Did you ever buy a doll and just hate it?

Yes, I bought an MSD that I absolutely thought was fabulous in pictures, but when she arrived, she was a disappointment. She didn't look at all like the promo pictures, however, I was able to sell her to someone who loved the way she looked in the resin and not the photos, go figure! There's always someone out there who loves what you don't and vice-versa. That's the beauty of personal taste.

 

You do realize most folks don't intentionally purchase dolls they know they won't like, right?

 

Yes. I bought a doll in normal skin (I usually get white) and thought it would be ok, but I did just hate her
I put her up for adoption the same day. Lesson learned I suppose.

 

D'ya know it's a funny one, I haven't even recieved my first doll yet and although I have some trepidation, I haven't really been able to do much research or find owners pic's (She's Linling a Doll Family A 1/3 doll).

Thing is, aside from choosing yellow skin tone when I latterly found out the resin is likely to yellow (mister super clear ordered and coming the slooow way from japan), the doll I chose isn't like the photos! She will have yellow toned skin, not white, a random face-up (I loved the little details on the photo but I'll get what I'm given) and none of the frilly clothes she's adorned with. Of course, not knowing eye colour or basic look I'm stabbing in the dark choosing fabrics to sew for her but I don't have any pre-concieved ideas about her character, that'll happen when she arrives (hopefully soon!).

This week I've created a black shiny lycra infinity dress and a kimono style dress that I just LOVE so she won't be nekkid when she arrives and hopefully the rest will come. One thing I have learned is that I adore sewing at SD level, smaller is definitely more fiddly!

If the worst happened and I really didn't bond, I would consider selling her, despite what I say I don't think she'll be moy only SD doll ;-)

 

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
I wouldn't use the word "hate", but I did experience something similar. Back when I was new to the hobby and dolls were not nearly as plentiful and easily accessible as they are now, I took the plunge on DoD's Too & Bee-A (normal and tender; yes, I got both pairs) when they were just released. There were no owner pictures yet, but, at the same time, these dolls weren't limited, so I could have waited. But, I didn't. I ordered them based on promo pictures and when I finally received them, I was very disappointed. The quality, construction and resin were all very good, but the faces looked very different in person than on official shots. Interestingly, even to this day, whenever I see a doll I like on DoD's site, inevitably, when I look at owner pictures, I don't like it anymore. Not sure what it is with me and DoD, but it's the only company to which I consistently have this reaction.

Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
Not at all. In fact, my dislike for them kept getting worse.

If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
I did try different wigs, eyes and outfits, but in the end, nothing helped. I still have a bunch of wigs that I bought trying to make these guys work, but, alas, it didn't happen. All four ended up being adopted into loving homes.

Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
The only thing I feel bad about is having bought them in the first place. I have learned my lesson since then, and aside from another doll I bought during those years, I only buy what I'm sure I will like. I've learned my tastes and preferences very well over the years. That, in addition to researching the sculpt and company that I am considering, has ensured that everything I've bought since the DoD fiasco has been exactly what I wanted, and I was never disappointed (not counting quality issues with certain dolls, which is a whole different topic).

 

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
Well, when I got my second doll, I wasn't sure I was going to like her. The promo pictures were bad of her, but I had seen some owner pictures and I really wanted a doll with legs like hers. The issue I had with her was her face up (came with it), I hated it.
Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
Sort of, once I restrung her I liked her better. She didn't fall apart anymore so that was a plus.
If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
It took a long time for me to redo her face up, but now I am much much much happier with her. She still stands like a derp but at least she's very pretty to look at now and I'm a sucker for a pretty face. Also it took me a long time to get her the right wig. Eventually I found a white Jojo so I dyed the tips blue with a copic marker and that fixed that. Blonde and pink just wasn't her color. Now I just need to make her a proper dress, she hates accepting clothing I bought rather than made...
Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
I don't feel bad about it because I knew I would not like her face up, but I had seen her potential. Sadly she isn't really one of my most loved dolls, but I still love her. She keeps biting me with her joints...

 

At first glance at my doll, I felt a moment of disappointment, too. I'd only seen the site images with their clothes and wig on him, so to see him naked and bald was a little repulsive for a moment. The freebie wig that was sent with him didn't improve matters much, nor did the fact that it was a while before he had any clothes. But once he got an outfit and I found some wigs I liked, I fell in love with him.

 

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
Oh yeah, my experience is a bit different though because my dolly was an impulse buy... IN PERSON. The lady had him on display at a con and something about him struck me. So I bought him then and there and bought a red wig to go with him and carried him away. As I sat in the hotel room that weekend though I got a chance to look at him closer and I suddenly HATED him Dx His ears were too big, his nose was too big, his body was too skinny and floppy. I was so upset and he sat on a shelf for a while as I tried to go back to him, but mostly he was ignored.
Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
Not after a few minutes. I spent a long time going in and out of loving him and hating him.
If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
I wound up changing his personality actually. When I got him he was supposed to be a rocker party boy but the more I thought about it I was like 'No... the clothes don't work, the eyes don't work... His face is too... soft'. So I thought about it and I realized 'yes, he is a 'softer' doll'. So I got him a new wig that was PERFECT, changed his eye color, made him new clothes. Now that I finally have a set look for him I absolutely adore him. His nose is cute, his ears are cute, his body was restrung and sueded, now it's my favorite doll.
Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
I feel bad that it took me so long. But I'm glad that I decided to hang onto him for a while and give him a second chance. Because now I couldn't imagine him not being part of my collection. The little details, wig, eyes, etc, really do make a huge difference in the end result. So does the 'personality'. Now I can't see him as anything but this quiet, tea drinking boy xD And I wonder what I was ever thinking trying to make him a punk rocker

 

Haha, I I've only got my one doll (RD Mai), but I have to say, that I didn't hate him when I got him. I hated his face-up (very boring and generic), and hated his inability to pose (strung too-tight), but ultimately, I really just saw his potential. For my first doll, I ended up deciding upon him for his low price tag and the versatility of his face. Since getting him, I've restrung and wired him (he poses quite nicely now, thanks to the wiring) and he's been re-faced. I'm continually surprised at how his face can take on so many different looks. He's really a joy to pose! More pictures of him to come, when I've finished sewing his entire planned outfit.

 

I kind of had this experience with Magnar (Dollzone deer boy). My girlfriend gave him to me and he was blank and stark white. All my other dolls have been flesh tone. It was also the day my boss told me i might be fired. So that wasn't very helpful. I pretty much just sat in my room and poked at him. That day we went to a doll shop and got him some new eyes and a wig. That was helpful! I still poked at him a bit then suddenly I couldn't put him down! Like at all. I even took him to the mall which with other dolls I felt strange with people staring at me. But not with him. He still needs a face up so hopefully I'll be able to give him one soon !

 

Same here.

 

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
I wouldn't say "hate" but there are several I wasn't happy with:
Ringdoll Pan: The face-up didn't look as good as the promo pics. It was uneven and was a lot lighter than I expected. Plus I'd been waiting for him for over 5 months, so some of the enthusiasm I'd felt when I ordered him had faded.
Ringdoll Valo: The resin of his head and body didn't seem to quite match up - the body looked more translucent. Plus the face-up looked nothing like promo pics or other owner pics.
Switch Javi: I'm an idiot who didn't realize the promo pics that Switch uses aren't the face-ups the dolls come with. So, I was disappointed, plus I felt like a moron. It was the most boring face-up I've ever seen and the eyelashes were tiny.
Crobidoll Boni: I didn't like the default eyes and her eyelashes are way too short. Plus, I'd wanted the doll to be boy and once I saw her in person, I decided that I'd prefer her to be female. And I didn't really want a female doll...


Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
No, not for any of them.

If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
I got new face-ups for Pan, Valo, and Javi, and that helped tremendously. However, I'm still not quite happy with them. I don't really like Pan or Valo's resin, and with Javi I can't find the right eye/wig combo. Plus his eyes are so big that they always look strange. With Boni, I've tried new eyes since that was her main problem, but I think I'd really prefer to have only male tinies.

Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
Yes, I actually wish I'd just sold Pan and Valo before spending more money on them. The face-up artist did exactly what I wanted, but I think selling them as soon as I got them would have been better. Of course, it's not like finding a buyer for Ringdolls is easy, so I might not have been able to sell them anyway. With Javi, I really think I'll like him with more experimentation. I haven't had Boni long enough to be 100% sure what to do with her. I'd like to get her a more dramatic face-up, but I'm wary of putting more money into a doll I may not keep very long.

 

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
yes. when my Iplehouse EID ASA arrives, I was so excited. but when I saw her face up. She's so pale. I didn't liked the color of her lips and cheeks.

Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
No, I dress her up and put on her wig. but I really can't bond with her. I feel something is wrong. and I think I don't like the wig either.

If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
after a few days. I tried redo her face up.. (lips and cheeks only) and restyle her wig. (cut the bangs)

Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
No, I don't feel bad about it. after I changed her faceup and wig. She became my favorite. I so love her.

 

This thread made me laugh because sometimes it does happen, even if I hate to admit it. I had a custom doll that when I opened her (well even before she came back) I knew I wouldn't like her and I didn't. I just hated her automatically and she had to go.

I have tried to be very careful since then and have not purchased a doll that I haven't considered for a while, looked at other photos of etc. So far so good.

 

I felt as close to hate as someone can feel toward a doll when I got my Souldoll Agnetha. I really strongly disliked her. I thought it was just her face-up, as it was very harsh, so I tried to get her a new face-up which helped for awhile but in the end we never clicked. I think it was that initial reaction, I just never got over it.

 

Hum let me think...No I can't remember ever hating a doll upon first sight. And I really hope I never will XD I've had just an episode of antipathy though, but it developed a while after the doll arrived.

 

Can't believe I'm posting here! But hopefully people will learn from my mistake... if it was a mistake!

Has anyone else ever opened a doll and hated it upon first sight?
Not so much hate, as "Gaaaagh call that a doll body?!" I had bought a Junior Delf body from the MP, for much cheaper than it costs new. It wasn't an impulse buy, I had been looking for one for some time after deciding it was the right body for my JDF event head. I had looked at the pictures on the Luts site and tried to find some owner pics (although there are not many unclothed, which I am making amends for ) and all in all I thought it seemed a good body from a reputable company.
But it was only when I actually lifted the body from the box that I realised- the engineering is terrible! Literally, terrible. You can tell that the Luts sculptors haven't actually tried playing with this body at all. Basically what they've done is scaled down the SDF body without taking into consideration the difference in size has on the engineering. To say the body is a terrible poser is an understatement. It doesn't even look nice in the few poses it can do.
Not to mention that the body has a very prominent, um, appendage! This makes dressing and powing even more difficult. And it has a very long thin neck which is just... odd.

Did you opinion change after a few minutes?
It got worse! I'm used to well-engineered bodies, and after comparing him to my Delf type 3 body and Dollndoll body, I just got angrier and angrier at Luts' lack of caring about these things. It was clunkier, there was no fluidity of movement in the joints, and if I'd paid full whack for this body I would have been even angrier.

If it didn't, please explain what you did next (did you change the faceup, eyes, wig, ect).
I modded it. I modded every single joint in the body except for his shoulders (though these aren't perfect either). I changed his hands, which were like broken sausages, for Dollmore ones, and I sanded his neck down (I left the appendage as is. It had grown on me. Hurrr.) A friend and I restrung him in the proper manner with some decent elastic and gave him a neck doughnut. I also hacked out the enormous hunk of resin that goes through his torso like a tree trunk. After this, I hot-glued every joint in the body.

Do you feel bad about it now, or not? Explain.
I feel angry about it still, because I think it's unacceptable for a doll company to produce a doll that's so terribly made. I can imagine how someone would feel in my position who didn't want to mod their doll. They would have no choice but to sell.
However, now I've made my changes, I like the body much much more. The aesthetic of the body is cute- a sweet little tummy and a cute bum, and a nice lithe figure. The resin quality is good and a very nice colour, with a good "tooth", and to its credit the seams weren't bad (though I sanded them too). So overall, despite all the hard work or maybe because of it, I really like the body. Now it suits my boy very well!

 

I've never admitted it before, but I did not like my first bjd at all right out of the box. I bought her blank, and white skin. I had never seen a bjd in real life before, so I had no idea what to expect. But after waiting over a month for the doll, I was really disappointed to see it paper white and without a face. But after my shoddy faceup job, and putting on a wig, she was great.

 

I got minifee Ruth. When I saw him in company pics, I didn't even look at him twice. Then I saw him in different faceup, without frills. And so Sakarias came home.

It did bug me for a while that I allmost missed as awesome doll as him, but sometimes it's just hard to see the full picture in first glance. Now I love my boy to bits.

 

i've had two that i was really disappointed in. they didn't match the owners pics or the promo pics that i had seen, and i didn't like the way they posed. i've tried changing eyes/wigs/clothes and nothing really works for me. eventually i'll get around to selling them , but for now they remain in the original box and pretty much just get ignored