Buying second hand

5/6 of my dolls are second hand. My least favorite of the six is actually the one that was bought straight from the company. I have no problem buying second hand dolls at all.

Asking for plenty of photos and communicating well with the seller is key, of course.

 

4 of my guys are second-hand (three through the DoA marketplace, one via eBay) I have no problem with it at all - in fact, since all four of them are limited dolls who had finished their run by the time I bought them, getting them second-hand was the only option if I wanted to own them! Knowing that they're second-hand doesn't change how I feel about them or my sense that they belong to me now - I've seen pictures of one of my guys before they were mine, and it's actually a terribly interesting thing to look at. I sometimes wish I could have seen a few pictures of my other guys with their previous owners, just for curiosity's sake, but 99.9% of the time I don't even think about them having belonged to someone else before they came here. They're mine now, end of story.

 

I think they prefer to be called 'pre-loved' XDDD

But in all honesty, most of my dolls I bought second hand from the DoA marketplace. Most of them were fullsets that had sold out before I got a chance at them, so they were pretty much just as good as new. In one case, the doll I bought had been customised by the previous owner and it was because of this that I wanted her rather than a new one.

Most people take really good care of their dolls, so buying pre-owned dolls isn't necessarily any worse than buying one new - sometimes (Such as with customised dolls) it's a better choice, and sometimes (Such as with the sold out LEs) it's your only choice.

 

my only doll was preowned i guess i can't compare her with one straight from the doll company because i've never had contact with one. it's kinda like when you get a puppy, i think (weird analogy >.>), it's nice to have something new that noone else has bonded with or made their mark on, but if there is a doll out there looking for a new home... i guess they just appeal to me more maybe because i wouldn't be so cautious of breaking them, heh.

 

I think its sometimes nice to buy preowned or used.

Sometimes when it comes to dolls, its pretty much impossible to NOT buy used, because they are older or discontinued. Sometimes, its better to buy the doll so you KNOW what the faceup looks like instead of getting a company default that can end up being not what you want. Sometimes its easier to pay off the doll on layaway from a trusted seller than have to save up and pay at once.

I normally feel weird about buying used too, but when it comes to BJDs thats more of a norm.

 

All of my dolls are secondhand or partially secondhand. I actually prefer it. Sometimes buying from a company isn't so much fun (like, having to wait over three months for only a body and the only reason I finally got it home was because I had written a véry angry letter).

Like many others say, most people take good care of their dolls, so you don't have to worry about that. Most of the time the deal you get is better then when you buy him directly from a company. The doll is cheaper, has a custom face-up that's gorgeous, will arrive with clothes or is a limited since long sold-out.

I chose "other", because I've bought one of my dolls here in the marketplace, one was sold on ebay and one was previously my friend's. I don't have a favorite.

 

I buy from both here, second hand, and also new from the company. But mostly from the marketplace. There are many things I find attractive about doing it that way: you get to know the person you are buying from, and can usually ask as many questions as you need to about the condition of the doll, clothes sizing, or even to just get a feel for how open the seller is (I have turned down buying a doll I've liked because the seller seems too pushy or rude via PM. A 'thank you' goes a hell of a long way).

I also like that you really can see what you're getting, assuming you have enough pictures. And I find the idea of a doll showing up who, in my eyes 'already has a story' but one I have to 'discover' as he lives with me (alright, so I'm nuts) rather attractive, as opposed to a doll brand new from a company, that I usually think of as rather sterile.

Not that it stops me, mind. If I have to go new, I will. Especially for limited. My Bermann will be sparkly new and I'm so excited I can barely contain myself.

I think all of the dolls I have at the moment are from the marketplace. Two I couldn't have gotten new (one is a heavily modded Lishe boy, and another is a sanded El with modded elf ears).

Oh! And buying DoA is a great way to make new friends.

 

I have done both but I also really prefer to adopt if at all possible. I don't know what it is or how to describe it without sounding like a total nutwad, but there's just "something" that stays with a doll that's been handled and loved. And I don't mean finger oils or dirt, either -- actually, some of the older dolls we've adopted here have had a sheen and softness to the resin that just isn't present on the brandy-new ones!

Sounds crazy? Well yeah, that's me.

And yes! I've made some very nice friends buying used. One just asked me, a couple of weeks ago, why would I buy this little critter from her (when I could get a brand new one in less than 48 hours by ordering from DDE, which is just south of me). Beeecause her dolls come here feeling loved. That's nuts, but there you have it

Not-sterile. I think Bloodyrose82 put her finger on it

 

I for one cannot afford to spend too much money on any doll I own and frankly I would rather adopt my dolls than buy new, though I am going to be buying some new one's soon smile.

Both my dolls are second hand, well one is def second hand the other was bought from the company and then only taken out of the box for display for sale but I did'nt pay full price for her either.

I've run into the 'you don't have any dolls that are'nt used?' question recently, it does'nt bother me but it made me chuckle.

 

I love second hand dolls actually.
In fact, my first doll was a secondhand one.
someon posted him on a dutch forum and I just couldn't take my eyes off him.
the previous owner found it really nice that somebody who really loved him and wanted him to have a good home adopted him.

I find it really silly if somebody thinks a doll is ruined because it's played with.
the lovely thing is just loves twice!

 

My first doll is going to be twice loved and I find her more precious then a new doll actually. I mean this doll has a history and a story behind her because she had another home. More love is a good thing. C: The only time I don't love pre-loved dolls are when they come from smoker's homes. (The smell makes me sneeze)

 

I have only purchased 1 doll second hand at this point, and he was from a friend. I feel that friends are happy to know that their friends are loving the dolls that they once loved or purchased and did not quite bond with.

 

My first doll is pre-loved and that just makes me love him more. He's been modded and I love the beautiful face up he has. It's hard to look away from him, he's so beautiful.

 

About half of my dolls are second-hand (or third or even fourth hand ). I think I have more fun buying a doll both with a history and also one that needs a little TLC, rather than one that is perfect right out of the box.

 

Both of my elves were Pre-loved.

One was a damaged head and a tan body,the other was just pre-loved.

 

I ALWAYS try to buy pre-loved. Repairing the small damages on them such as scratches also seem like a 'bonding process' to me, sort of like, 'you're mine now, and I'm going to take good care of you.'

Or better yet, hybrids. I've found that I don't like the bodies that most of my favorite sculpts have, so I'd rather spend that extra money on a body I like better. Some companies don't sell heads separately! :>

And also, the NUMBER ONE positive about buying second hand- SHORTER SHIPPING! Argh, I don't think I'd be able to wait three months for my dolls to arrive. x3 One week, sometimes even just a few days, thank you very much!

 

My So-Ji is "fourth hand"...and she's been very special because of it. I told her she's not going anywhere else. She kept her name and her last identity...mostly because i bought it from my friend who wasn't bonding with her

 

the only doll I will (soon) have is Pre-loved. I feel about BJDs the same way I feel about regular adoption. There are already so many in the world that need a good home, why not do that instead of having another one brought into existance? ::smirk:: all my friends think I'm weird because of it. hah

 

I have bought 2 dolls from ebay and 1 from the marketplace on here and another from a different forum
I've never really thought of them as second hand as such, I still go through the same feelings as I would a brand new doll from the company