Things that annoy you... *Rant Thread*

Leeke quality control? What's that? Customer service? Do they even do that?

I bought an OD vampire Il during their last, 2 week sale in November. I get him (and he's gorgeous) but he can't stand because there is a problem with the way the hooks embedded in his feet are positioned. I don't mean he couldn't stand without a lot of fiddling and patience. I mean could not stand period. With his body held straight, his toes pointed up to the ceiling at an approximate 70 degree angle (sort of like reverse high heel feet). If I planted his feet flat on the floor, his body was inclined forward at the 70 degree angle. Trying to force his feet to be perpendicular to his body resulted in my gouging some of the resin of his inner ankles because of the metal hook in his feet.

I emailed Leeke literally within 1 hour of unboxing him, provided pictures of the problem AND provided comparison shots of my new OD next to my other OD (a Tae vampire I'd purchased 2nd hand several years ago and who has the exact same body as my new guy) so they could see the difference in the posing/mobility. I wasn't asking for a refund or for them to fix the problem but to let them know of the issue so other dolls don't go out that way and to politely state my disappointment with receiving a doll that quite literally cannot stand.

Their response? I wasn't trying hard enough to make him stand, it took a little practice and he could stand just fine before they sent him out, implying that I was at fault/did something to make him unable to stand. Uhh, what? I'd owned my other OD boy for roughly 5 years (and owned dolls in general for about 7 years) and was well aware of the OD doll's issues (especially the Collapse O-matic Knees of Doom). Tyh was a pain in my butt to stand (even after hot glue sueding and wiring) and I never trusted him to remain standing for any period of time, but he could stand. Ammiel? Nope. Not gonna happen at all.

Fortunately, I was sending Ammiel out for a face-up and a mod and the person I sent him to fixed his problem standing (which did require some minor modds to accomplish and wasn't just me "not trying hard enough") so Leeke's response to me was complete and utter BS and really cheesed me off.

 

I generally tell them up front, after they've responded to my initial question as to whether they are still selling the item, that I can send payment this evening (or whatever... I'm talking hours, not days) and here is my shipping address. If at that point they say "OK paying tonight is fine," it would not be okay to then sell the item to someone else. If, on the other hand, they say "sorry, no holds," then it WOULD be okay to sell it to someone else in the interim. It's just about keeping any promises the seller makes. (And of course buyers should keep their promises as well.)

Of course, buyers should not feel entitled to holds that the seller has not promised. I agree with you there.

Another rant: I can't seem to figure out how I want to style my two beautiful minifees. Nothing I seem to try on them is the right look. Curse you, minifees [emoji14]

 

Trying a faceup on 5 heads at once for the first time! I know I must be crazy and whatever happens is going to be my fault so I probably shouldn't rant about it but getting those dust specks and tiny lint hairs out of freshly sprayed MSC is driving me crazy! I can't seem to get them off without lightly scratching with my tweezers! It's making me nuts. If I can't handle some lint specks how in the world am I going to handle mistakes with the faceups?

 

I kept seeing this thread, and I finally remembered what it was that really, really annoys me.

Two things: When there are no pictures of the blank head to be found anywhere, at all, and when there aren't enough pictures of a head at different angles. The blank head just helps me imagine my character or my potential faceup. That, and I guess noses are just an important feature for me, so I like seeing the doll in profile before I buy it.

 

Buyers who offer much much less to you than the price you are asking and eventually agree on a price so you consider it sold only to then change their mind and say I can't really afford it after all. Don't waste my time. If you cannot afford it don't commit to buy it!

 

Company News threads that only post a link to a new item but no pictures. It seems to be becoming a trend and it somehow really irks me. My laptop is slow and old, I like to see the product offered before I take the trouble of trying to load the whole site, maybe that's it. It also feels like bad advertising if you don't show your product right away in a hobby as visual as this one, but maybe that's just me.

 

It's not just me, then! I have a Leekeworld wig that is just a perfect color, but I can't get it to look anything like the photo. It's flat on top, sticks out on the bottom and looks like a cheap wig perched on the poor doll's head instead of hair. And the one that was so perfect for another doll has just disintegrated in the year I've had it, while my other (different company) wigs that have seen the same kind of handling look fine.

 

1. When people "maliciously" complain about the prices of dolls. I'm not talking about a good debate or even a thread like this where it's fair game to rant, I mean when people basically use DOA to vent their frustrations about the hobby and it's prices in a negative way almost as though their fishing for sympathy or to start a bashing frenzy. It's poor manners as well as extremely unlikely that you are going to go into one of the largest BJD enthusiast sites and actually get away with knocking the hobby everyone loves and appreciates. If you ACTUALLY want to know why the dolls are so expensive..ask! I've seen it done civilly before and it went fine ^^

2. The recast debate. The fact that it's a debate at all is what gets me and that people still don't get that it's STEALING. There is no excuse for theft. You will get sympathy for being short of money for dolls. But you will NOT get sympathy for using that as an excuse to buy a bootlegged one.

3. When people basically stir up trouble. Once again I don't mean a debate or even a not so popular opinion. I mean being completely rude or uncaring for their wording on purpose. Example: "Why do people always have to dress their boys in dresses? I'm SOOOO tired of seeing it, cause I mean they are guys!" -or- "I'm not really into the whole stupid big hair, and ridiculously ugly big anime eyes. I'm tired of companies offering those things frankly". If you have an opinion and you're not looking to start a fight as you WILL likely offend someone, for even your sake why not word it better? Rudeness will often always be met with more rudeness.

Aside from that simple complaints are:

1.The shipping FROM the USA. It was going to cost a buyer of mine $50 to SHIP a wig. :/
2.There never seems to be a GO for the shop I want to go to when I need it T^T But that's just bad timing, nothing serious XD

I also agree with the Leeke quality issue completely! I was actually about to start a thread for it so I'm glad I'm not alone!! T^T
What the heck is going on with their wigs lately? It sucks because they have always had the best styles with the best availability for
a long time! All three of the bright ivory wigs I bought are thinning in the bang area showing the cap. It's not ok especially since it's a limited color and one wig is from the first BI release which was YEARS before this one! Come on guys if you can't keep quality, reduce quantity!

 

This is not a rant about a doll or company, but rather a personal rant.
My friend has liked my dolls for a long time, but was resistant to getting a doll of her own. She finally decided she wanted a doll, and since her birthday and Christmas are around the same time, I am buying her first doll for her as a B-Day/Xmas gift. I am totally thrilled to be able to get her first doll for her, and especially because we will be able to share the hobby.


My issue is that she won't do any research herself. She won't go to any BJD websites and won't join any forums. Instead she wants me to send her links to stuff. She won't sign up for any sites or forums, but wants me to copy info and email it to her. She says she is afraid to join sites because she doesn't want to give out any personal info.
I understand her fears, but it's starting to get kind of old. I wish she could do her own research instead of alwasy depending on me.


My friend makes jewelry in people size, and has started making doll size jewelry. Instead of looking around for ideas, she has been asking me to look around for her and send her pictures. I spent about 6 hours searching for pics of doll size jewelry so she could see what other people are making. I wouldn't mind so much, but it really is a lot of work to do that. I wish she would do her own research.
Am I expecting too much?

 

Anyone banned from local doll meets for NO reason? Against DoA rules, too. Has happened to me twice in a year....:-(

 

No you are completely justified in feeling that way since eventually you would think she'll have to mingle someday anyway, right? >.>Why not start now? I don't think you should be treated as a dolly servant either though and I hate to see people being taken advantage of. If she has some social anxiety then maybe some words of encouragement are in order if you think it'll help. The last thing I would do would be a more "Why don't you see for yourself" attitude, you know not rudely, but simply forcing her to do it herself. Tell her you're busy when she asks and she'll possibly get the hint. Though I prefer a more direct way of talking to my friend, we also are extremely close and we can tell each other things without getting offended. Though if you can't do that with her, then a little pushing might be in order. ^^ Plus if/when she does decide to join, seeing this thread might make her feel upset so talking to her about your frustrations might be better than her finding out the hard way ^^

 

Well, unless you're her personal assistant - and you better get paid for that! - she really ought to start doing that kind of thing herself ... Is it only the doll stuff or is she hesitant to use the internet in general?

 

Oh the list could go on and on!

Top, and by far the most irritating to me: "I only want to get back the money I put into it" on a second hand sale for a readily-available doll. I'm sure you do, but hello? Your doll is now a used doll. It's not pristine the way it was when you got it from the company. You've had the enjoyment of it as a new doll and should be willing to take that into account when pricing it for resale. *It's just not worth as much as it was new* I don't include limiteds or no-longer available sculpts from companies no longer in existence in this irritation, if the doll's in decent condition. I'm talking the ones you can still get fresh from the company in unlimited quantities.

Second - marking a second hand doll at THREE TIMES its original price. I don't care if you've just flung the box in a dark closet for three years - it's still not a new doll. A small markup if it's something special, maybe, but seriously.

People who whine about not being able to afford them. So save your pennies - it's what everyone else does. We all know they're pricey. (And related, of course, is the recast issue. If you do not have permission to make a copy of a doll, then you do NOT have permission to make a copy of a doll. Especially not for profit. Period, end of story.)

People who don't bother cleaning their dolls when they ship them second hand, OR who don't bother to properly protect the dolls for shipping. I don't want your dirt, thanks, I can make plenty of my own.

Companies that make awesome but odd-sized dolls and then never make clothing available for them. Unless you're really handy or some private seamstress happens to own a doll that sized you are really in a predicament if you want the doll to have more than one outfit.

Oh and up-the-nose shots. Truly, for any doll ever made it IS possible to position it in a way that doesn't involve my looking at whether or not the inside of its nostril is blushed.

Wonky eyes. Yeah sometimes it happens but really -- it's not as though there aren't multitudes of tutorials here about how to position a doll's eyes so that they're not looking cross-eyed, wall-eyed or scared out of their minds. Take the five minutes to fix the eyes before you photograph the thing - avoid giving other people the heeby-jeebies. It's not hard.

 

Oh, god, are some second hand dolls ever ridiculously expensive! I agree with you about the used ones being priced more than they are worth. I've seen ones in the marketplace with scratches that are priced the same, if not more, than a brand new one you can get from the company. Like, why on earth would I pay for the asking price of such a doll when I can pay the same price for a brand new one without the defects. It just boggles my mind something fierce! I, too, understand if the used doll is limited and rare. And, let's be honest, I wouldn't ever expect someone to give away their doll for pennies. But pricing your used, so not rare, dolls for equal to or more than the company is currently asking for it makes me shake my head in disbelief.

 

As you and Baakay have said it's rather quite disappointing to see dolls being priced high with actually very little to factor in as to why they are being marked up(there was even a discussion/debate about it a few years ago) But I also see it in other cases, such as clothing,shoes, wigs, etc too. In the end you can price your item how ever much you feel/need to but bear in mind that if the item is priced only a small amount less than if you bought it new, you only have availability and convenience to draw a buyer in. Especially if it's not discontinued. While it might not be an awful thing to do, you do lesson your chance at a sale that way when you expect to get back every penny and more.

 

Trying to find the perfect wig for your doll is such a pain. I have gone with through two wigs on my boy, Hugo and neither is how I picture him! Ugh. The shipping on one of the wigs I got was very expensive too! It's a shame that it didn't work out....

 

The thing I rant right now are people who can't stand that someone else has managed to buy a doll (or any other collectible) before them. I don't understand that if the item is marked on hold/ on layaway/ waiting to be shipped you still try to make offers and get it. Or PM buyer and try to make them sell it to you "because I want it".

 

I agree. It's nice to see dolls dressed and with faceups and wigs, but I also want to see the blank doll. Mainly I want to see the body before I buy, because I am picky about the way a body is made.

Doll Family has this problem. They show their dolls in beautiful costumes and the photos are posed in an artistic manner, but there are no pictures of the nude dolls so that I can see the body. In most cases you can't even see the face from the front, but rather at an angle. If I'm going to pay a lot of money for a doll, I want to know what it really looks like.

 

You know what really annoys me? When private websites do things that are totally unfair, biased, etc - which actually have REAL TIME consequences (like banning someone or some product based solely on ACCUSATIONS w/o waiting for legal resolution) - and then excuse themselves by saying 'private website, can do what we want'
Actually they can be sued for doing that if it harms a business or reputation. I myself would not do that, just to protect myself from lawsuits.

 

Ok I've got another one and I'm sure that there are people who agree with me.

Scalpers in the DoA MP: Yep! The ones that are selling marked up, second-hand dolls as "Brand-new, never taken out" But really, when they are brought for the purpose of making them money they are not "Brand-new" dolls anymore, even if they had never been removed from packaging.

Scalpers in the Doa MP: Who bump up all of their sales threads within the same hour. Nothing is more obvious then seeing a bunch of Limited/HTF full sets being sold by the same seller.

Scalpers in the DoA MP: Who don't offer a reasonable layaway. This is the final straw, sure the dolls you are selling are rare and extremely sought after, but in this economy not a lot of people are going to afford them with those prices you are asking. Maybe if your lucky, a lottery winner or that less then 0.1% who can afford it will buy from you.