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

I think that, if a particular doll where meant to be limited, then no, it shouldn't be restocked, ever...

If it was a OOAK, or better, a non-limited mold with a particular make-up/outifit which made the doll unique, then yes, the mold could be re-stocked maybe for another OOAK customization or whatever... but the previous OOAK of course shouldn't be repeated (otherwise it wouldn't be a OOAK anymore)

Then those dolls who weren't supposed to be limited but are now sold out for some reasons, those ones yes: I'm defenitely pro them to be re-stocked

 

I am new to this forum. So with my limited knowledgd, I will say that to me limited means only so many, otherwise how can they be considered only so many made ??
Nancy

 

Lord knows I wish to get my hands on the LEs that I've missed but hey, isn't the word Limited Edition supposed to mean something? If LEs can be restocked whenever the doll company feels like it - then what is the point of calling them LEs? Might as well call them REs? (Restockable Editions) Just my 2 cents!

 

I would have to say no. For instance, I just posted an entry on my LJ about how I'm disappointed at Volks for re-releasing Michele like they recently did, and not even change the skintone or name the way they did with Sasha/ Masha. It makes me feel like I've been ripped off for saving for so long to buy an original, blank Michele head for more than what the fullset re-release sells for now O.o.
It also means that if I ever wanted to sell my Michele, I would never be able to recover even close to what I paid for him. They could've at least change one letter in his name the way they did with Masha, so that the old Michele is still worth something... When I bought him, he was so special and rare, and I saved so hard in order to afford him and waited for YEARS until I managed to lay my hands on one. He was my dream doll, and I felt so good when I got him, as if I have finally managed to get into an exclusive club . And now, the market is pretty much flooded with them! You can find SO many of them for sale, it makes me feel like a fool, really. So obviously, my answer to the thread's question would be a "NO". Not only in Michele's case, but in any limited's case. Part of the beauty in buying a limited, even though I'm sure many will disagree with me, is the "hunt" and the feeling that you have something rare and exclusive. That's part of the saving up, the wait... It's a feeling of satisfaction when you've achieved your goal and got one. That's why I'm so mad at Volks for re-releasing Michele like this, because my boy was so special to me, and now there are so many others like him . He is still special to me, because he is mine, but I hope you know what I mean... Volks have re-released many molds over the years, but they at least changed the name with each release. I have no idea why they didn't do it this time, but it's quite annoying imho.
To me, limited aren't supposed to be accessible to everyone. Part of the joy of owning a limited is the feeling you have something special not everyone else has, something you don't see in every corner. That's part of the reason you're willing to pay so much more for them. Re-releases kill this joy, and make the limiteds generic and, well... Not so limited at all.

 

I think Starla makes a lot of sense. I want an f-28 really bad and while I would be happen if they re-released the model, I would feel a little cheated because he wouldn't be quite as rare for me. He would be cheaper, but maybe not as exciting. I am a doll collector, I like the hunt

edit: I was just thinking, if a doll is SUPER limited, and you have to have it, you will make it happen. Doll collecting is luxury, and like any other kind of luxury you can collect on a budget or you go all out (like buying ready made, SEE by Chloe or buying the one of kind couture items) . In the world of limiteds, it's not an every man's hobby, if something is priced and sold as a limited, it should remain that way. I would feel cheated if a doll was re-leased that I spent a lot of money and time and excitement to acquire. I feel like re-releasing is just a way to make more money, hopefully companies have more integrity then that...

 

In a way yes, and no.
There's a gorgeous pair of LE twins on Dollmore I really wanted back in the day. They first attracted me to the world of BJDs.
They were limited to 5 each, and I saw one on eBay no too long ago which I almost bought.. it was still a lot of money though.

I'd love a 2nd chance to buy one of these dolls, but re-releasing dolls just defeats the object of LE dolls in the first place..

 

+ 1 with Starla, NoNoNanoon & Skitsofrenika (and other members saying the same things).

My answer is definitly NO ^___^

 

I agree completely! I think they should specify with each limited doll to what extent it will be limited. That only seems fair.

 

Thank you for your heartfelt and sincere explanation, and I agree with you wholeheartedly!

 

I'm so glad to see people agree with me, I was afraid I was going to sound too elitistic. Just to make it clear that I have nothing against Volks re-releasing new dolls which use the same mold, as they did with Sasha/ Masha, Anais/ Tae, Rose/ Bianca etc... Because it helps set one release from another and keep the original releases' value. I even posted on DoA once wanting to start a petition in order to get Volks to re-release Michele. But I never wanted them to just re-release the original doll, I hate it. I hoped they would do the same thing they did when they re-released Sasha as Masha. Couldn't they re-release him as Sichelle or something?

 

At first I did not like the idea of limited dolls at all I wanted nothing to do with it because I was more about starting with a blank slate.

Well how things change.

I enjoy the limited aspect of the hobby. I like looking at other collector's dolls and appreciating the trouble they went through to get the doll. I also believe it is a way to add an extra layer of special to your purchase. So many companies make limited dolls so everyone can get a doll that is a bit more unique from the get go! It does not feel elite to me because I can see how easily a collector can get a limited doll if they set their mind to it or have the patience to wait for just the perfect doll from their favorite company.

As for the second hand market and mark ups....well that is a choice. Do you need that exact dolly from 2005 or can you wait for something new to grab you?

I just purchased my first limited and I only bought Kaelin because I loved his face. Paying the extra money bugged me at first but now that he is home...he has changed my mind about liking limited. He was worth it me and I appreciate that he is a more unique boy.

 

My answer is definitely YES! Don't blame me for this, but I think limited dolls should be re-released. Yeah, not after they were sold out but, I don't know...about a year or something after and should be sell in a periods like...SOom is selling their monthly dolls. One doll one month. It would be really gorgeous if they'd re-released their MDs. You know, it's not very nice feeling when you just fall in love with some doll and then find out that is sold out and you will never ever get her. Especially with SM's dolls.

 

... But Volks has also re-released tons of dolls with the same name. Tohya and Kohya, Isao, Williams, Shizu and what about Lucas or Chris? All of them were released multiple times and all of them with the same name.
I just don't see your point. Why does a name matter so much? Shizu or Madoka, they are both the same mold. Your doll doesn't become more 'special' because it has a different name. Even if you were the only one who owned a doll called 'Chiselle' instead of Michele, there are still hundreds of them and yours is just one of them. How is it different from owning a Michele version 1 vs a Michele version 2.

Besides, I think the original release will retain it's value, because it is a different fullset. As long as you have the complete set, I don't think you'll have to worry losing money. There are always people who want a specific version of a mold and are willing to spend loads of cash on it.

 

Oh I dunno, if I was a company and saw my old limited fullsets selling for three/four times the amount I sold them for (which means 300% profit acquired by someone(s) that wasn't me), I'd definitely be very, very tempted to re-release the dolls to drive the prices down and get some more profit that I deserve for making the doll in the first place. If people want them so much they're driving the prices through the roof, most will appreciate a re-release, other than the ones who decided the doll was worth the 300% mark-up.

On the other hand if I were a company I'd make sure most of my "limited" dolls are never under a "never to be released again" guarantee, along with "but maybe this will be the only release" warning.

I think if it was a doll sold under something like OOAK or "Limit 70", them never releasing the limited again is sort of an issue of... I don't know, trust? Integrity? At least, the new limited would have to be sufficiently different from the old ones. And in the case of limited sculpts, I think the best way to go about it is to release a similar-looking but new doll.

And I agree with Silk; I never pay attention to the sculpt name anyways, since that's not going to be the doll's name. I don't see how a different name is going to make things better than a V.1 and a V.2, with the first one being even more skeezy. A different skin-tone, like the NS Sards, on the other hand, is a pretty good idea of differentiating the limiteds.

I bought a Soom Chrom head at quite a mark-up, but I honestly don't really care if Soom decided tomorrow to make Chrom a standard sculpt, because a) he was worth it to me b) he's a wonderful sculpt and it'll certainly make a lot of people happy.

 

I agree that limited fullsets should never be restocked, but when it comes to something that was cast in resin I don't see why they can't make more. Unless it was a VERY complicated sculpt and that contributed to the reason it was limited- the fact it was difficult to make and ruined the mold after getting only like two out of it.

It didn't bother me when Dollzone re-realeased the head for Xi Aleister, because the rest of the set (outfit, wig, body details) was still unavailable, so it was still a limited doll. ( i actually own the dream xi)

 

I think it is unfair to say that your doll is made in LIMITED quantities, but not really. That's just bad business.

 

whether or not they are be released again without me blinking at it depends on the way they were released in the first place. Lets talk Volks a moment, they release limiteds in several runs, the question is not if the doll is limited, but which VERSION limited it is. Same thing happened with Luts and their elf el and lishe, there was a lot of furore whtn those dolls were released. I do not think a doll should be re released if it is a limited where the purchasers were told there will be X number EVER, but El and Lishe elf were not of this type as the second release was slightly different, did not come with the same limited add ons, and was even a different head mechanism. So there is type one Lishe elf and type two lishe elf, see?

As for dolls like the Soom monthlies, I am a bit more uncertain, on these there is an unlimited number made, there is a limited buying period however. To get the doll you have to buy in that period. Soom is also having a special lottery. I do not consider the lottery as a re release, it is allowing people to enter a lottery to purchase those dolls that were kept reserved from the initial sale. If Soom was to turn around and say "we are re releasing our monthlies, for five days you can order them and we will produce any number ordered" well that wolud be different, since that is against what the original purchasers were told would happen.

Basically6 I am saying that companies should keep their word, if you are only releasing a certain number then only release that number, if you are releasing them as versions make that clear, and oly release that number of each version, if you are only releasing them over a certain period then please only release them during that period and never again in that version. It is about honesty. I do not care how many there are of any limited out there (hell I have limiteds but I have them because I like them, not because they are limiteds) but I DO care if a company sells dolls then says "oh! we made a lot of money on the XYZ limited, lets do a re release of them and rake in more!"

 

No, I do not think limiteds should be restocked because then they would not be as special

 

I say no, unless it's something like Soom did where there's a lottery for ONE of each limited doll after the fact. That way, there's still a chance to own the doll you may have missed out on for whatever reason, but it's still not going to make the doll's value go down or make it any less rare.

For example, I'd love to own a Soom Onyx and didn't know about Soom back when she was released. I would have jumped at the chance to enter the lottery for her, but I'm flat broke. XD Woe is me!

 

No I don't think that limited dolls should be restocked. The dolls value would drop and it would be rude to anyone who bought the limited doll the first time around, thinking that there would only be a certain number of them made. If they are limited they should stay limited to the number they were originally.