Dollshe Discussion - Part Five

Ashbet - He is so pretty!!!!

Yes, 14mm with 12mm iris is what I really want for my Saint. It's the biggest reason my Saint doesn't have any photos yet. They are so lovely!

 

Ashbet he is wonderful. I love the eyes too. I have Llywellyn's eyes finished, so happy with the result and made his wig, though the wig maybe temporary, I really want him in a bright red/carrot auburn wig.

 

SteamWitch - I have to say, the eye and hair color is amazing. I tried auburn hair for my saint, but it didn't work for his character. I am finding how much extra stuff I can accumulate just trying to get the right look!

 

I have Eyeco silicone 12mm in my Saint. The iris is fractionally too large for my tastes (but then the 10mm are too small, awkward bugger). Being silicone, they bend to fit the eyewell, which is 16mm, so HUGE. I find it is a decent solution.

 

I agree with Julie M totally. I'm not fond with the trend of taller fashion dolls in resin that were thrown into BJD market, i came from Fashion Dolls hobby and after a while i got bored with it.
The taller fashion dolls are very different, they come in different sizes with different easthetics and are also very very pricey especially the ones made in polyurethane resin which believe me are a LOT: Numina, Sybarites, Inamorada, RdG Dolls, JamieShow, Ficon, Emperis, DeMuse Doll, Kingdom Dolls and many many more that are insanely pricey and most of times don't meet the quality standard of the big BJD.
I can see why DollShe is trying this route, but i wonder why..i mean BJD dolls are great to explore bundaries of arty, while fashion dolls just can't: they are meant to wear just clothes and strike the pose like mannequin, nothing more.
I found much more interesting action figure hobby sincerely.
Then the AvantGuard doll that is used as comparison in the picture on DollShe shop is a very old line of taller fashion dolls from Intergrity Toys company that is discontinued since two or three years..there are now from the same company FR16 that are taller and bigger, in terms of size..so using this small tiny doll is useless for any comparison purpose cause AG is not in production anymore.
More over in terms of inspiration i see this new line from DollShe as a step back, i'm not interested at all sincerely.
I found also strange the choice of Mr.Cho to work onto a small girl in anime easthetic..this old school easthetic imo doesn't fit at all with DollShe company that was the very first bjd company to use a realistic easthetic..especially after all we saw from Mr.Cho GooWa and Venitu molds i found this choice pretty strange, almost incomprehensible

 

My expensive item for my two new Saints have been their eyes. I love them and wanted to make them work, so I bought some eye bevelers and it made a world of difference, 14mm low dome and no gaps! The wig turned out great but the color didn't quite turn out the way I thought I wanted it to be, but this may be a better match for him and his character. I don't want him to be mistaken for Carrot Top, shiver. I think the red/orange highlights might be just enough to match my idea of Llywellyn's character.

 

If Dollshe's new smaller line is poised to compete with the likes of Numina and Kingdom resin fashion dolls... their pricing is usually in the $700 neighborhood, though I see Jamieshow basics are more like $400. I wouldn't count on these being very budget-friendly

 

Except for the size, these new dolls from dollshe have nothing in common with fashion dolls. they look like exact duplicates of the larger dolls. the samples look like they were cast in honey skin, which translucent and does not show sculpting details the same way as the regular resin. i'm sure these 16 inch dolls have all the details of the larger dolls. they are most definitely not mannequins at all!

i think that dollshe is responding to the frequent complaint that his lovely dolls are just too big for many collectors/hobbyists, by providing some of his dolls in a smaller size.i don't think they are meant to compete with the high end fashion dolls, however they may attract the attention of fans of said fashion dolls that are used to the 16 inch size range.

and i don't think these are replacements for the 18M dolls, just another line to experiment with, artist can get bored doing the same thing, even when it's successful. besides, many other bjd makers have experimented with dolls sizes and styles that they are not known for; nothing unusual with this situation IMO.

pricewise, i don't think these are goig to cost the same as the big dolls, with the 28M starting at $790,they are more likely to be around $400/500, which is not an that unusual price for korean bjds in the 16 inch/MSD size range.

 

I don't see the new Dollshe line as being a "fashion doll," more like a true 1/4 scale BJD. I see this more in line with Dollmore's 16" FMD line (the resin 16" dolls are on topic now) along with the Chiclines. Pity the Dollmore line is a shade smaller, they have a lot of clothes. You might have some luck with the girls though, at least with the tops.

eta: I'm hoping the Dollshe line regular price will be around $350, slightly higher than the Dollmore's FMD but less than a Chicline. Of course, I won't take any bets on that.

 

The new line will be called 16 inch Fashion Line BJD, they are pictured in comparison with a taller fashion doll *AvantGuard from Integrity Toys company* if the new line hasn't the easthetic of the common taller fashion dolls surely DollShe created this line to meet mainly needs and tastes of fashion dolls collectors that lately are also into BJD hobby, for them size is a huge problem cause they are merely not used to big scale BJD dolls. Dollshe company realesed merely a line of minis with the features of other BJD lines, more over i don't see any inspiration in this line. I have nothing against a new line of 1/4 BJD from Dollshe, but this actual line can't be considered a regular 1/4 BJD line, infact was labelled by DollShe company itself as 16 Inch Fashion Line BJD, and to me is pretty clear in which direction it goes.

 

Regardless as to how they are called, these dolls are IDENTICAL to the larger dollshe dolls: the only difference is the size.size alone does not make them fashion dolls! You just need to look at the comparison pictures with the integrity fashion doll: they have nothing
In common, except they are in a similar size range.

These dolls are most definitely bids; they are meant for me those who admire the dollshe sculpts ,but can't manage the 70cm size.

It's funny to think that,the 70cm dollshe dolls,where not always considered buds by many,because of their size and their esthetic did not match the then prevalent bjd styles available.how things change,regardless of our wishes

 

Eee, thank you!! (Pssst -- Candy Kitten is closing her shop TOMORROW for the holidays, so if you want to squeeze in an order before January, you'll want to get in under the wire! . . . says me, who placed an order today.)

Thank you!!

Llywellyn is looking great -- I agree, you don't want to wind up with a Carrot Top wig, so auburn with bits of ginger seems to be perfect!

Demian's eyes always look awesome, so I think your compromise solution is working quite well! (These are more fantasy-type eyes than strictly realistic ones -- she does more realistic irises, but I liked the metallic flash style, since Seth's eyes are often just black pits.)

They even showed up in camera-phone pics under interior lighting at the party, which is impressive!!

Hah -- yeah, I remember when Hound came out, and people were saying "What are these bizarre lanky dolls that are TOTALLY not BJD aesthetic??!?"

Bermann initially had a cold reception, and I still wish I'd had the money to pick one up when they were at *retail price* and languishing un-bought. Sigh.

I see the 16" dolls as direct reproductions of the 70cm line (I'll bet you a dollar that they were reproduced through 3D printing, because they look to be such exact copies -- I might be wrong, because Dollshe is known for exacting quality, but odds are good.) Reducing their size doesn't make them somehow "not BJD," and just because they're partially aimed at a slightly different market than 70cm collectors doesn't mean that they're any less a work of art.

A lot of people cross over between BJDs and fashion dolls (I'm pretty strictly BJD-only, but I have a couple of Tonners, and have considered Numinas in the past -- I love the really glorious, creative, over-the-top fashion that gets made for some fashion dolls, but I want a "proper BJD" to wear it.)

I don't see it as somehow taking away from BJDs to also produce dolls in a fashion-sized range -- quite a few dollmakers have done it (Fairyland with ChicLines, Bimong with Shahti, Dollmore with their Fashion range, even Lumedoll's 1/4 range was in a "fashion" proportion with smaller heads and more realistic bodies, versus slim-mini dolls like Narae and Unoa.)

I'm running out of space in my house, too . . . and while I don't know that I'd be picking up these particular 16" sculpts, I'd certainly be interested in seeing new, original headsculpts on the female body, especially (and I like the 28M body better in mini-size.)

It never hurts to have more options, in my mind. I don't feel like Dollshe is somehow letting us down by producing something different.

(And, FWIW, I think they're shipping out in a relatively timely fashion -- I bought my Saints and Venitu on October 6, and they shipped out on December 4. That's comparable to the shipping time from quite a few other companies.)

Julie M, is there especially slow shipping for the female dolls, or is it equivalent? (I haven't seen any Amanda Beauty arrivals, although the Ausleys have continued to trickle in. I don't know how many people ordered her, so maybe they've been waiting longer -- but the boys seem to be shipping out on schedule.)

-- A

 

since the topic of eyes, and specifically David's eyes, has popped up, i'd really like to make sure i have the right eyes available for him before he arrives...but since the man as already well near emptied my wallet, does anyone know any small iris size eyes that wont cost too much? or better yet any artists that can make them?

 

Thread for the new line can be found now.

 

I use 10/11mm Eyeco silicones in mine. The iris is still slightly large, but not too awful.



Yes, I think the "Fashion Line" label is pointless. Fashion dolls are just hangers for the clothes, so are skinny and lacking in detail. These are BJDs. Also, people buy fashion dolls to equip them with all the amazing clothes there are out there. None of those will fit these. I can't see Dollshe being able to generate a braod enough and fashion-aware enough range of clothes to keep the fashion doll collectors happy.

I like them. I think they will be amazing to handle. Small yet chunky. Yes, it is a bit of a cash-in and yes, they will be impossible to clothe, but I suspect that, if someone I know gets one and I get a chance to play with it, I will be sorely tempted.

If they are priced much above $350, they will be hard to shift. We just don't spend that sort of money any more.

 

None of the Sept orders on the waiting room list have shipped even though 4 people in Oct have shipped and 2 received. So assuming everyone is timely in reporting their arrivals, yah, orders received before the last sale are getting the short shrift.

 

Honestly, I can't see anything the new line has in common with fashion dolls other than the name and the height. If I'm lucky enough to get one I'd be tempted to just paint him up like a statue (marble or bronze) and just let him hang around naked.

 

MadamemauMau - your photo finally helped me realize who I think David Kuncci reminds me of! XD Clancy Brown!

 

I'm actually very excited for this line, but I agree that they don't fit the "fashion doll" aesthetic. I agree with Ashbet in that, I believe they were created using 3D printing...
I have always wanted David and a Saint but have always worried they would be too big for me too handle so I am a little happy about the different sizes...

That being said. I LOVE seeing the larger scaled ones so much and really want them to continue putting out taller dolls.

 

He does! Never thought of him. Only thing I really know him from is Carnivale, although I have seen many of the other films he has been in. LOL. Not too bad, actually. Suits my character somewhat. I still think he looks like Adrien Brody. A credit to Mr Kim's sculpting skills that he should remind us of so many real people.

 

O.O oh my... those are lovely, and so darn real looking!!! eyeco always has great eyes, but the ones in the right size will work out to around $45- $50 CND for me and the colours i actually like are all in the larger size honestly i was just hopping to avoid having to make eyes >.< i guess i'd better buckle down and start!

AirimirOfGondor: i dont see the resemblance to brown either :P but he defiantly does remind me of someone too >.<

xtal: that's an amazing idea :P i would totally do that .... except i'd go with white marble, and pose him like a Gerco-Roman statue...and drape a marble looking cloth around his waist... my apartment isn't ready for a full nude display :P. i was originally planing on doing that with one of my bigger boys if they ever got yellowed beyond repair or something <.<

 

Opps! I think I actually have 13mm in him now, which is okay but the wrong color (163). What I really meant is the 11mm eye iris in the 13mm eye with Morning Sky color. I don't know if eyeco does custom stuff like that, but I think I might ask them. I'm still new to this and the eyeco odd number sizing still gets me! I really, really like these silicone type so I am hesitant to go the route of custom acrylic or polyester resin...... I realize that seems picky, but tiny details bother me. I'm a miniature enthusiast so I notice this stuff. Who knows, I am only testing the waters with trying photography with my first ever digital camera, so the eye material preference might change then..... I am itching to share my Saint, but he just isn't 'right' yet.

 

It was a couple of threads ago that someone brought up David's resemblance to J. D. Salinger.

Heh, marble would be a lot easier to replicate than bronze. Where the heck would one even find a bronze colored wig, anyway?! You wouldn't have to fuss over eye/iris size either, just get beads in the right color. Howlite would make great eyes for a marble statue.

MaryamDN: Have you looked at Safrin? http://www.safrindoll.com She lists everything in the even size and you can be notified of restocks if the color/size you want is sold out. What I really like is she has the number of each size in stock listed in the drop-down. You won't have to pay $45-50 CDN for the eyes. . . but I'm not sure what the postage is.

mollym: I have 13mm Eyeco eyes in my Saint too, they fit (as far as iris size) like 12mm.

 

Thanks xtal. I just skimmed the site quickly... still not finding what I'm looking for but i'll keep an eye out (no pun intended) :P

 

DollShe is "redesigning" Amanda Love's body, which is why those of us who paid her off months ago are still waiting on the promised delivery - delivery that is pushed back one month at a time. I'd rather have a realistic timeframe up front than this constant prevarication while new things are released.

 

I saw a notice on DDE that Dollshe is pulling back from working with dealers.

Wasn't there a delay on the 28M body, it was being redesigned to try to foil recasters?

 

That is correct.

 

Are we still posting pictures here?)))
It's Mustapha in his new oriental-looking shirt and "princess Leia" hairstyle:



As for 1/4 scale dolls... I'm really glad for possibility to have mature 1/4 body for minime characters, if Dollshe will decide to put this project to work. But the price, I'm afraid, will be too high.

 

Thanks for that! Unfortunately, it didn't help, recasters got it anyway (even using Dollshe's sales photos).

Mitya69: He's lovely!

 

The note on DDE seems a bit concerning, though I imagine those of us who ordered during this last discount/discontinuation should be fine. Sad to hear that DDE won't be a dealer for Dollshe

On another note... Can anyone recall if Aramis was a headcap or faceplate system?

 

This was the message that Dollshe sent to DDE, and they posted:

* * *

It does seem like all orders will be fulfilled, I just feel awful that recasters are delivering such a hit to one of the mainstays of the BJD community.

-- A :/

 

It's interesting to me that Dollshe apparently thought dealers would carry dolls in stock and people could go see them. That's just not going to happen.

 

And the recasters seem to be hurting every bjd company as well........bummer. I just hope that I get my body eventually even if I have to wait until the end of January.

 

It is interesting what Bimong is doing and I don't know if that is working as I am no longer in MSD's. But he produces only a certain number in certain resins and then you place an order - or at least I think that is how it works? If someone knows for sure please correct me if I am wrong. It would be nice to have a certain number on hand before orders can be placed. No waiting is wonderful. I think Dollstown does that - at least when ordering heads I have never waited more than two weeks. Dollshe had told me I would get my Ausley body with Amanda head in two weeks but that did not happen and today they emailed that my doll will not ship until Jan. Poo - although well worth waiting for.
Here is some photo spam - My Ausley body/Bernard head and Venitu. Dress just arrived from Alice Collections.

 

Oh my, Jo, your Bernard makes a very pretty girl! Funny thing... my Ausley Love is the mother to my Bernard.

Aramis is a headcap system.

And speaking of Aramis, for those who ordered him on the introductory special, has anyone else gotten their SA Aramis head? Mine came last week, and with a pair of Dollshe eyes!

 

Hmmm - my reason for not buying the Venitu (or the two Dollshes I wanted) has more to do with their too high prices. I bought my Saint for 650 euro, which is more than my rent - and it took me months to get that together. Venitu would costs me between 900 and 1000 euro before he is home (price, shipping and customsfees)... Maybe the 200 dollars they upped the prices with since the previous 'we will never sell Saint again' has more to do with the drop in orders? Because I can asure you that the 'recast-issue' does not play a role anywhere in this.

I quess I am just not rich enough.

Sorry, but I feel a bit offended by Dollshe´s notice.

 

Yeah, in spite of the hysteria in certain circles, I am pretty sure it is a tiny minority that buy recasts. The reason why people aren't buying BJDs is because the bubble has burst. Following two global recessions, few of us can justify spending that sort of money anymore, if we ever could. I suspect that the cheaper companies are holding their own, but the more expensive ones must really be feeling the pinch.

A very strange announcement.

 

Regarding recasts, the English-speaking market for BJDs isn't the only one. There are a lot of doll collectors throughout Asia... certainly if you search around you can find active Chinese and Russian doll forums talking about BJDs. And that market may be very affected by recast dolls, because recasts are so easy to get there. Taobao is full of BJD listings that are either scams or recasts. For that matter, there could be a lot of English-speaking customers who buy recasts instead of legit, but we don't hear about it because they're banned here.

I'm sure the financial collapse and resulting recession are huge factors too, but I doubt there would be so many recast BJD listings on Taobao and eBay if no one was buying them.

Unfortunately, I feel like Dollshe reacts to the recast issue counterproductively. I don't think the answer is to invest a lot of time and effort into developing more complex doll parts to make them harder to recast, and I don't think it's a great idea to chastise your potential customers about bootlegs, which may alienate them. I think they'd be better served if that time and effort went into faster production and better customer service/communication.

 

No, I didn't say no one was buying them. I was saying that blaming recast-buying for declining sales is misguided. Recasting is far more prevalent and established in other hobbies (such as high end action figures, which get recast before they are even released), and yet companies like Hot Toys continue to do well. Granted, these are very different companies. Dollshe's annual turnover would in no way compare to that of Hot Toys and losing 10% of sales to people who would rather buy a recast than the real McCoy would make a larger difference to the profit margin of a smaller company than a larger one. However, I do agree with you than obsessing over it and delaying production and adding bits that increase the price of the dolls is counterproductive. The more you charge, the less available you make your product and the longer you make people wait to get what they paid for, the more likely people will be to turn to the recasters. Not only because it is more convenient, but because you lose customer loyalty and trust with all this messing about.

I do hope Mr Kim can just calm down about all of this and concentrate on making the best product, for the best price, and in the best timescale. That will keep customers keen.

 

Mr Kim may be an excellent artist, but he is a terrible businessman, let's face it. Promising customers one thing and then doing the complete opposite is a sure-fire way to test people's patience. This has happened so many times now, it's only because of the sheer beauty of the dolls and the standing the company has within the BJD community that customers remain loyal to Dollshe. But from Dollshe's announcement, it seems like that loyalty isn't holding out anymore...no wonder: as others have said, if you raise the prices, make incessant changes, break promises and then have people wait for months on end for a doll they've paid in full, they're going to turn elsewhere. The best way to beat recasters is to stop experimenting with new art forms (at least for a little while) and just get on with business! *fickle artist rant over*

 

And don't forget "Make the most popular products unavailable for prolonged periods".

^This. I hope he has someone sensible he can talk to about business practice before he alienates all his customers.

 

chizzie_shark, you've said exactly what I was thinking (and more concise too).
The worst any company can do is be inconsistent; it kills customer loyalty.

 

Madammaumau: I think recession is undoubtedly responsible. people's income just hasn't really changed relative to inflation. the global system is becoming predominantly neoliberal which is never a good thing for the middle class, let alone the lower class.
even here in the west where we've long stood as the ideal of capitalism and prosperity, debt has pretty much defined our life. for the majority of Canadians anyhow, what you see is a façade of plenty, in reality the majority of us are credit card bank slaves from the minute we step foot in University, assuming we have enough to get there. so yes, $800-$1000 dolls are not really an easy option no mater how badly you want them.
zettaichan:can i just take the time to say Russia has some insanely good artists! it's completely irrelevant, but more and more i run into amazing Russian artists on DA. back to the topic of BJDs though,in part i agree with you. dollshe's design is beautiful and desirable enough that whatever method they use to recast proof it, recasters will still go for it. recast buyers don't care if the doll looks legit on the inside, they just want a functioning lookalike.
Chizzie_shark:I appreciate your rant. I'm in love with the fashion line, but gosh at $528 Canadian, i doubt i'd ever justify buying one O.O!!!!! I dont know if he's a bad businessman. I think he's certainly a better artist, but i think it's the complexities of running a fragile business. not everything always goes as planned. with the current instability in the BJD market I don't think it's realistic to expect the business to run like clock work. I think we forget that we're dealing with artists first and foremost, who are doing their best to run a business and that business is an art business. it doesn't pay to be impatient..it's done when it's done. as an artist, i find more and more people want a rigid time frame but when you're dealing with a case by case bases rather than mass production, its never a smooth process. i think we're all being harsh on Dollshe and Mr Kim. i mean, at the end of the day we're suporting legit dolls because we respect true art, so lets all be patient too!

aaaaand that was the end of my rant ***goes back to studying for exam***

 

MaryamDN, I agree with you that we are dealing with an artist - foremost. That they can duplicate their artwork of such complexity and make it available to us is amazing. As as consumers of that artwork, we need to appreiciate their efforts to keep their livelihood and artistic effort from thieves.
If he feels the need to step away from the designs that have been duplicated illegally, we need to respect that. He may need the time to regroup without going out of business. I have no doubt that we haven't seen the last of him or his amazing talent in creating beautiful sculpts in larger sizes.

 

Thank you beamlette. Almost all my Bernards are females. I just think that face looks very feminine to me. The Saint face - not so much.

Yes, I must admit that Dollshe is pricing me out of their market. I love their new dolls and their quality but other than saving for the new Amanda - I will probably not be purchasing for awhile. And my dolls I am trying to sell are not selling on the marketplace. I know that holiday specials slow sales but the last few months have proven to be very very slow for me. Others are saying this too. So perhaps the world economy is not the best and the rumors of another recession abound here in US. Certainly not the time to be increasing the price of your dolls.

*Perhaps if Dollshe did not include so much with the introductory doll - most companies do not do that. I have two Ausley's with 4 breast sizes I will never use.

 

So wait did Dollshe discontinue his old sculpts, after saying he was, and then saying he wasn't, and then saying he was again, only to then turn around and saying that he was never going to do that again? o.O

 

That is about the size of it. :/

 

Ugh, I shouldn't even be surprised. I guess I should just be happy that I pretty much have all the heads I wanted.

 

In just wish to be clear and short: i'm waiting since 2 months already just for two pair of hands. Simply it's surreal..i could wait for an entire doll or 2 heads for 2 months but not for two pair of hands, period.
Said so i agree with Ikke and chizzie_shark on everything they said, being a talented artist is a complete different matter that being a good businessman.

 

I was really not clear as to if they are permanently discontinuing the old sculpts or just reworking them for a new introduction next year. But then I can not keep up with the changes posted on Dollshe all the time.

 

So all the heads that were discounted this time around will come back next year on a re-vamp body for the 70cm size? Oh my aching head these kind of choices is making everything spin. I wish he would make up his mind and choose.

 

Don't try to figure it out; it's totally ambiguous and it will just hurt your head, it does mine.

I've place me order at Dollshe, fully assuming that if I didn't I'd be looking for my Rhythmos Orijean in the second hand market place from now on. I'm assuming that the M18 dolls are discontinued and I've bought the last sculpt that I really wanted. I was only interested in the M18 series; the Grande does nothing for me. This is a matter of personal taste but it does mean that I'm not shopping a Dollshe's for the foreseeable future.

I just can't understand why Mr. Dollshe would discontinue any doll, ever. He's done all the hard work of designing, creation and testing already, all the work that needs to be put in an existing design should be done by the production workshop and would leave him free to design new dolls, without having to give up the revenue coming in from the existing sculpts. It's a steady income, why kill it?

There is one reason that I think could be going through Mr. Dollshe's mind; he doesn't want to let the company grow too large.
I understand his sentiment but, and any one who has been to business school knows this, a company that is not growing will not survive long.

 

dollshe doesn't appear any slower than some other companies right now, i just waited over two months for a soom jointed hands kit, and that was all i ordered. i finally got them yesterday and i had ordered them september 20th. and thats nothing compared to lati, lol

 

Sincerely a pair of jointed hands are deffo more complex than regular hands, i've place this order with DollShe..and i would love to know how much time it will takes for hands..i could understand if were heads..but are hands..com'on

DollShe was a strange company to me, when i joined to DoA i've read posts of a lot of customers that were waiting almost a year for shipping notice, same happened with rhythmos body and again with pure body event..what i mean is that seems an usual way of handle business for DollShe.
I know that Soom had same queue for some special dolls like Amber and Heliot, but let's face it both were pretty complex BJD with special parts and special resin trasparent pieces, there is no comparison with DollShe bjd, sincerely.

 

If I were a doll artist, and I had a recast problem, I would find a good attorney and a good secretary. Then, I would put RFID chips in my dolls and put the date imprinted inside the resin. That way, when a recast item was produced for authentication, it could be easily identified. Just match the date with the RFID number. I would just go back to doing artsy stuff unless it was lawyer meeting time and not worry so much. I suppose Dollshe needs some good attorneys who can practice international law. Loyal customers would do half the work of turning in re casters if they had a contact to do so..... just my 2 cents.

I'm just glad I was able to find my Saint head cap head a body. Now because of the discontinuance, I am hesitant to try to sell my extra Saint head with faceplate. It doesn't look like I could get another easily if I wanted to. I'm sad that if something happened to James, I couldn't get a replacement or parts anymore. Even if he's second hand, he's really precious to me, and I'm scared of any damage he could get if I take him out and about. I'll just have to limit it to around the house and very occasional meets. I'm also sad that Amaris is not available, I was warming up to the idea of saving for him.

 

Oh no, I definitely don't expect our BJD companies to run like clockwork! These small one-person companies comprised mainly of artists are always going to be unstable to some degree. But the difference is in saying you'll do something, and sticking to it. For example, let's take Sarina of Oasisdoll, or Julia of La Legende de Temps (who in this scenario seem to be comparable to Dollshe). Both are (from what I understand) powered by a single artist, with maybe one or two people to assist in marketing and sales. Both artists experiment with different forms (heck, Sarina has gone into tiny porcelain ballerinas of all things). Both have limited releases and discontinued lines, which is totally understandable as it's not viable for them to keep entire production lines running.

The difference is that Oasisdoll and LLT are reliable as companies - if they say they'll do something, it will be done, and it doesn't take 6 months to do it. And if they change their mind, they let their customers know, and they're clear about it; they don't keep going back and forth and making it confusing for everyone.

Rainman of Elfdoll is probably (in my opinion) the most similar artist to Mr Kim in terms of incredible artistry, artistic temperament and bad business decisions. Elfdoll was and still is one of the most popular BJD companies, yet it's run itself into the ground somehow. I'd love to have an expert go around to each of these companies and analyse what exactly went wrong. It's just so disappointing, for the artists, and for us as customers, to have whole companies folding up because their owners can't figure out how to run it more efficiently.

 

^Love this idea - it would help with kicking recast dolls off Ebay too, though the real issue is that people who want a recast will put the time in to track one down, regardless. This idea would give greater legal 'bite' I think.

seriously wish the Dollshe bodies were standardised - I'm baffled by them these days, which makes combing the secondary market for items an ever- increasing challenge ! Goodness knows what will be available when the new items come out. It does seem that Dollshe's M.O. is threatened discontinuation in order to produce a glut of sales, the proceeds of which are then used to fund the next stage of the business.

 

I'll have to check in my shipping box tomorrow when it's light. I was the second person who ordered Aramis, but I can't remember whether he came with an additional head. If he did, I don't think I got eyes. Again, though ... I'll have to check.

 

Ah - and for those of you who, like me, are awaiting Amanda Love ... our dear girl will be longer. DollShe has sent a note tonight stating that Amanda Love's body is being modified (again). First, she was going to deliver at the end of October (although those of us who have done business with DollShe know better than that....). Then, it was going to be mid-November. Now, it will allegedly be mid-January. That will put her at five months from the first sales. My suspicion is that we won't see her until - at the earliest - February or March.

The note I received:

Amanda Beauty’s master sculpt is being modified. We are making improvements on its maneuverability as well as increase details. Originally, your shipment was scheduled to be shipped within November, but expect the shipment to be made at the mid-January next year. We will work to send you better doll.

With the delay, we will make sure yours is finished perfectly and make it highest quality. The full package parts and accessories will also make perfect and give it to you for present.

We’re deeply sorry for your delay.

We ask you for your kind understanding.


Sincerely yours,

DollShe craft

 

That sucks, Julie M! This is exactly what I mean - endless perfectionism is not good for business. (I should know, I suffer from the same syndrome.) Mr Kim needs a PA or a Manager or someone who can rein him in!

By the way, Julie, what skin tone did you order Amanda in?