Resale Overprice (foreal)

I think it would have to depend on the rarity of the doll, or the popularity of it.
There are soo many factors that can be put into why a person is pricing a doll resale wise. But if they are putting a rediculous price on a doll, it's mostlikely not going to sell.

 

I wouldn't buy a doll that someone somewhere is selling for twice the price. Better off finding it on the site. Could you equate that as scalping? Unless they kept it in mint condition, as I said.

 

What if you can't find it on the site? And it's never going to be produced again? Limited supply + demand will automatically drive prices up. In this hobby, people are more than willing to overlook some damage in order to procure their desired limiteds, especially since many, many things can be fixed or reversed.

And, yes, depreciation happens, but it's always hard to calculate, especially if it's for things that aren't really used, like dolls. For cars, it's easy to equate depreciation with, say, milage, but there's no easy equation for dolls. You can't really go by age, either, since some owners hardly play with their dolls while others tote them out everyday, rain or shine. In the end, the price of any doll is its value in the eyes of the buyer.

 

I think everything everyone is saying is true. If someone is willing to pay the amount it is selling for then its all on them. I do wonder why people would pay double or triple if they can get it at the BJD website that the doll is at for cheaper.

I personal have been looking at second hand dolls and such and I won't buy if it is more than what it is currently selling for on the website. There are acceptions though like if the doll is coming with extra items or if the person has modded/face-up of the doll, then of course the price may be a little bit more.

I wouldn't overprice like that myself if I was selling something, unless I am offer something else with the doll or if it is a discontinued doll and is in high demand, then why not if someone is willing to pay.

 

For a lot of dolls, no. If you were to auction off a Bermann today, he would probably still fetch the same a-couple-thousand-bucks that he did five years ago.

If you still think it's so easy to go find a new Bermann online from its creator's website, & just go pick it up at your leisure for $950, be my guest. Let us know how that goes.

 

If you're willingly cheating people (which is what I would call asking three times the value of the doll while it is a common doll that one can buy relatively easy), you're a fraud. However, if you ask three times the value of a Soom Monthly that has been out of stock for a year...I wouldn't see it as overpricing. The rarer something is, the more you can ask for it, and if someone wants it bad enough to pay 3x the original price, good for you, and for that person too, since he or she obviously wants to spend that much money on that doll.

But yeah, overpricing is relative. If you want it (doll, clothes, accessories, etc) and are prepared to pay what people ask for, then find it somewhere else for half the price...well, maybe you should have done more research first. I haven't been able to access the marketplace here, but I really hope people won't ask outrageous amounts for dolls or heads here. Since most people here are pretty much familiar with the doll world by now. One would say that makes it harder to be ridiculously overpriced, and easier to simply ask a lot because that's what the item is worth to connoisseurs.

 

I can understand if someone bought a doll a while back that was an LE, and has since for personaly reasons decided they need to let it go to a new home. But for scalpers who buy an LE doll with the intention of sitting on it for a few months and then reselling it for twice the price? That doesn't really seem fair. Boo on you, I say! :P

As far as general overpricing, if the doll has had a lot of work done to it to make it pose better, or had the seams sanded and such, then that is understandable. I personally don't want to have to buy a head for more than it's worth because it has a face-up by somebody-or-other since I'd just wipe the face-up, anyway.

 

It's really obnoxious and without basis to suggest that the world center for greed and cutthroat market policies. Although this may not be the place to debate such I might remind you that it is clearly offensive to state such. I am really curious to know where you imagine this utopia of equitable society exists in the world, please, I need a good laugh. This reminds me of the time someone from the land where Skinheads were born told me I lived in an inherently prejudiced and judgmental society. LOL.
As another has so eloquently stated, a doll is not a necessity. In a fair and free market people charge what they will, and you pay what you will. If you don't like the price don't buy it. What is unfair is for you to stand there like a kindergartner saying "wah no fair, it's overpricing!"
Also, for some responders here, when you grow up you will realize that some are in the hobby for emotional reasons, and others just see it a little more coldly. It's either you are wrapped up in the anime of your resin creation/companion or you engage more actively in the buying/selling/collecting parts of the hobby. Myself I go back and forth, so I think I have more ability to be sympathetic to both sides. That said it is not right to point accusing fingers at those who might want to profit from this hobby. That is their business, and you don't have to buy from them.

 

I would just like to point out here that you approve of charging for modifications, which I notice by your signature that you do, but you are all too ready to call someone a scalper with some real venom applied. Albeit unsavory, scalping is work too.
There is the easiest solution for scalpers, don't buy from them. Simple.
And BTW, I support your ability to charge for your work, as much as the market will bear. I hope you do good work, and get paid well for it.
That said I don't begrudge the person who is selling their Renee for 1500 bucks their money, and I would not look down on the person who paid that for the doll, I just would hope they won't expect it to hold it's value. As long as they enjoy the doll, I am happy for them. (and wish it was me) You should not try to make people feel guilty for charging what someone else will pay, it's not your business.

 

I guess making a doll a bit more expensive when it's a limited doll or an older mold that's not being made any more is okay.
Though sometimes people really go to extremes. Especially on limited ones, I've seen them go selling double the price originally
paid for it. Like limited tinies selling for 600$ or something.

If a limited doll is (still) very much wanted, I can imagine people want to pay more money in order to get it. But as to spending
double the amount it used to cost when new seems crazy to me... I mean, a secondhand doll might be a bit damaged or
yellowed, or maybe not as good quality as when they were brand new. I wouldn't buy a doll for that kind of money, especially
not if it isn't as-new.

 

at first i couldnt understand how these dolls are beign sold for higher price than retail, it didnt seem a fair price, but from your post it made sence ^_^ i agree

 

That is surely your prerogative, not to buy it, but I think it's offensive to call it over-pricing. I call it What the Market Will Bear.

 

well i guess its kinda fair.. since its a market.. where people buy and stock up.. just like example gundam limited edition model kits.. they buy and store and sell it once they think the price is high enough. so people will still buy if they have the money or they love it XD

 

Is it wrong to overprice a doll? Not exactly. Not unless the seller is presenting fraudulent information about what the doll is, how rare it is, what condition it's in, etc. in order to justify the price. Unfortunately sometimes the buyer has to look out for him or her self. They have to look at what kind of doll it is, and how much it usually sells for. The seller is responsible for telling you the damage and what the product actually is, but they aren't responsible for offering you a "fair" price. Think about shopping for a car (since so many other people have used them). The dealer will tell you what kind of car it is and any damage the car might have, but they're not going to tell you how much it would cost somewhere else because they're hoping you'll buy it without the research.

Limited Editions are different than standards. You could price them for what you paid, but if they are no longer available you typically price them for what everyone else started selling them for. They might depreciate in value with damage, but not just with age.

As for scalpers, it's disheartening to see people buy several limited dolls only to sell them for an insanely high price. However, that's how they make their living in some cases. Dolls aren't always a personal thing; it can simply be a business. Think of how much it costs to make these dolls versus how much we pay for them. They have a right to do this and to make a profit on their purchases just as the buyer has a right to refuse to pay those prices. Even if it's a limited. Even if they "deprived" someone of the right to get it for cheaper off the main site. It's a luxury item, a product and they will charge however much someone will pay.

 

I don't like it, but in our society, it's absolutely okay.
We live in a capitalist environment, where supply and demand rules. The fact that people are willing to pay that $1000 increase in price makes it okay. If nobody paid it, then scalpers would be forced to drop the price, until it reaches a more reasonable range.
What I'm trying to say is, we (figuratively speaking of course) are at fault for this kind of behaviour, and to change it we'd have to completely change our own behaviour, and do it uniformly around the world as well. It's not something that's gonna happen in the short term, and would probably require a completely re-working of our society as a whole, not just BJD owners, but consumers everywhere.

 

I'm in total agreement with this. We may not like it but it happens.

 

As long as you are not intentionally trying to deceive anyone, you should be able to ask what you want for your doll. If the market won't bear the price, it won't sell. As a buyer, I love to pay less than the original price for a doll, but I would pay more for an exceptional mod or face up. The truth be known, you will always have those who speculate on the BJD market and buy dolls (especially limited ones) with the hope of reselling for a profit. What I hate about this is, they get the dolls before us regular buyers and then we are forced to purchase from them if we have any hopes of owning that doll. 'Don't like it, but what can you do about it?

 

Isn't the whole point of buying a limited edition doll is to buy low, and maybe sell high? Most of us won't sell our dolls, but our families might when we are gone. BJDs cost too much money not to think about appreciation of value.

Hugo

 

Hmmm...to be honest...i got a doll for a price about 1/2 of price in marketplace. Same doll, same limited series...may be only the face-up that is still original...I don't know whether it's normal or not to overprice some le dolls but sometimes, yes, i just feel it's just overpriced...
as navci said, it is in my thought as well: i don't have money, i don't buy it...
and i believe there's always a way to buy a doll in a good price...not always in ebay, yahoo japan auction or else or else...as long as we try...I also believe that if it's 'yours', it will be yours no matter what (it's local proverb, though...hehe...and it works all the time...so when we get it, we are of course grateful for it but when we can't afford it, we can let it go without any too burden feeling...)

 

It's a collectible market- just like comics or sports memorbilia. Yes, some people are more into the emotional side of it, but well... it's not overpriced if the products are selling at that price. Supply and demand.