Second hand dolls: Shouldn't they be cheaper than new ones?

I don't mind paying what the company charges, especially since I won't have to wait as long to receive the doll. I will pay the shipping from them to me on top of that. I will not pay their original shipping, customs , or other fees. I will not ever buy from someone that asks for PayPal fees. Ever. Even if its a doll I really want, at a really good price. Even if its rare or limited. If they ask for PayPal fees I immediately backspace and leave.

 

If the status od doll is not good, it definatily should be cheaper.

 

While I'd like like dolls to retain their value, often BJDs really don't. I can see why some people would charge more for used though: supply and demand. If a particular doll is really popular and production and/or shipping times are extensive/expensive, the extra price may be worth it to someone who wants instant gratification. Also face-ups. Again: supply and demand. If the face-up artist is well-known, the seller may be able to get away with raising the price on the doll. I don't begrudge anyone who wants to charge more for their secondhand BJD; as consumers, we have the option to simply not buy it if we don't like the price being asked.

 

If they're limited edition, no, I don't think the price will go south. But if they're not limited and esp. if they're not brand new, and maybe there's chipping here and there, or uneven skin tone, yellowing etc... then yes, the price might sink accordingly.

But again, it depends on the seller. Plus a face up ( esp. by a well-known artist ), the stuffs that come with the dolls, those things might influence the price as well. I'll just skip the offer if I don't think it's worth the price or if it won't work with me.

 

I could see asking price if it’s new or never used and has been sitting in the box, but I too have seen overpriced dolls. Especially overpriced with damage, LOL!!! I think you just gotta know remember that we live in a world that if the person wants s it bad enough they do whatever they have to to get it. Ofc that doesn’t mean we have to.

 

I definitly think secondhand dolls should be cheaper or at least if it's a discontinued doll, the seller should propose an auction so the buyers decide how much they are ready to pay for it.

 

This is also the question I have been wondering for a long time! But then I think shipping costs to some countries are quite expensive. The cost of transporting a head to some countries can be as high as that head's price. I do think that a blank and unlimited secondhand bjd should be less than or equal to the company's original price.
A peak of living in Asia is I can buy new Chinese/Korean bjd with cheaper shipping cost. I can also get access to secondhand taobao market where the pre-owned bjd will always be sold with less price than the new ones.

 

Dolls don’t depreciate like cars.

If a doll is still in pristine condition, I see no issue paying company price for it. Depending on how long the company’s wait list is or if it has a desirable faceup, I may be willing to pay more.

 

Considering the wait times for some dolls I can see why people would be willing to pay extra to get a doll they want immediately, even if it is second hand.

 

Some people pre-order and flip for a higher price once it comes in. I don't think it's very nice. Our hobby is already hard enough to get started in without the second hand market being barely worth it.

 

While I sometimes wonder about dolls that have been for sale for a year or more without the price coming down a bit, I just assume that's a case of the seller being more just "indifferent" to the doll, but not in any need of making the sale. As stated before, things are worth what buyers are willing to pay. If I see something I like listed for significantly more than I'm willing to shell out, there's dozens more pages of listings to look through, so it's no big deal. My bookmarks are littered with MP listings of things I wouldn't mind picking up and that I'm willing to pay asking price for. I'm talking fairly new dolls at or slightly above/below company price that show no signs of damage or wear, but were merely casualties of changing plans or buyer's remorse. And that's not even touching the sellers who need a quick sale and are willing to cut you a really great deal! This spring I picked up my first Unoa 1.5 after wanting one for ages. Not only was it less than company price and I dodged the wait time, but the seller threw in FOUR extra face plates on top of the one currently installed, extra hands, a nice quality wig, etc. I honestly couldn't believe my luck in snagging him. (Okay, seriously I'll stop bargain-bragging now!)

Like all second-hand shopping, as long as you're patient and willing to really search around, you can make very good finds. Honestly, though, I generally don't find many MP listings that I think are unreasonable. If I see a doll I like but it's more than I'm comfortable paying, my options are to make an offer or keep moving. I'm not entitled to a deep discount just because I want the doll, not if it's in essentially as good a shape as a new one.

 

Since these dolls are are art collectibles, hence luxury items, for me, they do not loose value like, say, a used car. Their price can though be dectated by the market, offer and demand can be crucial to determinate the price of a doll. Price is also influenced by the state the doll is in and if it's a standard model or a LE one.