Would You Buy An Unstrung Doll?

I very much prefer to buy a doll strung, then again I also prefer to buy the doll with their actual box as well. I did, however, agree to buy a doll unstrung and I can say, I will probably never do it again. It isn't even so much the 'stringing' of the doll that bothered me, as I can just ask my husband to pull the strings for me, but it was just the hassle of receiving a deconstructed doll. I didn't even save that much on shipping, to be honest, I could have purchased her direct from the company and paid about the same with shipping.

 

certainly, cheaper shipping is always nice and i'm more than willing to spend 20 minutes restringing something to save money lol.

 

It might seem daunting at first but restringing is actually pretty easy, even if you go with a non-human doll (okay, the DC ants were awefully close for me to just give up after fiddling with wire for what seemed like hours).

The biggest appeal to me is the shipping cost I can save having a doll shipped unstrung in a tiny box as opposed to the rather big and long boxes for full dolls. Also I really really like stringing dolls, I used to offer it as a service locally and still do it for friends

 

Buying an unstrung doll is way better for me. In my country we have a really strict custom. If the box is too big especially 1/3 dolls you always have to pay. A already strung doll is of course nicer to open.( But sometimes dolls are so tightly strung that they even get damaged on the way aswell ) I prefer with big dolls unstrung. With tiny ones a already strung doll is nicer.

 

Of course I’ll buy a doll unstrung. I really don’t mind if it’s strung or not. Sometimes I really enjoy the stringing process. It gives me some more time to bond with my doll.

 

Why not? Provided you are not hindered by a condition like rheumatoid arthritis or the like? It is not exactly rocket science but it takes a little practice, like almost everything. You can even manage alone. Tutorials are available too.

I feel it is important to be able to do it when dealing with a type of doll that is meant to be so 'hands on' like BJDs. Any number of things can occur that will result in your doll coming unstrung, and to me it would be too much hassle to send them to somebody else to have them restrung. You get faster every time you do it too. So why not buy it unstrung as well? If I buy a doll strung but the stringing is wonky I would have to restring it anyway, and also I have to repeat the procedure with any doll regularly, because elastic string ages.

 

Would and have, lots of times. Also, what @Mandagore and @Kellyg95 said.

 

I would be ok with it if I knew all the parts were there and they were all marked.

 

I bought unstrung dolls before. Not such a big hassle, if I couldn't figure it out I know there's literature or a video somewhere I could follow along. Also, I'm a guy...... I can pull this strings pretty hard to fit where they need to go.

 

I’ve purchased unstrung before. It’s not bad but ofc I prefer it to be strung and with box. I think it’s more stressful at times to package a unstrung doll without a box. I also think it’s a good learning experience if you haven’t strung a doll before. Then it’s also a annoyance depending on the size.

 

I prefer to get a doll in its original box if possible, but I've already received at least 2 completely unstrung dolls and even ASKED for a recent doll to come unstrung. I like to put dolls together, it's sorta fun. And in the most recent case, I actually wanted him to arrive unstrung so I could wash him (he's really old) and apply fancy decals all over him.

Jointed hands though... no way. I don't think I've ever seen someone take apart jointed hands and frankly I can see exactly why...

 

Personally it doesn't bother me, now that I've restrung a doll and know I can do it. It would entirely depend on whether it had the original box or not because I like to have the boxes so wouldn't be bothered about the cheaper shipping if it meant I had the box. But, for example, some just come with a drawstring bag in a plain shipping box so I wouldn't might that being unstrung in the bag.

 

I prefer to buy unstrung, if possible. I've even asked sellers to disassemble dolls I've bought off the marketplace before, especially if it doesn't have the original box anymore. I regularly restring my dolls at home, so assembly is not an issue for me.

These are my reasons why I prefer unstrung:

• Can fit into different size/dimensions of boxes, making it easier for the seller to pack for shipment, and smaller boxes are sometimes not as expensive to ship.
• Gives the seller an extra opportunity to check for hidden damages/stains that need to be disclosed BEFORE the doll ships.
• No elastic tension on pieces means less risk of pieces being damaged during shipment (especially the joint cups).
• Delicate pieces such as hands are easier/quicker to wrap securely in bubble wrap when they're off the arm.
• If it's second-hand, I usually like to give them a quick bath of soapy water and fresh protective coat of MSC UV cut to the body (most people don't seal bodies?), so unstrung saves me a step when it gets here.

 

I enjoy stringing dolls. It’s like putting together a puzzle, and I come away with a better understanding of how the doll’s joints are balanced for posing. The presentation of the whole doll nestled in the company box is obviously nicer, but certainly if a bit of hands-on time can save me money I have no need for the doll to come assembled.

Edit: @0bsequi0us said it on jointed hands, though. I would rather NOT receive a jumbled bag of tiny cylindrical finger bits in the mail. Life is too short.

 

I dont mind it at all and somewhat prefer it. Especially if the original elastic is sent with it if it had been a good tension. I always re string my dolls now, partially to bond more but also find if I can change any mechanics between how different companies joint dolls.

I find it one of the more fun parts. Though Im still not perfect at guessing the amout of elastic to use, but trial and error usually works out in the end.

If it doesnt save much on shipping Im fine having it complete. But 25$ or more saved is for sure worth it. I also find some people have an easier time packing dolls safely when not strung. Ive seen a few chips and dents from being too tightly strung in shipping.

 

I have bought dolls partially unstrung and it doesn't bother me to restring them. In fact, I wish my mnf boys came unstrung. they were strung too tightly from the company so I'm having a hard time unstringing them now to switch their legs. >~< I think the only thing that would make me not consider an unstrung doll is if they're damaged and that prevents restringing.

 

I bought a Idealian Seth doll and He was unstrung to save shipping cost and because his old Box was broken >_<.
The seller was sooo friendly! Sadly It took me 2 hours to string him up because I had no equipment besides some clothes.
After that my hand were worn out and red .-.......well after time you will get used to it .... for me it was my first time.
I recommend to buy some kits XD.

 

That's a no way for me. I have fine motor issues with my hands. It's very unlikely I could successfully string a doll without help.

 

i prefer my dolls in original boxes and strung how they came if you where to buy new but if i have to i dont mind buying unstrung dolls ive done it before and it saves me money and gives me time o get to know my doll when stringing it

 

I tend to prefer that dolls be sent unstrung too, and I’ve asked sellers to do it for me. I find people wrap the doll better when it’s in pieces and there’s less chance for parts to rub awkwardly against each other and break.

I think of restringing as a normal part of doll maintenance. I can’t imagine being put off by it.

 

My first doll was unstrung! (Or rather, I got two in the same shipment and one was strung and one wasn't.)

Given the option, I'd prefer to have the doll in a state where I can play with it out of the box, but if unstrung means I'm going to save a ton on shipping, or its current stringing is a mess and I'll have to redo it anyway, then by all means I'll string it myself.

 

Every doll I have bought on the marketplace has been unstrung. I prefer it that way to save in shipping cost. Also the DD I have bought on the marketplace I have got them unassembled. I never keep the boxes so I really don't care about them. The only strung dolls I have is when I buy them from the company brand new.

 

That depends. First, I would want to know why the doll is unstrung to begin with and I would want pictures of all the parts, first to make sure they're all there, secondly to make sure they're all undamaged. I would also ask (in the case of a highly-jointed doll, like a minifee) for the parts to be sorted properly so I don't have to figure out what goes where. I'm not buying a jigsaw puzzle! Example: All left-leg parts in one bag, all right arm parts in another, ect...

Ironically I just saw someone posting several unstrung dolls for sale on facebook and each disassembled doll is just tossed into a plastic bin all willy-nilly and that's a big turnoff for me. So is lack of box and any kind of paperwork. I'm like, if you can't take care of your own dolls then I sure as hell don't want them! Who knows what sort of shape they're in? I could see the one was covered in white paint, too, which was mentioned as an unfinished mod project and added that it could easily be cleaned off, but I'm of the opinion that the seller shouldn't be so lazy they can't clean up their own dolls before selling them.

 

All day, every day.
I don't mind putting a doll back together, it's like a puzzle. I also have all the elastics and tools so it's no sweat.

 

I've never bought a doll unstrung, so maybe I'm not the best person to give her opinion. Still, at some point or another you're going to have to restring your doll (elastic has a shelf life), so sooner or later you'll have to do it anyway (or have it done if you've got the $ to pay someone, or a kind and experienced friend to do it for you).

 

I actually prefer unstrung as long as all parts are labeled and carefully packed. I always wash a secondhand doll, so I’m going to unstring it anyway. I do prefer to have doll boxes but it’s not a dealbreaker without one. If it saves a ton on shipping costs, definitely! I can restring a standard doll in maybe 10 minutes, definitely worth saving some cash!

EDIT: I also prefer to ship unstrung because often I don’t have a box big enough for the full doll and don’t know where to get one, or because people get outright offended by shipping costs when I give them quotes, even though that high price is exactly what they charge or even a bit lower. When I do ship unstrung, I always label the parts to keep it simple and of course the string is always included. Sometimes I add a lovely drawing to help with stringing. lol

 

yes, unstrung, since I like restringing dolls once they come anyway, it's safer for shipping and more cost-effective. I have more pleasure from putting up a doll from scratch, as if, so I in fact enjoy re-stringing.

 

There's completely unstrung, and there's also partially unstrung - you can ask for the legs to be disassembled from the long loops, but to leave the "cross loops" intact, the ones that go through the arms and the chest/upper torso part. That saves on box size but doesn't leave you with the whole job to do.

Since I've bought a lot of older dolls, I figure I'll have to restring eventually; cords lose tension over time. Also, if I can wrangle it, I'd rather have the knots in the head than in the chest. If not, I want them closer to a torso joint, not jammed up there where you can't get at them easily.

All that said - the only doll that flummoxed me is a little DC Ada that came unstrung and is still unstrung until I have time to locate and sit through a tutorial. And jointed hands? Glory be to any of you that have restrung those!

 

Even though I haven't bought an unstrung doll, its an option to me if the shipping cost is significantly lower than that of a fully strung version. I can't keep all my doll boxes because I have limited space. Since I recently just learned to restring my dolls anyway, reassembling one isn't too scary a prospect.

 

A doll being unstrung wouldn't prevent me from buying it in most cases, though I'll always prefer strung and in its original box.
But considering the trouble the "fashion" size has given me with their tiny parts, I would definitely think twice about those.

 

Yes, I would purchase a doll unstrung BUT only if the box and such are loss. I love having doll boxes so having a doll unstrung doesn't make much sense if it's being sent with its box. I wouldn't save on shipping at all. lol

 

While stringing can be a hassle, I'd definitely do it if it meant I could save on shipping

 

It's not preferable to me! I prefer original box and to be strung. However I did twice due to sellers.

 

I prefer unstrung to save on shipping costs, restringing is easy and string is cheap.

 

Definitely! I wish more companies sold kit dolls( unstrung sometimes even need to remove flash and seamlines) as it is i always take apart, hot glue suede and restring a new doll as soon as i get it anyway. I feel like i learn alot about the doll, how the best ways to pose it, what all peices it has and that way i wont panci if i have to put it back together if the elastic breaks or something

 

I find it difficult to string a doll by myself even with the proper tools so for me the fewer times I need to restring, the better. I prefer to have the doll sent strung because I find it easier to bond with the doll when it arrives if I can see all together with a wig and clothing. If I get the doll strung and it needs to be restrung because of age or twisting I typically still dress it up and look at it for a day or so before I restring it. I like to see what clothing and hairstyles look good on the doll when it arrives in person. I have a hard time deciding on what style I will like on a doll until I get to see it in person. By doing it this way I get an idea of what clothing and wigs I want to order for the doll and if I want to add more blushing and tattoos based on the style they start to develop. If I add blushing after I take the doll apart then I only have to string the doll once.

 

I don't mind much either way - I unstring and restring my dolls all the time normally, to spray them if needed and do blushing and sueding. I also love a project doll, so if I can save money by getting them unassembled or even a little bit dirty or scuffed, I definitely will do that too.

 

While I prefer buying dolls strung because I like having the original boxes, I have once bought a doll unstrung. I was having him sent to my friend who I'd be visiting and then bringing him back in my carry on, so I'd have had to unstring him anyway (not to mention a different friend dyed him for me first so saved them a step and some money on shipping). I don't remember if his previous owner didn't have his box anymore or if I just asked not to get it that time, but I know I'd have been heartbroken to have to discard it myself, as I'm a collector at heart and boxes are such a nice detail.

I have a bit of an issue with too much elasticity in my muscles and it makes me rather weak and prone to dislocating body parts, so I needed assistance putting him back together once I got home, but despite how difficult for me that was, I don't really regret it. It was what the situation demanded and if needed, I'd do it again.

 

The first all resin BJD I purchased around 2006, came unstrung. Back then it was a thing for some companies to sell unassembled kits during holidays, for a bit less than the assembled and painted doll. I was still in college, so I thought it was a great way to save a bit as a whole, even though I wasn't sure I was going to be able to put my doll together myself back then, the lower price was a blessing. I only owned a Volks DD back then, but she was only partially strung and not as heavy as a resin doll of a similar size. The doll ended up being a Christmas gift, so I didn't even pay for him myself, but I wasn't angry that my mom and my bff didn't pay full price for him. He did come in his regular box however, so shipping didn't cost any less, just the doll as a whole was quite a bit less expensive than having purchased him already assembled. I wish companies still did things like that, although I don't purchase dolls anymore while I was still actively shopping for them, it would have been nice paying less if they were sold as kits -- I've never purchased a whole doll second hand, so it has never affected me second market sellers are willing to do so or not. I dis sell a nude blank body unassembled to actually save the buyer on shipping costs, so I definitely find unassembled dolls appealing and not the other way around. Even more so if that means lowering the price of the actual doll, from the original company. Domestic shipping isn't that big of a deal to me, but from overseas or halfway across the word, it tends to get quite expensive for larger dolls -- despite preferring smaller sized dolls, the majority of BJD I own are larger sizes (when I stopped purchasing BJD, smaller mature sizes weren't a thing and I'm not huge into infant/child dolls). (:

 

I'm happy to get them unstrung if it reduces shipping costs.

There's nothing complicated about stringing regular BJDs and usually a just bit of thought is all that's necessary for figuring out the stringing for a more complicated (centaur or whatever) body.

Teddy

 

I have hand strength issues now so, no it’s not something I’d buy personally. I used to have no problems though and bought a doll unstrung before. It’s not hard to string a doll, it just hurts me now to do it. So i prefer not.

 

Normally, I'd say I wouldn't mind an unstrung doll, but... I broke my wrist earlier this year and damaged some nerves at the same time. Now if I do too much that requires lifting or pulling with that wrist, the nerve damage acts up and my hand goes numb - which is not very fun. I found this out after restringing three and a half dolls a couple of months ago after finally getting around to dying them (already delayed by the broken wrist). I barely got the last one together because I was already feeling the effects, or in the case of the numbness, not feeling them? Needless to say, I didn't bother tightening the stringing on the last doll either. He kind of needed it but it'll be something that needs to wait.

So, for the time being, I'd have to say that a seller shipping a doll unstrung to me would be a huge put-off.

 

Since I like big dolls, the big boxes kind of build up. I like to keep company boxes, especially the nice ones with the special foam padding like Dollshe and Iplehouse do.

But if I am buying secondhand and the seller doesn't have the original box, unstrung isn't a bad option since shorter shipping boxes cost less to mail.

 

Last week I bought a doll unstrung. I brought a fairyline Minifee body with demon wings. I have strung active line and Moe line minifees but never a fairyline body and never any kind of wings and I have no clue how to string them either. Their very little information on YouTube on how to string her as well. This weirdly enough not a turn off for me buying a doll for me. I paid $13 instead of $50 for shipping and I cannot wait to figure it out.

 

Just got my first bjd a couple months back and as soon as I got it the first thing I wanted to do was unstring him to see how everything worked. Being the paranoid sort, I also wanted to have a really good look at everything to make sure there was no hidden damage. I would be fine with buying an unstrung doll as long as either the company or person selling has L/R labeled on the parts so I don't have to do a bunch of guessing when putting things back together.

 

I'd buy unstrung, but if the doll had ever been strung I'd ask for the old elastic to use as a template to cut the new.

 

I would not buy unstrung. But that's because I've never strung something before. I'm scared to attempt it.. I would much rather pay more/extra for shipping it strung.

 

Yes. Saving on shipping is worth the extra work. My problem is dissasambling the doll, except the easy parts like head, hands, feet. Assembling is OK and less stressful in my opinion.

 

I've had to restring too loose or too tight dolls after purchase before anyway, so sure, why not? The shipping charges are a fraction of what they are for a strung doll.

 

^This. I like to be very hands on and if this means that I can get a bjd cheaper, that's a win-win for me .

 

Yeah I would. If its a doll I want. Especially yes if it were a kit that comes with all the proper elastic and s-hooks. I also wish companies would have an option to buy a kit. The only ones I know of are Alice in Labrinth and Soom does x-mas kits.

 

If its a brandnew doll Id love for it to be strung and in a company box. But if its secondhand I dont mind it unstrung. Saves money from both expensive shipping fees and taxes!

 

Absolutely! One of the first things I do when I get a new doll is re-string it. It helps me bond! I wish more companies offered a kit option from time to time.

 

If it's not a Universe Doll, I think it can be a deal for me. But I am sure that I miss doll box. I like to store the doll in his original box.

 

Yes, if it's make doll considerably cheaper. I always can find someone to restring doll for me, or do it myself, preferably. Reselling doll without a box could be tricky, but I rarely sell anything from my collections, so, it's not a dealbreaker.

 

My very first BJD was a Christmas time kit from Soom. Since the kit didn't have a doll box, it was considerably cheaper than buying a full doll. It was a good learning experience to put her together. I wish more companies offered kit options, though I wouldn't want to have to string anything as tiny as a Puki Puki as soon as I got it.

 

I don't mind unstrung dolls at all! Saves considerably on shipping, and since I usually take a new doll apart first thing to adjust the tension or do sueding an unstrung doll actually saves me a step.

 

I'd definitely buy an unstrung doll, especially if it saved on shipping costs. Restringing isn't something that frightens me.