When does an imperfection become damage?

For me, a serious flaw or damage consists of
A) Any chipping/staining/highly visible scratching that is NOT advertised, yet shows up on my doll
B) anything that can impede the doll's function, or cause damage to other things

I do not consider most seamlines as a flaw, and I have never understood the people that complain about them as if they are, especially when a company offers it only as a paid service yet you have not paid for it. However, the keyword is most. If a seam is so bad that it can rip clothing or cut skin, or impede mobility, then it ceases to become a byproduct of casting and moves into the territory of poor quality checking.

If I am buying a new doll, direct from company, and there is a chip in the resin or any broken extremities/scratching severe enough to show visibly in photos and irl, then it is absolutely damage and I would ask for the company to reimburse me somehow. It is their job to maintain quality control as best as they can, and sending a doll with a chipped ankle or neck is not acceptable to me.

Secondhand, there is a lot of leeway to me. As long as things are advertised honestly, then I don't mind buying dolls that might have significant yellowing or a nick in their resin - because I know it will be there.

 

For buying secondhand, I think I would be most worried about chips/scratches/other damage that can't be hidden, that interferes with something important (like putting on the head cap and having it stay on), covers a large portion of the doll, or that would cause me to worry that doing stuff with the doll would make it worse. Uneven or excessive discoloration, either from staining or yellowing, would also be a major problem. But any damage that was small or would be easily hidden by wigs or clothes wouldn't be a problem with a second-hand doll. In fact, I would be skeptical of a sale that claimed the doll was 100% like new.

 

I think often when you're buying second hand imperfections (scratches etc) are unavoidable, but i agree it becomes damage if for instance there are missing fingers, cracks, basically anything that can't be resolved by modifying to a reasonable degree, but I wouldn't accept a doll that had imperfections like chipping of faceup if i'd paid for the faceup, similarly I'd be a bit peeved if there were scratches on my doll from seams. I'd be a bit more lenient with second hand dolls as minor scuffs and bumps, from experience, are unavoidable.x

 

When I spend that much on a new doll I would expect for it to be in good condition.
If the parts are defective I would not tolerate it, but I'm sure there is only so much I can do.
I shouldn't have to do sanding to fix their mistake, especially since I am sensitive to resin dust and would have to pay someone. If a hand was broken I would at least hope they would give me a spare pair. As for chips, as long as it isn't on the face I'm fine.

We wait months for our dolls to be complete, I would hope they would put the time into a full inspection and their best craftsmanship. If the company called me to say they had a problem with my doll I would be fine waiting longer instead of getting a doll that was defective.

 

I would consider the imperfections of a new doll to be damage if it was not consistent to what other people are getting in their doll of the same sculpt.
So if all dolls have unsanded seams by default (with sanding service extra) then I would expect to have seam lines on the doll if I don't pay for the extra service, and it's the same for sanding marks because there might be sand marks in certain places but it's how the doll is made like near hair cap but would be hidden by a wig.
If a doll doesn't pose well or the joints looks funny, and it's the same for everyone dolls then I would say that's a design flaw and the company might look into improving the sculpt.
For a new doll the things I would consider damage would be chips or cracks, accidental scratches (by the company), and obvious broken pieces eg. broken fingers, head cap tab etc, which I would probably let the company know about (and it would depend on the damage if I ask the part to be replaced).
I've also noticed companies have disclaimers about how uneven coloured resin can be so I wouldn't consider any marbling or uneven spots as damage.

 

I agree with Schtiel, and would consider anything that impedes the doll's functions as "damages".

Imperfections, by my standards, would be little things, like resin color inconsistencies, or maybe a slight difference in similar sculpts (one eyehole is very slightly bigger, nose isn't as sharp as advertised), things that won't necessarily "ruin" or bring down a doll's value. These would likely be acceptable, whether the doll is brand new or second-hand.

I would consider breaks in the resin as damage. This is a little more iffy with modified heads, since the "damages" have a purpose (like permanent scarring and the like). But if there are scratches/chips/chunks broken off of the body or head that serve no purpose, I would definitely file them under "damage". This would be unacceptable to me if it was a brand new doll. For second-hand dolls, all modifications and damages must be stated clearly by the seller.

 

I'd consider it damage if someone who had absolutely no skill in any sort of modification is unable to perform a simple fix. As in broken finger, sure you can glue it back on but that's obviously damage. About scratches, if it's a tiny scratch thats not even visible, it's not damage. But if it's a scratch that needs to be sanded out, that would require a skill and therefore, considered damage.

 

If I am buying new from a company I want the pieces to fit together--I can deal with cliffy seams and small pockmarks and marbling as long as they are not on the face, but the doll has to be able to sit and stand and pose reasonably well. Dollzone went through a bad patch after Celine where some of the new bodies just didn't fit right, especially in the knees and torso, and Fairyland had it's casting problems that were bad enough people complained. Luckily it doesn't happen often, though.

 

Secondhand- I'm fine with small scratches or chips, yellowing, minor staining, loose headcap magnets -AS LONG AS THE SELLER MENTIONS IT! Things like bad modding, broken fingers, large cracks, etc are not acceptable.

Brand New- I expect it to be even color, no scratches or chips, no yellowing, pieces should fit together easily, should be strung well and able to do basic poses. I got a doll awhile back that his head did not match his body at all! Like, the head was a few shades darker and yellower than the body, and I ordered the doll all together at the same time! THAT is bad quality control.

 

New: Damage interferes with doll's function, something is cracked, something has broken off.

Second hand: Damage interfere's with doll's function, cracks or breaks that are no mentioned, something is stained and is not mentioned. If the doll is newer and yet very yellow, I would consider it...more minor damage. Older dolls? Typical "wear and tear."

Imperfections are...marbling in tan dolls, sanding streaks in tan dolls (from sanding in places that may be required), minor seams. In new and second hand dolls.

 

Second damage that I would contact the seller about is anything not mentioned. I literally don't care to much on the doll's condition as long as I know about it before I purchase it.

For a new doll I only consider two things damage, chipping/cracking which granted is usually do to improper handling during shipping and bubbles. When I it comes to bubbles in the resin to me it's a red flag that the company isn't doing proper quality control and probaley is on it's way out.

I'm really not too picky when I comes to seams or standing ability. I find that alittle suedeing fixes most things.

 

I don't think that we should have to put up with any degree of damage for what we pay for these dolls. After all I am paying for a new doll in good quality condition. These com. out there want our money, and some of them just don't seem to care about us. I paid $1,200.00 for a doll just to find out the she is going to turn green at some point. I have yet to buy a used doll. And form what I have been reading here I really don't think that I will be buying one, any time soon if ever.

 

Second Hand: I am fine with tear and wear at joints, reasonable resin aging, minor scratches which are not obvious as long as the seller mentioned. Anything more than like broken fingers, chipping, deep scratches, damages interferes the doll function is not acceptable. Dolls are not cheap by all means I will expect the previous owner handle it well.

New: If bought it new directly from the company, I expect everything in near perfect condition.

 

i think your after how you would feel about damages to a new doll. if it was me, and i experienced said things, i would be upset. i have heard of production problems with companies and even model specific. they generally don't admit to much going wrong on their end and some have even suggested that customers fix it themselves. but, i would give them the opportunity to fix it first. it would seem standard to take pictures, cross your fingers that it shows up in picts and send it to the company with the run down of what's wrong. if they decide that they want to fix it, your in luck. if not, then you need to decide how important the doll is to you. i would be writing a very nice unhappy customer review on their company feed back.

 

To me, pure damage means large cuts, scrapes, stains, highly uneven and noticable yellowing. If it has a little cut or nick, then I wouldn't have much of a problem with it.

 

That would be up to the owner or potential owner, I suppose. It's like a ratty old pair of jeans. They're damaged, but they have a history. That history's importance is up to the individual.

 

I don't consider seam lines as damage, minor scratches, resin aging (evenly), or light stains don't bother me as long as they are not on the face. I'd definitely consider deep visible scratches, chips, broken parts, dark stains as damage and will probably not buy a pre-owned doll with any of these damages. But for a brand new doll the most "damage" I can deal with will probably be very minuscule scratches/sand marks and/or rough patches. Chipping/staining would be absolutely unacceptable considering the money and wait time involved with a pre-order doll!!

 

I do not consider seamlines damage, or mild discolorisation in tan dolls, or other very minor tiny flaws that do not affect movement or posing. I would consider an airbubble a flaw though (but it depends on the spot, if it is on the sole of the foot or inside the headcap or something I wouldn't mind).
Apart from that ofcourse the broken fingers, but they are usually broken in transit and so chances are the doll wasn't packed very well. I think a replacement for that would be reasonable.
Real damage to me would be structural things, like too-thin resin at the joints when you know that that is not usual with that type of doll. That would worry me and I would want to have it fixed by a modification artist if possible.

Second-hand anything is possible, and ok as long it was described well and reflected by the price. You can decide for yourself whether you still want that doll or not, you choose what you can accept or not.
Undisclosed flaws are a problem. I personally would hate undisclosed yellowing the most I think. I sometimes see Marketplace pictures of dolls that have definately yellowed but they are still described as 'barely' yellowed...that would be a problem for me.

 

And that is why research is so important before you buy. If you're shelling out that much on a doll, research is not just your best friend - it's absolutely vital. Almost all of my dolls have at least part of them that's second hand and I've had no complaints whatsoever. Again, research is vital. Look up a seller's feedback, ask questions, request photos, and take the necessary steps with Paypal to ensure you can start a claim should you need to. Honestly, if you don't research, things aren't going to go well for you in a hobby such as this, but if you do, chances are you'll be fine.