Peace Clone

It's like one of those moments you exhale, "Finally!" 

I accidentally came across a clone with a body similar to the Barbie Fashionista earlier this year. What is unique to this clone is its color. It is compatible to Edeline, one of the 12 dancing princesses. Her skin tone is similar to Fan Bingbing's, "Peace" skin tone as Mattel calls it. (I have something to say about the political correctness of the name but then again, Mattel has little concern for correctness compared to profit-making, so why bother?) Below is the comparison photo. 

Since I didn't know that it was a good match when I bought it, I only bought one. (From now on, let's call it the Peace clone.) I decided to buy another when I saw that it works. The second one will be for Fan Bingbing. When I returned to the toy store I got it from, they were sold out!

At the last toy convention, I chance upon a doll that looked like the Peace clone--same packaging, same character, same dress. I decided to buy two, knowing that I might never get the chance to buy again. When I got home, I learned that it was a different doll. It looked like the older Barbie Fashionista. Let's call it clone 2 and a comparison photo is shown below.

I figured that these toy stores could have sourced these clones from another city, the locally famous marketplace of clones, Divisoria. I went there and, as expected, I was able find a clone that looked like the Peace clone (clone 4). I was also able to find another clone (clone 3) that I initially thought to have the same skin tone as Raquelle's. I bought 2 of each since Divisoria is too out of the way to come back for seconds. Unfortunately, the clone 2 was not a match. Fortunately, clone 3 was a good match for other dolls. My customized Lois Lane Barbie got rebodied using clone 3. The other clone 3 body went to Audrey (not in photo). Comparison photos below.

I got 4 dolls (2 each of clones 2 & 4) that are too pale for any doll head I appreciate. I felt that it's a lot of wasted money. I decided to stop hunting for the Peace clone and just appreciate the only one I had.

Yesterday, I was in an obscure section of an old forgotten mall to buy some supplies. I saw two dolls on sale that looked like the Peace clone. I was tempted to buy both but previous experiences made me buy just one. I was glad to find out that it was the Peace clone I was looking for. It is the headless doll on the first photo.

_______________________
Update (2015):

The Peace Clones are no longer available in any store that I know of.

Words To Live By

Trust

I don't trust doll people who post nothing but raves on collector dolls. They sound like paid advertisers or doll resellers.

Generally, I don't trust people who don't express any dislike. It's in the expression of dislike that shows deeper character.

Hurray For Competition

I finally got myself one of the pioneer members of the Avengers, Ant-man. No thanks to the local distributor of Hasbro. As can be seen in the photos, this was sourced from another country. English is an official language in my country so there is no need to add what seems like Chinese labels on the packaging.

Based on another toy blog, these toys are already out in Singapore. A lot of online sellers have this posted on eBay. What is interesting is the price. Despite additional shipping charges and profit margin for the local reseller, some are being offered at competitive prices compared to those in major toy stores. I got my Ant-man at SRP. Other characters are below SRP while "rarer" characters are being sold at a higher price.

Pricing is so unlike the local distributor and major toy stores. All characters are priced equally, villain or hero, popular or not. Other sellers' prices are based on assumed demand. I'm glad that the demand for this figure is not that high. If the demand was high, the stocks should have run out weeks ago but I was able to buy one.

This figure is from the 3rd wave. There are still a lot of peg warmers from the 1st wave and some from the 2nd wave. I don't know if the major local distributor is still interested in distributing the rest of the series. It is the distributor's fault if they don't sell well. They increased the price just because of the re-branding. It's the same old marvel universe figure. I hope they learn from competition.

I also noticed that collectors of these figures are no longer as active in a local toy forum. A lot has stopped collecting these figures for two main reason--first, the increase in price; second, others decided to focus on the better articulated line, the Marvel Legends. This is good for me (less competition in buying). In case the demand eventually died down, and Hasbro decided to stop this line, I can just buy from those who quit collecting and customize the figures to the characters I want.

Character Considerations

We usually impose a certain character on our doll. Our dolls, our rules. That's easy. Whenever I get a celebrity doll or a doll with a predefined character like those from the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse line, I usually don't dress them with whatever. I always consider their character.

Midge likes retro fashion. I made a yellow high waist swimsuit with a bandeau top for her. Yellow is a sweet color which also matches her sweet personality. I wanted her to have a wide-brimmed hat but I don't have one. It's a good thing that it wasn't very sunny at the beach.

 

Raquelle stikes me as sassy. I made this one-piece asymmetrical swimsuit with a cut-out on one side for her. I know she likes animal prints so she will enjoy this snakeskin motif. The silver bib necklace and silver shoes adds an exclamation point to Raquelle's fashion statement.

 

 

Sporty girl Summer gets a two piece bikini in fun colors from me. The stripe is also reminiscent of her original dress. The top provides support for her active lifestyle. She gets a visor so she can have fun under the sun and a pair of rubber shoes for running around.

 

 

I made all those swimwear in one weekend. I was really inspired by the characters Mattel have given to these girls. Unfortunately, they now go to storage and I don't know when I will play with them again. Maybe when I have made or bought fitting clothes for them.

To Wait or Not To Wait

If you wait for the items to be discounted at the popular toy stores, you can save a lot, but there is a chance that the stock will run out before they offer a discount. Prices on the secondary market may end up higher than the toy stores'. Smart buyers always have this (and more) to consider when buying something frivolous as a toy. There are no hard and fast rules.

Sometimes, you have clues to help you make a decision. When I saw the Falcon figure, I instantly knew that I have to wait. First, it costs more than the regular Marvel Universe figure. Second, Falcon is not as popular compared to the other Avengers, specially those that have been featured in the movie. Third, there are relatively more units being sold compared to other characters (Black Widow). And lastly, I had the older version which I turned into another character, so I don't want him that bad. I do like the articulation in the new version. I waited and got 50% discount.

It was almost the same case for Whirlwind. The price is higher. Booo! The character is a villain and not a popular one at that, but I do know the character. He seems like a "good" foe for Wasp and I have been wanting to do a fight scene for Wasp. The reason I bought him right away is because I only found one Whirlwind figure in all 8 toy stores I visited. I have been seeing eBay sellers offering him for a lower price but I find the seller(s) too cocky with their fussy requirements.

Although I consider the supply when deciding to buy right away, experience told me that this is not always a reliable guide. Sometimes, they just display a few. Sometimes, there are more shipments later. This was what happened when I bought Wasp. Since she's a female figure, there was a smaller supply. She was even bundled with other figures (which I didn't want) and buying the set was the only way to get her.  Now, there are individual units for Wasp becoming peg warmers. I felt cheated. When I feel cheated, it discourages me to buy in the future.

Competitive

What I like most about the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse dolls are not the eyelashes. I sometimes find them too obstructive, casting unwanted shadows on the eyes. I like most are new head molds used. There is Raquelle with her contemptuous smile, Teresa with her dorky face (which I will not buy) and Summer with her reserved smile. Initially, I thought that an enlarged version of the Goddess or Tango was used for Summer but the back of her head is marked "2012". Having similarities with those two, Summer can also be a versatile ethnic-bending doll mold.

I also like the playful colors of her outfit. It reminds me of the vintage Barbie dress called Fun N Games. Summer do likes games.

I also like her character in the series. Like Raquelle, Summer also can be competitive with Barbie, unlike her other friends. And like Raquelle, Summer has a brother (Blaine) who is ready to steal Barbie's heart from Ken.

The Summer shown here has been customized. Her head was shrunken and was repainted. Her eyelashes were also trimmed.

Blaine and Summer

Goddess and Summer comparison

Vintage Fun N Games dress

True Doll

In episode09 season 07 of True Blood, Jason Stackhouse was seen holding a doll while on the phone. He handed this over to Bridget (below) after the phone call.

In the same episode, Jason admitted to Bridget that he likes pink. Earlier in the season, Jason had a sex dream with another man.

I don't know what the doll is for or why they included it in the scene but this episode is one of the least violent and had one of the most anti-climatic sex/not-sex scene. With a makeover scene and all, it almost feels like an episode in Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse.

On Making a Difference

I have been buying Babs again at SRP. Before, I only buy when they offer discounts. This has been very effective in communicating may sentiments to the sole distributor about their pricing scheme.

Before I start being grateful for the changes, it is important to note that only one company is authorized by Mattel to distribute Barbie products in our country. It sounds like monopoly to me as they are not affected by competition. This set up is not really beneficial to the consumer.

Since competition is not at play (at least not blatantly since there are other sources like buying online), a consumer like me could only rely on other market forces like supply and demand, specifically controlling the demand. That is when I decided not to buy Barbies at their suggested retail price. I also decided not to promote the product.

It is also important to note that a lot of dolls here cost about twice as much due to the shipping cost and other taxes and of course, the monopoly. The Spotlight Fashionista, for example, originally sold at $17 at the shop.mattel.com. They used to sell at $34 locally. They are now discounted at $13.75 at the online Mattel shop. Locally, the discounted price is $23. That's still higher that the original price at the online store!

Even at the discounted price, I am still not buying any of the Spotlight Fashionista. They look like fashion victims with those gaudy gowns. The only thing desirable are the articulated bodies and the blings. I am not paying $23 for those.

The model-muse-wannabe Fashionista sells at the Mattel shop for about $11. They sell here for $23. Although they have fashionable clothes, the lack of articulation is a major disappointment. They became peg warmers here. They eventually reduced the price to $16 locally, although some variants are still at $23. I'm still not buying since I only want the clothes.

I felt that all the consumers who decided to send a message to the distributor by not buying are finally being heard. The local distributor recently released the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse dolls (at least, the 4 of them). I was surprised that they are now selling them locally after they were introduced over a year ago. I was expecting them to be priced at $34 but it was an added surprise to see them selling it at $23.

This is Midge, not to be mistaken with the redhead 

Top Model Summer using the same face sculpt.

Her head has been shrunken, the eyelashes 

trimmed and the eyes repainted.

Imagine, a non-poseable (based on today's standards) dressed doll cost the same as a dressed articulated doll with an extra outfit! The latter is obviously a better deal. I believe that this kind of change won't be possible if the consumers like me didn't unite to make a statement about how the dolls are being sold here. I'm very grateful to my fellow consumers who have made this possible.

I thought that Raquelle and Midge would sell out earlier than Teresa and Summer. It was a surprise to see the Summer doll out of stock within a week. (I checked 5 toy stores.) I realized that a local online seller offered the dolls and a lot of people ordered Raquelle and Midge. Maybe that is why less people are buying the two since the collectors already have them, thanks to the online seller.

I didn't buy from the online seller. Not buying from online sellers is a form of protest for Mattel to improve their distribution system. It is also a form of protest to the online scalpers. Imagine if Mattel allows other companies to distribute Barbies locally. The prices will be more competitive. Maybe Mattel's sales will even increase. Who knows? It was a good decision not to buy from the online seller since the local toy store price is cheaper than the online seller price (although this is not always the case because of the monopoly I've mentioned).

After buying Raquelle, I decided to buy Midge. I thought it was brilliant to introduce an old character to the series to attract older fans to the show and eventually the doll line. Yes, I have a number of dolls with the Steffie mold but this is my first redhead for that mold. I also like her sense of style. Her's is very classic which is a good contrast to Raquelle's offbeat fashion sense. I like her in the Barbie Style doll line, too but I only need one of this doll so I'm not sure if I will still but it. Heck, I'm not even sure if it will be made available here.

These are just small changes and it can easily revert to the old price scheme as they please. We should realize that these companies (Mattel and their distributors) earn huge profits from us. (If they don't earn that much, I guess they wouldn't be in this business but they are here and they do earn that much.) It is the consumers who eventually pay their wages. It is important that we make them serve us the way we want them to.

The new Allan and Midge

Spread the word. You're the boss.

The Girl Takes After Me

She cannot be the opposite of Barbie. She wants to be Barbie and thinks she can be better at it. It's like those collector-turned-doll-critics (like me) who think they can do a better job than those who work at Mattel. More than the love-hate relationship with Barbie, Raquelle takes a lot more after me.

That is why of all the cast of Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse, I relate best with Rrrraquelle. I like her even before the series, as a Fashionista. She wears less pink, for starters.

I may react the same way if I lived in a world where people blindly follow Barbie just because she is Barbie. Remember that "trashy" fashion people there starting copying? I will do my darnest to expose why Barbie shouldn't have that authority. Just look at how she can't hold a job for too long, 136 jobs in 55 years!

Enough about trash talking Barbie. A lot of people have written books on it, anyways. Let's talk about Raquelle.

She's pretty. Usually, she's the prettiest in the doll line she belongs to. I like her character. She is no goody two shoe. I like her style. I like that although she is not specified to be of Asian descent, she can be made to look like one. I was wondering how she would look with a close mouth. I was surprise that they released her with one and an uneven smile for added character.

That smile perfectly conveys how I feel about a lot of things.

As much as I like Raquelle, I cannot take her big head and big eyes. I have to shrink her head and repaint her eyes to enjoy her. The series Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse may not be "The MostPopular Girls in School", but it is funny in their own way. It gave the doll I love more character than what I usually come up with and now I love her more.

Bombers

Both bomber jackets were done by me

Kira's Comeback Care of Carlyle

One item from this year's National Barbie Convention piqued my interest. It was not a doll but a sketch for the 3rd Global Glamour Barbie. I first saw it from this site.

The dress on the sketch has an undeniably Filipino flavor, specifically the sleeves of the Philippine terno. When I zoomed in, I read the word "Philippines". (I can't read the other words above it.) Now, that is the dress the first DOTW Philippines should have had!

More details on the doll was provided by a Mattel employee, Carlyle, in Flickr. Below is a portion of the screen shot from that site. It looks like it is his design. Good job!

The Kira face sculpt will be used for Mutya, the third Global Glamour Barbie! When I said that Mattel is deaf to our feedback, of course I was exaggerating. Somehow, the ideas on my old blog entry made its way to Mattel.

 OOAK Kira I did

It's too early for me to be excited over a sketch. There are a lot of factors I'd like to consider before buying a doll. Two of them have been satisfied by the sketch but there are more.

• Dress (check)
• Face sculpt (check)
• Facial screening (uggh!)
• Skin tone (check)
• Articulation (meh)
• Price tag (naah)

___________

24Nov2014 Update:
I've made up my mind. I'm not getting the Mutya Barbie.

27Jan2015 Update:
This is my first impression from the publicity photos.
 

Mattel: A Slow Learner

Once again, Mattel sales fall by 9% for the second quarter of 2014. One would think that they have learned enough from the last quarter. The decrease is partly due to the sales performance of Barbie products which is down by 15% compared to last year. This is the biggest decline for Barbie since mid-2009 according to this article.

Even though Mattel tried to improve the sales by giving discounts every now and then, buyers were a lot more wiser! I don't know how buyers feel that the dolls were being offered a certain price and then be offered a lower price after a month or so. If I were the buyer, I would feel like a fool! Why can't they offer the dolls at the lower price right away?

Even at a lower price, the sales did not improve. It is safe to say that the increase in price alone is not the issue. Buyers want certain innovations and a level of quality before they will buy at a given price. The doll community has been filled with a lot of whining regarding the degrading quality of the newer Barbie dolls. A lot has been too tired of whining since the toy company is not really showing any sign that they are attuned to the demands of the adult consumers.

As much as I want to echo the bright ideas the whiny collectors (like me) have been voicing out, I still think it is futile. The ideas have been posted out there. It's not my job to sum it all up for Mattel. Plus, what's in it for me?

What else? A higher price tag for the dolls I want to buy.

Jean

Barbie doll (Generation Girl face mold) inspired by X-men Jean Grey wearing her classic color.

I like her pale lips and light gray eye shadow which is really shimmery in person.

Red

This is not a re-root. I want to call him Allan.

The Never Starting Story

Last year, in the hopes of making the most out of my existing dolls, I gave them characters. It was easy to cast them as fashion models so that there is an excuse to make them wear beautiful clothes normal people don't wear. They all work for a modeling agency called Posers Inc.

The models of Posers Inc.

Posers are people who pretend to be what they are not. A modeling agency sounds like a good venue for that. I was supposed to write a cliche story about rising to the top of the modeling industry but then I didn't really have that much inspiration nor motivation. Plus, a lot of doll folks are already doing that.

Just thinking of all the work (writing the story, making the props including the costumes for each dolls, then taking pictures, editing etc.) makes me overwhelmed especially if I'm trying  to raise my standards for my work. Plus, I have other plans, both doll and non-doll related. That story never started.

Focusing on my existing dolls, made me realize how much I like certain dolls more than the others. Whenever I have a new idea for my dolls, I usually try them out on my favorites first. Just like this new story that might never start as well.

The TV series Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. got me inspired to make a story about superhero spies. I call mine P.O.S.E.R. Agents. P.O.S.E.R. stands for Peace Operation and Strategic Espionage Reserve. My top two favorite dolls are the first two agents.

Being spies they can take on any role, fake any job. Unlike by simply being models, they can look un-glamorous and still be in character. Even if I cannot make a full length spy story yet, short stories with snap shots will do... for now.

Agent Kayla

Agent Kira

Kayla is a martial arts expert while Kira is the sharpshooter. Both agents work as models in Posers Inc. They both have no idea that the other is a P.O.S.E.R. agent as well. Each one competes with the other to be the top model. What happens if they are required to cooperate for a certain mission?

X-men Return To The Savage Land

Marvel Universe X-men Figures

It took me about two years to complete the Marvel Universe classic X-men figures. A lot of them were customized by myself. After someone completes a collection, what now?

As for these, they are currently in storage.

Marvel Universe Ultimate Gift Set

The Marvel Universe toy line has been discontinued. Locally, stores (and some collectors/scalpers) are disposing their stock of MU's. It's just funny how some collector/scalpers try to do this.

Here is a screenshot of local eBay showing the prices for the Marvel Universe Ultimate Gift Set, first by local sellers then followed by international sellers. It's like a big joke out there.

Hairstory

For about a couple of years, I was following this certain doll collector whom we'll just call Hair. Initially, I liked the long, smooth straight, and shiny hair of Hair's dolls. Through the years, Hair kept posting dolls with that kind of hair. There were some pics of dolls with curls or afro but they are usually the before pics. Even the beautiful S.I.S. Chandra with the curly hair I love so much on her suddenly had straight hair.

I decided to un-follow Hair.

Don't Act Surprised

This is relatively old news but it is not really important. It is also expected! Barbie dolls are not selling as well as they used to. We can always try to explain why is that but that is like giving feedback. What do we get for giving feedback? Aside from dolls with poor quality and higher prices, nothing. I'll keep my feedback to myself. We are not paid advertisers.

As for me, I won't buy the dolls I like as soon as I see it on the shelves.Two reasons. First, there will be a similar or better doll that will be released in the future. Second, if they don't sell, we get to buy it at a cheaper price. Plus, we buyers have seen through the illusion of the urgency to buy.

In other news, Hasbro sales are up. Hasbro is the maker of the Marvel Universe 4-inch figures I love so much!

Social

My dolls have their own social media account.

https://soundtracking.com/BarbieTengco

https://instagram.com/mikomata

https://twitter.com/kaylacastama

Package Deal

I recently got a new set of Marvel Infinite Series 4-inch action figures. They replaced the Marvel Universe toy line. I haven't seen these toys sold as a set except during special distribution sale.

Special distribution sales are held on a predetermined time and place. Avid collectors arrive early at the venue to be the first in line. One has to fall in line for a chance to buy the toys. There is a limited number available so those who arrive late have less chance. I tried attending a distribution once. I was at the mall waiting for the opening and when it finally did, I saw that there was already a long queue at the toy store. I didn't know how these people got in before the official mall hours. I wasn't able to buy any toy that day.

The individual toys are packed together to be sold as a set. This prevents the less popular toy characters from being peg warmers. There is usually just one or 2 toys a collector wants in the set but he is forced to buy a set of six (usually). This is an understandable marketing technique. The problem in this technique is that the scalpers just has to be early in one place and they can buy the number of toys they want. They usually come in groups since there is a limit to the number of set one can buy.

I don't know if this kind of sale is still being practiced. One needs to be in contact with a closed circle of collectors to know the details of the sale. I'm no longer in the loop so I can't say.

I'm just glad that I was able to come across this set on an ordinary day. I think that the distributor should do away with the special distribution sale altogether and just distribute the set in different toy stores. This way, the scalpers will have a harder time hoarding all the toys.  They just might entice someone who chance upon the toys to be a new collector. Who knows?

A Little Grim

Toy brands like Mattel and Hasbro increased their prices locally without a noticeable increase in quality. I wonder if this is happening elsewhere. I usually would write a long rant about it but I'll just sit, relax and wait for the sale!

4-inch Marvel Infinite Series Grim Reaper

Comparison

with Joan Jett Barbie

with DOTW Cambodia

Fan-ny Face

She looks more like the anime version of the actual person. I guess this Barbie is targeted to the market who prefers that kind of eye screening. The shape of the doll's face is more oval compared to the rounder face of the actress. The doll is beautiful nonetheless.

The hair is also the simplified version of the original. They also scrimped by eliminating the earrings and the clutch. I wonder if the real Fan Bingbing will grace the red carpet under-dressed like that.

Whether or not it looks like Fan, it doesn't matter. I'm not her fan anyways. I'm a Barbie fan.

image source: RCFA

I'm thankful to Fan Bingbing for agreeing with Mattel to undertake this doll project. I wish her more success.

Peeking Dork

I'm too lazy to completely debox her. I don't have enough playtime anyway so she's better off in the box for now. Let's just have a peek inside.

The certificate shows the logo for "Fan's Studio" just like on the top 

and the inside of the box (behind the doll)

Cobalt blue fingernails against the fair skin and yellow dress
Who says you can't wear bright colors just because you're pale?

Plain yellow shoes *yawns*