Here are the "perks and privileges" as listed:
If you are looking to get the latest scoop on every brand manufactured by Integrity Toys, search no more, the W Club is THE club to join! W Club members get the best perks in the industry, which makes a W Club membership a tremendous value! Aside from gaining access to the members-only W Club forum and exclusive newsletters, here's a peek at some of the great perks W Club members will get in 2016...As time goes by, the W Club becomes less like the club I joined which was all Fashion Royalty. I don't collect Poppy Parker or Jem. The 2 Fashion Royalty exclusives may be NuFace instead of FR. But I keep joining because I'm afraid to miss something.
- Awesome Club Exclusive Dolls!
- For 2016, every member will have an opportunity (in addition to the upgrade dolls) to pre-order at least 5 exclusive Club-only dolls, including 2 Fashion Royalty dolls (which may include NU. Face), 2 exclusive Poppy Parker dolls, and 1 JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ doll*, plus additional surprise items!
- FREE Digital Subscription to DOLLS and Haute Doll Magazine!
- DOLLS Magazine is once again generously giving a FREE year-long digital subscription to every 2016 W Club member! This year-long digital magazine subscription is the best way to keep up to date on all of the dolly news!
- Updated This Year: Our Annual Coupon is Better Than Ever!
- Each W Club membership that you purchase will automatically add a special $25 coupon to your IT Direct Coupon Wallet that can be used towards ANY IT Direct shopping cart purchase of $99 or more online only during the 2016 W Club year! No more restrictions to W Club exclusive items-- as long as your order is above $99 before shipping and tax, you can apply your coupon towards any order of your choice!*
Yes, I still love my 12" dolls. They are a joy to look at. I buy designer clothes for them and they're staying but my passion for the 16" resin BJDs is where the dolly funds go for the most part.
Anyway, here are the three optional dolls that can be purchased along with membership:
Vanessa (3.0) "Take Me On" $130.
At first I was intrigued but she's the wrong Vanessa sculpt for me and I don't see her fashion as being useful or complete. I like the shoes and that's it.
Poppy Parker "Ma Petite Fleur" $120.
Did someone say Beverly Hillbillies? I guess if you have a record with French songs on it, you're French. Poor Elly Mae Clampett (R.I.P.) She didn't have that.
Imogen "Be Daring" Nu Face $120.
I like the outfit and the really cute skull jewelry. Looking closely at the fit of the top, I don't care for her boob joint so exposed like that and the fit at the arm seam doesn't look right.
The entire operation is a brilliant, money-making, marketing tool.
For me, if I'm not going to get something of value that no one outside the club can get, it won't be worth it to continue. However, it is a difficult habit to break.
So the W Club will just be getting my $50. and we'll see if it's worth it. You know I'll let you know.
Did you join? If so, are you adding the extra dolls?
Photos of the dolls and accessories are the property of Integrity Toys.
Editor's Note:
I've been informed by a friend that the Poppy Parker doll may be inspired by Brigitte Bardot who often wore pink gingham dresses.
I haven't joined yet, I really enjoy the sneaks but with the current exchange rate, it makes it a really tough decision. I didn't get an upgrade doll last year and I'm passing on all three this year, and many of the exclusive dolls weren't to my taste except one. We'll see how this year goes though.
ReplyDeleteI am a Poppy collector so to me the W Club is essential to be able to buy her at a reasonable price. I also collect Victoire Roux and am hoping to see her again. In short, is it a great deal? no but it's great to first notice of Poppy from dealers also.
ReplyDeleteThat is the best part - getting to the dealers after the announcement. Hopefully there's something to get there for.
DeleteThis was my first year to join. I have liked the Fashion Royalties, Poppy Parkers for a while now and have wanted to see what it was about so I decided to join. I did get the Poppy Parker upgrade. I live her face sculpt and already have plans on how to photograph her. LOL!! I also want to get a Jem doll. I grew up with Jem so I am excited about that.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't joined, this is the first year I have doubts about joining. I have analyzed my collection and realized I get very few dolls from the Club, most of them are from the convention and I got those from fellow collectors. Aristocratic Agnes was my first and only upgrade and I already sold her... I do not visit forum, so I really do not know why should I join. BUT, I love the excitement of getting newsletters, and I too have a feeling I will pass on something cool if I do not join. Indeed, hope dies last :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteI joined for Gene & Co, and stayed for Poppy. I've been very pleased with the club dolls I've bought and for that reason I'll renew for 2016.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I joined again. I don't want to miss out! Unfortunately, joining wclub always means I spend more on dolls. I got the upgrade Imogen, couldn't resist the skull accessories.
ReplyDeleteYou know you're not the only one who has purchased a doll for her jewelry and belt, don't you? I thought about it.
DeleteYes am joining the club this year for my 6th times. I choose Imogen since I dont have yet in my IT doll collections. BTW, I love ur review on dolls. U kinda helping me to choose which one to get and which one to avoid/ignore. Keep it up Maam! - Lee D Hairul
ReplyDeleteGlad to be of service!
DeleteThank you.
T
I haven't joined yet either, but I will. The thing that is delaying me is the doll, I can't decide whether or not to get her. My first instinct on seeing Poppy was YES!, but the more I think about it, the less I'm sure I want her. It bothers me that there isn't a full, straight on face shot of her in any of the promo pics. They always include one, & the other two dolls have them, but in every picture, Poppy's head is at least slightly angled so that you don't see her straight on. Why? It makes me nervous about what we're not seeing, so I still haven't decided.
ReplyDeleteOn a unrelated note, when referring to multiple Poppy dolls, is it Poppies or Poppys? I've been wondering this for a long time, since Poppy is a name & not an object, which is correct? Anybody know?
I would say either Poppys or Poppy dolls. And if you look at the word Poppys long enough, it looks wrong. There might be a grammatical rule about it somewhere.
DeleteI am rejoining and will purchase upgrade Imogen. Since joining he club member in 2006 I have only purchased three upgrade dolls (one of which was given away). I agree with your critique of Imogen's top but I like everything else about the doll especially the jewelry. I rarely buy the exclusives, have never won a lottery for ultra popular doll and have used my $25 dollar coupon maybe once or twice but I do love getting the two day head start with my dealer when lines are revealed.
DeleteWell, I am questioning joining too. The dolls don't appeal to me. But what is really getting to me is the length of time before we get dolls from IT. Is it getting longer and longer.
ReplyDeletePlus, head start to dealers? Usually I either don't receive a response until a few days later, or sorry, I don't have any left. You sure you don't want this one (the dolls that are not popular)? Thanks, but no thanks.
The length of time between pre-ordering and receipt of the dolls is awful, I agree. As far as dealer response time...once you get in with a dealer, you usually know pretty fast. They do get inundated with requests. So many collectors now pelt multiple dealers with requests which is understandable considering how not getting what you want can hurt. It's not a great system.
DeleteOh I soooo agree! We had NuFace announcement, as I recall, on 27th June, yet we still do not have the whole collection in hands.
DeleteWhat I do understand is that Wclub dolls are made per number of orders, therefore their production time can vary.
What I do NOT understand is why do they announce regular collection 7-8 months earlier? If you already know how much you will make, than make it and sell it when the product is ready to ship! I have an issue with this because I have waited for almost 10 months to receive what I preordered. By the time I get, it I feels to me like its 1 year old (which is not too far from true). In the meantime, we get new dolls and maybe I do not want preordered ones anymore. Now, I am an honest person and I do fulfill my obligations, if I have preordered the doll, I will pay for it no matter what, but it feels wrong. Sorry for this little rant, its something that really, really bugs me.
I think the upgrade dolls are great and I will join. Not sure about Vanessa. People keep saying they do not like the 3.0 sculpt and IT keeps making it. I am not sure why. It is a "Jem" situation where they keep having unsold leftovers yet they keep making more and more. Her outfit is gorgeous, though, and I find all the upgrade dolls scrumptious. Very impressed personally with what they have done.
ReplyDeleteI think $50 for the club membership is too much. Barbie Collector costs half that and they give you $80 dollars worth of coupons. IT only gives a $25 dollar coupon that has to be spent on items $99 an above.
I am not sure how the W club is using the money either (i.e. putting it back into the club). Salaries? For whom? The W club, based on a rather unconvincing rationale, refuses to tell us who the so called liaisons are. For all I know it may just be one person. They do not even sign emails with their names, it is just some generic anon signature "W Club liaison" - which is just shady and unprofessional in my opinion. It is about accountability and knowing whom you spoke with. If people do no have to sign their whilst in such a professional capacity (as this is not some private blog), then it opens the door for all kind of abuse and rude behavior, because it is just so much easier to be rude to and mistreat people if you don't have to sign with your name afterwards. I have never seen the customer service department of any company or corporation refuse to have their employees give their names (or first names if they are worried about exposing their identity). And most of the time people seem not able to get a liaison to respond to inquiries anyway - so who are all these liaisons that allegedly work full time and around the clock just for us and get paid a salary?
I believe they keep making the 3.0 because they think they're smarter than the collectors. The liaison is Carol Roth's sister. She doesn't work 24/7 as they state on the site. I have always been able to get a response from the liaison. But I do agree with you about signing names. It's very snobby to withhold names.
DeleteNepotism. Figures. Being able to get a response from them depends on the issue and the person asking.
Delete"Poppies" is the plural for the flower. But since Poppy is a proper name in this context, the plural should be "Poppys", not "poppies".
ReplyDeleteI will probably renew this year. But, I am not sure for how much longer. I have not been impressed with the "club" for several years. They haven't shown the same level of interest in promoting the 16" dolls that they do the 12" ones which limits my interest. As always love the blog.
ReplyDeleteWill C.
Poppy: Sorry to hear there is an issue with getting answered. That's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on this topic.
DeleteT
I rejoined, making this only my second year in the club. It's worth it to me to see the news ahead of time, a chance to pre-order (if the planets are aligned), purchase the club dolls I like at reasonable prices, and take advantage of sales on the member forum. This helped me save money on individual dolls, though it may have resulted to more purchases overall. Oh, well.
ReplyDeletePaying $25 ($50 less the $25 certificate) is a good deal. The reason the Barbie club has to pay us to be members ($25 out of pocket, and then $80 in certificates) is that they are not at the same level. The website doesn't work consistently, the dolls are often on the Internet or even in dealer hands before members have been given a sneak preview, and the forums are a less pleasant experience. They promised that they were trying to fix the problems this year, but we'll see.
I'm a little bit confused but do you have to renew a membership every year? Sorry just got a new membership this year :)
DeleteYes. I'm sure you will get the email announcement. Make sure they have your proper email address.
DeleteAs a newcomer to Integrity Dolls, is a membership worth it if you don't live in the USA?
ReplyDeleteIm worried the shipping will be high and also with the current exchange rate I don't think its going to be worth it. This has been one of the toughest doll hobbies i've joined haha ;D
The shipping and exchange rates will be high whether or not you're a member. I am aware that the import taxes are ridiculous for many overseas collectors. You have to make that decision! You do have a few Integrity dealers who are not in the US. I don't know where you live so I can say which one you need to contact. Follow this link to see who the dealers are:
Deletehttp://integritytoys.com/authorized-dealers/