Shopping Have you asked a company to make a doll they currently don't make?

I've never tried to ask companies to make things that they don't make...I find if just one person requests, companies tend not to really listen or decline. But if you got a bunch of people who share the same aesthetic tastes asking for the same thing, companies might listen. They will see there is a demand and possibly consider their fans' ideas. Just some food for thought.

 

I once asked Souldoll if they'd ever make more vampire sculpts. They seemed to misunderstand my question and thought I was asking if they'd rerelease their previous ones. The answer was maybe but not in skintones they were previously released in. This was a few years ago and I don't think they've revisited that idea since.

 

I've asked about discontinued sculpts before - whether or not something will be cast again or if there are any last bits left somewhere. It's not surprisingly mostly a no.

I've never thought of asking a company to make something that doesn't exist yet, though... but I can relate to artists not being incredibly happy about unsolicited suggestions (especially if it has to do something in relation to another maker's product). With bjd companies we often also deal with a culture/language barrier to an extent, so a product request in this vein can also, in the worst case, read as something insulting I do believe doll artists look into how their work is perceived in the community by checking out discussions and feedback but, in the end, they probably also want to make what they want to make (or update what they actually feel like digging up again).

 

I had tried... Twice, I think, with totally different companies.

The first story is about Fairyland. I admired their fantasy line called fairyline for a long time, but never got a chance to have one. When they announce a big sculpts discontinuation in 2020 I was so sad that all of my favorite sculpts will be gone in once. But, when they did a survey asking which sculpt I (the customer) want them to bring back, something in me just said that 'I already had the sculpt I like from them even it will got discontinue, why not write down what I want in the future instead?'. And that's it, I wrote down that I wish they will release a Merman(Boy Mermaid) someday. Maybe many people did that too that time, maybe not? But Fairyland really did finally release a merman in 2023, so I guess my wish come true, somehow. (Of course, I went all out for that merboy body. Lol. 3years isn't that long when you still remember what you had asked then)

The second story is about Volks. I love their SDC line and tried asking once last year when I visited tenshi no sato that if there are going to be any more SDC release in the future. They didn't give me any solid answer neither Yes or No though. (Well... that's always how they've done in my experience ) So, we have to wait and see.

And that's my stories for now. It's quite tempting for me to ask another company if they gonna release a sculpt that I like in other color than their usual paper white. But I didn't ask, in the end and just let them close their pre-order silently. (Well, skin color is sometime a deal breaker for me, I guess)

 

I've never asked a doll company to make something that they haven't previously offered, but I have asked them for sold out/discontinued items. Actually, this was a success not too long ago! I asked Souldoll a few months ago if they would make me a discontinued Tera-Zenith boy (Daydream) that they closed sales for almost a year ago. I had asked them 2x before if he would come back and their answer was "We don't have plans for a re-release right now, but are planning to re-release Tera Zeniths in the future after we update the body.". Basically it was a vey vague, "Maybe, but no".

I had almost given up - but after they started their Lavender Blue color Kids sale, and a bunch of people clamored for Junia-Animal version to be released (which they did offer), and someone else was able to buy a sold out Millie girl by asking them in their Q&A, I decided to ask once more if I could purchase a TZ Daydream. The first sentence of their reply was so devastating... it was something like "Hello, this is SOULDOLL. Thank you for loving our dolls. Unfortunately it's impossible to create Daydream anymore." Which made me realize that the master sculpt had probably been destroyed, BUT then the follow up sentence was such a surprise. They basically said someone had ordered a Daydream just before his sale ended, but they had abandoned their very long layaway. Souldoll had been trying to get in contact with the buyer for many months, but they told me that if I was ok with him being NS/and blank that I could purchase him. Of course I jumped on the chance and bought him!!!

So, I do think it's a good idea to ask a company directly for a doll you may have missed out on - the worst they can say is no. Especially smaller companies - there may sometimes be exceptions they will make for customers. As far as asking for dolls they haven't made, I think that's sometimes a more difficult request, but you never know if that idea you give them is something they will consider in the future. As long as you're respectful and not being a nuisance spamming them on the daily, I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

 

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I asked DollZone if they would reconsider re-releasing their mini head sculpt Mo-Wen (last year I believe). I explained to them that I missed the chance of getting a second HS, before they discontinued him. I also said they could just sell one to me, if they didn't feel like doing a whole re-release. They didn't reply, as expected... >__<;;

I was also tempted to ask Limhwa/EOS about their Mano, but I feel they'll all probably think I am just a shady person. I already own these dolls, I just want an unmodified version of each, but I was never able to get either unmodified in time (I am a germophobe, so i don't feel like getting these extra old discontinued HS second hand). DX

 

I've only done it once and it was more a suggestion. I emailed MYOU asking if they had plans to size up their pear-shaped MSD girl body for their 1/3 lineup. I felt their bigger girls needed a refresh (honestly the boyd need it, too). They said they would pass it on to their sculptors and that's the last I heard of it.

The funny thing is, Mystic Kids must have gotten wind my email, they released a 1/3 pear shaped girl body sometime last year (complete with a new headsculpt) after not releasing new SDs for what felt like a couple years, lol

 

I did ask Luts if they would make optional hands for SDF65 girls. They said yes, and to share any specific poses I would be interested in
That said, it was probably planned already, not prompted just by my request.
As for a whole doll, nope, except for when Volks had forms to request new DDs. No idea if any of my votes will become real since it was recently.

 

Mostly, I've just asked companies if they'll release sold out dolls again. I did order a ResinSoul girl by mixing parts that aren't together by default and in a custom color. I've recently asked an independent artist if they'd cast my doll in grey (they said yes!) And I also nicely asked Iplehouse if I could ever order one of their cats again, and they let me, if I agreed it would be ok blank. But I don't think I've ever asked a company to make something that didn't exist, though I have considered asking Luts if they'd make more option hands for their Muse body...girl hands are too small, boy hands are too big, and the default hands have fused fingers, which is a problem when my doll's character likes to wear rings. But I haven't asked...yet.

 

I asked Dream Valley (through Alice's Collection) if they would be making a human version of the 1/3 bunny girl body, like they had with the 1/4 girls, since their current 1/3 bodies are smaller than that one's measurements, and the answer was just that they don't currently plan to.
I think with something a company has a precedent of doing, like in the case of offering a specific body or head option with a release that they've done on similar ones or like how Resinsoul has a reputation for being willing to do customs for people, or if they've asked for feedback, then it can't really hurt.

 

I asked Luts if they would ever re-release old limited head sculpts (particularly two that were on my wishlist, but just in general), and they said they would bring it up during discussions. But it also seemed like a canned response, haha. So far, no luck.

 

The only time I asked for something that wasn't yet made by a company, it was to a friend and doll maker, and her answer was more or less "do it yourself"

But I sometimes asked for rereleasing sold out items. Once I was lucky because one of the dealers had one in stock (from an other customer's change of mind), and twice I was not the only one asking for this rerelease, and finally the company did a new preorder for the heads we were asking for. But it took years. Many years. And I guess, many requests.

edit: I forgot, I also recently asked a company if they would agree to redo just the faceplate of a limited doll (not for me, long story short for one of my customers whose faceplate went missing during shipping) and they didn't even answered to the dealer through whom I asked the question...

 

I asked SoulDoll about Souloid Kowalski, they even replied and said no plans about re-release, which forced me to gather my cyborg from what available on a market.. No regrets

 

Years ago IO asked Dollstown to consider making a Boy Elf Body for heads that work only on 7 yr bodies so I could have a teen boy instead of an adult or child boy. They said they appreciated my idea. Instead of a smaller boy then the 15 they made the 17 and then 18. Going in the opposite direction I had hoped for. It's their choice, but every other company was making big guys, I wanted a slender teen boy to make into a character. Yet I find the boys from them well done, they are not always as popular as the IP or LS or Ringdolls. I think personally they missed an opportunity.

 

I've only ever done this once which was actually quite recently, but it was more confirming a suspicion that a doll would be released. For MXTX fans, you'd know that Ring Doll just released a new "comic version" of Xie Lian, so I decided to shoot my shot and emailed Ring Doll asking if they would be making a "comic version" of Hua Cheng as well, and they answered and said yes!

 

Oh no I'm in danger

 

I had been wondering about that, actually (or if they'd ever release alternate human leg parts to swap out), so I'm glad you asked so at least we now know it's a no from them. ;;

 

Yah I was hoping maybe they just hadn't gotten to making the human legs, since it looks really beautifully sculpted :/

 

I've thought about writing to one to beg them for more hands in my girl's size, but I don't think I have the nerve to actually do it, considering they no longer offer her body type.

 

I did email Dream Valley directly if they ever planned on rereleasing Dragon Sylves, and IIRC I think they said yes in the future. Maybe this year is in the cards, it is the year of the dragon after all!

 

I once asked Soom if they would reissue SG Sabik and they said no.
I didn't expect anything else.
I just tried it...

 

Yes I did and finally got my own Gluino in 75cm.
Well I still miss the old 72cm guy but newer one is better I think.

 

There's a couple dolls I'd like to see return, but I won't ask for them. I'd love another IH Louis head (or 3), but I'm pretty sure I'd get laughed at if I asked. I'd like to see Fairyland bring back 1/3 Soony without elf ears, but I'm also unsure I would commit to buying it if they did bring her back. I haven't been impressed with a lot of QC issues that I've seen since buying my Littlefee so I'd be nervous to commit to anything.

 

Would it not work to just ask private artists/sculptors who make custom designs? Not to copy the styles of the big companies, but at least there's more room for customisation?

 

You never know until you ask, so I don't see any harm in politely asking a company if they will do something or if a past release will ever swing around again. I mean, they're gonna make money if you're prepped to buy something they are releasing.

 

I asked Souldoll if they'd ever bring back Junia Animal Ver., and their answer was maybe, depending on how much interest there was. I know a few other people asked about this sculpt too and they ended up adding her recently as an option for their Lavender P. skin preorder as well as a bonus head option for the Angel Persephone preorder, during which I managed to grab one in NS like I wanted.

Not exactly the same thing, but I did also reach out to 5StarDoll recently to ask if they had any Jadites left hiding in the back that they hadn't listed, as they are in the process of selling off old stock. They got back to me and ended up putting one together for me from old parts!

There's no harm in reaching out to ask--as long as you're polite and don't expect it to be a "yes" most of the time. Who knows, you might end up being surprised!

 

Sometimes I've seen sold out dolls are open for custom orders. But waiting time is like 3 plus months. Also somehow you can't order directly from the company but through a sales representative