Volks Dolls Party in LA 4 [7-8 Sept. 2019] (After Report is up!)

Yes. I think if you enter the contest, that is your one doll to the event. I believe that's what we did in previous LA Dolpas.

 

@Kittywolf13 Some people got prizes. I don't recall what the prizes were in 2017 but in 2015 there was I think 4 or 5 categories? VolksUSA choice, voted choice, Presidents choice and I think something else. I think prizes in 2015 were eyes, wigs or small items from Tenshi no Sato.

 

A question to all the individual dealers setting up at LA Dolpa, are you planning on taking cash only or will credit card and PayPal be accepted also? I'm always concerned using the hotel or cellular networks as I feel like sometimes the all the traffic or even of the structure of the hotel can make using the network really slow or unreliable. I thought it might be worth talking about so people are prepared either as a buyer or seller. Thoughts?

 

My roommate and I are going to be going this year but I'm not certain what it's going to be like. We've been to doll events in Tokyo but this is the first in LA. Do other doll companies show up too or is it only Volks? And are there usually dolls for sale other than the event specific ones?

 

Dolpa, both in Japan and in the US, is a Volks-sponsored and thus Volks-exclusive event. The only dolls that will be available are Volks dolls, and likewise the only dolls attendees are permitted to bring are Volks dolls.

In past LA Dolpas, there have been standards available for purchase of both SD and DD. The event dolls will be available for purchase by a lottery system. The one-off dolls are exclusive to tea party attendees, also by a lottery system for the right to purchase. I hope you and your roommate have a great time at Dolpa and feel free to ask any questions you have here.

 

There's a lot of information on the website for the event, and also in the first few pages of this thread.

 

Going on past experience, the Volks sales definitely won't be cash-only, but that's a good question for the individual US dealers!

 

From the Dealer page:
Dolpa Dealer's Market | Dolls Party in LA 4 2019 | VOLKS USA, Inc.

If you scroll down to the end of the local dealers, there is this snippet :

• Full payment is required. (Credit cards are accepted)
• The sale will end when all the stock has been sold.
• There will be a wide variety of outfit sets and items available for sale. Please make sure to double check the size, price, and included items before making purchase.

Maybe one of the stipulations for a dealer, is that you are required to take credit card as payment? Or maybe just a copy and paste from the Volks section above?

I know at the local doll shows, lots of people will ask the vendors if they take credit cards and most don't because they are not business but just local collectors. But in this case, if memory serves correctly, dealers applications need a CA license so maybe that was part of the terms as well?

I think the safe bet is to have some cash in your wallet just in case. The dealers will likely appreciate it more as there will be no fees that they will have to absorb.

 

Has Volks said when the dealer market is going to open on Sunday? I saw that the games area opened at 10 but didn’t see if the shopping area would open at the same time.

 

Okay ... I just checked the Dolpa page :

• Locations
  Dealers - Japan: Orange County Ballroom
  Dealers - N. America: Grand Ballroom

Sumika ...

• Date: September 8, 2019 (Sun)
• Location: Grand Ballroom

Edit : North American Dealers are in the same room as the Sumika

FYI, Marriott floor layout :

https://www.marriott.com/hotelwebsi...ngs/meetings/module_PDFs/LAXAH_Floor_Plan.pdf

 

the volks usa facebook page announced an ‘intro to dollfie icon’ panel!

VOLKS USA, Inc.

very curious about this one.

 

Yes! I'm curious to see these girls up and close and person too!

Looks like the webpage was updated too. Registration, Policy and Dollfie Icon panel all have updates.

 

Hi everyone, I was off DoA since January and just now caught up with all the posts I missed in this thread! I'm bummed that I wasn't paying attention and missed the window to apply for the Tea Party lottery, but it sounds like quite a few people didn't get in despite applying?! I'd love if they offered extra spots in person, but I won't hold out hope. I bought my badge today (didn't realize it was the last day!) and plan on coming on Saturday for the panels since I live about 20 miles from Anaheim, even though I'm much more excited about the marketplace on Sunday.

I'm also really interested in Satogaeri services, which is something I'd appreciate so much if someone could help me figure out...
I have a brand new, unopened 2015 DWC #03 head and would LOVE to purchase faceup service at the Dolpa, but I can't determine whether it fits into one of the listed categories offered in the Treatment Price List chart:
Satogaeri Service Basic Treatment | Dolls Party in LA 4 2019 | VOLKS USA, Inc.
^ This head doesn't count as a Standard Model, nor is it a Full Choice Model, right?
That webpage states that Full Choice Models will have 5 makeup types to choose from, so do you think I'll be able to choose from one of those? It would be really sad to miss out on an opportunity to have the head painted by a Volks artist since this sculpt is really special to me. Also, I assume this process means they take your doll head back to Japan and send it back to you months later (as the website says, "hospitalization" or "homecoming" timeframe)?

 

Oh crap I do remember reading that about School heads, that's unfortunate. But yeah I will email them just in case Thank you!

 

I am still hoping for a Tea Party Ticket from a cancelation. If anyone has an extra ticket, please message me

 

Volks emailed me back and did confirm that they won't offer faceup services for the DWC heads. While that's unfortunate, I'm also alright with keeping the $220 it would have cost to instead spend in the marketplace on Sunday

 

I'm never 100% sure what's allowed in the discussion threads so sorry if this isn't okay. BUT if anyone has any LA/tourist questions please feel free to DM me. I know most of you have been before or you're not going to have time to do stuff. But Declan and I are happy to help if you have questions.

Venice by Idontdosubtle, on Flickr

Declan at Disney by Idontdosubtle, on Flickr

Malibu by Idontdosubtle, on Flickr

Declan is the unofficial welcome wagon representative for the area. If you have any questions about LA let him know!

 

I got the email too ... I voted for the cucumber sandwiches! It doesn't feel like a real Tea Party unless you break open the cucumbers! I was hoping we'd get a question asking us about what doll we'd like to see re-released (me : Shinku) or things we'd like to see in the future from Volks (me : SDGr girl body added to FCS). Now that August is here, I really need to figure out what my guy is going to wear.

Fingers crossed that badges don't get lost in the mail or held up by the boarder or forgotten at home. I'm going to pack mine in my carry on as soon as it's here.

 

Yes seconding the wishlist item of SDGr girl being added to FCS! I voted for salmon sandwiches but honestly I’ve never met a tea sandwich I didn’t like. Maybe there will be more than one type and they are just trying to gauge interest in each?

Does anyone know if they are going to have one-off dolls at the tea party for lottery? I wasn’t sure if the best of the best selection was taking the place of the one-off dolls.

 

@Adele Yes. I suspect they just want to gage how many of each sandwich to have at the tea party which is a great idea. Yes, the Tea Party section still lists "Memorial One offs" for the Tea Party and those are different than the Best of which will be the next day for all attendees to try for. I suspect we will see photos of the one offs closer to the event. It's hard to believe it's 4 weeks away!!

 

yay! surveys always make events seem so real !!! very excited !!

i voted for pb&j !!

 

I am both happy and anxious.

Happy because I just finished all of my travel stuff for Dolpa. YAY! Not to mention, I managed to get things down to extremely cheap; my flight was practically free, and hotel has been made cheaper. More money for other things!

Anxious, of course, because I fear the sudden "work wants me to travel" thing biting me in the foot. I think I'm at a point to where I can get around it, however.

Still no clue what I am going to do/wear/etc.I figure things will have to work themselves out in the next... four weeks.

I and whoever finally ends up in the rollycase look forward to seeing all of your lovely faces.

 

The email does make it seem suddenly so close! I'm anxious in a good way. I voted for cucumber sandwiches, always a winner in my book!

 

Am I the only one who didn't get the last email?

 

If you haven't already, check your junk mail just in case. I also got the email associated with my PayPal address (not the address associated with my Volks USA account).

 

Yup, it was in the paypal email that I never check. That makes sense. Thanks!

 

I voted for the cucumber sandwichs as well mostly because I dont eat meat but I felt the same way, its not a tea party without cucumber sandwiches!

This summer is passing so quickly, I still dont know who to bring, what they are going to wear etc.

 

Been busy with a new 'baby' here, my first ever standard sized poodle! She's only seven weeks old.
I think I've figured out which of my guys will be attending, it will be Lue of course, he's a MSD Kohaku head on an SDC body. Lue always accompanies me on my travels.
Also my YoSD Chibi Shiro Tachibana, who is on a YoMidi body so that he can have more teen aged looking hands. That way he also gets to use the cool sword and pistol grip hands I found for him, that came with the YoMidi Williams and Reisners.
My DD boy Kagamine Len is coming as well! Lol, his only "upgrade" is a softer, paler, wig which I like so much better than any of his default or costume wigs.

 

@JRyu congrats on the new puppy! and good luck with all the puppy fun to come! i hope potty training goes quickly and teething ends with all of your favorite things intact! excited to see your dolls! i’m going to be bringing my kagamine len dd as well! we will have to get a picture with them together !!

other than len, i’ll be bringing my yosd dai! still debating on whether or not i’ll also bring my sdm f-42! my partner and i are going to be staying with friends in la for a few days before dolpa, so i only really want to bring as many dolls as i can comfortably carry for pictures.

 

Yay, tea party badges are on their way! I’m so excited! I voted for cucumber sandwiches too. Yummy!

 

The countdown is really starting with the badge announcement. Hopefully I'm not the last one that still needs to buy the flight... procrastination at its finest.

 

Ah, Volks has announced the official one off models! Some of those boys are absolutely gorgeous!!

Tea Party | One-Off Models | Dolls Party in LA 4 2019 | VOLKS USA, Inc.

 

Thanks @SuperShawol! I was wondering when they would post those. It seems Volks often chooses rococo styling for their one off dolls and it’s always lovely. But none of the sculpts interest me so I guess I’m safe!

 

Same here @Adele !

And I adore some of their outfits. The Reisner would actually really fit a character I’m working on, but I already have that doll in progress.

 

Oh cool, the one-offs are up! The aristocratic feel of the outfits would be at home in Versailles. Now we see how these dolls fit the grand ball theme. I like how they're dressed fancier than modern ball gowns, more Rococo with frills and other accents.

Most surprising of the one-offs to me (in a good way) is the Cain, I think. He hasn't been my style in the past, but this one-off looks pretty neat and I didn't expect it. Maybe it's the lighter faceup colors chosen that match his very light eye color.

My favorite of the bunch this time is the Victorique. She's a natural lolita and thus of course looks good in this style of gown. I'd be curious to see the full thing - love that blue color contrasting with her brown wig.

 

I wish I could attend the dollpa this year! I would totally enter the lottery to try for Sasara. I look forward to hearing everyone else's stories from dollpa though! Unfortunately, I had planned on going... but I have a work trip that came up in the same time frame. I will have to live through the experiences of others this time.

 

my attendee badges just arrived! they are super cute! i am very excited for the event!

 

Badge has arrived here as well! The reality of things is sinking in!

Also, looking at things and making sad noises because they are offering a chance at getting SD17 Williams. Unfortunately, I have to make a choice between that and a new camera, and honestly, the camera is winning out presently. So instead, I'm wrestling some things together for the tea party costume theme, which means that I may have to figure out a cute outfit for my Sei Tenshi to coordinate.

@Nell I like your idea on how to use the other side of the badge! I'll see if I can figure out something similar - not that I have much in terms of doll-related media

 

What art did Volks end up putting on the badge? I'm curious! Did we see it previously in any of their marketing emails for LA4?

 

Glad none of the one-offs grab me, so I can stay laser focused on getting a DearSD! Also glad that the dealer's will be in the same hall as the Sumika so I have a better opportunity to enter the lottery, but super bummed that the Japanese dealers will be in a separate ballroom! Half of the fun of being a dealer is chatting with other dealers since we're all trapped in a room together for the whole day and there were overseas peeps I wanted to meet.
Oh, and I, for one, will be accepting credit cards because dealing with cash is a PITA both for accounting purposes and for the extra baggage.

 

I'm wondering if the overseas dealers in the other room will be in attendance or not? Maybe Volks put any dealers in attendance in the main room and kept all the other dealers in the other room? Hopefully, this is the case because I'm sure it would feel really isolated for any individual who wasn't in the main room to miss out on lotteries or just the general hum of activity. I guess in a few weeks we will find out. I can't believe Dolpa is just around the corner!!

 

My badge just arrived today! It's getting real!

Just waiting for our household items to arrive from our move before I can decide who is coming along for the weekend. Also trying to think of if there's enough time to come up with an outfit.

 

@Kittywolf13 Thanks for the description! Sounds like a good theme to use. Oh, the black cat's name is Komame.

Speaking of.. Last LA Dolpa there were some Komame collectibles (buttons / can badges) with him in a stars-and-stripes top hat representing, of course, the USA event. That's something you might look for that would be unique to the US, something that you wouldn't find in Japan.

 

I got an envelope from Volks, but it was all crinkled and torn open and only had the invoice for the badges, not the badges themselves It looks like it was very badly handled by the postal service. I will have to contact Volks on Monday, hopefully they are understanding and can send me new ones because who knows where my badges ended up

 

Oh no!! My envelope was also torn open, like super badly. I'm amazed the pass was still in there. I took a picture of the contents and contacted volks just in case something might have fallen out. They were really kind and got back to me right away, I hope they can help you too!