Things that annoy you... *Rant Thread* - pt.2

So with you there (particularly Facebook).

What is wrong with having a webage that you don't have to register for to view?
If someone then wants to buy, they can then decide if registering to place an oorder is worth their while.

Why hide behind something that makes it necessary for all potential customers to register before viewing the content?

They're trying to sell these things, for goodness sake, why put barriers in the way?

Teddy

 

Creating and maintaining a webpage costs money whereas posting to instagram/facebook is free. The platforms are also very easy to use, much easier than designing a website. Insta also gives much more potential exposure to new people thanks to smart hashtag use. It makes sense to use a free and simple app that already has your target audience plus the ability to speak with them directly.

 

@ShuriTigerH this drives me insane and even Volks only posts their one off photos on their Instagram. I've ended up googling "Instagram photo viewer" and picking a site that used IG's api to show me the photo. I haven't figured out a Facebook workaround but there's less and less things I want to see on Facebook every year.

Social media is a plague.

Most likely the users really don't have any problem with someone without an account views their post. It's the social media network that wants so desperately for you to make an account and become addicted.

 

Except it only has SOME of the target audience (i.e. potential customers) You're preventing your products from being seen/bought by people who don't happen to use those social media sites.

Yes, but those sellers are making the decision to restrict their sales to only the other people who are on that form of social media.

Teddy

 

Whole heartedly agree with this.
I think those who say "well, just make an account. I'ts free" have probably never realy understood why some people don't want to do that.
Not that the reason should matter, realy, but I think some people don't even think as far as to the fact that there may actually be a reason in the first place. Nor do I think they realize that to ask someone to change the decision thay have allready made is not just rude, but also shows a sever lack of understanding of how internet works.

And no, a good web host does not have to be expensive. The one I use costs the equivilent of under 2 dollars a month.

 

This. Absolutely this. The whole assumption that EVERYBODY is on Facebook, and that anybody who isn't would be happy to register to be on it..... Aaaargh!

Absolutely!

Teddy

 

I also had to make an Instagram exclusively for doll things, for the exact same reason! I was irritated at first, but it was worth it.

The thing that really annoys me is that there are no small sized (4-5, or even lots of 5-6) wigs that aren't childish! I have some teeny headed fashion bjds! They're mature and stylish adults, not 5 years old! And they're all so poofy. I've made many wigs myself, but I'm still just awful at it. Truly terrible, but there's no other alternative. Maybe in 20 wigs I'll get the hang of it.

 

They'll also have to accept the consequence of losing all customers without an account. I accept that I will miss out on a lot of dolls, but it's worth it to me. The number of people who refuse social media seems to be relatively low so the sellers probably don't think it's worth it to start a site or make a public blog and take orders over email. You wouldn't even have to pay for hosting or learn html for a lot of blogging sites.

@Thymeseer I had doll only accounts and found that the misery of social media still seeped into my hobbies.

Also practice makes perfect! I'm sure you'll get the hang of it if you keep trying! If they're too poofy perhaps using thinner or less wefts would help.

 

I too am annoyed by doll artists who only share images and sell through Instagram. I joined Facebook for social reasons, so I'm willing to use it, and do my best to avoid the drama. But many newer doll artists exclusively use Instagram, which I refuse to join. I'm not dealing with more social media drama and info overload just for the possibility of buying dolls.

 

Facebook owns Instagram. If you have a Facebook account, you can also sign in to Instagram using that, without having to make a separate Instagram account.

And to stay on topic here, having to join Facebook to view Volks USA news annoyed me too! I had a tech friend help me make as anonymous an account as possible, and that's pretty much all I get around to looking at. Getting to look at Instagram was a nice bonus, as I like following Volks on it, but I don't post anything, neither comments nor personal info.

 

I have an IG account, but I feel this in my soul. (Digression - is this showing a generational or age split in collectors? )

I hate IG. I use it (barely), but I hate it. Too much scrolling, too many things moving and making noise, too many ads, too hard to search due to people spamming tags to get more views. I understand that it's free, which is a huge perk for a brand new artist. But ugh, do I hate it. Every time I see a doll maker website that says, "Follow us on IG/Twitter/[insert social media here] for updates!" I scream internally. No. I don't want to. I don't like it.

I also have Flickr and Tumblr accounts, and they both have massive drawbacks in their own ways - notifications are difficult for me. I either get nothing, or my phone vomits out a tidal wave of beeps and boops that overwhelms me. Getting through notifications and posts can take an hour per platform.

Which leads to my biggest social-media-related BJD pet peeve - which social media does a doll artist use? What are the options now? There's Reddit and Flickr and Tumblr and Instagram and Facebook and Twitter and Tiktok and Discord and...

You want me, customer, to check all of these platforms multiple times a day for your pre-orders? I am old. I am exhausted by social media. At this point, I regularly check this forum for doll releases. If it ain't here - ain't buying it. Call me lazy, but I have only so much time in a day. #sorrynotsorry

 

It feels like a lot of companies have stopped posting their new items/sales/etc in the BJD news subforum. It used to be the best place to find anything new on BJDs and almost everything was posted there, either by the company or a user. I don't see every company/artist posting in there anymore, but it's a great place to attract attention. There's no obtrusive ads, no clickbait (usually), no account needed. I can't think of a better place to look to be honest! I wish it was utilized as well as it used to be.

Back when I still thought Twitter was enjoyable, I wrote a script to repost the new threads in the news subforum which I was able to view in my feed without having to come to DoA every day. The bot was banned a few years later (for who knows what reason) but the RSS feed still works for anyone who may have forgotten that option.

 

It's not that I've forgotten, it's that I have very little idea what any of this means.

(Please don't explain, I won't retain it, and it's likely that your explanation would bneed explaining to me)

Teddy

 

1) When you're paying hundreds for a doll, I wish they would throw in a basic clothing set or something.

2) Dolls that are only available through a lottery, or the seller makes the buying process cumbersome and confusing.

3) I wish there was a COHESIVENESS with bodies across doll companies. You can look at two 1/4 dolls, and their body shapes/measurements will be completely different. If you find a shirt labeled as 1/4 on Etsy, you can't trust that it will fit YOUR doll. If your doll is an obscure or less popular "model," it's frustratingly hard to find clothes (you may even be forced to try to make their clothes, which, in my case, doesn't turn out well ). Please sellers, at least give measurements in your listings.

 

I don't know if this is exactly relevant to the discussion above me, but I have been selling quite a few dolls lately due to needing to pare down my collection for financial and space reasons. I have listed dolls on DOA Marketplace several times through the years, and only ever sold one doll, and that was about 8 years ago. But I have listed on various facebook sites and in the past 6 months have sold 8 dolls and numerous items of clothing, wigs, etc. Its so much easier than listing on the Marketplace here on DOA, because there is not the long complicated form to fill out. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE DOA and the Marketplace here, but for selling have had much greater success on Facebook.

 

Interesting discussion re: social media. I have an Instagram account (and I do really like Instagram, but only for computer browsing - on the phone it is annoying). On the other hand, I strongly dislike Facebook and although I have a personal profile (to keep in touch with family) I never post anything there.

I use Flickr for work (I have an album for art commission purposes) and some doll research (there are some great comparison photos of resin, etc.).

Everything else - Twitter, Tumblr, whatever is too much for me. I can't handle all those accounts! And I'm in my 30s, so it isn't because I'm not part of the youthful generation (although I feel old haha).

I'm guilty of linking to Instagram a lot. I never thought it might cause problems for people without accounts! I'll try to look for alternatives if they exist in the future, although many artists don't seem to have any other source of viewing their work.

 

That's one of the things I like - I can have a range of dolls of the "same" size or scale and they don't look like cookie-cutter bodies that are all the same build, shape, and proportions.

I agree that measurements provided by clothing sellers would be good though.

Teddy

 

I totally get it. I love unique too Mostly, it's the people not giving measurements part. I was in a frustrated mood when I wrote the post.

 

Probably not I can see how it's frustrating - and the clothing thing is a common issue (although it's the same for humans - so many people are one size from one brand, but a different size from another brand or clothing manufacturer)

Teddy

 

You fall in love with the face… then you look at the side profile and you’re not that in love lmao

 

I think it is, but also if you're on the wrong side of the generational gap, like me, you've seen a lot of social media platforms come and go. You get tired of constantly packing your metaphorical bags and moving to the next platform.

I enjoyed your rant, by the way. Very entertaining.

 

D'awww, thanks! So you also remember Google plus, eh?

I don't mean to trash IG or tell others not to use it. It just doesn't work for me. We're just venting here, yeah? No judgment on what y'all use.

 

I'm what you would consider elderly, but I do understand social media, etc. Its just that life is too complicated as it is, so I stick to what is familiar. I do a lot on facebook with the doll sites on there, but not so much personal stuff. I have all my relatives and my church friends on FB, but rarely communicate with them that way.
I do look at photos on Instagram, but I have never seen anyone's account where they are selling dolls. I need to look into that. Though God knows I don't need more temptation. LOL

 

I totally agree. I think I mentioned this in another thread. I was sort of in love with the Venitu face, but then I saw a view of his head from the side, and he looks like a deformed alien. I understand that most dolls are displayed facing front, so it shouldn't matter, but it kind of ruined it for mw with that doll. LOL
Also my 1/3 Resinsoul Dai has an odd side profile. I love her to bits, and think she is a pretty doll, but from the side she is very flat.

 

This is something I feel in my soul xD I've been trying to find clothing to deck out my first doll before he gets here, and imagine my consternation and horror when I realized that "70+" could mean anything and everything and likely meant it still wouldn't fit my boy!

 

Yes, and I had a CyWorld account!

 

This made me feel so old and dumb! (Not an unusual feeling by any means.) I'm on FB - rarely, to be fair - but it' never occurred to me to buy or sell there. I wouldn't know where to start. I haven't even checked out Instagram. Maybe it's generational, but I find myself avoiding social media as much as possible - which gets harder and harder to do.

 

{nods}

Teddy

 

I think the worse part for me is the shipping. You often can’t choose what service your doll is send with and then you are stuck with fedex. Will it arrive? Will the package get lost? Do I have to drive hours to the next fedex shop to pick it up? Nobody knows

 

In addition to this, Listings for shoes and boots that don't show a side-on view so you can see the height and shape of the heel. I don't want just shots from the front, and the side seen from an angle so you can see there's a heel but not tell what shape it is. Again, Show me details NOT artistic photography.

Teddy

 

I've no objection to artsy photography for dolls and doll clothes, but please give us the plain 'this is what the item for sale actually looks like" too. I took a risk ordering a Soom Juchy doll that had no blank photos and a face-up that made her look worried, and ultimately love the sweet face it was hiding.

I also find Soom's inaccurate fantasy color names annoying. I'm quite happy with the pretty light violet tinted blue the previously mentioned doll is, but the color is called Light Violet. I was rather disappointed by "Coffee Black" which sounds like super dark brown, would be more accurately described as "Grape Juice"!

 

Yes!! I had Soom Grape-juice-black!! It also wasn’t very visible in the company pics (noellia was who I had in it—maybe they got better for showing it later on?) but I got mine second hand and still didn’t expect how purple she’d be. One could say my grapes were a little sour over that!

I’ve always wondered if it’s a translation issue, or if the names are as misleading in Korean/in other translations. I know in psych we talked about how not all languages/cultures interpret the same stimulus the same way (the blue-teal-green divide, for instance, linguistically differs but leads to differences in the understandings of colours depending on your language). I don’t think it would make black and grape purple the same linguistic construct, but if there’s a word for purple-black, and they translated it just to black, maybe?

I speak 0 Korean, so this is me totally conjecturing, but I’ve often wondered if sculpt/doll names/names of doll lines and companies and colours have untranslateables in them when I scratch my head at some of the names. That said, a lot of soom’s other names are reflective (pearl violet, tawny, bronze, baby pink, cream white, brown tan all describe what you expect) so I wonder what happened to Grape Juice Noellia?

 

@Chameleon I never realized it might be an issue of "lost in translation" that Noellia is dark purple instead of brown-black. Like you said, most of their color names are more accurate, so I wonder what happened to make that one off.

 

I found a sculpt of a doll I really wanted. The doll apparently had some slight damage to his faceup, so the seller had said in their salespost "PM me for pics." I PMed them, no answer. I waited a month. I saw that they had actually been on here a few times after I sent my PM, so I sent another PM.

Still no answer.

I figured that they didn't want the money I was willing to give them, so I bought other things instead.

If they didn't want to show the pics and apparently they didn't want the money, so why did they have a sales thread up???

Edit: My partner pointed out that the "slight damage" may be more than I'm thinking it is/more than I'm willing to accept on a pre-loved doll. Maybe I dodged a bullet.

Ryu

 

I love crafting things for my dolls. Didn't love reawakening a repetitive strain injury while cutting things out. Now I have to go much slower than I'd like if I don't want pain for months.

 

I find the arty photography annoying, too. During a discontinuation event I ordered a head because she looked like she had chubby cheeks... There are no chubby cheeks. The look was created with Photoshop and filtered to death.

She's still cute, but not what I was expecting.

 

Speaking of translation irregularities. I recently purchased a Miracle Doll Dio, who's listed as a sculpt of a mink. I was flushing out his back story with help from my Taiwanese best friend, and commented "I wonder why he's called a mink, but he's styled after a type of Chinese guardian spirit....and mink aren't native to China?" My friend ended up sticking the Chinese word for weasel (which is diao) into google translate, and it...popped back as mink xD So it's as simple of a thing as google translate getting it wrong! (Also, entertainingly to me, Dio I'm assuming comes from diao). I'm wondering if the same type of simple error happened with grape-juice-black xD

 

Another annoyance. Companies that don't tell you what size the dolls are. Their categories are just pretty sounding names. Like how Xaga doll has some form of obsidian or Luts just has different versions of Delf. At least with Xaga doll it has the height listed under the individual sculpts. But with Luts there aren't any measurements anywhere. Its infuriating. I know I want an msd or sd. I don't want to have to look through all the categories to find the right size. I will avoid companies I know do this because I don't want to have to figure out the difference between their size names.

 

With you there!

Teddy

 

I absolutely agree. I was looking on the Luts site just last night for a body, and when I saw there were no measurements, I decided to go elsewhere. That's just basic, and as long as they've been around, they should know that.

 

Yes, I agree - I dislike when companies don't state measurements or sizes.

 

*cough cough* Soom, Dollmore *cough*

 

Soom's Gem size names don't match BJD standards. Tiny Gem are MSD sized and Mini Gem are mature tinies. I don't mind learning the size names for the doll companies I'm interested in, but it sure is confusing.

 

Similar to the size thing, I hate when companies don’t have photos of their dolls without faceups and nude. I guess it’s a bit of a cultural thing, since nudity might be seen as more or less indecent in certain places, so some companies want to cover their dolls up, but like… if I’m going to pay hundreds of dollars for a product I better know what it looks like. And sometimes doll lines that only come in fullsets don’t even show you the body at all (looking at you, Dollmore. Put some photos of Trinity bodies on your site, if I’m gonna buy a doll that’s larger than the average 6 year old I am probably gonna want to see it nude before dropping nearly three thousand dollars, despite the super awesome and beautiful clothing).

And a face sculpt can be used to make so many different characters, but if they don’t show the heads without any faceup than it can be hard to get an idea of what you could do with the sculpt. You’ll sell more dolls if you just add some photos of the bare heads, I promise you!

 

People that are unnecessarily mean to newbies in the hobby. New people do tend to ask a lot of questions and that's good, they're trying to learn and want to be included in the hobby. But there are certain people that like to play gate keeper and act like if you don't automatically know everything there is to know about this hobby then you shouldn't be a part of it.

 

I've had this! I joined a doll discord and asked some questions - like what's the best eye putty, what's the best way to buff out new spots/stains - and I got cursed at and told if I didn't already know this info, I shouldn't have BJDs

Luckily I was also in a nicer group and left the mean one, it didn't make me leave the hobby - but it did make me more cautious with asking questions for sure

 

That's horrible! I'm so sorry that happened to you. I've never had that experience but I understand that it's more common than most of us would like to admit. If you need questions asked, DoA is a great place to do it!

 

@VickiBee57 That's horrible. I'm so sorry you were treated that way. D:

 

Whoa. I'm so sorry that happened to you. Everyone has been incredibly kind to me - I've found most people to be welcoming to newbies, and I try to be the same.

That's awful. I hope that never happens to you again.

 

Yes - this - Absolutely!

Teddy

 

Now postage in the US has just added a $4 surcharge on packages over 22” long and $15 for over 30”. This makes shipping dolls msd or above even more expensive. Not that I’m buying much anymore anyway, but it just makes the hobby a little bit harder to afford.

 

BjdConfessions.... the worst and most toxic bjd site yet. I already get anxiety from wondering what people in my normal life think of me, so I use my dolls as an escape. Some people get mad over anything and everything, now having a place to voice that without backlash. It's not to say what is discussed on there is wrong, but it seriously sucks my happiness and soul away even going near that site.

 

I still get kinda peeved that most companies use "normal" to describe their second lightest shade... Like, I get it, most of those who do are based in Asia but its like... come-on. get creative with it maybe, light beige, or cream, peach. maybe describe the undertone?

 

Customs in my country. Customs are what I despise since I started in this hobby, specially because they are so random.
I'm pretty mad at them right now. I just had to pay almost half of what my clothes order originally costed for the package to be released from customs. And I'm more angry because half of that amount are supposed to be a "handling fee".
Don't kidnap my package and you won't have to handle it.

 

I have a few that I can think of off the top of my head...

1) Trying to find an SD girl I like. I either end up loving the face and hating the body or vice versa. I don't want one with a huge chest and most of them seem to have that. It's been such a pain trying to find any that even remotely catch my attention. SOMEDAY maybe...but after 8 years, I have still yet to find an SD gal I like...

2) Finding "cute" or pastel clothes for SD dudes. I can't sew to save my life and it is impossible to find cute SD clothes for male dolls. I would love it if they had more than just black/grey/white/beige clothing. I have yet to find much that will fit 70+ sized males. A handful of sweaters and that's about it. It's really disappointing because I want my guys to be cute sometimes too :c

3) Along the same lines as above, finding the perfect outfit for a character and it's in a size that isn't going to fit your doll. One of the worst feelings ever to me.

4) STRINGING TINY DOLLS. Like man I love my little Lati dolls a ton but lord they are so hard to string. I've tried at least four times to restring one of them recently and she's still pretty loose even after measuring right. Drives me nuts. I can manage with YOSD and MSD dolls...haven't tried SD ones yet.

 

Finding clothes for Volks SD10 and MSD/SDM bodies that aren't an arm and a leg is really frustrating. Everything is sized for Smart Doll and Minifee...

 

THIS SO MUCH
I legitimately bought a Minifee just so I could actually have a doll wardrobe I didn't have to make myself.

 

I’m having the same issues of finding “standard” msd clothing, like as not slim or minifee. Years ago it was everywhere when I was looking for slim mini….seems like I’m always just a bit out of step with bjd trends. I have a couple gals who are very difficult to find outfits for in the styles I want due to their msd sized bodies that are 50cm tall.