Shipping a doll strung vs unstrung

The only time I've got a doll shipped unstrung was when buying second hand, but it really does lower the shipping cost. As for wanting the original box, for me personally I've started to only keep the "pretty" ones. I used to keep every box but I just don't have the room. So if I was in your situation, unless I absolutely loved how the box looked, I'd go for unstrung. However stringing a centaur does sound intimidating lol! But I'm sure you could find videos and posts on here to help with that! Is there any chance you could also ask them how much money you'd be saving by having it unstrung and then make your decision?

 

I mean if you decide to sell it secondhand many people opt out of the box anyway, so not having the box isn't a huge deal in that aspect. Stringing is pretty easy, especially if they send the elastic already measured and tied. Odds are they will give you directions for the specific body if they offer shipping it loose. Do what you feel is best

 

I don't like getting an unstrung doll. Prefer with original box and ok paying the money to get

 

I don't keep the boxes anyway so losing the box wouldnb't be an issue for me and I happily choose unstrung for the lower cost.

I can't say stringing is a fun activity, but it's not difficult so I'm willing to do it.

Teddy

 

I bought two bodies from DIM when they were going out of business and they were shipped unstrung and there were no issues. However I've not received a lot of unstrung dolls so I couldn't tell you how unsafe it is compared to shipping a strung doll. As long as the pieces aren't moving around a lot or getting crushed, they should be just as safe as a strung doll, though. A strung doll can also sustain breakage when going overseas, so the risk is always going to be there, but with it unstrung you do also have the added benefit of there being no tension involved to cause stress in the hands and feet. I also do not know how they've constructed their centaur doll so it might be worth paying extra just so you don't have to figure out how to string it when it gets in.

 

Shipping unstrung is as safe as the seller packs the individual parts. Usually, most hobbyists are responsible and will bubblewrap every part to an inch of their lives, and secure everything so nothing rattles around in the box. Very rarely you will get a careless or hasty seller who doesn't secure everything; if the parts are loose in the box, you risk breaking fingers, elf ears or other long thin resin part. But you can say the same thing about shipping a fully strung doll, so I don't think either is more safe than the other!

I've shipped and received dolls unstrung, and have encountered no problems. Restringing is easy for me, but I also buy only human dolls, and I don't find the process a chore. But if restringing is an issue for you (eg. I know some people are physically unable to restring dolls), or if you don't feel confident restringing a centaur right out of the box, it might be worth factoring that into your choice of shipping method.

And yeah, I'd check with the seller to see if they can give you precise quotes for strung vs unstrung. (That's what I've done as a courtesy for my buyers.) The savings might be worth the hassle.

 

Haven't bought a second hand doll yet, but so far on all the dolls I've sold, people always opt for cheaper shipping with me unstringing versus paying extra for the box. With that in mind, I wouldn't bother paying extra for a box if I were buying second hand. Not sure how your centaur doll is strung, but the one I restrung was surprisingly simple. It was basically strung like a standard body with the cord from the back horse legs to the head. Then the front horse legs were just strung the same way doll arms are normally strung.

 

I think that for very large dolls, shipping them unstrung is safer. But each piece has to be carefully wrapped. I don't have a particular interest in dolls box, especially when they're not very pretty. When they just look like a cardboard box, I keep the cushions and throw the box away. If the boxes are very pretty and "useful", I keep them. I use them to store the dolls I'm not displaying at the moment.

I guess it really depends on how much you're attached to the box. Unstrung is safer only if the seller wrap very well the pieces, but cheaper for sure.

 

I have both bought and sold dolls that were shipped in parts. I have only had dolls I am confidante I know how to restring shipped in parts, anything complex I will pay the extra to have shipped whole. I have sold dolls and I will say packing whole is a lot easier then in parts as you have to not only use more bubble wrap but now I have to label every part and make sure each part is put in to best get doll there safely. The box maybe smaller, but the weight will be higher. But I aim to please my buyers.

 

it depends on the doll (and if you would be keeping the original box or just recycling it afterwards)
A friend of mine sent me and oldskin VOLKS body unstrung and it was no issue at all but if I had to choose to ship a doll with as many complicated parts as a centuar strung or unstrung you couldn't pay me enough to go unstrung unless I could have someone else string it for me upon arrival

 

On a side note - GOOD LORD. What on earth is he strung with, bungee cords???