Disney Designer Dolls

[axt0143]

So what, have a contest on who is a bigger fan? I think this would be a form of discrimination and the employees cannot do that. Geez, like they're paid enough to have to decide who gets one and who doesn't. Sorry, but this wouldn't fly. I can only see them changing the policy to one per guest.

It'd be as easy as placing a no dealers, no resellers policy and limiting it to one per household.

Contest was just an out of the blue idea, but the fact is that the first two weeks my store had 14 dolls and they were available until about 6 PM because only the fans were buying them. Now the resellers are buying them. I've seen the dolls at local hobby shops for $200, on craigslist for $300, and we all know they're on ebay. Sure, the contest idea might be "discrimination", but it certainly does weedout the flippers [because I'm sure 9/10 actual Disney lovers are WAY more considerate of their fellow fans]

Being a loyal customer MEANS entitlement, period. If you have someone who comes in 2x a week and buys everything there is, they deserve some degree of reward. Every other store does it: Victoria's Secret holds special events for credit card holders and adds coupons for frequent shoppers. Gamestop does parties and special deals for people who preorder and have their frequent shopper cards.

The best example in this case is MAC and Sephora. When they come out with limited edition make up lines they know will sell like crazy and will go on ebay for 2-3x as much, they don't just make it first come first serve. Instead, they hold a special presale party that only frequent shoppers get into, and they also hold limited quantities for those shoppers after the official release so they can get the whole collection. I get into these events because they knew I buy make up regularly for my GF and we go in for her to get consultations and make up applied by their pros [which requires a $60 minimum purchase] often enough. The last one I went to was Wonder Woman at MAC and it was awesome, they had a Wonder Woman cosplayer, superhero themed cupcakes, and very colorful free drinks. And there were no resellers, just regular customers, a few reporters, parents and significant others picking up gifts.

 

[jejuneraccoon]

It's not so sure anymore. The reason (from what I can tell) that people are saying Jasmine is that she, theoretically, is a 6000 edition size and that they are assuming that the 8000's were first, then all the 6000's, and then finally the 4000's (this logic also plays into the 10/3 Rapunzel). With Tiana specifically, if you look at the filename of the banner images that sit atop the designer collection pages (the current one being Snow White), the name contains the princess name as well as the Monday release date. When this was discovered, all the princesses in September were found on the server (hence the knowledge of Snow White for 9/19 & Tiana for 9/26). Sense then, the Tiana image has been removed; couple that with the most recent announcement by the DisneyStore president and nobody can say for sure which princess will come out on 9/26 (if any).

Ahhh, I see what you're saying. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jandii]

... change their entire web-based retail system to update at a more reasonable hour than 3:30am EST, re-work their system so there are far less order cancellations), are more broad and not specifically related to this release. Same things happen with Vinylmation releases. They go on sale at 3:30am EST, the popular ones instantly sell out, people get cancellation notices.

While this might seem reasonable, from an IT standpoint it is very difficult to accomplish. First off, 3:30 EST is a reasonable hour to update the system since that time is most likely the least-busiest where they can afford downtime the most. Sure, it sucks for people having to wake up that early (I would beg to differ on this as it limits the people who you are competing with) but from a business standpoint, this is the best time to operate on a 24/7/365 online system. Additionally the order cancellations, especially last night, most likely came from the server overload when the browse-able pages finally updated. While I don't have first-hand experience with the DisneyStore.com system, it is most likely that there were multiple places in the database that data needed to be written for there to be a successful order accepted by the system. In IT database lingo, this is referred to as a transaction. When a part of the transaction fails (most likely do to a part of the process exceeding the allotted time for that part -- ie: a timeout), the system is supposed to "roll-back" to the last known good configuration. This would explain why there are order confirmation numbers w/ orders or cancels in the system.

While all of this sucks to deal with as a consumer, there really is no right way that will make everybody happy on a distributed system like the DisneyStore.com website. An easy alternative to think of would be the ticketing systems of Ticketmaster and the like with their virtual waiting rooms. While you wouldn't get an oversold order, you would get a lot of people complaining of never having the opportunity to place and order and stuck in the virtual waiting rooms.

Just hoping to give some insight to the behind-the-scenes geek stuff that must go on to make these processes work.

 

[axt0143]

While this might seem reasonable, from an IT standpoint it is very difficult to accomplish. First off, 3:30 EST is a reasonable hour to update the system since that time is most likely the least-busiest where they can afford downtime the most. Sure, it sucks for people having to wake up that early (I would beg to differ on this as it limits the people who you are competing with) but from a business standpoint, this is the best time to operate on a 24/7/365 online system. Additionally the order cancellations, especially last night, most likely came from the server overload when the browse-able pages finally updated. While I don't have first-hand experience with the DisneyStore.com system, it is most likely that there were multiple places in the database that data needed to be written for there to be a successful order accepted by the system. In IT database lingo, this is referred to as a transaction. When a part of the transaction fails (most likely do to a part of the process exceeding the allotted time for that part -- ie: a timeout), the system is supposed to "roll-back" to the last known good configuration. This would explain why there are order confirmation numbers w/ orders or cancels in the system.

While all of this sucks to deal with as a consumer, there really is no right way that will make everybody happy on a distributed system like the DisneyStore.com website. An easy alternative to think of would be the ticketing systems of Ticketmaster and the like with their virtual waiting rooms. While you wouldn't get an oversold order, you would get a lot of people complaining of never having the opportunity to place and order and stuck in the virtual waiting rooms.

Just hoping to give some insight to the behind-the-scenes geek stuff that must go on to make these processes work.

Ticketmaster has pre sale codes that are given to fans on the artist's website, by email if you bought tickets for that artist before, arrangement with credit card companies, as well as to family and friends of corporate sponsors.

which is why I was in the pit for Katy Perry and front row for Taylor Swift, not because I'm a scalper but because for Katy, the presale code was given to me by her fanclub and for Taylor, the presale code was given to me by AMEX [because I bought taylor tickets through them before]

Yeah, a lot of resellers and scalpers get tickets, but the majority of seats sold go to the fans and without this kind of drama.

 

[shawnh199]

I don't know if it was ebay types or not, but we have had no trouble, except for Belle which sold out right in front of us, with getting the dolls. So, my DH decided he would be at the mall no later than 915am (store opens at 10am) so that he would be sure to get the doll. When we missed Belle, we got there right around opening.

There were no line issues with Cinderella or Ariel and they even received more later in the week for lack of sales at a different store.

With Belle, we were late getting there and it sold out to the person in front of me. So, DH arrived early to get Mulan. They decided to hand out "tickets" to those waiting in line at about 15 minutes prior to opening. Yeah, he got one.

So, he did the same thing this week thinking there would be no problem. He was 5th in line so he figured he was good. At about 15 minutes prior, an employee told everyone (one person had been there inside the mall in front of the store since 8am) that all the "tickets" had been handed out. Come to find out later, it seems as though they were handed out to people who got there around 730am - the mall isn't even open then. I don't know if people were meeting them at the outside entrance to the mall or what - and that sound a bit fishy to me if they did. They even gave these people until noon to come back and purchase - none of them were there at 10am when the store opened.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a first come first serve basis and it should be when the doors to the store open. I feel like we were totally screwed out of this doll. We called to complain to management and all the asst. manager told my DH was that she was positive it didn't happen that way. Well he and others were there and all could attest to the fact that it did happen.

I hope PP was right that the prices will come down off of ebay. The cheapest Buy it Now that I saw was $250 . I won't pay that much - maybe twice retail, but that's almost 4 dolls I could buy.

Oh well, I guess I will be up at 2am for the next release and just buy it off of the internet.

Hope everything goes well for everyone next week. I feel so bad for those of you who that you had one purchased only to be told you didn't. That would have crushed me.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Just to put in my 2 cents, at our TDS, the one CM that is collecting these dolls was told to be on line with all the other guests before store opening if she wanted a doll. None were being held.

We set up stanchions outside the store for guests to line up before opening. I think the plan was to go outside at 9 am and hand out the cards for the available dolls, then people could leave if they got no card and did not want to stay to shop.

It is just hard because the stores get so few, only about 12-15 dolls. I can't think of any fairer way to handle it in the stores, other than suspending the telephone holds, which we did.

The website needs work, not just for the dolls but for other problems as well.

 

[Turk February]

You know? I signed up just to be able to post in this thread about the dolls. Needless to say, I am one more person who thinks this is insane and absolutely ridiculous.

I think the Disney Stores are being complete jerks about this. These stores are small and they know us hardcore fans and shoppers by name. I know every single employee there remembers my face and that I make purchases on a regular basis: Vinylmation figures, large giant plush dolls, and most everything Little Mermaid. I've asked them time and time again, if they can help me on the dolls, hold just one...but no.

Many of us can confirm that the people in line at 7 AM in the morning are not legit fans, most of them are resellers and some of them have even made the people behind them aware that their dolls will be on eBay if they really want them. Disney Store gives these people priority by treating this on a first come first serve basis. It'd be so easy to make it so that the actual fans and regular shoppers can get at least one doll, yet they'll hand them all over to people who probably couldn't even tell you what movie the actual princess is from.

It almost makes me want to swear Disney shopping off completely. I expect it from the website. I've had dozens of cancelled orders or lost orders on merchandise that isn't even half as rare. In store though? My store has a book where they take your phone number and name to call you if something you want or need comes in stock again. The employees are always super helpful and super nice..but yet when it comes to these dolls they are anything but.

Between the fact that employees are holding dolls for themselves and that the first come, first serve basis makes it nearly impossible for the average fan to get one, I'm really let down.

I'm just saying, the guy who preorders his blu-rays there on a regular basis and drops $100 on a Beast plush or $200 on a box of vinylmations and picks up anything Mermaid for his girlfriend should be able to say, "Hey, I give you money all year long, I'm here twice a week almost, you need to make this right and have me a doll waiting when I get off work"

And if they want to keep doing this line thing, do it quiz bowl style and ask the people in line timed questions like, "What Disney animated film has never seen release on VHS or DVD in the United States?" or "What Japanese animation studio does Walt Disney Studios hold all the release rights to?" or "What is Gus's in Cinderella real name?" or "What is Pluto's original name and character?"

Wow, you have quite the sense of entitlement. I mean, this is mind-boggling.

You deserve nothing more than I do, or anyone else. Good for you for spending lots of money on Disney. So do I. That doesn't mean I deserve a doll more than a grandmother trying to get one for her grandchild who can't answer one of your silly quiz questions to prove their worthiness.

Get over yourself. "You need to make this right and have a doll waiting when I get off work"?!?! These dolls weren't made for you. They were made for all Disney customers. This isn't part of a contest to see who spends more money or who loves Disney more. You want exclusive merchandise that you get for being part of a club? Join D23.

 

[Turk February]

While this might seem reasonable, from an IT standpoint it is very difficult to accomplish. First off, 3:30 EST is a reasonable hour to update the system since that time is most likely the least-busiest where they can afford downtime the most. Sure, it sucks for people having to wake up that early (I would beg to differ on this as it limits the people who you are competing with) but from a business standpoint, this is the best time to operate on a 24/7/365 online system. Additionally the order cancellations, especially last night, most likely came from the server overload when the browse-able pages finally updated. While I don't have first-hand experience with the DisneyStore.com system, it is most likely that there were multiple places in the database that data needed to be written for there to be a successful order accepted by the system. In IT database lingo, this is referred to as a transaction. When a part of the transaction fails (most likely do to a part of the process exceeding the allotted time for that part -- ie: a timeout), the system is supposed to "roll-back" to the last known good configuration. This would explain why there are order confirmation numbers w/ orders or cancels in the system.

While all of this sucks to deal with as a consumer, there really is no right way that will make everybody happy on a distributed system like the DisneyStore.com website. An easy alternative to think of would be the ticketing systems of Ticketmaster and the like with their virtual waiting rooms. While you wouldn't get an oversold order, you would get a lot of people complaining of never having the opportunity to place and order and stuck in the virtual waiting rooms.

Just hoping to give some insight to the behind-the-scenes geek stuff that must go on to make these processes work.

No I get it, it's much harder than most people think. That's why I don't scream bloody murder and call for a boycott when I don't get my way. This stuff is complicated and I wish more people understood that.

That being said, in a perfect world I think it would be best to release the dolls at a time when people are actually awake, but I know as a system what they have right now is good for them (like you said). Thanks for the insight, I learned a few things!

 

[axt0143]

Wow, you have quite the sense of entitlement. I mean, this is mind-boggling.

You deserve nothing more than I do, or anyone else. Good for you for spending lots of money on Disney. So do I. That doesn't mean I deserve a doll more than a grandmother trying to get one for her grandchild who can't answer one of your silly quiz questions to prove their worthiness.

Get over yourself. "You need to make this right and have a doll waiting when I get off work"?!?! These dolls weren't made for you. They were made for all Disney customers. This isn't part of a contest to see who spends more money or who loves Disney more. You want exclusive merchandise that you get for being part of a club? Join D23.

And from the looks of it, Disney customers include ebayers, amazon.com marketplace stores, independent toy stores, and comic book stores.

You, myself, and the grandmother would all get one doll if something was done to weed out the above customers.

Who do you seriously think is staying up til 4 in the morning to order these? A few hundred hardcore fans and hundreds more ebayers.

 

[LM2]

Yes, it was crazy trying to get Snow White. I di get one but barely!

 

[berrybread]

Yes we Candians get ripped off badly by the disney store

You're telling me!

 

[marie1203]

It'd be as easy as placing a no dealers, no resellers policy and limiting it to one per household.

Contest was just an out of the blue idea, but the fact is that the first two weeks my store had 14 dolls and they were available until about 6 PM because only the fans were buying them. Now the resellers are buying them. I've seen the dolls at local hobby shops for $200, on craigslist for $300, and we all know they're on ebay. Sure, the contest idea might be "discrimination", but it certainly does weedout the flippers [because I'm sure 9/10 actual Disney lovers are WAY more considerate of their fellow fans]

Being a loyal customer MEANS entitlement, period. If you have someone who comes in 2x a week and buys everything there is, they deserve some degree of reward. Every other store does it: Victoria's Secret holds special events for credit card holders and adds coupons for frequent shoppers. Gamestop does parties and special deals for people who preorder and have their frequent shopper cards.

The best example in this case is MAC and Sephora. When they come out with limited edition make up lines they know will sell like crazy and will go on ebay for 2-3x as much, they don't just make it first come first serve. Instead, they hold a special presale party that only frequent shoppers get into, and they also hold limited quantities for those shoppers after the official release so they can get the whole collection. I get into these events because they knew I buy make up regularly for my GF and we go in for her to get consultations and make up applied by their pros [which requires a $60 minimum purchase] often enough. The last one I went to was Wonder Woman at MAC and it was awesome, they had a Wonder Woman cosplayer, superhero themed cupcakes, and very colorful free drinks. And there were no resellers, just regular customers, a few reporters, parents and significant others picking up gifts.

And Disney did that at the d23 expo!!! Should they pay for your ticket to get there too? Seriously your sense of entitlement is ridiculous. Disney doesn't owe u anything YOU choose how to spend your money.

 

[jandii]

... That being said, in a perfect world I think it would be best to release the dolls at a time when people are actually awake ...

They have some automation in their system, Snow White was displayed promptly at midnight via searching, you just had to wait for all the content servers to sync up before the browse-able pages were updated. Technically, there is no reason why they can't update the pages and have her unavailable for purchase until noon or something like that. However, with all this attention being paid you need to be careful what you wish for. There are a heck of a lot more people in front of a computer at noon than there are at midnight.

 

[axt0143]

And Disney did that at the d23 expo!!! Should they pay for your ticket to get there too? Seriously your sense of entitlement is ridiculous. Disney doesn't owe u anything YOU choose how to spend your money.

God, I swear, some of you people act like the mouse can do no wrong.

All I'm saying is this, my one Disney store, I have been a customer since its opening. I have seen it go through 3 remodels. I cried when it was closed for a month and made sure the mall knew how important that store was to me by sending letters and emails.

I'm not the only one missing out. I just think that if by any chance disneystore.com support or disney store employees are reading this, we should try to get them to change the policy at least a little.

One employee I've chatted with more than once said it point blank, "this lady in the back counter has bought like 20, and the ones left for the customers, I know the resellers are buying them and unfortunately, we can't do anything about it unless corporate tells us"

If it were up to me, everyone would get dolls, and the majority of them wouldn't be sitting on eBay for $300. I thought we as a society had moved past this "Tickle Me Elmo" mentality.

 

[GraceMonica]

Alright. This is getting out of hand. They're dolls. Your not going to die because you didn't get a doll. Yeah, you might be sad, upset, devastated, but its not going to kill you.

I'm not directing this to just one person. EVERYONE should realize this. Yeah, the people on ebay are pretty greedy but its only because we're paying their bill. We stop buying from them, prices will go down. Simple.

I feel like I have a lot more to say on this, but my mind is all jumbled up at the moment.

Its frustrating not to get the doll you want. I just had to break it to my little sister she may not be getting Jasmine.

 

[berrybread]

You know? I signed up just to be able to post in this thread about the dolls. Needless to say, I am one more person who thinks this is insane and absolutely ridiculous.

I think the Disney Stores are being complete jerks about this. These stores are small and they know us hardcore fans and shoppers by name. I know every single employee there remembers my face and that I make purchases on a regular basis: Vinylmation figures, large giant plush dolls, and most everything Little Mermaid. I've asked them time and time again, if they can help me on the dolls, hold just one...but no.

Many of us can confirm that the people in line at 7 AM in the morning are not legit fans, most of them are resellers and some of them have even made the people behind them aware that their dolls will be on eBay if they really want them. Disney Store gives these people priority by treating this on a first come first serve basis. It'd be so easy to make it so that the actual fans and regular shoppers can get at least one doll, yet they'll hand them all over to people who probably couldn't even tell you what movie the actual princess is from.

It almost makes me want to swear Disney shopping off completely. I expect it from the website. I've had dozens of cancelled orders or lost orders on merchandise that isn't even half as rare. In store though? My store has a book where they take your phone number and name to call you if something you want or need comes in stock again. The employees are always super helpful and super nice..but yet when it comes to these dolls they are anything but.

Between the fact that employees are holding dolls for themselves and that the first come, first serve basis makes it nearly impossible for the average fan to get one, I'm really let down.

I'm just saying, the guy who preorders his blu-rays there on a regular basis and drops $100 on a Beast plush or $200 on a box of vinylmations and picks up anything Mermaid for his girlfriend should be able to say, "Hey, I give you money all year long, I'm here twice a week almost, you need to make this right and have me a doll waiting when I get off work"

And if they want to keep doing this line thing, do it quiz bowl style and ask the people in line timed questions like, "What Disney animated film has never seen release on VHS or DVD in the United States?" or "What Japanese animation studio does Walt Disney Studios hold all the release rights to?" or "What is Gus's in Cinderella real name?" or "What is Pluto's original name and character?"

I get why you're upset and we're all mad about those sharks but I don't know the answer to any of those questions and I'm not buying to resell. I still consider myself a disney lover though. And it's really not up to the employees wether or not you get one on hold, rules are rules. I don't think that just because someone shops there more often than others means they should necessarily get special treatment to these dolls. I think we're all love them the same amount here.

 

[GraceMonica]

The best example in this case is MAC and Sephora. When they come out with limited edition make up lines they know will sell like crazy and will go on ebay for 2-3x as much, they don't just make it first come first serve. Instead, they hold a special presale party that only frequent shoppers get into, and they also hold limited quantities for those shoppers after the official release so they can get the whole collection. I get into these events because they knew I buy make up regularly for my GF and we go in for her to get consultations and make up applied by their pros [which requires a $60 minimum purchase] often enough. The last one I went to was Wonder Woman at MAC and it was awesome, they had a Wonder Woman cosplayer, superhero themed cupcakes, and very colorful free drinks. And there were no resellers, just regular customers, a few reporters, parents and significant others picking up gifts.

You're kidding me, right? Disney DID INDEED have a pre-sale of these dolls. You could buy all 10 dolls, for $600 at the D23 Expo. If you're so freaking loyal to Disney, why didn't you go? IT is open to anyone who buys a ticket. ALTHOUGH the D23 members get a discount. So don't go sassing ANYONE on this board about how you're better than everyone because you spend all your money on Disney. Whoop de doo. NO ONE wants to hear it. AT ALL. You're not entitled because you spend X amount of money at the store. That's not how it works.

 

[axt0143]

Alright. This is getting out of hand. They're dolls. Your not going to die because you didn't get a doll. Yeah, you might be sad, upset, devastated, but its not going to kill you.

I'm not directing this to just one person. EVERYONE should realize this. Yeah, the people on ebay are pretty greedy but its only because we're paying their bill. We stop buying from them, prices will go down. Simple.

I feel like I have a lot more to say on this, but my mind is all jumbled up at the moment.

Its frustrating not to get the doll you want. I just had to break it to my little sister she may not be getting Jasmine.

but..but..

THEY'RE SO PRETTY!!!!!!!!

I just want to get my girlfriend Ariel and Belle. and get Mulan for myself [she's so awesome they need to put her Designer version in a game or something..I wish they would make a bad *** Shang figure to go with her..]

 

[axt0143]

You're kidding me, right? Disney DID INDEED have a pre-sale of these dolls. You could buy all 10 dolls, for $600 at the D23 Expo. If you're so freaking loyal to Disney, why didn't you go? IT is open to anyone who buys a ticket. ALTHOUGH the D23 members get a discount. So don't go sassing ANYONE on this board about how you're better than everyone because you spend all your money on Disney. Whoop de doo. NO ONE wants to hear it. AT ALL. You're not entitled because you spend X amount of money at the store. That's not how it works.

Why is this the exception? I've had Disney store employees go the extra mile to find a rare or sold out product for me. Like when I was looking for Giant MINNIE and no one could find her, the second they got one in more than a month later it was held for me and I got a phone call telling me it was in.

This is the first time this has ever happened to me...so try to understand why I'm outraged

 

[GraceMonica]

Why is this the exception? I've had Disney store employees go the extra mile to find a rare or sold out product for me. Like when I was looking for Giant MINNIE and no one could find her, the second they got one in more than a month later it was held for me and I got a phone call telling me it was in.

This is the first time this has ever happened to me...so try to understand why I'm outraged

You're outraged because you didn't get the special treatment ONE time? Really? They're honestly just making it fair for everyone. Which means instead of getting your hand held through it all, you might actually have to work hard and earn your doll. Stay one step ahead of your competition and you'll be golden.