Hello! A question before I get my first doll

Hi everybody! I have a sudden interest to start this hobby so ebay is the first website I looked, before I get my first doll, I would like to ask if seller from ebay is reliable in terms of knock off because I'm really new at this and I'm afraid to get a knock off on my first doll

As far as I'm aware, there aren't any Dollfie Dream recasts -- however that's not to say that there aren't any scammers on ebay ( It really depends on which listing you are interested in? If the sellers feedback is high, then the chances of it being legit is also high... But I haven't personally bought any dolls off of ebay;; Hopefully someone with more experience will post here :'D )

There are dolls that are similar to Dollfie Dreams though: Obitsu, Azone & Smart Dolls, there might be others but those are the only ones that come to mind;; I don't know much about them though;;

 

If you are open to other options, there is always mandarake, jungle and the marketplace here on the forums to buy from. Yahoo Japan is also an option but the agent fees and shipping fees make it more expensive than the other options :'D

Good news: there are no knock-off/bootleg Dollfie Dreams.

 

That said, unless you really want a specific limited DD, you should check the Volks webstore: http://www.volks.co.jp/?version=en If you're in the US, you can also order from Volks USA: http://www.volks.co.jp/?version=en The standard model characters are restocked a few times a year, and are a great way to kick off DD collecting. Or, you could buy a blank head and create your own custom doll, if you like. You might also notice the upcoming Snow Miku preorder, a great way to get a famous character DD at retail price, instead of the inflated eBay prices, although it'll be at least a year before she ships.

thanks for the replies guys! ^^ appreciates it, hmm I know this may not be the right place to ask, but what about other company like azone? are there any knock off azone dolls? just asking in case I might get one of those sometime in the future

 

Oh! and can I mix and match between accessories and dolls from different company? I know about sizes but if they are both the same size, could I do it?

shop around a lot before you buy... almost all the ebay sellers are scalpers... and sometimes selling dolls for 2x the market value.

I'm not sure about Azone, but I think they don't have any copiers yet...

 

But yes, you can mix and match from different companies as long as their sizes are similar :3

alright thanks guys :3 I heard about something called recast dolls and I notice some people are selling those, I know it's like dolls made by different company, but is it as good as the original or is it counted as a knock-off? since they are just copying (I hope I used the right words)

alright thanks guys :3 I heard about something called recast dolls and I notice some people are selling those, I know it's like dolls made by different company, but is it as good as the original or is it counted as a knock-off? since they are just copying (I hope I used the right words)

Recasts are common in the resin ball-jointed doll hobby; there are no recasts in the dollfie dream hobby, since DDs are made out of vinyl instead of resin. I'm not sure if it's because vinyl is more difficult to copy, too expensive to get into, or what the exact reason is, but vinyl is why there are no recast DDs.

 

SQ Lab makes resin anime-styled heads (and bodies too); those are not recasts.

 

The recasts in the resin hobby are knock-offs of sculpts made by actual BJD companies. It's been a big problem in that side of the hobby and has led to a lot of drama. :c

 

I love not having to worry about recasts in the DD side of the hobby.

Haha I see I see, thanks for explanation~ Glad to hear that! hmm what about other companies like obitsu/azone?

There aren't any recasts of those because they are also vinyl. If that's what you are asking.

I would also advise not buying from ebay simply because of the huge price inflation.

You should definitely do your research! It will help you find the doll that you want, and learn what prices you should be paying. Seriously there are dolls that go for $8-900 that I've seen for 1800+

I have seen recast SQlab heads btw.

 

Also if you are interested in Azone and Obitsu you can also check out these sites. If you pay attention you can pre-order a girl so you get her for retail.

http://junkyspot.com/

http://amiami.com/

http://www.hlj.com/

 

If you have more questions about the other dolls you should check out the off topic doll thread.

hi, I have a DDS Makoto Kikuchi for sale if you want.. $700 (not icluding shipping and pp fees)

 

Volks does claim there are recasts on their website, but as far as I know this doesn't include LE dolls. It would be very very difficult to recast an LE dollfie due to all the custom work that goes into making the doll, it's outfit, and it's accessories.

 

My guess would be that any knockoffs would be found in the parts market.

 

I would shop around a bit before buying. Ebay prices can be higher or lower than market value, but sometimes ebay is the only way to get a character you want.

 

hi, I have a DDS Makoto Kikuchi for sale if you want.. $700 (not icluding shipping and pp fees)

 

 

Makoto is a very cute doll. I have one and I am very happy with her although she tells me I change her outfits just a bit too often for her comfort level.

I think Volks' warning against recasts is directed towards resin recasts.

 

Volks resin dolls are recast a lot. I've also heard of resin recasts of the DD heads, but it's pretty obvious that they're recasts: they're hard resin and not squishy vinyl.

 

I've never seen vinyl fakes of any DD.

 

I would shop around a bit before buying. Ebay prices can be higher or lower than market value, but sometimes ebay is the only way to get a character you want.

 

This is true you can sometimes find a good deal, but you should still do your research so you don't over pay.

 

Overall you are most likely safe from recasts with vinyl dolls. Like Cauldroness said it will be obvious. I don't think they are that common though.

Plus like I said if you do your research you will have a better idea of price ranges. If it seems to good to be true it just might be. Especially if it's from a foreign ebay seller.

I thought I would add a few things. If you buy a used Dollfie be sure to ask about any stains and if possible get photos of any stains before buying. In particular wig stains can be very nasty and you want to be careful about buying an expensive LE head with permanent stains. I would also ask about the condition of the wig and any included clothing or accessories.

 

On my Makoto one of the snaps on her default outfit had the stitching come loose shortly after I got her, and another one on her "strawberry" outfit had a loose thread on the snap right out of the package. Both were NIB and the snaps were just poorly stitched by Volks. I was able to easily restitch both, but doing so exhausted my own very limited knowledge of sewing. Used outfits might have problems beyond your ability to repair, so I'd check first.

 

I have purchased LE dolls though Dollfie World, and through a few merchants on ebay. I got my Makoto on ebay and she came with both her default outfit and her strawberry outfit as an extra. The total cost for both items new in box was around $150 over the original price from Volks. I don't blame the reseller for loose snaps inside sealed Volks packaging.

 

Some merchants on ebay are fronts for physical stores in Japan that resell Dollfie, and they offer services like layaways, but I generally don't do business with a merchant outside of ebay until after I have done business with them through ebay a few times. Ebay's guarantee protects you, so your first few initial purchases have a safety buffer. Some listings also note that the price is negotiable through "Best Offer."

Hello! Sorry for the late reply, thanks for all your feedbacks! hmm I appreciate the offer on Makoto but I'm planning to have a look around first ^^ oh! how do I see the difference between a recast and a original? and can anyone reccomend me a website to get shirts/accessories?

For shirts and accessories you can look at Taobao.

 

There are a number of threads on Taobao on this forum. You need a proxy buyer, but the prices aren't bad. I would say much lower - for the most part - than what you would pay for Volks outfits on ebay. Some Taobao proxies have translations functions as a part of their website services.

 

viewforum.php?f=26

 

There is also coolcats. Their quality is pretty good.

 

http://us.sk-coolcat.com/front/bin/home.phtml

 

I have a bunch of links for some dolls shops, and individual shops on Taobao. I'll post those in a bit. If you are on a budget I doubt you can beat Taobao.

Ok here are some links. For reference Taobao is a China based e-commerce system that hosts a wide range of businesses. You will need a proxy buyer to purchase from shops on Taobao. Basically this means you need someone in China to buy the item, and have it shipped to them. They then ship the item to you; hopefully after confirming quality. Some proxies stipulate that they check the quality of what they receive before sending it on to you. Needless to say they charge for the proxy service. There are a number of suggested proxies in the taoboa related threads. I've done proxies with Japan marketplace items and it's a perfectly sound system of doing business. The drawback is you pay two shipping charges.

 

You do have to be careful about making sure the item is meant for a Dollfie Dream size doll. Be very specific with your proxy and they will get you the right item. I have had zero issues doing this with Japan.

 

I have yet to place a taobao order, so I can't speak to the quality of the items in these shops. When I visited China a number of years back I saw goods that ranged in quality from exquisitely wrought well made luxury items to shoddy junk intended as souvenirs for dumb tourists. Not really much different than any other market. I saw the same exact thing in Paris France.

 

I'd recommend starting with some lower priced items till you see the quality of the sellers handiwork for yourself. Chinese currency is called Yuan (a.k.a. RMB) for purpose of conversion.

 

This first shop resells Dollfie among other things.

 

http://moe-castle.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.TRJWhg

 

These two are the international sites for two taobao shops. You shouldn't need a proxy to order through them. I believe both are known for well made items.

 

http://www.lichtbjd.com/

http://rrabit.com/

 

Here are some English language sites that sell doll related items.

http://puppy52dolls.com/

http://www.mimiwoo.com/

http://www.dollmore.net/index.php

http://www.leekeworld.com/En/

http://www.nine9style.net/index.php

http://www.dollheart.com/

http://www.tatabjd.com

http://us.sk-coolcat.com/front/bin/home.phtml

http://formydoll.com/

http://www.dollfieworld.com/

http://www.ersaflora.com/

http://apiss.x0.com/bluerose/

 

 

The rest of these are taobao shops that sell clothing wigs and eyes. Some of the clothing looks beautiful.

http://kaleido.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.3-c.0.0.0X2zN3

http://endlessbjd.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.3-c.0.0.Pxu1Ia

http://cls-doreen.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.bd7FD4

http://in-love.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.b6DwaR

http://air-castle.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.1eczI9

http://promiseoftheworld.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.3-c.0.0.U7uljQ

http://shop71877096.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.1oBspI

http://haowayi88.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.uxqi0c

http://sallysammi.taobao.com/?spm=a1z10.1-c.0.0.h7AwYh

http://whitedollfiestory.taobao.com/

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=38818731308

http://san-heart.taobao.com/

http://em052.taobao.com/

 

I'm planning to buy items from Kaleido, Endless, Infinite Love and Air Castle in a few days. I'll be sure to post the results, and then I can actually speak the quality of goods and how well the Chinese Proxy service I use works.

 

Edit: I've added some links posted by other forum members in various threads. I'm trying to compile them all in one spot, but I can't take any credit for finding the shops.

Edited March 31, 2015 by Guest

Hi! thanks for the reply and the detailed answer! would surely try it out ^^ btw, for doll hair, I know some dolls come pre-styled so their hair would be kinda hardish (like waxed), what would be the best way to condition it to be soft again?

 

And say if the hair is tied, like asuna's hairstyle, there would be some loose hairs poping out, what would be the best way to deal with it? I don't wanna untie everything and retie it again because I have no confident I could retie it to the way it was

|'D oh man, I just realized that I've bought from quite a few of the places Wolf has listed, and if not directly then I have some secondhand items;;

 

I have items from: Licht, rRabit, leekeworld, nine9style, dollheart, kaleido, endless, cls, air castle& promise of the world.

In my opinion, the quality of the items that I bought are very good and I would buy from all of them if I had more money . However for most of these stores I've only bought 1-2 things -- exceptions are Dollheart, rRabit, nine9style & promise of the world... If you want more detailed thoughts, uhm... Feel free to PM me? I tend to go on and on;;;

 

For wigs: Do you have any examples in particular? As far as I'm aware, the majority of BJD/DD wigs that you can buy do not come prestyled with gel/wax. This is a tutorial on how to wash doll wigs, washing the product out could make it softer. If you don't want to wash the wig, there is also wig detangling spray and such that you could use ??

 

If it's only a few loose hairs popping out of the hairstyle, try to smooth it down a bit with water so it's not as visible in pictures? If it's a flyaway in a tied up hairstyle there isn't too much else you can do aside from retying it-- maybe someone more knowledgable can chime in? I usually leave my wigs alone because I'm lazy :'D

I'm in the same position as shadowheart, and so this thread has helped tremendously. Thank you for the information.

I placed my Taobao order a few days ago, and I ordered 3 wigs through Licht directly. I'm looking forward to getting them. I'll add some links to the items tonight when I get home. For about the price of one Volks outfit I got three outfits and a sweater.

 

As far as hair my Shinguji Sakura's hair is in a ponytail. This is made up of two parts: the scalp cap, and then the ponytail is a separate part tied on to the scalp cap. She did have some stray hairs on the scalp cap out of the box. I made that a bit worse while brushing her ponytail and in the process the bristles on the tooth brush brushed against the scalp cap against the direction the hair was tied, and pulled hairs loose from where they were tied off at the point the ponytail connected. Be very careful not to brush hairs in a direction that could pull them out of what they are fixed to.

 

In Sakura's case she has a hair ribbon clothing item that wraps around the ponytail and snaps in place. I just gathered the loose strands up and used the hair ribbon like a scrunchie to pin the strays in place and her hair looks quite neet and tiddy. You could always get a ribbon and put a bow in her hair to accomplish the same thing. You could in theory use a loose hair strand to tie them up, but my guess is they will come loose again and having a method you can redo easily is probably best. It can help to tie a string around the hair loosely then put the ribbon on and remove the string. Just use a knot that unties easly.

 

I would be careful not to tie the ribbon too tightly.

 

I actually save every loose hair that came off a wig in a baggie in the original box just in case I need a loose strand for something. Ok so I'm a pack rat... ._.

 

I've read advice to just trim the stray hairs, but I loathe the idea of permanently removing hairs from a wig. They won't grow back and I might learn a non destructive fix in the future. I do periodically have to reapply the ribbon fix but it's so easy it's no trouble to do it. I'll post some photos in the next few days so this will make more sense.

These were the items I picked up.

 

 

In berry pink. $38

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=42972231101

 

$63

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=43499664067

 

$13

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=43086382211

 

$19

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=14279846226

 

In White. $26.84

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=17071729245

 

$28.44 In Pink.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=19018177174

 

$15

http://www.lichtbjd.com/goods.php?id=948

 

$19 I got this in two colors.

http://www.lichtbjd.com/goods.php?id=906

 

$13

http://www.lichtbjd.com/goods.php?id=404

 

All of that is like the cost of two Volks outfits. I think the wigs are about half what a Volks wig costs.

Hmm wait, now I wanna style my doll's hair erm I read there is azone wax but it's discontinued =/ so is there any alternative? like human styling wax?

I haven't tried any products for hair styling, but Volks sells wig oil, wig mist, shampoo, and water wax. They have basic descriptions of each on their site.

 

I've read that you should never use human hair care products on a dolls hair since its fiber not hair. I've also read that you can use human wig care products on doll wigs. I don't know if that's true or not. To me there is safety in using the Volks products tested on their own wigs, but I have yet to try them. Volks USA is out of wax at the moment.

 

I have had fairly good luck hand styling some wigs with my fingers. Just be careful not to touch the faceup when you do it. With my Kos-Mos her bangs were designed to go over the top of the part of her helmet that goes across her forehead, so without that on they normally cover her eyes completely.

 

Here I was able to reveal her eyes for the photo and get a pleasing look just shifting them to the side with my fingers. It's not perfect, but it worked fairly well. I'm sure hair care products can make it a lot nicer, but I'd read up a lot on using them before putting goop in a doll wig.

 

http://i.imgur.com/q9LuL43.jpg