Selling: Do we need to justify it? (Sentimentality in sales threads)

To sellers:
Do you feel the need to justify your sale in your thread? (IE, do you mention "not bonding" or state the reason you are selling the doll?) If so, why?
Generally I don't. If the doll was brand new, I might mention something very brief so that the potential buyer would know I'm not selling it because of flaws, but I don't think this is really necessary. I definitely wouldn't be offended if someone asked me why, though.

Do you feel you have to justify the reason you are parting with a doll so you don't seem like a bad person?
No, I think classifying someone as a "bad person" because they're selling an inanimate object is a bit silly. I think some people may feel like hypocrites it they don't justify it, though. For instance, if they have recent posts about how much they love the doll, it may seem odd that they're selling him/her if they don't provide a reason.

Do you think that adding a personal story will encourage buyers?
No, I think most people are only interested in the condition of the doll.

For buyers:
Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling?
No. I'll admit that I'm curious at times, but it really doesn't matter in terms of whether or not I'll buy the doll.

Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller?
I don't care unless there's a flaw that isn't visible in photos, but that should be listed in other parts of the sales post anyway.

Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale?
I don't care either way unless the seller states something like, "I really don't want to sell this doll, but...". If the seller seems to want to keep the doll, I'll feel less inclined to purchase him/her.

 

For buyers:
Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling?
A real turn off for me is when a seller states they must sell the doll because of illness, lost of job....whatever and then they have a 'willing to trade' list. I don't understand why?
Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller?
Well, maybe yes.
Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale?
Either way it doesn't bother me, I'm more concerned about the condition the doll is in and how the seller used said doll.
​

 

I second this. The mixed messages I see sometimes confuse the heck out of me.


For buyers:
Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling?
It looks like I'm in the minority here, but to me, it does matter to me if the issue was with the doll not with the circumstances.

Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller?
I like hearing the opinions of doll owners and understanding up front what was their concern. I want to know if it was an owner or an esthetic issue. For example, if a seller says "I just discovered that I don't like her lips as much as I thought I would" it helps me make sure that I am okay with that trait before I buy. I suppose from the seller's point of view it could turn away a potential customer if I agreed with their opinion on those lips. However, I feel like a lot of sellers want the doll to find a home where the new owner will love them rather then turn around and resell. The more open they are about their problem, the more certain I can be of my purchase.

All that said, I do agree with other posters about the over-share. I know I do it on replies to discussions all the time, but when you're selling something you really shouldn't do that. It's a bad turn off.

Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale?

Tell me in less than a sentence why you are selling the doll and I like it. More than that is over-share.

 

Oo I like this topic.

I like providing and being provided reasons why people are selling things. But short, sweet, and concise answers like "we didn't bond" "I'm saving up for a dream doll" etc, not some super long personal backstory that I just don't need to hear.

I especially don't like seeing "I really love her and I don't want to see her go ever but I have to sell her". Meh, you could do better by just not saying anything at all.

 

for some reason I can help but start with a sentimental sentence in my sales thread I really don't know why.
but I must admit I like when others do it. I like to know why they are selling the doll. I'm curious like that!
I don't want to read a whole chapter about their relationship with the doll but just a quick "I'm not bounding" "I seriously need money". just ONE sentence to say why you are not keeping it.

but of course, details about the doll itself, such as any kind of mods or damage is much more important I think!


edit: maybe one reason I like to know and tell is because I want to see the more human side of the seller I guess...? I like when transactions are really friendly and it always makes me smile whenever I buy something and that the seller has included a little note like "hope your doll will like it ".
a big turn off for me is when there are NO info on the sale page. the seller only checked yes or no to the list of question asked in order to make a thread but there isn't a single full sentence written by them "additionnal info" :/ in case like that, I feel like a robot is trying to sell me a doll.
I don't know why I care about the seller acting like a friend or a robot but I still do

 

As a Buyer:
- Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling?
- Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller?
- Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale?

I'll answer the 3 questions above all at once. For me it does matter if the seller lists the reason(s) for the selling.
I do not sell dolls since I don't even own one yet but I do sell other stuff over the Internet and I like to state why I'm selling it because when I'm buying stuff myself I like to know the reason(s) why the owner no longer wants the item. If there isn't a reason stated I will always wonder why - is it because he doesn't like it anymore, is the item damaged or could he just use the money right now?! And not knowing the actual motive will make me reluctant about the purchase.
I buy a few stuff from eBay and if I'm buying from an online store, top-rated sellers and such I do not worry about it for obvious reasons but if I'm buying from a particular(?) seller then I must know why, even more if the seller doesn't have enough feedback.

I guess knowing the reasons make me feel more confidant about the purchase.
However I do not need a long-story about it, just a simple straightforward explanation

 

To buyers and sellers: Why do you feel there is a need to explain the reason for selling a doll?
I think it's important to have an idea of why it's being sold, but I don't need a detailed story. I like to know if its cheap that the reason is that the seller isn't bonding or is trying to get another doll or needs cash...not that they are a scammer or it's damaged or stolen. I like to know a bit of the doll's history. Again, not detailed, but "I got her from JunkySpot in 2008 as my first doll" is good enough.

To sellers:
Do you feel the need to justify your sale in your thread? (IE, do you mention "not bonding" or state the reason you are selling the doll?) If so, why? It's not so much justification as it is explanation. If I don't bond, I don't feel bad selling, but it's good to let the buyer know why you want him gone, especially if you want a fast sale. "I need money for my limited dream doll" ir much more legit than "I want this thing out of my hands as fast as possible because...well, you don't need to know why. >.> "

Do you feel you have to justify the reason you are parting with a doll so you don't seem like a bad person? No. I'd feel worse holding onto a doll I didn't love than finding her a new owner that can give her more attention.

Do you think that adding a personal story will encourage buyers? Depends on the story. If it's a long winded sob story, I think you'll scare off more buyers than encourage. Few people want to get caught up in your drama, but a clear reason, short and sweet is good.

For buyers:
Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling? If I want the doll, no, as long as it doesn't seem suspicious. Either way, actually. Too few details seems evasive, too many seems like a scam.

Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller? summed up in a sentence, sure.

Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale? I like a short reason, but I don't want to know all of your personal problems. I see so many excuses overused in problem transaction threads...."I was sick, I was in the hospital, my pet was sick, my car broke down, I had no ride, there was an emergency, my kid was sick, I got kicked out of my house, my net got cut off, I lost my job, etc" that if I see a lot of that in a sales thread, I'll avoid it like the plague. If you're telling me your personal drama before I even consider your doll, I'm afraid of what excuses I might get later or what problems I'll run into.

 

This "bonding" thing is really bogus, imho. Much better to say that the doll was not quite right for the character you had in mind; the doll was not really fitting in with your other dolls; you just plain and simply need to down size your group of dolls; or whatever real reason you have.

 

As a Buyer, I prefer knowing about the past of the doll I'm going to be owning. I don't need to know the entire character and back story, because I'll be making that my own, but it's always nice to know where they came from and how they were treated before. I actually do get curious as to the reasons people are re-homing their dolls. And, maybe I'm just weird, but I'd rather know that the person did love their doll, or at least tried to before setting it up to sell.... It makes me kinda sad to see bleak ads where the seller is showing no love. Rather than seeing it as a ploy to try and bring in buyers, I see it as someone who is really into the hobby that likes to treat their dolls, even if they aren't keeping them, like something that's more than just a 'thing for sale'.

I'm more apt to buy a doll with a story/personality. But that's just me. ^^;;

 

Im so new that for me I think I like seeing reasons why -like not bonding or didnt fit in. I dont mind personal stories but i just tend to ignore them. Unless Im selling a doll people know I love and wouldnt ever part with normally Ill add a little note explaining the situation.

 

I always find it interesting why a doll is being sold - if short! Especially if it's something like - 'I can't get him to pose right' .... which is pretty pertinent.
I've noticed that there are some posters who really make a big deal over 'it's a hunk of resin, its an object'. Hmmph. Doth protest too much, me thinks.
Anyway, not bonding is a very valid reason - sometimes, you just don't know what it is but you just can't get interested.

 

I have bought all but one of my dolls secondhand, and I ALWAYS ask why they re getting rid of the doll. At first I thought it was just because I was nosy, but I really do want to know why they're getting rid of their doll. I like knowing why it didn't work out for them.

I had a doll that things weren't working out with, and I considered selling her. My first tiny - not because of the size- but because of the pain in the butt it was to restring her. I think the face up she came with also did not help. But I decided to at least fix her up a bit before deciding whether or not I would actually sell her. But I made it work, and I'm so in love with her now! But had I listed her for sale - and I thought about this - I would have mentioned why I was selling her.

I think there's a limit with it though - after a certain point it sounds gimmicky to go on and on about how one isn't bonding with the doll AND this AND that. If it takes more than two or three sentences... Kind of suspect. One or two (or three) simple sentences about why you're getting rid of a doll is helpful, nice to mention though.

 

I'm the type who feels you don't have to justify anything to anyone, but this is still a pretty good question. For me, I really only care about their reason for selling the dolls if it's because they've been damaged, like a few broken fingers, discoloured spots, etc.

 

To buyers and sellers: Why do you feel there is a need to explain the reason for selling a doll?

Simple answer - We become attached to these things.

To sellers:
Do you feel the need to justify your sale in your thread? (IE, do you mention "not bonding" or state the reason you are selling the doll?) If so, why?

I don't feel a need to, but I do generally offer a reason for the sale.

When I'm selling I generally do put a little blurb about why I'm selling a doll. I do this almost as second nature, I don't really think about it. But now, considering my actions, I believe I do it to confirm there's nothing wrong with the doll, I'm just selling it because we didn't bond well, it doesn't fit in, wasn't quite what I was expecting. I also think it makes me, as a seller, seem more approachable.

I do the same thing when selling clothes and wigs as well. I suppose it's just to verify that they're perfectly desirable items, they just weren't what I was looking for.

Do you feel you have to justify the reason you are parting with a doll so you don't seem like a bad person?

No. I'm more concerned with seeming like an approachable and friendly seller. I think adding just the right amount of conversational dialog makes me come across as more open. I wouldn't sit down and write a novel about my experiences with the doll though. I'm not looking to prove I'm still a good person even though I'm rehoming a doll, that's silly.

Do you think that adding a personal story will encourage buyers?

It depends really. As I mentioned, I do think a little bit of flavor text can be a good thing. But too much can make it seem like you're not serious about selling. So I think you need to be careful so that you come across as friendly and not overly sentimental.

For buyers:
Does it matter whether or not a seller lists their reasons for selling?

As a buyer, I don't really care one way or another. But seeing realistic reasons, like "I need money to fund another purchase", "we're not bonding" and so on sometimes act as reassurance that the buyer is serious about the sale. It also sends a message that they may be better with communication than someone who just lists the condition, price, and basic information and leaves it at that.

That's just a generalization, so please don't take that to heart. A person's level of professionalism cannot be judged so easily.

Do you want to hear why a doll is not working out for the seller?

It depends. Sometimes the things that make the doll undesirable for them might be things I personally want in a doll. It's all a matter of personal taste and is to be taken on a case by case basis. I think this information can be useful.

Are you more likely to buy a doll where the reasons for selling or stated, or do you just see them as an attempt to garner attention or facilitate a fast sale?

If I wanted the doll, and was serious about the purchase, it wouldn't matter either way.

I think it's usually very clear when the seller is listing a reason for sale as a way to seem approachable, and when they're just trying to push their sale. I'd probably stay away from the latter, but it depends on the situation, the seller, what they were selling...

 

I think it is a duty to tell any prospective buyer of a physical issue with a doll. The personal issues with not bonding, not so important for me. It is a valid factor though, very often, when a doll goes up for sale.

If I have a stressful personal reason for needing the money, I have learned it really does NOT help make a sale or get a higher price, to include such information. Especially when in the same signature where a need to sell is stated, there is also a WTB for some other doll. Then the sob story sounds like manipulation or plain dishonesty.

I tend to lean in the TMI ~[too much info]~ direction any time I write or talk, so I might be extra careful not to put too much explanation when I begin to sell. I am going to have to sell a few dolls only because I LOVE too many! And I find it a thrill to meet new dolls. A few dolls will bond to me and feel like family. The others feel like an adventure, and I see them as being adventurous too -- enjoying a life of travel and variety. To me, they are CHANGeLINGS who enjoy new identities and new customization.

I'm not particularly interested in hearing why someone hasn't bonded with a doll. But I don't judge them for including this info if it makes them feel better about selling.

 

It's not bogus. I have a doll that didn't have a character concept, and it's the only doll I own, and the biggest concern I have is 'bonding' with her. It's just a feeling when I look at the doll. Does she make me feel happy and satisfied to see her face, and make me want to pick her up and pet her hair and carry her around with me? That's bonding for me, and if that feeling isn't there, something's not right.

For a long time I barely even looked at my doll, and I realized after I started playing with her again and changing a bunch of things (her faceup, wig, clothes, etc.), I felt a much stronger sentimental bond.

Of course, many people could be selling a doll saying they aren't 'bonding' when they mean exactly the reasons you stated, but for the people who 'really' just have an issue with actual bonding, I feel for 'em XD . I'd really haaate to buy a doll only to end up not being able to feel a shred of attachment when she comes in. That has got to be my #1 BJD Fear XD . Anything but that!!! I never want to end up having to sell a doll after already buying it.

ali

 

I don't mind a little bit of a back story as it is easy to see a doll as almost a person. Buying a doll is a very different experience from buying something like a scarf.

 

I don't think a doll is much different than a scarf. You buy it because you like it. I don't think I have to justify anything I do to my dolls, they're mine and what I do to them is my business only. If I don't have to justify why I mod them, why should I have to justify why I sell them? When putting a FS thread, what matters is the most accurate description of the doll and its state and nothing else. I think a little about your feelings of the doll is not required. It is just extra babbling.

 

Just because information isn't put into so much words directly doesn't mean it is not information. Confirmation, easing anxiety, building trust can all happen through 'babbling' without ever being mentioned directly.

 

Why do you feel there is a need to explain the reason for selling a doll?
I think this hobby can get their owner very sensitive (bonding, the value itself, the expenses, etc), so explaining the reasons will give the the next owner a good feeling which also comes back to the seller.

I feel that in this hobby many people have a strong bond with their dolls. If a seller just says "This is a YZX-doll, I'm selling it for $$$." people will think it strange.
Like the person doesn't think of the doll any other than an object. And some will get offended, since those dolls are more to them than mere objects.
Also when it comes to LEs they might think the seller just buys the LEs to sell them for a lot more later. So just adding "had troubles bonding" or "have to sell, because I need money " or "thought this would work out but this hobby just isn't for me" equals general buyer's trust in my opinion.
Personally I don't really care why the seller sells his doll as long as the doll is fine. I mostly skip over that part anyway.
If the seller has any problems which could be a problem in the transaction (like him only being able to ship once a week or so), he could just add the problem itself and not a whole paragraph of background.