If Soom released their monthly dolls as a basic line next year, how would you feel?

Well, that is the nice thing about running a web-based business. When people start complaining and calling you crazy, you can just turn off the computer and walk away. :3 And either the orders get placed and paid for or they don't. If they don't, you just move on to the next project.

 

I completely agree with this. I previously owned a Soom Io (both heads, one with an LE Soom faceup, mask, etc) and the thought of his re-sale value had never really occurred to me. I just really enjoyed the sculpts, but I decided to part with his head sculpts because my characters needed re-vamping. At the time though, it would not have bothered me whatsoever if he was available again for purchase because basic versions would not have all of those limited elements (the faceup, etc). As a buyer, I think it is important to do one's research about what one is buying. Having been involved in this hobby for 8 years (and the doll hobby in general for 14 years), I have rarely seen head sculpts that were completely LE (and never to be sold again) without it being expressly stated by the company. Most of the time, LE refers to the set that a doll comes with and/or their faceups. As others have mentioned though, sometimes companies will change their minds and re-release sculpts that were previously stated to be LE and that is their choice as a company. Looking at the list that sharnofshade posted, Soom never seems to have expressed that the sculpts themselves were limited (never to be sold again), nor did they make a mass general statement publicly that they would be breaking those molds.

 

I think those who directly inquired if sculpts would be ever released again and were told they wouldn't could be considered to have "done their research."

 

As idrisfynn and midnitestar7 mentioned in the discussion thread for LMoD Beryl, many times a company will give stock answers in regards to the future releases of any given sculpt. In my experience in this hobby, I tend to believe official statements issued over what I might be receiving from one of many (or in some cases several) workers at a company. Sometimes I will get in touch with sculptors to specifically ask what they have planned for future sculpts just so I know if I should wait or purchase right away. For example, at Dollmore I asked in February if they had any plans to release Zaoll faceplates separately in the future and was told that they would have an official release sometime in the summer. Later, another member found out that you can simply buy the heads themselves separately and it has been that way for months. Doing one's research (for myself personally) also involves exercising caution at times: I tend to wait a long time and have passed up LEs only to rarely ever see the sculpt released again (e.g. Volks Madoka). For me, sometimes I will wait it out to see if a sculpt is released again down the line. It's a gamble (e.g. me waiting out for Madoka and not getting the opportunity again), but that's just my opinion. Additionally, I have also seen more than a few companies crumble and then their sculpts are never seen again: again, it's a risk to wait it out, but it's something I tend to do.

 

Timid, from what I've seen, I'm not so sure the people asking Soom about potential re-releases were understood, or vice versa. Soom -- and most doll companies in my experience -- mean "no, we are not releasing that full package again" when they state, "no, we are not releasing [doll name] again." They tend to assume buyers are talking about the complete set and not just the head mold, even when the original question asks about the mold specifically. I've had it happen to me more than once.

I can't claim to have memorized the wording of every question and response mentioned in this thread, so perhaps I am wrong. There might be someone out there to whom Soom gave a very specific response that said, "no, we will never use this head mold for any future dolls." I hope that is the case, because based on my own past experience, I wouldn't make any assumptions about the re-use of a head mold unless the company response was incredibly detailed and specific in that regard. And even then, as mentioned by many posters prevously, I would take it with a grain of salt, as the personnel and economic needs of companies change often. What is true at any given moment might not be true the next year. It's just one of the many reasons I trained myself long ago not to get hung up on how unique and special my dolls are.

 

lillykitten: i am of the opposite opiniion. i believe soom knows "exactly" what it is doing.

i personally do not feel the least bit 'threatened' by soom releasing 'past monthlies' in every color imaginable. i am rather looking forward to gray sard hooves myself. i also still want my black unicorn. Dear Soom: 'bring it on! ' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF4GIovrq_8

 

If this had happened shortly after I got my Beryl head I would have had a cow, but, I think they gave enough time for everyone to realize, we still still have these molds around, and.... We're using them. Plus, the new Beryl looks a little tan? Anyway, I think because it's not exactly the same thing again, it's nothing to flip out about. I think it will be fun to see what else they do with them...

 

Exactly. I have one limited who was only different from standard because he had a special face-up and outfit. By the time he got into my possession, the face-up is wiped and the outfit is long gone. He's no different from the standard at this point. I'm not going to complain because the price was good and he had the resin type I wanted.

At least the Soom limiteds have different skin tones. They're still special without the special parts. Hopefully people bought them because they liked the doll and not because they liked the mark-up to sell the doll themselves.

 

So, Soom just released the new Beryls info, she's NS and only in a release of
50...though it says a first order...so perhaps they are just going to test the
interest in her and release more...? I would hate it if they only plan to release
50 each of other future re-releases.

 

That's all quite fair, although to what degree is it the customer's responsibility to account for any and all language mistakes or that the customer service rep has and is unintentionally giving incorrect information (this is referring to multiple posts on the matter)? If a person asked a direct question in good faith and things turn out differently down the line, I can see why they might not be thrilled with the company in question.

Doll companies are not incredibly detailed or specific about anything, in my experience. Everyone is always working under some kind of assumptions in this hobby. I still think people are allowed to be disappointed or even angry even if they haven't done exhaustive research or assumed that nothing a company told them was meant like it sounded or was accurate.

I don't know that I think Soom ever knows what it's doing . From shipping times issues to Idealian's rocky start to the current confusion about what they're even doing with this re-release . . . a lot of great things about what Soom does, but they don't give the impression that they're fabulous planners.

 

Timid - but they don't give the impression that they're fabulous planners.

Maybe this is the case! But for me, they are a doll company one step ahead of the others and I could forgive them for this.

 

I suppose I've had some experience working with different companies and artists from around the world (not just for hobbies, but also professionally), so I've learned that clarity can sometimes be hard to come by and that miscommunication is not a rarity. I've learned to accept this, but not everyone wants to do that (understandably so). People can and will complain: but the most a consumer can do is not spend support said business in terms of capital or encourage a boycott if they feel so inclined to.

People can and will feel how they feel; however, others may also have a difference of opinion about this (as is evident in many threads, not just this one).

Gelfling9uk -- I'm with you on this one!

 

Oh, I understand this. I'm currently feeling uncomfortable with things Crobi and Volks have done recently, but not to the point that they can't tempt me to buy from them . And I still want a Chrom and Sphaler around someday.

masala_chai_tea, I actually agree with you. I work across language barriers every day, and misunderstandings happen regularly. There were just a lot of posts that were quite dismissive of anyone having any problems at all with the Beryl re-release, and I have a knee-jerk reaction to defend people having emotional reactions to what's going on in their hobby. There's a love-affair on internet forums with waving in the direction of science/legality/logic while acting like anyone who just doesn't like something and is just discussing that fact on a discussion forum is some kind of dangerous idiot. Seriously, a company can be in the right based on the rules, that doesn't mean you have to like it.

In this case, if they do release a basic line of MDs, there will be people made happy by the fact, and people not so happy. I'd be curious to see how well they would really, actually sell, as I think people underestimate how important "limited" is to sales.

 

St. James- True... And they certainally haven't been all that hurt by past eccentricities- I remember the absolute stink up about the Christmas Kits... -.-; the amount of people swearing off Soom because of it!! But in the end, you want a Soom, you get it regardless of your past issues. I guess it helps to be beautiful

Cat ^..^- I'm not so sure... Thinking about it, i actually think it has to do with all the staff changes and budget crunches. Not really planned or deliberate, just suiting needs and new people's ideas.

 

Oh for sure, I definitely understand why people can be upset. I guess I've just seen this hobby evolve so much and seen some companies come and go which I really loved (e.g. Lovelyhouse), so I try not to get too invested with certain sculpts.

I am super curious about how this will work out (as I am really a fan of their regular SG which they appear to be phasing out T__T). There are several LE MD sculpts that I really think are stunning (e.g. Galena, Chrom, Amber, Vesuvia, Onyx, Beryl, Sard), but I really like the majority of the regular SG and it's a shame that Carnel and Olivine were so quickly discontinued. I imagine they are definitely testing the waters with this special edition of Beryl, so we'll all have to see where it goes.

Lillykitten -- I agree, if you want it, then you usually will get it even if you've had past issues with the company.

 

Doesn't Luts have a reputation of saying "No, we will never do X" and then a few months later they do X? It can be frustrating, but I prefer flexible companies who pick up on the wants and wishes of their customer base than a rigid company that looks only at their own plans and not at their customers.

 

I couldn't care less what Soom do, they should keep the super Gems and MA sculpts as people love them so much....I can't see the logic in discontinuing them, so now I'll never get Spinel in time anyway they can do what they want, I don't like the MDs anyway and I'm not a fan of the Soom girls .

 

I know a lot of people posted on the Q&A and asked specifically in regard to Beryl whether she would be released again and were told no. Usually the company phrases it thus: we have no plans to release Beryl at this time. If you did a hunt around, you would find a lot of instances where companies have done this, then turned around and 3 months or less later, issued another lot of the dolls. From my personal experience reading DoA and dealing with Asian companies over the years, I've come to the following conclusions:

1. Never assume Limited means "Limited" or "Never to be released again" - assume it means it will take them a little while to decide what they will do with the sculpt next.

2. If they tell you they have no plans to release the sculpt - assume it applies to that week only.

3. Releasing a head in a different size or with a different outfit, wig or face-up is not repeating a sculpt and especially if they give it a new name ie Madoka becomes Shizu then it is technically an entirely different doll.

4. If a company boldly states that a head is a special limited head 'NEVER TO BE RELEASED IN BASIC' - assume that applies to that week only ie Customhouse and their special limited heads some of which are now available in basic.

I personally always mentally add a disclaimer down the bottom to all limiteds ***Information is correct at time of printing only. You've got to have a sense of humour about this hobby or it will drive you batty.

Sure, the Beryl owners run the risk of having their dolls drop in value, but then they also get the chance to purchase some dolls they may not have been able to at the time if Soom re-release all the MDs. Some people are planning to take the opportunity to purchase a sister for their Beryl.

And at risk of having people grumble because the present Beryl is supposedly limited and never to be re-released. Soom do appear to be stating that this is only the 1st issue of a limited Beryl. They do seem to be leaving the door open to produce more. I'm guessing if she sells out in a day, they will make plans for more.

 

That's basically it. You can assume with the bigger companies like Luts, Soom, Volks, Iple House that most sculpts will be sold again, depsite what they say. Especially if it's a popular release (like Beyrl) then it's almost certain they will issue it gain.

It would ahve upset me one time but now i'm used to it. It's really frustrating to people who are used to other collector based hobbies though where limited editions are taken much more seriously and the number of units of each release is much more imporant