Would it offend you as a owner?

In my opinion, it’s tacky and rude to ask someone you don’t know to sell you anything of theirs that isn’t clearly for sale.

Posting a “want to buy” in FB groups, instagram, & DoA marketplace is the route to go

 

To add onto this, I wouldn't say it's out of line if a friend or friendly acquaintance mentions thinking about selling a doll, and you say, "Hey, if you decide to, I'd be interested. Please think of me if you do." You're not putting the pressure on them to decide or to sell, but you're letting them know that they would have an interested party if they did. I've done this with people I've bought from and traded with before, and they've done it with me too. We weren't hobby friends persay, but we had good business together, and it worked out in our favor.

...I haven't had a lot of these over the years, but just enough to still feel salty that much faster every time it happens again. My favorite is still the random person who messaged me asking for an Elfdoll Vivien, even though I hadn't owned one in years and had never posted pictures on that social media. How...?

 

Oh yeah, I'd say that's perfectly acceptable! My sister and I are both in the hobby and we're at a point where we tell each other before selling a doll just in case the other wants it! I've had agreements with friends too that if one of us ever considers selling a certain doll, we'll let the other know first. If I casually mentioned considering selling a doll on social media, I'd be honored if one of my followers took that chance to let me know they'd like to give it a new home if I do decide to let it go. I think it's mostly only rude if it's a total stranger and you've given no hints of maybe wanting to sell.

What the hell? That's so weird! I'd be so confused. Though while not asking to have the doll, I have tracked down a random stranger and asked if they'd be ok sharing pics of a super super rare grail of mine just because there were only 2 or 3 ever made and no owner photos....so I might be a weirdo, too...

 

It depends on if I want to sell the doll in question. But also how they ask, if they can provide feedback, etc.

 

My first initial reaction is to be super offended, especially since I don't talk about parting with or selling any dolls with anyone. Even if they asked nicely, it would bother me so much since I am very attached to my current crew, and it takes a lot of time for me even think about selling anyone, so having someone message me asking (even if it's nicely) bothers me a lot.

 

It doesn't irritate or offend me at all. I've been contacted a handful of times for some of the LE dolls I've owned, and I've always let them know that I wasn't interested in selling, but that if my decision ever changed, they would be the first to know.

For me - while I do love my dolls, I view them as collector items. So I totally understand why some collector's try this method if they're in search of something rare/sought after. However, I think regardless - everyone is in full agreement that manners do matter. I can't imagine anyone would be pleased if someone approached them rudely about selling their doll - but a simple "Hello, I really admire your **** doll. If you every consider selling him/her please keep me in mind, Thanks" is a really harmless message.

Of course, to anyone who chooses this method - not everyone is receptive to these types of messages. I personally have never sent something like this (because it's against the rules here), but if I did - I would probably look at the user's profile to see if they have stated that they do not want those types of messages. Additionally, you just have to be ready to take some lumps. Not everyone likes it, and that's their prerogative as well.

 

my reaction would really depend on how politely they ask (although a negative answer is likely either way). I'd probably match the tone in which they asked. And if they get insistent/rude, the block option is there.

 

I wouldn't be offended unless the person was rude or demanding. I love the dolls I have, but if someone asked to buy them, I'd just let them know where to purchase them new (if possible) or let them know I'd think of them if I ever saw the sculpt come up on the secondhand market. I don't really see a reason to be offended by the question itself. I've had people stop me on the street before to ask where I got clothes I was wearing, and I don't find that any more offensive, haha. To me, "Can I buy your doll?" is just a more awkward way of asking, "Where can I buy your doll's sculpt?" It's really not about my doll, just the sculpt itself.

Everyone has different comfort levels. Some people are more okay with certain questions than others. I'm not easily offended, and I tend to read messages I receive in the kindest light possible. But this is the internet: If I don't want to interact with or talk to someone for whatever reason, I can just block them, and they're no longer in my life. If someone is being a jerk or giving weird vibes, I just block them.

 

I think offend would be too strong of a word. I hate saying no, so having to do that would be very stressful. I don't know if I could even respond.

 

Honestly depends, some random person with a rude message of sell me your doll would be a huge no and block, someone taking the time to be polite and say hey if you ever sell them please let me know would be seen more favorably. Because yea sometimes in the hobby people change what dolls they have.

 

I've had a few people ask me this and it full depends on how they ask, but I wouldn't say I get offended. I get passively "offended" if someone asks me to sell my most important dolls since dolls are extremely personal to me, but nothing that would make me rude to them. They don't know and it's honestly kind of funny.

On the flip side, I've been the person to ask before (not here, but on Flickr back in the day or FB/IG) and I've found some extremely rare dolls and big grails that way. I never directly asked, but instead would say something along the lined of "IF you ever sell them, please keep me in mind" with a kind message. Some people decided to sell to me on the spot and others did keep me in mind. Some people might not want to list something because it's a lot of effort, or not knowing they want to sell something, but then decide it really is okay when they think about it or get asked.

But I want to emphasize I would never directly ask, nor would I expect anything by asking, I just wanted to be kept in mind if they ever did for the future. Just in case. Some people didn't respond well, but most did. The ones who didn't respond kindly and DID take offence hurt me not because I didn't get the doll obv, but because I unintentionally caused them stress and bothered them. So that sucked.

You just have to word yourself carefully and not expect anything or beg. But, otherwise, no I personally wouldn't be offended. But I do love hunting and LOVE keeping people in mind as an extra pair of eyes! So I would offer them to keep a sharp eye out!

 

I would be creeped out and probably block them. It's weird to scour someone's purchases/collection with the intent of trying to buy them... If someone wants to sell a doll, they'd say so somewhere. Asking to buy a doll that's not listed for sale feels entitled.

 

I would not be offended at all if someone asked me but I would not ask someone because I know some people have strong feelings about it. Since it is against the rules on this forum and I’ve seen it mentioned on some doll groups, I get the feeling it is not generally appropriate. When you think about it, it’s like going to a museum and trying to buy a painting when there’s an art show/sale going on down the street. There are places to buy dolls, why are you trying to shop someone’s collection?

 

well I plan to sell many of my dolls so I might be perfectly happy to someone telling me that but even if it is a doll I plan to keep I wouldn't mind if the question was asked respectfully , now if they were like "I'll give you X money for that doll sell it to me" this is not very respectful but I won't lie it all depends how big this X ammount of money is like if it's 100 for a discontinued doll I don't intent to sell (sorry typo error had to correct it) I would be offended if it was 500 I wouldn't like it but I wouldn't be offended if it was 5000 it's another story completely .... the more the zeros behind the first non-zero number the more understanding I'll be

 

I see from the comments that I'm in the minority...
I once asked a person about if she **ever were** to sell her one specific doll, if she were kind enough to reach out to me first. Not whether, specificially, she'd sell the doll.
Another time, I reached out to another person to ask if they're still looking for a grail long after we taled about that, because I had that doll before I put it on sale.
If someone emailed me now asking, I'd kindly thank for something I'd take as a compliment (I usually don't have limiteds .... 2 heads... so one can easily have what I have from elsewhere) and just refuse or promise to contact if I ever change my mind.

What's the big deal? It's not like someone was asking if I'd give my cute baby away... there are just resin toys, not animals or human babies.

 

It's happened enough with both dolls and fashion that I no longer get upset and laugh it off at this point. I guess if you've been searching forever, you might just reach desperate measures like actually messaging someone who is clearly still enjoying the doll. How's the quote go? You miss 100% of the shots you don't take? I 110% understand why many people think it's rude and would either not respond or block you. At the end of the day, it's simply rude to ask such a thing.

 

I have to confess that I commented that on several posts on Instagram when I was a newbie, but the issue is that a lot of people used to put the hashtag for sale in the descriptions. Sometimes, they were actually selling the clothes, but often it wasn't related or wasn't specified what they were selling.

 

I've seen that a lot too. It's frustrating to see when you're explicitly looking to buy something, and then something that's not for sale is in the sales tags. I would hope that people who mistag in that way also aren't offended when someone inquires if something is for sale...

 

Maybe a little flattered and irritated at the same time, but probably give them an outrageous number
If you want to buy this doll from me, you need to give me $2,000! Yes I know she was only like $200 when I got her. That's genuine turquoise embedded into her face and it took me forever to find the right piece that wasn't just dyed howlite or reconstituted! (5 years of scouring gemshows to be exact)

 

It depends on the tone of the message.

If I got one that said "hey, I love your doll, if you ever consider selling it please keep me in mind," that would be fine, I think. On the other hand, one of those that's like "hey, let me buy your doll for $50" or something similarly presumptive and rude, that would not be fine. One is coming from a place of genuine admiration for my collection and is making a request, the other is entitled and demanding.

That said, I'm also not someone who tags my stuff with sales hashtags unless they're actually, y'know, for sale. If you're going to tag your non-sales post with sales-related tags to get more reach, you bring it on yourself.