DD Sailor Moon!

Because I can't read Japanese, and they have yet to update the English site, come someone make it clearer than mud for me please. On Jan 20th at 12;30 JST the click war for the extra Sailor Moon outfit starts. But for the Sailor Moon Doll you have anywhere between Jan 21st at 10:00 to the 22nd at 24:00 JST to enter for the lottery. Can you use PayPal for the lottery, or does it have to be a credit card? I want to know to maximize my chances at getting both items. And I ask about the payment as in the past I've had issues with getting things paid for overseas with my credit card, so I've been very happy that Volks has accepted PayPal for regular orders. But the doll lottery is different so I'm unsure as to which payments they will accept since they pre-charge for the doll.

The English site has updated and all the info and instructions are now there.

 

Edit:

Here is the link: https://www.volks.co.jp/sp_d_024_newdollfie_en/?version=en

It -is- weird that her SuperS outfit isnt also a lottery item and is instead part of the after event clickwar stuff... I guess the people who want both can snag the outfit ASAP and then have the entire day to enter the lottery at their leisure.

 

Was really hoping they'd do away with this new upfront credit card charge/refund if lost business by now, I really don't like it :c

I'm also confused as to how the Paypal thing works- when I did my research on the lottery system I assumed you entered the lottery and then got charged/sent an invoice after you won? This would be my first Volks lottery so I'm trying to prepare as best I can to ensure I know what I'm doing when the time comes, lol. I have a hard yearning for this one.

 

Weird about the Super outfit, I assumed it would be lottery too. I hope the people that wanted it can get it, I know a few only wanted the extra outfit! I'm not too fussed, I think the classic blue outfit looks better on the DD.

I'm also confused as to how the Paypal thing works- when I did my research on the lottery system I assumed you entered the lottery and then got charged/sent an invoice after you won?

In the past that was how it worked, where the lottery winners would be invoiced after they won. It seems straightforward, and it is, but the good public had to mess that up. Volks ran into the problem of people creating sock accounts to get multiple entries in the lottery, and then not paying on any extra invoices if more than one account won. Thus the need to do second lotteries or clickwars for the cancelled items.

 

Currently they're trying to solve that problem by using credit card features to up the chances they get paid for every win / reduce the number of unpaid cancellations. Credit cards allow an "authorization" (but not charge) just to make sure the credit line is available, with the charge being finalized at a later date if the person won the lottery. That's what they're trying to do. (In this case, the authorized amount is deducted from your "available credit", but not actually incurred as a charge you must pay, until such time as Volks the merchant finalizes it.)

 

Now, debit cards and Paypal don't have that same feature. So for those people Volks charges the full amount upfront at time of entry and then refunds later if you lose the lottery. Some credit card banks may not support the authorization scheme either, so it is possible to get fully charged on a card, but only your card issuing bank can tell you how that's going to work.

 

Volks occasionally changes the rules for entry and payment in their lotteries, so it may or may not continue to work like this in the future.

Which means that if you lose (with debit cards and Paypal, so), transfer's fees are for you. ~18 euros spent for nothing. Nice.

When did they start using that? Unfortunately, using the webstore prevents archiving (and I hate that).

I don't see people liking being charged for the hope of winning a lottery. Or maybe Paypal accepts total refund like if the transaction didn't happen (like when there is a dispute)?

They started doing it this way with Asuna/Kirito back in May. Still hoping they change it eventually but I complained enough about it back then. I don't even know how effective it was ar deterring people from cancelling because it seems like every few months Volks announce Renee/Kanon/Neon are for sale again(the SDs that came out at the same time with the same lottery method)...maybe it worked for Asuna and Kirino at least.

Which means that if you lose (with debit cards and Paypal, so), transfer's fees are for you. ~18 euros spent for nothing. Nice.

When did they start using that? Unfortunately, using the webstore prevents archiving (and I hate that).

I don't see people liking being charged for the hope of winning a lottery. Or maybe Paypal accepts total refund like if the transaction didn't happen (like when there is a dispute)?

If they use the refund button from PayPal, then you get a full refund and they lose 0.30 cents (PP fee is % + 0.30 cents, those 30 cents do not get refunded).

It's not even hard to build a system to prevent alt accounts without having to charge.

All you have to do is force the user to input credit card/paypal data to the account then lock them a little before they give the result (could be 12H). Then they charge the inputted data and if it doesn't work it means it's an alt account. It's the same bother for them, at first, but it won't work for the cheater too so they have no reason to create alt account anymore.

 

Edit: well, paypal must be different. I don't know if you can check as a seller if the account in front of you is verified.

so is it better to use paypal or credit card to try to avoid fees if losing the lottery please?

Thank you! That's annoying but workable. I'm also curious about which one would be better (debit or Paypal) like the above. Thank you for the help.

so is it better to use paypal or credit card to try to avoid fees if losing the lottery please?

Use a credit card for best results, and be sure it's one with zero foreign transaction fees. Not a credit-logo debit card mind you, a real actual credit card. Under today's Volks International system, that's the best chance of not getting dinged for Sailor Moon's lottery.

Hi guys! I just wanted to pop in and say I was able to get SM from the Doll Party last month. Took like 5 hours!

If you have any questions about her before ordering, I am happy to help. Because my account is new I don't seem to be able to link my flickr to show you what she looks like.

You can link your flickr account to your profile or just give your id but I guess it's you there, right? There is only one pic of her, though.

You can link your flickr account to your profile or just give your id but I guess it's you there, right? There is only one pic of her, though.

 

She looks better in that photo than in the Volks ones, but to me her eyes still need to be about 50% bigger than Volks made her. Still, I have an easier time seeing her as Usagi like this.

Any info if she will be sold on usa site as well?

She will be sold, but it's a raffle, not a clicker (which is pretty fair in my humble opinion)

Any info if she will be sold on usa site as well?

Doesn't seem so but as luck would have it, a news from Volks USA just came up:

 

Happy New Years Everyone!

We have some exciting news for 2018!

4 years have passed since the 2014 Renewal of VOLKS USA, INC.

Since then VOLKS USA has overcome many challenges!

 

Let's take a quick look at what we've accomplished!

 

https://i.gyazo.com/11595991988a655ee9603a4e01afe685.png

 

Starting February 2018, VOLKS USA will now be participating in future Dolls Party Limited After Events!!!

 

VOLKS USA will now be taking part in the Dolls Party After Events - that means more Limited Edition Dollfie® will be visiting North America!

From the original fans who visited the original Tenshi-no-Sumika in Los Angeles to the newcomers within the recent years; we cannot thank you enough! Thank you for sticking with us throughout all these years!

 

For the year 2018, we hope to continue to bring new services to VOLKS USA's customers in North America.

I got that email too, but sadly the SM after event is this month, so before when Volks USA will be a part of them.

Now, debit cards and Paypal don't have that same feature. So for those people Volks charges the full amount upfront at time of entry and then refunds later if you lose the lottery. Some credit card banks may not support the authorization scheme either, so it is possible to get fully charged on a card, but only your card issuing bank can tell you how that's going to work.

 

Volks occasionally changes the rules for entry and payment in their lotteries, so it may or may not continue to work like this in the future.

And I take it that if the exchange rate fluctuates during the time you enter the lottery and the time the refunds are issued, then you might not get back what you paid once it's converted back from yen into your own currency, right?

I haven't entered a DD lottery for forever, in fact I'm selling most of my collection and leaving the hobby but I am so excited for Sailor Moon ≧◡≦ I have a big SM display in my Figure collection and she would be perfect at the center! Gonna have to break my rules and enter for her I reallly want to win!

I got the extra outfit, I'm so happy. Now here's hoping my luck doesn't run out and I win the doll in the lottery.

I haven't entered a DD lottery for forever, in fact I'm selling most of my collection and leaving the hobby but I am so excited for Sailor Moon ≧◡≦ I have a big SM display in my Figure collection and she would be perfect at the center! Gonna have to break my rules and enter for her I reallly want to win!

 

Awww. Sorry to hear that you'll be leaving! You've been around for a long time too. I wish you well tho and if you enter for SM then I hope you win!

 

 

 

Billy

I haven't entered a DD lottery for forever, in fact I'm selling most of my collection and leaving the hobby but I am so excited for Sailor Moon ≧◡≦ I have a big SM display in my Figure collection and she would be perfect at the center! Gonna have to break my rules and enter for her I reallly want to win!

 

Where are you listing the sale? I am looking to pickup an iM@S Yukiho if you are selling yours.

 

Sorry for pouncing.

I haven't entered a DD lottery for forever, in fact I'm selling most of my collection and leaving the hobby but I am so excited for Sailor Moon ≧◡≦ I have a big SM display in my Figure collection and she would be perfect at the center! Gonna have to break my rules and enter for her I reallly want to win!

 

Where are you listing the sale? I am looking to pickup an iM@S Yukiho if you are selling yours.

 

Sorry for pouncing.

 

I'm listing on eBay slowly - I'm keeping Yukiho and a couple of pthers though

 

I haven't entered a DD lottery for forever, in fact I'm selling most of my collection and leaving the hobby but I am so excited for Sailor Moon ≧◡≦ I have a big SM display in my Figure collection and she would be perfect at the center! Gonna have to break my rules and enter for her I reallly want to win!

 

Thanks lovely, I'm more a stalker on the forums now, I'm gonna keep a couple of girls that I'm super attached to as they are like family but hope to add SM

 

Awww. Sorry to hear that you'll be leaving! You've been around for a long time too. I wish you well tho and if you enter for SM then I hope you win!

 

 

 

Billy