I agree with absolutely everything everyone is saying. I know Disney is a business, but their unbridled, over-the-top, blatant greed is starting to become a a real turn-off for me. Not to mention these "games" they play with their consumers like --- oh surprise! we're releasing the designer set an hour before we said we would--- or how they advertised with photos of the Aurora Harrods doll and then gave us a lesser version --- or how they continue to ship these high-priced items with completely inadequate packaging despite consumers constant complaints about it, and etc. etc. etc....
This is supposed to be a fun and pleasurable pastime and it's ridiculous how much stress, disappointment and even rage, it causes everyone. It's really sad. A new study will come out in a couple of years that finds "8 out of 10 Disney doll collectors die early from heart attacks due to stress." LOL.
I love my Disney dolls, but I'm finding myself enjoying my other non-Disney dolls more because they don't provoke so much anxiety.
You could claim they are releasing these Platinum sets due to demand, but if the demand for dolls is higher, then why not make higher edition sizes and make them available to more people and make them more attainable? I think it is more about catering to elitism than anything else, to be honest.
I know this is still just a rumor, but I didn't think the red Jasmine would happen either so I wouldn't be surprised if it is true. I certainly don't put it past Disney. And we are all assuming this set will be LE 500 but I wouldn't be surprised if the edition size is smaller like around 300 or less. The higher the price, the lower the edition size usually. And I'm sure the set will be gorgeous, but look at how detailed and beautiful 17" Snow White is and she was only $100 AND came with the movie to boot!
For $750, the Aladdin set should include a magic carpet...one that actually flies. LOL 🙂
DisneyStore has always been a company that doesn't care about it's customers. To them, if an item sells out, it was a success. They don't look at poor customer service as a failure. And that is exactly the reason why they will continue to do things like this.
It is an unethical company, but to be honest... They are acting like a business and a corporation.
Being a collector is hard. And I am sorry to say this, but it's not for everyone. Disney and other companies specifically make it hard to collect these things because they want to show everyone how successful they are. At the end of the day, Disney doesn't care about damaged boxes or lost sales. Why? Well, let's go through this.
If I call in with a damaged box, here's what they'll do:
Option 1: Keep it and we'll give you $20. $20 is nothing to the DisneyStore and is probably paid by UPS for damages.
Option 2: Send it back to us, UPS pays for shipping. We'll refund you the money and sell it elsewhere for the same price.
I think the time has come for people to accept what they get and just go with the flow. You don't like what's happening? You're not chained, you can leave. It's sad but learning to let go of things that cause problems for you is something that we all should know.
Right now, it is overwhelming for me. I mean, are you kidding me? Red Jasmine? Terrible looking Aladdin and Jafar, Frozen Fever Anna and Elsa (not to mention the inevitable Harrods versions)... It is hard. But I've started to complain less and to go with the flow. If I can't afford to get something, oh well. There's always a better tomorrow waiting.
As for the LE500s that are really expensive. I agree. It's made to cater to the elite and to the people who can afford them. There's no other reason. But honestly.. This is just like them releasing a D23 exclusive or a Harrods set. That's that.
I will end by restating what I said on top. Being a collector is hard and expensive, not everyone is cut out for it. But you need to think of these companies as that one person on the lifeboat. They don't care who starves or jumps off, as long as they get to the land.
An example of a company that has done this is Funko with the POP figures. Fans have blatantly told them over and over again how displeased they were with how Walmart, Target, and Walgreens were handling their exclusives. Those stores are still getting exclusives that are in high demand by customers. Why? Probably because they pay higher for the exclusive than Hot Topic or other good stores. Money does job.
So yeah....