Would you buy a second hand doll for same price as a new one?

1. I think it depends. Secondhand new (such as buying and changing mind immediately & deciding to sell)? Or secondhand few years old? My answer would be maybe to the first and no the last.
2. I'm pretty tight with my money so would love to see a reasonable amount deducted. I don't want to have to pay $20 or $30 less for a doll that's only a few years old. It's just not worth it. I'd rather wait the extra time and buy new.

 

Well, quite a few secondhand dolls are discontinued or limited releases, and like in all other collecting hobbies, that will sell for higher price, usually. People are willing to pay more from someone secondhand when they can't even get a hold of it from the company.

But if you mean secondhand dolls that's still in production then it depends entierly on the condition of the doll. If it is an immediate resell then perhaps someone would choose to pay the original price so they won't have to go through the waiting times that often follows buying from a company.

As for myself:

1. Probably not. If it is limited of course, but if not then no. I'd go to the company. I don't mind the wait time.
2. Pretty close, I think. I haven't really been in the situation yet, but if shipping is cheaper and etc I think I could get pretty close up.

 

I think most people in this hobby develop a 'collectors mindset', where items hold (most of) their worth and where rarity or availability influence prices. Something being 'new' doesn't really means much in the first place in collectors hobbies I think. That is more the way you would gauge worth in a general market.

Personally I find it incredible and refreshing that for once in my life things seem to have quite a steady worth in this hobby. It made me look different at general markets and how the daily items around us loose their worth pretty much the moment they are purchased. It's ridiculous if you think about it. A clothingitem in a shop isn't any 'better' then that item in my closet but the devaluation is immediate upon purchase.
Imo when you think about it items holding (most of) their worth is actually more logical then that strange devaluation that we are so used to that we take it for granted.

 

I usually only buy second hand dolls if they are cheaper than if I bought a new one, unless it's a limited edition that's no longer for sale or something. Or of course, if it's 2nd hand but only receintly bought and has no damage to it at all.

As to "How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition" ...I think, if it's a doll I like, then I'll buy it if it's cheaper at all, even if it's only cheaper by a couple of dollars (taking to account the shipping and taxes and whatnot of course). And as I said, if it's actually a pretty new doll that hasn't been damaged or yellowed at all, then I'd probably be happy to pay the original price.

 

I'd say it depends.
If it's just arrived new and exactly as I want it (resin color, options etc.) and the person doesn't try to charge extra (paypal fees or what THEY paid for customs) other than the shipping cost, then I'd be ok with paying the same price as the current worth of the same doll new. (=> If there is an event that I am considering participating, the second-hand doll would have to be able to purchased at THAT price or I'd buy new).

If it's a little older but still in top condition and exactly how I want it, I'd also be okay with paying about the same price.
However, I'd definitly consider wether to buy 'used' or 'new' in that case.

Dolls I want that are the way I want them and are cheaper will have a better chance to come home to me.

Dolls with damage or major yellowing or stuff like that would have to be reduced clearly for me to even bother to consider them.

 

I actually don't CARE for the most part if the dolls are more or less the same price. If it's from the company I get the paperwork in my name but I have to pay for shipping from far far away & wait for weeks/months.
If I get a doll second-hand I can usually get it MUCH quicker, often w/an intersting faceup rather than a company one, & lots of times w/extras. Plus if the seller is CONUS shipping is less!
There are dolls that I can ONLY get (if I'm real lucky) second-hand because of the ridiculous road-blocks put in the way of any international purchases (Volks I'm looking at you) or because the doll is no longer available due to being a limited edition.
Why people are so obsessed w/NEW vs second-hand in this hobby, I have no idea. The ONLY qualms I ever have concern the possibility of buying a recast/bootleg doll, which is why I've generally stuck w/the DoA MP.
The other thing that makes me laugh is the 'stigma' of hand-made clothes. Those actually (if made by a qualified seamstress) are MUCH better quality than factory-made items. I realize by browsing the MP that some of the hand-made items offered aren't properly done, but that goes for several FS outfits I've gotten as well.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
That depends. If the doll's in rough shape or showing signs of aging (chipping, loose stringing, yellowing), I would expect to pay less. If it's a limited edition, though, or one that was bought and immediately resold without even really being out of the box, then I'm much more comfortable with paying roughly the same price as if it were new. And the advantage there is that there's not as much waiting as there is for a new one! (For myself, I have one full doll and two bodies that came to me second-hand; of those, the full doll and one body were purchased for fairly close to original price, as they were "Bought, looked at, didn't work out and put back in the box immediately." The other body was completely unstrung and tucked in a little box, and came for quite a bit cheaper than it should have been.)

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
Again, it depends on the same factors as above. The better condition/newer it is, the closer I'll go to original price; with the two like-new ones I bought, I would have paid full price if it were what the seller was asking; the difference in shipping cost and waiting cost is plenty to still make it worth it to me to buy the second-hand kids! Plus it helps get them back into a new home where they can be out and admired.

 

It depends on the specifics - my answers are very different for a genuinely hard-to-find old or LE doll and something that's readily available..

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?

Only if the doll was unavailable by other means - a limited run doll that rarely pops up on the second hand market, or a limited version of a doll that has all of it's original fullset items. In those cases I'm happy to pay the same (or a somewhat higher) price. For anything readily available though, no.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?

If we're talking about standard edition dolls, I would want to see a decent price drop to make it worth not buying from the source instead - otherwise what's the point? I might be willing to spend close to the original price if the seller is in my country (so no customs fees and lower shipping), but in general I don't think it's worth it without some extra incentive.

And to be fair, I think some sellers will list their doll at the price they paid but expect to have to drop the price to make the sale, so sometimes the list prices are misleading.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
Yes and no. If it is a limited doll that I can't buy from the company anymore, then yes. If it is a doll I want NOW and the company is known for taking an extremely long time or has bad customer service, then yes. If I can buy the same doll in stock from a dealer, and have it at my house, brand new, in very little time, then no, I wouldn't buy the secondhand one for the same price. I might at a discounted price (like $20 difference or more, depending on condition and the seller's feedback)

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
See above. It depends on the doll. I have paid MORE than the original price for a LE that I couldn't get from the company. I've paid the same or a little more (maybe $10) for a doll I could get immediately preowned, or wait maybe 6 months for brand new. But the doll would have to be in very good condition, as I would never pay full price for a doll that was severely or unevenly yellowed, missing parts, broken or scratched, stained, etc.

 

If it's a basic-stock doll, I'd rather give my money directly to the company, by buying new. In exchange for a minty-fresh new doll, I also get the provenance as a bonus. I can also be 100% sure it's not a recast.

If it's a limited or discontinued doll, unavailable from the company, damn right I'd buy it secondhand at its original retail price! If it's got its original faceup & fullset gear intact, then original-retail-price would be a bargain.

If it's got missing bits, or is overly worn/ well-loved, then I'd gauge the current ballpark market-value of the fullset doll & seek a lower price.

However, for dolls that are extremely desirable & rare/ hard-to-find, even if the fullset isn't complete and the doll is worn, beggars can't be choosers-- you can't guess the next time you'll even find one for sale-- in that case, I would be happy to pay its original retail price.

 

For both of these questions is really depends on the doll. If it's a rare LE that I want REALLY bad that's in fantastic condition or has a gorgeous faceup or what have you and it's the same price as it was new, sure I'd jump on it or even pay over what it was worth new if I could afford it at the time.

For a standard doll? If it was brand new in pristine condition and for some reason I couldn't wait the time required to order it new, then maybe? I can't imagine why I wouldn't be willing to wait. I kinda trust that my brand new dolls will arive in good condition with none of the unfortunate surprises that can come with a second hand doll. Overall I'd prefer that it be discounted enough to warrant me buying it second hand when I'd prefer buying new and giving my money directly to the company for standard dolls.

 

Jenny pretty much said everything that I was going to.

In this hobby, some dolls really are worth as much (or more-) second-hand as they were when they were new. Not *every* doll is like that, of course, but there absolutely are some Limited, rare or otherwise desireable sculpts that are.

ETA: With that Terra specifically... For a relatively small difference like that on a standard doll with a default face-up? I'd probably just order it from Luts, honestly. Buying the one on eBay means you wouldn't have to wait a month or two to get him, like you would with a direct order... but if the wait time isn't a big deal for you, for that close a price you might as well just order a new one.

 

I probably wouldn't,especially if I could still get the doll from the company or authorized seller.

 

Well, in this case, he is 50 dollars cheaper and shipping's free (which is normally about another 50 dollars). It really depends on whether or not you think this is a good enough deal for you to get him second hand. Nobody can make that personal decission for you.

Usually, I gladly pay the full price if the doll I'm looking at is a limited. When it is a standard it really depends on the doll. Some companies have very long waiting times, for instance, and I know that I'm impatient. So, if I would be interested in one of their dolls, I'd probably check if there's one in the Marketplace.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?

Pfffft!!! I have paid WAY more than the original price for a second hand doll that came with less than the original release of the doll- It was Volks of course. But the answer is yes. I have. But only for limited editions that were already sold out. But for limiteds it's to be expected.

Otherwise I would honestly rather just buy direct from the company, especially if the seller is asking the same price for a doll that is still available. I don't see much of a point buying a second doll for the same price as the company is charging.



2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?

If it's in good condition I still expect less than the original. I have also sold dolls for less than asking price- mostly because I couldn't get an asking price close to the original price.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
Yes, if they were in very good condition and/or limited/hard to find. If I couldn't find any others of the same doll either in stock or from another sellr, I'd consider buying secondhand for the same price. What does bother me, though, is when it's nowhere near new condition, not limited in any way, and the seller has the price as more expensive than the doll would be new.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
It's all dependent on a bunch of factors, I really don't have a set way of deciding. It comes down to how hard it is to get the doll, whatever extras it may have, whether or not the alterations made to face up/body/etc are preferable to the original or taking away from it, layaway plans if the brand new version is from a site with no layaway...sometimes circumstances just make the secondhand one, even if they're the same price, better to buy. A lot of the time I'll look for a secondhand of a BJD from sites that don't have layaway plans set up, because layaway makes it a lot easier to get the doll without needing to get ahold of all the money up front.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
To me, it really depends on the doll. I might pay the same price as a new one if the doll was in the UK, as everything takes ages to get here from Japan or the USA. Or if it had an amazing face-up which didn't come with the default new doll, maybe. I'd be happier paying less than a brand new doll though c':


2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
If it was in really good condition then I'd be happy for it to cost even £10 less than the new doll I guess, although again it would depend on the price of the original doll and if it was limited edition or not, I think cx

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
It depends. The doll would have to be in PERFECT condition, pretty much brand new, and the seller would have to be in my country, so I could save on shipping. In this scenario, I would go ahead and buy for the same price as new. But any damage or yellowing, or if I end up paying the same in shipping, I would probably buy new.
I'm assuming we're not talking limiteds, because I have paid more than the original price for rare/unavailable dolls.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
Uhh... It depends on the condition of the doll, how long it takes the company to fulfill orders, where the seller is located relative to me... There are lots of factors