Scam on Ebay: seller "brandshopping-2008"

They're baaaack....http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZbrandshopping-2008

I can't believe it - the same auctions with the same stolen photos of Volks dolls

Looks like eBay only took them down temporarily.

 

arrrrrrggggggggg - I saw them back again this morning. same ebay ID so I'm not sure how she went from 'not a registered user' to back to listing the exact same items and same photos.
I've gone in and reported them again.....

 

Argh! I saw the real auction for the boy named 'Zzang' and I was so tempted to bid!!!

And were's the good feedback coming from? Their friends?

 

Probably newcomers that don't know any better.

 

I got this e-mail thismorning from the winner of one of the doll auctions:

Q: Hello, once again thank you for your concern and advice! You were the only person who tried to warn me and I really appreciate that. I haven't contacted this fake dolls seller because I noticed that all his auctions were closed (I don't know by e-bay or by himself) and he dissapeared from e-bay. I just clicked "ignore" to his payment request on my PayPal account which means he got e-mail from PayPal informing that I've done that, but I haven't heard from him... Anyway, I have bad news, looks like "Kisa" (fake Megu) is back and the rest of the fake dolls too. I'm going to report report these items after finishing writing this e-mail. But, since I'm not a registered DoA member and I can't post messages in their forum (I will register finally) I want you to know about his return. Please girls try to stop him, I just hate what he's doing! ...

Poor girl was gutted, but in the rest of the e-mail explained she'll be joining us over here shortly Soooooo lets get this a'hole off ebay again!! *rolls up sleeves* Time to whoop some butt!!

 

I got this from ebay today:

Well, this blows. i guess there really isn't anything we can do short of finding the artists. I had contacted Masuho of Musée Noir and the artist who painted the School A sold under the name "Zzang" earlier through their websites, and I know that the former took action which is probably why that auction hasn't resurfaced.

I just wish that was enough for ebay to ban this seller entirely. It's already fishy looking enough as it is. No two picture has the same quality level, style, or watermark. And on the earlier auctions, when I asked the seller if these were their own photos, they replied they were provided by the company they're "affiliated" with. So if at least one got taken down because the legitimate owner reported the theft, doesn't that prove that they are lying on all counts?

Bah, wall of text, sorry.

 

I see that Masuho has even wrote about this incident in her latest blog entry >__< and she thanks us for letting her know.

This seller is up again?

 

I'm watching every auction and messaging every winning buyer of the dolls with stolen photographs... This sucks soooo badly, and I e-mail ebay asking why they arent making its safe place to shop... I dunno if anyone else is feeling as frustrated as me. THIS SUCKS!!!!! Has anyone heard from Volks on the matter?

 

I share your frustration

Volks thanked me for bringing it to their attention and said that they would look into the matter and take appropriate action if need be.

I don't think there's really anything that Volks can do because the photos weren't stolen from them and the seller isn't claiming that the dolls are Volks sculpts.

For eBay to ban this seller, I think what will need to happen is an ebay buyer (or a few) will have to complete a transaction, receive a doll and report it as being counterfeit or significantly different from what was advertised in the auction.

 

I really wish I could be the one to use BIN and see what happens, but I'm just scared I would never recoup the money.

 

So what's the thing with this seller on e-bay? /copied dolls from Volks or doesn't send them or sends something cheap and crappy? Just wondering on the specifics ><'

 

Sounds like people need to keep telling ebay these sellers are not right and are thieves. Most feedback I bet is from buying not selling, but didn't look.

 

they only sold a couple of these dolls so far so too soon for anyone to have gotten one and been able to evaluate quality etc or to even know if they receive anything at all. It is possible, I suppose, that this seller acutally bought AOD bodies (I can't imagine why anyone would make bootlegs/re-casts of something that is already inexpensive), but who knows what kind of heads the buyers will get.

 

I've been following this thread, and was looking at the ebay sales, and I am wondering if this is one of the stolen images and if so, who is the real face-up artist?



I feel like I've seen this image before, but I just can't remember where.

 

I'm really glad I found this thread, as I've been pondering over this sellers dolls for a few weeks.

They seemed very good value for money, and being an old-time ebayer, i've held off because something seemed too good to be true.

The low feedback also put me off, as well as no specific brands being mentioned in the descriptions.

 

Always be suspecious of sellers that dont say what the manufacturer is in the title. Those that go '1/3 BJD SD' etc...

 

Being quite new to it all I did jump in a little hasty with my second BJD purchase. There was no brand or name, but she was in the UK and a very good buy it now price, more over I liked her look, so I bought her and took the risk.

She is a Fantasy Doll Nina, I only found out though through the great people on here

 

I'd say the best way to tell if they have the item is to ask them to take a picture of the doll with their ebay id on paper, or a newspaper with todays date. It seems weird that ebay wouldnt ban the seller if they dont actually HAVE the items.

 

I did ask for photos:
one of unpainted head that you would receive
one of head on actual body

they replied that they would add phots working. but then did not.

I did however notice that in some of the listings the AOD body photos have been removed and all that's l;eft are the stolen custom head pics.

 

Maybe someone could ask for more pictures of the head from different angles?

 

I just reported another School A head and indicated that it's either recast or a stolen image. And mentioned that a School A goes for upwards of twice the price they list for the whole doll.

I don't know why a legitimate seller would be stupid enough to do that to themselves - halve the amount they could make, I mean. The notion is so ridiculous!

And I can't picture Volks selling miscasts or overstocks or anything that just "happened" to have been made up by famous artists...

I feel really bad for AoD, too, because those are NICE bodies even if they are on the inexpensive end of the scale...and to think they might have been purchased legitimately and are now being used in scams is a real disservice to the legit company. They don't deserve to have their product dragged through the mud like this.

Keep on reporting!

 

I just read all 8 pages of this. A few months ago I was looking at buying a Dark Elf Soo off ebay. The same seller had a Lishe for sale. A full set, faceup, wig, eyes, and outfit. It was priced at a buy it now for what a regular Lishe no outfit or face up would cost. Later on DOA I saw the Dark Elf Soo, it had to be the same one because the outfit and faceup were the same. I then pm the seller on Ebay and asked how they were selling there new dolls from Luts. Did they work for Luts and were using their employee discount to make some money? I asked a few other questions regarding face up and such and I did not get any reply back. I probably should have reported them now that I think about it but I saw one of their dolls on here DOA. Actually I think I am gonna go see if I can find that doll now on here and pm the owner. Can any tell me who the old Luts ebayer was that was selling the counterfit dolls?

 

Regarding Ebay pulling the listings and/or suspending the seller: Would Ebay class the seller as doing anything wrong?

They are making a listing of a doll, with pictures of the doll.

They aren't saying it is something it is not, they aren't lying as such, just perhaps not telling the whole truth (not that we know for certain?)

If people are happy to pay the price and recieve what they see and are told they will recieve in the listing, is the seller doing anything wrong?

Please, bare in mind I am totally new to BJD collecting, so I am only just finding out how indepth it all is, with professional artists and such, so please forgive me if I seem ignorant I do not mean to upset anyone, just curious.

 

Ugh, the things people do... eh. Hopefully we can get all scammers to stop. And I just wanted to add that there's a site called TinEye ( http://tineye.com/login ) and when you put in a link to a certain image or web page it does a search for all other posts of tha image on the web. So say if they post new items and include stolen pictures you could go there and they'd find what web site it was originally from. Or at least they should...

It would help find artists and what not...

 

I think it's from Channel Toy Box but I cannot find that exact pic from her website (she has too many photos on her site))

 

The thing is that people couldn't possibley recieve what they see in most of these listings. For instance, one of the items someone linked to above was a Volks head, made only for their SD sized dolls, yet the seller listed it as a complete 1/4 doll. How could they be getting the doll shown in the photos if she's a 1/3 doll? Unless they legitimately had the Volks head and were sending it on a 1/4 sized body, which means they'd be screwing themselves over financially and the buyer would recieve a head and body that don't fit together >>;

 

I notice they are selling Cocotribe dolls. What is up with that? I really want Ruby, but I don't want a fake version or anything.

 

I too was suspicious of the 4 sisters head shown in one of their auctions for a 1/4 doll so I emailed them and asked about it. They said they would send a picture of the head. I received some pictures of blank 1/4 bodies with heads on them. I don't know which or whose heads, but not the heads in any of their stolen images. They need to be shut down.

 

Could you post those pictures for us to see? Maybe someone here can identify the heads and bodies. I wonder if they show what this seller is REALLY selling.

 

Ah right I see thankyou, I think I am getting a much clearer view of what they are doing.

I suppose it wasn't going to be long until some unscrupilous people saw the money being made in this area, the same as designer rip-offs, they don't have any scruples about not telling the truth.

I'm really in a quandry now about what boy to get

 

Both of the bidders that purchased them chose not to go through with the transaction and reported the suspicions to ebay, ebay pulled the whole lot and hence both buyers were released from their contracts to purchase. One of them who was totally new to BJD's and has not yet purchased her first doll was horrified when I messaged her directly before the listings were pulled. Fortunately she is now a member of DoA and has the opportunity to be better infomed about stuff like this going on...

That and she's fallen hard for a DoC sculpt

 

Good job at redirecting traffic! So proud of you..........>3<

 

I don't think the CocoTribe dolls are fake...
Since the CocoTribe Jerry they have for sale has a picture of him in his box,
where as Kondoll doesn't have that pic and neither does the CT website...
But I still wouldn't buy from them... I would recommend buying ruby from kondoll.com, that's probably the safest option...
​

 

This is so upsetting. I just read through the whole thread, and it's just disgusting. I wish there was a better way to deal with this. Ebay obviously isn't moving on it with any kind of efficiency, and there doesn't seem to be a way to get this information out on a large scale. I only just found this thread today, and how are others who don't have a DoA account at all supposed to find out?

whitewings, you are a wonderful person spending the time to send warnings to the winners. That's the kind of respect and integrity I was really attracted to when I first discovered BDJs.

 

Great! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

http://milkxxtea.gozaru.jp/ Click "custom". It's a custom Lucas.

How do I report to ebay? Do I need to sign up or can I just click "report this"?

 

Oh my word I so should not have clicked that link.

Stunning dolls.

More to the list

 

i think you need an account to report it.

 

This might make me unpopular here but it is my opinion.

My opinion is we all wear jeans, yet Levis is not receiving all the money made on jeans... Imitation though they may be, does not make them originals, will never make them originals and we have a choice to buy brand names or knock off in any market, these dolls included. Perhaps the maker of these dolls is imitating the style in a different size. Yes I agree the photos should be of their own dolls and using them is stealing. However, obviously E-bay didn't think they were doing wrong and put them back. I do think it would be better for them to not imitate, but at the same time, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Out and out stealing is wrong. Misrepresentation of something like saying its Volks when its not, is totally wrong. But that isn't the case here is it?

My first question to ponder this is at what point does a doll become someone else's? If the size is changed, the mold is changed, you do customizing, you do face-up, you do hair, even two dolls of the same mold might have similarities but with hours of work done on them, at what point do they become OOAK?

Another question is how do we know if the person doing custom dolls is not buying these dolls, or is working with this company to help produce these dolls or if he did one of theirs and the photo is of his customization? AOD stated they were buying the bodies no? You've reported to the original companies and they've not stopped them, DOA has banned them as being copies. If someone wants to buy a knockoff, what harm is being done? There was some question of toxic resin but isn't that the case of anything you buy off ebay? Caveat Empire.

Just some questions been rumbling. Its so easy to point a finger at someone but at the same time, but this is some one's livelyhood (likely several people's) not some game to play with little girls saying I don't like that, lets get rid of it. These days jobs are hard to come by and not everyone has a rich mummy and daddy to beg money from to buy or to sell. Again, just my opinion, your own may vary.

 

cicidia: I think there is a huge difference between casting direct copies of pre-existing dolls (I see this as stealing) and just trying to make a living by creating something similar to what's popular. There are many companies who do very well by just following the current trends and creating a cheaper original alternative. And I don't think that's wrong. But people who copy directly and use no skill, creativity or passion to create a new product really should be doing something else. No-one's ruining their career when they aren't willing to put their all into it in the first place.

Not to mention, the stolen photos and dodgy auctions indicate that these people may well be scammers and customers may never receive the doll pictured, if any doll at all. If that was the case, would you still complain about their livelihoods being destroyed?

I know first hand how hard it is to earn money in the current world climate, but it's no excuse to turn to crime (which taking money and not delivering the goods as promised is.)

Ps: caveat emptor, not empire ^^;

 

True, they are not claiming the dolls to be Volks dolls, but the photo of the doll "Sunny" IS in fact a custom Lucas (Volks). So even if they have their own dolls, isn't simply using Shall We Dolls? photos as an example of their product misrepresentation?

Check the link, above. The "Sunny" doll is from Shall We Doll? where it is clearly labeled as &#12523;&#12459;&#12288;&#12459;&#12473;&#12479;&#12512; "Lucas Custom". Why would the person who painted this doll, photographed it, labeled it a Lucas put it on ebay as "Sunny"? I can't speak for the AOD bodies, but Volks would never sell one of their heads with another company's body. Knock off aside, I personally think this is just a plain old scam. So the harm would be that someone would be out $280+ with no doll whatsoever.

People can make a living stealing cars too, but I shouldn't have to feel guilty reporting them to the police if I catch them in the act. Yes, jobs are hard to come by, but that is no excuse for illegal activities.

 

Not to mention, the stolen photos and dodgy auctions indicate that these people may well be scammers and customers may never receive the doll pictured, if any doll at all. If that was the case, would you still complain about their livelihoods being destroyed?

I know first hand how hard it is to earn money in the world climate, but it's no excuse to turn to crime (which taking money and not delivering the goods as promised is.)

Ps: caveat emptor, not empire ^^;[/quote]

But again is this the case? (BTW I agree about the photos) Certainly her feedback doesn't indicate that her buyers didn't get what she "appears" to sell them. And no,I wouldn't be complaining about her loss of livelihood if she was getting bad feedback and not delivering what she promises. But if she truly is scamming wouldn't there be reports on ebay saying she is? At least feedback would indicate somehow if the buyer was truly unsatisfied by what they received. At least one of her buyers is an ebayer from Spain with over 500 in feedback, surely would be able to leave bad if it were the case.

I'm just saying there are some elitists here, who want nothing more than brand name expensive dolls and custom from scratch made dolls and dealers as well, and that's fine. DOA is exactly for that. Don't get me wrong I love being on DOA. But Ebay is an open market where you can buy literally almost anything. Good or bad, its up to the buyer.

And thanks Latin was never my strong point.

 

I think the reason there's no bad feedback regarding dolls yet is that they haven't sold any dolls yet.

I personally wouldn't call it elitism... I think it's just that people want to know exactly what they are getting when the prices are so high. Partly to guarantee a resale value should they have to sell, partly to support the artist who created the doll they love so much, and partly just to know that they own a quality item.

I agree with you that it's up to the buyer, they should be careful, but I don't think this product should be available in the first place. We already have a lot of budget choices, and we can support the people who offer cheaper dolls by buying those.

 

she only has 6 feedback, all over a month old, and none for this group of dolls, so I would say the other feedback is somewhat irrelevant.

She has also posted nonsensical answers to questions. And she has promised several of us that she would post/email additional photos requested (bodies, heads on bodies, actual doll, unpainted heads, etc) and she has not done so. So unless any of the buyers went through with the sale (there were a couple of dolls sold, but the buyers appear to have backed out according to the reposts in theis thread), and reports exactly what they got, I think it's fair to question what, if anything, the buyer would receive.

 

The only feedback for this seller I can find is for MSD Cat Hujoo Doll.
This listing is very different from the auctions I believe to be a scam. She gives a clear explanation of what the product is, and gives the name of the company the doll is from, so it is very likely to be legit.

As for the elitist comment: Taking issue with shady business practices in no way makes someone an elitist. People put a lot of work into these dolls. From the big brands to the "built in a garage" artist dolls and everything in between, a lot of time and effort is put into these dolls. To see someone take credit for someone's hard work to turn a quick profit makes me mad. It has nothing to do with "brand name".

 

I don't see how objecting to a doll scammer is being elitist at all.
This really is along the lines of saying you're selling a small artist's work, putting up a picture of a Rembrant and possibly sending the buyer something you zipped out on your printer, if anything at all...
I think we all know the value of money, and so do the doll companies and customizers. Their hard work is being stolen by this person, and they are loosing the potential revinue for legitimate dolls they would have sold.

 

You are not allowed to sell misrepresented goods on Ebay. Unfortunately Ebay cannot do anything about this without proof, and often that does not happen until a bunch of people have been scammed.

So far, the brandshopping seller has no feedback regarding the abjd being advertised using stolen photos.

Regardless, whatever they are selling, you will not be receiving the artist customized doll you see in the pictures, unless brandshopping purchased that $1500 Volks custom head off y!J and is selling it to you on an AoD body for $280. Volks produces their dolls in Japan, and does not sell OEM parts to other companies.

There is nothing wrong with customizing and reselling dolls, as long as you are honest and upfront about it... build your doll, customize it, take a picture and give the buyers actual information: "Custom DZ Mo head on 1/4 AoD body, painted by brandshopping artists". Using photos of another artist's custom work to advertise your own, or recasting another artist's headsculpt to make money is unacceptable.

Aside from being morally reprehensible, it is unsustainable.

**A talented artist can go out of business because someone is knocking off their work and selling it at half price (and then that artist's future work is lost to the doll world because someone else was too lazy or untalented to produce their own doll sculpt, or too cheap to hire their own artist).
**An artist's integrity is sullied if the knock offs are of inferior quality (because not everyone will know the difference between the knock-off and the real thing).
**Artists and companies raise their prices in order to pay for the legal battles to protect their intellectual property.

In any of those cases, supporters of the doll arts (consumers) suffer, and I am a firm believer in not $$hi77ing where I eat.

If you want to buy a 1/3 abjd in the $250-300 price range, there are several legitimate companies who actually sculpt their own original dolls and produce them for that price. There is no need to resort to bootleggers in order to own a bjd.

Buy a doll from someone who shows you a picture of the actual sculpt and face-up you will be receiving.

 

Today she posted these: unpainted and bodies of the dolls she sells...

http://cgi.ebay.com/BJD-1-4-Doll-Ne...60851QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

Any-one else notice that the head labeled as #4 doesnt match the picture beside it?
SUSPECT!!! And she STILL has the wrong pictures up.... Buying the bodies Legit from the same factory as AoD or not; there was an opportunity to do this the right way from the start and being a lazy sod out to make a quick buck... They did it all wrong!! And then there is still the issue of the heads... where the heck are they from and HOW would she get her hands on a Volks head unless it was a re-cast?

 

**A talented artist can go out of business because someone is knocking off their work and selling it at half price (and then that artist's future work is lost to the doll world because someone else was too lazy or untalented to produce their own doll sculpt, or too cheap to hire their own artist).


A talented artist can charge what they wish true, but it seems a lot are charging very much outside the normal range. When an artist overcharges the average consumer, it opens the door for knockoffs.


**An artist's integrity is sullied if the knock offs are of inferior quality (because not everyone will know the difference between the knock-off and the real thing).

Ebay and any yard or garage sale or open market offer legit as well as knockoffs and anyone buying from them, being market savey is the key. I would suggest that the knockoff market has buyers who want and can't get the originals at what they are being sold for.

Buyer beware, again if not represented as something its not, it shouldn't be a problem.


**Artists and companies raise their prices in order to pay for the legal battles to protect their intellectual property.

They raise their prices from the beginning, often out pricing the average person. This again opens the door for knock offs. The legal battles come after.

In any of those cases, supporters of the doll arts (consumers) suffer, and I am a firm believer in not $$hi77ing where I eat.

Then don't. But isn't it also a bit criminal to pay several hundreds to thousands for a DOLL? I love my dolls don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day, they are dolls. They aren't feeding my children or making me money on the shelf. I wouldn't sell mine, but there are those who do and make a good profit.

If you want to buy a 1/3 abjd in the $250-300 price range, there are several legitimate companies who actually sculpt their own original dolls and produce them for that price. There is no need to resort to bootleggers in order to own a bjd.

There are, and many many times I have fallen in love with a doll only to find invariably its out of stock, not for sale anymore or not in a certain buying period. Its ridiculous. Its ridiculous to only sell on Fridays or during a certain week or be out of stock one day after the doll is posted. How can a business stay in business if it has not product to sell? So realistically,the only choices I have to get something I actually want are the secondary market, or ebay where I can find something similar to what I want, in stock and at a price I can afford. I realize there are some cheaper alternatives out there but not in sculpts I actually love.

So maybe a note to the artist/companies:
If you have a product, sell it, keep production up if you are selling it. If you are making a limited run, say so and offer a cheaper version or similar items to replace it when you leave off. If you are in business to sell then do so. Its hard to have product/artist loyalty if you can't get the product in the first place.

If you don't keep production, stock, and consumer affordability then you will have this problem of someone who can keep up production, offer it as a lower price and keep in stock, like Brandshopping and Saidee and countless others out there.

Its not right, I agree stealing photos is not right. Stealing exact sculpts and recasting is not right. Replicas do have a place in the market, like it or not. I don't know what the solution is however, other than what's being done here. You have informed the companies, you have banned these sellers from DOA and you have warned potential buyers. What more can you do.

 

That is fine if those are heads that s/he got from an OEM and that is what a customer will receive (as I am not familiar with those head sculpts, I have nothing to say about them.)
(But Whitewings, I think the pictures of head number 4 does look like the same sculpt at two different angles).

However, s/he needs to take down auction 270297388859 and 270297392176 unless those are the dolls she is selling, which I doubt.

 

cicidia - before you get on your high horse, go read the artist abjd section and read about how long it takes, the heart break, the time and money spent to make a doll. then you'll see why these dolls cost so much and why it's worth protecting the original artist's work.

these are not barbies - these are pieces of artwork and most of them deserve the prices they go for.

 

A talented artist can charge what they wish true, but it seems a lot are charging very much outside the normal range. When an artist overcharges the average consumer, it opens the door for knockoffs.


overcharging? do you think of the work they have to put into each mold they creat? there no such thing as overcharging for a work someone put their love into each work

**An artist's integrity is sullied if the knock offs are of inferior quality (because not everyone will know the difference between the knock-off and the real thing).
agree

Ebay and any yard or garage sale or open market offer legit as well as knockoffs and anyone buying from them, being market savey is the key. I would suggest that the knockoff market has buyers who want and can't get the originals at what they are being sold for.

Buyer beware, again if not represented as something its not, it shouldn't be a problem.

we do say buyer beware, but not all know of DOA and read these thread, some are still new and isn's fully aware. Saving money is good, but buying something someone steal and resell isn't.


**Artists and companies raise their prices in order to pay for the legal battles to protect their intellectual property.

They raise their prices from the beginning, often out pricing the average person. This again opens the door for knock offs. The legal battles come after.

In any of those cases, supporters of the doll arts (consumers) suffer, and I am a firm believer in not $$hi77ing where I eat.

Then don't. But isn't it also a bit criminal to pay several hundreds to thousands for a DOLL? I love my dolls don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day, they are dolls. They aren't feeding my children or making me money on the shelf. I wouldn't sell mine, but there are those who do and make a good profit.

criminal for paying a 1200 for a doll? i fear not, it not like it going to come nude, it come with face up, blushing, clothing, wig, eyes,shoes, also the mold is cast by hand, not pop out of a machine like barbie. It criminal to rip off another idea, toss it on ebay for a low price, that it like I work on a good piece of artwork, then someone stole that idea and say it theirs. I would be piss, and sadden, because all my hard work come to naught.

If you want to buy a 1/3 abjd in the $250-300 price range, there are several legitimate companies who actually sculpt their own original dolls and produce them for that price. There is no need to resort to bootleggers in order to own a bjd.

agree


There are, and many many times I have fallen in love with a doll only to find invariably its out of stock, not for sale anymore or not in a certain buying period. Its ridiculous. Its ridiculous to only sell on Fridays or during a certain week or be out of stock one day after the doll is posted. How can a business stay in business if it has not product to sell? So realistically,the only choices I have to get something I actually want are the secondary market, or ebay where I can find something similar to what I want, in stock and at a price I can afford. I realize there are some cheaper alternatives out there but not in sculpts I actually love.

So maybe a note to the artist/companies:
If you have a product, sell it, keep production up if you are selling it. If you are making a limited run, say so and offer a cheaper version or similar items to replace it when you leave off. If you are in business to sell then do so. Its hard to have product/artist loyalty if you can't get the product in the first place.

If you don't keep production, stock, and consumer affordability then you will have this problem of someone who can keep up production, offer it as a lower price and keep in stock, like Brandshopping and Saidee and countless others out there.

Its not right, I agree stealing photos is not right. Stealing exact sculpts and recasting is not right. Replicas do have a place in the market, like it or not. I don't know what the solution is however, other than what's being done here. You have informed the companies, you have banned these sellers from DOA and you have warned potential buyers. What more can you do.


so it like your saying, don't charge to much for something at the price it worth, always undercharge so other would buy, if a limited is sale at a time range, date or period, always have a similar back up for a sale after word....then what is the point of anthing being 'limited' or OOAK?

it like no worries all, this is a beloved limited,but we do have a clone in hand for sale later?

Or

I have a OOAK for sale, but i do have another one who look a bit like it for cheaper if anyone want it O.o there no point at all in it then, we might as well say 'barbie for sale, buy one get one half off'

[/QUOTE]

forgot to add there is a very useful thing call 'WTB' in the market place you can post if you miss out on any limited, something many find them not bonding or it fitting into the family it will pop up there, always.

 

Dear cicidia. If you have been in this hobby long enough, you would not be saying these things and be making these bizarre comments. I just can't imagine someone who has a full understanding of it and still be saying these kind of things that you are saying.

 

overcharging? do you think of the work they have to put into each mold they creat? there no such thing as overcharging for a work someone put their love into each work

Yes but if you are charging several hundreds to a 1000 dollars for something, don't be surprised when someone comes along that can make it cheaper and have it in stock for the buyer.

**An artist's integrity is sullied if the knock offs are of inferior quality (because not everyone will know the difference between the knock-off and the real thing).
agree


we do say buyer beware, but not all know of DOA and read these thread, some are still new and isn's fully aware. Saving money is good, but buying something someone steal and resell isn't.

I agree that stealing is wrong, I also think witch hunting is wrong and stealing a livelihood is wrong.


**Artists and companies raise their prices in order to pay for the legal battles to protect their intellectual property.



criminal for paying a 1200 for a doll? i fear not, it not like it going to come nude, it come with face up, blushing, clothing, wig, eyes,shoes, also the cold is cast by hand, not pop out of a machine like barbie. It criminal to rip off another idea, toss it on ebay for a low price, that it like I work on a good piece of artwork, then someone stole that idea and say it theirs. I would be piss, and sadden, because all my hard work come to naught.


No, I don't expect to pay a barbie price for a BJD, nor do I expect that any doll come with face-up, wig, eyes and clothes, that's usually at your discretion and is extra charge, Those items are what makes the doll yours, with eyes and hair and face-up.

If you want to buy a 1/3 abjd in the $250-300 price range, there are several legitimate companies who actually sculpt their own original dolls and produce them for that price. There is no need to resort to bootleggers in order to own a bjd.
agree


There are, and many many times I have fallen in love with a doll only to find invariably its out of stock, not for sale anymore or not in a certain buying period. Its ridiculous. Its ridiculous to only sell on Fridays or during a certain week or be out of stock one day after the doll is posted. How can a business stay in business if it has not product to sell? So realistically,the only choices I have to get something I actually want are the secondary market, or ebay where I can find something similar to what I want, in stock and at a price I can afford. I realize there are some cheaper alternatives out there but not in sculpts I actually love.

So maybe a note to the artist/companies:
If you have a product, sell it, keep production up if you are selling it. If you are making a limited run, say so and offer a cheaper similar version or similar items to replace it when you leave off. If you are in business to sell then do so. Its hard to have product/artist loyalty if you can't get the product in the first place.

If you don't keep production, stock, and consumer affordability then you will have this problem of someone who can keep up production, offer it as a lower price and keep in stock, like Brandshopping and Saidee and countless others out there.

Its not right, I agree stealing photos is not right. Stealing exact sculpts and recasting is not right. Replicas do have a place in the market, like it or not. I don't know what the solution is however, other than what's being done here. You have informed the companies, you have banned these sellers from DOA and you have warned potential buyers. What more can you do.


so it like your saying, don't charge to much for something at the price it worth, always undercharge so other would buy, if a limited is sale at a time range, date or period, always have a similar back up for a sale after word....then what is the point of anthing being 'limited' or OOAK?

Have something else to sell that isn't ugly ... Not all dolls have to be limited and not all open market dolls have to be ugly but it seems that way sometimes...

it like no worries all, this is a beloved limited,but we do have a clone in hand for sale later?

No, but go on any of the doll sellers pages, look at the prices, look at the availability, I'm just saying it has been my experience to want a certain doll only to always find it sold out.And if there is anything similar by the same maker it too is not in stock.


.I have a OOAK for sale, but i do have another one who look a bit like it for cheaper if anyone want it O.o there no point at all in it then, we might as well say 'barbie for sale, buy one get one half off'

No OOAK are OOAK, that's not what I meant. What I am saying is if you are a company selling items, have them to sell. If you charge huge prices, don't be surprised if others come along that can do it cheaper and keep up with the market you can't.

forgot to add there is a very useful thing call 'WTB' in the market place you can post if you miss out on any limited, something many find them not bonding or it fitting into the family it will pop up there, always.[/quote]

I unfortuneately have not been in this group long enough to have your lovely Market Place access, or have posted enough posts.

 

Bizarre?!! why do you say bizarre? Do you really not see any point I've tried to make here tonight?

 

No. Because they are not good points.

 

errrr...i didn't see any of the point you were trying to get across *must be blind* It sound to me like...companies spent months creating a unique doll, chage it at the price they deem it worth, only to have it be to 'high' Lord forbids, and someone take that idea and make it cheap for other to buy

a normally nude doll is at 600 for SD and higher, with face up, clothing, eyes, wig, etc. It will still come out to 1000+ there no way it can be any lower...clothing price doesn't go down, unless it cheaply made, eyes doesn't sink much either, neither does wig, custom face up all artist charge a different price. So to get a full doll with everything around 600 (i fear it must be one badly damage doll) or someone is in a jam and need quick cash in the market. I doubt even those more affoardable price companies would have a complete SD all doll up for that price

Oh you can get a nude doll for about 600, and keep it at that price, if you do 'everything' else yourself, sewing, face up, make the wig, etc...but the cost of material is still a bit high there

you get access soon enough, read the rules it all in there.

 

I am not on a high horse. I just want someone to stop and think before hurting someone without having sufficient evidence. Has anyone even bothered to ask them to come here and defend themselves? The Lucas custom was on a site that the person does face-ups on other dolls, not their own, btw according to the translation I got.

I realize that these aren't Barbies, but they aren't precious metal either.
Yes some are art pieces, but dolls traditionally were meant for children, to dress and make their own and bond with them. I think they are a great idea, but there are those that do not want the cheaper dolls, those that feel Volks is the only legit company out there.

I as an artist understand what it is like to have something taken and copied. I have had work taken from me. But its life. There are all types of cars on the roads with the same shapes, jeans of many different brands, and all have prices from cheap to high. There is a market for everyone