Gift items: Should they be sold?

If I get a gift and I don't like it or can't use it, I usually pass it on to someone else, also as a gift, but it does depend on the value or the quality of it.
But the thing about a gift is that it should be yours to do with whatever you want.

 

When a company includes a gift/prize/promotional item with your purchase, it's not just a random act of kindness - though it's certainly kind. It also leaves the buyer with a good impression of the company. The buyer's more likely to come back because they have that favorable memory - and they have a new item. It's not really an issue of ulterior motives, because everyone wins, lol.

With that said, if someone receives a gift head or anything that they don't want, I'd much rather them sell it to someone who'd really like it than hoard it away because they don't like the idea of selling it - even if they have no plans for it. It'd be nice if they sold it for a fair price instead of jacking it up, but that's as much up to the market as a whole. I don't blame someone for wanting to profit, either.

Myself, if something's given to me from a friend because they think I would like it myself, I'd be uncomfortable selling. A promotional item I wouldn't care, and an item someone brought back for me because they received it (not really going out of their way), I'd be appreciative, and my initial thought wouldn't be reselling. But it's not something I wouldn't consider if I needed the funds.

 

IMHO, if someone buys a doll and likes this particular doll (be it a dream doll or the first doll, etc.), and it *just* so happens to come with a free item, like say, a head or an extra set of clothes, I think it's perfectly ethical if the person wants to sell it if they don't really want/need it :3

It becomes a bit of a gray area though, when someone buys a fullset, but sells off the wig/clothes that come with this only particular set, then I think it's really up to context.

Otherwise yeah, if you got it and don't want it, sell >w<

 

I think it's perfectly fine to sell a promotional item from a company - as long as you're not scalping it right off the bat. Around 100$ seems reasonable, for example, to start one of the CP event heads at, since that's around what a separate CP head costs.

Now, if several months later the demand for the head has gone up and market forces cause the head's price to be bid up, I don't think that's necessarily bad. It's just a problem if you started the head at 250$ first, or something.

And I have no issues with people splitting limiteds or standards that come with multiple heads/clothing/etc. A lot of the time, when limiteds are split, everyone benefits - again, as long as the original buyer isn't scalping the parts.

 

If they had to buy something in order to get the 'free" item then it wasn't really free, it was more like an extra, so sure. If it was free free, they didn't have to buy anything didn't have to do anything it's still fine why not ? Just becuase they rec'd something doesn't mean I would receive the exact same set of items just becuase I was at the same place.

 

I suppose it depends on the person and their circumstances.

I got one of the very first CP promotional heads when they did the event, and I refused to sell her, because she was a gift head. In the end, I gave her to a friend of mine. I knew from the beginning if I didn't want to keep her, I'd give her away.

I still don't think I could sell a 'gift' item. I'd rather continue the free, generous spirit in which it was given.

 

I'm not sure this is what you meant, and this is in no way an attack on you :3 But I don't think promotional items from companies are given in a totally 'free, generous spirit'. Yes, it may be a way of showing customer appreciation, but in most cases, you bet the doll companies are giving away freebies to boost their sales. I'm sure the CP Christmas events have caused a significant jump in sales the past few years they've done it.

It's also an incentive to order from companies that regularly give out little freebies, like Dollmore.

This isn't a bad thing, of course, but I personally feel it's a bit naive to think that the companies are giving away things for 'free' purely out of the goodness of their hearts.

 

I am rather happy people sell that kind of things yes, else I would not have the possibility to ever own something like it ^^

 

If its from a doll company I dont see anything wrong with it. I actually bought the Delf package with the extra head because even though I didnt want the extra head I wanted the xtra pair of hands that came with it but since I bought it around xmas time I got 2 extra heads (Juri head) I didnt really like the sculpt when it came and I figured that since these were limited and not sold by themselves and there were so many people that liked them I thought well someone might want to buy it and I can apply whatever I get for it back to the orginal purchase price of the doll.
Now if someone gives you something as a present because they are a friend..I think you are obligated to keep it. it would hurt their feelings to much to come across your "Sale Post"
What ifs it a swap or a trade? can you sell those things?*scratches head* I guess I wouldnt unless the person says before hand that its okay.

 

DoD Asks on thier event page that you not sell the event Lahoo head...but I plan on trading mine for a female DoD head, because I'm not a fan of guy dolls. XD I wouldn't sell it because I think it would be rude, but trading is fine IMO.

 

i don't mind seeing people sell gift items.. i just think its rude to put a high markup price on it. when i sell gifts i get, i try to just place a fair price, even if its desireable in the marketplace.

 

I don't see any problem with selling a gift. You didn't ask for it, but now you have it nonetheless and might want to get rid of it because you don't like it or it doesn't fit your dolls or something. You can of course just pass it on to someone else, but if you want to sell it, where's the problem in that? If I get presented with a bag of goldnuggets I'd have no problems selling them off immediately. (Except maybe checking if they're authentic and stuff )

 

I see no problem with this. When it's given to you, you can do what you want with it.

 

I don't think it is wrong to sell 'gift' items that come with your doll.

As other have said, chances are you paid for the doll itself, so it's not like they were completely free.

Depending on the gift, I'd especially say sell it or trade it if you don't really like it; I plan on doing this with a free pair of shoes that AngelRegion sent with my doll. I'm sure someone else out there will like them.

 

I have no issue with selling a gift item once you have it in hand. Pre-selling it, however...I think that borders on fraudulent.

 

Well My friend gave me a super adorable DZ Petdoll Bunny, she is lovely but if I ever need money...very badly and this is the most expensive gift I have gotten...well I would hate to sell her.

Sames goes with her I guess, I gave her my DZ Tintan as a gift and Id hate to see her sell her but if she needs the money or is not interested in her she could sell my gift but I would be a tiny bit upset!

 

A gift is yours to do with as you wish. That's the nature of gifts.

 

I agree that once an item is given to you, it's your property and you are free to do as you wish. I was thinking about the DZ pet doll promotion this last Christmas. If you ordered a certain amount you got the pet doll for free. I think that if you wanted to turn around and immediately sell your little fox or bunny then it was your choice.

However, if the item where a "personal gift" I do not think it would be acceptable to sell it. Like, if you have a good friend that is in the BJD community as well, and that friend gives you a doll or doll item for your birthday, it would be very rude to sell it. I gave my friend a head a couple of months ago and if I saw him on here or on Ebay trying to sell it I would be very hurt.

 

I´m sorry if I sounds rude, I respect other people´s opinions and I really don´t want to offend anybody, but I think that is stupid to stablish if it is "ethic" to sell gift items. Most of these "gift" items (event heads, clothes or any other items) are just promotional offers from the companies to increase their sales in a season where their customers (and all people) generally spends more money.
I think as a seller, I´d do the same sales strategy if I am a company owner, and I really don´t take care if my customers sells the gift items, this is a free world.
If I really don´t want/need to keep a gift item, or if I don´t like it, I´d sell it without any doubt for reasonable price, or for the same price from the store.
BTW, this isn´t like people who buys limited dolls/items and re-sell these for (very) expensive prices to take advantage from the companies´s items.

(Also, this case is NOT like Robin wrote above about personal gifts, in that case I agree totally with her.)