Undisclosed Modifications... has this happened to you?

I've bought many dolls used, secondhand. The closest I have seen to undisclosed modifications is pierced ears on an LE doll. It was a bit surprising, but I went out and bought her some pretty baby earrings that are just perfect for her!

Other than that, I've received some very floppy dolls that owners have tightened themselves, leaving lots of knots in the body. I've only received one truly dirty, dirty doll. Cleaning is far easier than restringing for me though! XD

 

Or atleast know somebody who lives nearby who can do it for you!
(Ahh, all the doll meets that become Dollie Hospitals... XD)

 

I can't believe how people would not disclose information on damages or mods. At the very least, give a footnote in the sale thread about what's wrong ( ie seams sanded whether well or poor, facial mods, chips, scratches, etc. ) and then, upon a PM or email of interest, disclose in great detail whether asked or not information on these flaws and even smaller things. I've never had a problem so far with my pre-used doll purchases, two bodies and a head, all had mods cleanly done and flaws clearly pointed out.

There is no excuse for people not sharing details on things that are non-default that they know about. Though if you have a doll whose faceup you've never touched, and upon selling him to someone who stripped it down and found some discoloration or whatever that you'd known nothing about, that is not an omission of detail - you were as in-the-dark about it as they.

 

Go tell that to all the people that have been duped by Vanillashine, Kazakai, Davona, and countless other frauds out there. I'm sure they're all really grateful to the people who withheld negative feedback because they were more concerned with not being gossips or revenge-mongers.

 

It's not about knowing it was me or not... I have nothing to hide in the matter because I didn't keep it a secret that the doll had a scratch. I would have given you any photographs you asked for.

I'm PMing you about this because it's pretty much supremely pissing me off that you're continuing on with this "intentional" line.

 

You're welcome to, I would tell you the same thing in private. You may also speak to the doll's current owner and she will tell you the same thing. As I said, though, I have no desire to continue this in public and I will not argue with you here and sidetrack this thread.

 

Screw it, believe what you like. I have witnesses, I know I'm being honest.

I suppose this also proves that even if you do disclose damage, some buyers are still just going to think whatever they want to think about it, and tell others what they like about it.

From both ends of the spectrum you can be bitten in the ass by mods, damage, etc.

 

That's unfair to say. Armeleia has never mentioned your name and she's never created any sort of anonymous feedback thread about the situation. She's not accusing you of anything. The way you're going into a tizzy over this is leaving way more of an impression than her original comment ever could.

 

I'm sorry, I just don't appreciate the comment that it was intentional, because it's not true.

This just hit me wrong because it's so very not true...

I've PM'd Armelelia, she can keep her thoughts on it and I'll keep mine. She's saying something that's not true and I'm over-reacting because it hit a nerve. The whole thing is really done with on this thread... but it's still a fact.

You can't control what other people say.

 

I guess that's where reputation and history ultimately comes into play. I mean, I wouldn't hesitate in buying a doll from you.

 

I'm afraid I must agree here. Not everything goes smoothly all the time and without real feedback, you can not make an informed decision. Secrecy only benefits the fradulent.

 

Someone mentioned something about Tracking/ confirmation delivery. I have noticed that packages going from canada to the us and vice versa, stop being tracked at the border but you still get delivery confirmation. Why this is, I don't know but it happened with the last package I mailed. I had asked for and payed for "tracking" at the post office but after it hit the border, there was only delivery confirmation. If anyone knows anything else about this, please share.

I have also had a few experiences with undisclosed mods/damage. I had known that the doll was damaged just from the pictures but I didn't know the extensiveness. There were little stained pits all around the eyes that were then painted over, and they had sanded off an earlobe to remove a piercing - after I expressly asked them to leave the doll alone and just send it.
I was really upset by the little holes around the eyes. I am not sure what caused this but I wish I had known about it. I can't get them out either.

I got the doll for a good price though, and the seller had been very good in every other way. I bought the doll because I wanted to work on it, so I didn't mention anything. I also quickly grew very attached to the thing lol! But my work is cut out for me. u_u;''

 

I can explain this as far as Australia is concerned. It may apply to you too. When customs decide they are going to charge, the item is no longer in the EMS system. They want it delivered to the local post office where the payment is to be made before the item can be collected. I suspect it goes via ordinary post between customs and the post office. My packages have had all of the EMS documentation and numbers deliberately obscured by the customs office, with their paperwork now occupying the prominent position on the parcel. As such, tracking is no longer possible.

 

with the tracking... here in the US different post offices will give you different answers as to what can be tracked and what will just tell you that yes, this item was delivered. I have a terrible time getting straight answers from my post office on the subject. :{ So if people happen to get an international package going out from the US or even IN the US that the tracking doesn't work, it could be because the person was misinformed by their postal worker.

Surely SOMEONE on DOA is a postal worker and can set the record straight once and for all!


also, what probably caused the holes in the eyes were the person sanded the eyes and uncovered pin hole bubbles. at least, that's what i've found to happen. Just because the surface of the doll is fine, there are often holes lurking just below the surface that you don't find till after you start modding. Even just a light 400 grit can unearth them if they're bad.

 

Argh, as someone who relies heavily on feedbacks to decide who to buy from, I have to strongly advocate leaving feedback. We don't have to leave feedback in a rude, grouchy manner. We just need to leave it in a polite, informative way. That would be more beneficial in the long run anyway.

People gossip, spread rumours, etc. But that doesn't make a negative feedback any less real or important to have for reference. I also agree with ravendolls that the seller should always be informed first to see if a compromise can be reached. But I definitely stand by leaving negative feedback when necessary. When it comes to things like modification that has been done without informing the buyer, that definitely needs to be known by other potential buyers.

 

I'm glad we do now have the feedback threads; I wish we'd had them back when redcountess got her Soo Special head. Alas, I don't know who she bought it from; I just know she got it from someone in the Marketplace.

Redcountess' hands aren't too steady and she's not confident in her face-up skills, so right from when I first got her into BJDs, I've always done her face-ups and touch-ups for her and any modding work that needed doing. Thus it was me who discovered that the person who sold the head to redcountess had sanded off the head's philtrum (the vertical groove between nose and upper lip). I have no idea why they should have done this, but the damage was obvious - especially when I removed the face-up and found the MSC they'd used had obscured the worst of the scratches left from doing so!

Fortunately I do own a dremel and fine sandpaper so I was able to remove the scratches and then gently carve a new philtrum, and at casual glance you'd never know the head had been modded - but the original seller definitely should have disclosed the sanding. However this was before the feedback threads were started up, and I don't think redcountess can remember who she bought it from. But should she ever decide to sell Ren, her Soo, she will have to fully disclose that Ren's philtrum was recarved by me and therefore she's not an original Soo Special head but a modded one. I don't think this would really affect Ren's resale value, but it is definitely irksome that the original seller tried to pass her off as a pristine-condition unmodded head. I do remember that the original photos of the head on the Marketplace were obviously all taken before the modding had taken place as well.

I think the answer is to insist that sellers take up-to-date photos of the doll on request so you can be certain you're seeing images of the doll as it is now rather than old pics - that way it would be harder to hide any damage or undisclosed mods. Ask for a photo of the doll next to a daily newspaper with the date clearly visible so you know it's an up-to-date photo - or leaning against a computer monitor that's displaying the doll's Marketplace thread, for example, so you know the pic has been taken since the listing started! And don't be scared to leave negative feedback if the doll is damaged.

 

Haha... this thread is somewhat tense...

I have to agree with the original poster, Raven. I've never said anything about it, but two really bad experiences last year has deterred me from buying used dolls unless I'm REALLY determined to get them (or if I know the seller well and trust them!)

If it's a standard, I would much rather spend the extra $50-$100 to know that I'm getting a doll that hasn't been messed around with. If it's not, I'd even rather spend an extra $100-200 to buy it in mint condition from a scalper. I know a lot of people prefer used dolls, but for me it's too much stress.

It's also part of why I lean so heavily towards Volks dolls... a personal preference mostly, but also... even if they're used, you can get a part replaced by them. The stories I've heard where other companies won't give you parts under similar conditions scare me... basically I've become a paranoid dolly-shopper.