Resale Overprice (foreal)

I don't think increasing the second-hand market price of a doll is necessarily wrong, for lack of a better word, but I would say that there are situations where it is, and isn't called for.

If a seller is marketing a doll that is still being produced on-demand for regular sale, they are very unlikely to get back the full amount they paid for it when selling. If I were looking at this sale, I wouldn't purchase a second-hand doll that was readily available new from the company for the same price. Second-hand dolls age, no matter how well they are taken care of, and these signs of wear will probably detract from the percieved market value of a "common" doll. On the other hand, if a seller is marketing a doll that was limited, or is no longer being produced, they would be far more likely to recieve the original purchase price of the doll when selling; depending on the popularity of the doll, they could possibly get much more than the original purchase price.

The second-hand market is heavily dictated by the consumer - those purchasing the dolls for sale there. If the market (speaking of the market as a singular entity, or average) is unwilling to pay a price for a doll, that price is very likely to come down in order to facilitate a sale. If the market dictates the price for something is higher than original retail value - for instance, if people are willing to purchase a doll for more than the original sale price because it is rare, limited, or simply higly desired and/or limited in quantity - the average sale price of that item is the fair market value. If it wasn't fair, there would be few, or no people willing to buy it at that price.

For instance, an example I saw in the marketplace: Person A, B and C are asking $200 US for a limited head. These three heads are all sold successfully at this price. Person D then puts up the same limited head, but list their price at $300 US. Person D is less likely to sell their item at this price, because people have purchased the same item for less in recent history, and neither the supply or demand of the item has changed. The fair market value of the item has thus been set at $200, so that is now what people are willing to pay.

A seller can set whatever price they feel their merchadise is worth, be it higher or lower than the price they originally paid for the item; it is their property, so it is their right to ask whatever price they want for an item. As long as they are not inflating the value with untruths - things like falsely labelling a doll "limited" when it isn't truly limited, in order to dupe new or unexperienced buyers into buying the product - then they are absolutely not doing anything morally or legally wrong by asking a higher price. Whether or not anyone will be willing to purchase that item at that price is a whole other story.​

 

I don't have a problem with someone selling something for more than what they originally paid for it.

I think if I ever sold on my doll I'd sell on eBay with a reserve price of what I paid for it, if it goes for more great, if it goes for what I paid for it, also great as I'd be getting my money back.

Edit: That's if she was undamaged, of course. I'd sell a damaged doll for less than what I'd paid for it

 

Na, I don't think that's cool. I think a doll should be priced honestly.

 

I don't think there's an ethical problem with it. It can be annoying, and I think even in less extreme cases the marketplace is going to have to adjust to the fact that even getting the original cost of the doll back is no longer a realistic expectation, but that usually means the doll just doesn't sell. What the market can bear and all that . . .

I do get angry at actual scalpers -- people who buy up all they can possibly get so they can inflate the prices, because they can actually block access to the dolls in question.

 

The thing that bothers me is when people buy dolls, and then turn around and start a sales thread for the dolls head, and ask 2000 dollars for a doll HEAD. I know its their right to do what they wish. However, there is a difference in holding an auction style sales thread, and the consumers upping what they bid, and a seller just saying 'i want 2000 dollars' from the getgo. IMO, one is supply and demand, the other is scalping.

 

In my humble opinion, and I want this to make clear because I don't want to offend anyone, I really don't think the factories should have a word on the resale price, for example, to put it in simple terms, I buy a castle in the middle age, it's cheep, because, we are in the middle age and there are castles everywhere, I keep it, regardless of it's condition, until today, nowadays a castle it's over 5 or 6 times the original price I've paid for him, should be the architect of the castle angry with me because I have put a price for my castle, in my opinion, NO.
When I sell something I don't go around telling people what to do with them, my interaction with that particular transaction has ended from the moment I ended the selling and I got my money (and the costumer has the item).

On a second line, there is a difference, "limited dolls" and "regular dolls with extensive and professional mods" are fine to be more expensive, why?, in the first place a limited doll it's not the sellers fault, but the factory for doing only 3 worldwide (for example), they are among to do their dolls more valuable just because they are less of them, on the other hand an extensive and well made mood, it's an unique piece of art, and we should value the artist efforts to do it unique.

As a side though, many people value their dolls not because of the real value but because they deep inside don't want to sell them, or because they are forced to sell to cover a specific and expensive thing, so the price sometimes goes out of hands just because of that...and it has nothing to see with the doll itself.

What I really thing it's BAD it's to charge more, or even the same price for a doll that's regular and it's available on the factory, because it raises the question "why should I buy a used doll from you if I can have it new from the factory...???", of course they can be specific reasons like "instant delivery" for example, but yet I can't find it reasonable to pay the same from a used doll than I can find new at the factory anytime..

I know not everyone might think the same than me, but let's just always remember there is a reason why we are all different...

 

Well, for something like a limited edition, of course it's going to go up in value the harder it is to find. Sure some people buy them up just to resell them, but people do that for anything. It's just a matter of whether people are going to pay that much.

 

If someone is willing to pay that $2000 outright, then it's still a matter of supply and demand. I always had the impression that scalping was more a matter of motive than of monetary value. /shrug

My view is that, all prices set by sellers will eventually adjust themselves to a level that matches at least one buyer. It may take months, it may take years, but if they really want to sell, they'll adjust the prices accordingly.

 

In the beginning of this hobby I once sold a tiny pocket fairy for more than what I had paid in total but it was a price everyone was asking so I thought it to be normal. But on the other hand I've sold my Unon for 1200 something $ which you'll never find in the marketplace now. I find it difficult, I think if ye think your doll is worth it considering the amount ye paid and how limit the doll is matters. But if you are really looking for a good home for your doll it shouldn't really matter. I understand others ask more doesn't mean you have to ask more too. But again some dolls are worth it?

 

Don't see why that would bother you.

If people are willing to pay that, then a seller has every right to ask that price.

On the other hand, if people aren't willing to pay that, the head simply won't sell. Therefore when I see people drastically overcharging for things, I laugh and think them an idiot, but I don't get bothered by it.

Because in the end, the free market is the great equalizer; if it's worth that price, it will sell. If it isn't, it won't. I see nothing to be bothered about there.

 

This. If it sells, good for them. If not, the seller can either wait till someone comes along who's willing to pay (and possibly wait....and wait...), or they can lower their price to what a buyer is willing to pay. I've been guilty of the laughing as well. Nice to know I'm not the only one.

Also, I've noticed that this thread will resurface when certain sculpts show up on the Marketplace. I won't name them, but the correlation always amuses me.

(Partial post removed because I already made a nearly-identical point a few pages ago.)

 

My line of thinking is that the worth of an item/collectible/whatever is only what someone else is willing to pay. If a person purchases X item for a certain price, it is his choice to set the resell price at whatever he wants. It's his item, it's a free market, so it's his choice. If someone really wanted that item and sees that high price as a reasonable one, then great, he found his buyer. If it's too high, then people will most likely just bypass his item. It might seem overpriced to us, but if the person feels he can make a sale at that price, then it's really his decision. It's a non-issue...

 

bids taking place, buyers bid what they are willing to pay...this reflects demand. A seller just outright saying "i have this head. I want 2000.00 for it" makes it scalping. The buyer didn't decide that price. The seller just tacked it on, to get a ginormous profit. it's ridiculous. It's getting out of hand. Just like the people who buy a current release, non-limited volks doll, like a standard, and take the head and think they are going to sell it for 400 dollars, when the doll is still available for 600 on the site.

 

I admit, it does really irritate me when people jack prices up way higher than they should be on a doll.
I try to make a modest profit when I sell things, I admit that... But I try to maintain it at a reasonable level. I admit, I occasionally want to get angry when I see people selling outfits like the Cecile and Reisner outfits for $250 a piece, and I feel like weeping when I see a Cecile head for $1200 alone, but while I dislike it, I can't stop it.

 

I love this thread because
1) there are so many now-banned people on it, heh
and
2) people argue the morality/honesty of selling a luxury product to make a profit.

I like coming in to read all the new opinions but already said my piece almost a year ago, still haven't changed my mind. When the cancer cure or AIDS vaccine comes out and people starting hoarding that and selling it at an obscene markup, then I'll dive headfirst into debate over it because there's an ethical dilemma there. But again, when I was a newer collector, I had a nice ball of anger about doll scalpers because they had my dream doll and wouldn't sell it to me cheap, waaah!

I have to wonder though, why do you feel like weeping? Why is it unfair? And I'm honestly asking, I'm not trying to sound catty or rude (which I usually come across as because that's just how I sound in type, but I do mean this as an innocent question). What is the point of view one takes when they're upset by things being marked up on the secondhand market?

 

Not snarky at all, Penguin.
I feel like weeping because of that inner, childish voice that whines that its not fair for a head to cost as much as the entire doll, but that's just me. I still don't begrudge them doing it, as it's their property.
I'm more than willing to pay a fair price and a decent profit to someone, it just stings to buy a head for the price of the entire package ^_^

 

But a Volks LE outfit for $250 isn't "jacking the price up way higher than it should be"-- that IS usually about the going price for a full Volks LE outfit. Shop hard or stay home.

 

I have to echo the pricing info here as well; there are a lot of LE outfits that run $250 via direct retail, not even on the secondary market. Volks produces some of the most detailed, well-made, and comprehensive (everything from the panties to outerwear) outfits out there, too.

 

Wow, that's nice.... Mayhaps you might take a moment, and reflect on the possibility that I may have never had an opportunity to buy a Volks LE outfit anywhere but the after market? :-/
You've also quoted me out of context, so perhaps I can assist you with your reading of my comment.
What I said was :

"jacking the price up way higher than it should be on a doll "

I said the outfits bit pained me. But the bigger focus of repetition was on the doll part. Perhaps I was unclear, and if so I apologize for my part in that.
Moreover, I said want to get angry, not was actually so. Nor have I said word one about infringing upon anyone's right to sell their item for as much as they see fit. I just said it stings to spend as much for a head as you would an entire LE doll. Perhaps I should have avoided using Volks as a reference all together, as it seems to be a stinging point. I simply mention Cecile and Reisner because I'm trying to get ahold of them, at whatever the financial blow to my wallet may be.

Now, before I bow out of a thread entirely, I want to say thank you to Surreality for taking the time to respond to me more politely - I honestly wasn't aware that Volks LE outfits were $250 retail. I've never had a chance to buy them before - all I've got from Volks is my little Rengemaru and that's it.

Peace out.

 

To be fair, I've not bought a Volks LE outfit either at retail, though they seem to sell them for less than that. I have bought other LE outfits that have cost more. Soom's MD outfits, for instance, tend to include less than the Volks outfits, but can cost easily into that price range. (Or higher... sigh.)