Do you think limited dolls should be rereleased/restocked by their companies?

Mmm.. In a strictly business POV..

No, as an owner of a limited doll, I would be pretty darn upset to hear about a re-release of any sort, be it the set or the doll itself. It's just bad business, as ArouraAnn has said. Think if you were a customer that heard "There are only 10 of these in the world". Business-wise, it increases the value quite a bit! As a customer and investor, you would feel even better about your purchase. In the event that you had to sell it (which is unfortunate) you could always fall back on the guaranteed value of the doll.

And then to turn around and hear the sculpt is being re-released, and therefore significantly devalued on the market, business wise, is really disappointing to hear, I'd imagine. It's very dishonest of a company to do so. There are many other options than re-releasing a limited sculpt that would maintain their previous customers' trust as well as rake in profits. I wouldn't trust that company very much, if they went back on their word.

If in the case that there is no other option than to re-release a limited because of insane popular demand (I'm talking like, nation wide. Not 200 people) then the profit margins of re-releasing said sculpt would (while I still wouldn't appreciate it) be understandable.

I don't mind variations on a limited sculpt (not set), sold as another limited, but re-releasing is not something I would like. If people really love the limited sculpt that much, they will certainly find ways to purchase it second hand, no matter how long they have to wait, or how hard they must work for it.

To sadistic_x_blood,
I don't really think that anyone purchases a doll just because it is limited. Moreover, it's probably that they love the sculpt, and it was a bonus being limited...I think it holds a bit more merit because limiteds tend to be more expensive/harder to get/ etc...Maybe they worked all the harder to be able to purchase it in time before it became unavailable.

I don't see it as a valued customer would love their doll any less; they are allowed to be upset over poor business decisions. You may be mixing business and pleasure.

 

For the record, I don't currently own any limited dolls.

I voted no, mainly because it would defeat the purpose of what they are: Limited dolls. While I sometimes feel sad that I've missed out on buying them when they were in stock, I don't think they should restock 'em. It would certainly make it easier for people to have a second chance at buying them, but I think that fetching yourself a limited doll off of eBay or another individual seller is much more rewarding in the end. I would imagine it feels much the same as if you got your hands on anything else that wasn't being sold anymore. It'd be pretty special.

I agree with Laelen though, in saying that variations could be released. That wouldn't be so bad. Or hell, even variations of individual parts ((heads, hooves, horns, etc)). Often I've found myself looking at a Limited and thinking "Man, his head sculpt is gorgeous ... I'd love to just have that."

All in all ... re-releases: no. Variations: maybe?

 

I really don't like the idea of limited molds but I do love the idea of limited fullsets!!! My Puki Pipi was a limited fullset.

I do like what Fairyland does and they do allow a fullset's makeup on a basic per buyer request...I think that's fair

 

Well there is a reason why it is a LIMITED. If they restocked it, it won't be a limited...and if it were restocked, it would be of not much value.

 

i think they shouldn't repeat fullsets, but they should keep making the facemolds and bodies

 

I don't think companies should restock limited dolls, because it wouldn't be fair to the people who bought it first time around thinking that it was their only chance to buy it.

 

A limited doll is limited, no restocking. Although i'd probably die if Soom were to re-release Euclase, which won't happen. I totally got really into this hobby about a month short of being able to get him.. >_> Oh well.

 

I voted on this thread before I had a limited. Now i'm waiting for my limited to arrive.

I have to say that I think "No" limiteds shouldn't be reproduced but also yes they should. I think the molds can be reproduced but i think the makeup and outfits are what usually make them limited so I don't think they should. If the outits and a doll with similar makeup could be had then why would someone want to buy the limited for limited sake in the first place. I only buy limiteds if i like them but some people like limiteds b/c of their rarity. I think it's important for LE's to have some kind of rarity to them. So in in end yes i think the molds should be continued to be made but not the set itself.

 

I have to agree with the fact that it would defeat the doll from being limited.
I do not own a limited and do not think it is fair, nor do I think it is good business practice. Usually the limited cost more and I would be upset if I paid out a good chunk of money only to have it show up again for sale. ​

 

i will hate it if my "limited" dolls becomes "unlimited".... they will loss their been limited value.even for normal dolls,i do wish that every year or so they stop producing older scrupt....so some older doll may becomes more valuable.

 

For me, my answer is no. That is why they are called limited~ >.< Even though there are lots of L.E. dolls that i like but almost all are sold out and sometimes i wish that they were reproduced. But doing so will decrese it's value, rarety, beauty and uniqueness. The reason why i like L.E. dolls is that only a few has them and i have a weird craving for uniqueness... o.o

 

No because if the company states that a doll is limited then they should stay limited. That means that the doll is limited to a specific number or a specific order period and that is it. It would be very wrong for a company to state one thing and do another.

 

I voted Yes.
I currently do not have any limited dolls, but from many of the dolls i've seen on sites.
It seems like the dolls are only sold for such a short period of time that very, very, few can acquire them.

 

I have to agree with many others that dislike limited molds.
In my opinion, there should be no limited dolls, only limited sets.
For example, dollmore released a 'Caspian Sea' collection, in which they used their already available molds, dyed them, outfitted them, and made minimal modifications (scars).
Those should not be restocked, but a limited mold should be.

 

I voted no, I own a limited though I just own a limited head. I think re-releasing the mold without the face up, etc. is o.k. but there should be something distinguishing about the limited doll. I think even if you miss a limited some of the fun is tracking that doll down on the secondary market. I am really only a fan of limiteds (with just my limwha exception). I hadn't even really thought about it til I saw this thread but I don't even look at anything but the limited dolls for sale on a doll page. I just love the creativity involved with the limiteds.

 

I wonder if the reason why so many people think that limited sculpts should be restocked is because they desire the ability to obtain one themselves? Or so that all people can? Even though I've read all the replies to this thread, I cannot really understand and fathom why anyone would desire the re-release of a limited unless it is for either of those two above reasons. I find it very selfish and unproffessional. I also think that it is ridiculous that the opinion of not wanting a re-release from an owner of an actual limited somehow translates into the very one-sided opinion that the owners love their dolls LESS, somehow. No, Indeed I do not believe this is the case. I would adore my Judas whether he was a limited or not, he just happens to be a limited. I would certainly continue to adore him just as much even if he weren't limited. I think those people who have mentioned this kind of reasoning are very...presumptuous? I don't mean to offend anyone, that's just how I see it.

It's not as if a limited sculpt is completely unobtainable after they have finished selling. There is always the second hand market. And gosh if you love a limited sculpt enough to wait and hawk over those markets until you get one, despite the x number of years you spend getting it, then you darn well DESERVE it. Kudos to you. You've proven your love for it.

For those that say it's unfair because it's only available for such a short time, I hate to break it to you; the world isn't all that fair. If everything were fair, ha. I don't even know what to say to that. =A=;;; It's very naive to say that sort of thing..It irks me, haha n__n;;;

I don't think that reproducing any of the limited sculpts should be done. Much less the fullset of clothing Many of you here would rather the sculpt than the face-up/set of clothing be reproduced, and again I cannot help but think of the first two reasons I listed.

IMHO Faceups and fullsets can be copied, to a T if you really really desire it and put in the effort to copy it. 8V You could have something very close to identical clothing and faceups of the limited sculpt. HOWEVER, it is the sculpt itself, in whatever resin colour etc that makes it limited in the end.

If I am wrong in my understanding, please take the time to explain it to me. I will try my best.

 

Isn't that the point of a limited edition of anything? It is available for a limited time or in limited numbers. If I wanted a limited pressing of a CD or a limited edition dress, I'd have to either get it while it was available or hunt one down at a later date. It isn't impossible to get the limited you want. Volks Chii was limited to 200 dolls at Dolpa 9 (2003), but someone just revealed in the box opening thread that they finally had their own Chii six years after she was originally released, practically full-set, and they didn't have to sell a kidney to buy her.

The only thing I wish of Soom is that they released teaser pictures of their forthcoming dolls months before the dolls were released so that people were given a chance to prioritise their doll money and pick the limited edition doll they like the best, rather than start layaways on a lot of dolls. But ultimately, Soom are well within their rights as a company to keep everyone in the dark until they unveil their limiteds.

 

Laelen, if you don't want to offend anyone than perhaps you should leave words like 'selfish', 'unprofessional' and 'presumptious' at home. Your post sounded very judgemental to me and I immediately felt annoyed by the way you phrased your opinion.

I agree with you that the 'it's not fair'-argument is not an argument at all and that you can still find your beloved limited in the after market if you look for him/her, and yet I still would like it if limiteds were re-released (the way Volks re-releases them; different full-set, same sculpt).

Why?

Because I love the sculpts I own and would like it if more people could enjoy them. I don't care if their value decreases because of it, I don't care if they become less 'special' or 'limited'. I bought my dolls because I love their faces.

Oh, and something else: You don't have to prove your love for a doll. I had to hunt down most of my dolls and it took me months (in one case it has already taken me years and I still don't have him) before I could bring them home. It had nothing to do with wanting to make sure I 'deserved' them, I simply like the game.
That's what this hobby is all about: Enjoying yourself. It shouldn't be a 'losers'-against-'winners'-race. Let's have fun!

 

Silk, I am sorry to have phrased myself in a way so strongly to your disliking. Often I am told that I am too blunt and give little in the ways of explanation. It is a fault of mine and I own it entirely.

If I may give one now, I did not mean that the person with those opinions is selfish and unprofessional. To me, the thinking that a company should restock a LE because one personally wishes to have the doll is equivalent to a situation where ..let's say, maybe a really beautiful doll came out when someone was a child (therefore the state of mind of not knowing better or that it even existed at all) but then the doll is not made anymore when said child has grown up and discovered it, wanting it for their own.

Again, you may correct me, I am open to it, but I think in this situation to have the doll restocked (thereby going against the original wishes/business plans of the company) for that person is a little selfish? Who should have the power to say something should be re-stocked (when it was never intended) just because they wish to own one? I think it would be more reasonable for the individual to have to track it down themselves. It would also be very unprofessional of a company to say something is limited and then release it again. I, personally, would choose to respect the company's wishes to maintain their LE dolls as LE. Though I admit, this is all hypothetical.

As to the use of presumptuous, I simply meant not every LE doll owner will love their doll less if it becomes re-stocked. I meant only to deter that opinion; it should not be presumed that any LE doll owner would love their doll less because of a re-stock. I am sure that many LE doll owners would agree with me. I think it is fair to say this.

I think you mistook me on that last part. I am not saying that anyone has to prove their love for their doll or has to deserve it to get one, haha. That would be laughable. I am just saying that if a person really wanted to get their hands on a limited, there are means to do so. With persistence, any person may own the doll of their dreams. When I said that someone has proven their love for a doll in that manner, I meant that I commend them for their efforts. It's quite admirable to dedicate yourself to chasing down that dream doll, no matter how many years it takes!

I have no qualms about your reasoning, it seems sound to me. It would be very lovely if everyone could have a simpler opportunity [to buy from the company instead of through the after markets] to find their dream doll. My own methods of respecting the company may vary from everyone else's, this I realize. I was curious. Thank you though silk, for taking the time to reply to me

 

Laelen: I too often phrase myself a little too bluntly and get into trouble, because people misread what I meant. Thank you, btw, for staying so calm in your response, even though my post sounded a bit harsh (didn't mean to).

I didn't sound like it, but I do agree with you for the most part. There is much entitlement and jealousy going on in this hobby and together with these feelings, people often think that owning limiteds is only possible when your either wealthy or incredibly lucky. But like you said: Persistence, waiting - even for years - is all that it takes to get the dreamdoll you thought was impossible to obtain. I mean, that's how I got my dolls. I'm not rich, I'm not lucky, I simply was willing to spend a long time search for them. And no, I wouldn't love my dolls any less if they were to be re-released.
This doesn't mean that I'm now forcing everybody to find those impossible limiteds; I can understand why someone wouldn't want to. Some people are simply not interested in the whole circus of obtaining a hard-to-get doll.

I commented on the last part of your post, because I believe this is one of the consequences of seeing limiteds as a status-object. What you said wasn't actually stranged or far-fetched, I've heard it before. There áre people out there believing you have to proof that you are 'worthy' enough to own a limited.

Now I come to think of it... this idea often goes hand in hand with the feeling of entitlement. Comments like 'You shouldn't buy a limited as your first doll, because you first have to show us that you can take good care of these dolls' and 'I don't think that owner should be allowed to own more than one Bermann' are quite common on this board. In the last case I've seen drama cool down when people realized it took that particular owner a lot of time and even more money to get the second version. Suddenly she 'deserved' them when before, when there was even the slightest chance she bought both of them directly from the company, the crowd felt she dídn't.

Like I said in my last post, it would be nice if we let each other simply enjoy this hobby and stop making it a competition.