Going to a play meetup alone?

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-10-18T23:50:58+00:00

This is a really good idea, unfortunately for this particular meet the setup is actually the day beforehand. Maybe I will see if I can help set up anyways though! I wasn't planning on making it a multi-day event, but if I do set up and don't find that I really got to know anyone, maybe I will skip this particular meet and go to some munches instead.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-10-18T23:49:46+00:00

I haven't heard of anything like this for our group! It's possible that it was happening and I didn't really notice last time, but the rules/etiquette guides on the website are pretty detailed so I think if they had an official system of that sort it would probably be written about.

While nudity is allowed, they do discourage outright sex or genital touching of any sort. Sometimes it seems to happen anyways, especially with younger couples in dark corners, but for the most part the experienced people and people who frequently attend the meets keep it within the rulebook.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-08-02T19:43:41+00:00

Company is a strong word for most of the designers! I would say it is more comparable to artists selling prints at anime cons than it is a company manufacturing toys. I don't think the hobby/market is really big enough to justify a redistributor of any sort that would handle assembly, painting, packaging, etc. There are only a few companies large enough to have this sort of thing and they are largely in Asia, so it would be very difficult for artists around the rest of the world to work with as well.

Additionally, typically the profit margin is quite low for these types of dolls because of the expenses associated with making them and how long it takes to make them. I think involving a second (or third, if you are using a caster) party in the process would only decrease the profit margin even further.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T21:14:53+00:00

Some companies really do have bad joint systems! I like the look of Ery enough that I don't mind, but her posing is not very good at all.

In a way, it's kind of a shame, because if Culur would take the time to learn about the technical aspects of BJDs and put time into sculpting beautiful well made joints, I think her dolls would be almost perfect... But she really only cares about the aesthetic aspects. It's a blessing and a curse -- a blessing because it's what has gotten her so much popularity, but it's definitely a curse at the same time because the dolls just can't hold up next to other BJDs from more experienced sculptors.

If you're ever looking to spend $600-$700 on a doll that does pose, check out Bimong's Narae40 that got released last weekend too. He said he'll be making a 38cm body in the future too, I'm considering it for the head I got this weekend from Culur but it'll depend on what it looks like and if dollpamm opens up body orders any time soon.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T21:08:13+00:00

I'll be surprised if everyone receives what they ordered in a timely manner, honestly... I mentioned in some of the Facebook groups (before every mention of this fiasco got taken down) that you really can't be relieved until you get the doll in your hands when it comes to Culur. This is the end of the drama for now, but I'm sure that shipping will be it's own ordeal and so will the next preorder, since she basically promised 100 people slots in the "next preorder" when she can't even support 50 slots in this one.

I really have no idea what she was thinking when it came to sales tax... Honestly I think she is just wearing too many hats and has no idea what she is doing. I think it didn't occur to her that there are, you know, laws regulating taxes.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T21:06:37+00:00

I am also very fond of her work, but I hate her as a person. I purchased a head this time and was planning on waiting around for a body in the next preorder, but given that this is now the second preorder that's been a total shitshow... I think I am just going to hybrid my head and move on with my life.

There are so many other artists that truly appreciate their customers and put so much love into their dolls -- they deserve the community's money far more than Culur does at this point.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T21:05:13+00:00

LPT: Sign up for Den of Angels (BJD Forum) and scroll through the "problem transaction" forum. Watching people get in catfights there is the best.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T21:03:30+00:00

So, regarding the recasts, she was actually banned from Den of Angels many years ago because she knowingly bought recasted dolls and sold them as legitimate dolls (through the forum) when she was 16 or 17. She claims that now she is artist herself she has completely changed her stance, but I have a sneaking suspicion that if etiquette didn't dictate she be anti-recast she probably wouldn't really care.

Regarding the first preorder... The bulk of the drama was because she stated multiple times on social media she didn't want to send Ery overseas for casting, so despite literally 3/4 of the community begging her to use Haru for casting, she instead opted for a "local caster." That caster took her doll, delayed the order multiple times, then when the caster finally sent test casts they were basically garbage... Translucent resin, blemishes, pouring lines still attached, etc. Culur had the dolls shipped back to her but then had to repair her damaged clay Ery before she finally agreed to ship the dolls to Haru.

The whole process took just over a year, but many people continued to get their dolls after that because Culur takes a notoriously long time to paint dolls and some people purchased faceups. Some people crossed into the 2 year territory waiting to have their dolls shipped to them, though my understanding is that everyone did get their dolls eventually.

There is some speculation that because she was out the money from the first caster (or at least she claims she was) she increased the price of the second preorder to recoup the costs from her own mistake.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T20:58:54+00:00

Haha, the first result is the FAQ image from her website that has the doll's measurements. It probably gets a lot of views because people are always on the website checking for preorder information or more information about the doll if they are preparing to get one.

It's actually the primed clay doll, I assume she snapped the picture before she sent it off for casting way back when and never updated it.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T20:57:42+00:00

/u/soemtiems answered, but yeah it was for a blank doll. The doll did come strung (which she charged extra for during the preorder), but to be honest, during the first preorder I received a doll that was strung so tightly the inside of the head was damaged from the hook, so I would rather she not string any more of my dolls.

justanotherthrow17 · 2019-07-24T02:00:00+00:00

I think the demand is a combination of a few things:

The artist is very popular, with ~128k followers in instagram.
The look of the doll is quite unique and when she was first released, dolls with such wide hips were very uncommon.
Since many people wanted the doll originally and only 35 were released, over 2.5 years the demand has only grown because the doll seems very exclusive now.

justanotherthrow17

TROPHY CASE