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

I have done both here are my thoughts:

Buying from a company has its benefits and its downfalls. You get a little bit of comfort from their reputation. there is also a long wait, and you don't necessarily know what you will be getting (you have a general idea but sometimes it doesn't surface as you might expect)

Buying from an individual, you get to see exactly what you are getting before you get it. There is definitely a benefit to that.

I really had more thoughts when I hit 'post reply' but at the moment they elude me. lol.

 

I would love to buy from people and rehome dolls, but practicality makes it hard, cos I end up paying more than I would from the company due to shipping. For this reason I also tend to buy dolls in groups, to save shipping, hell my last order was 2 complete dolls, 2 heads, and 2 pairs of shoes, so yeah, shipping kills rehoming for me

 

I will happily buy 2nd hand if the doll is limited/sold out or considerably less expensive that way ... but only if I feel my $ is going in a trustworthy direction.

I bought my Sybarite 2nd hand from a lady that I know is very trustworthy; she disclosed flaws, threw in extras and that doll is one of my favorites now. Besides, at the time the only way to buy one was 2nd hand.

My Sooah and Saint I bought directly from dealers, but I wanted factory face-ups and neither of them were limited dolls.

I will probably usually buy from dealers rather than 2nd hand simply because I rarely want limited dolls.

 

All of my dolls right now were purchased off of DoA. I guess it was something of a necessity for me, since I wanted limited dolls and a Kun boy, etc. There is definitely more flexibility to assemble the parts that you need (especially with a company like Volks, who does not sell optional parts) and perhaps break up the cost. I also enjoy knowing that there's a little bit of history behind them, that they've shared experiences with other owners.

That said, buying directly from a company is also pretty special and most companies do a pretty good job. I really love opening the box to a brand new doll...there's a higher level of excitment, for me. I can't say which way is better; both have their negative sides, but you just need to do some research and be prepared.

 

I'm with Akkhima... I tend to prefer buying from previous owners after many back and forth communications, photos, etc. have occurred. And, as stated, keeps the market place going. My interests also change. It's nice to be able to sell a doll I've thoroughly enjoyed but, need to move as a newcomer has really turned my head.
Although I've bought many a doll straight from the company... so, I guess, it works for me both ways.

 

I prefer to buy a pre-owned doll only if the doll is limited and was sold out.

 

I've been very lucky with direct purchases and preowned dolls. The limiteds seem to be less expensive if you happen to be lucky enough to get them direct, but sometimes the only way to find a dream doll is on the secondary market and I may be willing to pay extra to get something special. Buyers just need to be cautioins, and perhaps do a bit of research before falling for a jacked up price; I've often seen things listed on ebay several hundred dollars above the dealer price when the dolls are still available direct from the company.

 

My first doll was from the manufacturer, the three week wait was killer for me. I know, I know, that's nothing compared to some others, but for me, I went nuts. I absolutely adore him, and he is utterly mine.

My second doll was from DoA marketplace, and man, that shipping was AWESOME! Two days and he was in my hands! No time for buyer's remorse. I went straight from explaining to my husband that I've just spent all this money, to OMG he's Here!

So for me, the main difference was the waiting time involved.
No idea where I'll buy my next doll from.

 

I've got a mix of both. I don't really have a preference. I don't love my pre-owned dolls any less than my new ones; I make them my own. As long as it's the doll I want, it doesn't make a difference to me.

 

Three girls were brand new when I bought them, two were adopted, and one was adopted, but she was a brand new doll the seller had just gotten. Depending on the doll and the details of the transaction, I don't object to either method.

* I'm also buying a new and a used head, and the used head might get a new body, and the new head might get a used body.

 

I like brand new from the company. I've bought second hand, but... A second hand doll without any flaws will cost as much or slightly more than a new one, but it will still have accrued dirt and grime from handling, and may have a faceup that I don't want but is being used to justify a higher price. A second hand doll which is cheaper may have flaws. My Ami was second hand and the doll itself was in great condition, but the stringing had been messed with and I haven't been able to make him more posable yet.

A brand new doll is... well, brand new. Totally. No indication of it being touched or played with. No minute dust or scratches that even carefully played-with dolls accumulate. The new doll smell... It's really great. Plus it's from a dependable company and it's usually easier to resolve conflicts than with individual sellers.

I'd only buy second hand if the price was significantly reduced for a product that's still in almost perfect condition, but the market isn't like that.

 

Thanks for your responses, everybody! I asked this because I'm considering buy a pre-owned doll. It's about the same price as a brand new doll, but it has a beautiful face-up. If I ordered the doll directly from the company, I'd probably ask for a similar face-up. There's just...something exciting about opening the box for the first time, knowing that you're the first person to ever see your doll and such. Also, I'm probably the only person that feels like this, but I sort of like waiting. I mean, it's agony, but it adds to the excitement of getting a new doll. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet...if I buy it from the company, although the doll may be in pristine condition, I don't know if the face-up will be exactly what I requested.

 

I prefer buying directly from the company, since with a company you've got a stable reputation to rely on. With an individuals, you don't have that same kind of assurance. Besides, I like getting a brand new doll, fresh slate and unplayed with... like Aggity, I love that new doll smell. XD

In some cases, though, pre-owned works. Like my Frankie, I would never consider getting an SR Charles myself, but I bought her because I loved what the previous owner had done with her. I wanted THAT Charles girl, and if I missed her I would never have gotten the same sculpt. ^^

 

I actually don't care either way. ^^'; Which is why I didn't participate in the poll.

My Yder is from Luts directly, and he was my first doll. My Hewitt, f-10, and Woosoo are all second hand. That's really just how it ended up being. It really depends on which doll calls to me. With my f-10, it had to be THAT f-10. If I ordered one through the FCS, it wouldn't be the same. I think my other boys are all the same. Make sense? ^^

 

I didn't vote because most of mine are previously owned/loved...and I have 4 that are straight from the company... only 1 with a default faceup that I ordered

if I order from a company I usually get a blank head, but couldn't resist the Smoky Day Gena faceup ..all the others I did, and some of the previous owned..I redid their faceup too....

so it would depend on the doll itself and if it said " love me..buy me"

 

I also didn't vote because I'm happy either way. The only thing I /don't/ like is not having been able to get a doll from the source and then having to pay double to get it later. ;_; I've done it but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
I find something rather pleasant about a pre-owned doll, but since most of the dolls I want I am afraid *not* to buy from the store because I don't want to pay more later. And I don't usually have luck finding the dolls I'm looking for in after-market.

One thing, though, sometimes if an owner is not the original owner they may not be aware of certain modifications. I like to think no one is dishonest in, say, not stating that eyes have been made larger or cheeks have been sanded. I prefer to think that they are just not aware that they didn't receive the doll in perfect condition originally. I would be deeply upset if I got a doll which had been modified and I was not aware of that when making the purchase. This is especially true on Yahoo Japan, where sometimes wording makes it hard to understand that you are getting a modified doll.

 

This is such a neat thread, thanks for starting it.

I received my Alexis previously loved from comicbookartistboi, who in turn had ordered her new from VolksUSA. (She's an SD Megu) It was very pleasant, cuz I knew all about her little physical quirks ahead of time. I don't have a problem with adopting at all, but it seems much easier if I know the person I'm doing business with, and I know how they treat things. I'm currently saving to bring home a Petite AI Uriel, after falling for Azurielle's Lyren at Megacon last year. I plan on ordering direct from the company, just so that I can have that experience for myself. However, When I'm ready to order him,(looks like it'll be right around March) if someone on DOA happens to have a Uriel for sale on the boards I would have to seriously consider that option.

 

I prefer buying pre-owned or from a US store as the waiting game is not one that I play well. I'm definitely into instant gratification. Plus, I've gotten some nice buys on pre-owned dolls. The trick is to always ask for references then be sure to check them out. I'm finally ready to order directly from a company since I can't seem to track down any of the dolls I want but I know I'll go crazy waiting for the doll to arrive.