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

Well it kinda depends.
For me if a doll is in brand new condition then I would, but it's absurd to buy a yellowed, damaged doll,etc. for the same price. So myself unless the condition is new then no.

 

For me it really depends on the doll, the condition, the rarity, etc. The only thing I don't care for so much is when people try asking for a price that also covers what they paid to have the doll shipped to them, like if if it was new and shipped via EMS from overseas or something. I don't consider that an expense I should have to pay for them as well as paying for the shipping to myself. Otherwise it depends on other factors. I know I've re-homed some dolls in the past from companies that take awhile to fill orders, and people were more than willing to pay roughly the new doll price for them over waiting and paying the EMS shipping. In those cases the dolls were also still quite new and original so it was good all-around.

 

well the 'same' doll with company face-up and shipping actually works out at $559 for me, the little extras can sneak up on you so from that point of view I dont think its a 'bad' deal, he does also come with a few bonus bits and pieces

from a personal point of view I prefer blank dolls as I'd send them off for a new face-up anyway, I'd also prefer to get my own wigs and clothes ... and they wouldn't ship to me anyway

 

For the Terra, buy him now! He comes with extras that will cost extra. You're saving money!

 

For a doll that is still available from the company, I'd have to say no. It's not so much that I care about things being "super shiny new", I just... am slightly addicted to the whole process of ordering new dolls. I enjoy the rush of picking out parts on the website, debating what accessories to get, skin tone etc and then hitting that big ol' shiny order button.

And as much as wait times drive me crazy, I love the excitement that builds up to that magical day you finally get the shipping notice. The 2-3+ months inbetween I enjoy taking my time to pick out wigs and eyes and design clothes and know that (usually) that stuff will arrive before the doll does so it will be more or less complete.

And of course, the thrill of opening that giant box and the smell of newly cast resin. I enjoy the whole process and journey, not just the end result.

However I do not hesitate to use the second hand market for anything I want that is not currently available. But I expect the price I pay to be reasonable, I don't want to pay full doll price for just a head. But that's just me and I've been lucky enough that there hasn't been any excruciatingly expensive limited edition dolls that I've loved so much I've had to have, most of my loves are standard releases

 

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

No. I absolutely would not. Not in most circumstances. I'd rather have a new doll if I am going to pay full retail for one. Unless it's discontinued or something I would not.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition? No more than 2/3 the cost of a retail doll and actual price that would depend a lot upon just how old the doll was and what condition it is in. I don't see paying that much if a doll is yellowed, damaged etc.

I will totally bypass any doll that is priced in such a way as I think it's not very realistic. I do not believe dolls that I can still get from the company new keep their value to the extent of being worth 100% of what the company is charging. It's one thing to pay a little more if it's a limited doll and very hard to get, and another entirely if I can just order it straight from the people who make it in whatever color I want anytime for the same price.

I love the RS/BBB dolls but I quite frequently see dolls in the market that I can buy straight from them for LESS than people are asking for them? That doesn't make much sense to me particularly when there is damage, yellowing, etc. All of that lowers value for me and no, a mediocre face up does not increase value for me. A good one, an unusual one, body art that's really cool, that's something else, maybe it might be worth a bit more, but most of the time I don't think so.

No offense but I've seen some really badly faced up dolls and outright damaged dolls that people are asking the retail price for and even more sometimes and I think that's a bit absurd. Oh and the other thing that kills it for me? People selling a newer doll they didn't like totally marked up to pay for their shipping from China or wherever. Like I am going to pay for that and pay to ship it to me? Don't think so.

That's one of the reasons I've avoided "go" situations too. The original person doing the go might get free shipping but I still have to pay to get it from where they are usually it's not that much less. I might save $10-20 if that? I just don't quite see the point. That's not making it that much cheaper for me and in the meantime I have to trust that person with my money and reshipping it and hope that I actually get an intact doll out of it?

I admit I'm new to this but that does not make me feel very secure. At least if I am ordering a doll straight from the company or a doll store I know I am likely to get it okay, and the more expensive the doll the more insecure I'd probably feel about doing that.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
Yes and no. I would buy it if it was in near perfect condition, and it would be a "convenience fee" like stated above. The fact I wouldn't have to wait months and months is worth it, but only if the doll is in near perfect condition.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
I would not pay original price for something in 'good' condition. I would pay lower. People in this hobby seem to not understand that things like these dolls devalue over time and with ownership, unless they were kept completely unopened in the dark. Many times, people sell their used doll that is not in perfect condition on the MP for far more than it's worth, and I just cannot understand why. Unless it's an LE (which should still be in perfect condition if you want to sell it higher than original price), it should almost always be lower. 600USD minifee basics are not appropriate, and I hope no one would pay for that.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll? If it was a doll that's discontinued/no longer available from the maker, I'd be THRILLED to buy it secondhand in like-new condition for the same price it originally sold for. Even if it was a basic doll that can be ordered at any time, I'd still do it if it was in like-new condition and being sold by an owner in the US, because I'd be saving on the shipping as well as the wait time.
2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition? As above, if it was in like-new condition and being sold by someone in the US, I'd be happy to pay the original price. (I wouldn't, however, pay MORE than that. And the other qualifier is that it would HAVE to be in seriously LIKE NEW condition. As in, they've had it for a month and they're not really feeling it, or the like. Otherwise I WOULD expect the price to lower proportionately to the wear on the doll.)

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
Yes. If it's made during this year, if it's in perfect condition, if it comes with everything offered by the company (ie clothing), if it will be shipped domestically and if I really want it, I would be willing to pay. I believe the discount would be no wait time and shipping. If the seller charged for the shipping amount that they paid for, then I probably wouldn't. I'd just order the doll from the company. As for limited dolls, if I really wanted it I would buy it for its original cost just because it's limited. Though, I have yet to find a doll I must have so much that I'd pay its original price when it's second hand.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
It depends on how much I want it and how much I'm willing to pay for it. Like I said before I have yet to find a doll I want so much that I'd pay original price for it second hand. I use the general price that marketplace is selling it and similar items. From there I determine the price I'd pay for it. It usually ends up not being 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?

No. Probably not. Unless it came with a swack load of extras (like clothes) that made it worth it. You never really know what your getting - so why pay full price for something that is used, and possibly not as 'listed' (or real) when you can just get it from the source.

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

Depends on how old, rare and what kind of 'good' condition it's in. And I guess both of these questions would really come down to: How badly do I want this doll? I'd probably pay pretty close for an IOS doll (as they are ridiculously hard to obtain).

 

I'm assuming you're talking about non-retired, basic dolls as it's apparent that any doll with a limited status will continue to rise in price as it gets rarer throughout the years:

1) Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll? Of course, I love to adopt from other community members! The best part of this is the fact that there's no extreme waiting involved. I get too impatient when I wait and the waiting period from a company can drive me crazy, LOL.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition? If in good condition, I'd pay just as much if not more because I'm honestly grateful I can get the doll much sooner than the sometimes ridiculous waiting times, especially with certain companies going months and months past the promised shipping date of completion. I'd just rather not have the anxiety of dealing with that sort of wait or the language barrier as I post on the Q&A every week or so inquiring about my doll, whose shipping date promised by the company has passed.

 

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll?
Absolutely! I actually prefer to buy secondhand, for a lot of reasons; of course, if it's no longer available from the company, if I will pay a lot less for shipping and if I will have a much shorter wait time. I rarely want to wait 3 months for a new doll to arrive, and to be honest, I've never kept a doll that took more than a month to arrive. Anticipation is not a bonus for me, it's frustrating. That's just me, but that's me, and I know it, so I generally prefer to buy a doll second-hand. Also, there's something about a doll that has been "used", especially if it has been loved...it seems to come with a certain "energy" that I can feel.
Not to mention, if there's an issue of any kind, I have 45 days to file a Paypal claim. I have lost that ability if I buy from a company that ships months later. There are enough horror stories out there about people who bought from a company and had no recourse when the doll arrived broken or damaged months later for me to keep that in mind when I want a new doll.

2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
If I can no longer get it from the company, and it's limited, I might spend a lot more. If it's in perfect condition, and I am comfortable that it is the "real deal", I'd rather pay a bit more for the doll if the difference in wait time is substantial. The exception to this is Dollstown, they sell for more on the secondhand market than bought new, and DT ships within a couple of weeks, so DT gets all of my "new doll" money these days! I might buy more new dolls if more companies adopted their shipping policies, but until then, I PREFER the secondhand market!

 

1. If it was a standard edition doll, then no. I would rather buy it brand new straight. However, if it was a limited edition that I really wanted that was no longer available, then yes, I would buy it for the same price, probably even more.

2. Again, depends on the edition, and also the condition of the doll. If it was a doll in pretty much mint condition, then I would probably buy it if I saved about... I don't know, at least fifty dollars. ^^' It would have to be quite a reduction. If it was a limited edition that I was dying for, I would probably buy it for quite a bit more than the doll originally cost. If it was damaged in need of repairs, then it would have to be much cheaper... But really, as people have stated before, there are many factors that would go into it.

 

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

It depends on the doll. Some companies waiting times are long enough that if a doll is in perfect condition it might be worth it to me, if I wanted the doll anyway. That or.. the only other way I've ever been convinced to spend a good chunk is a really awesome custom face-up that I think would be perfect for a character. That's got me to get a doll more than once. I don't know if that counts as being the exact same, but that's one of the ways I would be willing to.

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

I would prefer a few bucks less, $20ish at a minimum, maybe. Free shipping or freebies have also swayed me. It really depends on the market at the time and how easy it is to get the particular doll.

 

LE's, Discontinued or hard to find dolls aside, I would be willing to pay the same price for a couple reasons.

The wait time is a huge factor. If I can find it second-hand when I want it, and it's not damaged or modded I'll pay the original price just to avoid a wait.
That being said, some of my favorite companies right now (Doll Chateau and Dollzone) have wait-times that are exceeding 5-6 months at any given time during the year, and I still seem to be ordering new from them :\

Timing is another thing. With order periods being a trend with a lot of companies, rather than wait around and see if a company is even going to offer a doll or head I want, I'll pay an elevated second-hand price just to make sure I can get the doll I want soon...before I change my mind or accidentally spend the doll money on other pretties before it's finally available.

A bigger factor for me is if I want to deal with a company or not. I have had such good experiences with Dollmore, Migidoll, Iplehouse, Peakswoods, Luts, Soom and others that I would rather wait and hand them my money, than even pay less for a second-hand doll than a new doll would cost. I'm a loyal, repeat customer...I love the companies that make ordering a fun, easy experience.
So the ones that end up on the "blacklist"...I would pay more second-hand to not have to deal with them.

Other than that, I like deals XD Less is more!!

 

Yes. Yes, I would expect to buy a doll for the same price as it is new, especially if it has no damage and was made in the past year. Even if it had some damage, I would still expect to pay within a $30 range of the original sales price.
Why?
Because they aren't garage-sale items. They aren't items that develop creases like used books and comics. They don't devalue with age like electronics. These are art pieces, and if they've been taken care of and look like new, well... I expect to pay like-new prices for them. This is a hobby, and I don't understand why people would join a hobby if they didn't get back something close to what they put into it.

So what are the advantages of buying secondhand? No wait time, for starters! Hahaha. I can buy a doll from the secondhand market and it'll be at my door within the week. Usually, you can get cheaper shipping, too. You develop new contacts with fellow collectors. And you know what you're getting when you get it -- which isn't true when you're buying from a company. You don't know if the doll is going to arrive without damage/scratches/bubbles/cruddy faceups, and the company generally won't refund you when that happens. This way, you know exactly what to expect.

So, to answer your questions...

1. Would you buy a secondhand/preowned doll for the same price as a new one for the exact same doll? and 2. How close to the original price would you spend on a secondhand/preowned doll if it was in good condition?
I have my own grading system when I buy from/sell on the secondhand market. Has the doll been painted, then wiped in its lifetime? What year was the doll made? Is there damage? If so, was the damage from the factory, or post-factory? Usually, if a doll scores a 90 percent, I'm willing to pay the same price the seller paid when she/he purchased the doll (minus the cost of the EMS shipping.) I'm paying for a doll in great condition, without the long wait time or the EMS shipping. In fact, I'd be willing to pay a little more than the basic price!

But if the doll has damage, modifications, has been painted and wiped, or is older than a year, well... I wouldn't buy a doll at the price of a new one. Not if I can still get that doll from the company it comes from, anyway. Still, I wouldn't expect a significant discount.

And if a doll is limited? Depending on how hard it is to find secondhand, I always expect to pay at least a couple hundred more than the original price, regardless of the year it was made.

 

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

Yes if I could save on either shipping, customs, waiting time or other such things.

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

I would pay more if the doll had a special faceup. or if it was super-hard to find. or if it was no longer available from the company.

If I could get the exact same doll for the same total ( including ship and other costs) from the company, I'd do that.

But really, a second-hand doll, if in perfect condition, shouldn't be of lesser value. Why should it be if the doll is mint?

Stuff like yellowing or chips or a bad faceup or stains or other damage would be what would make a doll cost less-- not JUST because it was purchased from someone else rather than the company.

It is possible for even a damaged or worn doll to still be high in value if people want to pay for something rare or unique or something like that.

"Second-hand" really doesn't apply that much to dolls, I think.

 

I only buy secondhand dolls at the moment, and I would almost never pay the original price for a used doll or more. But, for me, there are some factors to consider. Like: Does the doll have extras? If so, I might pay more. Was it limited? What condition is it in? Is it discontinued? How hard is it to find? Is it an older doll? Was it given a beautiful/ amazing mod or faceup? I will get pretty close to the original price. My bobobie Apollo was only $30 off his selling price, but he came with several sets of eyes and jeans. He was the closest one so far. I do want to pay less though. That's a part of the reason I only buy secondhand. If it costs more to get it secondhand, why not just buy it new? Of course, I do understand not wanting to wait for shipping... (another reason I like my dolls pre-loved)

 

Yes, but not naked... one would assume a second-hand doll would have clothes, wigs, eyes, shoes etc. It would be a decent basis to start on so you wouldn't have to search and buy separately the extras... also less resin-dust heh. Note that I always unstring and give my dolls a bath as soon as I get them home regardless of whether they are new or second-hand