Dolls as fashion items - Good or bad idea for the hobby?

I love Danny's Smart dolls for sure and completely want like one of EVERYTHING! xD however I don't know if its just me or if others have noticed but it seems to be having an effect on after market doll costs. I'm not talking about limited edition dolls I'm talking about USED doll bodies. It's something that has become disturbing apparent to me recently when trying to sell some used bodies of my own on other sites. I have had a huge amount of people send me messaging saying that its way to expensive and overpriced for a used body and that they can get a smart doll body for only a bit more than what I'm asking. For arguments sake since my yen to US is rusty.. lets say smart doll bodies are around $370 suddenly all these 'new' collectors think that asking $240 or even $200 is too expensive. I think this comes about from the fact smart dolls are always in stock and available so new collectors don't understand that Volks items like MDD and DDS are NOT always in stock and that used bodies ARE going to be pricey. Yes $240 is at the top end of the scale but that does not mean that someone is going to accept a serious crap offer of $100 for a well cared for used body. So let me say again I think Smart Dolls are great! however it has seemed to create a fluid of 'new' collectors that don't understand and can't grasp the costs involved in buying Volks items that are used. So I have to say I'm worried about what the future holds for Dollfie Dreams..either they will become more easily obtainable like Danny's bodies are with a few super rare lotto items or they could start re-releasing previous limited dolls which will drop the aftermarket cost...its hard to say which way it will go.. but with the fluid of new collectors I find myself both excited and frustrated by the whole thing.

 

I also agree with what others are saying about more designers etc getting in on the hobby and that is worrying too, that means more expensive clothing, a huge upmark in commission items and a harder sell for anyone that does custom sewing in the US and Canada because we just can't beat a yen market price they are able to go very low because the cost to them to make the items is way lower. so yes it would be awesome to see what new designers can come up with but at the same time I feel the price will be a bit too rich for my blood.

 

Bottom line I think it IS effecting the hobby but maybe not in the ways we originally expected it seems people are UNDER valuing DD instead of upmarking it

Darkavenger696, I agree with you about the influx of newer people wanting something for nothing. I've seen this in other hobbies as well ( it was VERY bad in the Star Wars toy hobby ) and it happens anytime newer collectors come into a more established hobby. People don't understand what the overall market prices are and how they kind of dictate themselves depending on what item they're after.

 

What kills me is the sense of entitlement these people can sometimes have. The whole "I want this so you need to sell it me for cheap, I don't care if you think it's worth more. I want it!" REALLY? Who the &*%$ are you and why am *I* supposed to lose money on something because YOU are too cheap to pay what the fair market value is? It's not MY fault you are trying to get into an expensive hobby and don't have the funds for it. No one else should have to lose out just because YOU think you're entitled to whatever you want at whatever YOU can afford.

 

Sorry, rant over. It makes me mad when it happens but as with any larger or growing hobby, these things happen and we just have to deal with it and hopefully move on quickly.

 

 

 

Billy

 

What kills me is the sense of entitlement these people can sometimes have. The whole "I want this so you need to sell it me for cheap, I don't care if you think it's worth more. I want it!" REALLY? Who the &*%$ are you and why am *I* supposed to lose money on something because YOU are too cheap to pay what the fair market value is? It's not MY fault you are trying to get into an expensive hobby and don't have the funds for it. No one else should have to lose out just because YOU think you're entitled to whatever you want at whatever YOU can afford.

 

Billy

 

Oh my god, this. I totally agree.

 

I especially hate the "well I can get x from here for cheaper!" as well.

 

Anyone who tries that method on me gets an immediate "I hope you enjoy your purchase from the other place then!"

 

But as you said, it happens in hobby growth. It passes. (Thankfully)

Darkavenger696, I agree with you about the influx of newer people wanting something for nothing. I've seen this in other hobbies as well ( it was VERY bad in the Star Wars toy hobby ) and it happens anytime newer collectors come into a more established hobby. People don't understand what the overall market prices are and how they kind of dictate themselves depending on what item they're after.

 

What kills me is the sense of entitlement these people can sometimes have. The whole "I want this so you need to sell it me for cheap, I don't care if you think it's worth more. I want it!" REALLY? Who the &*%$ are you and why am *I* supposed to lose money on something because YOU are too cheap to pay what the fair market value is? It's not MY fault you are trying to get into an expensive hobby and don't have the funds for it. No one else should have to lose out just because YOU think you're entitled to whatever you want at whatever YOU can afford.

 

Sorry, rant over. It makes me mad when it happens but as with any larger or growing hobby, these things happen and we just have to deal with it and hopefully move on quickly.

 

 

 

Billy

 

OMG THAT IS COMPLETELY HOW I FEEL!!! I feel like they think they are entitled to it because they are new to the hobby or don't have enough money and then try to guilt me into a lower price! I understand used bodies will be lower than market value that is just normal but not to the tone of 100 bucks!!!

 

Noxxbunny;

 

oh thank god! I hope it passes quickly or at least that new members to the hobby understand Volks price items verse Smart Doll prices..I love that the hobby is growing and more people want in thats awesome! I just don't like how the growth of the hobby is making people think they can give such lowball prices and then say its justified and you should 'just give me it for that' or 'no one will buy it at that so just let me have it for'

When I was in the vintage SW toy hobby, I found the best way to deal with people pulling this type attitude was to be as nice as you can on the first reply. Explain why things are priced like they are, how you can get them, where you can get them and how the market works.

 

If the above doesn't work, then I've just told them that I hope they do well in their efforts of getting something for nothing and I wish them good luck. If they get snotty or crack more tude, I ignore them. It's the only way to deal with them it seems. If they don't get attention from you they'll move on elsewhere to bother others or hopefully do some research and figure out why EVERYONE they've pestered tells them the same thing.

 

People will always lowball people, it's how humans are. I'm all about trying to get the best deal I can on something I want, even if I only get a few dollars off, it makes me feel like I've succeeded and that the seller is nice and/or cool enuff to work with me and not tell me to kick rocks. I don't forget when people are nice to me and I'll do whatever I can to be nice to them if they need something form me.

 

But I will *NEVER* try and lowball someone on something when I know what the going market value is. I am all about DD Karma and I've seen it work both ways.... do the right thing and you'll be repayed well. Do the wrong thing and you catch hell and lose out on stuff.

 

So be nice, try and educate the noobs and if all else fails.... smile, tell them "Okay!" and walk away.

 

 

 

Billy

That is a great way to put it and good advice, Baldy. Everyone who is new to a hobby has a learning curve, but I really dislike that sense of entitlement that too many people display.

 

As for Danny and SmD, I think he has done absolutely amazing things with Mirai as a character/mascot and with expanding the acceptance of being a "loud and proud" doll owner. I am sure there will be some effects to the DD hobby as a result, but (imho) Volks has needed a little competition for a long time. However, I don't like that it has a negative effect to DD collectors trying to sell,at fair market value on the secondary market. As new hobbyists are educated as to the difference in brands, that will hopefully be less of an issue.

 

For anyone that doesn't know the story behind Danny and the Smart Doll, it is really interesting to take a few minutes and read about it on his site. I stumbled on his site several years ago while googling a few search words. I had found his show and site "Culture Japan" in a search and while browsing, I found that he and my husband had a lot in common, such as originally being from the UK (which is why his English is so good) among a lot of other things. So both my husband and I read all of his bio, etc. and began following his site (which was fairly new at the time).

 

He is actually the reason I got into Dollfie Dreams. I saw his Aoi and a couple of the other early ones he had and I knew this was the doll I had been searching for. Since my husband was also into collecting, he loved how Danny was so public with his love of his dolls. This was before Smart Dolls. It was when Mirai was still brand new and pretty much only the mascot of his own site.

 

It is so cool how Mirai has now become so nationally recognized in Japan as an official tourism representative and in Malaysia as well. I know she has been in a lot of animes and games as a guest star (even a live action TV show as well, I think) and has some apps for phones. All of that helped make the SmD more popular, fashionable and accepted among new collectors. Danny even did a spread in one of the GQs talking about Mirai and SmD. Of course we always knew dolls were cool.

 

Danny announced the other day that he is doing his first licensed character doll. It is the lead character, Miho, from Girls und Panzer. He said he had a male character he will announce soon. Licensed male dolls is something Volks has not done until Len. Of course, the male SmD is more of a hunky body (not just a new male torso on an otherwise young teen female body) and will suit other types of characters. It will be interesting to see if this development will have any other effects on Volks or the collector community. Volks has had the market cornered on character dolls forever. Hmmm...

I think if Danny can make doll hobby to be accepted by the general people, we will at least not be looked as a weirdo on the street. Each time I bring my doll to some public place, it just makes me feel so embarrassed. "Wow, a man is playing the doll?"

My husband has said the same thing and appreciates that aspect of what Danny does, too.

1/3 scale dolls have been present the fashion industry for a while now, it's just that it's a very niche market even within the industry itself. I don't think the way Danny [brilliantly] markets his dolls would have any significant effect on the "hobby" aspect of our dolls, especially given that aesthetics-wise, I don't think these cater, much less appeal, to the greater part of the fashion industry.