The Facebook debacle & other issues

1 hour ago, Selenae said:

Regarding the Smartdoll 'gacha' idea, that is by far the worst idea I have ever seen in this hobby, period. These dolls are far too expensive to go blind on, and I find that to be very predatory marketing which is sickening in and of itself.

Honestly, people who have money to burn or who like every single doll that SmD puts out are the most likely customers. I've saw at least 3 different posts within the span of an hour of people posting their Fortuitous reveals in the SmD Lovers group. It's honestly insane. I think Danny is trying so hard to not be like Volks and its doing him more harm than good. 

big yikes all around
I'm sort of actively avoiding Danny online (and not tagging him in any of my instagram posts because no). I used to gain real inspiration from his early blog posts, back when he was starting the company, but now... My Crimson Kai order ended up in his inbox for address confirmation and my first response was not of the "oh joy the founder has noticed me!" variety (more like "don't get friendly with me I see you hating your boys in the product description").

Smartdoll for me has basically gone the way Apple has: Lovely, solid, pricey product that you almost buy in secret because you don't want to be associated with the company behind it.

Just saw some folks got the same doll they already own from Fortuitous lol...that's definitely something I'd be afraid of...so risky..

20 hours ago, Deyja said:

there wasn't another peep mentioned about Chitose in tea

Same with the promised (blank?) heads too.
Been promised a few times, and recently had a semi-date set. But again, not a word. He promises a lot, but instead of informing of the plans falling through or being delayed - silence!
And of course, rage at anyone, and everyone, "bothering" him/his team by being curious about it....

Edited April 18, 2020 by Yumeiro

3 minutes ago, Yumeiro said:

Same with the promised (blank?) heads too.
Been promised a few times, and recently had a semi-date set. But again, not a word. He promises a lot, but instead of informing of the plans falling through or being delayed - silence!
And of course, rage at anyone, and everyone, "bothering" him/his team by being curious about it....

For real. I really wanted the blank head option. Like I said before, I think he's trying to not be Volks. Which is weird because their business model has worked for 20+ years 🙄

@Yumeiro @MaKayla_Panda Honestly, this shows a severe lack of integrity on Danny's part, which is yet another thing that will only hurt his company. Sure, Volks has been very slow to introduce things like male DDs and blank heads, but they came nonetheless.

1 hour ago, Selenae said:

Volks has been very slow to introduce things like male DDs and blank heads, but they came nonetheless.

Volks will probably come out with high heeled feet before Danny comes out with blank heads that arent in some chaos bundle 🙄

13 minutes ago, MaKayla_Panda said:

Volks will probably come out with high heeled feet before Danny comes out with blank heads that arent in some chaos bundle 🙄

I....yeah, I saw that. In theory it's a good idea if you want backup replacement pieces in case your doll is damaged/stained, but for the actual product to be a random mish-mash of shells, with no say on what you get neither body nor color-wise, isn't a great idea unless you really, really want the extras for whatever reason.

Edited April 19, 2020 by Selenae

1 minute ago, Selenae said:

I....yeah, I saw that. In theory it's a good idea if you want backup replacement pieces in case your doll is damaged/stained, but for the actual product to be a random mish-mash of shells, with no say on what you get, isn't a great idea unless you really, really want the extras.

Unfortunately, it's the only way for international people to get they're hands on 2nd rate vinyl pieces for modding and experimentation. Lots of trading going on amongst people do did get the chaos packs. I'm actually in need of a torso shell 😅. But i'd rather let other people gamble their money and see if I get some 2nd hand luck. I don't know why Danny doesn't just sell parts individually....

Is it still morally alright to purchase Smartdoll products though the showrunner's done all this stuff? I really want a Final Boss Gaia kit but I'm not sure after skimming thru here..

Just now, MagicantAce said:

Is it still morally alright to purchase Smartdoll products though the showrunner's done all this stuff? I really want a Final Boss Gaia kit but I'm not sure after skimming thru here..

I can only speak for myself, but I personally wouldn't judge anyone for buying a Smartdoll. I've seen them in person. They are beautiful dolls and very well made. And while Danny is the face of the company, he definitely does not make every single doll. There are employees who also poor their soul into crafting these dolls. If it makes you feel better, know that you are supporting them too, not just Danny with your purchase 😊. But at the end of the day. Its a very personal decision, so do whatever feels best for you. You can always buy 2nd hand if you don't want to support directly

1 minute ago, MaKayla_Panda said:

I can only speak for myself, but I personally wouldn't judge anyone for buying a Smartdoll. I've seen them in person. They are beautiful dolls and very well made. And while Danny is the face of the company, he definitely does not make every single doll. There are employees who also poor their soul into crafting these dolls. If it makes you feel better, know that you are supporting them too, not just Danny with your purchase 😊. But at the end of the day. Its a very personal decision, so do whatever feels best for you. You can always buy 2nd hand if you don't want to support directly

I guess you're right about supporting the employees, in which case, I thiiiink I'm going to go through with getting a cortex kit? I still don't really approve of Danny's actions though as I'm sure many other don't

@MaKayla_Panda Ah, I see. I honestly don't know why Danny wouldn't just sell the shells themselves, either. You'd think he would have started doing so by now, but honestly, with his recent statements and decisions, I'm not one bit surprised he pulled the Chaos bs instead. But hey, it's not my company.

@MagicantAce Hey, if you want to get a Cortex kit, go for it! I also agree with @MaKayla_Panda, I also would not judge anyone for buying a SmD. It's good to think of the employees who actually make the dolls, and not only Danny's actions.

 

Edited April 19, 2020 by Selenae

I don't like Danny's actions either, but I don't think people are morally obliged to boycott his company - of course people should if they want to, but I wouldn't judge anyone for buying from him. I have one SmD girl that I bought second hand, but I will probably buy directly at some point if I can ever scrape the funds together. I love the dolls, he offers things that no one else is doing, it really does support a lot of great employees, and aside from the wabi-sabi tantrums I think the product is good. I'm unlikely to go nuts buying clothes, wigs etc. from him for that reason though, knowing that any issue is likely to evolve into public hysterics. (I love the jeans and casual style he puts out but I can pick up similar things on Etsy for half the price and none of the drama.) And I don't go anywhere near interacting directly with him online. I'd rather keep my head down, enjoy his product quietly and hopefully avoid the massive rolling boulder that is his ego.

I gotta admit that as someone who wants another tea girl but honestly can't decide which one, I'm seriously considering giving Fortuitous a go if Danny releases it in tea. The only girls I don't care for are Courage (already have her) and Trinity (don't like grumpy girls). But worst case scenario if I do get one of those two, I'll have her faceup redone. 

 

Honestly, if you like his dolls, you should get one. I don't approve of Danny's behaviour either but I can't deny that I do like some of the things that Smart Doll has to offer. As others have said, you're not only supporting Danny. You're supporting the hardworking employees behind Smart Doll too.

7 hours ago, Eiko82 said:

I gotta admit that as someone who wants another tea girl but honestly can't decide which one, I'm seriously considering giving Fortuitous a go if Danny releases it in tea. The only girls I don't care for are Courage (already have her) and Trinity (don't like grumpy girls). But worst case scenario if I do get one of those two, I'll have her faceup redone. 

 

Honestly, if you like his dolls, you should get one. I don't approve of Danny's behaviour either but I can't deny that I do like some of the things that Smart Doll has to offer. As others have said, you're not only supporting Danny. You're supporting the hardworking employees behind Smart Doll too.

Yeah, honestly, if it weren't for all the things Danny has said and done, I likely would have caved for an AU Chitose because I do find her really pretty. But, I personally just cannot bring myself to support him anymore. There's a part of me that feels horrible for his employees, too, which leads me to wonder how they view their boss and if they know how he treats his customers both former and potential.

Edited April 21, 2020 by Selenae

I would not want him for a boss, got to be honest.

WOW was wondering why this still continue, so different topics going underway ^^ Personally If i don't like something I never stalking it let alone follow it, thought social media reposting often got me so no choice but to see and read one.

Never an actual loyal follower of DC, maybe once for a little while during his earlier fame back in 2008-2009 but when i start read his added sentiment against microsoft on gadget post and the later dramas too.. like otacool and so on ... time to get out of here...

AND the only thing I do hate is the smartdoll campaigns he did.. he always playing victim .... the tweets against volks' the complain he kicked out and the sort and what make it worse his hardcore fans retweeting them ....

in my early blogging days as i can read around most Dollfie Dream owners around are inspired by him .... I do a little wonder thought what happen to his after this smartdoll start

So do these "gacha" random dolls have let's say 1 out of 10 is a limited edition secret brand new doll only 10 being made or sort ? if yes this a great marketing, Like trading card game or mobile game gacha people mentions 😊

well I won't judge Smartdoll owners, After all for once few years ago it's become the most well known vinyl doll (for people outside doll/BJD circle at least).

heck i still hate it everytime someone call my DDs ..... smartdoll lol

 

but I do like to tease a friend who own smartdoll and somehow few years later become "hater" LOL of course he understand it's a joke, but i always Bring that up everytime he he shown anything weird announced or the minor drama(s) appear

THIS ticks me off. This is a flat out lie.

Well look at that. I never thought that he would actually sell surgical masks. That's Covid-19 for you. I might get one of those. Then at least my doll would have a mask although I'm the one who really needs one. 😅

Of course those masks fit other dolls. And equally of course Danny Choo will never say it on public, because he believes that Volks will sue him If he does.

4 hours ago, kranberrijam said:

THIS ticks me off. This is a flat out lie.

That is one pricey teeny tiny piece of fabric.

I can understand why he won't acknowledge that SmD clothes do fit DD, it would open up a number of issues in regards to staining, vinyl warping or fabric stretching.  If he said that they aren't testing SmD clothes for fit on other brands, and "buyer beware, do so at your own risk"  it wouldn't be such a lie.  

Outside of the SmD ninja outfit, which is very tight around the shins, I've never bought any Culture Japan SmD clothing that doesn't fit DD.  That does suggest that (at least at one point) SmD clothes were designed to cross sell as fitting DD.  Given that Volks would sell me a whole outfit for the price of a SmD t-shirt, I doubt they care if SmD clothing fits DD.  Volks have the whole value-to-cost thing going for them, and don't seem to have any issue with the myriad other DD size clothing brands, which included Azone at one point.  

24 minutes ago, Galvatim said:

I can understand why he won't acknowledge that SmD clothes do fit DD, it would open up a number of issues in regards to staining, vinyl warping or fabric stretching.  If he said that they aren't testing SmD clothes for fit on other brands, and "buyer beware, do so at your own risk"  it wouldn't be such a lie.  

 

This would make a lot more sense. Something along the lines of "we can't verify if x piece of clothing will fit other brands" would have been a much more appropriate answer. I'm sure it'll end up as another disclaimer on the website that needs to be acknowledged before making a purchase.

My policy has always been to check the measurements for the doll the clothing as been designed for and compare with whichever doll I planned on purchasing said outfit for before doing so. I do miss the DD sized Azone offerings.

I have one pair of the original jeans that I got in a 1/3 clothing lot and they fit my Luts resin doll better than his own dolls; they slid up on her like they were molded to her body.

You can put a disclaimer without sounding like a butt. His attitude lately is so off-putting that it's sick. Having read this stuff over the years, it's more about him trying to say that people have to buy HIS brand of dolls clothes ONLY. The old joke of the Cult of Danny now seems like it's too real. I once was excited about the dolls but I lost all respect (and interest in the product) long ago.

We're here to share a love for dolls. I just hate seeing someone who claims to care do so much hateful stuff towards other fans. I know there are elitists in every hobby, but he's really taking the cake lately. 

Yikes. What went wrong? Danny used to love Dollfie Dream and now he hates them with a passion. I wonder whats happened to the ones he used to have?