This post was originally written on June 19, 2013
What is a Fire Sale? It is a sale of goods or assets at a very low price.
Hello ya’ll,
Samantha here, with another installment of my rants which means: It’s Time to Get Real.
In today’s rant, I want you to get your thinking caps ready and if you have a crystal ball, I want you to keep it nearby because I’ll need your help in predicting the future of Pullip.
So, during my daily research on dolls, specifically Pullip, I came across several eBay sellers offering Pullips at incredible low prices!
Now, offering Pullips at sale prices isn’t anything new. It’s a part of doing business and a great way to get inventory moving to make room for more profitable products but when it happens frequently & among several US based sellers and Japan sellers, I start to hear alarm bells ringing.
For example, one eBay seller is offering nearly 25 Pullips at the low price of $89.99. I’m talking about Kaito Taeyang, Luka Vocaloid Pullip and more.
Another eBay seller is offering the event exclusive SDCC Pullips for only $75.00 each.
Then another eBay seller has over 160 mini Pullips and full size members of the Pullip family starting at $54.99.
(Please note: I have not personally purchased anything from these sellers and know nothing of their customer service and quality of products. The decision to purchase from the sellers mentioned is entirely up to you.
I and PullipDollDreams.com are not liable or responsible for the actions or results caused by purchasing from these sellers).
Time to Put On Your Thinking Cap
So, here is where you need your thinking cap on.
Are these sellers simply having one incredible sale or are they bailing out of the Pullip market?
I don’t know if you have noticed but the number of shops/sellers offering Pullips has sadly declined.
Why is that?
- Too many of one particular doll is released causing an overstock of Pullips
- Too many Pullip members released each month/year
- People no longer interested in Pullips
- Prices too high for sellers & fans
- Sellers have $$ tied up in Pullips that simply won’t move and can’t afford to keep their business open or is the
- Vendor simply discontinuing relationship with certain sellers
What answers/reasons did your thinking cap produce?
Time to Use Your Crystal Ball
But what can the sellers, the fans, the collectors, and even the manufacturer do, to save this possible sinking Pullip ship?
From a business stand point, if things keep as they are: with limited competition and limited marketing for Pullip, small businesses will no longer “succeed and grow” and that will “undermine consumer choices . . .”
And that may result in Pullip not seeing her 20th birthday.
So, what does your crystal ball foretell for Pullip’s future?
I hope it reveals a wonderful, prosperous future for all those involved with Pullip (from the manufacturer, to the sellers, and to the fans).
Because if the sellers aren’t profitable, the manufacturer isn’t profitable which in most cases results in the closing of businesses and very disappointed and crushed fans.
I hope that is not the case and that the events that are happening in the market are temporary and will pass.
Let’s keep our fingers cross.
Well, that’s the end of my rant.
Until the next rant, take care 🙂
-Samantha
One of The Dolly Insider’s goals is to help you expand your collection. When we come across a great deal, it is our pleasure to share it with you.
If you are interested in purchasing a Pullip from the sellers mentioned in this post, you may click on the links below (links will open in a new window):
Updated the list 8/21/14
FashionDollsandKawaiiGoods.com|PullipDollDreams.com is not liable or responsible for the actions or results caused by purchasing from these sellers
i believe its no cause for concern. amazon is doing the same thing based on popularity of a certian pullip. surpriingly the sdcc pullips are not doing all that well. and i do believe the more dramatic releases are part of it, its called the trading system i believe for most. people are sellin for the newer stuffs.
i see those prices all the time, and you have to keep in mind the year dates on those particular pullips nad taeyangs. a couple are already a year or two old. so its natural. i see nothin happening.
Hello again,
Oh yes, semi-annuals sales are typical this time of year.
Unfortunately, Amazon is excluded from the comparison since their business model is extremely different, so much so, that other sites (small and large) simply can’t imitate them (many have tried and several have lost a lot of money in the process). Their model is very unique and it works for them only.
These reduced prices are fantastic for the consumer, don’t get me wrong, I love getting things at a bargain 🙂 but when I put on my retailer’s hat, I see things differently and there is where my concerns lie.
I hope the things I see on the retailer’s side do not come true (maybe it’s time for me to get Lasik or something) but there are certain signs and things happening that do not look well to me.
Where will the 2013 Pullips fit into the mix for small USA sellers?
It isn’t about prices but the future of this market in the USA.
This post stems from my sadness in seeing small businesses pull out of one market or close all together.