Buying Through A Vendor V.S. Factory Direct
Making the decision to purchase a doll often includes consideration of whether to buy through a (reputable, legitimate) vendor or to buy factory direct. Having experience using both options, here are the pros and cons that I have found.
Buying through a vendor
Pros:
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Vendors get feedback from customers regarding their satisfaction with their purchase. Having this information helps vendors identify trends, whether positive or negative.
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Vendors will be able to assist in the selection of a doll that will best fit your needs and wants. They will use their experience and previous customer report data to make an informed suggestion.
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Most vendors deal in multiple brands so they are less likely to direct you towards a compromise based on the limitations of a single brand’s lineup.
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Reputable vendors will give you complete “out the door” price quotes including shipping, customs etc. If there were to be any shipping or customs issues, the vendor will generally resolve them without your involvement being necessary.
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There are often language barriers and other challenges associated with business dealings with foreign manufacturers, vendors are well experienced and know how to mitigate errors due to misunderstandings etc.
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Vendors have more weight to throw around if there were to be any issues (defects, damages, wrong options/missing features etc.) v.s. a one time customer buying a single doll. Manufacturers are more likely to be responsive to vendors requests for resolution, because typically vendors funnel a high volume of sales to the manufacturers.
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Reputable vendors will “fight” on your behalf for resolution on order issues.
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Reputable vendors often will make good on issues even in the case that the manufacturer denies a legitimate claim. In other words, take a hit to ensure customer satisfaction.
Cons:
- Vendor pricing may (not always) be higher than factory direct pricing.
Buying factory direct
Pros:
- Sometimes (not always) dolls can be purchased for less than through a vendor.
Cons:
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Manufacturers will be able to assist in the selection of a doll that will best fit your needs and wants, as long as it is a part of their product lineup. It is extremely unlikely that they would point you towards a better fit from another manufacturer.
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Manufacturer price quotes will likely include shipping and a claim to cover customs. If shipping rates change the manufacturer will not be likely to honor the original quoted shipping rate and if customs holds your package (for reasons such as paperwork errors, inaccurate declaration of value etc.), you will very likely be responsible for addressing any issues with your country’s customs agency.
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There are often language barriers and other challenges associated with business dealings with foreign manufacturers. If you are not well versed in conducting business dealings with foreign manufacturers, the likelyhood of misunderstandings greatly increases and can lead to dissatisfaction.
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You will be responsible to “fight” for yourself for resolution on order issues.
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Foreign manufacturers have little incentive to resolve issues brought by a one time customer purchasing a single doll; their location provides a buffer against legal action and a random customer being upset likely does not concern them in the big picture.
To sum it up: It is possible to save some money by buying factory direct; but there are risks involved with doing so. Buying through a reputable vendor may cost more (not always) but will simplify the process and provide peace of mind knowing that they will have your back if any issues arise. It is in my opinion best to buy through a reputable vendor for these reasons.