll had a history that was really long and well-documented (as planetariumfish mentioned, Val's Jun was a good example XD;; ), I would feel very strange adopting that doll. *Especially* to make into a specific character. But a previously owned doll that I know nothing about... that'd be fine and dandy.. not to mention, that's sometimes the only way to get limiteds..

 

I really enjoy playing frakendolly. Take a head from this doll, a body from this one, a part from that one. It's such a wonderful way for a doll to come into their own, by taking what is available and making something exceptional out of it. I let Juniper assemble herself, she was just a little feeling in the back of my head that went-- Yes. That one! ...and I was helpless to resist. :P

I having a choice between new and preowned, I would get preowned.

 

Funny, I've recently had a couple of conversations about this. XD

The general answer I came up to is that I don't mind having a previously owned doll at all, as long as I didn't know their personality beforehand, because then I'd feel like they were that doll, and not my own so-and-so, if you know what I mean. My Shirou had 2 owners before me, but neither bonded with him, so he never had a personality before Hale, so that worked for me.

Previously owned dolls do I think have character though - especially those with mods, or a particular face up. They'd be fun to work with, I'm sure...

 

Two of my four are preowned, and so is the one on the way ^^0 I don't *really* mind either way, but I have a tendency towards buying secondhand dolls as I find it really sad that they are being sold...

 

it REALLY depends on the doll. My only "adopted" doll thus far is Penelope, but she didn't have a strong personality from her first owner so I felt like I could make her whatever I wanted. And every time I play with her, I love her more.

 

My little boys came preowned from two DoA members who I admire a lot, so in a way, I feel like they got a "contact cool". But it was also very special buying Hana in person at a Volks store -- like I was bringing her to life. When it comes down to it though, I don't care either way as long as I like the doll.

 

I have three new and two pre-owned dolls. I bought the pre-owned dolls for the same reason I bought the new ones: something about them drew me and I "clicked" with them. It doesn't bother me that somebody else owned them before I did.

 

Well, I must admit my pre-owned dolls have a stronger personality than my brand new ones...
So maybe I prefer getting pre-owned dolls, but their price must be appropriate to their condition.
Anyways, when I get a doll the most important thing to me is that I like him/her ^__^

 

I wouldn't care either way. When I see a certain doll I don't think "is it brand new?" I choose my dolls by the way they "speak" to me when I first see them. Perowned or new has very little to do with it when I fall for a doll. If they've been preowned or not they are "reborn" when they enter my life. ~Jsut my two cents.

 

I was wondering, what do most people prefer, to buy a doll directly from the company, or to buy it second-hand? I apologize if there is another thread concerning this topic; but I searched and couldn't find anything. Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages of different buying options?

I guess there are a lot of circumstances that would affect somebody's decision. For example, if the doll is limited and sold out permanently, the only choice would be to purchase it second-hand. But what about a doll that isn't limited, and is still in production? I mean, even if the price is the same or a little lower, there may be slight yellowing or light scratches that you may not know about when you buy a doll second-hand. But, if you buy a doll from the company, it probably won't be damaged.

So, what's your opinion?

 

I got my Arashi second-hand eight months after his initial release and he was perfect. On the other hand, a friend of mine got a Hewitt one whose previous owner had glued the ankles and the waist (making posing impossible) so it's really a crapshoot, although most people who I know have purchased from the second-hand market have had pretty good luck.

In the end, it does boil down to limited/nonlimited. Limited dolls are more easily attained through a second-hand market, where non-limited dolls would be much better straight from the manufacturer, in my opinion. A lot of times, anyway, the second-hand doll market ups the price.

So in other words they both have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

I have one pre-owned doll and I've bought 3 +2 heads from companies... I must say its a little easier buying direct rather than preowned easier to know you are getting what you pay for and not scammed, cheated etc.

I love my Lucine (pre-owned) but it was a bit troublesome to get her the box was ripped when it arrived and her previous faceup just did not want to come off

 

I prefer to get a new doll. But if someone want to sell her/his doll I would like to see the doll (in photos, but I would prefer to meet) and if I like how is it and the price is nice I would buy.

 

I don't have a preference--I've done both and had good experiences with companies and second hand dolls from individuals. The three that I have second hand I got here off the market place and all three sellers were great to deal with. Buying preowned dolls has the advantage of cheaper shipping and not having the wait times.

 

I often go for pre-owned dolls... Sometimes it's cheaper. Other times, I just feel bad about the doll that's being sold. ^^;

 

If there was a mold i was looking for that was for say limited or its hard to find i would go to the 2nd hand market!! very good prices~! Right now im trying to get a school head A so for the next 3 monthes i'll be doing some stalking there ^_^ ! haha! (still has no money yet). But be careful! also look at feedback!!