LA Volks Sumika not allowing FCS shopping services anymore?

Well, this entire thread has made me very sad. I own several dolls (none volks) and finally decided to take the plunge and buy a volks doll. I have read every thread I could find on them. I finally decided I would like a Sd13 girl with megu (4 sister) head - but I can only purchase that through fcs. I have spent a long time picking out every last detail of her - as far as I am concerned I am already bonded and have had my special experience.

Money is not the issue (I have saved)- it is time. I would need to use a proxy service. People keep mentioning people are still willing to help - who please? I want to order from the LA store, but have no relatives there anymore. Does anyone know who these people are who are still willing to order - please pm me.

Lishe

 

Meant this to be a PM.

 

..Ah... has anyone stopped to think that there might be issues with orders backing up? ESPECIALLY from VolksUSA... which has to ship its orders to Japan, and then back to LA... The three-month wait at the moment is not because they're backed up with FCS orders. But if a lot more people ordered FCS through services... I imagine it'd get a little nuts.

Also... think of it like a 'limited' doll. People don't gripe because they have to go to Japan to get a limited Dolpa doll, right? Or at least, not as much as on this FCS thread ^^; Some people can get them :-/ Some people simply can't. Yes it's expensive to get to LA, but it's even more amazingly expensive to get to Japan (from the US) to get a limited Dolpa doll.

See what I mean?

I was going to try and get FCS for people this summer, since I live about 40 minutes from Torrence during my breaks, but if Volks doesn't want shopping services, I would feel bad taking advantage of it >__> They have their reasons.

 

Uhm, nobody has to go to Japan to get a Dolpa limited, though. Ever hear of an online after-event? Volks does them for just about every Dolpa, and overseas customers have a chance to buy the doll online. Even the Dolpa-only dolls... Well, there's this little thing called Yahoo!Japan. So no, the limited comparison doesn't work at all.

 

How much would an FCS F-16 cost? can i order it in tanning skin and can it be sanded? also, will they ship to anywhere in the USA if i go to the LA Volks store?

 

Already responded to your PM, but for anyone else who wants to know: I *think* an SD13 boy costs $902 or around there. Sunlight (tanning) skin is only available at Tenshi no Sato in Kyoto, Japan, and it can be sanded, but only by Volks. I would think the LA Sumika ships to any location in the US.

 

I have an uncle who seems to go to Kobe now and again to visit his wife's family. Last time he went, I tried to convince him I needed a Volks doll and he looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Apparently his wife heard about it and reamed his butt out for even thinking about it.

I have no idea what that meant, but there are already a bunch of random thoughts floating around here as well as some unbelievably snarky ones that make me wonder how this is even open yet.

I wish everyone luck getting their dream doll.

 

Actually, I think it's a little more than that, plus you have to add 8% for California taxes.

F-16s are available at the LA Sumika.

The LA Sumika will ship anywhere in North America, so if you live in Canada or Mexico, they'll ship to you too.

 

Actually Usagi was right. It is 902$ I checked my order slip. Shipping brought it up to 924.18$. No idea what the sales tax brought it to, but that should give you an idea of how much it'll be. ^_~

 

I guess I can see both sides of it. But people are going to find ways to order their dolls no matter what.

Personally I think it's a bit silly. Here I am all the way up in Michigan, is there ever going to be a Volks location here should they decide to expand? Nope. Sure I've got relatives in California but they're 5+ hours away in San Jose, and we've been to see them 2 times in my life. So that's not an option.

I can understand them wanting it to be a personal experience, and that's great. But some of us just can't pay for the doll AND the travel for that personal experience. If people were to send, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc in to order their dolls rather than a "service" such as Aimee, how is that any different? There's still a chance for a mix up (a higher chance since the relatives most likely aren't as informed about these dolls), and it wouldn't be personal.

So the mentality makes sense, and the reasoning behind it makes sense, but it's just not practical. I wish I could go myself, it would be amazing to just SEE the store, but I don't even break $10,000 a year, so in that respect I could say it's not "fair" to those of us that live on the other side of the country and don't make money hand over fist. I don't know about the rest of you, but when and if I get to order my own fcs I know exactly what I want, no questions asked, no thinking involved. It's thought out and done, I wouldn't need to be there for any decisions as there are none left to be made really, with the exception of a name. lol And again, I'd love to be there since it would really be an amazing thing, but for me, it's not at all practical, which is really a shame. But that's just how it is.

 

Volks sells $800 resin dolls, I don't think they're a company thoroughly grounded in practicality

 

lol I didn't mean the price of their product, it was more the principle of the thing.

 

I was just there today, and I can say definitively - VolksUSA does not allow FCS orders to be placed for other people. It's not just discouraged. They literally will not allow you to order under someone else's name.

So if you plan on doing an FCS order for someone else, be prepared to lie ^^;;

 

O noes! And I was just thinking last night, "Hmm..Ill be going to the store soon, maybe I should/could do an FCS service while Im there?" Im curious though, did you see someone get denied or was there a notice posted at the store?

 

This is really bad news for anyone (like me) who isn't even in the US but wants one of the new elf heads....

 

That is sad, but if someone wants FCS bad enough and if I lived there and could do it. I would, yeah I would be lying of course, but once you pay for it and have it shipped to your home in the USA, you can ship it to the original owner over seas. Vollks will still get paid for the services, and the real owner will get their doll. Of course someone will think "Gee they have a lot of money so they must be rich if they can order a FCS doll once or twice a month"

 

Did they explain why they weren't allowing this?

 

This is why I'm really disenchanted with Volks lately.
Let's buy Dollzone elves!

XD
Raven

 

No offense, but I kind of don't see why anyone doing a shopping service wouldn't just say, 'Yea, this dollie is for me' and give their own name and address. o_o; It'd just make it easier on all accounts.

But anyhow, I totally understand why Volks doesn't allow shopping services, not only for keeping other people from making a profit on their custom dolls, but also to make sure that the real owner gets the doll exactly the way they want it.

 

I think it might have to do with they don't want people to be making money of their products. But really, I don't know just a guess.

 

I was planning on asking my aunt to go and order fcs for me before but later on I decided not to buy fcs. Now I am glad i decided not to buy bec. then they will turn away my aunt and she have to drive at least 1 hr to get there.

 

I guess if thats the case- why cant they do it over the phone, or computer and limit the number of dolls per owner. The us is a much bigger country then Japan- I cant just hop a plane from Massachusetts, to get one. THough I would love to. TH only option left to me is then to go through a shipping service.

 

Volks views an fcs as a VERY personal thing, so they'd rather people come in and do it themselves so it's perfect.,

in addition, ALOT of people in japan apprently have sent thier fcs's back as wrong, so volks is alot stricter now about fcs requirements. If you do it through a middleman there's more chance for error.

 

I really wish that Volks would just open an online FCS service. ^^; It's kind of a pipe dream (though I know that they've been thinking about it). If they're that worried about it, they could just say, 'No returns on FCS dolls from overseas,' and then do the faceup to the best of their abilities, and not worry about it once it reaches it's destination. @_@; >.>;

That way there wouldn't be a need for shopping services, except probably for Tenshi no Sato FCS.

 

yeah, doing an online fcs would be nice. they could just put very detailed pics of the options and everything.

 

FCS will probably never be available online because with just the dozen or so stores where FCS orders are taken the wait is already 4 months in the US and 50 days in Japan.

 

I wish they would. Raine, who'll be an f30, will cost me $2500 unless I can find a cheaper flight.

 

This is really kind of sad. I mean, if I could just- you know- fly over to LA for the weekend to send an order I would. Unless they make more stores available (praying for one to come to chicago!) or set up an FCS Hotline, then that really is just being too strict.

I agree with you, Rynn, I'm dying for a F31 sunlight. But thats not going to happen for a long, looong time.

 

Rynn, have you tired site like expedia.com or orbitz?

 

This rule just ruins it for the rest of us who DON'T want to make a profit but just want to help other people get the dolls of their choice.

I actually ordered a doll for a friend of mine who recently went through a tragic loss in the family. I didnt realize that it was prohibited to order a SD for someone else until AFTER I already went through the entire FCS process. Then I just felt like a guilty criminal when I found out...even though it was a for a selfless cause. Looking back, I think I still would have went through with the order even if I knew about the rule, because I know that particular FCS SD will make one person very happy.

It's a shame really, since I live in Torrance and about ten minutes away from Volks. I also know of several people on DOA who Id like to help and make happy. But since I want to respect Volks' wishes, I wont do a FCS for anyone again.

Also, Rynne, why dont you just hire a FCS service from Tenshi no Sato? The $300 fee is much cheaper than the $2500 airplane trip.

 

And see, this is where it sucks. Because if I EVER had the opportunity to GET one now (which is likely never.. lol. COnsidering the COST of one.. but hey, ya never know!), I couldn't ask my friend or inlaws to get it for me. ;.; .. I can understand their means for it to be personal, but do they also understand that some people (certainly not me) have a lot of money, and can afford to buy gifts of that magnitude for their friends or loved one's. And those same people might want to get a personal doll done for that person as a gift? .. They certainly aren't going to say it's for them if they're buying it as a gift.. :/ ..

I agree they should either open more stores up, OR make it available either online, through the mail, or over the phone. -.-

In the meantime.. I'll keep dreaming. lol

 

Having been through the FCS process, I definitely disagree on spreading the FCS option online, through the mail, or over the phone. There is the problem that some items do look different in person that online, but the most important aspect of the FCS service is the customized faceup. This process too the longest for me, since you're basically making a one-of-a-kind, unique face. And telling people to be "very specific" while describing their faceups is not wise, since "very specific" descriptions are subjective. Communication problems with accurately describing your own personal faceup would definitely be much more likely to happen online...so now imagine multiplying that dillemna with the hundreds to thousands of people who would order a VOLKS FCS online.

 

The plane ticket will be $800-900 bucks flying from my airport, from one in Raleigh could be $250 on Southwest.But I'd have to fly up there for that one. We're getting a low cost airline, so might be cheaper, but I'm going by price now. And I have tried Priceline, Travelocity, and Orbitz. All the same range.

 

As for faceup...I got a picture...would that help in the faceup department? I mean, it's one Volks painted!

 

I know that this is none of my business and that this really doesnt concern me, but at the same time, you still havent answered my question: If youre willing to have someone else order a FCS at the Tenshi no Sumika, then why not just hire a legitimate FCS Service to take your order at the Tenshi no Sato?

Doing that would definitely be much cheaper and less time consuming than flying out to LA, renting a room, and driving to the Volks store to make your order. The processing time would also be much quicker, since other users have said that Sato takes about 50 days whereas Sumika takes about 2-4 months.

 

yea, i understand what you mean. *nodnod* But they still should allow people to get them done at least as gifts for others. I mean, sincerely a gift.. not just saying it to get one. *nodnod*

And, they should open up one in every general area then. they have one in the west, now how about one for the East, one for the midwest, and one for the South.. and.. okay, well, that should be good then. lol. (Like, open up another one in Seattle, New York, Orlando, Chicago (Milwaukee? mwahaha), etc.) This way everyone can get a FCS doll done, without spending an arm and a leg on getting there. Gas prices, and airfares are already over the top as it is. I'm all for a shorter distance. *nodnod*

 

Kittiepink, from my general knowledge and dealing with Volks, I dont believe they can afford opening up other stores. At the same time, BJDs are such a niche market that it wouldnt be wise to open up a few more stores. Its financially easier for Volks to have their customers to fly out to Los Angeles and order their dolls rather than Volks open up several more stores. In other words, its financially easier for you to come to them rather than them come to you.

 

Hey guys - I didn't want this to become ANOTHER discussion about Volks FCS policies This is a buying-and-shipping info forum, right? Can't we leave the discussion and bickering out of it?

 

Having just ordered a FCS at Tenshi no Sato, I understand why Volks is placing this restriction. See, they allow you to send the doll back if you're not happy with it and they correct it for you. If someone was placing the order for, then the chances of it not being perfect are FAR higher. They can't afford to keep this allowance AND let people place orders for others.

Ordering a FCS dollfie is a highly personal experience. My sister and I each ordered one and it took over 2 hours to complete the process. Part of what makes it special is ordering your own doll to your own specifications. They're unique in that there aren't even that many FCS dollfies out there in comparison to the regular ones. Even for those living in Japan, it's expensive to get to the Tenshi no Sato ($150 shinkosen from Tokyo to Kyoto each way, plus a room in Kyoto). Plus, Volks can't afford to open shops everywhere and still make a profit. It's awesome that they even have ONE in the USA. Remember, we're the only country outside Japan that has one at all.

Putting the FCS online, allowing it to be ordered on the phone, etc, would remove the novelty of the service. In addition, I don't think Volks could handle the number of orders that would come in without substantially raising the price. It's likely better as it is. I'd rather have the restrictions than lose Volks in the US completely. I think we're lucky to have a FCS available to us at all. Per my trip to Japan this summer, I can guarantee it's more expensive to go to Japan than to LA, no matter where you are in the US :P

 

I apologize, since I thought we were allowed to have discussions on this thread. As to the "bickering," hopefully you werent referring to me or the last two posters, since I dont see our discussion as bickering or arguing. Im actually enjoying my conversations with Rynne and Kittiepink. If I didnt know about VOLKs' strict FCS policy, then I would have already helped Rynne order his doll, since I know he's been yearning for his Raine for quite awhile already.

 

Maybe Volks wants to see how business goes in LA. They could possibly be thinking about opening up a store in the East for us. After all, they did just throw a tea party in NY I think. Maybe I'm just wishful thinking though.

 

Yea, I can see your and their point on that. *nod* ^_^ I guess it's more the frustration of having to fly out. Personally I really don't like to fly, but, just because I don't, seems kind of selfish, ne? ^_^;;; My apologies.

But yea, I can see how the experience alone would be something to treasure, and for alot of us, I'm sure going to california might be something fun too! ^_^ It'd make for a really memorable vacation, I'm sure!

As far as 'bickering'.. o.o;; I hope that wasn't aimed towards me? I wasn't bickering. I was enjoying the conversation I was having with those here. *nodnod* ^_^ If anyone took it as bickering, I do apologize.

 

I don't think they offer f30 at the other stores in Japan...If I am wrong, then woot! I know he's offered at the LA store. And I get the names mixed up. A certain one in Kyoto and the rest are named another, but I never remember which.

 

As many of the new FCS threads have been saying, they will be offered in Tenshi no Sato, the store in Kyoto, soon, and most likely the Japanese Tenshi no Sumikas will be getting them as well. If you can't remember which is which, I'm sure doing a search on DoA will find the results easily.

 

I think I agree on Volks for not allowing people to do FCS services. If you live far away (and I"m in ohio), and wish to do one, try orbitz.com. Their plane fares are pretty low, I'm going to LA in March-ish to get a girl SD10 standard. I have no idea if I"ll do FCS, the trip was orignally planned for it and the FCS dolls are totally picked out, but anyway.

If you want to do FCS, try orbitz.com. I know theres a motel 8 near the store, granted its a cheap hotel but sometimes you have to sacrifice.

If you wanted to come from ohio say. On orbitz.com a plane ticket is nearly 200-500 (Depending when you buy it) round trip, depending when you get your tickets, price varies For about 3 days its going to be aprox. another 200. Super Shuttle is an inexpensive way to get to the airport/hotel and if you'd stay at the motel 8 well its about 2 miles from the store, walking distance if its nice out.~ So basically you could go to LA for a weekend for ABOUT 500-700 APROX bucks to do FCS, not a bad price really.

orbitz.com- A little note. Depending WHEN you look at prices, you could look one day, 2 weeks later it be more. It all varies.

^^; Sorry if this post doesn't belong here, but just trying to help. Honestly volks has full power over the FCS, we should be granted for that. And if you need help doing the FCS because you've never done it I"m sure nice people like Bailey, to use as an example and the volks staff would be more than happy to help you there. ^^;; Sorry again for the length and if this is out of line/doesn't belong here.

 

Oh, thanks! I seriously missed that!! ^^

 

I personally think that part of it is lame, they could standardized the faceups: "natural" "goth" "send a picture" and leave it at that like other companies who do really gorgeous work.

I'd be happy enough to order the blank doll online/phone/mail whatever.

But hey! If Volks wants to make it difficult then they do. Nothing we can do about it.

Except take our money elsewhere.

Raven

 

...................

 

I'm not big on Volks anyway. They are more expensive from what I've seen and not my favourite doll company so I guess it's not something that will affect me.

 

That makes me sad too.. even though I live in California I'm a 9 hour drive from Tenshi No Sumika in LA and have no plans to go down to So-Cal for at least another year. I have friends in the area who I'm pretty sure could successfully order the doll just how I wanted.. :/

 

That's super. Thank you for sharing this pertinent bit of information!

 

So... if I was to buy a plane ticket to fly to LA at a cost of around $3k return book a hotel room for a few nights and go into volks to personally order my FCS doll.. would they refuse to ship it back to New Zealand where I live or would I be expected to fly back to pick it up. am curious about this

Anyway I cannot see why Volks won't do online fcs with the disclaimer that online fcs dolls are not returnable for faceup adjustments.

 

Pirate Wench, you can have your doll shipped to you in New Zealand. It takes a few months for Volks in Japan to customize your doll to your specifications. You just need to be there in person when you order the doll. They can send it to your home address.

Also, I believe that Volks' policy exists in order to protect the value and standards of Volks dolls. I dont believe its about quantity and making a large profit for them. I believe that Volks has built their company on a set of standards that they wish to protect, and if Volks FCS dolls were so easy to get then that would lessen the value of a Volks FCS doll.

Im sure Im not making much sense or Im not communicating my point very well...its early in the morning...and I just realized this isnt supposed to be a arguementative thread.

So, anyways, Yes, Volks will ship your doll to your home.

 

aaw that's such a shame..a friend of mine really wants an F-16, but we live in Holland so it's pretty much impossible to go to either LA or Japan..(nope, not flying to LA just to get a doll..)

I can understand why they have this 'it's personal!' thing and that it sucks when they get dollies send back..if only they'd allow shopping services/online services at the risk of not being able to send the doll back if something didn't turn out the way you want, that would be..well, still not incredibly fair but fair enough. I mean, it's not like we can help not living in the US, right? It would be a shame if people would stop offering shopping services and only people around LA or in Japan would be able to get their dream dolls..

..unless you'll pay the second hand prices for the head while it's not what you envisioned-simply because there's no other way of getting it. Personal experiences are great, but I'm sure most people would just want their doll..

 

Volks does not ship FCS dolls out of the country in which they were ordered. IE, if you ordered in Torrance, they'll only ship to a US (or maybe North American?) address. If you ordered in Japan, they'll only ship within Japan.

It sucks, but they've never done differently.

 

How does Volks determine the shipping address? Do they go by whatever you give them or do they require that the shipping address matches the credit card you're paying with.. or anything like that.

 

They ship to the address you specify. However, your home address and all prior VolksLA orders are recorded on your member card, so after a few FCS orders to places all over the country... they might get suspicious.

 

Wow! That sounds incredibly ridiculous! I cant believe Volks wouldnt ship a doll to a person who would take the time and money to travel to their store to do an FCS. Ill be going to the Volks store this afternoon, and Ill ask just to make sure.

 

They don't have a company that allows them to ship all over the world from their LA store, they have a deal with UPS to ship in the US/possibly North American continent only. Keep in mind that although Volks is very well-off for a resin based hobby store, they are not exactly all power like Wal-mart, they have limitations due to being so new to this country.

 

I was there the weekend before the NY tea party and talk to both the lady and the manager for nearly an hour. The manager was telling me the new parts for FCS that will be at the NY tea party...this is what i got.
-they will ship all dolls/items in there store to anywhere in usa plus mexico also.
-if you come in and order your FCS, they WILL ship to you after it's done if you pay for shipping. (only in USA and mexico plus another place i forgot.)
-Reason for not having someone else order your FCS is that you loose the personal time you put into choosing your doll and if any part is wrong, they can't replace it for you since you are not the one who ordered and choose them.
-also there has been people helping other but the writen words are taken differently from the mouth to the translator when asked. And people had been unhappy with the faceup before.
-They can be quite resonable. Like they said they would not sale Mai and TAe on display but some time later they did. It also depends on their manager (he used to be the manager in Akiba before).
x.