Decode Volks Headplates?

Well, a head plate-less doll doesn't have something that a new/perfect condition doll does have Personally I don't think it doesn't matter because "it's not noticable when a doll has a wig on"-- many flaws aren't noticable when a doll has a wig and clothes on. When I got the head without its head plate, I thought that empty hole looks very ugly-- I didn't want a doll like that, not for the money I paid.

Seeing how Volks treat dolls, I would rather assume that they do think the head plates are important. Of course I can be wrong

What suprises me more than head plates falling off is that they get lost so easily! Why there are so many heads without their head plates? I know in some situations it could be hard to find a head plate (a doll meet, photo shoot in a forest lol), but well, they aren't very tiny... why not pick it up and glue back?^^;

 

Possibly because a lot of people just don't see it as an issue. I probably wouldn't bother and I know a lot of people who, whilst not actively ripping the things out of the backs of heads, at the same time, haven't bothered to glue it back in when inevitably they did fall out. *shrug* Different strokes for different folks and all that.

 

I would be one of those people I have one girl who's plate is still there, and one who is missing her's. It had fallen off while in the possession of her old owner, but the plate was sent along with her. I haven't bothered to glue it back on--I might get around to it one of these days (she needs some other maintenance work anyway), but I personally see the plate as a non-essential extra rather than something that is integral to the doll like an actual body part.

 

Lulu, Taco, I understand that you don't care enough to glue a head plate back on, but would you include it with a doll while selling it? I was wondering about all of those head plate-less dolls on the market At some point one of the owners either really lost the head plate or just chose not to include it with their doll. Anyway, seeing that there are as many people who do care about a doll's head plate as those who don't, I think it's worth to keep a doll's head plate-- just in case the doll would go on sale someday

 

Sure, I'd send it with the doll if I had it, just as I would it's box and certificates if the buyer wanted them, but as Taco says, it's a non-essential part to me.

 

Yeah, as long as I still had the plate, of course I would send it along. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of them did actually get lost, though. It's really easy to set something aside, forget about, and not find it again--especially if it's not something that person is terribly concerned about, and they are small enough pieces that they're easy to lose sight of.

 

The headplate is the manufacturer's marking on the doll's body. It may not matter to you in this generation but if you are no longer around, the person who inherits the doll from you may not be well informed about BJDs. They need to be able to identify the doll easily and trace it back to its manufacturer even if the box is no longer around. This may happen decades from now. I have very old dolls in my family that are unmarked, it is a problem identifying them. I am by now very frustrated with identifying old unmarked dolls, a doll manufacturer who does not bother to mark their dolls properly don't care about the dolls they sell and they do not care about us. Long after their company cease business, we the private owners are left to look after, and identify their products.

Even the humblest company should mark their dolls because they must be proud of their own work. I see the head plate as the company acknowledging their own work.

 

er...are you seriously saying that any company that produces dolls without a vast and showy mark doesn't care about their product or their customer base?! That's...quite a sweeping generalisation you have there!

I'm kinda curious to hear what you class as "marking a doll properly" now?

 

I collect other things besides bjds and am aware of things like manufacturers stamps and having to do a little research from time to time--the only times it actually matters to me is if having a mark actually increases the value (and I'll admit--sometimes having a mark is a big deal). However, not only does that not seem to be a big issue within the bjd community, I do not approach my dolls with the same mindset as I do my other collectibles. Whether the people who own my dolls after me do or not, isn't an issue to me now. I have my dolls to enjoy and am not focused on them as collector pieces for the future. That isn't to say that I would pull off a headplate or throw it away or anything like that. But I'm not going to be upset if it falls off or happens to get misplaced, either. For as many buyers that would be concerned about a lack of a headplate, there are plenty that don't care if that tells you anything.

Some companies use headplates, some cards, some certificates, some carve the company name inside the headcap, some don't have any of these *shrugs* There isn't a right or wrong way, and none of it is absolutely essential. To suggest a company doesn't care if they don't permanently mark the doll, is an exaggeration to say the least.

 

Ahhh Taco, I differ sharply from you. I am very very strict with markings on BJDs, more so than any other types of dolls. This is due to the bootlegging and copies in the market. If a dolls original faceup is wiped out and there is no headplate.....no can do for me. In fact, I've just decided that all the BJDs I buy in future must be full set dolls, complete with box and original wig and cloths. Nothing missing, nothing altered. I am not so strict with other types of dolls.

 

My Megu has a gold head plate thingy. Is it important to me? Not really because I bought the doll from Volks and know it's genuine. It's a nice touch though.

 

I like to have the headplates intact when looking at secondary market... especially since the price is too good to be true.

If the plate falls off, I would definitely glue it back. This has happened a few times since I do handle my dolls often.

One Off dolls do come with headplates. I believe School Heads are the only ones without plates by default.

 

its fine for me without one, cos its not like its unique that much, its the doll mould, not if it has a headplate :P

 

I figured it probably came down to a difference in approach. I'm used to dolls not having original faceups and am rarely interested in default wigs and clothes, because I really enjoy the part of the hobby that centers around making changes to the dolls themselves--none of my dolls stay in a completely default state, and the vast majority weren't full sets to begin with. Having said that, I do try and keep the stuff that came with my dolls (minus the boxes--I don't have the room), though I have no intention of selling the dolls themselves. I guess I'm just sort of sentimental about it all. However, depending on what goes missing I don't necessarily freak out about it, because I don't actually end up using much of that stuff anyway--it just sits in boxes--which is probably why things do get misplaced from time to time. When it's stuff I actually use, I know exactly where to find it.

I can understand the concern over bootlegs. For myself personally, I'm not going to automatically assume a doll missing a headplate or certificate is a fake, just as I don't automatically assume that someone selling a doll with a headplate and certificate isn't going to scam me in some other way Besides, these dolls were really meant to be altered--not that anybody has to do so, but there's a reason that so many show up second hand with changes to them.

 

Is no one besides me bothered by what the place where a head plate should be looks like when a head plate is not there? I think I care about that way more than about a head plate itself. When I pay hundreds of $ for a doll, I want it to be pretty in every place-- smeared with glue hole really looks bad to me.

 

Sure, that's why I wanted Zana's headplate back in place. I still had it and I liked the back of her head more wíth plate than without.

 

Not one bit. I think my Sch C and SwD Sch A are perfectly gorgeous without having a plate in that space on the headcap. True that Volks never gave them headplates to start with, but if I'd gotten a doll that was supposed to have one and didn't, I'm pretty sure I'd just scrape out the glue and go on with my life, enjoying the fact that I had the doll at all.

 

What an interesting discussion! I've never thought about this before.

I don't care at all if my dolls have head plates or not. If they fall off, I put them in the doll's box and don't bother to glue them back on.

I once sold a doll who's head plate had fallen off and I did mention it so the buyer wouldn't be disappointed or surprised. I've never seen anyone mention a head plate unless it were missing or fallen off and I've always assumed that if it's not mentioned, it's included with the doll. I guess that's not the case.

Every doll I've bought from the Marketplace that was supposed to have one did and I've never thought to ask. I wouldn't ask anyway because it wouldn't make a difference in my purchase. I'm much more concerned with the condition of the doll than the plate. I haven't seen many bootlegged-recasts and I doubt a wide range of heads have been targeted, so I don't worry about bootlegs when I'm looking for a doll to buy.

 

I think the head plate is quite important, Volks or no. I think if the companies bother to put them on, the doll should have it. I wouldn't buy one without it - although if it was just in the box with the doll, not necessarily on the doll I wouldn't mind so much (I can always glue it on myself if needs be).

I think this is like the doll paperwork - I will buy dolls without paperwork, but if I had a choice of two - one with and one without - I would always without a doubt go for the one with paperwork. I consider it to be part of the doll 'set' and would actually possibly offer less if the doll was supposed to have it and came without it...

It's more a finicky thing though, rather than a 'omgbootleg' thing. I wouldn't even entertain the notion of a possible fake doll (I'm so trusting ) but then - I only buy from DoA so... I guess that might be why I have a couple of dolls with head plates. Actually, my AS Vera doesn't, but then AS starting doing them so I was surprised when the Gavin I bought had one! But nicely so. I'd be disappointed to find a dent where it was supposed to be and wasn't. I know you can't see them, but I like them nonetheless. The iplehouse one is adorable! All blue and pretty I'm strange

I'd have knocked money off my Gavin when I sold him if his head plate fell off and got lost... I wouldn't be offended in the least if a buyer asked me if the head plate was there - I'd be glad! If I'd forgotten to mention it in the listing I'd be quite happy for someone to point it out - and add it after answering them :3

 

I haven't really learnt to tell the difference between officials & the more well decently made recasts, so the headplates help a bit. Doesn't solve everything, but c'est la vie.

If the seller was trustworthy, then...It'll be nice to have a full set of course! But its not important for the standard release ones, since you can always order them direct from Volks. Otherwise, I don't think it'll make or break the deal, but it'll be extra incentive to try a little harder or spend a bit more!
I think it'll only be absolutely necessary for limiteds thay I've been coveting & waiting for a long while for.