Buying second hand

Personally, I bought my Volks Michael 2nd hand because first off; he cought my attention, even though there was a breif period in which I thought I knew that I wanted a Cyber Bohemien Shiwoo ($895USD included shipping). However, I just kept looking again and again. I even looked at Michaels directly from Volks, and nothing compared to the one being sold here in the market forum (Volks sells Magical Michael for 81,900 yen (about $693USD)). Even though Volks sold cheaper, I believe I made the right choice in buying my doll second hand.

Why?

Because he caught my eye. Sure, he came with extras, but that's not why I got him. I didn't even buy him because of the short shipping time!! I got him because he caught my eye, more than once. And now that he's here with me, I'm really happy I chose to buy him instead of one from Volks.

Things 2nd hand usually have more personal worth to them. They've been used, so what? It's easier to bond with a doll that's already been loved so dearly, in my opinion anyway

I think that it doesn't matter if your doll is used or new. It all depends on which doll catches your eye, and how hard you fall for them!

 

... Well, I must admit I prefer to use the word "second-hand" instead of "pre-loved" just because I know that many dolls got re-sold because their owners found out they didn't like them at all when they finally saw them in person...

 

I usually prefer to buy dolls new, since I like to do my own face-ups and prefer to pick out their "stuff" myself. But if there's a long wait involved or if I can save some money then I don't mind buying second-hand dolls at all. It just depends on what is the most convenient and the best deal at the time. ^_^ I bought Hayden second-hand, and though he was almost three years old all it took was a bath and restringing and he was good as new.

Unless a doll is quite unpopular, or has an older/less desirable body or resin, then they usually go for around what their original price was. And I think its fair if they go for a bit more if there's a long wait involved to get the doll new.

 

I prefer not to think about that... second hand is second hand.

 

Hmmm... I've never thought of ANY BJDs as being "second-hand." It just doesn't seem to be the right term. They ARE sort of like collectibles. I don't think of any collectible item as being second-hand, either. Or true antiques, either. Hahha... I guess I don't think of a LOT of things as "second-hand." I don't really use the term at all!!!

I buy off of ebay all the time and don't care if items are new or not... unless they are items that can wear out easily and would be better bought new (like still-in-the-box electronics or cameras).

Collectibles are often worth more in the box, but most are collectible because they have a good price on the secondary market, even if they aren't mint-in-box. Most BJDs retain their worth--or may be worth more than their original price. Some will be a bit less because of wear or because they aren't limited and may not be as popular or something like that. But if a doll is kept well--with no scrapes or weird mods... then they should be as good as a new one.

 

I have both. All my Volks boys and girls are technically second hand - it has been much easier for me to get them that way than direct from Volks. 3 of them I purchased as "heads" from customisers becasue I wanted THAT face up. So basically these customisers buy the dolls JUST to do face ups and then sell them on.
My Luts , Soul Dolls, Rainy dolls, Custom House etc.. all purchased direct from the companies. I find it cheaper, more reliable and I dont have to worry whether I am going to be scammed. Becasue I live in Australia - I do not find arrival time is going to be any quicker if I purchased second hand - and because of shipping I would end up paying more than direct from the company. So unless it was an absolutely stunning face up that I just HAD to have.. nope I wont buy second hand. When I first started I was more than willing to purchase second hand. Now I am becoming far more wary of scammers - and why pay more if you are going to re-do a faceup - I am not particularly interested in clothing (unless it was stunning) - nor wigs/eyes. So I would much prefer to get a doll direct from Luts, Custom House, Soom etc. UNLESS it was going for a really good price... so yep.. only time I would now consider second hand is if a doll was substantially cheaper than buying direct from the company (only talking current issue dolls.. not limiteds or out of production.. would buy 2nd hand then).

 

In the end, resin is relatively inert, it won't pick up smells like vinyl fashion dolls or clothes, so even a second-hand doll can appear new with a little cleaning, so the price shouldn't be affected I think

 

For me, it's about getting that particular doll. I actually...really like the connection a) of 'knowing' the doll who's coming home to me, and b) of having to go through a bit of trouble to get them. It sounds odd, but I guess it makes them more special if I'm getting that individual doll and I had to work to do it.

I have one doll I bought new, one (practically new) from a DoAer, and one FCS who I ordered in person. And the ones that feel like a real part of me, and who are most melded in terms of character-with-dollshell, are the two I had a personal connection to. It sounds appallingly snobbish, but I don't think I could actually buy a doll off-the-shelf again - for me, it just seems to come with real Issues. I'd much rather buy one second hand, because I'm buying that, particular, one-and-only doll, and that makes it all the more special for me ^^

 

I bought my Lorelei through ebay.
She came with 3 wigs, glass eyes instead of the acrylic default ones, and several outfit pieces and shoes. So I checked what the new doll with face-up would have cost me from DoD, calculated what I was willing to, or would have to, pay for the items she came with and placed my bid accordingly.
I ended up getting her at a fair price, even compared with other Bee-As I´ve seen offered and sold in the Marketplace since. I had the doll within a week and I did not have the hassle of looking for a partner to split the set with.

I asked her previous owner if she had a name and, as I liked it, ended up keeping it with her permission. The fun part was that Lorelei was actually named after the German Lorelei legend which is set not too far from here!
So what I know of her previous history (and can use without violating her previous owner´s privacy) now constitutes a part of her character´s back story and has clearly influenced her personality. I think this has helped to make the character more interesting and a little more rounded.

While I don´t have any problem at all to make up a character for a new doll, I sort of feel that a doll coming to me with part of her story already "there" simply feels more "alive" and more "like a real person" - she´s not just a shell to fill with things I have made up. This can be very fascinating.

 

I bought new, because I didn't see what I liked in the marketplace, and I wanted to order right then.
Some other people get lucky, and find what they want in the marketplace, and won't have to wait weeks for production.
Others buy secondhand because the doll is no longer being made...
So it pretty much depends on what you're looking for :P

 

I have one doll only, as I am a newbie. I purchased her from a DoA member off the Marketplace. I fell in love with her face and that convinced me to go for her.
She came to me for a good price, but she had some issues with standing which I knew before hand.

I have wired and sueded her, and she has been a wonderful first doll, as I have learned so much. I didn't have to wait weeks to get her (three days only!).

I would definitely buy "second-hand" again if the right doll came along.

 

Oh glad you love your girl, so many of the ball jointed dolls have standing issues! wish they didn't but they just do

 

Hi!

To all of you out there who have a pre-owned doll (i.e. you are not the first owner), do you ever get the feeling that the doll never really belongs to you? Like when you open up the box, the feeling goes, “This is not MY doll!”

I was thinking, since the doll was previously owned by someone else & came from a totally different background/ home environment, the doll would have a preset name, personality, etc. And the previous owner might have unintentionally/ intentionally infused some of his/ her energy into the doll. Stuff like this makes me worry…

Or is it just me who’s thinking too much? I’m still in search of my first boy, and my dream boy has always been Captain Cecil. But FCS might be a better choice after all. Now I’m contemplating between a pre-owned F-29 with a beautiful face-up (he’s on auction now), or a brand new F-17 boy (whom I have to wait for much much longer). I’ve to admit that it’s partially due to the long wait that’s making my heart sway…

Would love to hear your advice!

Cheers
mikan


PS: i hope this thread is in the right forum?

 

As soon as you start to dress them, put different eyes in and wigs on them, and handle them...they take on a character all of their own, that has nothing to do with a previous owner....

 

I see where you're coming from with the energy infusion problem, but I agree with Mich. After you start playing with him, change his eyes and whatnot, he'll become yours. After all, now he's got your energy!

 

its an interesting and valid point you raise.. of the five dolls I have owned (soon to be six!) all but one were pre owned.


One of my dolls definitely ARRIVED with a set personality, but after a couple of weeks here, he started to change.. people have commented on it in his photos, he seems like a different boy now. I think its because he had a specific role and place with his previous owner, and it just didn't apply here..

The others all seemed to just 'be' I thnk I chose them because of the personalities that they seemed to exude....

I DID trade one girl because her personality and 'age' just didn't fit with my crowd... it really hurt to do it, but she went to a loving home, and thats what really counts. I have seen her recreation, and even now, there is still the sweet girl that I sent out - which really makes me happy.

When it boils down to it, its not the mold that I fall in love with most times, although I AM drawn to certain molds.. but I have always looked around to see what personalities those molds seem to lend themselves to.. thats the final decision maker for me.

Hope that helps you some.. and I hope you get what you are looking for!

Seek peace

Carol

 

Well if I were you I'd get F-29 just because I think he looks more like Cecile than F-17 does. However, there is also an original Cecile for sale here on the board..I like him better than Captain Cecile, especially his outfit

My Syo was preowned but I didn't buy him with a body. When he came to me he was eyeless and needed a new face up so he didn't look like anyone to me yet, just a project with a lot of potential. I wouldn't mind buying one with a face up I planned to keep though, because chances are it would also come eyeless and I would get it a different wig. I'm keeping my Kohya's face up and eyes default but just changing his wig makes him drastically different from the fully default Kohya to me, I don't think they look the same at all.

 

I got the 'this is not my doll' vibe from my Hewitt (who I won off of Yahoo Japan) till his face-up was changed, then he became mine.

 

The majority of my gang are preowned, and I'm sure the time they spent with their previous owners had a hand in shaping their personalities.

Does it worry or bother me?...No, since I never really know what any of them are going to be like until I open the box anyway.

I never have any really preconceived personalities planned for them, not anymore. Lol, I learned better after the first few arrived and proceeded to tell ME who THEY were. ^_^

That includes the ones who came directly from the company or the distributor too!