LA Volks Sumika not allowing FCS shopping services anymore?

rkold - shouldn't we have the choice to take that risk then? Why not just say that they aren't responsible if something is accidentally ordered differently because of translation issues ...

this means that many of us will not be able to get FCS dolls AT ALL (i'd love to go to LA, but to plonk down $300 to fly there, hotel rent, car rental or cab ... that would run into $500+!). I'm very dissappointed in this decision, i think it could have been handled differently. While i respect Volks wishes, i also think that this will cause more ill feeling that good.

 

Oh, I agree that it's their choice, and I do respect that as well. But I'm saddened they would choose this. It seems to me that Volks are the snobby kids on the BJD playground, who only play with the kids they let into their secret club.

It looks like Ru's girlfriend will come from another company, unless I can find a Volks girl on ebay that I like.

 

Based off of what Cassiel said I think Volks isn't banning shopping services, just saying that if what you get isn't exactly what you wanted they don't want to hear about it. I can understand that. If you are doing anything through a proxy youcan't go blaming the company the proxy got it from. Volks is probably just sick of hearing people complain to them for something that isn't their fault in the least. I don't think they will force people to stop proxy buying but have stated that they disapprove for the purposes of making it clear that they are in no way at fault when something gois wrong.

 

Exactly!!!

I'm from Sacramento and another person who scrimped and saved to be able to do FCS, which I was able to do by the grace of gosh (you know the one) on opening day. We gave up alot.. my husband and I to do it- he gave up attending his Culinary school graduation and I used all the money in my account-- 9 month it took me, to be able to afford FCS and gas and hotel for the trip to LA. That was my choice. I placed that much importance and emphasis in getting this doll. That was the price I was willing to pay. Sure, had I chosen not to go, I could have purchased 2 dolls, but those 2 would not have meant as much to me as the FCS experience and the one FCS doll I received.

I know this opens me up to major flaming, but hey thats ok. We all have a right to an opinion. You have a right to complain as I have a right to state my point of view. As Aimee has the same right to say she doesn't feel comfortable pursueing LA FCS at this time. She was being really sweet and kind in doing it to begin with as I saw her on one occasion sit down with Volks staff and run through her list.

As many have said earlier, this is no difference than before LA FCS existed when you had to work directly with a Japanese service or take a trip to Japan. In fact, you have a leg up in that you still can employ a family member or a friend in S. CA to do it for you. Lets face it, unless you live in S. CA or Kyoto or Tokyo, Japan, FCS has never been easy to obtain! In my mind, it has always been more special than just ordering a doll, even a limited, which is why I can justify the extra cost and effort in pursuing FCS. I will agree with you that it has become more of a challenge to be able to get the LA FCS doll you always dreamed of, but if he or she means that much to you, you'll save more, take a vacation maybe to Disneyland to justify the expense, etc.. If FCS is what you want, in the end, you will find a way to get it however long it takes- regardless of these frustrations!

I hope you will all be able to get the doll you dream of,

Anna M.

 

For a number of people, it's just unrealistic to save up to to to Japan/LA just for FCS. The FCS alone is a big goal.
"Travel to Japan" is hardly a little "added expense."

This is the attitude Volks seems to have - if you can't come up with huge amounts of money, you aren't good enough. I can save for an FCS doll if I really wanted one, but saving up for a trip to Japan just to get a toy? It's a little very extreme.

 

Scarletmaeve - i would like to point out that a trip from Sacramento to LA is not as big a deal as a trip from say, Washington DC. Maybe if you lived outside of California you would have a different perspective on the issue

 

I didn't say it was little, I just said it was an added expense. If having a FCS doll is a big enough dream/want for someone, then they'd be willing to go the extra mile for it. I live in Delaware, airfare to LA costs just as much as airfare to Japan for me and since I do want a Sato FCS doll, I am going to save for it. I've traveled to Japan on less than $1000. That's what, 2 dolls? I thought this hobby was supposed to be about quality and not quantity. 3 dolls versus one special doll with quite the story behind it? *shrugs*

People have every right to take their business elsewhere, but the entitled whining attitude over these dolls being expensive is tiring. It is an exclusive hobby that caters to the wealthy like most luxury items do. That's nothing new.

 

OMG Dark Moth! 5 years, you have been saving for 5 years! I am in total awe at your determination. In fact, on my next trip to LA I will e-mail you to see how far along you are in your saving, if this is ok with you. Maybe I can convince them that I have a cousin My husband runs an Irish group throughout California, and he has friends down south. If I ever have the opportunity again I will get in touch with you regarding you wanting to do LA FCS.


Hi Jolarocknrolla,
I have lived in Springfield Missouri, just 2 years ago. I drove all the way there from California (over 2000 miles) to live with my sister and flew back on 2 hours notice (a $2000.00 plane ticket, which I had no money for so it had to go on my credit card) when I found out the man who raised me was diagnosed with cancer. He died 2 months later, but I had those 2 months. But this is way OT. What I mean to say is that if it is something that you desire badly enough, you will find a method to obtain it. I am sorry to say my perspective in this matter is the same anywhere on the planet I may be. Now if your talking the moon- thats a little too far away

Take care,
Anna M.

 

I guess the only thing that kinds baffles me is that Volks in Japan ships internationally from their website, so they already have a mechanism in place to ship dolls. Why is it so impossible to order an FCS doll at a visit to Sato and have it shipped to the US? It's like Volks is saying, 'well yes, we want you to order your own doll and we abhor secondary market purchases, but we're not willing to sell you the doll of your dreams even if you DO make the pilgrimage to Sato.' I understand that they and many of their Japanese customers cherish the exclusivity of a Sato doll, but it's not reasonable for Volks to have their cake and eat it too. Either they have to find some peace with buying/proxy services, or make their dolls more available.

 

Scarletmaeve - I respect your position on the matter ... but i don't think you can compare the morivation. I doubt that getting a custom doll is on par with needing to visit a dying relative. I mean no disrespect here, but it's not comparable is it?

I'm not even speaking for myself here, I have a relative who lives in LA and he *could* go in for me if I asked ... though i would much rather go through another dollfie person because they would be able to explain my wishes much better than a non-dollfie person would be. I'm not in a position to run off to LA, not for financial reasons, but because i have family responsibilities that are more important. Does that mean that I don't "deserve" a FCS doll? That somehow i don't value the service enough because i value my family responsibilities more highly? I don't think so ... and i hope people don't judge those of us that cannot for whatever reasons go to LA for this as somehow less worth or less motivated, because that simply isn't the case.

 

My boy was ordered at the Shinjuku Sumika and as far as I know, my cousin just went into the store and ordered. But with the language barrier, you may be able to call ahead and arrange for a day with someone who speaks (some) English? Not sure on that. I'm not sure if they ask for an address, as far as I know they simply call you to tell you it's finished.

 

To many on this forum, the love they have for their dolls does compare to the love of a family member or a relative, I see it every day in these forums...and I can accept it because it makes them happy and it is their choice. There is only one other way I can explain it. . I want a Madoka desperately. What am I willing to do to get her. Will I bid in an auction- yes, will I go to another Volks opening in the US- yes, will I pay a scalper $2000. –No, because there is a limit to what I would do, what is acceptable to me to do to get her. Would another buyer do it- yes and are they entitled to that Madoka more than I am because they made an extra effort- yes, would I love her any less or want her any less than that person –no of course not. At this point I would have to realize that another person would do more than I would to obtain her. For them to do that is there choice, for me to stick to my guns and not budge on what I couldn’t afford (although I suppose I could put it on a credit card and be in extreme debt) is my choice. I couldn’t begrudge them their Madoka because they were willing to get her at any cost when I wasn’t.

Of course I would never say you don't deserve a FCS doll... and I am sorry to hear you say that. I think everyone is deserving of what will make them happy, be it a doll or a book or whatever, but I also have to realize that by picking a doll that is Japanese and limited, I am priveledged to even have one... notice I am speaking for myself and no one else. So of course I want you to get the doll that you are dreaming of and I really think that you can, but you have to think positively. What is great about FCS is that there is no time limit- she wont sell out because she is completely yours and alive in your thoughts- so even if its not possible this year, in the future there might be a way. It might not be convenient, but heck I can't say any of my doll aquisitions have been.

I hope one day you get the chance to do FCS
Hugs,
Anna M.

 

Scarletmaeve - no worries, i didn't take what you said negatively ... the second paragraph was a general statement in answer to a percieved attitude in some of the responses i've been reading. honestly, i have a lot of respect for all sides in this matter. it *IS* frustrating to not to have that extra channel (shopping services) to help you get what you want, but i know it's not insurmountable.

Actually, I *think* i squeaked by Aimee's cut-off for ordering from the LA store, I have finalised my order with her and sent her the money prior to her announcement ... so it looks like i'll have the FCS doll i've been wanting. Will I ever be able to do FCS in person? Probably, and i look forward to that experience - though i don't think i'm ever going to put my hobby before my family

 

I would guess that Volk's attitude is more about keeping the FCS experience meaningful rather than exclusive. They make such a big deal about it being a personal time to create the perfect child for you, that I can see how they would feel that shopping services and (moreso) scalpers would cheapen the experience. And I think the EXPERIENCE is what Volks feels makes FCS so special, rather than the resulting doll.

Of course, I live in LA, so I don't know how much my opinion matters in this ^^;;

 

I think that is an excellent suggestion.. more LA based friends, or at least people who live near by and are not afraid of the roads..

Having done FCS, it is so cool to see all the choices in person.. the eyes are just amazing, and then sitting there with the head choice on a body with wigs etc. is just so much fun.. really worth the trip if you can at all make it..

 

patl Thanks, I'm so glad I could be of help.

Darkmothflame If your Japanese isn't so good I wouldn't call ahead of time, but maybe go in once to talk to someone or see if you can find someone to go with you who is better at Japanese. My advice for ordering FCS, when not good at Japanese is to have pictures of what you want. (aka I want Kun's eyebrows, and pink lips like Sweet Dreams Mimi, etc.)

I believe even if picking up a doll at the store, you need to give some sort of contact info. You can probably give the information for where ever you are staying while in Tokyo. They will call you when your doll is there.

Jolarocknrolla Because even if Volks states something like that, people are still going to complain if it's not what they want. If you spend a lot on a doll, wait 1-2 months and then the doll is not what you want, you will complain. And in all honesty, I can't completely blame those people. I know I would be really sad inside if I waited 1-2 months and my doll was not what I had hoped.

Marsh I honestly think Sato is just not prepared to handle shipping things internationally. For one thing, unless they decide on a preset shipping cost, they do not know what shipping will be in 1 month's time. When you buy from Volks International, you are not pre-ordering something that ships in the future you are paying for shipping of said item now. Shipping it to the LA Store also becomes tricky because then they need to figure out how much to charge you in CA sales tax, and once again conversion rates can come into play. Perhaps at some later point, they will work out those kinks, but these are issues I can see as a problem/possible reason.

To everyone else,

Volks does not like proxy services, I am sure if you asked a relative or friend to place a single order for you, it would not be an issue. A service might just place a single order for you, but places quite a few orders and Volks is going to know it's a service, a service that is likely to charge a fee. While all services are helpful, they do charge a fee. $300 (Aimee's Sato fee, which I want to stress I don't think is outrageous and this is not meant as bashing) is half the cost of airfare from NY to Kansai International Airport. Perhaps you wouldn't go to Japan just to order a doll, but Kyoto does have some lovely temples and shrines you can visit as well.

In all honesty, I do not always agree with everything Aimee does, but I think it's rather admirable she stepped out of the proxy service market and I think it makes sense. Also, as I pointed out, none of you are currently stuck without *ANY* service. There are still people who take LA FCS orders, Aimee is just *NOT* one of them. There are other people out there. I can't recommend Aimee or any ther service having never used one personally.

Since Volks does not approve of these sorts of services, it is a rather large risk for someone like Aimee to take as owner of DoA. Going into the LA Volks nearly every week end and placing several orders for FCS, is a rather obvious sign you are not just buying a doll for yourself or a friend.

Again, I'm not saying it is not frustrating to want something and not be able to get it. But I do think to Volks there are reasons for their actions even if they're reasons we don't completely appreciate.

 

Hi DarkMothFlame,

In my experience, as a not very good Japanese speaker, no, chances are high they will not have someone on hand who speaks English. Generally, the Japanese know some English, but it can be hard to still explain yourself at times, particularly in a more hardly specialized instance like this.

Volks is happy to to do a face-up like one of their limiteds if you ask. (I would not request features/paint jobs like a non-Volks doll no matter how gorgeous they are, but if it is a face-up done by Volks or on a Volks doll then yes!)

A picture is good to make sure you get the right Chris/Kai.

I hope this help!

 

Hi DarkMothFlame,

Yeah just bring in the picture. The face up is really nice, and since Volks did the LE they'll have on file all sort of tiny details you don't always notice unless you own a doll.

I've had a very positive experience.

Two quick notes, if you're going to be in Tokyo for 1 month or more I would highly recommend paying the $20 or so dollars to buy a copy of the Tokyo Bilingual Atlas. (It can be bought in the US) It's the greatest map book for Tokyo.

I think the Studio Alta Sumika, while the first Sumika to do FCS, is a little small and I don't think they have a table to sit at. Akihabara does have a table and I think so does Harajuku. Neither is terribly difficult to get to from JR Shinjuku Station. (Harajuku is just 2 stops on the JR Yamanote line and Akihabara is a bunch on the JR Sobu line)

Volks will take US credit cards, and I would place my order towards the beginning of my stay to give Volks their 1 month to make your FCS.

Good luck!

 

I don't think people should worry . If you would like to order FCS through proxy than it is ok, isn't it? And if you would like to go to japan it's OK too! I'm not a rich person, but for five years I was planning to someday go to japan with my sister and order an fcs. And when Volks opened a sumika in LA...

Though ordering in person is a great experience, I don't think it makes an FCS doll any less special if it were to be ordered by proxy.

Bailey was the one who had taken my order, not someone who couldn't understand anything that I was saying. However, I still had difficulties with communitcating what I had wanted. The most useful piece of information I provided was a sketch I had made and colored. The Volks artist could now see what I had wanted.

When he arrives we'll see if the sketch was helpful (^_^)...

(Slightly OT-- but I'm sort of playing with the idea of drawing faceups for people to use for their FCS proxies...)

 

Before the LA store I suppose people would have, oh, used a Sumika FCS shopping service? Duuuuuuuuuh? >_>

And last time I checked the US alone was gigantic, and god forbid you live in Canada. While in the meantime, Japan is smaller than the STATE I live in. I mean hell, I work Sundays and I could in theory if I had the money next Friday leave here, haul myself the 10-12 hours or so down to LA, find the store, order a FCS and then haul myself the 10-12 hours or so back up here without missing a day of work and killing myself in the process... But I live in California. I don't live in, say, North Carolina.

So it may not just be a matter of 'lol, money', but also a matter of 'lol, time' or 'lol, my elderly mother needs me to care for her full time' or 'lol, my kid has *insert developmental disorder here* and can't be left alone and I'm a single parent' Or even in my case 'lol, I'm not that batshit insane'. XD

It does feel like it's trying to be an exclusive club, though. Imagine if Luts wanted you to fly to South Korea to get a custom faceup from them! People would be going on about how unreasonable that is, wouldn't they, and you'd all be agreeing with them.

Why is Volks any different? Why do they get more slack? Why is it so much more 'special' with them? Why can AR manage to do a FCS-like system over the internet? Blahblahblah.

And I'm not good enough for Versace even if luxury items were guaranteed. XP Because oh crap, I'm bigger than a size seven. D:

Volks' policies on things and the people who scream about them on the internet are why I own a sweet, beautiful oldskin F-08 head with damaged lips on a CP girl body who will never darken Volks' door with her horrid evil hybridness, instead of the new F-05 I was thinking of for Alisa.

I really think I came out ahead with her there, too. Hey, maybe I should be grateful for this kind of thing. If it wasn't so much of a hassle and a wankfest, I might not have found the REAL perfect girl. ^_^v

 

Major assumptions there that travel within Japan just because it's smaller is both easier and cheaper, and you're quite wrong.

That being said, I fail to see how it's an overly exclusive club when it's readily available all the time at every Volks store in Japan. It is meant to be something of a status symbol - the Japanese market lives and breathes for limiteds and exclusives. Sato FCS has exclusive items and headmolds and short operating hours for a reason. They want the people who are willing to make the extra effort to own their dolls and not taking a stance against proxy services detracts from the aura they have given the FCS experience and the dolls produced. It is much harder for international customers, but why the assumption that the international market is Volks' primary concern and that they are willing to change long standing company policies just for one store?

I've seen plenty of Korean doll makers do limiteds that are only available to Korean citizens, yet I've never seen such whining over those.

Sounds like a lot of sour grapes to me.

 

Phew I feel like I got in under the wire by ordering my FCS in January! I know it's a different culture and all but I still was under the impression that Volks was a competitive business ie place that wants your money. I just don't get why they wouldn't figure out a way ie internet or good old phone to do FCS.

Personally having lived in LA for four years, the happiest day being the one that I left out back to NYC (no offense to LA folk, I still have freinds there that I would never impose on to go all the way to Torrance for a doll) I would never schlepp all the way for anything except maybe very very well paid work there although I would love the experience of ordering my own FCS. Maybe someday.

 

Ian-KunX > thank you! It isn't just about affording - if I really wanted to, I could save up and haul off to Japan. That being said, I have school from August-June, I have college classes to take all summer, and oh wait - I have college to save for, come to think of it. If I'm gonna be saving up all that money, it has to go to something "real" and "important."

Kim > the Korean-only limiteds are rarely even shown outside of the Korean market; Volks shows their LEs to everyone, but only allows certain people to get them - I remember BlueFairy's Korean-exclusive limited Lapel was only on a Korean site; in theory, us English speakers weren't supposed to see it.
(also, the Korean companies don't whine about scalpers nearly as much as Volks does.)

and the "limited, exlusive club" feeling comes from how Volks only really seems to give a damn about their buisnesses in Japan in LA. If you don't live there/can't get there, they really don't seem to care. (and fine, I'll give my buisness to some "cheap Korean knock off" company if they want it, and actually let me get at their product.)

 

If you don't approve of Volks' methods, simple, don't buy from them.

 

Domuya took FCS orders, and had a wonderful reputation. I would give up the LA store to have them and their services back, although that is merely my opinion and should only be taken as such...

 

A lot of people won't for exactly this reason.
Problem is, even people who do want to buy from them can't, no matter how much they want this or that doll.

 

(T_T)" People are talking like there is no longer anyone willing to place orders in LA for people who wanted FCS.

THAT IS NOT TRUE! There are still plenty of people who will help out those wanting an FCS from the LA sumika.

The fact is that Volks might not like proxies (because choosing things in person is an experience that shouldn't be missed), but they are not preventing anyone from using one.

 

I agree with this. AR's system is great, and easy, and takes less time than FCS. Volks should try to set up something similar.

 

Volks has been doing their FCS for years, I think they know what's best for their company and their customers.

 

Did I say they didn't? *checks* Oh...nope, I didn't.

 

People are missing the point that Volks views FCS as more than just selecting options from a list and recieving a doll. They have created a mystique around the entire experience of making a FCS doll and it's not only the doll, it's this experience they are selling. They don't want FCS to be simple and quick, it's never been meant to be simple and convenient. They are offering something completely different from Angelregion and as such, they shouldn't be compared.

 

So there you have it folks... if you want a magical experience, fly off to your nearest Volks dealer and get the mystical experience of your lifetime... with complete strangers who are paid to do this.

If not, you'll just have to make do (like I am) with those other dolls company and do the magic and the bonding and the mystical stuff at home... with your friends and family.

I feel so deprieved.

 

But that's the whole point! Different companies choose to focus on different things...if the 'mystical experience' doesn't appeal to you then...cool! You haven't lost out and you can purchase from somewhere else without any drama.

At the end of the day Volk's practices will appeal to some and put some people off....and does it even matter?

 

You obviously do not understand the whole idea behind FCS or why people like it. It's very popular, Volks has been doing it for years so I have to say that are plenty of people who like the FCS experience Volks has created.

I fail to see why people keep on mentioning other doll companies in inferior terms like you and several previous posters have. No one has said anything like that. If you feel deprived deep down inside, that's something you need to come to terms with. Doll companies choose to market their dolls in different ways and to different customer bases. It's ridiculous to think that all of them would do things in exactly the same way. I find Volks' selling strategies interesting. They appeal to me. I find the journey part of the fun and I honestly don't understand the people who view this in terms of going to Japan just to buy a doll. It's a wholly fascinating country filled with amazingly beautiful things to see. Meeting new people and connecting with them over a shared love of dolls. Volks stores in Japan are beautiful to look inside. To me, that just adds to how special that doll in the end will be.

If Volks' business policies don't appeal to you, take your business elsewhere. It's that easy. They're not going to change for you or me and whining and complaining about it solves nothing in the end.

 

Hm... nope! Maybe a few of their customers. But this is obviously a HUGE inconvenience for a lot of people in the US/North America/World outside Japan who want to order an FCS. So no, they obviously don't know what's best for THESE customers.

If it's just the faceup transations that are giving them trouble, why not set up something like AR? Something concrete, straightforward, a 1-time easy set-up, it would save them a lot of grief. No one could contest that they ordered eyebrows A in colour X with blushing X and X lips, as clearly photographed.

Instead, it just feels like they've given up on us. "We didn't translate your faceup requests right, so too bad. You're screwed."

 

A person can take their business elsewhere, but the point still stands that many saw the LA store and also the FCS services as a way for whatever "elusiveness" of Volks to become more available to them. This has obviously not been the case, and by driving away legitimate FCS services all that Volks is going to accomplish will be sending those that really do want their dolls to the secondary market or scalpers.

So if people do take their business elsewhere, at this point Volks is starting to have a hand in it. They've done little more than encourage people to have the "special experience" of a bid war on Y!J.

 

Zoi_no_Miko and Cinnamon are making very valid points. FCS would be real easy it they had a form with pictures attached to them showing the customer what they desire. That way there's no margin for error because it's an image not words.

If Volks is afraid of scammers they could do a Offical list of certified FCS people. That would a little arbitrary of course, but then again it's better than nothing.

And like Zoi_no Miko pointed out, it's a HUGE inconvenience for people to go to LA in person. If you want to do that more power to you but don't cut yourself business because you want people to travel to your shop.

And I'm sorry but successful companies do all they can to satisfy their customer... NOT what more convenient FOR the company. People know when they are dealing with jerks and don't do business with them anymore and they eventually die out on their own. I'm not saying Volks are jerks, I'm just making a point.

If Volks claims they want to offer a good service for their clients and potencial clients, they have to do what the potencial client want. I'm sorry but Japan is a small country and here Volks LA is supposed to help serve 3 countries the United States, Mexico and Canada.

People say it's expensive to travel when you live in Japan... not so true... Japan has a extensive line of fast and economical trains. Let's say I'm a japanese Woman who wants to travel from Hokkaido to Kyoto to buy myself a doll. I'm working, so I probably have a train pass. If not I can buy the Seishun 18 pass at the cost of 11,500 yen (aprox.:97$ US) and it's a 5 days pass so I can use it to return to Kyoto if there's a problem. reference: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html

Let's take Janet who lives in Maine, she wants a doll and decides (because Volks won't allow FCS helpers) I'm using Expedia as reference it would cost her about 470$ to travel there. She needs a place to stay, if she has relative YAY... if not it's more expenses, food, travel etc.

Olivia is from Cancun in Mexico, it would also cost her from 412$ to 512$ to travel to LA... here again if she needs lodging and transportation it adds up.

Martin lives on Prince Edward Island for him just to take a plane to LA it would cost him about $823 US... and of course in these 3 trips weren't included the taxes and 9/11 security taxes that adds to the cost of the plane ticket.

can you see the point I am making here? it's just not convenient. That's what I would like Volks to see. I'd like to have a FCS doll but I'm not adopting a kid.. I am BUYING A DOLL! There's a huge difference right there and Volks can't expect people to fly to LA for their convenience.

First law of business is that you do things that are of service to your customer not yourself. The Customer is first and formost, If the customer wants someone to handle his purchase and specification of the purchase then he or she is right because the customer is the one that is PAYING.

If some few people want to go through the hassle of going to LA to have they should do it! More power to them! But as a company Volks CANNOT ask that all their customers go to LA to do their business, like Japan because the demografics are different. Japan is smaller and now Volks LA does the distribution to 3 countries.. countries that are way bigger than Japan in terms of size.

I have tried to be logical in this explanation. I'm not saying that people who wants to go to Volks LA can't go... But that those who Can't go not be deprieved because let's face it, California has a lot of people but see the potencial doll owners they could get if they were more open.

Unless they just want to be ab exclusive club, then they should say so and stop saying that it's for their customers service.

 

A lot of people seem to be missing the point- FCS is not supposed to be a quick and easy thing, it's not so Volks can make a quick buck, it's for people who want a special doll and they have to be willing to possibly go out of their way to get it. These are not mass produced, they don't have thousands of trained artists on hand to crank out a hundred of these dolls every five minutes. They will most likely never have an automated online system for FCS because that's just not what they want their company to turn into. They pride themselves on QUALITY, not quantity. If people can't understand that reasoning, then FCS is probably not a good idea for them.

 

I give up!!!! what you don't understand is that some people would love to have the dolls but aren't ABLE to travel...

Never mind I give up!!!

 

I'm sorry, but that's an asinine and arrogant way of thinking. A lot of people do understand that ordering an FCS is a special process, but asking your customers to spend hundreds of dollars on plane tickets and hotel accommodations when a proxy service or relative could easily go to the store for them is going to be construed by many as completely unreasonable. It's only "special" for so long before the obstacles just become silly.

No one is asking Volks to crank out a thousand dolls an hour, but many are asking that they don't block every possible access to one of the main draws of having a store location in the US in the first place. People aren't sitting here crying that they want fifteen dolls in fifteen minutes and why-oh-why can't Volks do it now... They're making completely valid points about an unnecessary inconvenience.

Personally, I don't like Volks because of their aura, atmosphere, or the experience of buying one of their dolls, but because of their final products' quality and beauty. I would love the window-dressing of going to the store and picking out what type of hands I wanted for my dolls, the legs, etc... But forcing me to spend the price of a doll in airfare to do it, with no alternatives, doesn't sit well with me and many people aren't able to do it. In the very end, I want the doll more than the frills and atmosphere.

I don't want FCS to be easy, but I do want it to be possible in one way or another.

Tell me, does that mean it's not a good idea for me?

 

Just out of curiosity, usagi665, did you use a shopping service?

 

No, I went through my cousin in Tokyo, but I still paid him a fee because I know FCS is not a simple process and I appreciate that he took the time to go do it for me.

 

You can probably still find someone to order the doll for you. True Volks doesn't want proxy services but if it's someone that rarely goes down there or maybe a friend from the boards you trust you can ask them to help you out. Just because Volks doesn't want it done doesn't mean you can't do it, you just have to be sneaky about it. And not complain if the makeup is interpreted wrongly I suppose.

 

Exactly I think that was one of the main issues, some people were asshats and ranted to Volks about dolls that were purchased through a proxy service rather than speaking to the service themselves.

It'd still be possible to purchase through friends etc they just don't seem to want established businesses organising the FCS's.

 

I still think it's stupid, because whether your friend/relative orders (possibly a friend with little knowledge of the hobby), or a proxy service with experience placing orders and knowledge of the dolls (like Aimee), the risk of the order coming out wrong is THE SAME. In fact, I'd trust a well-established proxy MORE than my cousin in Cali.

I agree with Cinnamon. It's an asinine and arrogant way of thinking.

 

Personally, I would rather have a doll with a wrong faceup than no doll at all. It just makes no sense that a company would be so afraid of making a couple of their customers unhappy that they decide to... make hundreds of their fans unhappy instead? They must have other reasons or something.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using a proxy/YahooJapan/whatever to get your dream doll, it's a personal decision at the end of the day. Volks seems to make it really hard to be a fan and respect their wishes at the same time.

And I think it was good thing that you had the choice to go to someone who you could research and rely on, instead of having to go through a friend of a friend of whoever. Shopping services were great safety net. They are the people who have been around long enough to build a reputation that you can research to make sure you're not ripped off. It's sad that this would not be an option anymore.

 

I wanted a FCS for years, It is the MOST special way for me for getting a doll...

The idea of choosing by my own her head, hands, body, feet, makeup, skin tone and so on amazed me since three years ago I meet Volks dolls.

I have been waiting soo long for saving enought for FCS+commisions+ shipping to my country, because I live in Spain.

And now I just wont be ever able;

Who the hell have courage to say me that I want a fast and easy way to get my doll?
I have to save 3 years more, and expending 2000$ just to travel for being able to get my desired doll?

PD: I dont have any friends or relatives in USA nor in Japan...

 

It's the same thing. You had someone place your order by proxy. Say they didn't allow your cousin to place your order because it's not for him. Are you saying you'd've saved up and gone to Japan to buy a doll?

People are willing to pay other people or friends or relavtives to do the exact same thing you did because they know it's not a simple process, and because they can't make it to Japan/LA themselves. Now that Volks is saying that we can't do that anymore, it's a real kick in the pants to those of us that don't have the time/money to fly out there.

 

Clearly, you did not read the fine print on this pass. This pass is *NOT* valid on Limited Express trains, let alone the shinkansen. Which means if you wanted to get from Hokkaido to say Kyoto, you're looking at probably spending close to 5 days just in train travel, maybe longer. There are lots of fast and reliable trains in Japan and they also cost a lot if you are not a foreign tourist with a rail pass. For a Japanese woman living in Hokkaido, who wants to go to Sato, it would probably cost MORE than for me to fly from NY to LA. It costs close to $275 rountrip just to take the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto, let alone whatever fares are needed to get to Tokyo. Taking expressways in Japan would cost JUST AS MUCH because there are very high tolls. The cheapest way is a bus, which would take many many hours.

Japan is not as large as the US, however it's not that tiny either. It takes close to 3 hours by shinkansen to get from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Yes, I would much rather sit on a train for 3 hours than a plane, but I think people don't always have a clear sense of distance in Japan.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PROXY SERVICES

Whether Volks approves or not, there will always be someone offering, because it is a way to make money, much like scalping. Aimee, or anyone else offering the service, has a right to not want to do it anymore for ANY reason.

Volks says they don't want scalpers, I certainly see TONS of dolls for sale on Y!J right after a Dolpa.

If you ask a friend or family member to place an order for you I doubt Volks would care. It's when someone comes in every single week placing an order for several dolls it starts to raise eyebrows.

Overall the LA store has been a real boon for North American collectors. It certainly seems like anyone who entered the December lottery *GOT* their Dolpa LEs, and lots of the Sumika outfits were available for order.

There are still more people offering LA FCS Service than ever seemed to be offering FCS services before and there is always hope if the store is a success they will open another branch, someplace like NY. :P

So, now can we just let this thread die already?

 

One thing to keep in mind (and this is speaking as somone on the opposite side of the country from LA, so I'm definitely not easily able to get anything from the LA store) is that, in Japan, certain types of dolls are *religious objects*.

Volks holds "omukae" ceremonies for owners receiving their dolls in person . . . this is actually meant to create a spiritual bond between the doll and the owner -- this is why they often refer to their dolls as "your child".

FCS is intended to be a very personal and intense experience, where you go in person, assemble the doll yourself from available parts (sample parts, but you get to see how it looks all put together), and then choose a wig/face-up. This doll is meant to be *solely yours*.

And, for owners who can pick the doll up in person, Volks will conduct an omukae ceremony, with a "doll priest", who has you blow out a candle to breathe life into your doll.

None of that can be accomplished with a shopping service . . . and I think that Volks is trying to stay true to its roots by trying to ensure that FCS is a one-on-one experience.

Gentaro Araki doesn't allow Unoa's to be mass-produced -- this is why they're so scarce and why their secondary-market is so high. He feels that he wants to remain in artistic control of their production. Do I still want a Lusis? Hells yeah.

None of this means that I'm not sad about the shopping-service issues, or that *I* wouldn't possibly use a shopping service if I decided that I really wanted an FCS doll, but I'm trying to give you an idea of the culture and concept that Volks is coming from with FCS -- it's not that they want it to be an "exclusive collector club," it's that they want you to be *personally* involved with every aspect of your unique doll's creation.

Now I'm just imploring Volks to open a store on the East Coast ;>

Seriously, though -- I'm probably the last person that you could throw the "Volks Elitist" label at, I don't even own any Volks dolls, and I don't have some special reverence for them over other doll companies (all my dolls are Korean except for my Unoa Lights), but I do think it's fair to bring up the fact that FCS was never intended to be an assembly-line process -- ideally, they want you to be *there* to pick your doll and "bring your dream to life."

My two cents,

-- Andi

 

Woah, there.
AngelReigon has an online OFY, and I haven't heard an ill word.
People are willing to wait months for their doll, they don't want a mass produced product.
AR certainly isn't mass producing their dolls, and yet they still manage to serve the entire f*ing world with the OFY system without a breakdown in quality.
I can understand that Volks wants to make a high quality product, but from the looks of it, they just don't want everyone to get it.
(+ with this logic, flawed as it is, they shouldn't even put their standards online because OMFG! anyone - anywhere - can order at any time!)

... oh, and this LA store sure as hell only seems to help people in or near LA.
After all, to some of us, we were just as likely to be able to get X limited as if there were no LA store.

in short: the LA store caters to LA (+ surrounding area), but that's about it.

 

While I agree with most of what you said, I wouldn't say the Volks store hasn't done a lot of good. It has helped people in the US to obtain limiteds without the horror of the usual online AE, and most of those who entered the lottery bought their dolls without worrying about server crashes or unorganised web pages. I'd be surprised if anyone said that isn't a giant step in the right direction.

FCS wouldn't even be such a problem if so much of what Volks offered to their customers wasn't strictly through their one-on-one system. They have had a few head sculpts released as standards, but the rest can only be obtained through Full-Choice. Most of the newer sculpts are only released as Sato heads, and in fact many standards have been discontinued and are now exclusively available through FCS. They are, quite simply, alienating a huge part of their fan/consumer base by continuing to do this.

As they don't sell any separate head parts, this leaves a lot of people with very little options if they suddenly realise that they love a certain optional head but have no chance of ever making it to a Sumika store. I honestly think that there would be less unhappiness from customers if Volks started making their head sculpts available to be bought separately. Seeing as they do sell standard doll kits, I don't understand how this would interrupt the unique experience of FCS that they're so vehemently trying to preserve.

 

Wait, since when do I have sour grapes? I already took care of both FCS dolls I wanted. One via Domuya last year, and one via a method that to me was just as, if not more, acceptable. (I like CP girl bodies more anyway, so nyah)

Sure, FCS is supposed to be all special and magical. Pick out just this pair of hands, just that body type, those eyes, that wig, that faceup. Well hell, you can get that secondhand, too. I cry a little when I look at Alisa now because it's amazing to see the difference between that stained, damaged second-hand head and the gorgeous doll she's become. Not just because she's exactly what I envisioned, but because I've gone through the process with her of picking out what was right for her and getting her fixed up.

I dunno. Sometimes I love Volks, sometimes I want to smack them. Yeah, you can say the lottery was a nice thing, but it was also REALLY unprofessionally done and I was really stressed up until I got Remus home safely and made sure nothing was broken. @.x ...And then noticed that he came sanded which made me really really really happy because even I don't want to mess with unstringing him, and I don't mind stringing dolls. XD But then stuff like this comes up and it's all 'Ehh...' again.

Though I'm amused by the fact that I can't take literally half my Volks dolls to a Volks store, because they're hybrids. XD Poor little Alisa and poor Ephram can't go visit 'cause of their nasty CP bodies and we'd be lynched. D: (Not by Volks, mind you.)

They do need to go back to the optional parts system, though, I agree. (And how about some friggin' pureskin white optional parts? T_T) The whole thing with barely having any standards anymore, discontinuing the optional heads and bodies and stuff... Yeah, it grates a little.

Oh well, as someone has pointed out, there's still Sato services for those who want to go that route, and it works out cheaper half the time than going to LA. XD

Besides, the Sato FCS box is a lot nicer than the Sumika FCS box. XD (I love that tissue paper. X.o Lovelovelove. *rubs it* So nice and soft. *rubrubrub*

Uhh... What were we talking about? Oh yeah.

It's just a little ridiculous, I think, and causes grief. (I think I was just about THE last person to order FCS from Domuya, I slid in about 30 minutes before they stopped taking orders, and back then F-24 was Sato-only so I was freaked out that I might never get him if it wasn't through Domuya. It's OK NOW, but at the time, hoo boy, the flailing on my part. As it turns out, by the way, I hate his faceup, but that's my own goddamned fault. It's exactly what I wanted at the time... Which turns out to be fairly boring in real life. XD)

But yeah. Bleh. Volks makes lovely, wonderful dolls(*gestures at the crew*), but some of their business practices turn me off a little. (And so do some of their fans, but that's neither here nor there)