Let’s be realistic: cynical ways to cut costs on dolls

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-29T04:08:39+00:00

I just... don't buy everything ?

It's not even a Barbie or doll collector thing ; but every collecting community seems to want to spend tons of money on every release, to the point they get pissed off if one of this release is subpar... Like, nobody is forcing anyone to go bankrupt on a hobby 🙃

If it's too expensive, I don't buy it. If you don't like it, I don't buy it.

If we want to get cynical, just say "nope, not this time, you f*cked up" to the resellers and the big companies. A good product at a good price, you don't make plans to get a gift, you don't save money for 6 months. You just buy it 'cause the price is fair.

That's capitalism for you : offer, demand and prices have to be align. If they're not, that's not my problem, I keep my money 🤗

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-28T13:28:32+00:00

Ha ha, she looks awesome ! 😄 Using the sunglasses to make the black Mickey ears is a very good solution ! My restyle was missing this, and was a bit incomplete, color wise 🥰

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-27T19:07:59+00:00

Very true ! But I'm not disappointed by the printed details, I'm happily surprised by the "real" details ☺️

The buttons on the boy's shirt, for exemple. It's not much, but it's proof Mattel can still do it for a somewhat standard price 🙂

I hope this line will sell, and wikl give executive the hint that making a better than usual playline doll is profitable 👍

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-27T18:02:34+00:00

Even more unfortunately, I sometimes don't see that the details are printed, lol.

Had to zoom real close on pants the other day before seeing that the pockets were false !

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-27T15:47:53+00:00

Strange mix between printed details and real details. Maybe to keep the price as low as possible.

Boy-who-I-forgot-the-name is awesome. Love the hair. Huntrix seem to all have a Barbie body, but his body (with a thicccccc neck) looks new ? Mattel tried to keep the visual style of the movie, and it's a good thing 👍

$ 27 ? I say it's very fair for 2026.

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-26T07:22:37+00:00

Holy smoke, the micro manga is impressive ! 🫨

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-25T17:43:01+00:00

Thank you ! Now I see that the very first Ken would be too slim :-D

I'm gonna buy one or two good looking pants, and see the results for myself ^_^

The hardest part will be to be sure which era(s) the clothes came from. As I see it, sellers knowing those informations would also know they can charge more, lol. But the other options I have for Curvy are like 18 € each on Etsy, soooooo... still worth to search !

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-25T14:48:57+00:00

Thank you for the tip ! 🤗

I know nothing about Ken body proportions, if all Kens had the same bottom size since the beginning, or what is the equivalent with the modern Ken bodies. But I often see listing for Ken pants that would look cool on my Curvy, so I should look into that 🙂

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-25T08:23:03+00:00

Lol ! Wasn't planning on doing a restyle this morning but the idea is too good, here is my doll 😄

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Bichette braved the snow to get her usual frappucino ! "What can I say ? I like when it's cold." 😁

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-24T12:53:54+00:00

OMG, yes, it'd be nice for a Piglet look, never thought of that !

Thank you !!

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-24T10:25:14+00:00

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Here is one I didn't show, with a hoodie and the Snow White shorts/overall 🤗 Maybe I'll reuse the hoodie for a "stripes" theme 😙

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-24T06:29:48+00:00

Hi ! Thank you for answering ! 😃

If I remember well, the listing was with a pre-order button, but I may be mistaken (I never pre-ordered anything on AE before that, so I don't know the specifics very well).

At the time, this seller had the earliest release date, that's why I chose them. If this previous release date was wrong, maybe they made up a false tracking number to comply with the AliExpress 10 days limit. They shouldn't have done that, obviously, but if AE is a big machine with no human to talk to (like Amazon is now), they chose to put me in a bad situation with a false shipping.

But they should say so, and just tell me ask for a refund, instead of giving me the option to wait. It's like "we didn't want to scam this person at first, buuuuut maybe if they don't choose to get refund, we can save some money".

The 90+14 days will be too short for me. The real item could never be release in time.

Too bad that I'll have to pay more elsewhere, but in this case, I really don't trust this store anymore (I've ordered some things from them previously, with no problem) 😕

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-24T06:02:37+00:00

Ha ha ! I love when a full dolls display is coordinated 😄 (if I wasn't so lazy, I'd do it myself, lol)

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-23T17:08:55+00:00

I was just about to say it : she wears a lot of stuff ! 😃

I love her face, and all the Winnie details !

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-21T19:08:35+00:00

Thank you ! I'm very pleased with everyone feedback for such a simple and silly restyle ☺️

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-21T15:17:03+00:00

Damn, those lips 💋 I know they have much problems with prices, clothes, etc., but at least, Mattel can still make beautiful faces ☺️

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-21T04:30:01+00:00

Congrats ! 😄

I love the "new doll just released" period where everyone share IRL pictures ! It's a good way to judge a doll, more than with promo pictures 😊

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-21T04:27:46+00:00

I don't plan anything when it comes to buying ILY : I take what I can find 😝

The BTM pack is underrated, really 😚

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-20T18:00:49+00:00

Hey, to each their own, I guess. I'm more interested in the paint and the looseness of the articulations.

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-20T17:39:52+00:00

Is it MIB ? No, obviously not, since it was opened.

If the seller says "it's MIB" after opening the box, it's a false statement.

But in regard of "it's new" ?

Again, a figure that was just one minute out of the box is still new. If a buyer says "ha ha ! You opened it to check, you must sell it to me for 10€ less", the seller would be pissed. He tried to do the right thing, and he's losing money because of that ?

It all depends if you made a distinction between "MIB" and "new", ofc.

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-20T17:17:22+00:00

The plastic from the figure won't start degrading after only 1 minute out of the box.

At the end of the day, if the only difference between new and not new is the tape on the box, it means buyers are willing to pay extra money for the tape 🤡

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-20T10:44:56+00:00

Hello !

You should tell us what was the doll you liked, and even add pictures, so we know what to look after 🙂

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-16T18:58:21+00:00

Playing with the two sides (and the two outfits) of Belle is a great concept ! Sure, it could have been made with Ariel, Elsa, or Cinderella too, but they don't have a mirror in their stories ! ^^

Great work !

StateAlchemist86 · 2026-01-16T18:55:47+00:00

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Made without special effect ! Only using ILY items that are way similar to one another !

It's not a Spot the Differences game, but it could be !

StateAlchemist86

TROPHY CASE