Ding! Ding! Ding! We Have A Winner!

I found out that my wait for replacement heads for Eugenia and Natalia is going to be a long one.  I got an e-mail from IT Patient Care that they were shutting down to attend to matters of the upcoming convention and wouldn't re-open until November 5.  I have an inner struggle with paying $270 for defective merchandise and waiting six to eight weeks for a replacement.

One doll from the spring reveal that I've been eagerly anticipating is Full Spectrum Veronique.  I get excited about short-haired dolls; they are few and far between.  When this doll was announced I told a friend, "She is either going to be amazing like Sheer Goddess (one of my all-time favorite Veronique dolls), or they'll really mess up the cut."

Here is a photo of the doll still in her box that I received from my dealer.  No eye problems.  No hair problems.  Everything is just right!  Hip, Hip, Hooray!

She came with a ring (can't have enough of those), a cute pair of earrings, and two standard issue bracelets.   The shoes are a perfect match to the dress in color and are excellent pumps to have in the shoe collection.  There was a pair of extra hands and a negligible purse.   This purse actually gets the award for worse purse ever produced by IT.

I love this dress!  It is a great addition to the FR2 wardrobe.   The fabric choice, cut and design are perfect to scale.  Here is how she looks right out of box.

And sounding a little like Nina Garcia, "A lovely surprise from behind."

One of the things I especially love about Full Spectrum is that she returns to representing the mature woman who runs a fashion conglomerate - the original storyline behind Veronique Perrin.  Here is a close up of Full Spectrum Veronique wearing the 2010 Monogram Escapade jacket and skirt.  They fit beautifully.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you.  It is not the exact same doll.  I had decided to watch e-bay for a second, nude version of this doll for a body donor.  That doll arrived last week.  I prefer the face up and hair on this doll to the one I received.  Several collectors have noted there is a great deal of variance in this doll's face ups, hairlines, and face shapes.  It reminds me of last year's Out Sass Vanessa.  Although the difference is quite subtle in my dolls, the one I chose to keep has longer hair in the back, and her face seems a little thinner.

I added the blouse from 2010's FR2 Bergdorf Goodman's Fashion Night Out Luchia to get this effect.

Full Spectrum's short hair allows you to showcase the exquisite detailing of this shirt with its double collar.   I love this doll!

I was beginning to get seriously worried about my future with IT dolls.   Just when you think about throwing in the towel, a girl like this comes along.  She brings a new element to my collection- a more mature sophistication that has been lacking.  I couldn't be happier with Full Spectrum Veronique.

Why I Am Bothered

First, and most importantly, I hope my readers know that I am not a chronic complainer.   I really do love my Integrity dolls.   This hobby is my escape from the stress I experience in my profession (I teach elementary school).   When the hobby becomes stressful, it is doubly upsetting.

If IT didn't have the responsive customer service component in its business that it does, I would probably have already moved on.  The staff at IT is incredible at trying to correct problems and provide replacements.  I know there was recently a death in the family, and my deepest condolences go out to everyone.

I guess I wouldn't be so aggravated with my latest acquisitions, if IT hadn't set their own bar so high.  It's difficult to not compare this year's dolls to those from the last convention.  Here is one of my favorite FR dolls ever, After Tonight Eugenia Frost.

She was a centerpiece doll and cost $130 if you were lucky enough to have your number drawn.  (I paid $5 less for her than the dolls from the mainline this year.)   Since IT was able to give me this for $130, I get frustrated to receive some of the dolls I've gotten this year.  This doll is gorgeous.

Here is Midnight Star Elise Jolie, also from last year's convention.  Another exquisite example of what IT is capable of producing.

This is what I've come to expect, so, naturally, I am disappointed with what I've received this year.

Eugenia Frost is my favorite character.  I had high hopes for City Prowl.  I am still awaiting the second replacement.   I decided to take out Touch of Frost Eugenia.  She arrived this past spring, and her eyes had to be corrected by an artist.   Even though there was an additional cost to have this done, she is one of my favorite dolls from 2014.  (She is wearing the dress from Hard Metal Lilith - an ITBE offered to last year's convention attendees.)

I don't want to have to get in the habit of sending new dolls out to be "corrected".   It is an added expense.  In this case, it was worth it.

I just contacted IT for another replacement.  This time it's Elusive Creature Natalia.  Here is a photo of what I received.  Her left eye screening is definitely off.  I've already been contacted and told a replacement would be sent.

There are problems in every doll line - I've been around a long time and have experienced most of them first hand.  As much as I like collecting dolls, I think it's the miniature fashions that appeal to me most.  There really isn't any other company producing doll fashions that rival those of IT.

I've purchased nine FR dolls this year.  So far, four of them have had problems with their eyes.  I don't like this statistic.  I thought long and hard about my "bad luck" and come to realize that my luck shouldn't be this bad.   I know the dealer I use allows local collectors to cherry pick their inventory before sending out their orders by mail.  That's probably a big reason why I have so many dolls arriving with problems.  I am being sent the "leftovers".   My first step with all of this is to change my dealer.  If anyone knows of a great dealer who doesn't add a premium to their FR dolls and doesn't allow local collectors to pick over the dolls, please let me know.

If this doesn't help, I guess I'll move on to a different solution.