1. It has come to the attention of forum staff that Dollshe Craft has ceased communications with dealers and customers, has failed to provide promised refunds for the excessive waits, and now has wait times surpassing 5 years in some cases. Forum staff are also concerned as there are claims being put forth that Dollshe plans to close down their doll making company. Due to the instability of the company, the lack of communication, the lack of promised refunds, and the wait times now surpassing 5 years, we strongly urge members to research the current state of this company very carefully and thoroughly before deciding to place an order. For more information please see the Dollshe waiting room. Do not assume this cannot happen to you or that your order will be different.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Dollshe Craft and all dolls created by Dollshe, including any dolls created under his new or future companies, including Club Coco BJD are now banned from Den of Angels. Dollshe and the sculptor may not advertise his products on this forum. Sales may not be discussed, no news threads may be posted regarding new releases. This ban does not impact any dolls by Dollshe ordered by November 8, 2023. Any dolls ordered after November 8, 2023, regardless of the date the sculpt was released, are banned from this forum as are any dolls released under his new or future companies including but not limited to Club Coco BJD. This ban does not apply to other company dolls cast by Dollshe as part of a casting agreement between him and the actual sculpt or company and those dolls may still be discussed on the forum. Please come to Ask the Moderators if you have any questions.
    Dismiss Notice

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

May 15, 2005

?
  1. Pre-owned

  2. Brand-new

  3. Don't care

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
    1. I don't really care usually, as long as the doll is in good condition. I like buying new because I know what kind of condition to expect, don't have to worry about dishonest sellers or if it will be shipped safely. But I like secondhand because the wait is so much shorter and sometimes you can get it cheaper or with extras. And sometimes you can make a friend through buying dolls. :)
       
    2. As long as I can get exactly what I want, I don't care if the doll is new or preowned. Especially when the original artist has stopped all production, my only chance is the secondhand market!
       
    3. I don't mind either, but I sometimes by pre-owned dolls because they can be shipped to me right away instead of waiting months for them to be made. Or the pre-owned doll is no longer available from the original company. Or the pre-owned doll is at a lower cost (plus cheaper shipping/no/less customs fees). I like the condition of a new doll, but there are many good reasons to buy one second hand ^_^
       
    4. I would buy a pre-owned doll if I really trusted the seller,and if the doll was a bargain.
       
    5. All my dolls have come to me pre-owned, and I really don't mind. One really tugged at my heart as she was a modd someone had started and didn't finish. Poor little one just needed some love. But I do hope to one day have a brand new doll direct from the manufacturer join my resin family.
       
    6. Most of my dolls are pre-owned. I don't have characters in mind when I choose a doll; I let the doll tell me who they want to be. Since they're new to me, I'm not influenced by their previous history. And I like the idea of taking in 'foster children/dolls' and giving them a loving new home.
       
    7. I don't really care would be my first answer :) However I hate waiting! xD So I prefer second hand. But the sculpts that I like are not that popular.
       
    8. It doesn't bother me to buy second-hand if it's in good condition but I hate the factory wait on the other hand..

      For a little while I hated the idea of second-hand but now it'll be the only way for me to get my grail doll if/when I pursue him. >.<
       
    9. I have about half & half. Sometimes I buy off the marketplace because it's the only way to get a doll that's sold out/limited from ages ago/out of production. Sometimes it's because its a great deal (getting clothes/wigs/etc w/it cheaper than from the company). Sometimes it's to get the doll really quick! Or a combination of all the above LOL
      But I like buying from companies as well since it's your registered doll, you get it brand-new & know it's legit w/no question, plus you get to choose options.
       
    10. I'd prefer to buy my dolls second hand, that way I know what to expect. With a new doll sometimes they have imperfections that you won't know about and you have to wait months and months.
       
    11. Depends on the doll. I like getting dolls new, mostly because I like being able to directly support the companies if I have the option, but I've bought a good share of dolls secondhand, too. From here on out the odds are very heavily in favor of me only purchasing secondhand, since everything I want has been long since discontinued (although if by some bloody miracle Dollshe resurrects its old girl molds now that it's producing a new girl body I will be all over that like white on rice -- hey, they did it with their boys, I can dream, right?).
       
    12. It really just depends. Sometimes I feel face-ups that are exactly what I want for the character I'm trying to make a doll of on a pre-owned doll. If I can find the doll I want and get it faster and/or cheaper than I would new and it's still in great condition, I'm also more than happy to buy a doll second hand. It never affects my doll's character or anything.

      I buy new when I can't get what I want otherwise. That's often the case, having purchased a lot of dolls within the first few weeks of their release...
       
    13. For now, I prefer brand new. It's mostly because I'd rather be the first owner. But I don't think I'd mind buying second hand in the future :).
       
    14. I don't mind much. It's nice to buy new things because they are new xD
      But I would buy a pre-owned doll if it was complete with face-up and being sold for a good price, and as long as said doll looked like it was well-cared for in the proof pictures.
      However, something that does worry me when I think about it is that I have heard so many horror stories about people buying second-hand dolls and receiving something different of what they thought they were buying. Recently I read a blog post about the purchase of a second-hand bjd in my country and the body was in a pitiful state, even though nothing seemed wrong in the selling pictures... Very disturbing.
      And, also, there is the matter of recasts.

      But, if the doll belongs to a reliable seller, and I really wanted it, then I would certainly buy it :)
       
    15. All of my dolls are pre-owned except for one head that I got new.

      I love pre-owned dolls. There's something about the history that makes them a little more special to me.

      I also love new dolls because, well, they are new. No one else (besides those who made him/her) has laid eyes on it.

      I voted that I don't care what the doll is, as many have already said. So long as it's in a proper condition and how I want it, then I'll get it. :)
       
    16. I have a mixture of new and pre-owned. I always check the marketplace first before going to the main website. I like having shorter wait times and not having to pay EMS.
       
    17. All of my dolls are new except two, an off topic doll and a LTF that I know was well loved. The owner had taken LOTS of pictures of her with her crew that was on her flicker. I have no doubt that she was loved (the owner said is was a bit hard to let her go too but she had other projects she had to do.). I DO prefer new dolls over well loved ones but for the most part I look at the price, what the doll comes with, how they are packaged, how much shipping will be, what country they are from, the condition the doll is in, and if it has the right faceup/body blushing (If I wanted it). At the moment I've been buying dolls sculpts that are brand new so there would be no owners of them quite then...and I usually want to take them home rather than wait for owners pics. It does make me wonder the history of that doll if you get it secondhand sense my LTF is about five to six years old. Rather interesting things to think about.
       
    18. All three of my dolls were pre-owned. I have no intentions of ever buying a new doll. I love the idea of giving a home to something that needs it, there's hardly any waiting, the prices are better for my wallet, and the dolls almost always have extra bits with them like clothing or eyes. No new dollies in my house! One day, I'll be that awesome BJDist with all of these beautiful dolls that were all pre-owned and fixed up and loved by me.
       
    19. I have no problems with owning second-hand dolls. I also don't mind brand-new ones. For me it all depends on where I'm getting the better deal when price and condition are both factored in.
       
    20. That's exactly how I feel, only worded much better :)