Volks after event

I have no complaints about Volks' dolls. The dolls are beautiful. I've had it with trying to get their limiteds, but I'm open to the possibility of buying a standard or FCS.

However, I have a major beef with the way the company is rapidly expanding without first solving their existing supply and distribution issues, and at the expense of potential improvements. The Dolpas are hard enough, what about the new Harajuku Tenshi no Sumika that just opened in April? Volks already had 3 Sumika and 3 regular stores in Tokyo. There's no need for another shop here. The resources that they spent on the Harajuku store could have been put to better use, like keeping the dolls in stock online and in their other stores. I don't think it's unfair criticism to say that Volks ought to rethink their business priorities.

 

I know that volks does a lot of wonderful things and we shouldn't be too critical of them, but it is also fair to be a little disgruntled about how badly organised volks is.
There are some serious issues they need to deal with - I think they are aware of how popular their dolls are, but they haven't done much to deal with demand.
The whole lining up for hours only to be redispersed into a different line order must break people's heart. I think first come first served. And if people want to camp at the doors overnight, so be it! Its not fair that people who've been waiting longer miss out.
I am a big fan of australian comedy... and my friends and I get there 2, 3 hours earlier during the fringe in adelaide so we can be front row centre for our favourite acts (long before the previous show has even gone in ops: ) - we are the most eager, the most willing to wait for something which means a lot to us, and so we deserve to have that front row centre spot. If someone came along and handed us a ticket with our new place in the line after that, I would be pretty annoyed.

 

So why are they having so many dolpas in one year? I counted 3 in one year (last year) And what about the regular standard dolls? When will they be in stock again? Oh and there will be another event soon right? Gee no wonder Volks is having a difficult time. I feel sorry for them.

 

Good point, Julie...I hadn't thought of that either, and that is really just WEIRD. Really, why should they have _ANY_ in the stores? If he sold out at Dolpa... and some people are left with vouchers that will take 3 months?
So... basically someone goes to dolpa, waits in line for 3 or 4 hours at least... and then if they arent one of the lucky ones to get a doll that day, they can get a voucher for their time. But then they have to wait 3 months, and then, they'd have a nother chance inbetween to get the doll they wanted at the after event IMMEDIATELY?

I dunno, to me it seems like people at the after event should have to wait too. Maybe they are doing it this way to somehow allow everyone a chance to get a doll immediately? (ie people who can't go to the dolpa in Japan who live in other areas, still have a chance) but it still seems frustrating.

I agree that the frustration makes it less of a joy each time. The thing is, I don't mind coming to my computer and hitting reload at some odd hour of the day, and making sure I'm here RIGHT when the dolls go up. But I think most people are frustrated that even if they do THAT they still can't get through. I don't mind waiting for months either to get a doll... but right now most of us almost have no hope at all of getting any Volks limited retail.

I love Volks, but I hope things get a little easier for us international fans soon.
It was actually easier to get a Volks last year, if you'd believe that. We have more methods of getting dolls and Volks is more attentive to us now and is giving us ways to buy... but the demand is just SO HIGH that it actually makes it harder than it was previously.

I rememeber when we used to be able to pay Masamichi $80 to go pick up a Volks stock doll. Now, my friend who wanted a Volks stock doll, since they were no where to be found, had to pay ebay scalper fees just to get a stock doll.

inertia, I totally agree.

 

No, it is perfectly fair to voice your opinion on this kind of stuff. There are alot of disappointed people out there and I understand your frustration. Hell, I was trying to get Liz too and had her in my cart and moved on to pay when the server went down. ;-; So yes I agree, they definitely need to find a better way to organize these events.

However, I don't think it's fair at all when people start throwing unfounded accusations, saying Volks "doesn't care" or is "disrespectful" of their overseas buyers. People should refrain from making such sweeping statements like that.

 

I completely agree - It's not like they planned or even WANTED their servers to go down! Servers down = no money coming in = bad for them as well as frustrating for us. Keep in mind they lost business over this and it does look like they are trying to fix the problem, though it might take a little longer than us impatient Americans would like (sorry about the overgeneraliztion, but we as a country are all about the instant gratification thing... ^_^;;; )

 

The point aobut the less Dolpas would be a solution..at least for now. It would be holding the huge blast of clients for later that´s all.

I don´t think anybody here is complaining about Volks dolls, they´re a piece of art, and as someone said before (sorry I forgot) , luxury goods. The thing is ,we´re used to assume money solves it all, "you got the money you get it", specially if you have been saving or rescheduling stuff to be albe to be online at a certain date. I like what has been said about "our western point of view" it´s totally right. It´s another perspective what we need here; ifyou think about any other art collector it´s pretty much the same thing. Imagine for example any art gallery, hunting down a certain piece all around the world

But remember we´re all yelling our tonsils out because we´re aware of how valuable and precious these pieces are. I would never blame it on the dolls, it´s just a selective business targetedto a very particular kind of customers that wasn´t meant to spread out of that "circle". Their mistake is they pulled the thread here and found themselves buried alive by emails and requests they can´t cope with. They have grown up so fast they were not ready. They were not aware of what was going on at first and now it´s just a huge snowball getting bigger and bigger. One would think that with the development of the net, on 2005 and talking about a japanese company such things were not likely to happen, would´nt one?

I want a certain volks model sooo badly, but honestly I don´t dare to auction on YJ or purchase from a middleman that won´t even contact me for months. If something goes wrong, what kind of legal backup do I have? who are they going to blame? rinkya for not translating accurately enough?..don´t think so (

For the moment I just sit and wait....and check out the ebay every once in a while
It´s all I can do...I guess (sighs, feeling defeated).
If anybody has a better plan I´ll gladly hear (read) some suggestions here, beacuse I really don´t know what else I can possibly do

 

It looks like Volks is splitting up the clothing after event sale on their website -- each item starting at a different time. This could help.

I found this on the Japanese home page and translated it with Nifty:

Guidance of WEB site top DORUPA after event holding Event holding is performed to the following schedule about after event holding on a WEB site. In addition, selling start time and the purchase method change with goods items. You read guidance information (under preparation) and please participate in an event.

<> 26 days PM 8:00. SD MIMIPYUA skin model, WIG various selling starts (the usual sales method)

<> 29 days AM 10:00. Purchase receptionist start of SD limited model (exclusive page)

<> 29 days Noon. DD, purchase receptionist start of a dollar FI limited model (exclusive page)

<> 29 days Noon. DD Co. haze reservation receptionist start (exclusive page)

<> 30 days AM 10:00. A dress, accessories-related selling start (the usual sales method)


If anyone reads this differently, please post.

 

That's not a bad idea, as such! None of that lottery tomfoolery, at least! :grin:

 

the trouble is that that's almost the same as what they did before... ^_- I just hope they can get more servers soon.

 

I can't really decipher that...is Rengemaru going to be sold on the 29th? Not like I could afford him by then anyhow, but...

 

http://www.volks.co.jp/en/event/dollsparty13/dolpa13_after.aspx

Again, does anybody know what time they mean by 10am on the 29th, but in California? I suck and I can't figure it out lol

 

If they mean 10am Tokyo time on Sunday May 29th, that's Saturday May 28th, 9pm New York (Eastern) time and 6pm Los Angeles (West) time.

 

Thanks! I have to plan my freaking day around that dammit. I'll be at FanimeCon around then x_X

 

They've put lots more information on the English site this time around. (See below) There's only one doll I'm after, but some of you might want the " One entry per products and per customer" rule clarified further.

 

I really like the White Rose underwear sets. I guess I'll bite the bullet and *try* for them, but I'll also try not to get my hopes up too high.

Lia

 

Dear customer,

Thank you for your email and inquiry.

Yes, it is Japan time.
We hope this would make things clear.
If you have any further question, please feel free to ask.

Thank you.

---

I asked if that was 10am Japan time and that was the answer. Yay for clarification! Volks has fantastic speed :0

 

Is anyone else having problems getting past the tick-the-box page? When I click 'Enter the Lottery', I get a 404...?

 

It's still not time yet I think.

 

server is still down gave me 404 error