Volks USA halting shipping till April 19th

This is the message on their Facebook.

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Due to the emergency “Safer at Home” order issued by the City of Los Angeles, VOLKS USA, INC. must temporarily cease operations until April 19.

Our webstore will remain open, however shipping placed by March 20 @ 1PM (Pacific Time) will be shipped out the same day. All orders placed after this time will be shipped out by April 19.

We want to thank everyone for your continued support and we truly wish for everyone’s health and safety during this time.

We will be continuously updating you throughout this period

For additional information:
https://corona-virus.la/faq

 

https://www.facebook.com/volksusa

Hopefully their customer base will be understanding especially during these strange and scary times.

Ouch. I completely understand and hope the people at VolksUSA stay safe. They managed to ship our Arles and Rankos earlier than expected, so I'm grateful.

I'm in Florida and we don't know the full extent yet. Hope other people take this seriously and not be so irresponsible.

 

edit: placed a quick order for more hands and a pitatto for Arle. Maybe they'll ship it out today like their post says?

Edited March 20, 2020 by lardroom

This is totally understandable. I'm in PA, and our governor has mandated a shutdown of all non essential businesses as of last night, to be enforced for those not complying by tomorrow with fines. As a result, you are allowed to apply for unemployment without the normal week long wait, and small businesses can apply for disaster funding. Places like restaurants are allowed to run only pick up or drive through options, and not the dine in areas. With such an extreme measure in my state, I'm not surprised others are closing as well.

I work in the healthcare industry, so on the contrary to others I am busier than normal and working lots of overtime. But I work from home, so I am still in isolation anyway.

I know it's an election year, so the politicians are trying to look good. My mom commented that it feels like martial law, though.

Still, I hope everyone can stay safe and we can get past this.

Given a possible crisis duration of 12 - 18 months, I think businesses are going to have to figure out how to do a lot of things differently in order to remain solvent. I'm hesitant to comment on Volks USA just because I feel like it's not my place. I'll just say that I hope they can find ways to keep their business going while all this gets sorted out. The most important thing is the health of their employees, but I don't want us to lose Volks USA because a lousy microbe decided to crash the party either.

I work in education, and I am now working from home. We're an essential industry, so folks who can't work remotely have to come in, but the institution is required to ensure that every on-site worker can practice proper social distancing. The unions are there to help ensure that management abides by that policy.

 

36 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

and I now working from home.

 

I just received an e-mail telling this same new, and I think that, what you do: (working from home) is the "easiest" solution. Yet, this can't long much time because there are business that can't work like that. I know I'm being mr. obvious but i wanted to highlight the fact volks Is one of these cases. I mean, I don't imagine the inventory coming to employees' residences so clients go there to buy stuff. It's an stupid example, but believe It or not,  It could be an option (many people in my country are thinking about it). 

Hope this crisis finishes as soon as possible. 

28 minutes ago, Pit said:

there are business that can't work like that.

Exactly my concern. Again, I don't want to speculate about what Volks USA / International could do, because it's not my place. I do think it's a good idea for any business to start thinking about ways to adapt their business model to the current circumstances.

Although this doesn't have to do with Vinyls, I am going to post it here. For those who like resins this is certainly one way of continuing to support Volks USA during the shutdown.

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VOLKS USA's Super Dollfie® Online Full Choice System will returning April 2020

Despite the temporary cease of operation announcement, VOLKS USA will continue with opening the Online Full Choice System during April 2020.

Please keep in mind that due to the current situation and COVID-19 that the schedule is subject to change without prior notice.

We want to thank everyone for your continued support and we truly wish for everyone’s health and safety during this current health crisis. We wouldn't be able to accomplish anything without your support.

 

I can never tell whether a SD16G is available under FCS.

I tried purchasing hands for Arle at 3:00 am Eastern Time, but ran into a stocking glitch where stock wasn't actually available. Hope they can still make it to the deadline, but more importantly th o stay safe.

4 minutes ago, lardroom said:

I can never tell whether a SD16G is available under FCS.

They usually announce the models shortly after announcing the dates. Best place to check for updates is their Facebook page.

in Spain things are very bad
people have to understand that it is very dangerous to go out, it is only a matter of a couple of weeks (I hope).

2 hours ago, lardroom said:

I can never tell whether a SD16G is available under FCS.

So far all the SD16 FCS releases have been around November/December, exactly when I don't really have cash for a big doll purchase 😮 Let's petition for a summer release!

I'm also affected by social distancing measures, but fortunately I'm able to work from home and not losing any income.

I'd like to support Volks USA however possible! But it's important that the employees are safe, too. Hopefully they can continue to do pre-orders and FCS at least.

Arle hands managed to make it to shipping and will be getting out before shutdown, so now she'll be able to grab stuff and lose 2/3s of the time in rock paper scissors. All the other hand sets weren't in stock. Really thankful to VolksUSA staff for getting them out.

 

1 hour ago, jadepixel said:

So far all the SD16 FCS releases have been around November/December, exactly when I don't really have cash for a big doll purchase 😮 Let's petition for a summer release!

Good to know when to look and think about my perfect girl.

Edited March 21, 2020 by lardroom

Have they ever done SD Graffiti, SD17 or SDGou boys in the FCS system? I'm thinking the big boys have only been limited releases, but the SD Graffiti is also nice. Not that I have plans for one this year, though.

54 minutes ago, Jezrah said:

Have they ever done SD Graffiti, SD17 or SDGou boys in the FCS system?

The best place to ask that would be Den of Angels. I know they have done SD16, but I can't recall for sure if they have done SDGr or the largest boys. I think they may have done SDGou, but I don't really pay a lot of attention to boy releases so it's just not clear in my mind.

13 hours ago, Jezrah said:

Have they ever done SD Graffiti, SD17 or SDGou boys in the FCS system? I'm thinking the big boys have only been limited releases, but the SD Graffiti is also nice. Not that I have plans for one this year, though.

I think the SDGr Boys have been offered FCS from time to time. Notably SDGr Girls have not, though, with the imbalance being a sore spot for some folks trying to get GrG bodies without cannibalizing limiteds. Why one but not the other? Only Mother SD knows!

Not sure myself on the SD17s or Gous. I haven't seen them that I can recall, so at the minimum they don't come up often. I can't say whether that's a historically-never or not, though. Agreed with BeyondTime that we'd need to summon the expert historians on DoA for that one.

Because I'm bad at deleting emails, I still have the ones for at least some of the FCS for 2018-2020.

March 2018, July 2018, March 2019, March 2020 were all SDMidi and SD/SD13.

October 2018 was SD16G and SDGrB.

If there have been others during that period I don't still have the emails for them.

Cool, thanks for the info everyone! Ideally I'd like one of the really big boys one day. Once at a doll meet I was allowed to handle another person's Beast doll, and I liked his posing. I do still like the aesthetics on the Gr boy though. I'll have to ask DoA when I feel that the funds are ready. Atm I have lost the password for my DoA login, and I've been too lazy to reset it. 

April FCS is SD Midi, SD, and SD 13 Girls and Boys. Looks like I'm waiting till November for my first SD, unless a limited becomes available through VolksUSA.

Also Arle hands, pitato, and wig cap placed before they shut down arrived today (Monday 23rd), so thanks again VolksUSA.

 

I haven't seen any updates from Volks USA on whether they can still reopen on April 19; however, on the Los Angeles FAQ they reference as the requirements for the closure, that document now states this:

Quote

How long will the Order last?

The Safer at Home order has been extended and is now set to expire on May 15, 2020. 

So I wouldn't be surprised to learn they are going to have to remain closed for another month. 😕

Meanwhile, Volks USA is doing #SafeAtHomeWithDollfie and inviting people to send in pictures, as explained here:

https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=db9ef354023359ab0480915d2&id=41574b1c93

Super bummed they announced on their Facebook page that they will remain closed until May 15th.

I got excited a couple days ago and ordered a body from them and some clothes:(

 They just announced about an hour or two ago they will remain closed. 

 

 

"【VOLKS USA – Office Schedule】

Due to the extension of the “Safer at Home” order issued by the City of Los Angeles, VOLKS USA, INC. will need to extend the it's period from April 19 to May 15 (Fri).

We truly appreciate the many caring emails and messages that you all have been sharing with us!

We are all doing well and are looking forward for things getting back on normal as soon as possible.

Please contact us through email (service@volksusa.com) if you have any questions or concerns regarding of our products or your orders.

Meanwhile, please everyone take care yourself and your family! During these difficult times we are truly wishing for everyone’s health and safety."

 

 

I guess I'll just keep admiring my bodiless Dollfie lol!

Edited April 20, 2020 by Chiakisenpai
added quote

Dammit.  I too ordered a body last week in hopes of them shipping things out starting this week.  That's a real bummer.  I guess another month goes by before my floating head gets her body.... 

 

 

Billy

Rats, I put in the order last week for the last two parts I needed for my second doll (I'm building her from option parts for fun).  Oh well, the wait continues. 

I'm surprised any of you were able to order as the site was and is still down for me.

Unfortunate that they are closed for another month, but not surprising based on what's on the LA website that I posted just above.

Edited April 20, 2020 by cfx

The upside is that California acted early so we will probably be in a position to reopen sooner than a lot of states. The downside is that the mayor of LA is being pretty conservative about all of this, and seems likely to approach re-opening LA cautiously. I suspect Governor Newsom will be supportive of LA reopening slowly if that's what the mayor wants.

I'm honestly expecting this to last until July or August at the earliest, and that's being optimistic.

The problem that Volks USA has is that the LA mayor is being a lot more strict about the business shutdown. Up here in the SF Bay Volks could operate for shipping as long as they maintained social distancing; like having one person go in to the office and ship out orders. In LA the mayor has threatened to have utilities cut to any non-essential business that stays in operation regardless of social distancing.

It sounds like Volks is going to take advantage of the mandatory closure by using it to redo their website.

 

On 4/17/2020 at 8:35 PM, cfx said:

Meanwhile, Volks USA is doing #SafeAtHomeWithDollfie and inviting people to send in pictures, as explained here:

The posted this link on Facebook.

https://dollfie.volks.co.jp/blog/2020/04/15/002385.html

 

17 hours ago, baldylox said:

Dammit.  I too ordered a body last week in hopes of them shipping things out starting this week.  That's a real bummer.  I guess another month goes by before my floating head gets her body.... 

Are you sure that wasn't 10 bodies for 10 floating heads? 🧐

Edited April 21, 2020 by BeyondTime