How do you buy dolls?

denverdoll is good if you want to buy in layaway

 

I am new to the hobby (as something other than a lurker) and I can't imagine myself buying second hand ever. There's a market for it, one of my best friends pretty much only buys previously owned dolls. For me though..maybe it's a bit of a jealousy thing? I prefer a doll untouched by anyone but me. Fresh and ready to develop its personality solely with me. But, to be fair, I'm like this in all of my hobbies. I virtually never buy second hand unless its clothing.

 

I sometimes look at the marketplace just in case, though there's little chance of my getting my hands on my no-longer-in-production grail, but for the most part I prefer buying new (well, so far I've only bought new, but used the marketplace for other things like wigs and such).

Of my four, two came directly from the company and two were through an authorized dealer where I've also bought just other things for my dolls... I like the whole experience of a new doll, especially when you're ordering a doll that's not limited or otherwise in-stock-- there's something special about knowing a doll was literally MADE for me! Plus I like directly supporting the companies/artists whose work I enjoy so much.

 

Favorite place to buy is Think Pink or second hand in our country. I don't mind to drive to get my doll instead of shipping.

 

Most of my dolls are bought directly from the compagny. Compagnies like Dollzone or DollChateau or Loongsoul I prefer to buy through a dealer. My DollChateau's are all bought through Think Pink, and my loongsoul Eloise through Mint on Card. I prefer a European Dealer, to avoid the high custom charges. Mint on Card is a great dealer, but Amercian and the shipping was extremely high and I had to pay full custom charges (about 25%). I knew that before I placed the order, but it is something I have to keep in mind when I order through dealer outside the EU. It makes buying through dealer more expensive, most compagnies lower the value on the box, but dealers don't.

I have also adopted a few dolls, form friends, and from doll owners in the Netherlands who I know and trust. I don't like using the marketplace here on DoA, again because of the high custom charges. I would never ask a persoon to put a lower value on the box, to avoid problems if the parcel gets lost, but it makes buying on DoA quite expensive.

 

I like to buy new when I can. If that's not possible I try Facebook, Ebay and Etsy.

 

I like secondhand dolls, it's like you have the security of what are you buying (if it has any seamline or production mistake for example), and you can also contribute someone to get ride of something they no longer desire.
If I have to buy something new, I try to find it using EU dealers because our customs are a pain in the a$$. If I can't have it by dealers (like FL on EU), I wait for them to pop on the second market...

 

I prefer buying heads new (generally from a dealer) and bodies secondhand. While there's always a risk of yellowing and resin matching, it's just easier to search secondhand and avoid the wait. If I'm buying a full doll outright, I prefer to go through a dealer and get it new, through layaway since the wait seems more bearable if I'm anticipating payments. Six month layaway on through a company that expects an average six month wait? No problem.

 

Straight from the company is my preferred way to go, but I'll also use a dealer if layaway is needed at the time.

 

I got mine from a chilean Facebook group. It was a lot more comfortable considering you don't have to use a credit card, nor to wait a lot for receiving your doll, nor paying custom taxes. And I had the chance to receive them from the previous owner hands, and get her to explain me some of the basic stuff about handling, which was pretty awesome since I was a total noob.

 

I am absolutely terrible at waiting. I can't wait months for a purchase because it makes me insane. I'm definitely, unapologetically an instant gratification person. Most of my purchases have been from DoA, JunkySpot, or Mintoncard. I purchased several dolls from CustomHouse in 2010, one from Notdoll also in 2010, and recently a few bodies from Mirodoll (which I regret a little because of the wait.) I can't remember if there have been anymore I ordered from the company directly (i may be forgetting a purchase.) My purchases from CustomHouse and Notdoll were shipped around a month. If I remember correctly, the CH order arrived a little earlier than a month. That was my first company direct order. I really miss all my CH/Aidoll dolls.

 

I like to buy both pre-owned and from companies! I only buy from people i can look at more closely though, ex. not an ebay seller, since i'm so afraid of being scammed into a recast ^^''''' I like the fact that you can get sold-out/limited dolls second hand, and that they're also cheaper, but i love the security of ordering from a company/ official re-seller ｡^‿^｡

 

I generally buy my dolls either secondhand (DoA or Ebay), directly from the company, or through and authorized dealer. To me, each of these methods have their advantages and their disadvantages, but the feeling of finally getting the doll you have wanted for a long time is absolutely fantastic!

 

I'm still super new, but so far I've used Alice Collections. They have really really good customer service. I've also used Mandarake, their shipping was super amazingly fast which was so nice!! I'd eventually like to order from Fabric and Friends, since they're really close to where I live (only 20 minutes )

 

To help me budget better, I went through DDE for my first doll~ (She'll arrive in about two months I believe?) I read excellent reviews about them, and when I emailed them a question they were very attentive and got back to me right away~! Super super nice, I feel really secure with them

 

I like to buy from dealers that are here in the US like Denver Doll or Doll Peddler. But if I want a doll that they don't carry like from Iplehouse, I'll buy directly from the company. I will also buy from Ebay, if I can be sure it's not a recast. And I wouldn't hesitate to buy from the Marketplace here if I were to find a doll I wanted.

 

So far I've bought one of my dolls directly through luts. It all went fine but it was annoying that I had to drive to customs to pay for tax since the next office is an hour away from home. Next time I would probably choose a dealer instead.
I also bought one second hand on a group on Facebook. I did prefer that because I did't have to wait for so long. Even though Luts is still pretty fast in producing pre-ordered dolls, the wait was torture for me.

 

I prefer buying my dolls new but so far I've bought the two dolls I own second hand. My SDgr has been produced in 2010 so there's no other way to buy him than in the aftermarket and my DD was just up for sale for a very good price which I didn't want to miss out.
But my next two dolls will be new, I'm curious to see if there's any real difference to a preowned doll that has been taken very well care of.

 

I don’t like buying secondhand anything— it’s a strong dislike of mine that stretches to a lot of my shopping habits. I buy it new, and I care for it as carefully as I know how to.

If I see a sculpt I like, I just know in my gut that my wallet’s going to end up screaming.

 

Four of my dolls were direct from the company, the rest were wonderful secondhand purchases. I’m thankful of the secondhand market as sometimes you don’t have the funds when limits come up. And knowing a doll I’m looking for may appear on the secondhand market helps with reasonable budgeting.