So...
Yesterday I finally found the time to solve the problem with paypal. They limited my account because of some apparent breach in their security. It was ok for me 'cause since June I've been sitting on my hands and didn't bought anything on-line (on those site that needs paypal as a payment method at least
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i think that you have to consider pluses...the dollar is shit against the euro right now.
also..this is just my opinion..
the new flush of current collectors include a sub group that has not really been a huge part of the scene before and its driving prices up. thats the 'experienced'doll collector. blythe is gaining enough popularity in doll collecting culture that we have alot of these people that are say...like AZ hippiechick..professional collectors who pay top dollar to get the doll they want. I think we have LOTS more of those types of collectors out there now than we used to. Most of these people have experience in some collectable previously and have no qualms (and don't necessarily research) realistic prices...they see something they want and plop the cash on the table. Its a strange phenomenon to watch...
Like I was mentioning in Dollo to Rhi as well...Neo prices have gone up nearly 50% in the last few years. My candy carnival list price was under 10,000 yen,(could it have possibly been 8,900??) and now the current price for a new release is generally 13,000 or more... this too affects overall prices...
not to mention BL's selling for more than a kenner practically! sheez!
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With the exceptions of those two I've been lucky never to spend too much on a Takara. I've even scored a Goldie at 130€ when she was going for 400 to 600$ on e.bay. So I shouldn't complain that loudly, right?
The increasing price of blythe it's an issue too. What bothers me is that it doesn't correspond to an increase in quality. But Takara is yet to come up with something *wow* (except, maybe, Retro Mama) for me, it's been well over a year since my last takara, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.
But yeah, I guess *rich collectors* is an interesting phenomenon. The problem is, then sellers expect to have those kind of prices for their dogs crap too. And not that I blame them. If someone is keen to pay that much, why should they ask less?
It's like... making something cost an insane amount of money so that less people could afford it, so that it became a status symbol, a key to a rich people clique that doesn't really make any sense. I don't know if I'm making any sense right now, sorry.
I just wish people would know the real value of hard earned money.
(and you could argue that if I knew it I wouldn't care to spend money on dolls, but that's another issue! XD)
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i don't eat out, i don't drink to excess, i don't buy anything really in excess. clothing is purchased of necessity and i'm not a brand whore either. if i want to spend money on dolls, then so be it. of course i spend on fabrics and notions, but i consider that 'work' even if its fun fun fun! my mobile phone is old but functional..as is most of my things...
one thing i think is good about the current move cwc is making is having 'themed' years. this could lead to more interesting releases, although also an entire year in a theme can also be stifling too...hard to say but i find it interesting. i wish there were more releases that i did not want to buy. i'm horrid. i don't see the concept, i see the doll and where i can go with her, even though i usually leave them stock, i have some sort of idea of her beyond the box and clothing.
the one good thing the influx of collectors has done is it has really boosted the market and amount of clothing sellers out there. it has driven the prices up in doll clothing which while part of me thinks, OMG insane! the person behind the sewing machine appreciates it. it translates to me being able to make a living wage by sewing them. Mind you it does take strategy and ability to make that living wage. i have to be a good enough seamstress to pull off an item in the time that allows me to make that living wage. (i think its wrong to charge your customers for you being a shitty seamstress and not knowing how to draft a pattern or sew a certain fabric efficiently. i refuse to charge people for my prototyping time and nor do i like to make grand gestures about it either...squeezing empathy from the sweat of my brow on how i simply labored over a pattern, blah,de fucking blah,blah,blah...*grumble* I hate that..)
my ultimate goal is to still be attainable for your avg. collector. no matter how great the dress or item might be.
i am glad that i've been around to watch this development, and i'm curious to see the directions it will take in the future too.
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I do appreciate everything you say. From a seamstress/seller point of view is, of course, *better* for lack of a better word. But that's true for any *commercial* career, isn't it?
The themed year does sound interesting, I didn't knew about that. We'll see... Not having "mad skillz" I am forced to buy a doll I like from every point of view (except for those I want to customize, of course).
That's what's fun about blythe too. That she has so much potential. It's only bad that the one producing them do not explore said potential to the extreme as I think they should.
You know, it's more than five years I'm observing and though I'm curious too to see the future developments, I'm not sure I like where it's all going right now.
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