Is it 'OKAY' to PM an Owner about Selling a doll they had NO intention to sell?

Unless said doll was a limited, I would just tell them exactly what the sculpt was and the clothes and such involved in the picture they saw. If it was a limited, I would consider selling, but any other doll I would just tell them how to make their own. If they were willing to spend that much, they should be willing to go to steps to make their own instead of asking me to sell mine.

 

I would be more offended by this than I would by someone PMing me asking to either buy said doll or to keep them in mind if I were to ever sell him. I've had people ask me those questions before about several of my dolls and it felt, to me, that they were not-so-subtly asking 'hey, can I just copy your entire doll?'. At one point in time someone asked me about the face-up, wig, and eyes of one of my dolls and then stated that she wanted to make her doll of the same mold look the exact same.

I'd much rather get people wanting to buy the original than put together their own.

 

I can understand that, but I was rather assuming that whomever was asking would not be intending to copy my exact doll, but rather wanted the same quality of handiwork. Just because someone has the same sculpt (a Volks Luna, for example) and goes to the same face-up artist wouldn't mean that they were wanting to copy the doll exactly. I *would* be offended if they wanted to copy my doll exactly, but asking about face-ups and sculpts because they want the same quality of artistry wouldn't necessarily be offensive to me.

 

My experience with this subject:
Nearly 2 months ago, I felt in love with a doll that was owned by someone here on DoA. I send her a PM asking what was this kind of doll (I didn't know back then what mold it was). And she told me back what it was and, very lucky for me and funny to her, she was actually selling him. After some weeks of money and "emotional" decision, I finally bought him.
So I think it's ok to PM people, just to know if they are selling their dolls of if they plan to, or just say that we like them, but as you people say, no "I want X doll for X $". I wouldn't like this either.

 

I think it's alright to pm someone with the intentions of asking "Who did the face up" etc. I don't think it's a ploy to copy my doll's face up, especially since most face up artists neither can nor will copy the work of another artist, nor will they replicate work they've done for someone else's commission.

The person asking just might really like the style the face up was done in and might want to seek out the artist to commission them for a face up for one of their other dolls or might want to know where they can also get one done. They might not want the same colors but just the same quality of work.

As for pming about buying a doll, it'd offend me mildly. I don't think I'd like having that happen to me. But it's not like they're going to rawr at me for telling them "No, you can't have my doll". And if they did they could politely go sit on a tack ^ ^

 

i don't think i would really mind it, maybe if it happened all the time it would get annoying, but if a person is polite i think it's ok. it's easy to just say that you don't plan to sell the doll and that's it, not much to it.

 

I have seen this thread for a bit. I think I was a little detached from it, thinking "That is just rude!" But, I have gotten a PM or two about my doll (FL Ashley to be specific). And the person was really polite. They told me what it was that they were looking for (a FL Ashley head) and wanted to know if I wanted to sell mine.

Some people, I guess, would be upset, but in my case, I think it's actually a reasonable inquiry. Feeples come with more than one head, so people tend to have a floating head around.

Each situation is different. But, in the end, it's all about how the person comes off. If they are demanding and flaunting money in your face, I would be a little irritated. But, if they are polite and explain what it is they want (whether the whole doll, head, whatever) then I think it makes the situation much better.

 

As long as the person asking was polite, I would actually find it very flattering, and so personally I think it is ok if you ask someone politely or ask that if they ever did intend to sell the doll, please could they keep you in mind first.

 

I really think it depends on the situation. If somebody has mentioned that they are not bonding with a doll I don't think it's wrong to contact them saying something like "I noticed you said you aren't bonding with x doll, I have fallen in love him/her and if you decide to find a new home I'd love for you to consider me"

 

I agree with this--some people just really like the style of particular artists. I would be absolutely fine with someone asking me about a faceup artist, and it's the kind of information I would expect to share on a doll forum. It's very different than having someone specifically ask for your doll itself.

 

It's equivalent to walking into someone's house as if it were a yard sale and going "how much do you want for the couch". It's just really awkward. As much as you like someone's OOAK doll, there are limits. Put some effort into customizing a BJD for yourself that you'll love. I think someone just saying "Can you sell me your doll" is kind of lame.

On the other hand, I think if someone just said that they really admired your doll and your work on it, and if you ever planned to sell it, let them know, that's pretty harmless. If you don't want to sell them, just say no thanks. You also could make a sale from a message like that. =P

If it's faceup, clothes or wig questions, that's no problem to answer, unless they're asking where you bought every detail on the doll.

 

"If you would ever like to sell ____, please contact me." Once. That is all I think is acceptable.

 

I sometimes PM owners asking what mold their dolls is, who did the faceup, what body their event head is on, is the resin match good, etc. But never "Can I have your doll for $X?" that would be a little, uh, scary.

Would it be okay to complement the owner about how beautiful you think their doll is? With no intention of copying? And if you could see more pictures of _____ because you're planning on getting that mold? I would think it would be acceptable...?

 

Honestly I think to solicit a sell from someone who isn't interested is rude with one tiny exception. If your a close friend of the person you might in passing metion it. However that's only a really close friend and something that would be said more along the lines that if they should ever want to you'd like to be considered. I see friends do it all the time. I don't think it's right however to suddenly send someone you barely know or even someone you do an unsolicited inquiry. That's just plane rude and it's hoping that they won't like their doll. In all honesty if you want the doll bad enough just keep watching the sellers boards, eventually someone will sell one.

Christal

 

I've done that multiple times and have received nothing but kind and helpful responses, mostly because I phrase my questions in a complimentary way. "WOW! I adore (such and such), what mod work did you do on him?" Stuff like that. ^.^ Most of the time, owners are more than happy to help you out.

I'd be a little freaked if somebody just openly asked, "Dude, can I buy your doll?" I mean, oy. I love my girl! I honesty don't think I'll ever sell her. I can't think of any reason to do that, unless the owner had expressed some interest in selling.

 

I don't think it is. I mean, its one thing if your a total n00b to bjds though, anoher if you are familiar and such with these dolls and are just obnoxious.

 

and how the question is raised. For instance, I was looking at another DoA member's website and was smitten by the dress she had on one of her dolls. I was pretty sure I knew where she had purchased it and which company made it, so I PM'd her to make certain. I told her I thought the dress was lovely and that if she was ever interested in selling it, to let me know. She replied that she had no plans to sell at present but would let me know if that ever changed and she suggested I check ebay as this particular dress sometimes pops up for sale there. I thought it was a nice exchange and she didn't seem offended by my inquiry.

But I do think it's a bit rude to offer someone, unsolicited and bluntly, $__ for their doll. It really depends upon how it's approached. I think it can be done in a non-offensive way and I'd be flattered to know that someone was that taken with my doll.

 

That and I believe it's against DOA's rules, as so many seem to be forgetting.

Totally agree on the couch analogy! It's exactly that rude to pm someone inquiring about selling a doll. If it's not listed in the marketplace don't even ask.

 

I don`t like it.
I mean, would you go up to someone and say "Omg, sell me your shoes!" ? xD

 

I must admit, that I think it's a bir rude.
If I was contacted about if I wanted to sell my doll because the person liked it and so on, I'd be flattered but gently say no, and thanks for the interest. But if the person keeps bugging me, I'd end up getting annoyed.