Buying second hand

My pre-owned F-10 head did seem to have energy that was not mine in it. But after she got here, she immediately started taking on my energy. Eventually, she became all mine. One day I just looked at her and knew.

My pre-owned Elf Shiwoo head didn't have a personality from the last person who owned him. He was all ready to take on my energy and have a sparkling personality.

I guess it depends on how the doll was handled at their previous residence. I found both experiences to be good ones. I learned a lot and love the dolls.

 

All but one of my dolls is pre-owned. I love having pre-owned dolls. Sometimes I like to think of where they've been before, where their previous owners took them. I give them new names, but they still are who they were when they arrived. I feel like I took them in and gave them a new home. I love that they each have their own histories, but they are still mine.

 

Edward, my Hypermaniac Elliot, is the only complete doll I've purchased second-hand. I'm either his third or fourth owner.

I worried at first that he wouldn't feel like "my" doll, but after he arrived I found out I liked him a bit more than the dolls I had bought directly from the companies. He's a bit worn-out and yellowed; but I love that. I suppose you can liken it to a second-hand sweater. It's wasn't originally yours, but it's so comfy and broken-in that you love it anyway.

 

My MNF El, Oliver, kind of felt that way. I'm his third (!) owner; when he got here, I wasn't too sure about him. But now that he has new eyelashes, eyes, and a different wig, he really feels like he mine. It just took a little tweaking.

 

When I have adopted a pre-owned doll, upon arrival this is the only doll I spend time with for a week or more. I make something special only for them, they sit with me in every room I am in and I will change their eyes. They almost always get a new wig.

This way the dollie becomes all yours...especially if it is loved. I've never had bad vibes from a doll, which speaks well about the people on this forum that I have adopted from.

 

MODS: If there is a Thread like this already you can delete it if you must. I'm too lazy searching on the boards.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a second hand doll? I dunno what are the benefits it can bring. Of coarse the quality (might be) less better than it was when brand new but sometimes I believe second hand dolls appear to be a lot more promissing (SOMETIMES).

Like you are more aware of its current condition because of ur clear communication with the seller. It gives you a sense of assureness that ur doll is fine though there might be some minor damages but you knew its still fine. Unlike buying through foreign sites the customer & the company tends to have a misscommunication and ends up switching the wrong doll, having the wrong wig, spare parts etc. etc. And SOMETIMES the company doesn't take refunds or replacements even though the item is damaged upon arrival cause basicly they don't believe you.

(it happen to my friend and sqaushed her heart so badly )

I'm not saying that this happens all time but I've heard quite a few who stated that it did happen to them. I'm not also promoting you guys here to buy second hand dolls and not the brand new ones cause its much more better and safer. I personally don't sell dolls myself so this is just an open discussion.

I just wanted to hear people saying about the benefits they got when they decided to get a second hand doll rather than getting a new one.

Like the price is much more cheaper. The quality might have been lesser but you know its in a great condition. And you probably got some free items like most brand new dolls come up with. Free clips, shirts, candy etc. etc. But sometimes you get a lot more than that from a second hand doll right? Usually, you recieve a full set of clothes and even shoes from the previous owner that u don't usually get from a brand new doll. Well, it happens when the owner is really deperate to sell his/her doll or probably that person might have lost her/his interest in dolls and is wanting to sell everything under a very fair price on ur side.

No flames people. This might also help. I dunno how but probably it can in a way.

 

both of my little babies are second hand. i see it kind of as adopting. ur giving a good home to a baby who needs one.

and i only got one my frist cheaper than the retail of a new. the second one though he comes with lot's a stuff i screwed up and didn't convert before i bid so i made a boo-boo and he was twice retial vailue of a new one.

my first one she wasn't really damanged when i got her she had a little stain on her arm whihc came off easily and her faceup was missinga few eyelashes. my second one hasn't arrived yet so i can't say how he is coming as except the person i got him from only had him for a week or so before he went up on ebay.

 

Everyone is gonna say they got the doll cheaper.

 

The quality of the goods doesn't change, just the condition. I also find that the price isn't always less, often it can be more if the doll is highly sought after.
Many of my dolls are 'second hand', the benefit for me is that I've given them a forever home.

Sera~

 

well if you're in a country that has high VAT/customs you can avoid the fees by buying second hand (or atleast they're only suposed to charge VAT once) from someone in the same place

I'm pretty sure that you shouldn't have to pay VAT even if you order from another country as long as you're both in the EU too

 

Shipping times and costs usually.

I think everyone would rather have a company-condition doll without the three month wait?

My yder-elf was second hand, and he came three days after I ordered him, and he was in perfect condition, as if new.
xoxo

 

Well, you don't have the wait time. Sometimes sellers here are willing to do layaways, and shipping is cheaper. You can sometimes find interesting mods and faceups as well. I've bought dolls both from the forum and directly from the companies and have had good experiences both ways.

 

When I bought the doll I bought second hand, I bought her thinking she was coming with one wig, eyes, and a pair of jammies. They said they'd throw in anything else they found for her. When I got her, she had--
Two wigs, one pair of shoes, two shirts, a pair of pants, the jammies, and tucked carefully into her arms, was a little Curious George stuffed toy. ^_^
Plus, the mold was sold out, and discountinued.

 

i would never have been able to get my doll except for second hand, as the Rasendo house is no longer in operation (as far as i know).

 

Well, cheaper, but if it's a fairly popular doll, not all that much cheaper. ^^ However, if you like the ones that aren't popular, considerably cheaper sometimes.

And shipping. If you get someone from your own country to sell to you it's so much cheaper.

And extras. I got a couple nice things with the Dollmore body I got. I haven't gotten anything else second-hand yet.

 

i prefer second hand to twice loved that just sounds old and stupid and wehat my aunt would say. i hate pc sh1t. i also though do call my babies adopted if that make u feel better.

 

I have no problems with twice loved dolls, even though all of my seven except the last one were new from the factory.

As soon as I got Thistle (CP Ani-elf), he told me that he had a twin sister named Piper, so I thought I'd wait a few months and then buy a second Ani-elf to be his sister.

However, only a week later I was browsing the marketplace and stumbled across a CP Ani-elf girl up for adoption. There weren't even any pictures, but I thought right away, "This is Thistle's sister." Even better, her previous owner lived in the States, so I'd save at least $40 on shipping alone. Plus, she'd arrive with a wig and eyes already installed, so I wouldn't have to buy extra eyes and then attempt to get them into her head. Because that was painful when I had to install Thistle's eyes.

When she arrived in another week, I was so surprised to find that the wig she was wearing looked just like one I was considering ordering for Thistle (I have no boy wigs, only girls). So, I gave Thistle her wig, and gave her the long Monique wig I'd ordered which has the exact same colors in it. Piper's ears are even pierced. Thistle's are, too, and he is the first doll I've ever had Luts pierce ears on. So now they can even wear matching earrings. I'm telling you, I couldn't have adopted a more perfect doll to be Thistle's sister.

I have no idea what Piper's personality was in the past, or even what her name had been. I didn't ask, because I don't really want to know. As far as I'm concerned, she is Piper, and as soon as I opened her up, her personality immediately screamed "Piper" at me; sweet and impish and protective of her "little brother". So, what else do I need to know?

 

I like pre-owned dolls. Snowdrop was a pre-owned doll who was well maintained by her previous owner, where as Ruby was in bad condition when i got her. (lots of scuffs, too tightly strung, badly yellowed) With Snowdrop i feel like i was giving a nice doll a nice home. With Ruby, i felt like i rescued her from neglect and re-assembled her and made her whole and clean again.

However, i discovered with Nathan that i also like new dolls too. He came out of the box all clean and perfect, and there's something to be said for that as well.

Both options are good i think. I've bonded with all my dolls even though i've gotten them all in different situations, and i really like my expiriences with all of them.

 

Hey, i posted in this thread some time ago!

Dear usagi665 & all who have replied to my 'energy' query,

In the end i did go for the F-29 and i would have killed myself if i didn't bring him home with me! He doesn't look much like Captain Cecile (face-up?) but it doesn't matter now, i love him to bits & pieces anyway!

He came to me like a brand new boy, no infused 'energy' from his previous home, and looked really happy at that moment when i opened the box! I've shown his previous owner some of his current pictures and she said she always sees a happy & contented boy smiling back at her

My Kaito wasn't that much cheaper than a brand-new FCS. And he didn't come with any freebies that you've mentioned. He has an oldskin SD13 body, which i'm sure no one would want one these days. But his head mold is discontinued, and considering Rachel (Evenstar) doesn't take in commissions anymore, you have to buy him as a pre-owned doll.

I agree with the rest regarding the shorter waiting time. I couldn't wait that long for a FCS at that time!

I'm just glad this poor boy doesn't have to move from place to place now, he can stay put in my loving home for as long as he wants!
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