Because she is a convention doll, I paid a premium for this vinyl doll. She's very unique and I like everything else about her.
The thing that drew me to her initially is her hairstyle. It's made up of two wigs, one on top of the other. The one closest to her scalp is darker brown and is just brushed back and cut short. The upper wig is a lighter color drawn up into two long pony tails.
Her gown is a white crochet type knit with fluffy tulle at the lower third of the dress. The belt is iridescent purple, a color which is picked up by the ribbons in her hair.
Underneath is a set of sexy, sparkly lingerie.
The bra and panty are glitter encrusted as are the fabulous shoes. I'm not a fan of glitter but in this instance, it works.
This is the joint issue:
What I don't understand is why I never heard of this problem prior to discovering it myself. Are collectors so blindly in love with these dolls that they don't say anything and will just keep buying? Not that I needed to hear complaints, but I'm surprised.
I've been offered the opportunity to return the doll to the UK to have the part replaced without a guarantee of vinyl color match. I'd rather sell her to someone who missed out on purchasing this very small edition doll. I don't know what to do.
Ed. Update:
I never would have posted publicly about it if an appropriate response to a defective $600.+ doll had been offered.
The other companies I deal with most often: Tonner, Jamieshow, Integrity and Kingdom Doll would have offered to repair or replace the doll at no cost to me.
What's worse is finding out that this was a known problem.
I surely wouldn't have purchased her if I had knowledge of this troublesome and widespread defect.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteI would use a sharp xacto blade, and cut off the overlapping piece. If you warm the piece prior with a blow dryer, it will cut very smoothly and clean.
Its worth a try and will very likely fix the problem.
It's a very good idea. I was thinking of using a Dremel bit to grind and then polish.
DeleteLike Ayal said using a dremel to remove a teeny piece of plastic would be like using a Sawzall to cut your toenails.Try the exacto or box cutter blade 400 and finer grit wet/dry to buff.Be really careful Ive stabbed myself to the bone haha.Im jelly my dolly budget is $0 I want one of the vinyls badly.
DeleteAyal did not say that. He suggested the Xacto, too. I was able to slice the vinyl easily and the protruding part has been pared down. Now the problem is that the metal pin is sticking out too far.
DeleteAyal, it worked. I didn't even have to warm the vinyl. Do you have any ideas about how to get the metal pin down as its sticking out a bit?
DeleteD'oh! What a strange issue -- looks almost like the molds used for the leg (or at least the left leg) are improperly shaped? If that's the case, I imagine they already ran off X many dolls before they caught the issue and fixed it. Oof.
ReplyDeleteI really don't remember seeing that on my Pandora, but I very often don't catch things like that until I'm taking photographs. I suppose it's the opposite of not seeing the forest for the trees -- I'm missing the trees because the forest has my attention! Anyway, I'll take a peek under her dress when I get home. Now I'm curious!
I believe that many have not undressed their dolls but quite a few have done so and not one has posted anything about it. Discovering that this was a known issue really bothers me. No, I would not have purchased a doll with such a glaring defect.
DeleteI bought a Vanity doll from the same offering and she doesn't have this defect. She's the only Gen-X that I own.
DeleteIf my doll was made at the same time as yours, for the convention, how can one doll body have a defective leg, and the other be OK, if they were all made at the same time?
Very curious.
I can see now why I never noticed -- I've redressed Pandora twice, but I've never taken off her hose. :/ She does have a slight overlap on her right knee (opposite of yours), but it looks like a smaller overlap than you showed on your Mischief. Maybe I'll try to snick it off with an xacto.
DeleteKate, it could be that the defect has to do with how the doll is put together. I haven't had a chance to look at my Pandora in detail after this, and I don't have anything to compare her to, but I wonder if there is variation where the metal pins are driven, or some such thing, that would affect how the leg fits together. Or some other sort of human error introduced in the process, such that it would affect some and not all dolls, and wasn't caught in QC for some time.
DeleteI am troubled that they knew about the issue and decided to label the dolls "sample" instead of let collectors know. Even if they didn't find out until after the dolls were sold- it would have been nice to warn collectors about the issue and offer a solution.
ReplyDeleteIt is troubling
DeleteMy Precious, Peonie and Chandelier all have the defect on the left knee!
DeleteYuP no one wants to mention it, probably for fear of "upsetting" C&D but I have noticed this issue from pictures of the Gen X dolls on eBay. Look carefully and it's quite noticeable. Years ago my Sybarite Sanctuary came with a large dent in her golden boot. I sent the pics to C&D and asked for help...basically they have no real "customer service" and just poo poohed and gave me a runaround which led absolutely nowhere, now I only get email notifications from them After they have sold out of whatever...soooo small eh? @~@ So I just buy cheaper secondhand prices and don't mess with my money actually going to them. I applaud you heartily for always having such an honest forthright and trustworthy opinion about dolls you review. I have always loved your blog and think even more highly of you now. Thank you once again for such great reporting, I may not comment often, but I really enjoy your blog and really felt this post deserved some extra Kudos to you for Finally bringing this issue up. Best to you!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree. I don't post much, but I come here to see honesty from Terri.
DeleteThank you for your comments. Someone had to say something.
DeleteT
I also rely on Terri's NJ bluntness. So refreshing...
DeleteNJ bluntness? Never been accused of that before. :-)
DeleteI accuse you of straight talking. Bluntness often has a negative connotation and I think you avoid that, since you never mean harm. I also love the occasional snark though ;)
DeleteWhut? Making rational excuses for defective and overpriced products? Have they been taking lessons from IT?
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteSo the original explanation C gave when people were asking "why are the dolls marked Sample" was:
Delete"As this is a new material and a new 'ad' venture for us, the system is very different to that of manufacturing resin dolls.
There are many things that need ironing out, refining and possibly even re developing.....
In vinyl terms, a sample run is much larger than a sample run on resin, so these dolls are all labelled 'sample' as they are the initial run."
So basically they are selling their prototype run. There were problems with the prototype run that need to be fixed (PROBABLY more than just the joint- I noticed someone else posting about fraying cords in the elbow joint)
I see no problem with them selling their prototype run, but they should have been honest about the flaws or offered a fix to everyone.
I loved the two new dolls today- but Superdoll's customer service makes me think twice...
I'm disturbed by this, but not shocked. I learned, abruptly, about Superfrock's "Policy" on defects now twice...and because I was afraid to say something, I hadn't. It seems in many places if we say negative things, it isn't ok.
ReplyDeletePS. Sorry this was long winded. And thank you for being honest. Always.
What I think is that we need to be able to foster an environment of honesty and RESPONSIBILITY.
It's why you are one of the first places I go, and I learned a lot from you before I even started collecting the more expensive dolls.
What I don't like, as you stated it so SO eloquently, is this blind...following. Yes, it is ok to love a company so much that you overlook things. But it is NOT ok to lie to customers.
In my past with Superfrock, I've had an issue with a doll straight from Superfrock and was told (quite rudely), that it was my expense to send it back and that they weren't going to do anything about it. And that was only after I insisted we do SOMETHING about the major flaw.
My second issue with them was on the new bodies. I again, was told, at my expense - I could send it back.
I get the first line may be to ask your customer to send it back, but the attitude I have gotten twice now...when I was very honest and VERY praising (I shouldn't have to suck up first though)...I had to basically bother until I got so annoying, they had to get rid of me SOMEHOW.
That is NOT how customer service should be done.
You had it right, any other company I work with - they would be jumping over backwards. There has been a lot of other companies that have showed me how to be treated, and this is NOT it.
Unfortunately, so many don't care, or will probably slam me for this post. All because of a name. I adore some of their things, but I no longer will be supporting them if I can help it unless they show some sort of change.
Just really sad - they KNEW this. And yet, had even the GALL to hesitate in giving you an option? WHAT?
Put aside the fact that people should have been made aware of this issue. That aside, the moment you brought it up should have been bending over backwards to make sure you knew they would make things right.
I dont collect this line but I will say that if a product is defective, damaged or broken in any way, then the manufacturer/retailer should be paying for return shipping and making restitution at no cost to the customer. That is just standard practice. There is nothing more unprofessional than companies treating customers in this flippant, take it or leave it/gtfo attitude. While I do not collect anything from this particular company I have noticed this trend in the doll collecting world a lot: 'shell out hundreds of dollars and be grateful we are selling to you, so stop complaining.'
DeleteHaving been a customer of Superdoll since 2006, I find some of the statements here totally opposite to my own experiences.
ReplyDeleteCustomer Service has consistently been of great help to me in answering questions, letting me know if a doll or outfit that was sold out has become available, and replacing a broken heel I once had with a dressed doll.
My own dealings with SD have always been positive. And I certainly don't know of any attempt to hide defective Sybarites or other items. In fact, on the doll forums, I visit, collectors are quite vocal with any opinions/complaints they have about Superdoll. I can certainly name other doll companies who have had their own share of doll issues and it seems doll companies act on these problems and solve them eventually. There are always matters that pop up with manufacturing any product.
I don't feel any doll company sets out to deceive or make a defective doll to deliberately disappoint a customer. What would be the intent?: to purposely lose customers and create a lack of trust?
SD has been working on a brand new Sybarite and keeps improving upon it. I own several of the Vinyl Sybarites and see this with my own eyes.
Terri, and others, sorry for your own experiences, and sincerely hope you will have better ones in the future.
Superdoll makes beautiful dolls & clothing. I absolutely love their new line of Sybarites. They do care about their customers and want them to be happy.
Thank you.
You know, when I read a comment that goes like this "I have never had problems with company X", I want to say "so what?" Such comments always seem to imply that because someone didn't personally have an issue with them, then it either didn't happen or that those who did are somehow mistaken or exaggerating or misguided or just not seeing it right. I hear that all the time, even with respect to IT where every now and then some cheerleader who was lucky enough to never have any product defect issues springs forward and then makes a statement like this to invalidate the experiences of others.
DeleteI mean, I am glad that you feel that the company cares about its customers and wants to see them happy and I am sure there is no one sitting there thinking "how can we alienate people this time?". But the reality is that this issue did happen and people feel cheated. And that is as legitimate a reason as any to be unhappy with a company and/or product. That you had a positive experience is irrelevant to this discussion and, with all due respect, who cares? That's not the point. Just because you lucked out doesn't mean customer service did not treat people with disrespect and expected them to pay for return shipping to fix a factory damage. Personal anecdotal experience doesn't make such behavior by CS more understandable or less unprofessional.
Hi Terri,
ReplyDeleteI wrote a comment last night too.
Thanks.
It never came through, Gerri. I've just looked through all my email and there's nothing except this one. Sorry.
DeleteTerri
Hi Terri,
ReplyDeleteI wrote it about 10:30pm and it looked like it went through. The note popped up saying it had to be approved..etc.
Thank you.
If you can re-create the message, I'd love to see what you wrote.
DeleteHello Terri,
ReplyDeleteI have not been writing for a long time, but now I'd simply like to say that I am very glad not to have bought any "Super"doll recently.
Some years ago I had the same problems with a faulty Tick (or was it Tock?) doll and the so called customer service treated me like dirt, too. I wrote to you about it.
Obviously this is behaviour is premeditated. As has been mentioned above, this is highly unprofessional if not even illegal, as customer rights are quite strict about faulty goods.
I wonder why nobody complains. The money people have spent is flawless, and they get prototypes in return. Quality control after sales? At such prices? This is incredible.
Maybe some other doll from a decent company will cheer you up.
Best regards
Petra
Petra, I remember.
DeleteT
Hi Poppy,
ReplyDeleteYour perception of my letter is totally wrong.
Sorry to disappoint you but you did not understand what I said.
Try to rid yourself of your anger. It may be causing you more problems than you realize.
Wish you better a day.
Well, I guess an ad hominem attack is one way to avoid actually responding to and reflecting upon the points made.
Delete