Coral Reef Doll waiting room

So. This walnut has no idea that Whale island and Coral Reef Doll are the same or working together. So guess who freaked out when they got a whale island box?

I am a little bummed by it though. I love doll boxes and this being a whale island box is just so odd to me. My bunny is gorgeous though. A lot more blue than I expected but perfect for my pastel bun theme. My only issue is that the faceplate doesnt come with magnets so it needs putty. But I am thinking about modding the eyes open so maybe I'll add magnets too. Who knows.

I do love the little metal badge that is held in the headcap with a magnet tho.



Edit because ... How do you attach the tail?! There is no magnet in the butt and they did add a magnet but I cannot reach into the body to put a magnet in it.

I am a little underwhelmed, sorry. Especially after almost a year of waiting...

 

My friend who got their's too it arrived horrendously scratched up (they had a fullset). They reported in about that but CR won't take any responsibility.

I finally heard back too on my situation. We still have no idea what actually happened but Coral Reef is going to make me a new doll but I have to wait another 2 months minimum and pay shipping. For a project they lost. I still really want it so I'm pursuing it still but it's upsetting that waiting over 1 year, now I have to wait more time and shell out even more money just to likely have the same situation as everyone else with a fullset and get a scratched up doll because CR doesn't seal their bodywork at all. On top of all these reports about CR not including basic things like magnets into parts of the doll that need it. Looking forward to it. Def won't be coming back to this company ever. Having cool designs does not excuse how badly they've handled the roll out of these dolls. The quality control is not there.

 

Putty.
Stick the magnet on with putty on the body. (your tail has a magnet inbedded right?)

I agree that it is a shame that the faceplate doesn't have magnets... But how would you even implement it without ruining the look of the inside "face"?

 

It's possible, the magnets inside the middle layer are strong enough to make use of those. I have a magnet hotglued inside the faceplate now and it's not super strong but it attaches to the head enough to keep it in place. Though I do think it's probably more difficult with the open eyed version.

 

I also purchased the Yu Feng head! I'm considering making mine a girl, but I'll have to see if the head works for that when it arrives. Fingers crossed!

 

Another update on my missing doll. Coral Reef has agreed to remake it and ship it direct but I'm at the end of the queue so I have no idea how long I get to wait and I got to shell out even more for shipping so I didn't have to wait even longer than I already have to wait.

If this doll isn't the most amazing thing in my collection at the end of this I"m going to be livid. I'm never buying with CR again after this. They refused to take responsibility for my friend's damaged doll and now I have to be in fear mine will also be horrible quality after waiting and then having to wait again just to get my doll. At least they were willing to remake it but..it's hard to be grateful when this is their mess up.

 

Well, on month 7 of my wait for Caroline on a butterfly bust stand... I've just asked Clover-Singing/Christina about it and she says she hasn't received anything from Coral Reef yet and will ask them about it. Waiting to hear from them now.

 

And now I'm moving in June..I doubt my doll replacement will be ready before that. Asked BJDivas if I could supply another address to Coral Reef..hopefully CR actually processes it but I'm terrified of waiting over a year just to not have my doll sent, then have to wait another several months for a replacement and then ironically have to move in the middle of that and live in fear if my address change will be processed. Pray for me, guys.

 

Received my CR Lychee fullset about a week and a half ago. I ordered her direct and she got to me in about 7 months. Her eyelash came off on one side and, unfortunately, with some of the faceup. They’ve emailed me slowly but I’m hoping for a partial refund.

overall I do really love her. She was quick for a full set IMO but not as fast as my last doll (who also came with an outfit, but I think that fit was from another brand).

 

My Caroline has finally arrived at Clover Singing! Christina says she'll try to get it shipped out before May Day (aka Labour Day). I assume Golden Week probably starts on May Day on the mainland? I'm in Hong Kong and we don't get Golden Week off, just May/Labour Day.

 

And my Caroline has shipped as promised! But it will probably still be delayed getting out of Mainland China due to Golden Week.

 

And my Caroline has arrived! She came in a really pretty box.

Shipping was quicker than expected considering the holidays, though my tracking stopped working after the package was transferred to a third-party courier for the actual last-mile delivery. This has never happened before. Usually the Parcelsapp site is able to pick up even obscure local courier services, but it failed this time round.

Anyway, 7 months was the waiting time for me through Clover-Singing.

 

How long do coral reef orders usually take? I’m thinking of getting the female SD body when pre-orders open up and any reviews on the body would be much appreciated.

 

4-5 months seem to be the average for basic dolls. Fullsets tend to be 6 months, but usually more.

 

I finally received a refund through the PayPal case I had to open against coral reef. I wrote a thorough review here and really suggest anyone that’s planning to order direct avoid doing so. Please use a dealer for your own safety and protection, or plan to spend a month fighting for a refund.

my first order with them direct was perfectly smooth, but this time it was a disaster.

 

I am rewriting this as I have an update about my situation.

 

I just ordered a blank Caroline in normal pink through Alice Collections. She's going to be Sylphiette from Mushoku Tensei. This is my first MSD in like 8 years lol.

 

Updating, as I caved and ordered the boy body

2024:
February 6 Mantis wing parts - (CoralReef)
May 24 1/4 Boy Body - (Alice's Collections)

2023:
February 6 Iracebeth (blank) - Shipped August 21 (Alice's Collections)
April 13 White Rabbit (fullset) - Shipped December 22 (NewCloversinging)
July 22 Caroline head (blank) - Shipped September 24 (Alice's Collections)

 

Just doing a monthly check-in. Still don't have my white rabbit. Reached out to the dealer again to see if we have any updates. 15 months and counting.

And just clarifying, this isn't an issue with the dealer, this is with the company itself. The dealer has been responsive to communication. It's just upsetting.

 

I ordered a Mie Mie fullset in January of this year through Jane's Dollland.
The description said 5 months. Currently at the 6th month mark. I have seen the blank version posted by others, so I guess it'll just take more time.

 

I ordered a Mie Mie in fullset in January from LegendDoll, I messaged them about delays and they said it would be around 1-3 more weeks likely but I'm not sure how accurate that is.

 

I ordered a blank Black Swan through DDE back in December. A few weeks ago I asked them about the wait times (also said 5 - 6 months). They told me Coral Reef seems to be having around 6 - 8 month wait times, so I'm going to assume the earliest I might see the doll is early September.

 

Yeah, love Coral Reef's dolls, don't love their wait times. I'm waiting on their second release of Amber from Alice's Collections (February) and a tan Red Rabbit from Legend Doll (March, I think).

I regret passing out on the Mie Mies. I passed out on them initially bc their ankles weren't articulated, but they're so friggin cute. Maybe if they return again in mangosteen I'll be able to swing it...

 

Did anyone order a Caroline fullset? Can you show pics?

 

Anyone got any news yet on the newest Amber and Opal pre-order? I’m soo ready for my girls

 

My fullset mie mie came in finally today! Ordered the fullset from legenddolls and it came in with everything included with no damage!

 

So I'm on layaway with ACBJD for Caroline, now I've gotta wait 5-7 months...
This is my second BJD after my Maskcat, I'm really happy

 

Does anyone know the head size for the Unicorn Beetle head? Do you think it would match a DC Y-03 body?

 

Head is listed at 20,1cm, neck 8,2cm.

 

Thanks again @Yumeiro I couldn't find that info.

 

I asked after my YuFeng head and have been told it will ship soon. I hope that’s true! I’m curious to see what shade of tan it turns out to be in person and then I have to decide on a colour-matchable body to get for him and go through that whole process.

 

My Amber finally shipped out. Placed the order on the 24th of February!

 

Ordered this day, August 27th 2024, from Alice's, a Jiu Er Mao 1/3 girl body in Pink Normal with two extra sets of hands, to hybrid the Acorn Doll ChaCha head I have on order.

 

My YuFeng head in Soom light tan arrived to my shipping agent! I’m just waiting for them to check over the head and make sure there’s no breakages (Seems very unlikely as it has custom cut foam padding which accounts for the ears, but it is still worth checking.) I decided on a DFA62cm boy body for him.

 

Congratsssss!!!!! Great news, and may the next news be that everything is pristine and ready to forward to you!

 

@Kurosakura Will you be posting pictures when it arrives? (I am soo jealous!)

 

I posted some photos to my Instagram of the blank head which my shipping agent took for me to show there was no damage. I don’t know how long it will be before I will be taking any Nice Photos (tm) because I’m waiting on a body and then will need to get a face-up, etc, etc.

 

My mie mie finally arrived! It took about 8 months.

 

Has anyone ordered a Caroline lately? I am trying to gauge how long it would take for mine. Alice said 5-7 months but I have a feeling it might take longer than that judging by the latest reports.

 

I am still a bit floored but just a month later (August 14 - September 19) I received a notice from Alice that my Caroline is about to ship
It looks like they had everything in stock. I am super happy, I thought I'd see her in February or March!

 

Wwooooowwww congrats!!!!
That's an amazing miracle email to find I am sure, haha! Super nice news, keep us posted and post tons of pictures!

 

@tanjalalie I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The hybrid you want to make is amazing by the way!

 

@lutke
Haa thank you , I am just hoping the fact that that Acorn ChaCha head actually truly is offered and available is not a mirage or scam

I am thinking that if it ever does actually arrive and is not a dream, I will have to mod the neck opening on it a bit smaller to fit the slender neck of the Jiu Er Mao body, but that will be a tiny price to pay to have that combo I am anticipating.

When do you expect your Caroline to actually make it to your door?

 

@tanjalalie hmm no shipping notification/tracking number yet, so I think early next week assuming she's shipped express.

EDIT: Speak of the devil. Just got a message from FedEx. They say October 3 but it's always a couple days earlier.

 

Oh I was wondering why you'd say that but I see you ordered that head from Umdoll/Mydollection. I think you'll be fine but watch the Paypal deadline for a dispute just in case. I think the issues with that seller are mostly about past orders.

 

Thank you, very good advice! And fingers crossed for a maybe Oct. 1st delivery of Caroline for you, i cannot wait to see pics!

 

The body has shipped!

2024:
February 6 Mantis wing parts - (CoralReef)
May 24 1/4 Boy Body - Shipped September 27 (Alice's Collections)

2023:

Spoiler

February 6 Iracebeth (blank) - Shipped August 21 (Alice's Collections)
April 13 White Rabbit (fullset) - Shipped December 22 (NewCloversinging)
July 22 Caroline head (blank) - Shipped September 24 (Alice's Collections)

 

My Caroline is in Germany! There's no delivery on weekends so she's definitely coming on Monday.
Either way that's lightning fast. Ordered on August 14, shipped September 24 and (most likely) delivered on the 30th.
I admit I'm worried about those long thin ears but it looks like Coral Reef has been packaging their dolls better lately.
There's a very nice video on the company's channel on Bilibili by the way, where they show their progress as they moved to a proper office space. They definitely started very small, that first workshop was super cramped!

Edit: now in France!

 

For what it’s worth, the ears on my Yu Feng seem more robust in person than they do in the promo photos.

 

Hello everyone! Does anyone know how long Coral Reef takes for preorder outfits? I ordered myself a Red Queen outfit via LegendDoll in July and I was wondering how long it might take them to make it.

@lutke Wow, thanks for linking the video where they move into the new office. That's a really nice and quite decadent space they've got there. I love seeing how dollmakers work. I remember last year when I saw a behind the scenes video from Fairyland, they were basically shooting photos of their new doll in some sort of cellar. And Coral Reef seems to have a whole house available to them.

 

@Amadiel the whole channel is pretty nice and they showcase a lot of their work often on other bodies/dolls like Doll Chateau, DZ, and so on. I am not sure who the lady on the left, Xiaoxin, is (I think the sculptor for Whale Island is called Laomi), but the lady in black on the right is Jiu Er Mao.

In this video they showcase Mie Mie!

 

@lutke Congrats!! So exciting! A few more sleeps and she'll be in your hands!!

 

Ah, Morpheus, take me! I don't need Sundays anyway!

 

Has anyone received news from their mantises yet? I'm still waiting for my blank one.

 

If this is regarding the preorder for the red and green mantises... there have been issues with the dolls. Apparently mantises were received by Chinese customers with deformations and indentations in the resin. Coralreef made an announcement about this on their Weibo, they talked about compensating the Chinese customers who received defective dolls, and are looking into remaking them.

If you bought through a dealer, I'm not sure how this affects you, but I think that's why the mantises haven't shipped yet. Maybe contact your dealer to ask them for more information and updated ETA.

 

Thanks for the reply. I did order through a dealer, I emailed them recently and was simply told the mantises are a big order and would take some more time. I might have to contact them again...

 

My Caroline fullset is here and wow what an incredible doll
I went all in with this order and got body blushing + all extras, and it turns out they blushed all 7 pairs of hands and 2 pairs of feet. Since this was a late order for what I understood was the last fullset, Coral Reef had told me they had the red wig out of stock and would give me the alt one (dark brown) which was still great, but my order came with the red wig! She also got the green eyes from the promo pictures. The resin has a really nice toothy feel and she holds poses like a rock!
I'm really happy with how this doll turned out. I took a few quick phone photos but I have to adjust the wig a bit as well as the eyes. Her fullset outfit is a LOT of stuff and it will take forever to put on I'll have to do it in a while. She's really a lovely doll and the texture of the resin really makes you want to play with her.

Spoiler

 

Randomly changing the hands and trying things and she already oozes personality, I love her
The body is one hell of a solid poser, I'm impressed with how she just sticks in place.

Wig desperately needs a silicone cap, though, and I only have 1/3. It's very massive and heavy, so it tends to slip off.

 

@lutke Now you know how easy it is to fall in love with Coral Reef!
And congratz