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Code Noir Contest Prize Arrival.. EDIT: So it's not a Leeke Luke...

Apr 3, 2015

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    1. ETA:
      So it's not even a leekeworld luke
      It's a Leekeworld Kyle - I'm pretty sure.
      I always thought it was a bit odd that he wasn't as super smiley from the promo photos, so I actually went and looked on leeke at blank pictures today. He's definitely not a Leekeworld Luke.
      I don't think they sent me the wrong doll, given that the pictures that I asked them to send me match up to the Kyle. I think they just got the mold wrong. they have some similarities.

      He looks a bit similar to leekworld Kyle though:http://leekeworld.com/En/Product/p_view.asp?it_code=970&B_catalog_num=157
      Leeke luke for comparison: http://leekeworld.com/En/Product/p_view.asp?it_code=974&B_catalog_num=157

      Good news is, I like Kyle better than Luke after seeing them painted XD so yay a little?

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      A few months ago, Code Noir posted on facebook that they were giving away a Leekeworld Luke.
      [​IMG]

      My friends had taken part, so I figured, why not. It can't hurt.
      So I reblogged, liked, and commented as requested and then put it out of my mind and forgot.

      Fast forward to mid march, I have a facebook message from Code Noir telling me I won!
      I know everyone always says "I never win anything!" - and...yeah I don't either LOL
      Also happened to be the same day that my big Fairyland order shipped, so it was a hugely surreal day!

      [​IMG]

      Code Noir told me that they were sending him in a different box and that he wasn't coming with a certificate.
      I thought that was odd, and I do kind of collect doll boxes along with the dolls themselves, so I asked if they had the box and if they would mind sending him with it.
      I also asked for a photo of the doll at this time, because I was under the impression it would come from Leekeworld directly.

      To my surprise, his original box was a dollga box. Which meant that he was a much older doll.
      I went back and looked at the content post again and nothing mentioned it being a used doll, so I was a bit surprised, but he still looked very nice, so I brushed it off.

      They were happy to send him in his original box, and were wonderful to deal with while I paid for shipping and such (you could pick the doll up at the store in hong kong, or pay to have it shipped. :B I obviously lived a little far away to pick it up in store)

      a week or so goes by and they ship him out to me, he arrives today, 3 days later ^.^ Which, till last night, I didn't realize USPS ran on good friday!


      when I got the box I noticed a familiar emblem printed on the outside. It read Code Noir, but the "DH" didn't match up. Then it hit me that it was the Doll Heart emblem but with Code Noir written on it.
      I know Code Noir was sort of an offshoot of DollHeart, but I didn't think they were affiliated?
      It's the exact same emblem that's on my doll heart outfit boxes, but this says code noir rather than doll heart.


      [​IMG]


      The dollga box was really pretty

      [​IMG]

      It appears he had a bit of a bumpy ride, but all of the delicate parts on him were well wrapped.
      [​IMG]

      His cutie face
      [​IMG]

      When I got him out of all his wrappings, I realized that he was horribly floppy. I couldn't get him to stand or even sit without being propped up.
      [​IMG]


      While I waited for his arrival, I'd gone through all my doll stuff and picked some things for him to wear :3
      [​IMG]


      While I was putting in his eyes, though, I realized this:
      [​IMG]
      He had magnets on the front of his head too, so it does stay shut, but I was a bit disappointed.


      And then it continued...
      I got frustrated with his floppy body and decided to break out the hot glue gun and set to sueding him. Upon untringing him, I found this:
      [​IMG]

      No wonder he was so floppy, he has a broken piece :(
      This was after I'd tried to just hot glue it and obviously that didn't hold, but it already had some kind of glue all over it like someone had tried to reglue it before.
      this is also when I noticed how yellowed he was. He was very yellowy, but I figured it was just his resin tone, but taking him apart and looking at the inside of his torso that was still a pinky color, made it obvious that his age has taken its toll.


      He's currently in pieces on the counter right now.
      I got out the super glue, reglued the piece together, and am now waiting for it to dry.

      [​IMG]

      He's a beautiful doll, and I can't wait to get him all fixed up and together, and I'm still overjoyed and excited! And can't thank Code Noir enough to running the contest.

      I'm just a little confused as to why his age and his issues weren't mentioned.
       
      #1 Knibitz, Apr 3, 2015
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    2. Hmmm. I'd actually be very upset with receiving a doll in that condition, considering it wasn't mentioned at all. That makes me think they used the contest as an excuse to get rid of an old, broken doll. I find that to be quite shifty. :/ But even with the issues, you seem to be happy with him. Congrats!
       
      #2 Selenae, Apr 3, 2015
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    3. Congrats on winning the contest! Though I must admit, the condition of the doll does make Code Noir sound a little shifty.
      However I'm sure you will be able to take good care of this boy. He has a beautiful face sculpt; no doubt you will transform him into a formidable doll! Good luck :)
       
      #3 Dayme, Apr 3, 2015
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    4. Congrats hun! But why would the company advertise that the doll was worth "500 USD" when clearly in the condition he is in - he is not worth that? Didn't even say that he was USED. I'm so glad you are thankful but man I have to question this company's ethics in sending a clearly bad condition doll.
       
      #4 Ladyofthefae, Apr 3, 2015
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    5. Congrats on the doll. It's a little odd that he is in that condition but at least you didn't really have to pay for him aside from shipping. It probably would have been nice if they mentioned his condition but if your happy that's all that really matters. And he was kinda free which is a plus. I'm sure you will take great care of the poor darling.
       
      #5 CherryB, Apr 3, 2015
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    6. Congrats! But that isn't fair to give you a broken doll. I would be upset as well. Free yes, but broken is bad.
       
      #6 romeo7821, Apr 3, 2015
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    7. They probably didn't want to mention it at all, just in case someone decides to call them on for it? But it's a giveaway afterall, and they never said it'll be a brand new doll! I guess it's just good that he ended up in your hands, someone who can patch him back up together. Imagine if a newbie got him. It'll be hell for both the doll and the new owner!!

      But congratulations on winning him, I hope he'll have a better life by your side!
       
      #7 pandajo, Apr 3, 2015
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    8. @pandajo - Everyone I talked to felt the same. Saying he's worth $500, using the leeke pictures of him - that told us that what we were getting was new.

      It was a frustrating process, but I've had the two weeks or so to let the reality sink in that I'm getting a little less than expected, so I guess I was kinda prepped for it.
      In the end, I just gave them the benefit of the doubt and assumed he was one of their dolls, and that it was kind of a special gift? Rather than just FREE DOLL PRIZE.
      Obviously he wasn't advertised that way. But I "sleep easier" with the idea that he was specially chosen from one of their personal collections.

      He's all back together now and napping in my lap. He's a little nostalgic for me. Reminds me a lot of the dolls I owned in my early years collecting.

      [​IMG]

      And I definitely do love him.
      I feel a bit sorry for him, and still a little disappointed in Code Noir for being unprofessional(?) with the contest, but he's still a cutie, and I think the little extra effort and love I had to put in on his arrival makes him even a bit more special <3
       
      #8 Knibitz, Apr 3, 2015
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    9. This incident would probably make everyone be slightly more wary of Code Noir, but it's really heartening that you're able to take a liking to him and bond with him :) I don't really know how Code Noir links up with the official companies, but this time Leekeworld definitely wasn't involved.
       
      #9 pandajo, Apr 3, 2015
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    10. [MENTION=69259]pandajo[/MENTION] Yeah. I reached out to leekeworld over the dollga box, since I hadn't seen one before and just wanted to confirm with them. And they said it was their old box, but they didn't know about the contest or, it seemed, Code Noir at all.
       
      #10 Knibitz, Apr 3, 2015
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    11. Wow. That's really upsetting. I'm sorry that this happened to you.
       
      #11 Gothic-Diurnal-Hime, Apr 4, 2015
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    12. That is really strange, but he's such a cutie! I would probably have questioned his "legit"-ness.... but I think since he came with the old Dollga box then perhaps he's legit. I mean... it looks like he was loved enough for someone to try to fix him at some point.... though I do think they should have disclosed that he was broken and yellowed :/
       
      #12 The Raven, Apr 4, 2015
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    13. It is a strange contest prize, with the undisclosed age and damage, and all from a fairly professional looking company, but (!!) I love the way you've dressed him up, and it's already clear that he's in a home where he'll be cared for better than wherever he was. Congratulations to both you and Luke! ^_^
       
      #13 Lokinta, Apr 4, 2015
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    14. Shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak. Once when I was a child I won an art contest and for the prize I got a broken camera (with the warranty card filled out) but a broken doll is much better than broken electronics.

      Congrats on winning! It's still a lovely doll with plenty of character ;)
       
      #14 LuvPetdolls, Apr 4, 2015
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    15. It says 'from our offline store' I'm wondering if he was an ex-model or something?
      He's super cute though * w *
       
      #15 Aves, Apr 5, 2015
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    16. [MENTION=23177]Aves[/MENTION] code noirs only been around for a few months and, as of right now, only carry stuff for girl dolls, but being and offshoot of doll heart, I looked over their boy products to see if they ever used a luke and nothing.
      Its definitely on of the things Ive wondered though.
       
      #16 Knibitz, Apr 5, 2015
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    17. Thats super friggin' weird then. I wonder what they meant by offline store. Or maybe that meant 'personal collection' and was just lost in translation somehow.
      Still, he's cute, regardless of the damage and a prize so therefore free, which is super amazing.
       
      #17 Aves, Apr 5, 2015
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    18. I'd be so dissapointed to receive a broken and yellowed doll as a prize. Especially seeing even though he was a prize you still had to pay for the shipping...

      I guess they pretty much wanted some extra promotion and dump an old model somewhere to replace him by a new one. He looks adorable nevertheless and you did a great job fixing him up. Give him a big cuddle from me and let him know he's loved even though they pretty much dumped him.
       
      #18 Siara, Apr 5, 2015
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    19. That is really weird. You would think the fact that it is an older used doll would be mentioned. I am glad you like him and you won him. He is a cute looking boy. I would be hesitant to buy from them though as it makes the company sound very shady.
       
      #19 Kavarr, Apr 6, 2015
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    20. *head>desk*
       
      #20 Knibitz, Apr 6, 2015
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    21. It's disappointing that the condition and age of this doll were not disclosed in this contest, but I am really glad you are still happy with your new boy.

      I would like to encourage those of us questioning Code Noir to give them a chance and see where they will take their new company. Many of their staff are staff who chose to leave Doll Hearts (Mr. Pasu Lau and Vicky who runs social media), there was some sort of issue or falling out at Doll Heart that led to the staff leaving to start up Code Noir, the two companies are now completely seperate. I think the change happened very quickly and they are doing their best to build up the Code Noir brand with the little resources they have. This is just speculation but I wouldn't be surprised if this Leeke boy is from their personal collection and they gave him away to encourage awareness of their brand on facebook.

      I doubt his condition was intentionally omitted, but I actually think if they had disclosed with more honesty that their company is starting out and to help bring awareness they would give away one of their own dolls. I actually think as a fan I would find that story more appealing to know that the staff of a company collect BJD too and it means so much to them to have your attention that they will give away one of their own dolls.

      Congrats again on your win, he's lovely and I'm excited to see what you will do with him, older dolls have such charm :aheartbea
       
      #21 SaturnRose, Apr 8, 2015
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    22. Wow. What a shady company. I certainly don't want to give them any business after reading this. Also, I don't think you should have to pay any shipping if you win something. That said, it's still really cool you won and I'm sure you'll be able to bring out the best in the doll. It's a shame there's so much negative about this, but it's still something good and exciting. I hope you post pics when you get him all together. It seems he found a good home.
       
      #22 Lisam925, Apr 8, 2015
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    23. It stinks that he came that way but he's still really cute ^^ Can't wait to see him w/ a face-up. <3
       
      #23 XxBrittox, Apr 9, 2015
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    24. @Lisam925 They did say you could pick store, and they did disclose that you'd have to pay shipping, if you couldn't pick it up in store, in the initial contest information. And they changed me exactly shipping down to the cent, so I think that's fair. He's going off for face up very soon ^.^ Just need to get a break from my crazy schedule to get him to the post office!

      [MENTION=16208]SaturnRose[/MENTION] I agree that it actually probably would have worked into their benefit to upfront say that the doll was from their personal collection. I know I mentioned on my blog but I'm not sure if I did here that I actually smile a bit thinking about him being one of their personal dolls as I always have been a huge doll heart fan, and the idea that this guy could have inspired or helped design the outfits that I love is pretty awesome >3<
      I definitely think this was just a scramble to drive some views of their site, just probably a bit too quick where the issues of what they were advertising/appearing to advertise were off.
       
      #24 Knibitz, Apr 10, 2015
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