The Facebook debacle & other issues

13 minutes ago, rainglow said:

Isn't this becoming more of a personal issue with him, than his business practices?

It's been mentioned before. As he is the one bringing his personal issues into his brand and business, it's hard to separate the former from the latter.

<Puts Mod hat on>

As long as there is no outright name calling towards him then it's fine to question things he's said or done.  We're here to basically document the things that have happened and unfortunately continue to happen with the business side of things and how it relates to us and the hobby.

It's getting more difficult to keep things separate and I understand that.  I just ask that before anyone makes a post here to re-read it and make sure it's not calling him names or seeming bully-like.  I think everyone has had to deal with that in their real and online lives at one time or another and there's absolutely NO place for it here.  ZERO.

Since Facebook and other more public areas of online doll collecting seem to not be able to share their concerns and opinions about the Smartdoll brand and the man behind it, I want this place to welcome it as long as it's constructive, informative and helpful in some way.  I personally read every post made here almost daily and I know @BeyondTime does too, so if anything goes sideways, know that it will be dealt with swiftly and will not be tolerated.

This hobby means a lot to me and I know it does to a lot of others.  We don't want to see it devolve into name calling and finger pointing because we all get enough of that in our daily lives.  The dolls we collect and admire and spoil are our outlets in so many ways, I want to preserve that here so that everyone who visits and posts and shares here can feel at ease and able to communicate without feeling stunted or held back.

Thank you for reading.

<Mod hat back off for now>.  😉 

 

 

Billy

33 minutes ago, baldylox said:

It's getting more difficult to keep things separate

Yeah.
If he were to get a PR-manager, but the posts/word-vomit would remain the same, frustrations (and what not) would be reflected on the brand. But since it is his words, it reflects on him.
But I guess since he's made fun of the idea, his pride would keep him from getting one now

9 hours ago, Meowjima said:

 

I eel this whole article needs to be posted here because the sheer batshittery of it.

 

At least on the surface that does tend to support the idea that his family struggled around finances.

 

1 hour ago, baldylox said:

I think everyone has had to deal with that in their real and online lives at one time or another and there's absolutely NO place for it here.

Online communities can quickly fall apart when a place becomes toxic, so let’s all work to avoid that. 

The whole thing just makes me sad. I really really respected the man back in the CJ days.  Then I worried about him when things began changing and getting weird. I worried he was growing too fast to do the things he had set out to do.  Then it all completely derailed, changed direction and it was like a different person had stepped in. I still worry about him sometimes. But basically it just makes me sad.

Edited June 15, 2021 by Misheru
Needed to change direction

2 hours ago, Misheru said:

The whole thing just makes me sad. I really really respected the man back in the CJ days.  Then I worried about him when things began changing and getting weird. I worried he was growing too fast to do the things he had set out to do.  Then it all completely derailed, changed direction and it was like a different person had stepped in. I still worry about him sometimes. But basically it just makes me sad.

Same here, was highly respect for what he had done and promote the Japan culture back then, but the whole nice-man image crumbled with all the toxicity that started here and there.

2 hours ago, Nines said:

Same here, was highly respect for what he had done and promote the Japan culture back then, but the whole nice-man image crumbled with all the toxicity that started here and there.

very sad an heartbreakin.  just don't know what went wrong..

5 hours ago, Nines said:

Same here, was highly respect for what he had done and promote the Japan culture back then, but the whole nice-man image crumbled with all the toxicity that started here and there.

 

2 hours ago, wishbearstar said:

very sad an heartbreakin.  just don't know what went wrong..

Indeed. I do not know what went wrong either. I knew the way he kept releasing doll after doll (basically different faceups on the few molds) he would not be able to keep the promise of never having to have pre-orders and always having dolls in stock or at least you would not have to wait long. He said he would be different than other doll companies and make things more accessible to the doll community.  
 

Wow, things changed.  But why? He always said it wasn’t about money. Mirai was to be his legacy. At some point he teamed up and “made up” with Daddy and the timeline of the flip in behavior kind of fits.  Coincidence? Possible. 
 

It is just so strange that a person changed so much that he is not just different, but is the total opposite of how he used to be.  It makes me angry but it worries me more.  I have never even met the man and it probably should not bother or concern me at all, but it does.

This seems to be in the same vein as the question sent regarding proving you had the other idol master girl - from the Super Girl order page that just went up.

 

Folks who have only purchased licensed or limited edition products from this site will have to show evidence that they still possess those items. If evidence can't be provided, orders are canceled and refunded.

 

So, if that’s you, uh better go order a regular doll I guess 

I’ve been wondering about that. I think I misinterpreted the email about Mika as saying you needed to own a Mika to order Shiki and the photo was to prove you’re a fan, but it’s more likely that you’d only get that email if you bought Mika in the past, and the photo is to prove you aren’t a reseller. 

Now I definitely wish there was more Volks could do to combat resellers but this is too far in the opposite direction. I don’t like the idea that somebody selling a doll instantly brands them a reseller. Like I already said in the Shiki thread, it’s so common in this hobby for people to have to sell dolls to afford new ones. There’s a huge difference between regular hobbyists contributing to a 2nd hand market and people who only buy to sell at a profit and I don’t like that they’re being lumped together. It’s like he always suspects the worst of his fans at all times. Bleh.

That said, it says ‘licensed or limited products’. ‘licensed’ is obvious but... how does he determine a limited product? Isn’t that every smartdoll product, lately? (barring Mirai, I suppose??) I thought everything being sold there could and will be discontinued eventually to make way for new dolls/items, so doesn’t that make everything limited? Does he draw the line somewhere or does he literally not want people to sell stuff at all??

Edited June 16, 2021 by Monty

1 hour ago, Monty said:

does he literally not want people to sell stuff at all??

The answer seems to be no, but on the other hand in smartdoll land, you get stuff like this:

Edited June 16, 2021 by bbotss

7 minutes ago, bbotss said:

The answer seems to be no, but on the other hand in smartdoll land, you get stuff like this:

Do I want to know how much this cost originally…

 

*looks it up*
 

If there was a way for me to insert that gif of a guy closing his computer and tossing it out a window I’d put it here.

 

Even the original price is quite something.  If I ever decided I wanted a bag like this, I’d commission one instead - the inserts might take figuring, but I’m sure it could be worked out.

I wonder if a smart doll could fit into a dollfie dream carrying case 

Edited June 16, 2021 by Mars

@Mars they definitely can.

The best way to combat scalpers is to do what he originally promised, and keep the dolls offered always available. But the hype of owning a limited product drives sales to everyone more, so instead we get the current philosophy of more variety and less quantity.

I feel like he can't stay in business going with this model. He is literally making it impossible for a lot of people to buy his stuff, and putting off others who once supported him. There is a loyal fanbase, but how many dolls can they possibly buy??

All the disclaimers and don't buy crap would put me off if I was new to these dolls. I just don't see how this is viable, it seems like he is just trying to get whatever he can while he can but how long will this keep up? It seems the same people are the ones buying over and over and eventually there would have to be an end I would think.

7 minutes ago, Jezrah said:

@Mars they definitely can.

Uh, no?
No Dollfie Dream items fit SmartDoll! /s

7 minutes ago, Jezrah said:

The best way to combat scalpers is to do what he originally promised, and keep the dolls offered always available. But the hype of owning a limited product drives sales to everyone more, so instead we get the current philosophy of more variety and less quantity.

I'd like to say he scalps his own dolls. Just look at the prototype garage/one-off sales (justified by making the customer pay for the development cost, basically). He can put the dolls up for ridiculous prices and people will buy. All I'm saying is that it's not preventing people from selling these dolls at markup

58 minutes ago, Mars said:

I wonder if a smart doll could fit into a dollfie dream carrying case 

The Volks carry case was made to fit everything up to and including SD17Gou which is much taller and bulkier than a DD or SmD. 

8 hours ago, Yumeiro said:

Uh, no?
No Dollfie Dream items fit SmartDoll! /s

I do hope you are being sarcastic here because the Volks carrying case fits from YoSD sizes up to 65cm dolls quite easily.  Smartdolls will indeed fit quite nicely into the Volks carrying cases.  Same thing with DD clothing and shoes etc.  They all work very well on Smartdolls.

But as I said before, I'm guessing you're joking with your "no" answer from before.   

 

 

Billy

@baldylox Oh, yes, of course!
(/sarcasm or simply /s)

1 minute ago, Yumeiro said:

@baldylox Oh, yes, of course!
(/sarcasm or simply /s)

I figured as much but just wanted to make sure!  😉  Text is hard to read sarcasm into online.  😄 

 

 

Billy

Mr. Choo, I don't think this questionnaire where three of the four questions asks you to choose between a very exaggerated, obviously terrible and unethical choice or doing the opposite (with the last question being nothing but a bad meme) is the anti-scalper/anti-entitled trap you think it is.

53 minutes ago, Lurks said:

Mr. Choo, I don't think this questionnaire where three of the four questions asks you to choose between a very exaggerated, obviously terrible and unethical choice or doing the opposite (with the last question being nothing but a bad meme) is the anti-scalper/anti-entitled trap you think it is.

ah Mr Choo, we now come to the end of the shrubbery maze...

There's been some stuff on my mind recently about the people who work at Smart Doll. I hope I'm just speculating and there's nothing dodgy happening. Just because it sounds like they're not working full time hours, and I'm worried whether that effects their employment rights.

There's more to QOL than just not forcing your staff to work overtime. I would genuinely be interested in what kind of accommodations are made for employees. Just because I'm interested in companies which move towards a more nurturing approach - realising people have lives outside of work and that by making reasonable adjustments (flexible working hours etc) they likely will have less turnover and therefore keep their skilled workers for longer.

This isn't a dig. I seriously want to know more about this kinda thing, if Danny dares venture in this thread. I'm happier supporting companies if I know they're kind to their workforce.

19 minutes ago, Katsudon said:

There's been some stuff on my mind recently about the people who work at Smart Doll. I hope I'm just speculating and there's nothing dodgy happening. Just because it sounds like they're not working full time hours, and I'm worried whether that effects their employment rights.

Always wondered this myself ever since he started banging on about how much he cares for his workers. Could be real genuine care, but it could also be utter bullshit just so he can avoid paying them what they're worth and giving them benefits. Not sure how any of that works in Japan so I won't speculate.

I'd like to think he does pay them well, although probably not well enough to avoid having two or three jobs on the side to get to, and surely if he wasn't and it was an awful place to work someone would have spoken up by now.

15 hours ago, Katsudon said:

Just because I'm interested in companies which move towards a more nurturing approach - realising people have lives outside of work and that by making reasonable adjustments (flexible working hours etc) they likely will have less turnover and therefore keep their skilled workers for longer.

I’m fortunate to work for government and have the benefit of a labor union. We have a lot of protections, and it makes for a great work environment. For the most part people are motivated to do their jobs well too, and by that I mean 99.5% are motivated and conscientious workers. 

I can’t speak for Japan specifically, but in my own state, laws and labor contracts allow for more limited benefits if a person works only a percentage of a full work week. I.e. if you work 80% of a work week, then you get .8 times the sick / vacation accrual, only 80% of medical benefit costs are covered, .8 x service credit for your pension, etc. 

Temp workers have no benefits and no protections, probationary workers lack contract protections against at-will-dismissal, so the occasional unethical manager does try to prevent positions from being filled by permanent staff.

I’d be interested to know how Danny’s labor practices really stack up under Japanese law. I believe in the utopian picture of working in SmartDollLand like I believe in the tooth fairy. I have a feeling if someone ever peels back the facade the real picture will be quite ugly, but for the sake of his employees I hope I’m wrong.