Payment Layaway? How does it work?

This question could be better answered if you would tell us which company you'd like to order from!

 

It depends on if you're buying directly from the company or from someone like Dolls And Friends or Denverdoll.com.
Denverdoll took my downpayment on Hazy before she was released, then I've been paying her off monthly ever since.

 

Most companies make the doll and then send when the layaway is paid off, that's why the payments are nonrefundable most of the time. Send the company you're interested in an email about it ^_^

 

I've heard of companies that allow payments or some sort of layaway plan.

Could someone clear up on this? Like, what companies do it, pro/con, etc. I wouldn't mind paying for a doll if I could do it in small payments.

(If this isn't the right place to ask, sorry )

Thanks!

 

This thread is a comprehensive list of BJD companies, and it marks the ones that do layaway:
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171927

The companies with an exclamation point by their name accept layaway. Plans will vary by company though, so it's usually best to check each company's FAQ for specifics of their plan.

Featherfall and Denver Doll Emporium both offer layaway and are located in North America (Featherfall is in Canada, and DDE is in Denver, CO). That means cheaper shipping for those of us here in the states. They both represent a number of different companies as well. I've done business with each, and had great experiences both times.

Also (once you fulfill the requirements for marketplace access) many sellers on DoA will accept layaway, and terms are usually listed in their sales thread. I have successfully bought several dolls on layaway secondhand.

As with many things in this hobby, a good bit of poking around on the boards and running a search for "layaway" (especially in the "Buying and Shipping Questions" area) will yield a lot of information. Good luck!

 

:3 thanks so much - i will check out the links

 

I dunno if this is the right section not the right title but if there's a topic like this feel free to direct me ....

OK so I've been looking around DoA and I saw a couple of people paying for their dollies little by little...
can we really do that?? how? is it from the company to owner or just from an owner to an owner...
I need help i'm confused ...

Does DoD have layaway?
thanks for all the replies...it was sad though ..i want a DOD...but i may like someone else...


EDIT:
One question though...does it include clothes.?? like if you want a layaway [just figured that out]
for clothes, shoes and accessories??

 

Yes, some companies (and other owners) offer layaway. You basically put down a certain amount of money as a non-refundable deposit, then have a set amount of time to pay the rest. After it's fully paid your doll is sent to you.

 

quite a few companies have layaway plans - visit the website of the company you're looking to buy your doll from and search for a payment section that might have layaway options, or the FAQ page. you can always ask on the site's Q&A board, too.

 

ohh thanks ..now i need to know which companies do that.... *hugs both*

 

bumping it up

to mods:
thanks for moving it...^^ [not so good with things around here yet]

 

Iplehouse and Soom offer layaway. I don't know of any other companies though.

 

I'm pretty sure DoD doesn't allow for layaways. ]:

Lots of people in the Marketplace do? Haha.

 

There's also Denver Doll Emporium. You can order from them (they're an authorized dealer for several companies), and they have up to a 4-month layaway plan, which is really convenient.

 

If you look at Bubble Gum Goth's company thread here it tells you all the companies that do layaways.

 

DOD don't do layaway

 

...wow.. thanks..

thanks for the info ... this is bitter-sweet though...

oohhhh cool..imma check that out...

wow...thanks this is what i need....

NOOOOOOOOO~!!! and i wanted a DOT....

 

Thanks for all your replies and help...~~ appreciate it very much

 

I hope I posted this in the right place ^^; I didn't see a question section =3

I'm thinking of doing a layaway plan on my leekeworld and (hopefully some time in the near future XD) iplehouse dolls. I was just wondering how it works. Do they send you the doll after it's completed, even if you haven't finished the payments yet, or do they wait until the payments are all done THEN send you the doll.

Just wondering, and thanks! ^_^

 

With a layaway plan, you have to put down a certain amount of money when purchasing the doll - it varies with each company, but it is usually around half of the doll's total cost - and then the company gives you a month or two to make the remaining payments. They will then send the doll upon receiving the final payment.
Hope that helps

 

yeah I figured as much LoL. Just wanted to make 100% sure ^_^ thanks!!

 

Many companies also wait until the full layaway has been paid off before beginning production on the doll, so even after you pay your final installment it may still take their normal production time before the doll is shipped.

 

ooh that I didn't know, thanks for the heads up ^_^ I'll make sure to check the sites and see how that works for them

 

I had the very same question! thank you KatKitoshi for asking it!

 

Of course i know how it "works" but is it only for informal sellers? or do established sellers do it? like leekeworld and such?

 

Just as some sellers may or may not offer layaway, it's the same with companies. Some companies, such as Soom, do offer it, but others, like Volks, do not. You'd have to look into whichever company you're interested in to see their particular policy.

 

Also, a good quick reference is the list of BJD companies posted by Bubble Gum Goth:

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171927

The companies that offer layaway have an exclamation point in front of their name.

 

Some places like Denver Doll, that sell more than one company's dolls, have layaway too.

 

I have another question about layaway.

Do they make your doll after the first payment and send them right after the last payment or do you have to wait the month or two it takes them to make the doll after paying the whole price?

 

This depends on the company. Some will not make the doll until final payment and some will make the doll but keep your initial payments if you back out of the layaway.
Obviously, a layaway for a seller on DOA will be at the Sellers discression.
When I ordered my Benetia from Dolls and Friends they ordered her when I put my deposit down but I would forfit any payments I made if I backed out. Most companies have a written policy if they do not email them for it, they will be happy to supply you it.

 

Thank you Tsukidoll.

I'm guessing that means a company that doesn't refund your initial payment is more likely to start making the doll immediatly.

I was thinking of buying from Angel Region and they say

The restocking fee also leads me to believe that they will make it while on layaway.

Does anyone actually know, for sure, with Angel Region?

 

Actually, Angel Region is owned by Soom. If you layaway a doll from them, they will not make the doll until the last payment is paid. I ordered Chrom in June, around the first, and paid him off in August. I didn't get him until October. So you'll be waiting either way if you save and pay it off or if you put it on layaway.

 

Okay thanks Rynn007, I was afraid of that since I won't be at my apartment during the summer timing would be an issue.

 

Well, you can always set up an ING account and save the money there, and when you get enough, go ahead and get it, or if the timing is a problem, it can sit and make more money.

Layaway also is a timing issue. It's 4 months max on layaway with Soom.

 

Angel Region goes for six months. I was looking at limited dolls that's why I would want to get them asap but yeah...

 

Ah, I figured since they updated their site, everything was 4 months.

 

I'd rather restring the doll than having it too tight. My first wasn't bobobie and it was strung very tight. The body is like bend all the time and hard for me to coordinate the pose.

Really, if bobobie is loosely strung, i might purchase one one day (^.<)

 

Okay, what I know about layaways:

It's basically paying for something in installments, except you don't get the item until you make the last payment. If the transaction is cancelled by buyer before full payment is made, all payments made so far are forfeit. Basically a reservation with some insurance for the seller.

Is that right? Also, anything I need to watch out for when doing a layaway? (both as a buyer and seller) I'm not familiar with this system, and don't want any nasty surprises.

 

is this for a company or the market place? basically what you wrote is it. you pay in installments allowing you to purchase something you might not be able to pay for in full right away. you will lose all your payments if you cancel. different companies will have different programs, so you need to check and see how many months they allow, and how much initial deposit you need to make. they might allow a longer layaway with a service fee..... check in the "news, notice, or website FAQ's" to see the layaway program for a specific company.

in the market place.... you might have a little more leeway as to the arrangement. that's between you and the seller.

 

Mmm okay, thanks a lot!

 

I would just add that if you're participating in a layaway in the Marketplace, as a buyer or a seller, you should check the feedback of the other person. Of course, that holds true for all purchases.

 

what I wondered is will I get a doll quicker on layaway than saving up myself? as in; do they start producing the doll while your paying or not start until its all payed off?

 

I thiiiiiiink they start making the doll as you pay, which is why you can't get a refund, because that money covers the cost of making the doll. That's what I heard. But I'd like to res this thread and hear more about how layaway works, since I want to sell dolls in the near future, and I'd like to use the practices that buyers are used to. ^^;

Can anyone tell me what the average layaway times and installment prices are, roughly? (Or give some examples of different companies?) Does the company set an amount that has to be paid monthly like car payments or something? Or do you kind of just pay whatever you want whenever you can until you've paid it off?

 

I've not paid by layaway myself, but from what I've seen with companies they usually offer a layaway over a couple of months where you pay equal fractions each month, possibly with a larger first installment. So for example a 3 month layaway would be three equal payments each a month apart (or perhaps half up front and one quarter each for the other two payments). I doubt most doll companies would want to deal with people who just pay gradual tiny amounts whenever they feel like it, it's a hassle. Some private sellers might be okay with that kind of thing, but I think most would rather just sell the doll outright with firm terms and agreed payment amounts than hang on for several months or a year getting $20 and $30 at a time with no end date in sight and no way to tell when they'll have the full amount.

Think of it from the other side- would you buy something from a seller who offers free shipping but under the condition that they'll put a dollar or two toward the shipping cost whenever they feel like it and they'll ship when they have enough? I sure wouldn't.

As for when the doll is made, I'm sure it varies depending on the company and the particular sculpt in question.

 

(Long post, sorry!)

So layaway is cool, but you're going to find that it varies a great deal from company to company. Examples (I have done loads of company layaway) range from up to 3 payments within 30 days for Angelheim dolls, to Souldoll allowing for 3 payments over 60 days, to a company like Soom allowing, depending on the cost of the order, 3-part of 4-part layaway. Keep in mind that the first payment will be due immediately to secure your order. Always check with a company's FAQ to see what sort of payments they will and won't accept.

And if you find a company's payment options restrictive, there are a couple of things you can do. Souldoll's 60-day period may not sit well with you, but they have a US dealer, Denver Doll Emporium, who offers a 4-part layaway, which may be more pleasing to you. You can also ask the company if they are willing to set up a different schedule. Some companies may accomodate you, I've heard Angelheim is willing to do longer layaways if asked politely, and Soom has definitely done longer in the past. They may be willing to do so if you're a previously known customer, however.

Now, as for how much the first payment is, this too will vary from company to company. Soom typically does equal payments. Souldoll specifies a certain amount up-front depending on initial doll price, and then asks that the two remaining payments be split into two equal parts. Other companies may vary, but keep in mind that a certain fee is non-refundable, so making, as an example, only a 10% down-payment probably won't go over well.

What happens if you can't make a payment? LET THEM KNOW. Categorically, the worst thing you can do for a doll company is not let them know if something unexpected happens, as they aren't going to chase you around like your mother trying to get you to clean your room, they'll cancel your order and you'll be out money. Even if it's not everything you paid, the company will send anything outside of the non-refundable fee back minus PayPal fees or whatnot, so you're out more than you sent across, keep that in mind!

And yes, you should never expect a company to set something like a 12-month layaway up for you, or to expect $10 a week for 32 weeks or anything like that, totally outside their business model. If you send them a payment outside of your schedule, LET THEM KNOW. Because otherwise they're likely to lose that payment, and then at the end, they'll say 'you missed a payment' and you'll have to go about proving that, no you didn't. Which can take time and delay your doll. Case in point, last week I made an out-of-band payment on a Soom doll I have on layaway, but in my haste I forgot to let them know. Fortunately, I have bought a lot from Soom, so they sent me an email asking about the payment they'd gotten, and I confirmed it and all, so all was well. That may not happen with many other doll companies if you are paying out of schedule, early or late.

Now making the doll? Unsurprisingly, it depends on the company. Soom LEs are typically made after the order's complete, though I know there have been times that people have finished layaways (like me) and gotten dolls very quickly after, but that's the official company line. Souldoll, if your read their site, will indicate they start making their dolls after the second of three payments you make on layaway. Angelheim has said they start making the dolls as soon as the order is placed, which I can pretty much confirm as I ordered a doll from them as soon as they opened, and received my boy before many people who'd paid in full but ordered after me. Luts doesn't do layaway for their regular dolls, but will do a limited layaway for their new limiteds. So check with the company and ask them if they don't state it on their site.

Oh yes, and prices! Amazingly, this too varies by company, LOL! So Soom will divide its payments up equally, before their new system was in-place they required a 25% down-payment, which was the non-refundable part, and then you could split it up. Souldoll will ask for a certain quantity up-front, this can vary from doll-to-doll, so be sure to check if you order from them, and the final two payments would each be half of the remaining money owed. It can vary from company to company, but usually the first payment or a total percentage is non-refundable.

Ultimately, is it more satisfying to wait until you've saved the money up, versus doing the layaway? It depends on you. I like layaway, because I tend to order limited dolls a lot, and I like the flexibility of paying over time or finishing up early depending on how things are going IRL, I find if I try to save the money up, some hobgoblin will come along and break my car or my tooth or whatnot, and bye-bye doll. But with layaway comes the risk of having to back out of the order anyway, leaving you with a bad experience under your belt. So really, the ball's in your court on whether you'd find a monthly payment frustrating versus the penny-pinching of saving up for one big payment.

I hope this has been helpful!

.hlp

 

Thanks for the long post, a lot of detailed, clear info in there! Exactly what I wanted. :3
Thank you too Sqwerlie, that does make sense!

 

I lucked out with Denver dolls... I missed a payment by a month and reguardless of their policy, they let me make the final two payments togethe rover the phone. I didn't expect it and was sure I was losing my $100 I previously paid due to getting married and going away last month.... and moving this month...things were a bit crazy for me and I had actually thought I had made that payment.... but the doll is my first and I was so excited, when I saw I had missed it I felt like crying(ok maybe I did).... I am getting the wrong skin color but she gave me options on in-stock dolls (mine was in stock at the time I preordered).... I am one very lucky girl! I bought outfit and wig and all....