I wonder if the box opening expectations have gone up because of all the YouTube videos of reborn box openings, it almost seems like it’s expected and sending only the doll would be frowned upon. I also agree that you never know if the buyer will even like the clothes and things you send.
I always send a stuffed animal, blanket, diapers, a few printed onesies, a headband or hat, and pacifier and can usually stay under $10. I don’t sell for very high so I can’t afford to spend a lot on the box openings.
I actually had this conversation the other day in a FB group on a sellers post, because multiple people commented that for her selling price, the doll had to come with more than what was included. (Seller was upfront that doll would come in onesie, wrapped in blanket with nothing else) so I commented that the only thing the seller is required to do is send the doll in the condition promised unless buyer actually paid for a box opening to be included. I was met with many rude comments about how “as a buyer they’re just saying what they would expect for a $500 doll. Most artist send box openings with multiple outfits and accessories for that price range”
I stopped replying after multiple “buyers” said at that price of doll, not getting a box opening didn’t seem worth it when cheaper dolls come with more. 🤦
It’s like it’s become expected that when you buy a reborn your supposed to get a huge goodie box. Heck there was a buyer who left a trash review of a seller, not because the doll was bad or not as promised but because she only received 2 outfits, 1 paci and blanket and expected more ( didn’t pay for a extra)
When I buy a doll, the ONLY thing I care about is if it comes as promised. Anything extra is just a bonus, and that’s how it should be.
Now for me selling, all depends on type of doll/sale/price.
Ready to sell dolls under $350 - wearing PJs home, one outfit, socks, hat or bow, 2 diapers, paci and blanket.
Ready to sell dolls above $350 - all the above plus extra outfit, extra pair of PJs, 2nd paci, mittens, booties
My custom dolls go home with custom box openings made with the buyers taste in mind. Which will include 2 full outfits (matching hat/bow, socks etc) 2 comfy outfits, 2 pairs of PJs, mittens, socks, hat/bow, 2 pacis, shoes or booties, blanket.
Price really depends on what I find. I have a TON of clothing ranging within the doll size I usually make. I buy alot of the items as sales happen. I find 90% of my items on sale under $10. Like quite a few of Amazon’s baby clothes are on sale right now. 3 pack gowns under $10. The children’s place on Amazon has alot of PJs around $7. Walmart has alot of sales recently. I also shop Mercari and BST groups for good deals.
I tend to shop within the same brands anyway, so I don’t really worry to much about brands per price range although depending on theme/type of sale, I do have higher end items like Kate Quinn, Kickee pants,Kyte baby, Angel dear etc.
Once upon a child if you have one near you, I’ve found new with tags outfits for $5. Same for BST groups on FB
But I would say on average I spend between $30-$60 per box opening. I also use new and Like new used. I would never send someone something I wouldn’t put on my actual babies. I also let it be known I also use used items. Never reallyyyyy had much of a issue
Honestly, though I’m not a artist, I prefer as a collector, just to receive the doll. The art itself. A diaper and onesie wrapped in blanket or bubble wrap. I enjoy doing my own shopping whether online or in store.
The concept of box opening is sweet and giving but I don’t see it to be necessary.
Do you think reborns would sell without box openings?
For my lower priced babies ($500 or less) I just include one going home outfit, they onesie that they are wearing, a magnetic pacifier, 3 diapers and wrapped in a blanket. The value is probably under $20. I buy cases of baby blankets online from the dollar store, clothing online for usually $8-10 for. 3 piece set, and buy magnetic pacifiers in bulk for about $2 each. I also offer box opening add on’s if someone wants a better box opening. For my dolls around $800 or up I do improve my box opening, I use a nicer Carter’s blanket, usually a couple outfits, a toy or baby book, a few disposable diapers, a cloth diaper, a sealed bottle, pacifier and a stuffy the baby holds. The value of that is probably around $40 and I factor it into my pricing. When I first started selling I went way overboard with box openings, like $80 worth of stuff for a $250 baby. I lost money big time. When my skills improved and I raised my prices I reigned it in big time. I’ve had several customers pay an extra $100 for a great box opening experience, others have always been happy with what I’ve sent, so I assume I’m at a happy medium?
Blanket, stuffed animal and pacifier all come from dollar store so only $3 for those. Diapers, onesies and headbands I usually buy in larger quantities so the price for them individually isn’t much.
I also sometimes find good bargains at stores such as Ross or Tj Maxx so I can send nicer stuffer sometimes for the same price as the dollar store stuff.
Blanket, plush and paci are 3-4$ cad each in my Dollar store here. You’re lucky !
Just to dress the doll in a onesie and a pyjama and wrap in a blanket cost me about 20$cad (around 16$ usd).
What do they even do with those clothes? I send several outfits. But usually when customers post pics, the doll is in the outfit I sent them in…even months later. And sometimes they immediately redress the doll in an outfit they bought. So why are we wasting time and money on box openings?
Even my Native American Maylin. She paid $1500 to get him. She immediately changed his clothes and set the cradle board aside. She never posts pics of him with the cradle board. I would have gladly given her a discount and kept the cradle board had I known she didn’t want it.
I will say, I went all out on the box opening for my Booth prototype. She was purchased by her sculptor…Jamie Lynn Powers. So I felt like I needed to go big. Even though I knew ahead of time that Jamie is planning to use her as a model for her own knit outfits, I still felt the need to send several cute outfits. And I got this cute wooden box to put her in. Jamie got her yesterday. She’s oohing and awwing about the doll. But hasn’t said a word about the box opening.
I have a baby clothes and accessories buying problem. I joke that I make babies just to justify buying baby things. Which is partially true!
That said my babies go home with a sleeper, plain white cotton mittens I get from amazon, a hat I make from medical grade stocking (so they look like hospital hats!), wrapped in a flannel or muslin receiving blanket, in a bubble wrap bag, in a plastic gift bag. Then I tuck a stuffie (on sale from TJ maxx or clearance Easter bunnies!), a diaper and wrapped scented wafer, a pacifier, and onesie. I try and send whatever the baby was photographed in. That’s my basic everyone gets it box opening. I’ve recently sold a few dolls for 700 or so and those I get the plusher blankets (still on sale from TJ Maxx, like 7-8 dollars), and a couple outfits. I buy everything on sale. I pay full price for nothing. Nothing!
But I heavily enjoy shopping for the babies. I don’t honestly know how much I’ve spent. But I know it’s ridiculous. But each baby goes home with about 15-20 dollars worth of on sale goodies
I have only purchased one doll for myself. I’d be lying if I said the box opening didn’t matter at all. It’s hard to explain. I would have loved the doll even if she came naked and bubble wrapped with zero items extra. But, it was a far better experience to get her with an unboxing. I got lucky and got clothes I absolutely loved in there. They were really nice clothes and I bought her 3 outfits as well. Two of them are fall/Halloween and the other one is a fuzzy fleece sleeper. I rotate her outfits but she mostly wears what she came with.
As a buyer I do expect SOMETHING with a doll over $500. Something being an outfit on the baby and a blanket. Anything else is an extra and greatly appreciated. I don’t expect to receive the really nice unboxing I got with my first doll if I buy another one but it would enhance the experience for me if the seller sent an unboxing.
When I pack up my babies they get much more than needed… I like to include the outfit they wear home, 2 other outfits, 2 or more pacis, and some hats or headbands. I do wrap them in blankets too. I have sold more silicone than vinyl though and there really is a huge expectation with those that there is a big unboxing too. They are thousands of dollars and people think that means the red carpet treatment. I probably lose more money on unboxing stuff than I should. I have decided to scale down what I send because it DOES seem like these buyers want the unboxing but then don’t use it.
I love seeing all the great deals everyone else gets too!