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

My first two are new and made just for me~ but with my third I found her for sale in the market place for cheaper than direct from the company (not the fullset, no box, yada yada, none of which bothers me) and since I'm trying to *stop* spending and save and she is going to ultimately be modded I figured why not? I want a DOC Too in the future and will probably go the 'previously loved' route for him just because I don't want a Bee-A right now. For me it doesn't matter...I think most of the rest of my dolls will end up being bought in the Market place now though...

 

after recently purchasing a few dolls in group orders, unless i have to i want everything second hand >_< the impateint one can't wait. i hate waiting.

 

Snug I bought directly from Fairyland, but i was an ignorant Noob Lol I prefer buying second hand, because I'd rather give an unwanted doll who I was gonna buy anyways some love then just buying another one. I think my next boy, though is going to be ordered new because there doesn't seem to be a surplus of him in the community

 

I used to think that I would never buy someone else's used doll. I didn't even like the thought of it, it made me think of buying someone else's shoes from a thrift store. I always regarded dolls as being really personal and intimate and I really didn't want to bring home one that belonged to someone else at one time. But before long the floodgates were somehow opened and since the beginning of summer I've bought 4 dolls from the marketplace and traded one over Flickr and now I wonder how I ever did without it! Now I actually prefer adopting someone's preloved doll. I don't know how that happened.

 

Personally, both. But lately I've been adopting pre-loved dolls and making sure they come to a good home.

 

I am for both...There is a lot of excitement getting a 100% new doll from the company, but actually most of my favorite boys I have taken in have been 'previously loved' and I see nothing wrong with adopting from someone else. ^^ They were in perfect condition, because their previous owners took such wonderful care of them.

 

I like to get my babies new, but I made an exception for my Unoa Lusis. She was just too cute not to get.

 

I have both sorts.

1. Gwenllian (Soulkid Snyder) and Alaw Bwrw Glaw (Bbb Cookie) were from eBay. When I got those girls, I didn't have access to the Marketplace, so I used to coast eBay looking for dolls. It never occurred to me to look for doll companies because I was new to DoA and BJD and I never thought it could be just as 'affordable' to buy new.

2. Zeelzaroth came home from the Marketplace. He was actually my second Marketplace transaction, but the third doll to come home He made the Marketplace so much fun though, I bought him one day...two days later there he was on my doorstep!

3. Thia was my third doll technically because I started her layaway with Mlindaph here on the Marketplace before I found Zee. Thia is more second-hand than pre-loved, because I know she was bought originally for her Soul-Double body, which wasn't a match to the head Lin wanted the body for. I think of Thia as just a step away from getting a brand-new doll from a company because her original flatmate didn't play with her or change her eyes or face-up.

4. Puki Cupid is the first doll I have ever directly bought from a company and I have had such a great time with FairyLand that even though I have my Souldoll preference, I know I will have a lot more dealings with FairyLand in the future. They have excellent customer services and communication and I found that even though my Puki was caught in the middle of the Puki Circus frenzy, they managed to get him/her completed and sent out to me before the 30 business day waiting period. I still have to pick up my Puki, but unless he/she is smashed to pieces or lacking in limbs, I doubt I will have any complaints

I love both new and pre-loved dolls and I don't think that where they come from has influenced how I feel about them. My Puki and my Hye aren't any more special because they are brand new, because all of my dolls are brand new to me

 

I get all of mine new, not because there's anything wrong with preowned I just trust the fact that if they are being made new there's no secret problems with them. (I hope) They cost more but second hand dolls are still expensive in my book.

 

It doesn't really matter to me. If the doll is in good condition and less expensive than brand new, I will go for the previously owned. If not, brand new if fine with me. My collection has exactly half new and half pre-owned. You really can't tell the difference between the two. My pre-owned dolls were never made into a character that I saw so it wasn't like I was bringing home someone else's doll. Now if it were a doll that I had seen in storylines, I might have a problem or I might not.

 

I have both and I prefer to buy pre-loved. For some reason I have had more bonding problems with the new ones. I'm also impatient and once they're paid off they arrive in about a week, instead of the 4 weeks+ for new ones.

It also makes me feel that I'm recycling and not consuming quite so much.

 

It doesnt matter to me, i prefer previes if they are in good condition

 

Many people who are re-homing a doll are very reasonable. The doll isn't brand new, and it may have a little wear and tear. I recently bought a second hand doll from a DoA member in this way, and the price was very reasonable (and the doll much better than anticipated - thank-you, Ashburyblu - she also packaged it like she was going for an international packaging oscar). But, quite often, I see dolls for sale which are second hand yet marked up (sometimes a lot) from what I would pay the company that made them. Why would anyone pay more for a doll that was not brand new than one could pay the company? Of course, when the doll is a limited edition, I understand, but I see plenty of dolls (especially tinies) with higher price tags than I know the seller paid. Am I missing something?

 

I spend a lot of time browsing our Market Place and also have noticed that some people try to sell for a not so reasonable price. For example used SD10, SD13 Volks bodies for prices that made me go like "I can add 150$-200$ and buy a whole new doll from Volks". Some people charge more because of their doll/head's custom face-up that they had to pay for-- some buyers may like it some not... Generally I don't really care, though^^; If I don't like the price, I don't buy. Usually the seller will have to drop the price as most people are aware it's not such a great deal.

 

Depending on the company many folks can wait months for a doll. So some collectors will pay higher prices for that instant gratification. Or if the doll has a face up done by there favorite artist, people will also pay more...then say a face up done by luts so to speak. There are many different factors. Some sellers also add the shipping costs to there dolls, and buyer's are willing to compensate depending on how bad they want them.

 

My friend once told me, "Some people are willing to pay a little more for an item that is on hand so they don't have the long wait times." (I was told this a while ago so I can't remember exactly) I think it's also because sellers want to get back what they spent in the first place. They could also be adding in paypal fees and shipping.

 

I also have wondered about several dolls I've seen over the past months, not limiteds, that cost more than from the company would be. I'm as impatient as anyone, and would be willing to pay a bit more to have the doll faster (if I had the cash on hand to spend), but some of these are over $100 higher than the company, without extras or special faceups.

I just don't buy if the price is too high, IMO. I figure I'll either buy it from the company and wait, or see if the price comes down.

 

It's true, I am one of those people that would rather pay a little more than wait two months. I am also willing to pay a little more if the seller is from my country/Europe, so the shipping price isn't so high and I don't have to worry about customs... Still-- it's "a little", and only if the doll/body is still cheaper than a brand new one or is *really* new, not like "I've had in for 6 months, but rarely played with" new^^;

 

i think that it is appealing to be able to pay for and receive the doll immediately. sometimes they may be offered with custom face up, eyes, and wig, they may have been re-strung or sueded as well so i can understand the higher price.

it does bother me when the "free" event/gift items are being offered as if the people had paid for them. i do realize that they had to spend a certain amount to get the gift, but seriously? $150-$300 for a free head, that bugs me.

as to LE dolls? i believe that makes them more valuable and can fetch a higher price, but to double the price? is a bit much. i have seen the Soom MD dolls be offered at $3000, when they cost maybe $1100 originally, a bit much IMO.

i have paid a higher price for a doll that can only be ordered during certain ordering periods, simply because it is available right now.

this being said, no one has to buy an overpriced doll, and in fact, if we put our feet down, and stop paying inflated doll prices, the prices will have to come down, but there will always be "someone" who will want a doll badly enough to pay a high price.

 

Well for one it depends on the doll. Limiteds aside, sometimes the company is known for the wait, or it could be a pain to get, you have a limited once a year pre-order, put together, etc. Good Example Angel Region Angelica, I'd rather buy her second hand. A lot of times people don't think about the shipping price from that country, or the etras the seller is throwing in. Also, some sellers start high and then lower in increments. However, just because someone is asking a high price doesn't mean that people will pay it. If the buyer is informed, then they probably won't pay that much for it.