The Facebook debacle & other issues

Sorry if I am interrupting, but did you guys see the despriction for the Courage SmD? Danny is SO entitled and immature and it drives me bonkers. How does one compare literal SLAVERY to modern day business? And Prophecy's despriction makes him sound like a real weirdo.

I would LOVE to get a SmD Monday, but this is just too much.

4 hours ago, CherryPi said:

Sorry if I am interrupting, but did you guys see the despriction

While I cannot point you to a specific page, I do have a faint recollection that the backstories were touched upon somewhere along this little soap opera.

But to be brutally honest, entitlement and immaturity arent things I would attribute to this approach, but more calculative.

Since at the end of the day, while yes there are people who face actual hardships in life, the back stories are pushing for sales via triggering an emotional response, so if you wanted to be sci-fi chiqué you could call it the Void-Kampf method of selling.

(The following is sarcasm with an extra helping of wa(pi)sabi)

EDIT: and to be crystal clear the following is meant as critique towards the image building, not to make fun of people who have dealt with actual hardships.

But really its more or less related to that age old urban legend of when a used car salesman came up with a perticular sales pitch on how to shift a vehicle with a marine-life aroma to a average male punter (And if you need to google, no ... it is not really a family friendly climax this one)

--

Im still more concerned about the shop pages visual approach to encourage possible buyers to disregard safety regulations concerning toy age ratings.

Edited March 17, 2021 by finnleo

1 hour ago, finnleo said:

While I cannot point you to a specific page, I do have a faint recollection that the backstories were touched upon somewhere along this little soap opera.

But to be brutally honest, entitlement and immaturity arent things I would attribute to this approach, but more calculative.

Since at the end of the day, while yes there are people who face actual hardships in life, the back stories are pushing for sales via triggering an emotional response, so if you wanted to be sci-fi chiqué you could call it the Void-Kampf method of selling.

(The following is sarcasm with an extra helping of wa(pi)sabi)

EDIT: and to be crystal clear the following is meant as critique towards the image building, not to make fun of people who have dealt with actual hardships.

But really its more or less related to that age old urban legend of when a used car salesman came up with a perticular sales pitch on how to shift a vehicle with a marine-life aroma to a average male punter (And if you need to google, no ... it is not really a family friendly climax this one)

--

Im still more concerned about the shop pages visual approach to encourage possible buyers to disregard safety regulations concerning toy age ratings.

Ohhh, this *does* make a lot of sense. Marketing is a peculiar thing. (I'm a bit scared of what a marine-life aroma would be like, though.)

I feel this- Entropy is lovely and her sculp is beautiful but after I learned about Danny's abhorrent behavior towards customers the only way I'm ever getting a Smd is second hand. 

That awkward moment when  you see a lecture page about financial responsibilities https://info.smartdoll.jp/en/posts/smart-doll-buyers-guide

 

But yet see linked videos from customer unboxing saying things about how they are hit by financial issues and such with getting a doll

 

...

I've looked their official site for a dozens of "if you do this, your order will get cancelled" warnings and all kinds of stuff. But I didn't see any mention of age limit? Are these supposed to have one? I'm now bit confused that there is so much about "after reading this wall of texts, are you still sure you want to buy", yet they seem to be ok for buying these for a small kid as a gift?

And regarding cancellations, just few days ago I noticed on a Facebook group that someone got their order cancelled. I lost the thread before there was any answer on did they knew why it happened (also forgot which group this was)... How much they do cancellations and do they usually explain why? This whole cancellation concept just puzzles me as all the other shops that I've dealt with, cancel orders only if you cannot pay or there's some major issue from company side regarding manufacturing process. 

1 hour ago, Akito said:

I've looked their official site for a dozens of "if you do this, your order will get cancelled" warnings and all kinds of stuff. But I didn't see any mention of age limit? Are these supposed to have one? I'm now bit confused that there is so much about "after reading this wall of texts, are you still sure you want to buy", yet they seem to be ok for buying these for a small kid as a gift?

And regarding cancellations, just few days ago I noticed on a Facebook group that someone got their order cancelled. I lost the thread before there was any answer on did they knew why it happened (also forgot which group this was)... How much they do cancellations and do they usually explain why? This whole cancellation concept just puzzles me as all the other shops that I've dealt with, cancel orders only if you cannot pay or there's some major issue from company side regarding manufacturing process. 

As far as I know they will cancel based on:
-if you are in a fb group/post content Danny does not like
-if you only order parts without having purchased before
-they may cancel if they do not like your "interview"
I've heard that they will ask for your order number under the pretense of checking if something is "wrong". The cancellation concept is just Danny not liking that people will not agree with him 100% and ban you from buying if he knows about it.

1 hour ago, Gweneveryn said:

As far as I know they will cancel based on:
-if you are in a fb group/post content Danny does not like
-if you only order parts without having purchased before
-they may cancel if they do not like your "interview"
I've heard that they will ask for your order number under the pretense of checking if something is "wrong". The cancellation concept is just Danny not liking that people will not agree with him 100% and ban you from buying if he knows about it.

Adding to this, Danny will ban you if you have ever said anything remotely damaging/negative about Smart Dolls on any social media platform. I haven't had a Smart Doll in nearly a year after leaving that specific brand, and Danny sought me out and banned me.

7 hours ago, Akito said:

I'm now bit confused that there is so much about "after reading this wall of texts, are you still sure you want to buy", yet they seem to be ok for buying these for a small kid as a gift?

The wall of text has evolved over the years as a "Its just the CEO being all funny and fantastically sarcastically snarky" response to all the various little issues and problems that have arisen over the years on social media. Some issues have been valid issues, some maybe not -- So take it overall with a grain of salt.

On the other hand, it also stands as a disclaimer as others have already pointed out that for whatever reason, the company can cancel their order with you as they see fit -- if you have a low tolerance for bullshit, this will irritate you to no end. But as a new buyer with a percieved limited social media footprint, or your online preasence cant easily be linked to your real life ordering info or email, you shouldnt have much problems ordering.

The selling to kids thing is a bit of a iffish thing (also discussed a few pages back more robustly), which in my opinion takes advantage of the loopholes with private importing, meaning there really arent much rules with it, unless its a controlled substance involved. Which is all fine and well, untill something gets caught in a kids digestive system that needs to get cut out -- and the insurance companies (where applicable) will start asking questions and making compensation rulings based on the answers.

 

7 hours ago, Akito said:

How much they do cancellations and do they usually explain why? This whole cancellation concept just puzzles me as all the other shops that I've dealt with, cancel orders only if you cannot pay or there's some major issue from company side regarding manufacturing process. 

The thread has had a few examples of cancellations.

From a finnish standpoint if you're paying with a finnish bank issued credit card that by default now has two-stage verification payment should not be an issue at all.

As Gweneveryn already mentioned as a new customer for a new doll there is a high probability for an interview email, where they ask where did you hear about the product, and what drew you to it, etc. common sense should prevail with the answers.

Though if asked "Will you kiss the pinky ring?" My answer would still be "Pitäkää tunkkinne." ("Keep your jack" -- common finnish joke, relating to needing help or not, in this case "You can stuff it.")

Although it should not get to that ... I think.

If ordering products like clothing, the canned answer is you are ordering the stuff for a smartdoll ... like already mentioned, if they follow up on this with a "Well we dont have you in our database", the answer is you had gotten the doll second hand.

---

I find it amusing on a primal level having to coach somebody to this degree in ordering from a company, but as you already mentioned, no other doll manufacturer has this sort of behaviour. But I guess it another thing that makes the place unique.

2 hours ago, finnleo said:

unless its a controlled substance involved.

 

Couldn’t resist. ._.

5 hours ago, finnleo said:

If ordering products like clothing, the canned answer is you are ordering the stuff for a smartdoll ... like already mentioned, if they follow up on this with a "Well we dont have you in our database", the answer is you had gotten the doll second hand.

I wonder if you'd get bared from ordering if you say "I don't have one yet". As in, would they refuse to sell to you if you decide to buy the clothes first..?
Such a weird business... New customers need a cheat-sheet for ordering... 😒

Yes, I’m pretty sure you’ll get barred from ordering clothes if you say you don’t have one yet. There’s a write-up on the Smartdoll website about it here. 

But... for example, if I've received a Smartdoll as a present? I'm not obviously in their database and it's not a second hand doll.

 

Oh, why so stupidly difficult...

15 hours ago, finnleo said:

 

I find it amusing on a primal level having to coach somebody to this degree in ordering from a company, but as you already mentioned, no other doll manufacturer has this sort of behaviour. But I guess it another thing that makes the place unique.

If you're referring to me, I'm just trying to understand their Great Masterplan marketing and selling strategy, because they totally are unique. But I must admit that even though he says stuff that obviously divides peoples opinions, and he has visible way of saying that they have the power to pick up who is "good enough" to buy their items, he STILL manages to have solid fanbase and people are buying dolls and items from him. And he actually manages to employ other people too. Even I don't agree his way of doing this (or his ways of simply saying things), in the end that's quite remarkable achievement... I really, really doubt that nobody else could pull that same thing off, especially within doll scene.       

11 minutes ago, Akito said:

in the end that's quite remarkable achievement

I really, really doubt that nobody else could pull that same thing off, especially within doll scene.  

Whats really going to trip you up, is that the CEO originally made a name for himself being a 0G influencer before that was even a term, and shilled ... how should I put this... massage aids for men for relieving pressures in their nether regions ... the red and white striped kind.

Though before this senpai actually did make some quite interesting, and insightfull articles on life in japan, leading to said influencer status.

created a couple of (now defunct) high volume hobby portals along the way ... and things like that.

So could anybody else replicate this ? ... maybe .. but you only need about 15-20 years to replicate the whole thing with the whole social networking aspect -- and some actual genuine work and effort, and maybe some luck involved in it too.

Somebody just deciding to put up a company and going You only live once right from the start? Probably not so much - but the brief fireworks would be enteretaining to watch.

3 hours ago, Testament said:

for example, if I've received a Smartdoll as a present?

I guess a word of advice: The tell person who's giving it to keep the receipt. The three year (?) body warrenty they give on new dolls is issued to the original buyer if I recall correct.. so there is also that.

Danny's new program rewards you for posting to Instagram and linking back to his products.  Pretty sure, instead of approving photos of DDs wearing his products, you'd get a ban.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMl45iYBULE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I'm so glad I don't have any social media accounts. I'd totally post pics of my dolls there - especially my boys Randuil and Esgalnor. Neither one wears Smartdoll outfits, lol! To make matters worse, Randuil loves his Volks outfit and refuses to let it go! To tell you the truth, only my crystal cortex girl wears all smartdoll clothes. I wish there would be more diverse selection of clothes in Smartdoll, but... No can do. My dolls like more of a fantasy costumes, so that is the style they wear. 

20 hours ago, Galvatim said:

Danny's new program rewards you for posting to Instagram and linking back to his products.  Pretty sure, instead of approving photos of DDs wearing his products, you'd get a ban.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMl45iYBULE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

To be fair though, wasn't there something about "Volks threatening to sue" if he posted anything with their products on the SMD site? Not that he wouldn't ban people, but there is precedent for avoiding Volks in customer photos iirc. Though for all I know that was completely made up.

16 minutes ago, Starwaia said:

To be fair though, wasn't there something about "Volks threatening to sue" if he posted anything with their products on the SMD site? Not that he wouldn't ban people, but there is precedent for avoiding Volks in customer photos iirc. Though for all I know that was completely made up.

I think that was limited to promoting SmartDoll and Dollfie Dream as compatible. There was/is a neck thingy made so that other heads can go on the SmartDoll body (he might have directly mentioned Dollfie Dream). But Volks was not keen on that, if I recall correctly.
He might have blown it out of proportion in retaliation, as per usual. But who knows how high the bar was set by Volks...
I wonder what the "All dolls are welcome here" policy is like now... Will it still stand once the physical store opens up to the public?

33 minutes ago, Starwaia said:

wasn't there something about "Volks threatening to sue" if he posted anything with their products on the SMD site?

Well, I believe The Thread (tm) did cover this, and the issue was traced back to doll.fm which was (is?) a culture japan thing, and to be fair was a general doll hobby portal in the start.

But as someone heavily related to CJ went to factories, took pictures, took notes, was even shown stuff they werent allowed to show the general public, and then starts their own company in the same field, original intentions for things might not really weight much at that point they will just look at it as it stands at that given moment.

dunno why doll and figure.hm werent given to a outside party for managment which could have resolved this issue (maybe), but you can make your own judgments as to why someone woulnt want to. There are good reasons, and also not so honorable reasons.

how volks would react now to a third party platform hosting cross pollination of things is anyone's guess I suppose, but I havent seen them throwing a tantrum on random people using CJ items on their dolls on flickr for instance.

But as its been pointed out ... youd need to get the items in the first place...

Edited March 21, 2021 by finnleo

Soooooo. 

 

Chaos stuff. 

39 minutes ago, TithorArgentus said:

Soooooo. 

 

Chaos stuff. 

All I see is his elite circle just getting squeezed tighter. Nothing but praises and total understanding from the radical fans. Peasants aren't allowed to get his precious chaos rejects, er, I mean privileged items.

And now the Interstellar Blue insanity. I wouldn't be surprised if the company closes in five or so years, you can't stay alive with such a limited client base (and pretty much not allowing new clients), never mind the crappy way they treat customers. *continues eating popcorn*

I mean, we say that, and people keep buying from them...

20 hours ago, TithorArgentus said:

Soooooo. 

 

Chaos stuff. 

 

1 hour ago, kranberrijam said:

And now the Interstellar Blue insanity. I wouldn't be surprised if the company closes in five or so years, you can't stay alive with such a limited client base (and pretty much not allowing new clients), never mind the crappy way they treat customers. *continues eating popcorn*

I follow his Instagram but it seems I'm out of the loop on both of these. Can someone give me the rundown of what's going on?