Nier Automata x Dollfie Dream

3 minutes ago, CuteOne said:

They're willing to inspect the head, the email never said that they wouldn't replace it.

I thought I made it abundantly clear why I reacted negatively to this. I tried my best to describe my state of mind at the time I made my decision. I'm sorry what I wrote wasn't a good enough description for why I had "me" problems.

11 minutes ago, CuteOne said:

In your own quote of their email it says the following:

They're willing to inspect the head, the email never said that they wouldn't replace it.

Nowhere in that does it say there is any possibility that they would replace it, either. If that was an actual possibility, it certainly seems that What we can Offer would say so, something like, "If upon inspection we feel the head is defective after all, we will replace it.

Is it necessary to continue to browbeat someone who doesn't share your exact worldview?

16 minutes ago, Selenae said:

 

I have no words for this. Frankly, I find Volks' responses disgusting. I'm beginning to have second thoughts on whether I should buy another DD from them, because I fear I'll be given the Volks version of wabi-sabi bs as well.

 

With all the DDs I own, this is the first time I’ve seen something like this happen. Normally I accept that some small things may be off, like needing to add stitching to a loose button or sanding the pegs on Saber’s boots down a bit. I’ve had to epoxy all of the pegs on Saber Lily’s Tassets because the original glue didn’t hold. In those circumstances it’s not worth sending something back. I wouldn’t accept torn clothing or broken plastic parts, but I have yet to see that in any of the dolls I’ve purchased. This is a first in my experience. 
 

I’ll be interested to see what they say after physically examining a head with this issue. 

5 minutes ago, cfx said:

Nowhere in that does it say there is any possibility that they would replace it, either. If that was an actual possibility, it certainly seems that What we can Offer would say so, something like, "If upon inspection we feel the head is defective after all, we will replace it.

Is it necessary to continue to browbeat someone who doesn't share your exact worldview?

It also never said that they wouldn't replace it. Either way it doesn't matter in the end since growcian has started repairs on their head, so it doesn't really matter by the end of the day. If my 9s had come with cracks and they offered to take a look at it I would've sent it in a heartbeat, it just didn't make sense to me to not even try getting a replacement for a product that you've waited a year plus on top of costing 900usd. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

@BeyondTime Yes, I'm very interested to see what Volks has to say after examining a cracked head myself. I've also been lurking around this forum for a long time, so this is the first time I'm seeing these awful cracks as well. In my eyes there's no question that these cracks warrant an immediate replacement for everyone who received a doll with them, but I guess we'll see.

Edited June 7, 2020 by Selenae

On 6/6/2020 at 5:37 PM, cfx said:

Nowhere in that does it say there is any possibility that they would replace it, either.

 

On 6/6/2020 at 5:46 PM, CuteOne said:

It also never said that they wouldn't replace it.

For Growcian this is a moot point now.

There is a different way that message can be interpreted which is just as legitimate as reading it as an outright rejection.

The first part of the message is information about cosmetic cracks in vinyl and what they mean to the owner. There is a short mention of more severe cracks that compromise strength.

The second part of the message is an offer that "if you are unsure then send it in and we will inspect it."

Coupled with the first part that that seems to me like an offer to check the part to determine if the cracks meet the standard set out in the first part of the message or if they are a true defect. That's why I want to see what Volks says after inspecting one of these heads. Popping the head on a doll body and watching it flop around or fall off might change their assessment in a way that a photo, which might make it look like the crack is shallow and superficial, can't. 

With that said, sure, you can certainly say a crack of any kind is a defect and anything other than an offer to replace isn't acceptable. That's a valid response for a consumer, and I think it's a pretty normal response in the US market to be honest.

Edited June 26, 2020 by BeyondTime

29 minutes ago, CuteOne said:

If my 9s had come with cracks and they offered to take a look at it I would've sent it in a heartbeat, it just didn't make sense to me to not even try getting a replacement for a product that you've waited a year plus on top of costing 900usd. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Which just proves, once again, that you can't see outside your own bubble and insist on continuing to browbeat others over it.

7 minutes ago, cfx said:

Which just proves, once again, that you can't see outside your own bubble and insist on continuing to browbeat others over it.

What does an my "worldview" or "bubble" have anything to do with any of this? Is there something that's upsetting you that has nothing to do with the topic because that's what it seems like.

Edit to add:
I already said that everything was said and done so it doesn't really matter in the end.

Edited June 7, 2020 by CuteOne
To add

Pardon the craft mess in the background (working on a diorama for my 1/6ths) but while she was here, 2B was so stunning. Her face is so sweet, as usual VOLKS promo photos did not do her justice. I can't wait to see her again! ^o^ Hopefully by Wednesday VOLKS will have a reply for me...I'm getting her a custom face-up so with any luck I can bounce her right out to the artist and have her back in no time flat. 

My heart is breaking for those with cracked 2Bs. Mine hasn't arrived yet but if she does have cracks you can be sure I will be fighting for a replacement. It is absolutely unacceptable for Volks to refuse to do something about such a significant defect, especially considering what we paid for these items.

I hope others who find themselves in a similar situation will let Volks know-- even if, like Growcian, they choose not to send their 2B's head in (a decision which I totally respect, by the way) I hope that if enough people speak up then Volks will be more likely to actually do something about it...

12 minutes ago, Raine said:

2B was so stunning. Her face is so sweet, as usual VOLKS promo photos did not do her justice.

Yeah, in spite of the crack issue with some dolls, if they have her in a future event I may buy her. The timing was really bad last year, I hadn’t seen a DDDy in person, and I didn’t warm up to them until I did. 
 

A guy at the LA Dolpa with Sailor Moon perched on his shoulder showed me a DDDy, and an MDD. His MDD was cute, but seeing one in person reenforced my feeling that they aren’t for me. The DDDy looked better than I thought she would. 2B and Kanu are the only two I like though. 

Edited June 7, 2020 by BeyondTime

I still haven't heard back from Volks regarding the cracking in my 2B's head, but since I ordered her internationally, I understand the hesitation to send her back to Japan in the current climate. I'll probably try to contact Volks USA as well, and if they offer to look at the head, I will send it their way. 

 

No matter how you shake it, it is annoying to have to do this stuff for a $900 doll we waited over a year and a half for.

30 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

Yeah, in spite of the crack issue with some dolls, if they have her in a future event I may buy her. The timing was really bad last year, I hadn’t seen a DDDy in person, and I didn’t warm up to them until I did. 
 

A guy at the LA Dolpa with Sailor Moon perched on his shoulder showed me a DDDy, and an MDD. His MDD was cute, but seeing one in person reenforced my feeling that they aren’t for me. The DDDy looked better than I thought she would. 2B and Kanu are the only two I like though. 

I wonder if, like other pre-orders, they'll do a lottery for remainders?? I hope so - I am sure a lot of people are kicking themselves for not jumping on her when they could, whether choice or affordability.  She's gorgeous and I want to see more of her out there. But, you know, fixed, VOLKS.

Also I didn't realize how gorgeous the DDDy body is. When I got my Towa I split her body off right away, I didn't take any time to inspect it. I put my DDS Anastasia head on it....and she looked realllllly good. 👀 Better than I expected for such a cute little face.

Edited June 7, 2020 by Raine

49 minutes ago, Raine said:

I wonder if, like other pre-orders, they'll do a lottery for remainders??

If Volks USA has any leftovers I expect they will sell them during special web events or in-person at cons.

14 hours ago, oyashiro said:

I still haven't heard back from Volks regarding the cracking in my 2B's head, but since I ordered her internationally, I understand the hesitation to send her back to Japan in the current climate. I'll probably try to contact Volks USA as well, and if they offer to look at the head, I will send it their way. 

 

No matter how you shake it, it is annoying to have to do this stuff for a $900 doll we waited over a year and a half for.

Same. No response from Volks international also. If volks gives me a "Sorry we will not or cannot do anything" I'll take this up with Amex. Literally the only reason I use credit cards. 

1 hour ago, mayaiincho said:

Literally the only reason I use credit cards. 

How else would you pay Volks Japan?

20 hours ago, oyashiro said:

I still haven't heard back from Volks regarding the cracking in my 2B's head, but since I ordered her internationally, I understand the hesitation to send her back to Japan in the current climate. I'll probably try to contact Volks USA as well, and if they offer to look at the head, I will send it their way. 

 

6 hours ago, mayaiincho said:

No response from Volks international also.

 

Last time I emailed Japan they took a few days to reply. Also keep in mind that our Friday is their Saturday, so depending on when you emailed you might not hear from them till Tuesday or Wednesday.

One issue that I think exists here is that you really can't tell how bad those cracks are from photos. They may need to examine the heads before they understand the doll is really broken. In the original photo that was posted I thought it didn't look good, and the description gave me an idea of how bad it was, but from the photos I couldn't tell if the cracks were on the surface or all the way through.

I'll go out on a limb here and say it's possible that they normally see stuff like that when they make the neck holes, but these may be unusual in that they are deep enough to weaken the structure of the head. I'm not sure they will commit to replace the head without examining how bad it is first if their experience is saying small shallow cracks are normal.

4 hours ago, BeyondTime said:

I'll go out on a limb here and say it's possible that they normally see stuff like that when they make the neck holes, but these may be unusual in that they are deep enough to weaken the structure of the head. I'm not sure they will commit to replace the head without examining how bad it is first if their experience is saying small shallow cracks are normal.

My opinion on this is that a new doll should not have cracks at all. As a compromise, I might accept the very short cracks that do sometimes develop over time as being normal, like the ones @growcian repaired on Smart Doll Kizuna here:

I refuse to accept that the multiple long cracks that are occuring on these 2B heads are in any way normal or acceptable, no matter how shallow they may be, and I believe Volks should have replaced these upon just seeing pictures.

Given I've never seen a head crack like this before, something went wrong. My theory is that the vinyl around the neck hole somehow ended up much harder than usual, and isn't able to give when going over the large end of the neck peg. I also suspect that the heads cracked immediately upon being put on the dolls. Wtih my Shiburin, who has a very squishy head, I can see the neck hole area stretch as I put it on. If the vinyl is too hard or brittle it wouldn't be able to do that and will crack instead.

Edited June 8, 2020 by cfx

10 minutes ago, cfx said:

My opinion on this is that a new doll should not have cracks at all.

When I saw the photos I couldn't see cracks that matched the description of the impact the cracks where having on the heads stability. As far as I can see in the images they are just splits at the surface layer. However, I believe his description of the effects that the cracks are having, and that means the cracks are worse than the photo shows. From Volks perspective his description could be taken as subjective, and that's why I want to hear what they say after they physically examine the cracked heads that are sent to them.

I also think their response was very open ended in a few ways. "If you are still unsure" Ok, Unsure of what? Unsure if the cracks are severe? Unsure of how to handle the cracked head? But I also tend to think that the "send it to us for a thorough examination" can be read as a possibility they will decide the head should be replaced once they see for themselves. There isn't any real point for them to examine it otherwise.

The part where they describe cosmetic cracks or "cracks that affect the strength", it isn't really clear if they are asking for an evaluation of what description the damage fits.

What the message does lack is a blanket statement that the head will be replaced no matter what, and if that's not acceptable to someone then they have to make their own choice accordingly.

For the record I did read his entire response, and I understand why he felt he had to take control of a situation outside of his control. I wouldn't have done the same thing in that circumstance, but I am not him.

I don't really blame Volks for wanting to see the head before replacing it though, at least assuming they actually replace the ones they see.

I finished making the repairs. I'm not sure how well the job I did will hold up but I feel a lot better about this now than I did a few days ago. I'll post a repair guide describing what exactly it is I did just in case someone needs it in a year, two years, whenever. If the repair I performed proves to be inadequate, I'll take more extreme measures for performing a repair. I'll post info concerning what the "extreme measures" repair guide would be as well.

While I'm still feeling the after effects of all the negative emotions I experienced (meaning I still feel like 💩), I'm glad I at least took matters into my own hands and I get to enjoy being an owner of DDdy 2B now instead of waiting another week and remain a nervous wreck.

I decided to have her wear a now discontinued Doll Heart outfit and boots.

44 minutes ago, cfx said:

Given I've never seen a head crack like this before, something went wrong. My theory is that the vinyl around the neck hole somehow ended up much harder than usual, and isn't able to give when going over the large end of the neck peg. I also suspect that the heads cracked immediately upon being put on the dolls. My Shiburin, who has a very squishy head, I can see the neck hole area stretch as I put it on. If the vinyl is too hard or brittle it wouldn't be able to do that.

Touching the areas where the head cracked, the vinyl is hard and stiff.

That wig looks awesome on her, much better looking than the original wig imo. I always like the effects of matching the dolls hair color, but giving her a different hairstyle.

4 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

That wig looks awesome on her, much better looking than the original wig imo. I always like the effects of matching the dolls hair color, but giving her a different hairstyle.

It's this one:

http://doll.shop-pro.jp/?pid=118382110

30 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

For the record I did read his entire response, and I understand why he felt he had to take control of a situation outside of his control. I wouldn't have done the same thing in that circumstance, but I am not him.

Oh I know. I was just offering my own feelings on the Volks response.

The way the response is written leaves a lot to be desired, but I also think it reads like something written by a non-native-English speaker and probably also somewhat canned. Still, my view is the length of those cracks indicates a defect, period.

Really I don't know what choice I'd have made if it were my doll, but that's not the point here really.

43 minutes ago, cfx said:

Still, my view is the length of those cracks indicates a defect, period.

I think the problem here is you aren't dealing with a mass produced item like a TV set. If your new Samsung isn't perfect you take it back and they give you a new one from millions in circulation. I'm not sure Volks has the ability to replace every doll part that has a small imperfection on the interior of a part, and with handmade goods that could be every doll they sell.

On the other hand, if something is truly broken out of the box then yes they should replace it.

 

 

If there were another art piece that had a relatively small print run, I would also complain if it had any defects. Like, obviously paintings or something are going to vary from piece to piece, but if there were, say, a tear or something, I would definitely report it. Same with like, a really expensive vase having a chip, etc.

It's just really hard to not be disappointed after spending a pretty penny and waiting such a long time