Thoughts on the changes on reborns

Baby Talk
504

I have thought a lot about all those things, with scammers sites and new selling platforms.
It’s really hard to me to explain my ideas in english, so please excuse my grammar.

First, I don’t think BB will have the time, the staff or the possibility to go through all the artists to find if they respond to all sort of criterias, as @TrinityCrystal suggest. It will be really costly.

2nd, I think a lot of artists are international sell on their own website or in person. What if they want to join this selling platform ? How can they prove they meet thoses criterias ?

3rd, customers don’t know that a reborn can’t be buy on a webstore. They are confused about the difference between a selling platform, a marketplace and a online store. That will not clarify anything to have a new platform.

4th, we have no way to inform, teach or advice. Facebook is a mess. YouTube may do some good.

So, my only solution is that we create an artist association. It will be hard, on a long term, but I really think it’s the only way to go.
With an association, artists will gain legitimacy.
Like here, when you want an inspector, or a professional of some sort, they have to be members of an association or a federation.
We have to publicize that if an artist is not part of this association, he is not trustworthy.

We have to come together as a group to save our art. And fast. Soon, reborns will loose all of their value. It has began.

The only other solution I have is to stop making reborns for a year, all of us. No reborns for sale nowhere. They will be only the knock off left. People will start to ask where all those beautiful babies are gone and realize that they are handmade…
Naturally it’s not a viable option !

1 Like
505

Some good ideas and valid points. Who would monitor/update an artist association? What would prevent scammers from joining?

506

It should be monitored by a group of serious artists (sculptors include, silicone artists include).
It should have a series of points to respect and artists should submit admission with references, pics of their work, previous sales, IDK. Like any organisation, a group should be name as president, vice-president,secretary, etc.
If someone is being caught scamming it will be ban.

I am not really sure how such thing works, maybe someone has the knowledge ?

1 Like
507

So, my only solution is that we create an artist association. It will be hard, on a long term, but I really think it’s the only way to go.
With an association, artists will gain legitimacy.
Like here, when you want an inspector, or a professional of some sort, they have to be members of an association or a federation.

How is that different than existing reborn artist associations like the IIORA, or SARAA?

We have to publicize that if an artist is not part of this association, he is not trustworthy.

The entire spirit of the reborn hobby is based on buying kits and supplies so that you can make them yourself. It’s pretty exclusionary to write off anyone outside of the organization as straight up untrustworthy, considering most people on this board do this as a hobby, and not their livelihood. Generally, reborn associations showcase top-tier prominent artists and sculptors with a track record of consistent, high-quality work (such as prototype artists). By this standard, it would pretty much exclude anyone in this forum from participating.

6 Likes
508

That’s not what I mean. No need to be a top artist. But maybe, before you want to sell, you need to be member of the association. If somebody is not, than nobody can guarantee that this person is not a scammer or is doing good quality work.

The difference between this and other association, is that at least we can make it known ! I have not heard of those, don’t know what they do, so customers certainly don’t too.
The whole point of this is to provide some safety to buyers and artists, not to exclude anyone.
It will also be international.

Like I said I don’t know how to create that. But we may consider it seriously if we want to put a end on Chinese knock off.

As I am french, I may not have express my point clearly.

A hobby is done for yourself. You can collect, or sell occasionally. When you do a doll in the purpose to sell it, it’s not anymore an hobby, it’s a business. No need to be a livelihood to do business. Some may not agree, but it’s basically that.

That’s exactly why we should create a worldwide association, with clear definition of what is a reborn.
It will be for ANY reborn artist. Don’t want it to be an Elite thing. More a type of registry.
That way, knock off will not be included. Scammers will be spotted more easily, with a central place to search for real artists.

There is place to brainstorm here. What’s a reborn ? What’s a reborn artist ? On which criterias someone can be call an artist ? What about second hand ? Etc

1 Like
509

Never going to happen because there are people that are knowingly buying from these sites and don’t care they are illegal copies. Safe buying practices and sites already exist.

5 Likes
510

I think we’re getting off track here. Maybe we could move this discussion to the scammers thread?

511

I don’t think so, I think both are close related. The changes on reborns.co confuse buyers and artists. Opening a 3rd selling venue will confuse even more. If on top of that they want to add all kinds of criterias to sell there…

I think is up to artists to choose the criteria they want for their art, not a selling venue or a furniture store.

That will not help against the knock off or scammers like they said.

It’s just my opinion for sure, I will gladly stop discuss this subject here. I have said my point anyway.

1 Like
512

I think it’s an important discussion even if the subjects are related. This thread started out as thoughts on the changes on reborns.com and I think it’s a little harder to follow with a second subject on the same thread. JMO though. It was only a suggestion.

2 Likes
513

He changed my Sweetpea to just Pea. Cause Pea is so much better than Sweetpea?

4 Likes
515

I’d like to add that not being able to put the actual name of the sculpt for the title kind of makes the seller look like an idiot. As if I thought that sculpt was named Pea!

5 Likes
516

Oh good grief! Ridiculous!

3 Likes
517

Good grief! Someone needs to @Reborns!

3 Likes
518

Changing the names of PAID member listings is a bit much.
Yes I could see if it was vulgar or obscene, but sculpt names are what they are…the name of the sculpt!
I search reborns alot just to window shop and look at the babies, and yes use the search function for certain sculpts… As I’m sure others do as well and what ya think will happen when hardly half show up if the name has been changed?? Sellers will miss sales.
members should have control of THEIR paid listing…including title… All the advertisement isn’t gonna be much of a help if their dolls names are being changed, makes the seller look like they don’t even know the sculpt name and looks off in the buyers view.
“Peas”,“Cheeks” etc come on now, especially with all the scam sites calling the sculpts “new” names…this won’t help!
Let the artist who PAID for that listing…do as they see fit!

8 Likes
521

That’s unbelievable ! :angry:

2 Likes
522

I am ok with someone making changes on his website. It’s his business, I understand that.
But making change on the PAYING member’s listing is unacceptable.
I think he lost it.
That is a total nonsense.
Do you think it’s a petty revenge on is part ? After a lot of people jump on his back later ?

4 Likes
523

It definitely is his business and he is free to do what he likes, but taking revenge on paying members by messing with their listings makes absolutely no sense from a business point of view.

A while back I do remember a discussion about how he didn’t want “sale baby” “cheap baby” or anything like that in the title because it would cheapen the site. Understandable. But not being able to list the actual name of the sculpt in the title was not an issue at all. Is is possible that he does not understand that “Sweetpea” “Twin A” ect. are the actual sculpt names that customers are likely to search for.

Please help us understand why there is a problem with the name of the sculpt in the listing title @Reborns.

5 Likes
524

If someone know nothing about a field, he is better to let the professional do their things.

6 Likes
525

OMG!

4 Likes
526

I don’t think Dave understands the importance of kit names. He’s probably trying to streamline the site and doesn’t realize he’s adding to the confusion. I just posted a comment there:

I can understand Dave not wanting the words “sale” or “cheap” in the titles, but the actual kit names should be allowed so that buyers can find them ~ for instance, right now if you are looking for 3 Month JOSEPH or 7 Month JUNE there are tons of Josephs and Junes, all sizes, some with open eyes, some not; very confusing.

Kits are not named by the artists, and sellers need to be able to title them by their correct sculpt name to help buyers find them.

Things are tough enough these days with the China knockoffs, the fake silicones, the scammers, and the big box stores selling their versions of “reborns” without this site adding to the confusion.

If it upsets him, sorry not sorry ~ we are paying to use the site, but it’s taking a really bad turn and he needs to fix it.

11 Likes