Don't you think that the price of the first Mieddy is totally unfair? I know she is limited but I'm really disappointed with it..I believe that this is not a good marketing strategy... I was very excited and I wanted to buy the doll but I'll wait to low prices... :(
The price for tne Middie Blythe is far too expensive, totally exagerated! That price is in some cases even too expensive for a Neo Blythe... Will there be "Primadolly Middies" at cheaper prices? A Middie Blythe will be smaller than a Neo Blythe, consequently her price should be also cheaper. It should be something around 6000 - 7000 yens, but not twice as much. Me and my Blythe collector friends think that this is a wrong marketing strategy, as with that price we are not willing to buy this doll, although we like it. Think about it...
This price for a new model, smaller than a Neo is just offenvise for Blythe customers... This really tells us that Takara doesn't respect at all it's fans, and just want to take as much money as possible... So sorry about this comment, but is sincerelly what I and many Blythe fans are thinking about right now as I'm reading everywhere.
the dress is beautiful but ... you have forgotten that we are in world economic crisis? in Spain was very excited about blythe middie but the disappointment was so great ... I'm sorry but personally I have lost confidence in you.
14.490jpy?? I collect Blythe and petites from last 5-6 yrs.On last times, I did´nt buy every release as almost anything new is offered (or very few, or in very ridiculous ways/prices) and I was really excited about middie. Finally something new and great from takara-cwc !! I thought that it would reactivate my interest, but without eyemech, with a poorly poseable body and to this price, it has ended for killing it.
Junko, we need affordable dolls to collect one per month, but also to customice , create and enjoy. Not gold-prized dollies without any characteristic from blythe but proportions...and the price of a ltd Neo.. Take in consideration that chinese copiers are already manunfacturing and selling a middie size doll with perfect eyemech (like a blythe one but in miniature)and for less than 20usd.With ugly face and outfit...but fully customisable. This time they haved take the advantage.. :__(
WTH???!!! 14,490 Yens for a doll that isn't posable, without eyemech, with only a pair of chips and smaller than a Neo Blythe??? Are you joking? What kind of strategy are you using? Do you want go in a bankrupt with this or you only wanna swindled us??? No thanks! It's blonde, as all your last Blythes (repetitive and showing us that you don't have any kind of imagination) and TOO expensive. Bravo! You know how offend your purchasers.
Sorry for the bad comment but this is a disrepect to customers and regular fans. She is special for sure but nothing from another world. To pay this price and it's the first one I think it's absurd and abusive. Why don't you make other girls like Princess a la Mode? Everybody likes that hair color but you keep doing blondes and more blonds. Please, a little bit more of imagination! Dals and Pullips are far more advanced from Takara in outfits and dolls. Maybe you should learn from them!
Honestly, I think is a joke. As a collector, I would like to have at least one Middie blythe in the family, but I will not go through this. A doll without eyemech or articulation in the knees, not worth this price! We are bored and angry, WE HAVE SEEN SERIOUS FLAWS IN LIMITED DOLLS, PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING, AND TAKARA SENT HER ANOTHER DOLL in WORSE CONDITIONS!
Still you dare to laugh at us with the new release? You are totally crazy, WE ARE LOYAL BUYERS BUT NOT STUPID!
Im colLector of blythe, and Im very disapointed with this doll, this doll is worst than the Neo and the price is high ang high do you think we are fool??? The last time the outfits of the Neos are very very bad and they are very expensive, limited and limited and limited. And now you put this price for one middie. REally I can´t undestand.
Please calm down everyone. If you don't like the doll or the price, just don't buy her. There's no need to start yelling at the person that is responsible for creating a lot of the dolls you do love.
And think about it: Q-pot Neo was a pricier doll compared to regular Neo releases, so wouldn't it be logical that there will be more affordable Middies in the future?
The design is very cute. I'm a little worried that I might not be able to buy her at that high price (many of us are used to having to pay even more because of middleman sellers). But I hope she is successful and one day we can buy middie that is not a limited release :)
too expensive! not fair to make NEO-loving collectors have to choose, for their next doll, between a NEO and a Middie, when Middie is so lacking in the features that NEO has...
Well, I think the most of the comments are right, it´s not about if we don´t like the price, it's about everything that is involved, it´s time for you Takara-cwc to think about that everything you have you owe that to the PEOPLE WHO BUY YOUR DOLLS, and the kind of things that you´re doing nowadays have nothing to do with the things you did 2 years ago, the middie blythe was a reallya good strategy to get people to like them but with this prices is impossible
Too expensive. Too sweet (all that teneis for much, they are equalize: lolitas blondes and pink!) and limited. Do not wait with that he pays to Neo's price something like that. Do not be the one who advised you something like that, but I know that it is going to be a very sad launch and of few sales.
Luck, to my house one is not going to come. To my house they are not going to come blythes in a lot of time: too many limited blythe, Neo and now you begin this way with the Middle. You us believe the collectors idiots and it is not like that. They are very expensive.
I think that we are not doing anything wrong in expressing our concerns and opinions about the Middie Blythe and its far too exagerated price. If many many people think the same, maybe we can make people from Takara think carefully about the problem and not doing the same mistake again, and then all of us will be satisfied. Critics have to be considered in a positive way, normally the factories bear in mind the positive and negative comments of the customers when they launch new products, so I hope that for the future Takara takes into consideration what we are saying.
oh! realy it is 14,490yen? that is in korea, 144900won! hahahahahaaaaaaaahahahaha i don't have money.. haha! it's ok.. because young~ when it is in korea, i will buy her!
Hi, I think that the price is very expensive for this doll, she's cute but not so cute, the takara's work the last time isn't good, the outfits are poor, the dolls isn't special for me, they don´t say me anything. I love Blythes, but lately i think that the way that you are taking from Takara is wrong.
REALLY? 170 dollars!!!!!! That is insanity! SMALLER DOLL, NO PULL CORD, NO NEW EYECHIPS AND IT'S THAT EXPENSIVE? Takara is friggin ticking me off. Screw that. I thought she would be between 60-80. Such a disappointment.
You are making me dislike the idea of collecting anymore. The prices just get higher and higher. It's not fun for us....
You people need to CALM DOWN. Of course the first Middie is expensive, she's limited. Save your judgments for when we get a regular release. It's not like Neos are being replaced. Jeez.
I think we don't have to save our judgments, because that's the release price for many limited Neo Bllythes... Obviously this one doesn't change her eyes, doesn't bend her knees and is smaller... is it customizable? Or is just like the new Petite Blythe for Toys r Us without screws and with no possibility of carving?
I think that if we show our disapproval, tell them they messed up and refuse to buy, they will quit pulling this crap. Limited or not, this is ridiculous.
Yes, brieana, we know that is not to replace the Neo and is limited. But why is limited? Why have a body stiff as a stick, or having eyes identical to the Dal?
Collectors are tired of limited. ALL is limited. The strange thing is it does not take a doll limited. And they place lately, do not deserve to be. "Where is Princess a la Mode? Where is Momolita? They have been replaced by dolls such as Simply Bubble Boom. A doll outfit similar to the Prima Dolly Violetina.
The next will be limited doll nude or panties. We are tired of limited wrist in poor shape, expensive and simple outfits . We have the right to complain and say something we do not like.
If something is really like, will tell you. But not this. It's ridiculous.
We need to know why this simple doll is limited and so expensive.
I think this doll is limited and expensive, because that's what the Asian market likes. And it makes perfect business sense to listen to your target market!
I totally agree with othersescape, we need to show our concern about the increase of prices and the decrease of quality in latest releases. This middie blythe was assumed to be a doll between petite and neo, not only in size, but in price as well. I am definitely not buying this middie, and this situation is boring me. I used to buy every new release of takara. Now I will not.
It's been a long time since we've complained (on our forums, on flickr) of the quality, prices, poor outfits of the last neo-blythes releases... maybe that's the last straw... Showing our disapproval is not bad... the thing, the important thing is, how we feel, we are deeply dissapointed and Junko should know it... She is "our girl" in Takara and knowing what the public (the public who loves blythe) thinks about a product should be good for the company... huh?
Clearly all those "limited" Blythes are not really limited. Limited to 3500 Blythes doesn't say anything if nobody ever says how many Blythes are a regularly released. It's like the industry puts the catchword "new" on every product you can think of.
I'm personally disappointed in the quality of Blythe and won't buy any new Blythe - Neo or Middie. In the last few years there has been a major decrease in quality while there has been a little (but yet) increase of prices.
People have complained and got no reaction. Instead of working on quality problems a new cashcow, namely Middie, has been released. Of course people are upset that this new doll is introduced to us collectors - it is us which make Blythe to what Blythe is - with an entry price as expensive as a Neo Blythe doll. Which are too expensive in first hand regarding the quality. Some collectors feel treated very badly and we are here to voice our opinion!
Deleting all negative comments does not solve this situation.
Annelies, first you say to calm everyone down. Now you almost agree with us. If Takara or CWC wants to make an expensive doll for Asia, that's fine for me, it's not my money anyway. We know Asia is a great Blythe consumer but Takara has to think about Occident too because we also buy dolls, either to customize or to collect. This explanation of "it's expensive because Asian loves it" maybe even right but not convincing. Hope Takara thinks about it and get back to the old times.
Personally, I am dissappointed in the Middie and I do believe everyone's frustration is perfectly justified. What is inexcusable is the rudeness of some people's comments.
brieana, really, I do not see rudeness in the comments. If someone feels alluded, it will be for something. But nobody attacks anybody. She is a " our way " of communication with the company. If we were finding other one, we would use it.
Only we say that the improper price for the doll is insulting, and they treat the collectors as stupids. Lamentably, it is true...
creo que es una tomadura de pelo, no se en que se basan para ponerle el precio a sus productos pero para mi juicio las cosas seria asin, neo blythe muñeca grande precio grande, Middie Blythe muñeca mediana precio mediano, y petit blythe muñeca pequeña precio pequeño x dios en que se basan para aplicar sus precios no lo entiendo la culpa la tenemos nosotras x seguir consintiendo que abusen de nuestros bolsillos por no entrar en el tema de la calidad de las muñecas....bla bla bla todas lo sabemos
Mary, you misunderstood me. I don't agree with what is being said. I was talking about understanding that they listen to their target market, which is Asia. And not the minority of collectors outside of Asia. It's called running a business.
By the way, I agree that this girl is expensive and I won't buy her for that reason. But I see no reason at all for people to be so rude and angry about this. The exchange rate from yen to dollars is not great at the moment and this q-pot middie is priced lower than the q-pot neo (go look it up if you don't believe me). So she's not priced as a neo. She's priced as a limited middie. And I'm sure there will be more affordable middies in the future.
Of course they are running a business and we all know TakaraTomy won't change a thing. If they would care, we wouldn't receive dolls with scratched make-up and crooked haircuts. But running a business also means to be confronted with unhappy customers.
In my opinion people got rude and angry because Blythe is an emotional product, for many it's not only plastic and it might hurt people how TakaraTomy treats them (and Blythe).
But MinkiDynamite, quality control has nothing to do with the price of this Middie.
Does anybody know if the customers in Asia complain about the quality too? Or are they fine with the product as it is? I'm personally not that fussy about scratches and crooked haircuts because I don't put my dolls in a display cabinet or something like that. But I can imagine it's annoying if you want a perfect doll.
For me there is a connection. In my opinion a company should get the quality of their base items straight before introducing a new line. Can people can expect to get a high quality doll for their 170$? From my experience: I don't think so.
I understand where you are coming from Annelies, I'm not putting mine in a cabinet either. My Blythes are rather active ;) scratches, blue stains are common in this household. But when I pay superior I expect superior. For me personally the price of Middie is not that much of a deal as Middie Blythe as a whole is not very appealing to me. I wouldn't buy her for less either.
But I understand why so many people are upset. TakaraTomy made the product introducing very exciting - lots of tiny hints, comic, pictures, video. People wanted to get their hands on Middie! Hearing about 170$ when expecting 60-70$ is a shock.
In the end I think the ranting on here could be useful for TakaraTomy, people that raise their voice are passionate about something and have not lost the interest. People love Blythe! The western market may not be of much interest right now, but in the future it might be. :)
Annelies, the Asian market might like limited editions and expensive prices, but most(or all) of Asian fans dislike them. I live in Japan, I am Japanese, I saw the same opinions on lots of Japanese Blythe fans' blogs or other sites.
no se puede decir que takara asocie el precio con la calidad de su producto las muñecas muchisimas de ellas vienen que dan pena,los asiaticos compraran mas que nosotros muchisimo mas, no por eso vamos a darle alas cosas un valor que no tienen,la muñeca no hace justicia a su elevado precio ya la puedan comprar ellos a pares
That's good to know k! Because I can't read Japanese, I don't have a way to find out what the opinion of the Japanese fans is. But they don't like the price either? Well, I'm afraid she won't become a huge success in that case..
How has the concept of Middie been received in Japan? Did they like the idea of the Middie version or not?
about the "minority collectors outside Asia".... i think that you don't have right information. we spend a lot of money, we pay customs, we pay high shipping charges and we are many, maybe you should know better. but i think that we have the right to complain because we buy Blythe like the asian target market, like you and the cost to the middie is excesive to all.
In my oppinion taking in count just Asian market is a mistake. If they take a look at their sales a great part of them could stay in Asia, but did you think about shops in Asia that gets lots of dolls just to resell them? I really believe that Takara doesn't really know how many people all over the world (out from Asia) collects and buys Blythe dolls.
Annelies, I think many Japanese fans think the first Middie is too expensive. Some of them expected it might be expensive because the first one is very special. But less than 10,000jpn...personally I thought the regular one would be 5,800-6,800.
About the concept, People were very excited when the middle’s information came out. Some people thought it might look like Kenner(!) before the first pic showed up, and later some people said it was not Blythe but she was cute. (but sorry, the animation was…weird) I think many people were going to get one, but they will skip the first Macaron because of the price. I can't understand why CWC didn't try to give Middie the eyemech. Having 4 color eyes IS her identity.
Annelies, as a member of the biggest forum from taiwan,( which is for sure part of the asia) i toatally can not agree with what you have said,we certainly don't want a doll with low qulity and high price, and how come you said "they have this kind of limited and high pirce doll out because they listen to the market and that is what we like?" this is totally ridiculous. let me tell you this,NO,we don't like the crazy price,and we are not happy with the doll qulity either.
Ok, I stand corrected yi jia chiu. This is the information I could find about the Asian market in general, that expensive luxury products sell very well. But I'm glad to hear more about this from you :) I guess not a lot of people are going to get the q-pot middie then. But if you want to send out a message to a producer, not buying their product is the strongest way to do so.
k thank you very much for the info about how the middie plans were received. I think most people were disappointed when they learned there was no eyemech, especially because there are middie sized clones that do have the eyemech. But I don't mind too much. I'm still looking forward to future, cheaper Middie releases. I want a doll I can take with me in my handbag :)
Dear Annelies, I'm totally disagree with you. In Asia, especially in Taiwan, we blythe collectors DO NOT SATISFY with the price of dolls and think the company regards us as stupid buyers. Now we are discussing to BOYCOTT any middle blythes.
Annelies, I disagree with you, when you tells "This is the information I could find about the Asian market in general, that expensive luxury products sell very well" I think you are mixing the concepts in wrong way. ok, I agree asian market loves expensive luxury products as an aspirational thing.But is not the thing for blythe. I love use luxury products, and I tell you why Blythe is NOT a luxury product , but a overprized collector´s product. When you buy luxury, you get quality,good craftmanswork, style, service and attention too.. I assure you, when you leave a luxury store with a treat for you, you feel really good. (I´m not talking about wearing a full of logos fake brand thing,but about receive the real luxe treatment of client of an exclusive brand, the real quality, the lovely appearance, the good made things.It´s expensive because IS GOOD quality, good attention: LUXE ) When you buy Blythe, you are getting a factory product,ltd or not, with deffaults or cheap manufacturing (like clothes that loose dyeing ,or scratches or messy hair),poor or repetitive design, an unexistant customer service, or very poor,and sometimes you (in this case, me) feels bit stupid. luxury is not just a question of prize. Blythe is not a question of "luxury", but a fan phaenomenum or collectors fashion. On this point, and taking in consideration that most of blythe success overseas japan is growted because of us, of the consumers-fans, of our comments on forums or nets ...I think to have satisfyed consumers is the thing. We are the marketing booster for blythe , so what? We are who create the interst on new consumers...do you thing the people here is hooked by the poor promo pics or by the wonderful customized and dressed blythes from the collectors pictures??? I think this is not the way, and I just think that this was the last drop on my bucket.. When I write my 1st comment, I do under respect, and under the point of view that this is the only way to submit to cwc-takara our dissapointment, and in what that can become.I think this should not be outrageous for Junko and her team, but really intersting.. When it moves, there is something.When everyone is angry and feel that is being treated as stupid,something is happen.I guess CWC should think about.
Ok, I've seen enough... As many people said maybe it's time for us to go back to basics, personally I prefer everyday more all those neglegted ebls running on the market. Seen that we're not main target of the business and that they don't even care about our oppinion (anybody saw Takara staff asnwering to our concerns???) why wasting more time with this?
Lack of quality in neos since months on, higher prices and limited dolls everyday more and now this middie issue comes to tell me is time to drive my attention to other stuff (no need to say about other companies' great non-limited!! outfits and more...) And also my bjd collection will take great benefit of the thing, God and Korea knows! ^^
Believe me, I don't like to sound rude but in the information era it's kinda lack of respect to your costumers not showing up at least to calm waters. Of course, It's not my business, I'm not even part of it, but I love Blythe as much as main target does and I want to keep loving them. If the only way to do so is not buying new releases, it's a pitty but... okay, message caught!
Junko only answers when we say that the doll are nice, sweet or beautiful. She should answer also to the complaints and critiques! We wait for almost 5 days for a response. I hope that the wait for the response is worth it, and this one turns out to be satisfactory for the people that complained here, in forums, flickr or other means.
Are you serious? Poor quality, poor design but charge an UNREASONABLE price. When I saw the design of Middle, most of us should think how's the pretty will be>.< Fine, If you still using this marketing strategy and design, more blythe fans will leave aways.
I'm confused by how upset people are. The limited edition Middie is in the same price range as a limited Dal or Byul. What is the big commotion? Middie Blythe has about the same amount of materials as a Neo, so it's silly to think her cost would be less.
My only complaint is that her legs do not bend. I think that limits how cute she can be in photos. However it's possible to put her on a licca body or some other more articulated doll body.
And then i pay 130 E only for one head............................, one head without eye mechanism, little than the neo and I have to buy a good body for her, and pay maybe 20 dolars for it. Thats a good business.
Leah, please, give me a break. The same amount of material???? You mean plastic and hair? It's "middie" = middle = less than a Neo. Please don't compare.
And Dals or Byuls have far more better outfits. And if you put a Licca body, it's not middie anymore, ha ha.
On the other hand, I believe Junko didn't answer yet because they must be thinking something real convincing to share with fans and customers. I hope they give a decent explanation.
Hi, again... Jun Planning makes doll with high quality, makes outfit with high quality, and the market prices are lower. I love Blythe, are the most fantastic dolls, are special, but i think that the company is laughing at the costumers like me. I pay for quality, and in the last times, with the last dolls, takara doesn't give them. I'm so happy because I'm not the only one who thinks so and I think the company should think very seriously what are doing and if can afford to lose customers or we are unhappy with their work
Wow, I can't believe how rude you guys are. There's a right way and wrong way to voice complaints. If you start out with pitchforks and torches you force people to run away. Do you think Junko would just LOVE to show up for a verbal lynching??? Seriously!
I think the price is VERY high, but I like how she looks. I think people are bashing her looks because of her price. A lot of people said she was cute before the price came out. She is a limited, I believe when Q-pot Neo came out she was about $250 and the petite was $60 or $70? So a Middle Qpot isn't going to be cheaper than a petite Qpot.
I do expect standard midi prices to be around $70-$80 though. This is the first release and I think they wanted to make her special, hence the high price. Maybe a mistake on their part?
I do agree that customer service at CWC is non-existent. I've received a doll with messed up eye mech, C-shaped part had a cut in it and wouldn't pull properly so the eyes didn't change color. This was on a DARLING DIVA! I'm a customizer and was able to fix it myself by exchanging the part for a spare I had. But I shouldn't have to if quality check was doing it's job. This was a $400-$500 doll. On CWC's behalf they did offer to fix any broken/defective parts if I shipped the doll to them at my cost and waited a few months. The cost of shipping was more expensive than buying a replacement part. But I've seen very bad haircuts and broken eyemechs straight from the box. CWC REALLY REALLY needs to tighten up on quality checks.
I understand it's a world market, we can expect them to have the same return policies as Amazon.com or Costco... Americans are spoiled in such ways. CWC is a VERY SMALL company and have limited resources. It think they grew too quickly and have no way of managing their suppliers and factories. That's why were seeing so many factory girls leak out. They should do what they've done best in the past. Maybe smaller numbers released with smaller production run and grow only when they have control over quality. This will mean more EXPENSIVE dolls and more secondary-EBAY gouging prices. Less dolls = more demand.
Also folks... Japan/Tokyo is the land of the $300 steak and $80 croissant... $500 cantaloupe... I was in Tokyo last year and thought I'd be able to buy cheaper/retail priced Blythes at Junie Moon, but they were more expensive then on EBAY, even with shipping. Like Very Vicky's release price is about $140-$150... you can find her on Ebay for $110-$120 w/ $20-$30 shipping. There ARE NO DEALS IN TOKYO... You'll never find a WAL-Mart there, so you have to understand where they're coming from. It's not like Asians like to pay for the hell of it... Japan is just every expensive in general.
Lastly Blythe dolls are wonderful but they are not necessities. It's not like CWC is hiking up prices on milk and bread. This is a "luxury" item in that you don't need it to live (maybe some of us do LOL). If you're buying these on a credit card and need 3 months to pay it off you shouldn't be buying dolls that are $100. With all that said I understand your concerns about quality and affordability, but this is not an egalitarian hobby.
Some comments were rude, some weren't. A lot of us are here to voice our concerns about the direction CWC and TakaraTomy are taking and they should be glad about our support. Complaining customers still care about a product and a company.
Most of us are not here to complain about how ugly Middie is, that never was the point. My point is: why making a new product line, when there are so many problems with the main product?
Especially a small company has to try to please their customers. Why can't we expect them to take back products that never should have left the factory in the first place? They are selling broken items on a regular basis!
I'm not living on a credit card and I don't need 3 months to pay off a $100 doll - but that doesn't mean I'm willing to pay 100$ (plus 50$ shipping and 20$ import taxes) for a doll that might have factory flaws and I can't return.
You're right... I don't mean to say everyone on here is rude... just that there are lots of rude complaints (which are valid but could be said in a better way). And the credit card comment is out of line as well. I was projecting my own frustrations as I've heard too many of those stories. These dolls aren't cheap and people should expect them to be like Barbies. This is an imported item. We even get a break in the US since so man Europeans get to pay 30%+ VAT taxes.
Yes, I whole heartedly agree that they shouldn't sell broken dolls.
Sorry Diem but you're wrong. Blythe fans are Blythe fans, not Barbie ones. We collect Blythes "because" they are not Barbies. If I want a Barbie I go to a shop near home and I buy it for 20 euros, that's all. And if the dall is flawless I can return and get another one or a refund.
It's a poor comparision, sorry to say it. We know people in Japan and Asia in general has an easy way to complain or return. I wish I'd go to Junie Moon to show all of these complains here but I can't. We are aware of customs price and shipping. But still we're willing to have a Blythe since we love her, but what we don't accept is what's happening now: poor quality and expensive prices.
We just want to be like before, where you could pay a reasonable price for a Gentle River and has a marvellous outfit. Now it's totally different. Can anyone remember a new model which was worthy for? Maybe Kiss Me True has a different outfit but not like the old ones. Is this too much to ask? I don't think so...
Anyway, I still have hope that Junko and CWC transmits our concerns to Takara and they actions on next releases... Middies or not...
Diem Chau, first of all, most of us are not English-speaking so I think that some of those "rude" comments are just the result of a bad/direct traslation of our languages to English but I'm sure that everyone here love blythe and we all just want to express how we feel the best we can.
Secondly, I agree with you: blythe is a luxury item so CWC/Takara MUST act as a luxury company. That's the point. When I began in the Blythe world I was amazed by the no- existence of a phisical (or virtual) place where you could complaint or return a defective item.... Even at Zara (not a luxury store for sure) you can return any item in a month!!! Maybe, as I said before, middie has been the excuse we needed to complain and ask to Takara all those doubts, questions, deceptions,disappointments...
And finally I think is quite interesting reading (for the very first time) these clear and honest opinions here from Asia, America or Europe. I like to know what people think about middie or Takara. It should be this way forever...
Sadly, I'm not in love with the middie. Something about her just doesn't seem as charming or quirky. She's sort of odd and creepy to me. I agree with the messages above (recent quality issues, price gouging, lack of interesting clothing), but I'm not angry about it, mostly because I buy dolls on the secondary market. Just don't expect me to buy this one!
Leah, together with the Middies please buy a oxygen mask ... TakarayTomy is using plasticizers in their plastic you wouldn't even want to touch. :P But other than that: have fun!
minkidynamite, totally agree!!! Leah, don´t forgot the mask, and a good smoke extractor XDD I wish this will be not a very cold and long winter...otherwise maybe you´ll have not enough with 3500??
Thanks so much for caring about my health! I will get the smoke extractor and oxygen mask :D Pat, it is supposed to be a very cold winter this year. Maybe I should also get some Blythe petite my littlest pet shop sets!
Ms. Junko Wong. I am so sorry to hear this unfortunate opinions about your newest child... I can´t believe there is so much rudness about it but I want to tell you I can´t wait to have Middie in my collection!, I absolutely love her and second not all collectors think this way... I really really enjoy reading your blog and hope this doesn´t discourage you from keeping us informed. I am looking forward to all the news you post and not all collectors think this way I am very gratefull for the time you take to write this blog and all the effort CWC has putted into Middie! JJV
Hi, i don't think that we are rude, i think that our opinions are honest, and we have the rights to say it, because we buy and LOVE Blythes. I don't say that someone is rude, i haven't disrespected anyone, i'm just saying my opinion about the lastest works of Takara and this blog is the only way that i have. All opinions are respected and no one has to apologize for them. And we explained that if they seem rude may be for the use of translators but i have a clear idea, while the price rise the quality is lower
Well, I went to Japan last year and prices were just aobut the same as in Europe... when you talk about croissants for 80$ you must be talking of the 80's decade, then Japan was the number one in the global economy and the most expensive country to live in... but not now.
I agree with mosto of the comments here: I love Blythe but outfits and quality are getting worse and worse... hope it stops here.
first of all, I don't want to sound rude... I think most of us don't want to sound rude but want to show our opinions about the latest blythe releases. maybe our english is not perfect so we need to say what we think in a very direct way that may sound rude...
Anyway... I don't think it's all about this middie's price... I think this has just been the straw that broke the camel's back, I mean, my blythe collectors friends and I have been complaning about the huge difference about new and old blythes (in quality, design, outfits, makeup... everything) for a long time... it's been long since I last saw an original blythe doll, and now that, at last, we see some creativity, we see this high price...
I had my doubts about middie blythe... I didn't know if I liked her or not... no eye-meck and a poor body pushed me out... I don't want a bad quality blythe... but I thought that maybe, if itwas cute and not too expensive... but IT IS too expensive... maybe next middie will be better but I'm not expecting her anymore...
I don't understand what is happening... neo blythes are more and more expensive every day and the quality is worst and worst... makeup has flaws, outfits are poor, nice hair is hard to find... Blythes are expensive... I expect cuality for an expensive item... and I'm not receiving that... I don't buy new realises anymore... I just don't like them...
All I'm trying to say is that Takara-CWC should pay more attention to it's quality checks...
Diem Chau, I´ve been to Japan last week and I can tell you I bought a 2nd hand Goldie for twice the price of this Middie Blythe. So you can imagine how displeased I am with the price of this doll, besides the fact that she lack most of the features that I love from them...
I've recently stopped collecting Blythe altogether after 10 years of collecting. The new releases are nothing special anymore, and the special ones fetch crazy prices. The "Middie" just illustrates this - middie quality doll for twice the price. Right on - Takara! I can understand the disappointment.
Being constructive is a nicer way to be involved I think. For me, I love the idea of middie. I don't mind about the eye-mech. I think she looks very cute but I would like to add one with different hair to my doll collection.
A little light pink haired doll like PD PEach's hair would be a dream. Maybe some with cute short bobbed hair. A mini Saffy, how cute would that be? Definitely some fantasy haired middie's too.
I can see this one is just the first in a long line to come and there will be people who will love her. The smart ones who can afford her will buy her because one day it will prove to be a good investment.
I can't afford her so I'll eagerly be waiting new releases with a slightly different look and less fancy clothes.
Good on you for trying something new. The market will sort itself out. ;o]
minki, no it's not, I'm sorry... I'm really missing an answer from Junko... I can't understand how a company, who is told to sell luxury items, dosen't answer it's customers concerns and critics...
I'm sorry if this is not the best place to write our concerns... but we don't have another place to do it...
Chill out guys, She's gone on holiday so she's not around to answer your replies.
Personally I am disappointed but its not nothing new - its failure after failure after failure and quite frankly theres nothing luxury about second class goods. If you want to buy it then don't feel guilty when doing so - but at the same time don't be disappointed when you receive her either. I and many others are not buying this doll she is not worth the money and none of my Blythe's have been this expensive and quite a few have been under half this price. THIS is one of the reasons why people are buying factory dolls because they have a similar standard and its worth spending a risk on a cheaper doll who may have defects (but has unique features) than it is buying an expensive doll direct from CWC - paying hefty shipping costs and THEN having a defective doll. I'm sorry to say this Junko but the price needs to go down and the quality control measures that are put in place need to be tightened or more people will leave the hobby or buy all the lower priced Kenners, BL's, EBL's etc that are all over Ebay, PP & TIB.
I'm sorry for not replying sooner, but I didn't have any internet till tonight and saw the 100 comments given here. First of all, it true that the cost for Middie is about the same as Neo. We worked on the mold for 2 years, and negotiated frantically with the manufacturer thinking that because the doll is smaller, then the cost is less, but the factory explained to us that the amount of work it takes to make Middie is exactly the same as making Neo. They quoted us extraordinary prices, because of the initial development of new mechanics that needed engineering, molds that needed to be made and revised over and over. And since the debut was a collaboration with a designer they needed to be paid. The economy is weak now, weaker than when we first started this project but the factory did not lower the costs because of this. What we hope people will understand is that we are in the mercy of the manufacturer. We do not quote the prices. We design and develop the product. For example, if you were to build a house, you have the architect design the house, and select all the materials that will make the house special, beautiful, and unique. Then you have to get a builder, a contractor to build it. In order to build it, you need the materials to do so, and when you go to the tile store or a paint shop and they quote you a fee that you can't negotiate down but you need these materials to build, you have to purchase them. We on top of that make only 3000 or so of the unique dolls because it is not necessary to make 20,000 or 100,000 of Blythes - she is not a mass produced doll in that sense. And as for the dolls that are being sold from the factory, how do you think that makes us feel? The factory that quotes us these prices, have someone taking these dolls out of the factory and selling it. Is that not stealing? And we can't catch them. The face molds that had to be developed, which takes a good year to make, the process of one style which takes 15 to 18 months to complete, and someone with access to the factory finds a way to steal it and you say, it is better to buy that instead? Perhaps the person who feels it is better to buy a stolen item instead of the authentic item should look into their conscience when doing so. It's quite easy to be critical of someone without being in their shoes. My blog is to share my trials and tribulations, my joys and celebrations of the process I endure to create the Blythes that have brought joys to many. When one buys a dress for $150.00 , or a designer bag for $300.00 knowing that 20,000 or more were made and sold worldwide, they don't tear down the designer who created it do they? Or do they? Though it is painful for me to hear these comments, I appreciate the interest and the care from everyone because I know that if you didn't care, you would have no opinion. And for that I am grateful and thank you so so much. And yes, I was a way from the desk for 2 weeks. My dad made 95 in August and is in a home. I took some kids with me and went to put on a hula show for the people in the retirement home. I hope you will understand.
I do like middie, and I will wait the best time for me to adopt one. For now I can imagine what you and your team have been passing through making a totally new product. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to us, please, keep going with your blog, I really enjoy reading your thoughts and opinions about Blythe :). Hugs.
Thanks for your answer;) do not worry about the delay, we all have our personal things ... There have been people who said that this was a personal attack. Of course it wasn't. We value your work and of course, we love blythes. We appreciate you have your blog, is the only place where we can express our opinion. We know you are not responsible for the prices and qualities of Blythe, but we hope that you will coment it to those who concerned. Hugs. (Sorry for my English... is not my lenguaje)
Junko i loved your answer. I understand, and i am glad you took the time to read the comments and answer. Maybe later on i will be able to explore the potential of middie as customized doll. The fact that she is not for me, while i do love regular blythe is just a matter of personal opinion, you did your best, and some of us will like her , and some won´t. But as long as quality is good, people who gets her should be happy. I understand the high prices but i will wait till later to decide if i want to experiment with one middie or not. I would have loved her to have an eye mech though, that would have been great :)
Anyway, looking forward for next blythe releases :) Hugs, Olga
Junko, your answer is not a reason for the price too expensive. The Middie can not buy cheaper. That is the very ugly. A doll that, you should not be named Blythe.
Ugly is ugly to those who see it that way. I have held her in my hands and to me she is lovely. I hope she will be able to find a home somewhere and be given a chance. The eye mechanism that she has was the best the engineers could devise in her size. Thank you to everyone who gave me encouragement. But to be perfectly honest, to be told your baby is ugly is heart breaking. I think if you hold her, you will come a little closer to loving her. Her name is Middie Blythe. They come from the same family. The price is the price negotiated down from a higher price quoted from the factory after a lot of negotiations and compromising on the materials and accessories. We was told that the cost of labor rose tremondously in the past 2 years in China another reason it is so expensive. Thats the way of the economy but it is our priority to keep the costs low and to maintain the quality. All I can do is to continue to strive to my best. Thank you again.
I like Middie. I'm so inlove with Neos that I think I will take only one home, but I know I'll have to wait until a cheaper model would come out. Your answer doesn't make her price lower, but is so nice from you to explain us the reason for that so high price.
I am sorry, but if what is claimed is to support the quality and low prices, you are doing the opposite. The blythes every time are more expensive and of worse quality.
As for the middie, why, seeing that was working out so expensive (how a neo blythe), did not it discard?
For a lot of illusion that it does and her comparing with the neo blythe, it is a very expensive doll. Too much.
I don't think Middie is ugly. To those who are calling her so, shame on you. That's just rude and hurtful. You can dislike the doll without being mean about it!
I do think however, that with the number of recent problems Takara Blythes seem to be having (I believe I am the person referred to earlier in the comments--I bought Thumpty Thump and returned her as defective; TakaraTomy sent me a replacement with far worse flaws than the original doll I bought. I should be getting my replacement replacement tomorrow), and the poor economy, AND the fact that I could get a standard sized Blythe for the same price...well, I am just not too motivated to buy Middie. At least not an exclusive, limited, pricey model. Bring on the Prima Middies, and we'll talk :).
I do have a question however. If 3,500 is considered a "limited" doll, how many of each doll is normally produced? 3,500 would be a very limited number for a doll that sells HUGE numbers, such as a Barbie. But we all know that not as many Blythe dolls are sold as Barbies, so I wonder how the numbers compare?
Finally, I realize that it makes sense that the first Middie be a limited edition, but is it going to be an entire year before we see one that is a general, affordable release? It was very sad, waiting an entire year for a FBL girl that people could actually buy without paying high prices for limiteds (we here in the US are just NOW able to buy from Junie Moon, so any limited dolls generally cost us twice--or more--the asking price). Middie might become more popular and more loved if we could actually get her in our hands in a couple of months instead of waiting until next year!
Don't worry Junko about people who said she is ugly, a lot of people see Blythe dolls as ugly and creepy ones. Beauty is something relative between each person. Can't wait to see more middies in the future :). Hugs.
Junko thank you for your response. I understand the priceing issues of this precious little girl and I thought your explaination of this problem was perfect. I will certainly be trying to add a Middie to my Blythe collection and will be waiting to see what else you come up with in the future. Cheers Angelique
Thank you very much Junko for your reply. I personally appreciate that a lot!
Unfortunately our questions regarding "Will Middie be of the same low quality as recent releases (of 2 years)?" have not been answered. It might hurt you as designer that some people don't like Middie, but it also hurts us collectors emotionally and financially to get broken NRFB dolls on a regular basis. Can we expect that Middie is of better quality? When people are ordering new Blythes, they hope publicly on flickr and boards that this time their NRFB Blythe is not a fail. Doesn't it hurt you that your Babies are leaving the factory in a bad state?
Hence all this problems and no answers from TakaraTomy addressing quality problems it is pretty logical to me that people don't care to buy stolen products from TakaraTomy (I haven't myself, but not because of ethical reasons). TakaraTomy is stealing our money too - promising a cute perfect doll and sending out dolls with scratches, not fixed make-up and hair cuts that even would have been out of order in the 80ies. When buying factory dolls you basically know what you get for your $, because you see a picture of that doll and you can expect that there might be flaws.
That there is a factory under contract where people can steal products and that produces faulty items, there is nothing we customers can do about that - can we? There have been rumors that quality problems turned up, when production moved to China. I don't know about that, but people are talking.
To your comparison with the house building, of course the builder sets the price after the negotiations - but you can be sure that I won't sign a contract with a constructor that builds houses without quality standards.
I personally don't think anybody wanted to tear you down personally. Most people just know that this is the only way to get in contact with somebody from CWC TakaraTomy.
And also designer of handbags and clothes are teared down via online comments. Like every 5 minutes. But of course, when my 300$ or 30$ bag is broken I don't go online to talk with the designer. No, I contact customer service of that brand, and believe me - I will not only get an answer, I will get a replacement. So, there is no need to get in contact with third persons.
I'm personally (as many of us fans) selling handmade one of a kind items. If one of my customers is not happy, I will replace the item on my cost. If I wouldn't, believe me, the bad mouthing would just begin. That is business, unfortunately.
I just had a very quick look, from 25 dolls in 2009, 13 have been limited/exclusive. I certainly believe that those wordings are catch phrases and don't reflect "real" limitations. Not telling us the relation is making it hard for customers to say "I'm buying the limited doll for a high price, because she is special and limited". I second the question, how many releases are a regular release? My guess is 5.000.
I understand that it is uncomfortable for you Junko, as the designer, to answer our concerns. I would love to hear a statement from somebody in charge. How about a statement on Blythedoll.com? This platform has also been used for telling collectors not to buy fake-blythes, I think it would be a good venue to address quality concerns there too. :) The drawback there is that customers can't comment directly, so (fruitful) discussion will be out of your sight on national blythe boards.
Thank you very much for your time!
To everyone: Please keep in mind that people are probably using a translator. Thus "ugly" is not "ugly", I would guess the person above meant something like "it's a shame she is not cheaper".
Junko, I am sure everytime a new doll is released you worry about how the doll community will react to her....Not everyone is going to like every doll that is released! I say, if you like the doll and can afford her buy it (middie, neo or petite) - if you dont, well dont diss the people that do! Love your Fab Blog and dont let others comments deter you from making many more informative entries!
Yes yes yes!!!!! the end of blythe is getting nearer and nearer...how long more can collectors continue to collect buy with this type of poor quality or price!
muchas gracias x respuesta , Pero yo personalmente pecado Intención de Ofender a Nadie Sigo Pensando Lo Mismo , la muñeca es mona Pero es cara muy, sin Vestido de Prada Puede Ser monisimo de la Muerte Pero Casi Nunca es Suficiente x Lo Que SE PUEDE una Llegar Pagar una x el, servicio ESTO PUEDE UNO de los Motivos tambien , podriamos ESTAR pagando la marca ? ¿ ? ¿ y no la muñeca ? ¿ ? ¿ Junko Un saludo y gracias Por tu blog
Junko, thank you for your answer... we didn't know you where out and maybe that's why we got a little bit nervious about the lack of answers... but it is perfectly understandable that you take your holidays and leave internet behind...
I have to say that I totally agree with everything MinkiDynamite said...
I, of course, don't think middies are ugly... I like them but not as much a Neo, and for what you're telling us it seems the high price is not only on this first limited one but it will be in every middie...
And I can assure you that I will not pay the same for a big doll with eye mech and a nice posable body than for a smaller one with no eye changing color and a poor body... sorry.
The same as I'm not buying any new blythe, afraid to get one with important flaws and not being able to do anything about it... it's a pity because I do like some of the new dolls...
by the way, I see we are two "Ana" talking, so from now on I will also sign as "zoomy", my nick name.
I just discovered Blythe and this blog. I've always found Blythe a little too expensive for the quality when compared to pullip but I realised that doll collecting in general is an expensive hobby and sometimes we have to come to expect this. So i bought a Blythe- and love her but I also love my pullips and my barbies (yes!)... but I digress.
What I actually meant to say is that though I appreciate that Junko takes the time to reply and provide explanations- I find it very hard to believe that Chinese factories can raise their prices so steeply to cause a doll price to inflate that much. As an Asian with some awareness on Asian currency and economy, I don't believe this.
But that's just me.
Nonetheless as I stated earlier, I do understand that doll collecting is expensive and we're almost never getting what we pay for. I've accepted that and made peace with it. I think the Middie is pretty- but I'll save my judgment for when I see her in person- if ever. Maybe I'll get her, maybe I wont. I think price and value of a doll is relative to how much joy she brings u, not necessarily for her eye mechs or lack thereof... So I'll make a decision on that.
Junko thanks for your answer. Im collector of blythes, a custom blythes, i dont understand the limited dolls and i dont understand the price of the middie. Maybe i can buy one middie for custom but not for this price. I think the limited doll will be limited, not 3000 or 3500 dolls. Sorry but this is my opinion. The middie is more little without eyemech and with a poor body.
Reading all these comments, I was reminded of the famous words from poet John Lydgate, later adapted by President Lincoln.
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
I am a relatively new collector of Blythe and I love her dearly. I add to my collection those that appeal and are within my budget. I have strong feelings about the factory girls and believe the only way to stop this happening, is for collectors to STOP BUYING THEM, if there is no market for them, the thieves would have no business.
Having been in business myself I understand the set up costs involved in producing a first time run, so have no qualms about the initial cost of the Middie. However, I would imagine it would have been more cost effective to produce a large run on the initial doll to reduce the final price to consumers. But what's done is done, those who can afford her will buy the Middie, and those that can't will not.
I am so excited to meet her for the first time! It's hard for me to wait. I'm looking forward to more news and illustrations :)
ReplyDeleteDon't you think that the price of the first Mieddy is totally unfair? I know she is limited but I'm really disappointed with it..I believe that this is not a good marketing strategy... I was very excited and I wanted to buy the doll but I'll wait to low prices... :(
ReplyDeletethis doll is too expensive :/
ReplyDeleteThe price for tne Middie Blythe is far too expensive, totally exagerated!
ReplyDeleteThat price is in some cases even too expensive for a Neo Blythe...
Will there be "Primadolly Middies" at cheaper prices?
A Middie Blythe will be smaller than a Neo Blythe, consequently her price should be also cheaper. It should be something around 6000 - 7000 yens, but not twice as much.
Me and my Blythe collector friends think that this is a wrong marketing strategy, as with that price we are not willing to buy this doll, although we like it. Think about it...
I'm not happy with this price. Too much for me.
ReplyDeleteThe question is: why do you sell a doll without eyemech, no poseable and with a creepy fake-looking at Neoblythe price??? She's way too expensive!!
ReplyDeleteThis price for a new model, smaller than a Neo is just offenvise for Blythe customers... This really tells us that Takara doesn't respect at all it's fans, and just want to take as much money as possible...
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about this comment, but is sincerelly what I and many Blythe fans are thinking about right now as I'm reading everywhere.
I wanted one, but I donnot want it anymore. Why is it so expensive? I thought the lack of eyemech and the body was to adjust the price.
ReplyDeletethe dress is beautiful but ... you have forgotten that we are in world economic crisis? in Spain was very excited about blythe middie but the disappointment was so great ... I'm sorry but personally I have lost confidence in you.
ReplyDeleteHelloooooo???
ReplyDelete14,490 yen???????? Are you serious? Muajjaja, muajaja.
14.490jpy??
ReplyDeleteI collect Blythe and petites from last 5-6 yrs.On last times, I did´nt buy every release as almost anything new is offered (or very few, or in very ridiculous ways/prices) and I was really excited about middie.
Finally something new and great from takara-cwc !!
I thought that it would reactivate my interest, but without eyemech, with a poorly poseable body and to this price, it has ended for killing it.
Junko, we need affordable dolls to collect one per month, but also to customice , create and enjoy.
Not gold-prized dollies without any characteristic from blythe but proportions...and the price of a ltd Neo..
Take in consideration that chinese copiers are already manunfacturing and selling a middie size doll with perfect eyemech (like a blythe one but in miniature)and for less than 20usd.With ugly face and outfit...but fully customisable.
This time they haved take the advantage.. :__(
I can't understand this price (no-eyemech, no-poseable) Is it a joke?
ReplyDelete¿Pero esto qué es?, vaya estrategia, no teneis piedad con el cliente. Conseguireis acabar con nuestra fidelidad con esos precios.
ReplyDeleteWTH???!!! 14,490 Yens for a doll that isn't posable, without eyemech, with only a pair of chips and smaller than a Neo Blythe??? Are you joking? What kind of strategy are you using? Do you want go in a bankrupt with this or you only wanna swindled us??? No thanks! It's blonde, as all your last Blythes (repetitive and showing us that you don't have any kind of imagination) and TOO expensive.
ReplyDeleteBravo! You know how offend your purchasers.
Sorry for the bad comment but this is a disrepect to customers and regular fans. She is special for sure but nothing from another world. To pay this price and it's the first one I think it's absurd and abusive. Why don't you make other girls like Princess a la Mode? Everybody likes that hair color but you keep doing blondes and more blonds. Please, a little bit more of imagination! Dals and Pullips are far more advanced from Takara in outfits and dolls. Maybe you should learn from them!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think is a joke. As a collector, I would like to have at least one Middie blythe in the family, but I will not go through this. A doll without eyemech or articulation in the knees, not worth this price! We are bored and angry, WE HAVE SEEN SERIOUS FLAWS IN LIMITED DOLLS, PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING, AND TAKARA SENT HER ANOTHER DOLL in WORSE CONDITIONS!
ReplyDeleteStill you dare to laugh at us with the new release? You are totally crazy, WE ARE LOYAL BUYERS BUT NOT STUPID!
I have nothing more to add, everything is said.
ReplyDeletehow sad ... I have no money, sorry. :(
Im colLector of blythe, and Im very disapointed with this doll, this doll is worst than the Neo and the price is high ang high do you think we are fool???
ReplyDeleteThe last time the outfits of the Neos are very very bad and they are very expensive, limited and limited and limited. And now you put this price for one middie. REally I can´t undestand.
Please calm down everyone. If you don't like the doll or the price, just don't buy her. There's no need to start yelling at the person that is responsible for creating a lot of the dolls you do love.
ReplyDeleteAnd think about it: Q-pot Neo was a pricier doll compared to regular Neo releases, so wouldn't it be logical that there will be more affordable Middies in the future?
The design is very cute. I'm a little worried that I might not be able to buy her at that high price (many of us are used to having to pay even more because of middleman sellers). But I hope she is successful and one day we can buy middie that is not a limited release :)
ReplyDeletetoo expensive! not fair to make NEO-loving collectors have to choose, for their next doll, between a NEO and a Middie, when Middie is so lacking in the features that NEO has...
ReplyDeleteWell, I think the most of the comments are right, it´s not about if we don´t like the price, it's about everything that is involved, it´s time for you Takara-cwc to think about that everything you have you owe that to the PEOPLE WHO BUY YOUR DOLLS, and the kind of things that you´re doing nowadays have nothing to do with the things you did 2 years ago, the middie blythe was a reallya good strategy to get people to like them but with this prices is impossible
ReplyDeleteYou're right Annelies! I won't buy any Middie!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteToo expensive. Too sweet (all that teneis for much, they are equalize: lolitas blondes and pink!) and limited. Do not wait with that he pays to Neo's price something like that. Do not be the one who advised you something like that, but I know that it is going to be a very sad launch and of few sales.
ReplyDeleteLuck, to my house one is not going to come. To my house they are not going to come blythes in a lot of time: too many limited blythe, Neo and now you begin this way with the Middle. You us believe the collectors idiots and it is not like that. They are very expensive.
I think that we are not doing anything wrong in expressing our concerns and opinions about the Middie Blythe and its far too exagerated price.
ReplyDeleteIf many many people think the same, maybe we can make people from Takara think carefully about the problem and not doing the same mistake again, and then all of us will be satisfied.
Critics have to be considered in a positive way, normally the factories bear in mind the positive and negative comments of the customers when they launch new products, so I hope that for the future Takara takes into consideration what we are saying.
oh! realy it is 14,490yen?
ReplyDeletethat is in korea, 144900won!
hahahahahaaaaaaaahahahaha
i don't have money.. haha!
it's ok.. because young~ when it is in korea, i will buy her!
아~ 영상이 짧아서 아쉬워요~ㅠㅡ
ReplyDelete실물로 보면 얼마나 귀여울지, 어서 보고싶어요^^
Hi, I think that the price is very expensive for this doll, she's cute but not so cute, the takara's work the last time isn't good, the outfits are poor, the dolls isn't special for me, they don´t say me anything.
ReplyDeleteI love Blythes, but lately i think that the way that you are taking from Takara is wrong.
More comments on the dissatisfaction of Middie's improper price, here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4dloveofblythe/5014163612/
ReplyDeleteREALLY? 170 dollars!!!!!! That is insanity! SMALLER DOLL, NO PULL CORD, NO NEW EYECHIPS AND IT'S THAT EXPENSIVE? Takara is friggin ticking me off. Screw that.
ReplyDeleteI thought she would be between 60-80. Such a disappointment.
You are making me dislike the idea of collecting anymore. The prices just get higher and higher. It's not fun for us....
This is Sparta!
ReplyDeleteFREE MIDDIE!
You people need to CALM DOWN. Of course the first Middie is expensive, she's limited. Save your judgments for when we get a regular release.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like Neos are being replaced. Jeez.
I´m sorry to say this, but she is too pricey for a smaller blythe with no eyemech or anything that makes blythe a lovely doll.
ReplyDeleteDon´t you think it´ll be a better idea to start with a cheap one so everybody can have one? It looks like it´s only money in the end.
I hope it changes in the future.
I think we don't have to save our judgments, because that's the release price for many limited Neo Bllythes... Obviously this one doesn't change her eyes, doesn't bend her knees and is smaller... is it customizable? Or is just like the new Petite Blythe for Toys r Us without screws and with no possibility of carving?
ReplyDeleteI think that if we show our disapproval, tell them they messed up and refuse to buy, they will quit pulling this crap. Limited or not, this is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteYes, brieana, we know that is not to replace the Neo and is limited. But why is limited?
ReplyDeleteWhy have a body stiff as a stick, or having eyes identical to the Dal?
Collectors are tired of limited. ALL is limited. The strange thing is it does not take a doll limited. And they place lately, do not deserve to be. "Where is Princess a la Mode? Where is Momolita? They have been replaced by dolls such as Simply Bubble Boom. A doll outfit similar to the Prima Dolly Violetina.
The next will be limited doll nude or panties. We are tired of limited wrist in poor shape, expensive and simple outfits . We have the right to complain and say something we do not like.
If something is really like, will tell you. But not this. It's ridiculous.
We need to know why this simple doll is limited and so expensive.
I think this doll is limited and expensive, because that's what the Asian market likes. And it makes perfect business sense to listen to your target market!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with othersescape, we need to show our concern about the increase of prices and the decrease of quality in latest releases. This middie blythe was assumed to be a doll between petite and neo, not only in size, but in price as well. I am definitely not buying this middie, and this situation is boring me. I used to buy every new release of takara. Now I will not.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since we've complained (on our forums, on flickr) of the quality, prices, poor outfits of the last neo-blythes releases... maybe that's the last straw... Showing our disapproval is not bad... the thing, the important thing is, how we feel, we are deeply dissapointed and Junko should know it... She is "our girl" in Takara and knowing what the public (the public who loves blythe) thinks about a product should be good for the company... huh?
ReplyDeleteIs this a joke? which is made of gold?? at that price I bought a neo
ReplyDeleteIt's ridiculous.
Clearly all those "limited" Blythes are not really limited. Limited to 3500 Blythes doesn't say anything if nobody ever says how many Blythes are a regularly released. It's like the industry puts the catchword "new" on every product you can think of.
ReplyDeleteI'm personally disappointed in the quality of Blythe and won't buy any new Blythe - Neo or Middie. In the last few years there has been a major decrease in quality while there has been a little (but yet) increase of prices.
People have complained and got no reaction. Instead of working on quality problems a new cashcow, namely Middie, has been released. Of course people are upset that this new doll is introduced to us collectors - it is us which make Blythe to what Blythe is - with an entry price as expensive as a Neo Blythe doll. Which are too expensive in first hand regarding the quality. Some collectors feel treated very badly and we are here to voice our opinion!
Deleting all negative comments does not solve this situation.
Annelies, first you say to calm everyone down. Now you almost agree with us. If Takara or CWC wants to make an expensive doll for Asia, that's fine for me, it's not my money anyway. We know Asia is a great Blythe consumer but Takara has to think about Occident too because we also buy dolls, either to customize or to collect. This explanation of "it's expensive because Asian loves it" maybe even right but not convincing. Hope Takara thinks about it and get back to the old times.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am dissappointed in the Middie and I do believe everyone's frustration is perfectly justified. What is inexcusable is the rudeness of some people's comments.
ReplyDeletebrieana, really, I do not see rudeness in the comments. If someone feels alluded, it will be for something. But nobody attacks anybody.
ReplyDeleteShe is a " our way " of communication with the company. If we were finding other one, we would use it.
Only we say that the improper price for the doll is insulting, and they treat the collectors as stupids. Lamentably, it is true...
creo que es una tomadura de pelo, no se en que se basan para ponerle el precio a sus productos pero para mi juicio las cosas seria asin, neo blythe muñeca grande precio grande, Middie Blythe muñeca mediana precio mediano, y petit blythe muñeca pequeña precio pequeño x dios en que se basan para aplicar sus precios no lo entiendo la culpa la tenemos nosotras x seguir consintiendo que abusen de nuestros bolsillos por no entrar en el tema de la calidad de las muñecas....bla bla bla todas lo sabemos
ReplyDeleteMary, you misunderstood me. I don't agree with what is being said. I was talking about understanding that they listen to their target market, which is Asia. And not the minority of collectors outside of Asia. It's called running a business.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I agree that this girl is expensive and I won't buy her for that reason. But I see no reason at all for people to be so rude and angry about this. The exchange rate from yen to dollars is not great at the moment and this q-pot middie is priced lower than the q-pot neo (go look it up if you don't believe me).
So she's not priced as a neo. She's priced as a limited middie. And I'm sure there will be more affordable middies in the future.
Of course they are running a business and we all know TakaraTomy won't change a thing. If they would care, we wouldn't receive dolls with scratched make-up and crooked haircuts. But running a business also means to be confronted with unhappy customers.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion people got rude and angry because Blythe is an emotional product, for many it's not only plastic and it might hurt people how TakaraTomy treats them (and Blythe).
But MinkiDynamite, quality control has nothing to do with the price of this Middie.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know if the customers in Asia complain about the quality too? Or are they fine with the product as it is? I'm personally not that fussy about scratches and crooked haircuts because I don't put my dolls in a display cabinet or something like that. But I can imagine it's annoying if you want a perfect doll.
For me there is a connection. In my opinion a company should get the quality of their base items straight before introducing a new line. Can people can expect to get a high quality doll for their 170$? From my experience: I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteI understand where you are coming from Annelies, I'm not putting mine in a cabinet either. My Blythes are rather active ;) scratches, blue stains are common in this household. But when I pay superior I expect superior.
For me personally the price of Middie is not that much of a deal as Middie Blythe as a whole is not very appealing to me. I wouldn't buy her for less either.
But I understand why so many people are upset. TakaraTomy made the product introducing very exciting - lots of tiny hints, comic, pictures, video. People wanted to get their hands on Middie! Hearing about 170$ when expecting 60-70$ is a shock.
In the end I think the ranting on here could be useful for TakaraTomy, people that raise their voice are passionate about something and have not lost the interest. People love Blythe! The western market may not be of much interest right now, but in the future it might be. :)
Annelies, the Asian market might like limited editions and expensive prices, but most(or all) of Asian fans dislike them. I live in Japan, I am Japanese, I saw the same opinions on lots of Japanese Blythe fans' blogs or other sites.
ReplyDeleteno se puede decir que takara asocie el precio con la calidad de su producto las muñecas muchisimas de ellas vienen que dan pena,los asiaticos compraran mas que nosotros muchisimo mas, no por eso vamos a darle alas cosas un valor que no tienen,la muñeca no hace justicia a su elevado precio ya la puedan comprar ellos a pares
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know k! Because I can't read Japanese, I don't have a way to find out what the opinion of the Japanese fans is. But they don't like the price either? Well, I'm afraid she won't become a huge success in that case..
ReplyDeleteHow has the concept of Middie been received in Japan? Did they like the idea of the Middie version or not?
about the "minority collectors outside Asia".... i think that you don't have right information.
ReplyDeletewe spend a lot of money, we pay customs, we pay high shipping charges and we are many, maybe you should know better.
but i think that we have the right to complain because we buy Blythe like the asian target market, like you and the cost to the middie is excesive to all.
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ReplyDeleteIn my oppinion taking in count just Asian market is a mistake. If they take a look at their sales a great part of them could stay in Asia, but did you think about shops in Asia that gets lots of dolls just to resell them? I really believe that Takara doesn't really know how many people all over the world (out from Asia) collects and buys Blythe dolls.
ReplyDeleteAnnelies, I think many Japanese fans think the first Middie is too expensive. Some of them expected it might be expensive because the first one is very special. But less than 10,000jpn...personally I thought the regular one would be 5,800-6,800.
ReplyDeleteAbout the concept, People were very excited when the middle’s information came out. Some people thought it might look like Kenner(!) before the first pic showed up, and later some people said it was not Blythe but she was cute. (but sorry, the animation was…weird) I think many people were going to get one, but they will skip the first Macaron because of the price. I can't understand why CWC didn't try to give Middie the eyemech. Having 4 color eyes IS her identity.
Annelies,
ReplyDeleteas a member of the biggest forum from taiwan,( which is for sure part of the asia) i toatally can not agree with what you have said,we certainly don't want a doll with low qulity and high price,
and how come you said "they have this kind of limited and high pirce doll out because they listen to the market and that is what we like?" this is totally ridiculous.
let me tell you this,NO,we don't like the crazy price,and we are not happy with the doll qulity either.
Ok, I stand corrected yi jia chiu. This is the information I could find about the Asian market in general, that expensive luxury products sell very well. But I'm glad to hear more about this from you :)
ReplyDeleteI guess not a lot of people are going to get the q-pot middie then. But if you want to send out a message to a producer, not buying their product is the strongest way to do so.
k thank you very much for the info about how the middie plans were received. I think most people were disappointed when they learned there was no eyemech, especially because there are middie sized clones that do have the eyemech. But I don't mind too much. I'm still looking forward to future, cheaper Middie releases. I want a doll I can take with me in my handbag :)
你是在開玩笑嗎?
ReplyDelete這樣的玩具可以賣到這麼貴?
當我們是傻子啊?
錯誤的策略絕對會使一個公司走向滅亡!!!
Dear Annelies,
ReplyDeleteI'm totally disagree with you.
In Asia, especially in Taiwan, we blythe collectors DO NOT SATISFY with the price of dolls and think the company regards us as stupid buyers.
Now we are discussing to BOYCOTT any middle blythes.
We want a response on the part of Junko, on this topic. It goes days to appear. We have right to a response!
ReplyDeleteAnnelies, I disagree with you, when you tells "This is the information I could find about the Asian market in general, that expensive luxury products sell very well" I think you are mixing the concepts in wrong way.
ReplyDeleteok, I agree asian market loves expensive luxury products as an aspirational thing.But is not the thing for blythe.
I love use luxury products, and I tell you why Blythe is NOT a luxury product , but a overprized collector´s product.
When you buy luxury, you get quality,good craftmanswork, style, service and attention too.. I assure you, when you leave a luxury store with a treat for you, you feel really good.
(I´m not talking about wearing a full of logos fake brand thing,but about receive the real luxe treatment of client of an exclusive brand, the real quality, the lovely appearance, the good made things.It´s expensive because IS GOOD quality, good attention: LUXE )
When you buy Blythe, you are getting a factory product,ltd or not, with deffaults or cheap manufacturing (like clothes that loose dyeing ,or scratches or messy hair),poor or repetitive design, an unexistant customer service, or very poor,and sometimes you (in this case, me) feels bit stupid.
luxury is not just a question of prize.
Blythe is not a question of "luxury", but a fan phaenomenum or collectors fashion.
On this point, and taking in consideration that most of blythe success overseas japan is growted because of us, of the consumers-fans, of our comments on forums or nets ...I think to have satisfyed consumers is the thing.
We are the marketing booster for blythe , so what? We are who create the interst on new consumers...do you thing the people here is hooked by the poor promo pics or by the wonderful customized and dressed blythes from the collectors pictures???
I think this is not the way, and I just think that this was the last drop on my bucket..
When I write my 1st comment, I do under respect, and under the point of view that this is the only way to submit to cwc-takara our dissapointment, and in what that can become.I think this should not be outrageous for Junko and her team, but really intersting..
When it moves, there is something.When everyone is angry and feel that is being treated as stupid,something is happen.I guess CWC should think about.
Yes CWC has to change their policy. Abusive prices, poor outfits and poor creativity and now with the middie poor quality.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Junko?
ReplyDeleteWe need answers.
Ok, I've seen enough... As many people said maybe it's time for us to go back to basics, personally I prefer everyday more all those neglegted ebls running on the market. Seen that we're not main target of the business and that they don't even care about our oppinion (anybody saw Takara staff asnwering to our concerns???) why wasting more time with this?
ReplyDeleteLack of quality in neos since months on, higher prices and limited dolls everyday more and now this middie issue comes to tell me is time to drive my attention to other stuff (no need to say about other companies' great non-limited!! outfits and more...) And also my bjd collection will take great benefit of the thing, God and Korea knows! ^^
Believe me, I don't like to sound rude but in the information era it's kinda lack of respect to your costumers not showing up at least to calm waters. Of course, It's not my business, I'm not even part of it, but I love Blythe as much as main target does and I want to keep loving them. If the only way to do so is not buying new releases, it's a pitty but... okay, message caught!
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ReplyDeleteJunko only answers when we say that the doll are nice, sweet or beautiful. She should answer also to the complaints and critiques! We wait for almost 5 days for a response.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the wait for the response is worth it, and this one turns out to be satisfactory for the people that complained here, in forums, flickr or other means.
Are you serious? Poor quality, poor design but charge an UNREASONABLE price. When I saw the design of Middle, most of us should think how's the pretty will be>.< Fine, If you still using this marketing strategy and design, more blythe fans will leave aways.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused by how upset people are. The limited edition Middie is in the same price range as a limited Dal or Byul. What is the big commotion? Middie Blythe has about the same amount of materials as a Neo, so it's silly to think her cost would be less.
ReplyDeleteMy only complaint is that her legs do not bend. I think that limits how cute she can be in photos. However it's possible to put her on a licca body or some other more articulated doll body.
And then i pay 130 E only for one head............................, one head without eye mechanism, little than the neo and I have to buy a good body for her, and pay maybe 20 dolars for it. Thats a good business.
ReplyDeleteLeah, please, give me a break. The same amount of material???? You mean plastic and hair? It's "middie" = middle = less than a Neo. Please don't compare.
ReplyDeleteAnd Dals or Byuls have far more better outfits. And if you put a Licca body, it's not middie anymore, ha ha.
On the other hand, I believe Junko didn't answer yet because they must be thinking something real convincing to share with fans and customers. I hope they give a decent explanation.
Leah,if you are rich and like to waste money: congratulations, the middie is your doll.
ReplyDeleteI can pay this quantity but i don't want, why? because i think that it's a steal and as Mediamarkt says. "Yo no soy tonto".
Hi, again...
ReplyDeleteJun Planning makes doll with high quality, makes outfit with high quality, and the market prices are lower.
I love Blythe, are the most fantastic dolls, are special, but i think that the company is laughing at the costumers like me.
I pay for quality, and in the last times, with the last dolls, takara doesn't give them.
I'm so happy because I'm not the only one who thinks so and I think the company should think very seriously what are doing and if can afford to lose customers or we are unhappy with their work
jajajajajajajajaja no somos tontos eso es jajajajaj
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't believe how rude you guys are. There's a right way and wrong way to voice complaints. If you start out with pitchforks and torches you force people to run away. Do you think Junko would just LOVE to show up for a verbal lynching??? Seriously!
ReplyDeleteI think the price is VERY high, but I like how she looks. I think people are bashing her looks because of her price. A lot of people said she was cute before the price came out. She is a limited, I believe when Q-pot Neo came out she was about $250 and the petite was $60 or $70? So a Middle Qpot isn't going to be cheaper than a petite Qpot.
I do expect standard midi prices to be around $70-$80 though. This is the first release and I think they wanted to make her special, hence the high price. Maybe a mistake on their part?
I do agree that customer service at CWC is non-existent. I've received a doll with messed up eye mech, C-shaped part had a cut in it and wouldn't pull properly so the eyes didn't change color. This was on a DARLING DIVA! I'm a customizer and was able to fix it myself by exchanging the part for a spare I had. But I shouldn't have to if quality check was doing it's job. This was a $400-$500 doll. On CWC's behalf they did offer to fix any broken/defective parts if I shipped the doll to them at my cost and waited a few months. The cost of shipping was more expensive than buying a replacement part. But I've seen very bad haircuts and broken eyemechs straight from the box. CWC REALLY REALLY needs to tighten up on quality checks.
I understand it's a world market, we can expect them to have the same return policies as Amazon.com or Costco... Americans are spoiled in such ways. CWC is a VERY SMALL company and have limited resources. It think they grew too quickly and have no way of managing their suppliers and factories. That's why were seeing so many factory girls leak out. They should do what they've done best in the past. Maybe smaller numbers released with smaller production run and grow only when they have control over quality. This will mean more EXPENSIVE dolls and more secondary-EBAY gouging prices. Less dolls = more demand.
Also folks... Japan/Tokyo is the land of the $300 steak and $80 croissant... $500 cantaloupe... I was in Tokyo last year and thought I'd be able to buy cheaper/retail priced Blythes at Junie Moon, but they were more expensive then on EBAY, even with shipping. Like Very Vicky's release price is about $140-$150... you can find her on Ebay for $110-$120 w/ $20-$30 shipping. There ARE NO DEALS IN TOKYO... You'll never find a WAL-Mart there, so you have to understand where they're coming from. It's not like Asians like to pay for the hell of it... Japan is just every expensive in general.
Lastly Blythe dolls are wonderful but they are not necessities. It's not like CWC is hiking up prices on milk and bread. This is a "luxury" item in that you don't need it to live (maybe some of us do LOL). If you're buying these on a credit card and need 3 months to pay it off you shouldn't be buying dolls that are $100. With all that said I understand your concerns about quality and affordability, but this is not an egalitarian hobby.
Oops... I meant to say "We CAN'T expect them to have the same return policies as Amazon & Costco" - NOT - "we can expect them to have"
ReplyDeleteSome comments were rude, some weren't. A lot of us are here to voice our concerns about the direction CWC and TakaraTomy are taking and they should be glad about our support. Complaining customers still care about a product and a company.
ReplyDeleteMost of us are not here to complain about how ugly Middie is, that never was the point. My point is: why making a new product line, when there are so many problems with the main product?
Especially a small company has to try to please their customers. Why can't we expect them to take back products that never should have left the factory in the first place? They are selling broken items on a regular basis!
I'm not living on a credit card and I don't need 3 months to pay off a $100 doll - but that doesn't mean I'm willing to pay 100$ (plus 50$ shipping and 20$ import taxes) for a doll that might have factory flaws and I can't return.
You're right... I don't mean to say everyone on here is rude... just that there are lots of rude complaints (which are valid but could be said in a better way). And the credit card comment is out of line as well. I was projecting my own frustrations as I've heard too many of those stories. These dolls aren't cheap and people should expect them to be like Barbies. This is an imported item. We even get a break in the US since so man Europeans get to pay 30%+ VAT taxes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I whole heartedly agree that they shouldn't sell broken dolls.
Sorry Diem but you're wrong. Blythe fans are Blythe fans, not Barbie ones. We collect Blythes "because" they are not Barbies. If I want a Barbie I go to a shop near home and I buy it for 20 euros, that's all. And if the dall is flawless I can return and get another one or a refund.
ReplyDeleteIt's a poor comparision, sorry to say it. We know people in Japan and Asia in general has an easy way to complain or return. I wish I'd go to Junie Moon to show all of these complains here but I can't. We are aware of customs price and shipping. But still we're willing to have a Blythe since we love her, but what we don't accept is what's happening now: poor quality and expensive prices.
We just want to be like before, where you could pay a reasonable price for a Gentle River and has a marvellous outfit. Now it's totally different. Can anyone remember a new model which was worthy for? Maybe Kiss Me True has a different outfit but not like the old ones. Is this too much to ask? I don't think so...
Anyway, I still have hope that Junko and CWC transmits our concerns to Takara and they actions on next releases... Middies or not...
Diem Chau, first of all, most of us are not English-speaking so I think that some of those "rude" comments are just the result of a bad/direct traslation of our languages to English but I'm sure that everyone here love blythe and we all just want to express how we feel the best we can.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I agree with you: blythe is a luxury item so CWC/Takara MUST act as a luxury company. That's the point. When I began in the Blythe world I was amazed by the no- existence of a phisical (or virtual) place where you could complaint or return a defective item.... Even at Zara (not a luxury store for sure) you can return any item in a month!!!
Maybe, as I said before, middie has been the excuse we needed to complain and ask to Takara all those doubts, questions, deceptions,disappointments...
And finally I think is quite interesting reading (for the very first time) these clear and honest opinions here from Asia, America or Europe. I like to know what people think about middie or Takara. It should be this way forever...
Let me start by saying "I love Blythe!"
ReplyDeleteSadly, I'm not in love with the middie. Something about her just doesn't seem as charming or quirky. She's sort of odd and creepy to me. I agree with the messages above (recent quality issues, price gouging, lack of interesting clothing), but I'm not angry about it, mostly because I buy dolls on the secondary market. Just don't expect me to buy this one!
Yes Mary and Ana, I'm super rich and plan on buying a ton of Middies that I will use in the fireplace to keep me warm this winter :P
ReplyDeleteJust call me "tonto" ;)
Yeah! I like it!!! : more laughs and less to take offence for the comments, sarcasm is ok!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter Leah! The trees will be grateful! ;)
Leah, together with the Middies please buy a oxygen mask ... TakarayTomy is using plasticizers in their plastic you wouldn't even want to touch. :P But other than that: have fun!
ReplyDeleteminkidynamite, totally agree!!!
ReplyDeleteLeah, don´t forgot the mask, and a good smoke extractor XDD
I wish this will be not a very cold and long winter...otherwise maybe you´ll have not enough with 3500??
Thanks so much for caring about my health! I will get the smoke extractor and oxygen mask :D
ReplyDeletePat, it is supposed to be a very cold winter this year. Maybe I should also get some Blythe petite my littlest pet shop sets!
I don´t know where to start, first I don´t like middie doll for a lot of reasons. Like no eyemech, stiff body etc..
ReplyDeleteAnd really I have read some stuff that makes no sense. I´ve been to Japan and I have eaten croissants for less than 80$.
And Leah, thank you for making ozone hole bigger ;)
I think we have lost the point here. I don´t see anything wrong in saying we don´t like middie doll.
Ms. Junko Wong. I am so sorry to hear this unfortunate opinions about your newest child... I can´t believe there is so much rudness about it but I want to tell you I can´t wait to have Middie in my collection!, I absolutely love her and second not all collectors think this way... I really really enjoy reading your blog and hope this doesn´t discourage you from keeping us informed. I am looking forward to all the news you post and not all collectors think this way I am very gratefull for the time you take to write this blog and all the effort CWC has putted into Middie! JJV
ReplyDeleteHi, i don't think that we are rude, i think that our opinions are honest, and we have the rights to say it, because we buy and LOVE Blythes.
ReplyDeleteI don't say that someone is rude, i haven't disrespected anyone, i'm just saying my opinion about the lastest works of Takara and this blog is the only way that i have.
All opinions are respected and no one has to apologize for them.
And we explained that if they seem rude may be for the use of translators but i have a clear idea, while the price rise the quality is lower
Well, I went to Japan last year and prices were just aobut the same as in Europe... when you talk about croissants for 80$ you must be talking of the 80's decade, then Japan was the number one in the global economy and the most expensive country to live in... but not now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with mosto of the comments here: I love Blythe but outfits and quality are getting worse and worse... hope it stops here.
first of all, I don't want to sound rude... I think most of us don't want to sound rude but want to show our opinions about the latest blythe releases. maybe our english is not perfect so we need to say what we think in a very direct way that may sound rude...
ReplyDeleteAnyway... I don't think it's all about this middie's price... I think this has just been the straw that broke the camel's back, I mean, my blythe collectors friends and I have been complaning about the huge difference about new and old blythes (in quality, design, outfits, makeup... everything) for a long time... it's been long since I last saw an original blythe doll, and now that, at last, we see some creativity, we see this high price...
I had my doubts about middie blythe... I didn't know if I liked her or not... no eye-meck and a poor body pushed me out... I don't want a bad quality blythe... but I thought that maybe, if itwas cute and not too expensive... but IT IS too expensive... maybe next middie will be better but I'm not expecting her anymore...
I don't understand what is happening... neo blythes are more and more expensive every day and the quality is worst and worst... makeup has flaws, outfits are poor, nice hair is hard to find... Blythes are expensive... I expect cuality for an expensive item... and I'm not receiving that... I don't buy new realises anymore... I just don't like them...
All I'm trying to say is that Takara-CWC should pay more attention to it's quality checks...
Diem Chau, I´ve been to Japan last week and I can tell you I bought a 2nd hand Goldie for twice the price of this Middie Blythe. So you can imagine how displeased I am with the price of this doll, besides the fact that she lack most of the features that I love from them...
ReplyDeleteI've recently stopped collecting Blythe altogether after 10 years of collecting. The new releases are nothing special anymore, and the special ones fetch crazy prices. The "Middie" just illustrates this - middie quality doll for twice the price. Right on - Takara! I can understand the disappointment.
ReplyDeleteBeing constructive is a nicer way to be involved I think. For me, I love the idea of middie. I don't mind about the eye-mech. I think she looks very cute but I would like to add one with different hair to my doll collection.
ReplyDeleteA little light pink haired doll like PD PEach's hair would be a dream. Maybe some with cute short bobbed hair. A mini Saffy, how cute would that be? Definitely some fantasy haired middie's too.
I can see this one is just the first in a long line to come and there will be people who will love her. The smart ones who can afford her will buy her because one day it will prove to be a good investment.
I can't afford her so I'll eagerly be waiting new releases with a slightly different look and less fancy clothes.
Good on you for trying something new. The market will sort itself out. ;o]
Kate M
No answer is also an answer.
ReplyDeleteminki, no it's not, I'm sorry... I'm really missing an answer from Junko...
ReplyDeleteI can't understand how a company, who is told to sell luxury items, dosen't answer it's customers concerns and critics...
I'm sorry if this is not the best place to write our concerns... but we don't have another place to do it...
Ana, I meant that in a cynical way. I just wanted to say, that I'm still waiting for an answer. :)
ReplyDeleteChill out guys,
ReplyDeleteShe's gone on holiday so she's not around to answer your replies.
Personally I am disappointed but its not nothing new - its failure after failure after failure and quite frankly theres nothing luxury about second class goods.
If you want to buy it then don't feel guilty when doing so - but at the same time don't be disappointed when you receive her either.
I and many others are not buying this doll she is not worth the money and none of my Blythe's have been this expensive and quite a few have been under half this price.
THIS is one of the reasons why people are buying factory dolls because they have a similar standard and its worth spending a risk on a cheaper doll who may have defects (but has unique features) than it is buying an expensive doll direct from CWC - paying hefty shipping costs and THEN having a defective doll. I'm sorry to say this Junko but the price needs to go down and the quality control measures that are put in place need to be tightened or more people will leave the hobby or buy all the lower priced Kenners, BL's, EBL's etc that are all over Ebay, PP & TIB.
I'm sorry for not replying sooner, but I didn't have any internet till tonight and saw the 100 comments given here. First of all, it true that the cost for Middie is about the same as Neo. We worked on the mold for 2 years, and negotiated frantically with the manufacturer thinking that because the doll is smaller, then the cost is less, but the factory explained to us that the amount of work it takes to make Middie is exactly the same as making Neo. They quoted us extraordinary prices, because of the initial development of new mechanics that needed engineering, molds that needed to be made and revised over and over. And since the debut was a collaboration with a designer they needed to be paid. The economy is weak now, weaker than when we first started this project but the factory did not lower the costs because of this. What we hope people will understand is that we are in the mercy of the manufacturer. We do not quote the prices. We design and develop the product. For example, if you were to build a house, you have the architect design the house, and select all the materials that will make the house special, beautiful, and unique. Then you have to get a builder, a contractor to build it. In order to build it, you need the materials to do so, and when you go to the tile store or a paint shop and they quote you a fee that you can't negotiate down but you need these materials to build, you have to purchase them. We on top of that make only 3000 or so of the unique dolls because it is not necessary to make 20,000 or 100,000 of Blythes - she is not a mass produced doll in that sense. And as for the dolls that are being sold from the factory, how do you think that makes us feel? The factory that quotes us these prices, have someone taking these dolls out of the factory and selling it. Is that not stealing? And we can't catch them. The face molds that had to be developed, which takes a good year to make, the process of one style which takes 15 to 18 months to complete, and someone with access to the factory finds a way to steal it and you say, it is better to buy that instead? Perhaps the person who feels it is better to buy a stolen item instead of the authentic item should look into their conscience when doing so. It's quite easy to be critical of someone without being in their shoes. My blog is to share my trials and tribulations, my joys and celebrations of the process I endure to create the Blythes that have brought joys to many. When one buys a dress for $150.00 , or a designer bag for $300.00 knowing that 20,000 or more were made and sold worldwide, they don't tear down the designer who created it do they? Or do they? Though it is painful for me to hear these comments, I appreciate the interest and the care from everyone because I know that if you didn't care, you would have no opinion. And for that I am grateful and thank you so so much. And yes, I was a way from the desk for 2 weeks. My dad made 95 in August and is in a home. I took some kids with me and went to put on a hula show for the people in the retirement home. I hope you will understand.
ReplyDeleteI saw the new pics, and although I don't like the FBL look so much, she has a really cute chin dimple!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I can buy a super cute handmade 20cm BJD for the same amount of money... so I will wait for a "Simple Middie" release.
I do like middie, and I will wait the best time for me to adopt one. For now I can imagine what you and your team have been passing through making a totally new product. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to us, please, keep going with your blog, I really enjoy reading your thoughts and opinions about Blythe :). Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your answer;) do not worry about the delay, we all have our personal things ...
ReplyDeleteThere have been people who said that this was a personal attack. Of course it wasn't. We value your work and of course, we love blythes. We appreciate you have your blog, is the only place where we can express our opinion. We know you are not responsible for the prices and qualities of Blythe, but we hope that you will coment it to those who concerned.
Hugs.
(Sorry for my English... is not my lenguaje)
Junko i loved your answer. I understand, and i am glad you took the time to read the comments and answer.
ReplyDeleteMaybe later on i will be able to explore the potential of middie as customized doll.
The fact that she is not for me, while i do love regular blythe is just a matter of personal opinion, you did your best, and some of us will like her , and some won´t. But as long as quality is good, people who gets her should be happy.
I understand the high prices but i will wait till later to decide if i want to experiment with one middie or not.
I would have loved her to have an eye mech though, that would have been great :)
Anyway, looking forward for next blythe releases :)
Hugs, Olga
Junko, your answer is not a reason for the price too expensive.
ReplyDeleteThe Middie can not buy cheaper.
That is the very ugly.
A doll that, you should not be named Blythe.
Ugly is ugly to those who see it that way. I have held her in my hands and to me she is lovely. I hope she will be able to find a home somewhere and be given a chance. The eye mechanism that she has was the best the engineers could devise in her size. Thank you to everyone who gave me encouragement. But to be perfectly honest, to be told your baby is ugly is heart breaking. I think if you hold her, you will come a little closer to loving her. Her name is Middie Blythe. They come from the same family. The price is the price negotiated down from a higher price quoted from the factory after a lot of negotiations and compromising on the materials and accessories. We was told that the cost of labor rose tremondously in the past 2 years in China another reason it is so expensive. Thats the way of the economy but it is our priority to keep the costs low and to maintain the quality. All I can do is to continue to strive to my best. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteI like Middie. I'm so inlove with Neos that I think I will take only one home, but I know I'll have to wait until a cheaper model would come out.
ReplyDeleteYour answer doesn't make her price lower, but is so nice from you to explain us the reason for that so high price.
Thank you for answering.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, but if what is claimed is to support the quality and low prices, you are doing the opposite. The blythes every time are more expensive and of worse quality.
As for the middie, why, seeing that was working out so expensive (how a neo blythe), did not it discard?
For a lot of illusion that it does and her comparing with the neo blythe, it is a very expensive doll. Too much.
Thank you for addressing the factory girl issue. :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many people complaining about the price of the Middie have also purchased factory girls?
I don't think Middie is ugly. To those who are calling her so, shame on you. That's just rude and hurtful. You can dislike the doll without being mean about it!
ReplyDeleteI do think however, that with the number of recent problems Takara Blythes seem to be having (I believe I am the person referred to earlier in the comments--I bought Thumpty Thump and returned her as defective; TakaraTomy sent me a replacement with far worse flaws than the original doll I bought. I should be getting my replacement replacement tomorrow), and the poor economy, AND the fact that I could get a standard sized Blythe for the same price...well, I am just not too motivated to buy Middie. At least not an exclusive, limited, pricey model. Bring on the Prima Middies, and we'll talk :).
I do have a question however. If 3,500 is considered a "limited" doll, how many of each doll is normally produced? 3,500 would be a very limited number for a doll that sells HUGE numbers, such as a Barbie. But we all know that not as many Blythe dolls are sold as Barbies, so I wonder how the numbers compare?
Finally, I realize that it makes sense that the first Middie be a limited edition, but is it going to be an entire year before we see one that is a general, affordable release? It was very sad, waiting an entire year for a FBL girl that people could actually buy without paying high prices for limiteds (we here in the US are just NOW able to buy from Junie Moon, so any limited dolls generally cost us twice--or more--the asking price). Middie might become more popular and more loved if we could actually get her in our hands in a couple of months instead of waiting until next year!
Don't worry Junko about people who said she is ugly, a lot of people see Blythe dolls as ugly and creepy ones. Beauty is something relative between each person. Can't wait to see more middies in the future :). Hugs.
ReplyDeleteJunko thank you for your response.
ReplyDeleteI understand the priceing issues of this precious little girl and I thought your explaination of this problem was perfect. I will certainly be trying to add a Middie to my Blythe collection and will be waiting to see what else you come up with in the future.
Cheers Angelique
I really like Middie after seeing the latest pictures - she is very cute! I hope to be able to buy one very soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the new photos today I am even more excited by cute little middie :) She will be a very welcome addition to the blythe family here!
ReplyDeleteI will wait for another design, (I hope there will be more to come) but I do like the middie! The price is high, but I will save.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Junko for your reply. I personally appreciate that a lot!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately our questions regarding "Will Middie be of the same low quality as recent releases (of 2 years)?" have not been answered. It might hurt you as designer that some people don't like Middie, but it also hurts us collectors emotionally and financially to get broken NRFB dolls on a regular basis. Can we expect that Middie is of better quality? When people are ordering new Blythes, they hope publicly on flickr and boards that this time their NRFB Blythe is not a fail. Doesn't it hurt you that your Babies are leaving the factory in a bad state?
Hence all this problems and no answers from TakaraTomy addressing quality problems it is pretty logical to me that people don't care to buy stolen products from TakaraTomy (I haven't myself, but not because of ethical reasons). TakaraTomy is stealing our money too - promising a cute perfect doll and sending out dolls with scratches, not fixed make-up and hair cuts that even would have been out of order in the 80ies. When buying factory dolls you basically know what you get for your $, because you see a picture of that doll and you can expect that there might be flaws.
That there is a factory under contract where people can steal products and that produces faulty items, there is nothing we customers can do about that - can we? There have been rumors that quality problems turned up, when production moved to China. I don't know about that, but people are talking.
To your comparison with the house building, of course the builder sets the price after the negotiations - but you can be sure that I won't sign a contract with a constructor that builds houses without quality standards.
I personally don't think anybody wanted to tear you down personally. Most people just know that this is the only way to get in contact with somebody from CWC TakaraTomy.
And also designer of handbags and clothes are teared down via online comments. Like every 5 minutes. But of course, when my 300$ or 30$ bag is broken I don't go online to talk with the designer. No, I contact customer service of that brand, and believe me - I will not only get an answer, I will get a replacement. So, there is no need to get in contact with third persons.
I'm personally (as many of us fans) selling handmade one of a kind items. If one of my customers is not happy, I will replace the item on my cost. If I wouldn't, believe me, the bad mouthing would just begin. That is business, unfortunately.
I just had a very quick look, from 25 dolls in 2009, 13 have been limited/exclusive. I certainly believe that those wordings are catch phrases and don't reflect "real" limitations. Not telling us the relation is making it hard for customers to say "I'm buying the limited doll for a high price, because she is special and limited". I second the question, how many releases are a regular release? My guess is 5.000.
I understand that it is uncomfortable for you Junko, as the designer, to answer our concerns. I would love to hear a statement from somebody in charge. How about a statement on Blythedoll.com? This platform has also been used for telling collectors not to buy fake-blythes, I think it would be a good venue to address quality concerns there too. :) The drawback there is that customers can't comment directly, so (fruitful) discussion will be out of your sight on national blythe boards.
Thank you very much for your time!
To everyone: Please keep in mind that people are probably using a translator. Thus "ugly" is not "ugly", I would guess the person above meant something like "it's a shame she is not cheaper".
Junko, I am sure everytime a new doll is released you worry about how the doll community will react to her....Not everyone is going to like every doll that is released! I say, if you like the doll and can afford her buy it (middie, neo or petite) - if you dont, well dont diss the people that do! Love your Fab Blog and dont let others comments deter you from making many more informative entries!
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes!!!!! the end of blythe is getting nearer and nearer...how long more can collectors continue to collect buy with this type of poor quality or price!
ReplyDeletemuchas gracias x respuesta , Pero yo personalmente pecado Intención de Ofender a Nadie Sigo Pensando Lo Mismo , la muñeca es mona Pero es cara muy, sin Vestido de Prada Puede Ser monisimo de la Muerte Pero Casi Nunca es Suficiente x Lo Que SE PUEDE una Llegar Pagar una x el, servicio ESTO PUEDE UNO de los Motivos tambien , podriamos ESTAR pagando la marca ? ¿ ? ¿ y no la muñeca ? ¿ ? ¿ Junko Un saludo y gracias Por tu blog
ReplyDeleteJunko, thank you for your answer... we didn't know you where out and maybe that's why we got a little bit nervious about the lack of answers... but it is perfectly understandable that you take your holidays and leave internet behind...
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I totally agree with everything MinkiDynamite said...
I, of course, don't think middies are ugly... I like them but not as much a Neo, and for what you're telling us it seems the high price is not only on this first limited one but it will be in every middie...
And I can assure you that I will not pay the same for a big doll with eye mech and a nice posable body than for a smaller one with no eye changing color and a poor body... sorry.
The same as I'm not buying any new blythe, afraid to get one with important flaws and not being able to do anything about it... it's a pity because I do like some of the new dolls...
by the way, I see we are two "Ana" talking, so from now on I will also sign as "zoomy", my nick name.
thank you.
zoomy
I just discovered Blythe and this blog. I've always found Blythe a little too expensive for the quality when compared to pullip but I realised that doll collecting in general is an expensive hobby and sometimes we have to come to expect this. So i bought a Blythe- and love her but I also love my pullips and my barbies (yes!)... but I digress.
ReplyDeleteWhat I actually meant to say is that though I appreciate that Junko takes the time to reply and provide explanations- I find it very hard to believe that Chinese factories can raise their prices so steeply to cause a doll price to inflate that much. As an Asian with some awareness on Asian currency and economy, I don't believe this.
But that's just me.
Nonetheless as I stated earlier, I do understand that doll collecting is expensive and we're almost never getting what we pay for. I've accepted that and made peace with it. I think the Middie is pretty- but I'll save my judgment for when I see her in person- if ever. Maybe I'll get her, maybe I wont. I think price and value of a doll is relative to how much joy she brings u, not necessarily for her eye mechs or lack thereof... So I'll make a decision on that.
Junko thanks for your answer. Im collector of blythes, a custom blythes, i dont understand the limited dolls and i dont understand the price of the middie.
ReplyDeleteMaybe i can buy one middie for custom but not for this price. I think the limited doll will be limited, not 3000 or 3500 dolls. Sorry but this is my opinion.
The middie is more little without eyemech and with a poor body.
Reading all these comments, I was reminded of the famous words from poet John Lydgate, later adapted by President Lincoln.
ReplyDelete“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
I am a relatively new collector of Blythe and I love her dearly. I add to my collection those that appeal and are within my budget. I have strong feelings about the factory girls and believe the only way to stop this happening, is for collectors to STOP BUYING THEM, if there is no market for them, the thieves would have no business.
Having been in business myself I understand the set up costs involved in producing a first time run, so have no qualms about the initial cost of the Middie. However, I would imagine it would have been more cost effective to produce a large run on the initial doll to reduce the final price to consumers. But what's done is done, those who can afford her will buy the Middie, and those that can't will not.
Keep up the great work.
Hugs,
Sandi