Buying second hand

I've only had bonding problems with the only doll I bought straight from Luts, so I usually look on the marketplace first to get the mold I'm looking for second-hand. And yes, this also has to do with money, all my secondhand dolls were cheaper than my 'new' one. But as Ladylovemark already stated, not everyone can afford more expensive dolls directly from the company.

 

This makes me feel much better about my doll! I wanted a Volks body, and since they don't sell them as optional parts I had to turn to the marketplace and ebay. Luckily I found the nicest lady in Japan who had a pretty much brand new body. I think she buys the dolls from the FCS for the purpose of selling them, so maybe the body can't really be considered second-hand. But when it arrives he'll always have the interesting memories of his few months in Japan!

Also, someone else I know just found a doll on the marketplace she instantly fell in love with. She wasn't worried about it, but I was. My whole life I've been programmed to think secondhand is bad, but now I know that isn't true! I'll have to show her this thread :'D It'll probably make her decision on the doll easier~

 

Twice-loved is a better way to phrase it. Completely agree
About the twice-loved, I say yes!
This is how I see it, it's kinda like a rescue in a sense..
When dolls are up for sale by past owners, it's like we're offering a roof over their heads with all the bonus points like sanded seams, free eyes, and sometimes limiteds.
I totally hope this isn't weird!

 

All of mine have been pre-loved. It adds to the adventure

 

I've bought a whole doll from Ebay and a head from DoA's marketplace.

 

Doesn't bother me a bit. My Lusis kit was bought on the marketplace. Technically, she was brand-new, as I put her together, and I consider myself her first owner.

If not through the marketplace, I buy through group orders. I very rarely order directly from the company.

 

I think the DOA marketplace is a great idea! And I would have no problems adopting a 'pre-loved' doll so long as it wasn't terribly damaged and came exactly as described by the seller etc. Honestly, I have much more experience buying from Y!J, but I suppose the idea is pretty much the same.

For my future dolls, I have even decided I will look to see if there is one up for sale in the marketplace here before ordering from the company directly. :] I really like the idea of being able to give a doll a 'second chance.'

 

Like with many other things I collect (video games and books most noticeably in my home) I buy a LOT of things second hand. Partially for breaks in price, and partially because it's much easier to find and order something online (like through E-bay or Amazon, at least for book and games) than to find the time to go out to the stores to find what I want as I don't drive, and even if I did, the husband and I only have one car.

For dolls...I guess the biggest draw in buying second hand for me has more to do with where the doll is shipping FROM. I'm more likely to buy a sculpt I like second hand if I can find it from a US seller, than first hand from the company just because the international shipping makes me nervous. To buy a second hand doll from an owner who is overseas from me...there'd have to be a cheaper price involved for me to do so, I think, as not only does the thought of everything that can go wrong in long distance shipping make me nervous, but current shipping costs to get something overseas scare me.

 

All the dolls I have purchased have been secondhand (three, all have been from the DOA marketplace). So far I have not had any issues, and the experience has been absolutly wonderfull! It's nice that the wait time is much shorter, and you can haggle with the price a bit.

 

Do you find that the dolls purchased from this board are in any better condition than those sold on the secondary market, from like eBay, etc? I am finding that sometimes sellers "forget" to mention how loose the doll is that they are selling...or it might have some other something going on. Just curious.

 

I have never purchased a doll from ebay or any place besides this board so I can't really compare. Sorry!! If it helps any, two dolls that I purchased here were strung rather loosely. I believe I was warned of this (and asked one seller about it) but it wasn't a big deal. I've also noticed that some need cleaning.

 

Why would anyone mention how loose a doll is? That isn't a conditional matter, simply because, it isn't damage at all. Most of the dolls I receive second-day are loose, and that doesn't bother me, nor should it. I just tighten the dolls.

 

I was just asking a question. Being a newbie to these types of dolls, it somewhat creeps me out to even think of taking one apart, or even changing eyes! LOL I'll get there. Someday.

 

maddmom: I've had my Kaet for four months, and I'm still afraid to fiddle with her too much. I just started moving the eyes and playing with the S hook in her head (was curious about how it worked). I freaked a little when I could twist it back and couldn't find pliers around the house. I finally got it fixed though.

Now about this topic, I don't see anything wrong with buying a previously loved doll. My first doll is new, and I just bought a doll, which should come in the mail tomorrow, from someone on DoA. All I have to say is feedback threads are your friends, but I'm more likely to buy from DoA users than off of eBay, and even more likely to buy from friends.

 

Thanks Tarkle21. I didn't mean any offense to anyone. Certainly not here, by all means. I've already learned quite a bit by just being on this forum. I have previously loved girls, who are now soaking up all the new love they're getting. And I have one coming from a friend.
I might add that a while back I got a 60cm Bobobie. When her head came back with a spiffied up face, I had to get help to tighten her up. We yanked, pulled, and did everything but she ended up breaking the S hook! (of all things) I then took her to a friend to restring and she's wonderful now.
So, given time, I'll be changing eyes and other things just like a pro, I'd think. LOL

 

I buy most of my second hand dolls from Y!J mainly, but they're still considered as untouched and brand new. Although sometimes I find better deals, or certain sculpts that I just couldn't find on Y!J up for sale on the Marketplace, that would be my second option.

 

i do ebay and here in the market place though market place has won out on most bought dolls. only 2.5 of my 6 are brand spanking new from company and i only bought one of them .

and i have learned something from the 2 more rectly dolly things i have bought from companies i hate hate hate buying from companies i'd much rather have second hand. (has no patiences ) i love the no wait

 

My first doll was second-hand from a dear friend, and my second second-hand doll was from the DoA Marketplace!

 

I have 4 previously owned and I find them no different to new ones really ^^; They were all bought from the DoA marketplace. I have yet to summon up the courage to buy a full doll on Y!J due to the shopping service fees but maybe one day...*shivers*

 

All seven of the dolls I own at the moment are all second hand and all of them have also come off the market place here on the den. I have no hang ups about buying second hand, if anything it makes me more keen to 'adopt' them, because I wanna take that unloved doll and give it all the love a doll could need. I am sad like that.