I take issue with the term 'Random Eye Color'! Do you?

Oh, but you do have that right. You can order the eye color you want for her additionally to the doll.

Do they? Sounds more like purchasing parts separatly and putting it together, rather than purchasing a finished doll to me. And in that case you are purchasing them separatly as well.

Because they are a freebie? Also, depending on the doll and colors, they might NOT be just $ 6. (I think none of mine were that cheap to be honest)
I have heard of a few dolls that came without eyes at all, so rather than thinking it annoying that I can't choose I'm glad I'm getting any so they aren't eyeless until I get them those I want to. I rarely order eyes before having the doll too, because they might already come with pretty eyes

What could work thought, is that maybe one could get to choose the eye color of those in stock.

One must also think about the company a bit at this part. They can't just stock all possible colors cause one MIGHT want it. They already busy with producing the doll and I know some already balk at having to wait 2-3 months or LONGER for their dolls. They want it fast and preferably already yesterday Imagine you know the doll is done or should be done, but no shipping notice arrives, or you see that people on the waiting list before and AFTER you already got their dolls and upon inquiry why yours isn't shipped yet but others are the answer is: The eyes you ordered have not yet arrived/are being made/other dely reason.
I'd rather get the doll with random ones, than having to wait for specific ones to arrive to get my doll anyway. :3

 

Most doll companies make the dolls. They don't make the eyes. I know companies have had so much trouble keeping glass eyes in stock that they switched to sending acrylic eyes as defaults. If they made the eyes, you could order what you want, but since they have to purchase them they can only offer what they have. Most companies will give you the eye color you request if they have it in stock, but its not a guarantee.

I think acrylic eyes look great in 8mm, but I like glass or urethane when the eyes are big.

 

I'm a bit surprised by the attitude that because the doll is expensive, the company must bend over backwards to accommodate a request of something that was not listed as part of the package. The listing clearly states "random eyes", and, that's what the customer gets. Would it be nice if the company provided a specific color upon request? Sure! And, as others have pointed out, most of the time the company will, indeed, send you the requested color, if they have it in stock and you ask politely.

Yes, these dolls are expensive, in some cases, very expensive, and as a customer, there are certain things that you are entitled to - undamaged doll of good quality and any extras that are listed as part of the package. That's it. To expect the company to give you free extras is like expecting to come to the Chanel boutique, buying an expensive purse, and expecting that Chanel give you a free wallet just because you spent 3k on the purse. Or, buying an expensive DSLR on Amazon and expecting to be sent free accessories in the color of your choice, just because you paid 1k for your camera. Doesn't happen, does it? Amazon sends exactly what is listed - nothing more, nothing less. Why hold the doll companies to another standard?

I was understanding in my first reply to this thread because I assumed that OP didn't know that companies do listen to requests and accommodate their customers' wishes, if it's possible. But, I just don't get the expectation of free things or special treatment just because a person chooses to spend a large sum on a luxury item.

Disclaimer: All instances of "you" are used in a general sense and do not refer to anyone in particular.

 

Out of all my purchases, 5 of my dolls arrived with free "random" eyes. One of these was a secondhand doll I bought from someone leaving the hobby and the eyes were Mystic urethanes, which was a nice surprise. The rest were cheap acrylic or glass eyes that I tossed in my extras drawer almost immediately. The rest of my dolls didn't come with any eyes at all. I've never really cared much either way as I don't like cheap acrylic/glass eyes and my characters all have distinct eye colors. It seems an odd thing to fuss over really.

 

I agree, that's the only time it's ever bothered me. I love volks but I hate when they hot glue the eyes in It's so hard to remove (at least for me it is, it takes ages to scrape the glue out with out ruining the resin)

 

I agree! (It doesn't help that I don't own a single hairdryer!)

 

I can understand that we're paying a lot for the dolls and it seems that the least a company could do was include certain eye colors...

I also understand that this could add extra problems for the company. They might have to hunt down certain colors and it's another thing with the order that can go wrong and cause discontent, etc. AND I know that many people simply replace the eyes anyway--or use them if they like them...

So... to me, it's sometimes a minor annoyance, and mostly a non-issue. I wouldn't MIND getting a specific color, but usually the company will try and stick closely to colors they use in photos, so it's not a big surprise, at least. And I usually will want to get my own eyes for the doll anyway--so it doesn't matter in the end.

I guess, I like it if they offered certain colors--but I haven't absolutely hated that they have the whole "Random Eye Color" thing going...

 

I agree that some dolls (thinking in the $400+ range) should come with various free-eye options. However, on the other hand, they don't have to offer you *anything* and some companies don't - not even free "random" eyes. So, I'll take whatever I can get.

 

I know that some companies you can request a certain color or two for them to choose from when ordering your doll. But I'm not a fan of it either. I think you should be able to choose from a smaller category of eyes the company has to offer. It would be nice because I'm afraid they'll send me some dreadful color like yellow or some dull color I won't like.

 

I got a pair of glass yellow eyes as the default random in my very first doll. Of course, my initial reaction was 'gah!', but they grew on me so much that I haven't changed them in five years. And I never will. They've just become who he is.

As for this whole thing, I guess I just don't understand the problem with 'random' eyes. And I don't see why it's such a huge inconvenience to just, you know, buy eyes separately that you know will work and be to your taste. Especially since nowadays the random eyes are often just really cheap acrylics that don't look all that nice, regardless of the colour they are. I think of all the dolls I've bought direct from a company, I've used the default eyes maybe twice - one in the same doll, as I mentioned, and another pair finally found a home in one of my latest dolls, after sitting in a box for five years. That's assuming I got eyes at all!

 

They are free eyes. I don't see a problem. Hehe xD

 

I have no problem with random eye colors. They add to the surprise actually. ^^ Although, it would be cool if we get to choose what color we want for our dolls.

Hahaha, I'm just thankful that the companies offer free eyes so our dolls won't be eyeless while we're looking for the right color or style of we want for them. ^^

 

They're free, so I don't complain. We are customers, we are entitled to some things, yes, but the company gave THEIR time to make YOUR doll (I don't even want to think about the process of making one of these beauties). You should at least be respectful and not throw up a temper tantrum about it.

Besides, when I ordered Sven, I asked Souldoll to give him the Shiva eyes they had. Lo and behold, he has his pretty Shiva eyes. It never hurts to ask. That's why they have that description box for you to include suggestions or what you want. They're certainly not there for you to sit in your place and gawk at it in awe of its neat square-ness.

 

I'd love to be able to always pick up the eye colour, but I understand why companies do it.
You can always suggest what you'd prefer I guess.

 

They companys i ordered from for my two bjds had an option if i wanted any additional notes to add. I ask politley for the eye colour and when arrival passes i get the eye colour i asked. :P If i haven't decided what eye colour i want my doll to be then i would not mind random. But asking nicely will get you the right eye colour most of the times.

 

In a way...I kind of enjoy the random eye color. For me, it makes my doll feel like even more a surprise! For me, it makes them feel special. Many dolls, even though we have so many things we can change about them, can match others dolls in looks if we haven't changed them to custom things yet. The random eyes make them seem individual when we receive them.

 

I've noticed a lot of threads lately that go something like, "With the amount of money I paid for this doll, I believe I am entitled to <thing the doll company does not say and has never said is included in the purchase price>". I've seen it with seam sanding. I've seen it with people expecting dolls in unusual skintones to be flawlessly sanded (which the companies generally take pains to point out is impossible). I've seen people complain that companies did not customize the default faceup they paid for on request. And now random eyecolor.

So here's the deal: What you are entitled to and deserving of when you purchase a doll is whatever the company has said is included in the purchase price of that doll; no more and no less. If they say it comes with randomly chosen acrylic eyes, that's what you get, and you do not deserve or have a right to select the eye color -- they TOLD you that what the price includes is random eyes. If you purchase a pair of eyes in a particular color, then and only then are you entitled to that color of eyes. Similar with seam-sanding and default faceups: You're pretty much always told what the thing you're buying includes. Just because you think what you're buying is expensive and want something more than what is on offer doesn't mean you're somehow cosmically entitled to get that thing, be it sanded seams from a company that doesn't sand seams, eyes of a color of your choice, or a customized faceup when you bought the uncustomized default.

If you think that what you're getting, what with the random eyes and the seams and the lips that aren't the exact color you wanted, is not worth the price you've paid, that doesn't mean the company is bad. I mean, they told you what you were getting for that price and you chose to ignore them. What you should do, if you found that situation unacceptable, is buy from a company that includes those things you demand for that price. I'm sure you can find one.

"But I want the sculpt from company X!" you say. Well, we all want lots of things. I want a high-end speaker system, and I only want to pay $200 for it, but that doesn't mean Klipsch is suddenly going to give me a set of $300/apiece speakers for $200, and it doesn't mean I deserve it, and nobody ever told me I did. So I have to either save more money, or settle for what I can afford with my $200. Note that one of my choices is not "complain on the internet that the thing I want should be exactly how I want it for the price I am willing to pay for it," because as it happens that is not how capitalism actually works.

 

Mmm I don't REALLY mind. I usually just send a quick message and ask "if possible can I get this color". If I don't get the color I want it's not a huge deal, and if I do, then yay xD

 

chibaraki: Well said. Your entire post is a keeper.