Disney Princess Designer Collection DOLLS --- NOW WITH PICTURES PAGE 3! ---

[Melonballer]

I think that if you are online when they release, you will be fine. I think they are selling faster now because the speculators have seen them go for big money on ebay and are now buying more of them for resell/trading purposes.

 

[hopemax]

My Mom collects Mulan, so I told my Dad about the release for today. When I logged on and saw she was sold out, I thought that meant that my Dad wouldn't get one because he doesn't always do things with the urgency the situation might require. But he had a health appointment today, got up early and logged on and bought the doll. Although we joked that that doesn't mean the doll will be shipped, or actually in the box. Such a joke Disney's customer service has become.

I feel bad for everyone that is really interested in these dolls. I really believe that the edition sizes are large enough for true doll collectors. But now it's a "hot" item and there are so many people buying just for resale opportunities. You can see it in pins where an edition size is increased a bit, and then all the speculators decide its not worth it and then something changes from an instant sell out to languishing on the rack (or vice versa if speculators decide something is hot). I wonder how many of these dolls will be returned right before the return deadline. Or how many people will be stuck holding them when the next hot thing comes around.

 

[Rose_Valentine]

I think that if you are online when they release, you will be fine. I think they are selling faster now because the speculators have seen them go for big money on ebay and are now buying more of them for resell/trading purposes.

Yes the dolls sell out so fast just for MONEY and EBAY CRAZY PRICES!!! Its obvious that ALL the people order 2 dolls for time on line and buy 2 dolls on Disney Stores... Maybe they have a large family and buy MORE dolls and the simple and dreamy people who want the dolls for keep in the heart for ever and arrive last???? Its unfair and INSANE. I love these dolls,i love Mulan,Rapunzel and all the dolls from this line...but...People...this is just INSANE. Disney REALLY MAKE A ORDER OF JUST ONE FOR ALL PEOPLE! ITS UNFAIR!

 

[Rose_Valentine]

I feel bad for everyone that is really interested in these dolls. I really believe that the edition sizes are large enough for true doll collectors. But now it's a "hot" item and there are so many people buying just for resale opportunities. You can see it in pins where an edition size is increased a bit, and then all the speculators decide its not worth it and then something changes from an instant sell out to languishing on the rack (or vice versa if speculators decide something is hot). I wonder how many of these dolls will be returned right before the return deadline. Or how many people will be stuck holding them when the next hot thing comes around.

I agree with you :'( Its unfair unfair unfair...just because its a "hot stuff" for the media all the people (all the stupid bad people who buy 2 dolls or more and sell on ebay) get these beeautiful original dolls!!! I love Rapunzel (its a example) and many people love her princess of heart. Its crazy because on ebay the Mulan is MANY and MANY...its the demonstration of all the people who is in line at Disney Stores buy the dolls JUST FOR MONEY. Not for dreams,not for love,not for a Collection of Passion and years of work! Where is the sweetness of Disney? I remember when i am 6 - 7 years old i go with my mom at Disney Store in Milan and i see my doll..i buy her but i am HAPPY inside. Not for money. Bad world.

 

[alice28]

I've been lurking here the last couple weeks. I am a lifetime Disney fan, been going to the US parks since I was a child (35 years ago and this is the first series I have wanted to collect as an adult. And now I'm just soooo disappointed with people's greed and the ebay sharks. I was lucky enough to get Mulan today, buying in store and having to be at the store at 8:45 AM. Even then, I just made the cut off. the person behind me got the last doll in the store.

I was hoping to be able to collect all 10 dolls and display for my daughter (she's 6) and myself to enjoy, but I am already feeling like if I get ANY more, I'll be lucky. I'll have to stay up late Sunday nights.

Would anyone be able to tell me approximately the exact time Mulan showed up on the website. I checked about 12:10 pacific time last night and she was not up at that time. I do know I want Snow White for myself and am hoping to snag one online. I have to work the next 6 Mondays so there will be no more frenzied TDS waiting for me. There were a few of the ebay sharks in line and I was sooo disgusted. I said loudly when talking to my mom, "It's so sad that greedy people on ebay have to ruin it for those who truly just are Disney lovers."

 

[alice28]

Just to share and join in, the ones that are out there that I'm still hoping to buy are Snow White, Rapunzel (gee, surprised?), Jasmine & Pocohantas. I think Aurora's hair is so ugly and Tiana's dress isn't any more special than the other dresses she has on the $12 dolls. Plus her hair doesn't look right to me.

When I first decided I was going to do this, I honestly didn't realize how hot this was going to get! INSANITY!

No mugs at the east Portland, OR store yet; they had them the first week and I didn't think to buy my favorite. Maybe we'll get replenished like the San Francisco store. Our other Portland Disney Store is the bigger/refurbished one though, so I'm guessing they would get more mugs before 'my' store does. Thanks for letting me join in the doll-talk!

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

hopemax are you joking UK dolls. dont come in the display boxes ?

 

[si1328]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit? At this point the "TRUE" collectors know that in order to get their favorite doll they must be up at midnight to order it, or wait in line at their nearest Disney store to purchase one, so the collectors are NOT getting ripped of or getting an unfair disadvantage. There are still plenty of dolls available on the UK and French sites, yes you pay more but you get your doll. So please step aside, stop complaining and wait in line with the rest of us.

Ok feel free to flame me now.........

 

[stybbafirefoot]

UK dolls definitely come in display cases like the US ones, I think hopemax was just commenting on the state of the US site and it's apparent service issues.

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

Si !+
I remember when the pins were selling for $50.00 each and higher . No one was budging for multiple trades or a better price for members . I was one then that complained, but how I now wish I had paid the $360.00 . So that said, if others are allowed to do it, its not such a bad idea to catch up on bills & purchase Christmas gifts and not be in debt for one .

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

UK dolls definitely come in display cases like the US ones, I think hopemax was just commenting on the state of the US site and it's apparent service issues.

Thank You for that ! What is the price in USA dollars as I owe for Ariel !

 

[stybbafirefoot]

With UK postage the dolls are about $88, if that helps!

 

[tinkerbelle1956]

Not Bad ! Thanks

 

[alice28]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit? At this point the "TRUE" collectors know that in order to get their favorite doll they must be up at midnight to order it, or wait in line at their nearest Disney store to purchase one, so the collectors are NOT getting ripped of or getting an unfair disadvantage. There are still plenty of dolls available on the UK and French sites, yes you pay more but you get your doll. So please step aside, stop complaining and wait in line with the rest of us.

Ok feel free to flame me now.........

I think the house comparison and the Disney doll is not quite the same thing. A house accumulates value *usually* over a longer period of time. Not an hour. My parents were part of the whole 'bought a house in the Bay Area in the 70s, sold for a huge profit in 200X". I just don't quite think it's the same thing.

I DO get your point about selling for a profit with an antique, etc. And I guess to pay a Christmas bill or two. I even get buying 2 dolls, keeping one, selling one, etc. But when I see with my own eyes the greed and contempt in people's eyes at the store about it, for me personally, it takes the joy out of it. I still hope to purchase a few more dolls, and YES, I will dutifully stay up past midnight for a chance to get one, but I think you're comparing apples to oranges a bit.

 

[Moondance]

Ah boy! Getting my Mulan today was INSANE! I was running behind getting to the store this morning but I managed to get there at 10:01...lol ONE minute past opening. i was not too worried as for past releases I had no problems with them being gone right at opening. I talked to somebody on the phone mid week last week and they had a couple of mugs and a Cindy doll in (same Cindy that had sat there for over a week). I went ahead and had them hold me 2 mugs and the Cindy and mentioned wanting them to hold me aside a Mulan for Monday telling them I would be there first thing Monday. They said they would see if they could set a Mulan aside but no promises and that would definitely put the other items aside for me.

So I am hurrying over to the DS all the time I am on my phone to the other store near dh's work to see if they will hold one until he can make it over there at 3. She had JUST sold the last one. This was at 10am and they had just opened. She said it was a mad house! Alright, getting pretty nervous at this point. I round the corner and see the DS... looks pretty empty from there. I walk in and there is the line backed up at least 10 people already. I see a woman up front with 2 in hand walking out. I look on the floor and there are only 3 sitting down there and one on the counter. If there are no more in the back there is no way I will be getting one. Two more people go through the line buying one each and then the phone rings. The guy stopped ringing people up and took the phone order which he went ahead and processed then went to stick the receipt on the main display one at the counter and closed her up. This leaves one bag left on the floor. I look closer and see it is already sold as well. There are still a few people in front of me and they all go through and are told they are sold out, none left and put their names down on a sheet to get called if any more show up. Alright, I am almost in tears at this point. I drove out of town to get this doll and it was gone, gone online, gone at the store near dh's work and gone here. I could not believe it.


Finally my turn comes and I walk up to the lady who I have talked to a lot about these dolls quite a bit and I tell her I have some holds in the back. She asks what I should have and I tell her two mugs, a Cindy and a Mulan. She goes back to the back and out she comes with my bag and 2 dolls in hand. I see one is Mulan! Oh, thank goodness. I know the people lined up behind me were about to flip when they saw me get one. I felt bad b/c I knew had that been me back there I would have been upset. I was so thankful to get her though. She is beautiful! Next week I will line up at 8am I guess to get my Snow White...lol I will need to get somebody to go with me or I will be bored to death waiting that long. lol

I still can not get over how much these dolls have caught on. Crazy I tell you! The line in my store was like nothing I have ever seem around here for Disney stuff.

I wish my local CMs held stuff for me-- they refuse to hold almost anything :x

 

[Moondance]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit? At this point the "TRUE" collectors know that in order to get their favorite doll they must be up at midnight to order it, or wait in line at their nearest Disney store to purchase one, so the collectors are NOT getting ripped of or getting an unfair disadvantage. There are still plenty of dolls available on the UK and French sites, yes you pay more but you get your doll. So please step aside, stop complaining and wait in line with the rest of us.

Ok feel free to flame me now.........

You go Laramie!!!!!!
You tell em!
Make sure no one who flames you gets to you- lots of flaming going on in this thread. I should know, I'm a victim of it.

 

[dizneydogs]

Hi Alice

Good to see you on these boards too and welcome!! The date stamp on my order is 12:10:41 PDT

 

[alice28]

Thank you DizneyDogs! I must have just missed her when I was on; good to know, appreciate you telling me.

 

[hopemax]

There is nothing really wrong with reselling, but both collectors and resellers need to understand that in order for something to maintain a high price it has to come from true demand. If there are 4000 dolls and 8000 people wanting them, then the price will be up and stay up. If there are 4000 dolls and only 2000 people really want them for permanent collections, a handful may sell for outrageous prices because some people have enough money that paying extra is worth the cost of having it immediately with little effort. But those few sales does not indicate that that is truly market price. The resellers are counting on people's impatience. Take pins. When pin trading started, LE5000 pins would sell out in hours and then resell for double or triple. If I offered most people on this board an LE5000 they would scoff and turn their nose up, because we know now LE5000 is a HUGE edition size. 4000, 6000, 8000 these are huge numbers for collectibles. In 10 years, I promise you that these will most likely not even sell for cost, probably even 5. When the price will drop, I don't know. But I know it will. Are you willing to wait one or two or three years to get the doll?

Speculation driving artificially high prices happens. Whether it's tulips in 1637, beanie babies in 1998, or Designer Princess dolls in 2011. There is nothing wrong with a collector looking at something and saying, this should not really be happening, I don't think it will continue, and I will be patient and not give into it.

Oh, and yes my comment was on Disneystore.com's practices of sometimes putting the wrong sticker on things or just mispacking things. So if you order a Mulan doll, what you receive might be a Buzz Lightyear swim suit.

 

[Merryweather]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit? At this point the "TRUE" collectors know that in order to get their favorite doll they must be up at midnight to order it, or wait in line at their nearest Disney store to purchase one, so the collectors are NOT getting ripped of or getting an unfair disadvantage. There are still plenty of dolls available on the UK and French sites, yes you pay more but you get your doll. So please step aside, stop complaining and wait in line with the rest of us.

Ok feel free to flame me now.........

Maybe it is not the exact same comparison, but I totally do agree with Laramie. Everybody here whines about Disney love and condemns people who buy these dolls to make $$. Well, money can't buy me love and love can't buy you dolls people. If you indeed *LOVE* these collectible and IMO overpriced dolls as much as you do, then use your cell phone alarm, wake up 15 mins past PST midnite and diligenly sit in front of your computer.

Do not expect to have sweet dreams filled with princesses, while people are awake at ungodly hours, while people stay in-line starting at 8 am , giving God knows what excuse to their jobs to be in the malls before store opening. Then you want to waltz in to the store at your own convenience and get your dolly. If Disney Magic does not work for you, then you whine, complain & condemn the sharks.

Any sought after item gains value after being sold out. Stocks double, triple in prices in 30 mins, not even 1 hr. A painter dies, his paintings gain value next day. I am not approving of this, but this is the way things work and you really can't change much by whining on forums. Only thing you can change is how you can handle this, what you can do to get what you want.

If you are even braver than this and better than the sharks, next time get 2 dolls. Keep one for yourself and give one to a friend who missed it at face value. Do not give in to the temptation of making any $$ of off it, just pass it on at face value.

ANY TAKERS?

 

[Shivatopia]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit? At this point the "TRUE" collectors know that in order to get their favorite doll they must be up at midnight to order it, or wait in line at their nearest Disney store to purchase one, so the collectors are NOT getting ripped of or getting an unfair disadvantage. There are still plenty of dolls available on the UK and French sites, yes you pay more but you get your doll. So please step aside, stop complaining and wait in line with the rest of us.

Ok feel free to flame me now.........

Si !+
I remember when the pins were selling for $50.00 each and higher . No one was budging for multiple trades or a better price for members . I was one then that complained, but how I now wish I had paid the $360.00 . So that said, if others are allowed to do it, its not such a bad idea to catch up on bills & purchase Christmas gifts and not be in debt for one .

I think the house comparison and the Disney doll is not quite the same thing. A house accumulates value *usually* over a longer period of time. Not an hour. My parents were part of the whole 'bought a house in the Bay Area in the 70s, sold for a huge profit in 200X". I just don't quite think it's the same thing.

I DO get your point about selling for a profit with an antique, etc. And I guess to pay a Christmas bill or two. I even get buying 2 dolls, keeping one, selling one, etc. But when I see with my own eyes the greed and contempt in people's eyes at the store about it, for me personally, it takes the joy out of it. I still hope to purchase a few more dolls, and YES, I will dutifully stay up past midnight for a chance to get one, but I think you're comparing apples to oranges a bit.

Not surprisingly, you all make very valid points. I've stayed awake for every doll release on disneystore.com to make sure my order of one doll was made each time. Luckily, I am on the West Coast, so it's not as bad as it could be. And certainly, there are a lot of people in or around the poverty level in the US (or certainly not wealthy enough to not have to worry about money), so the idea of being able to turn a profit off of something is understandable.

The thing that worries me is the rapid decrease in the window of opportunity to obtain the dolls online. From two weeks (Cinderella) to about 5 days (Ariel) to less than 48 hours (Belle) to about 4-6 hours (Mulan), I truly believe that the so-called "sharks" are placing multiple online orders in a row, which does pull away opportunity for collectors. I really hope it does not get any worse than this. I'll be honest that I am a bit of a habitual worrier, which is probably unfounded in this endeavor, considering that I am online at midnight PDT, refreshing and searching for the new doll's availability every minute or so, in order to not miss ordering my doll. I personally feel bad for the East Coast, because from the look of things, they will have to wake up at around 3am just to be able to buy a doll online (and I'll be right with them on October 3rd when I'm supposed to be on vacation at WDW). For those people that do work on Mondays, this can be very taxing physically and mentally, especially over a 10 week span. Furthermore, some people are unable to get to a retail store for whatever reason, which at least has the potential for "fairness" given that the dolls can't be sold until the store opens. Everyone's circumstances are different.

The whole affair has just become tainted with a very ugly atmosphere, which just saddens me more than anything. These dolls should only bring joy and happiness, but the road to obtaining them has become very dark for many people...

 

[Moondance]

Hope, Merry....you guys rock...I totally loved your posts!

I concur with your post too, Shiva, I completely concur that this whole Designer collection has become tainted with an ugly atmosphere---
I was hoping to go to the store every week, see the same smiling people I met at the Cindy opening, and talk to them about how their week was, etc......

Nope.

Now I have to wake up early, or stay up extremely late to be able to obtain the dolls at the store- twice now have I had to order online, when ordering online just isn't the thing for me- I like to have my merchandise right away!

I was hoping to go to the store for the Pocahontas doll, but I am most likely just going to purchase her online because it's convenient, easy, fast, and I won't almost -break my leg- (you'll appreciate this inside joke Judy) by going to the store.........


Good luck to everyone-- This will definitely be a feat of strength for those who are not night owls, or hasty when it comes to these things.

 

[aandersonis]

okay

so I have to say that everybody is freaking out a little too much, just like people did on the Disney stores FB page. At least they actually do have a limit of 2, they could have not put a limit and then that'd be a little much. I think a limit of 2 is fair for online shoppers in store it would be nice to have a limit of 1, but again not particular. Disney decided it and no amount of complaining is going to change it and that's that.
Next, I seriously can't believe Mulan sold out so quick, so happy I set an alarm at got up at 2:45 CST and got my dolls. And yes, I most likely will sell one on ebay for a reason price because these dolls are expensive and quite frankly in this economy I really do need the money to support my future collection habits (I am willing to sell at a reasonable price if someone misses getting a doll because I am not a shark), but I will have the entire collection up in my room, which I am ridiculously excited for.
I called the disney store I went to (and is 5 mins away from my house) this morning to see how many they received and how quickly they sold. Turns out at 7:30 am (the store open at 10) there was 20 people in line...crazy and exactly why I started purchasing them online this week! For the 8,000 LE they received 14, for some reason on a 6,000 LE they received 20...kind of strange in my opinion, but they do typical get more shipments of them throughout the week. FYI if anyone did not get a Mulan for their collections and I don't mean to actually sell it, I would be happy to check the store for you, purchase and ship to you, with a payment through paypal, money order and/or bank certified check.

If you made it to the end of my rant, thanks for listening and I mean no offense to anyone just hate when everyone starts to get all negative and whiny about things that can't be changed. Accept it and move on, that's life.... Have a magical rest of the day!

 

[si1328]

You go Laramie!!!!!!
You tell em!
Make sure no one who flames you gets to you- lots of flaming going on in this thread. I should know, I'm a victim of it.

The only reason I only put up that post is because I am sitting here reading this tread looking at people who themselves are going to purchase a doll and know what it is going to take to get one and STILL GRIPPING about it! I am just trying to make a point....

EVERYTHING HAS A VALUE

If you are SMART enough to purchase something knowing you can make a profit on it GOOD FOR YOU! If we did not have people that think like this then we would not have multi BILLION dollar companies that we purchase from every day. Do i want the collectors to miss out on their favorite princess? NOT AT ALL! Hell if I do end up with more than 1 Rapunzel doll I will probably offer her up for trade here on the forum, you can probably get her for next to nothing as compared to what you would spend on evilbay.

But I have learned one thing......and this is an UNFORTUNATE thing.......

I have done countless co-ops here on the forum....I have had countless people involved in them and be VERY happy that they got an opportunity to own something that they otherwise could not.....

BUT: ( and this part really bites) when it comes down to helping me out with finding something I can count on 1 hand how many people will step up to the plate to help.

Your MORE than willing to purchase a great low LE pin from me, but your NOT willing to trade with me?

Heck I sold the Rapunzel pin from the designer set for $50.00 and I thought that was a SUPER fair price knowing what Rapunzel pins are doing!

And guess what I made a PROFIT off of the Designer pins I sold....it more than paid for the set....I did not hear anyone being so super upset about people making a profit on the pins???????

AND THEY WERE LE150!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT EVERYONE I HAVE CO-OP'ED WITH)

So my point is: If you want the dolls, stay up or go to the store early.

I am just tired of reading how HORRIBLE people are for trying to make a buck in this HORRIBLE economy, you dont know if they are trying to help raise money for their house payment, or if they are trying to raise money for food on the table. The plain fact is that you are upset because it makes things harder for you........well then every time you wake up you should feel the same way because people are making things harder for you EVERY DAY! It's what you decide to do about it that matters.

Words of wisdom for my kids that i think we could all benefit from: you cant change what another does....you can only change how you handle your situation.


THIS IS ALL I AM GOING TO SAY

I am entitled to my opinion as we all are. If you have taken offence to anything I have said that was not my intention.

Sorry but I just HAD to get that out!:rant::rant::nono:

 

[KittyKatta]

Is it then un fair to purchase an antique at a yard sale for $60.00 and then turn around and sell it for 500? No its not, is it unfair to purchase a house built in 1868 for 400,000 then wait for the market to come up and sell it for 1 million? No...so what is wrong with purchasing 2 or more dolls and reselling them at a higher price to make a profit?

Im not trying to argue because I understand your point but I think there is something that makes this situation different. It sounds corny and naive, but subconsciously Disney fans view each other as "friends and family" because of our common interests (like how motorcycle riders wave to each other at stoplights). So it is kinda tougher to accept that one of our own is selling us a $60 doll for 3x profit than it is to buy someone else's house or some rare antique for 10x profit.

Again, i don't blame someone for wanting to profit but as someone who missed Ariel because the first few people in line were bragging that they were going to ebay it then I do wish there were more limits to purchases.