Los Angeles Dolpa Thread (Nov. 24 & 25th)

OK, I checked out Super Shuttle from Burbank and if you could arrange with people to arrive at the airport all at the same time, your trip should be pretty inexpensive. 7 people can ride in the van at once. The first passenger cost is $39 and each additional is $9. So if two of you could ride together, it's $24 each. If you can get three together, it's $19 each. If you can get four people together, it's $16.50 each. If 5 people ride, it's $15. Six people ride, it's $14 each. Seven, roughly $13.30. If you go for the exclusive 9 person van, it's $10.44 per person for 9 people. Eight people in the exclusive van is $11.75.

Flying into Ontario might not be worth it because it's $80 for the first person. So that'll probably debunk the cheaper fare. Unless you opt for the exclusive 9 person van, which is a flat $145. That divided by 9 is $16 each.

Long Beach is the same pricing as Burbank. Which is still reasonable.

Orange County (John Wayne) is a bit pricey, but not as bad as Ontario. Their first passenger cost is $72 and each additional is $9. So two people would be $40.50. Three, $30. Four, $24.75. Five, $21.60. Six, $19.50. Seven, $18. If you get the exclusive van, it's a flat $137. That, divided between eight people, $17.25. Nine people, $15.22.

So depending on how much cheaper the tickets are for those other airports, it might be worth it to try to fly into them. The $10 price is certainly worth trying to get 9 people to fly in within hours of each other if Burbank or Long Beach airfare is cheaper.

 

Looks like I'll pass. This is turning into a logistical nightmare and I'd only be there for a day and a half. Its not worth the 500+ airfare.

 

I'll probably go if there is a lottery, will there be one this Dolpa? I didnt get a reply earlier ^^; .

 

There will probably be a lottery. But you won't know until probably the day of. Volks is kind of quiet about that kind of stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure I'm going. The drive to and from Vegas isn't bad -- I just hope traffic home isn't going to be a nightmare! I'm excited to see what sort of limiteds they will offer, but I'm REALLY excited to see the oneoffs! I'd love to see a oneoff SwD Myu/Maggie/Sakura .

I have a question, and please excuse me if it's a dumb one. Is the $60 entrance fee for just one person, or one person AND the companion? Thanks!

 

I do believe that it is per person unfortunately, as for the last NY party your guest also had to pay the entry fee to come.

 

I am super excited =D. Ironically, I was just at the LAX Hilton two days ago. I hope we get some more info from Volks soon so I can figure out airfare and all that.

Yaaay, nonetheless. XD

 

Ughhhhh. I'm almost positive I'm going.

But it depends if I can get my job by then.

I WANT and COULD order my plane tickets now, but if something goes wrong/I can't make enough money, I would have tickets to LA for no reason. T___T

 

Were there picketers?

 

Actually, no, not that I saw. Granted, I wasn't staying at the hotel, just hanging out there for a little while, but I didn't see any. I was surprised to learn of the strike. There was no sign of it XD;

 

Most of the time, picketers only show up when a specific union group comes to town. They are like professional picketers. When you do see people picketing infront of hotels, it's usually that group and not the hotel employees at all. So they're not there all of the time.

 

Gah, I hate staying in hotels where there are staff problems.

 

Just received a reply from the LA Sumika:

Thank you for your inquiry.

We are very sorry to say that we are not going to open our
stores during the Dolpa LA event due to all of our staff will
be at the event site.
We apologize for any inconvenience that may caused.
Thank you very much for your understanding and patience.

Sincerely,

VOLKS USA Web Service Center

Figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

So this means that I'm off the hook unless I get into one of the painting classes or win a one-off. *has difficulty imagining this happening* Woohoo! More money to blow on clothes!

 

I hate to say it but I agree with you. No matter how much I want my FCS kids, the kids I have need more clothes

 

Phooey.
So they're not going to have FCS at the dolpa and the store won't be open during the dolpa....

Do you think we can persuade them to open the store for FCS on Friday or Monday?

Oh, and, while I'm wishing, that they have the new MSD F-18 head in their options. >o<;

 

We could try to do an email campaign to convience them.

 

Web site updated with 7 Fun Privileges and Beauty Salon hours.

 

While the e-mail campaign is a funny idea, it's not something we should actually do. Everyone wants to e-mail/petition Volks for everything these days. Let's just experience the Dolpa the way they plan it.

 

I understand your point St. James, but then again you live in CA. :/
I may never get back to CA again. T_T

Perhaps a single e-mail with a list of people interested in FCS at the Dolpa would be less harassing.

 

If it's done respectfully, I can't see that it would hurt to try. I live in L.A., but I certainly can understand that someone who is making a special trip to the Dolpa and who is interested in an FCS--or see the store--might wish it were open for a day, before or after.

They said the problem was with those working the store--that they'd be busy at the Dolpa... but maybe a special day before or after could be arranged because of the unusual event?

If not, then that's that. Good luck.

 

Can you imagine how tired they are going to be after the event? Or how busy they will be before hand? Let me tell you from experience, it takes a few days to recover from running something like that. Just seeing the staff after the New York party would be enough to tell you that they would just be too tired to open the store afterwards. Those poor people were trying to drag their poor bodies around. It would be a shame if you guys guilt them into it and they were just miserable afterwards.

It sucks that they aren't doing it at LA, but if you would be able to make it to the next New York party, then I am sure you'll be able to do FCS there.

 

There's an update on the Dolpa page for the US Dolpa Committee Journal.

It's discussing price increases and legal problems and how that will affect bringing over Japanese vendors. The wording is a little odd in places, but it looks like it's not going to happen. They do mention trying to bring FCS to the Dolpa, though.

 

Good luck to them. This is turning into a logistical nightmare.

 

WOw! Poor Volks! The Japanese vendors were a pretty big lure, but maybe we'll get to do FCS after all! What do you bet they make the Sato only heads available as compensation? *dreams big*

 

That would be the way to get me to spend the money I'd planned on spending in the market. The only FCS dolls I want for myself at this moment are Sato-only, or have Sato-only options!

 

Its a shame that they are having problems with realizing Shigeta-san's dream.

I do hope they include Sato only heads for this event! Im yearning for a tan SD13 F-34 girl, and Im ecstatic that it may come true!

 

Wow. Ditto on pretty much everything said in the last 4-5 posts @_@

Sato FCS at dolpa... sounds like a lovely dream... and it definitely would get my wallet to open quite a bit wider xD; *falls*.

 

I'm excited about the FCS mention, but I wish they'd have addressed the horrible timing issue of the event being during Thanksgiving and all.

 

From the disappointing news, it sounds like the Thanksgiving weekend is hurting Volks' plans as well. Either they or the vendors cant afford the increase in airfare as well, and they probably didnt expect it. I wonder if Volks has an actual American help them plan and arrange their USA events. I get the impression that they dont utitlize their American employess or contacts as much as they should.

 

I actually went into the store and discussed the date with some of the employees and they stated that it was either the weekend that Dolpa is set at otherwise they would have to wait a whole more year before having an LA Dolpa, and due to the fact that they had already told so many people that it was going to be happening fall of this year they didn't want to disappoint people by holding off for another year.

 

It is a shame about the Japanese vendors. ;_; But I trust Volks to come up with a wonderful event all the same. *^^*

 

Actually they stated that the Yen dropping 126% to the $1 is the main reason the vendors can't afford it.

 

the yen vs dollar is a lot better than it has been in a long time. its at the highest its been since 2003. right now it think its about 122 yen per 1.00 us dollar

 

I know this was a big deal to accomplish, however I agree with you Janne, Volks will make this an outstanding event, and maybe they will invite some US vendors..could be interesting..

 

I just hope they decide whether they'll be offering FCS at the Dolpa before registration begins. If they do, I'd love to go. If not, I'll be flying out to LA to do FCS instead. I've put off getting my dream doll for too long as it is ~ no event, not even the first "real" U.S. Dolpa, is going to tempt me for getting her!

 

The Yen against the Dollar has been pretty stable since the beginning of the year from 120 - 122 yen to the dollar. I don\'t really see what everyone is complaining about.

 

Thanks for the info, but I was just repeating what the US Dolpa Committee said on their journal about why they are having problems. My post has nothing to do with how well the Yen is doing compared to recent years.

 

Once again, I am just repeating what the US Dolpa Committee said on their journal.

 

I know. What I meant was that the Japanese and the Koreans are always complaining about their money dropping and they don\'t seem to realize that we in the US are the ones that are spending the money and if their yen/won goes up, it\'s bad for us. So no one wins.

 

Ahhh ok, I just didn't want anyone thinking I had just made that up

 

Oh, that's a shame about the Japanese dealers. But I'm sure Volks will put on a fabulous event, like they always do! Let's let them surprise us.

I do wonder about the FCS being offered though. I totally can understand why it is not normally offered at (Japanese style) Dolpas -- those Dolpas are big enough and have enough going on already! The NY Dolpa was kind of like a really big, longer version of the LA parties, I get the idea.

 

Yeah, it may be sad that they can't come but hey- there's always the possibility of next time .

I think we should all keep an positive attitude . It's something we've all been dreaming of, a dolpa right here in our home country! I'm sure that everyone will have a great time and the event will be spectacular so I don't think there's any need to be overly disappointed in it now ^^ I'm just still really grateful it's happening at all! And I can't wait to see what limited(s?!?!?!) we'll meet there .

 

I suppose it's a good time to focus on what they WILL have at the Dolpa....

-One-offs. Many of us love one-offs and the chance to get one. Yeah, not all of us WILL, but hey...the prospect?

-The charity doll. I know, way out of the budget of many, but still, for those who are into that? It's there.

-Dinner, and if Volks has anything to say about it, it will be a GOOD dinner, I think. The event last August at the Mansion was wonderful, and if it's close to that, I will be very happy.

-The custom contest. Really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I have a great idea for my MSD, but I need to see if it will fit into the theme at all. If it does, great! If not? Ahwell. She can sit and look cute!

-Maybe Bingo? I know, it's not brought up yet, but hey, the chance is there..I loved Bingo last time, even though I didn't win anything. But my fiance' and I were REALLY close.

-Limited editions. Worst thing? They only sell limited items and merchandise that would normally be at the store that isn't FCS. Best case? They'll basically move the store's upper floor to the Hilton and we get FCS to boot. Speaking as a person who has been to the store when it's packed to the max? Not being at the actual Sumika when this event is going on will be a VERY good thing.

-The possibility that there will be SOME form of market/dealer's room, even if Japanese vendors are few or none.

-A lot of your fellow doll fans in one place, and new resin friends to meet all over the place.


But that's me being an optimist. I think it's awesome that Volks is stepping up to the plate to put this on for us, and feel fortunate that they put so much effort in the last year or so into their customers, with opening the Sumika and the events they have already held.

 

Yes, I understand that they did state that the yen dropping was the reason why vendors can't afford it. I know this too, since I read the same English announcement that you did.

But maybe youre not seeing how Im connecting the yen dropping to the increased cost of hotels and airfare during Thanksgiving weekend. You see, I was referring to the specific increase in most hotel and airfare in the USA during Thanskgiving. This is something that even American fans and vendors have complained about. Now, if the yen is depreciating in value compared to the US dollar, then the general increase in price to travel and stay in the US will impact the Japanese visitors much more than Americans and much worse during this specific holiday weekend.

So I wonder: Does Volks have an American contact or an agent who would know enough about the US to expect increased prices during the Thanskgiving weekend? I know that they do have American employees, but I dont believe that these employees have any or much impact on the upper-level decisions. And it's a shame, because I think if Volks had an American representative to help plan events, then they could have avoided the dilemna and Shigeta-san would not be so disappointed in failing to achieve his dream and promise of bringing a genuine Dolpa to the USA.

 

I've never heard of hotel room sales being illegal in CA. I've been to conventions here and it was never a problem. I saw that Dollectable had a restriction on it. Even if no room sales I am sure there will be plenty of swapping and trading going on.

I believe that Volks does their travel arrangements with agents in Japan not here. I never believed they would actually rent a plane and fly a bunch of people over, that would cost a great deal of money. I imagine most of the people who sell at the Japan Dolpas have other jobs, and it takes time to arrange visa and the cost of flying may be too much for most, they would not make up the money with sales. I would hope that maybe Volks could arrange for one or two of the bigger vendors at least to come over, that would be a very nice treat for us.

It looks like they will be selling the wigs and kimonos like they did in New York.

While it would be nice for the Store to be open on Friday it is not likely since they are operating as a internet business at that location and not as a retail store. That is why the store can only be open on the weekends when the other businesses are for the most part closed. I do wonder if they will be open Thanksgiving day, because in the past they have opened on Holidays since the other businesses were closed.

 

That is too bad about the Japanese vendors not coming although I have to say it doesn't really surprise me. I'm still not sure about coming myself as the price of airfare is more then I expected and the alternative of driving down will be more difficult with the holiday. I agree, I wish they would consult their American staff who probably would have advised against Thanksgiving weekend.

 

I think Visa issue is the biggest reason why Japanese vendors don't come to the dolpa. Japanese vendors need a business Visa if they sell something in the US and I don't think USCIS give them the visa so easily.

 

Ditto that! If I was able to order my FCS, MSD F-19 Suntan Cat Boy.... I would be double thumbs up!!!

 

California puts that restriction on because you are not allowed to sell things in this state unless you have a swap meet permit or a temporary seller's permit. Also, hotels put a restriction on in order to protect their own butts from liability issues.

 

The Japanese tourists can enter United States without a visa but can they *sell* here?

 

Volks is making "Los Angeles Dolpa tour" with JTB. It will be a similar one to "HUIS TEN BOSCH tour" at Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan...

The number of seats for Japanese is 30. When over 30 people applied, Volks will have the lottery. (I heard it from JTB.)

I started to think...if I could join...I have a fear in my health condition though +o+;; I want to meet and talk with DoA members, my friends in USA actually. Dolpas in USA sounds very "at home" and it's indeed attractive!

 

Oh Ria, it would be wonderful if you could make it.. I know it would be a huge trip.. I am trying to plan my next trip to Japan.. Maybe Christmas again.

 

Looks like the Makeup class will be offering the Exclusive A or Sweet Dream A Heads according to the FAQ.
http://site.volksusa.com/html/2007/dolls_party_la_2007/faq/index.html

 

OK! I am so pumped that there will be Face up classes, and I plan to take one and buy the School A head to create my own boy. Question is.... Will Volks be selling bodys, eyes, wigs, etc to finish the doll with at the Dolpa? Is this something that's been done at past Dolpas?

 

Does anyone know how much it was to take the makeup class and buy a school head at the NY Dolpa? I don't see the prices mentioned anywhere yet on the pages for the LA Dolpa, and I am trying to estimate just how much all of this is going to cost me if I get to go.

 

Nytshaed - Volks did offer all of those things at the NY Dolpa this year, though you had to sign up for them ahead of time.

sunflowerdoll - The workshop class fee was $60 and the heads were $163 at NY Dolpa. All the pricing is still on the Workshop page of the NY Dolpa site, here. ^^

 

I believe that the prices for the NY class were as follows:

Class - $60 (includes supplies)
Head - $163
Eye, wig, lash pack - $66
Bodies (SD13 boy or SD10 girl) - around $600
Face cover - $11

Adds up, doesn't it?

Edit: thesaraghina is a faster typist than me.