The Facebook debacle & other issues

12 hours ago, Chise said:

ooooof, don't nobody tell him American Girl has been doin all sorts of disabilities aids for their dolls for quite a few years!
what with "children" his sales target demographic and all  /s

Personally I think it's great that there are multiple options and brands that do that. More options=more accessibility.

Hopefully Danny Choo would be happy about that too, since he emphasizes accessibility so much.

23 hours ago, Chise said:

ooooof, don't nobody tell him American Girl has been doin all sorts of disabilities aids for their dolls for quite a few years!
what with "children" his sales target demographic and all  /s

Won't someone think of the children! xD

Woah, this thread is really eye-opening! Seeing all the issues makes me kinda relieved I passed up on buying a Mirai. I ended up not purchasing one because Danny Choo decided at the time that he liked the Cinnamon skin color better than Milk and discontinued the Milk dolls completely. This was a big issue for me since it meant the smart doll wouldn't be able to share some of the hands I already have for my dollfie dream due to the color difference, and Danny Choo only sells hands in packs for 9,900 yen when I would only want a few select pairs. (Looking through this thread though, I think this was probably the intentional reason for discontinuing Milk)

I still like the look of Mirai and would like to get one some day, but I feel the cost is too high for me to have any issues or hang-ups with the doll. I'll probably try looking for one secondhand.

It just seems like DC makes quite a few strange snap decisions regarding Smart Dolls and his company, and I mean it's his company and he can do whatever he wants with it...but I really wonder how long a brand that doesn't listen to criticisms or what its customers want will stay alive.

8 hours ago, Roserolls said:

Woah, this thread is really eye-opening! Seeing all the issues makes me kinda relieved I passed up on buying a Mirai.

100% agree! Finding this thread while researching Smart Dolls was exactly the reason why I decided I shouldn't purchase one! The original reason I started a deeper search into Smart Dolls was because the "Before You Buy" page rang some alarm bells for me. Which I guess one could argue that's why Danny wrote it, to keep certain types of people from making purchases, but the alarm bells were along the lines of, "This company seems to have some contempt for their customers that makes me feel pretty anxious about giving them a pretty big chunk of my money..." As it turns out, it's more like a BOAT LOAD of contempt!

I still enjoy watching Youtubers dressing up their Smart Dolls, making clothes, and showing off things they've bought for their dolls, but I've 100% lost interest in even owning a second hand doll.

13 hours ago, Luci_Glasya said:

100% agree! Finding this thread while researching Smart Dolls was exactly the reason why I decided I shouldn't purchase one! The original reason I started a deeper search into Smart Dolls was because the "Before You Buy" page rang some alarm bells for me. Which I guess one could argue that's why Danny wrote it, to keep certain types of people from making purchases, but the alarm bells were along the lines of, "This company seems to have some contempt for their customers that makes me feel pretty anxious about giving them a pretty big chunk of my money..." As it turns out, it's more like a BOAT LOAD of contempt!

I still enjoy watching Youtubers dressing up their Smart Dolls, making clothes, and showing off things they've bought for their dolls, but I've 100% lost interest in even owning a second hand doll.

A boat load of contempt for any CRITICISM from customers. You must have nothing but absolute praise for Smart Dolls. You have to not just accept "birth marks" (aka quality control issues) but praise them for their wabi sabi-ness et etc. 🙄

But you're very right. It's a lot of money to plunk down and not feel any kind of significant trust or confidence that you'll be happy with the product or even receive some level of support from the company. I'm not a fan of the weird self sabotage DC seems to wallow in. It's very strange. The dolls are very appealing but for whatever reason things seemed to have just gone down hill. I wish I understood how you mess up something that seemed to have been going fairly well. I was a huge fan of his business model back when I first heard about them (before the days of the cocoa skintone when it was still this odd shade of purple.) It was quite approachable and felt easier than ordering a Dollfie Dream. Definitely wanted one as my "starter" vinyl doll. 

I sometimes catch myself watching videos of others who have gotten their Smart Dolls, but it sort of just makes me sad knowing I still want one but don't feel comfortable buying one, even second hand (because again, lack of support and the obvious "You didn't buy it from us so you're banned!") The idea that you're punished for buying them second hand is kind of nuts to me considering I've done that with Super Dollfies and other BJDs I've owned. Additionally, a few people on YT tend to kiss up to DC which is a bit of a turn off for me. 

14 hours ago, ladyandlion said:

Additionally, a few people on YT tend to kiss up to DC which is a bit of a turn off for me.

Influencers can be so toxically artificial. 

On 5/22/2022 at 10:49 PM, BeyondTime said:

Influencers can be so toxically artificial. 

And can be a narcissist too.

Kinda the problem with being an influencer. One ends up selling their soul, piecemeal, and the bigger one gets the worse it is.

I might have been watching too many YouTube videos about influencers and crypto scams 😅 and weight loss scams, so many scams...

...I actually had a nightmare the other day about being banned from the Smart Doll store. This hobby is messing with my head lol. I think that's why I've been quiet for once.

If having a nightmare like that sounds silly; dolls are one of the few things that make me happy anymore. My Smart Doll is still next to me every day. It's nice.

17 hours ago, Katsudon said:

Kinda the problem with being an influencer. One ends up selling their soul, piecemeal, and the bigger one gets the worse it is.

I might have been watching too many YouTube videos about influencers and crypto scams 😅 and weight loss scams, so many scams...

...I actually had a nightmare the other day about being banned from the Smart Doll store. This hobby is messing with my head lol. I think that's why I've been quiet for once.

If having a nightmare like that sounds silly; dolls are one of the few things that make me happy anymore. My Smart Doll is still next to me every day. It's nice.

I think that may have happened to me.   ik dreamed of DC once an it was weird.    also same here, idk what i'd do without my smart doll boi's    they keep me sane.

On 5/24/2022 at 7:10 PM, Katsudon said:

Kinda the problem with being an influencer. One ends up selling their soul, piecemeal, and the bigger one gets the worse it is.

I might have been watching too many YouTube videos about influencers and crypto scams 😅 and weight loss scams, so many scams...

...I actually had a nightmare the other day about being banned from the Smart Doll store. This hobby is messing with my head lol. I think that's why I've been quiet for once.

If having a nightmare like that sounds silly; dolls are one of the few things that make me happy anymore. My Smart Doll is still next to me every day. It's nice.

I agree but I think in some cases with Smart Dolls they're just kind of enabling and they want to be KIND and don't want to ruffle feathers. Or some will mention having issues with their doll (ex. the arms in Smart Doll boys) but will generally shrug it off or put up with it.

But certainly there are others who subscribe to the same philosophies as DC because, as has been said before, he's very much an influencer and he's basically integrated his identity with his product. If you criticize the product you criticize him. I tend to be wary of the types who parrot a lot of DC's talking points. 

10 hours ago, ladyandlion said:

I tend to be wary of the types who parrot a lot of DC's talking points. 

And I think there are people who think kissing up to Danny will get them free products, so they don't mind turning a blind eye on apparent issues.

7 hours ago, Yumeiro said:

And I think there are people who think kissing up to Danny will get them free products, so they don't mind turning a blind eye on apparent issues.

I've seen it happen.  so I agree.

On 5/27/2022 at 12:23 PM, DollyDearest said:

I've seen it happen.  so I agree.

I had to unsubscribe from a YT channel because the kissing up was so over the top.  They have to know how transparent they are.  I guess they don't care if it gets them free goodies and DC's attention. Sad thing was I really enjoyed the channel, at first. I'm not even going to mention the mutual admiration club that exists among a lot of the top Smart Doll and Smart Doll-related YT channels and IG accounts. 🤪

Edited May 31, 2022 by Vickie386
Added text

19 hours ago, Vickie386 said:

I had to unsubscribe from a YT channel because the kissing up was so over the top.  They have to know how transparent they are.  I guess they don't care if it gets them free goodies and DC's attention. Sad thing was I really enjoyed the channel, at first. I'm not even going to mention the mutual admiration club that exists among a lot of the top Smart Doll and Smart Doll-related YT channels and IG accounts. 🤪

Ik what ye speak of.   it's almost causes me pain. so much fakie sappy sweet, cringey humor.  not to mention the monentizions an super chats. 

On 5/27/2022 at 5:16 AM, Yumeiro said:

And I think there are people who think kissing up to Danny will get them free products, so they don't mind turning a blind eye on apparent issues.

I do agree that some of the bigger channels are probably kissing up in hopes of getting free stuff. I have to imagine, it must have crossed their minds at some point, if they ever say anything that could displease DC that not only could it effect them getting more Smart Dolls or Smart Doll merch in the future... It could even be the death of their channel. I get the feeling fans would turn on them if DC told them to, maybe not all of them, but enough that it would hurt their channel. And there goes not just their hobby they've invested a lot of time and money into, but their extra stream of YT channel income as well. Seems like a bad idea to have a channel solely focused on Smart Dolls when it doesn't seem all that difficult to do/say something that will get you booted out by DC.

On 6/7/2022 at 12:32 AM, Luci_Glasya said:

I do agree that some of the bigger channels are probably kissing up in hopes of getting free stuff. I have to imagine, it must have crossed their minds at some point, if they ever say anything that could displease DC that not only could it effect them getting more Smart Dolls or Smart Doll merch in the future... It could even be the death of their channel. I get the feeling fans would turn on them if DC told them to, maybe not all of them, but enough that it would hurt their channel. And there goes not just their hobby they've invested a lot of time and money into, but their extra stream of YT channel income as well. Seems like a bad idea to have a channel solely focused on Smart Dolls when it doesn't seem all that difficult to do/say something that will get you booted out by DC.

It's odd to me especially if the person collects other dolls because they would already have a different standard of quality and customer support and experience from other brands (ex. Volks). They wouldn't allow those other companies to treat customers in the same way DC does. It's a different dynamic altogether. I find that a bit concerning.

DC appeals to a lot to people who are into social justice and inclusion and that's very popular right now even to the point of companies capitalizing it on it (for instance like they do every June with Pride). Some influencers are probably sincerely taking him at his word that he is caring, but he's also charismatic (though I don't find him so.) (Others are as you mentioned, trying to maintain their channels for the sake of income.) They can't see that anyone who would present this persona as also being emotionally fragile when it comes to valid criticism presented in a measured polite manner. They also easily and conveniently look over promises he's made and broken or making purchasing Smart Dolls more cumbersome and expensive over time. They may make a comment about how it sucks but they don't hold him accountable. Then there's making certain special dolls that are released in limited quantities or through having to stay up at all hours when he randomly decides to make them available. With all of that, I simply can't understand why the whole of Smart Doll and DC criticism has to be found on this forum.  

Wew, finally caught up on this thread! I already knew that Danny Choo was a bit of a prententious entrepreneur, but I did not realize that he would shadowban certain people from buying his dolls. Why on earth would someone want to limit sales here? 

However, on the other side of the coin, I have to give credit where credit is due: Danny's ethnic variety in SMDs through different skin tones is a really good selling point. When I was initially researching into vinyl doll BJDs, the interstellar blue dolls really stood out to me. I love Otherworldly skin tones, and the one that really got me hooked was the Anomaly and Relentless SMDs in interstellar blue. However, one thing that dissuaded me from buying SMDs was through a variety of factors that kind of irked me. 

• These dolls do not have a nice, pearly finish to seal the deal. This one's mainly a nitpick. 
   
• Although SMDs have a variety of different skin colors and disabilities, genders and etc, the one thing I don't see are a variety of different sizes. One thing that really pushed me towards considering Volks was just the fact that they have different sizes. Yeah, sure, they don't have a lot of variety when it comes to colors (and when they do it is very limited) but I've never seen a SMD that's around MDD height. Every chick has the same bust size, but they don't have characters that can fit into being a slightly younger girl.
   
•  This tweet. Really? Okay, if you are already reaching the "end of the line" for Blue SMDs, focus on quality rather than quantity. This tweet really emphasizes where their priorities lie, and it just makes me feel disappointed -- even moreso than the different colored joints on the ICON series.

I dunno, feel free to correct me on this. 

1 hour ago, nekojanai said:

 

•  This tweet. Really? Okay, if you are already reaching the "end of the line" for Blue SMDs, focus on quality rather than quantity. This tweet really emphasizes where their priorities lie, and it just makes me feel disappointed -- even moreso than the different colored joints on the ICON series.

I dunno, feel free to correct me on this. 

An orange head cap doesn‘t mean the item has less quality. I can understand if it bothers some people but since the doll is usually wearing a wig anyway, it isn‘t that obvious compared to the different coloured joints of Icons. (which is no quality issue either. I think I have read somewhere the normal coloured joints are even there on purpose)

 

That is actually a nice move of him to ensure even more people are able to get their hands on a blue doll which are still sold out within minutes/hours after their drop. (Except for the German partner shop anime-sugoi, they last longer there).

2 hours ago, Victoria said:

which is no quality issue either. I think I have read somewhere the normal coloured joints are even there on purpose

Huh, that's strange. I thought it was some quality issue, but it seems as if they fixed it with DDS Anthy Himemiya. Thanks for correcting me. 

4 hours ago, nekojanai said:

Huh, that's strange. I thought it was some quality issue, but it seems as if they fixed it with DDS Anthy Himemiya. Thanks for correcting me. 

 

7 hours ago, Victoria said:

which is no quality issue either. I think I have read somewhere the normal coloured joints are even there on purpose)

The icons - according to Volks - have intentionally mismatched joints to “celebrate” the frame/ball joint of the dolls.  That is the official reason. 
 

Unofficially, Icons are on an older frame (despite a new generation one being out for a while) so it is generally theorized that volks is letting the joints be mismatched so they can use up older frames.  This fan theory is kinda supported by the fact that Anthy was released with matching joints on the latest frame model.  That being said, icon using up old frames is probably one of the reasons they made it to production at all so, kinda like with the orange head caps, it is what it is.      

8 hours ago, nekojanai said:

Every chick has the same bust size, but they don't have characters that can fit into being a slightly younger girl.

 

For real, at this point I'm surprised Danny hasn't brought back the smallest bust option as a way to sell Smart Dolls to breast cancer survivors who've had to have a double mastectomy! Think of the marketing opportunities!

My sense of humour over these dolls is getting really dark. (Obviously, sympathies to anyone who has dealt with cancer.)

I'm going to this year's Anime Expo for the first time in years! The last time I went was back in 2017 with my friend!

I'll get my DD eventually and will take my doll to AX 2022, I'll be ignoring DC's SMD booth while carrying my doll. Since I was a former SMD owner and I felt disgruntled and truly disappointed with that man's business practices once the I found about the truth!

But, I've to thank him for getting me into the BJD hobby, which is one of the positive.

 

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by ZandurFox

On 6/8/2022 at 3:43 PM, ladyandlion said:

It's odd to me especially if the person collects other dolls because they would already have a different standard of quality and customer support and experience from other brands (ex. Volks). They wouldn't allow those other companies to treat customers in the same way DC does. It's a different dynamic altogether. I find that a bit concerning.

DC appeals to a lot to people who are into social justice and inclusion and that's very popular right now even to the point of companies capitalizing it on it (for instance like they do every June with Pride). Some influencers are probably sincerely taking him at his word that he is caring, but he's also charismatic (though I don't find him so.) (Others are as you mentioned, trying to maintain their channels for the sake of income.) They can't see that anyone who would present this persona as also being emotionally fragile when it comes to valid criticism presented in a measured polite manner. They also easily and conveniently look over promises he's made and broken or making purchasing Smart Dolls more cumbersome and expensive over time. They may make a comment about how it sucks but they don't hold him accountable. Then there's making certain special dolls that are released in limited quantities or through having to stay up at all hours when he randomly decides to make them available. With all of that, I simply can't understand why the whole of Smart Doll and DC criticism has to be found on this forum.  

Agreed.

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Vickie386
corrected typo

As we've accidentally gone back a bit, I'll add something that I was going to say, and then didn't.

It's a bit odd with the social justice vibe around Smart Doll. I don't know if other people into social justice (or who know a bunch about idpol) get the same sense, because of course it's a spectrum where some people will be more socially conscious than others, and/or are members of minority groups themselves, with all the community that comes with that. But the way identity is approached through Smart Doll comes off as cynical.

Especially after that time Danny tried to compare owning a Smart Doll to BLM.

So it might appeal to people who are a little into politics, but people more political see through the corporate co-opting of identity for profit.

Which is to say, happy pride month! 🤣🏳️‍🌈

22 hours ago, Katsudon said:

As we've accidentally gone back a bit, I'll add something that I was going to say, and then didn't.

It's a bit odd with the social justice vibe around Smart Doll. I don't know if other people into social justice (or who know a bunch about idpol) get the same sense, because of course it's a spectrum where some people will be more socially conscious than others, and/or are members of minority groups themselves, with all the community that comes with that. But the way identity is approached through Smart Doll comes off as cynical.

Especially after that time Danny tried to compare owning a Smart Doll to BLM.

So it might appeal to people who are a little into politics, but people more political see through the corporate co-opting of identity for profit.

Which is to say, happy pride month! 🤣🏳️‍🌈

Unfortunately it seems there's a fine line these days between diversity because it's just and fair and novelty because it's "interesting/unique/quirky/trendy". Capitalizing on the struggles of others and making performative displays is highly unappealing. I think Smart Dolls are pretty appealing on their own because of their more Westernized feel without all of the extra sob stories about being bullied or bringing politics into it. I won't speak to the dolls that have some kind of condition or disability or how doll collectors who have those experiences feel about it. Some may like the representation, others may not want to be reminded of their reality (especially when dolls may serve as an escape for them.) Personally I'm not buying because of politics. Darker skintones shouldn't be political but unfortunately that's the reality. But I'm not trying to buy a doll because I agree with the politics of the brand or the CEO, I am buying the doll because it reflects the reality that I share (having darker skin.) Further more, I have my own ideas for what I want the doll to represent to me. *gets off soap box*