Online FCS for North America
In November of 2005, the Sumika in Los Angeles, California opened and brought FCS to North America. Subsequently, when Volks USA closed its shop in March of 2015, the service ended. While Volks USA still exists in California, it only acts as customer service, a local warehouse, and a place to pick up internet orders if you are lucky enough to live close by.
However, Volks didn't wait that long before filling out the void of FCS in North America. On August 1st of 2014, the first online FCS was offered.
For doll collectors that are used to other companies monthly custom order offerings, the Online FCS seems familiar. Using an easy to use webpage form, heads, hands, eyes, skin color, feet and other options are picked. However, there are a few important things to note that makes the Online FCS unique both for Volks FCS and online ordering for custom BJD in general:
- This service is available to customers in North America only. Customers from other countries/continents are discouraged from purchasing or purchasing through a service. The website is IP blocked in other countries during the order period.
- Other than a limited time while in Japan, Online FCS is the only way to custom order a SD16 girl.
- Not all options are available at all times. The services cycles between offering SDM, SD, SD13 Girls, SDGr Boys, and SD16 Girls. Two of these options are usually offered during the order period for the month. In addition, rather than having the full FCS head lineup available, only four to five options are made available. CLICK HERE for a full list of what Super Dollfie have been offered when.
- The frequency of the service being offered would be best described as "semi-monthly". There are sometimes a few months in a row, then a larger break during the winter months.
- Hearkening back to the days of being able to give the general directions of "urban" or "natural" for a FCS order, "vivid" or "natural" are choices while ordering. For the SDM, "Boy" or "Girl" makeup can be chosen.
- This also marks the same time you can save money by omitting makeup on a FCS order, as it adds $110 USD to the base price. You can not give specific instructions on how to paint the face, so if you have a very specific image in mind, it may be better to omit makeup, and use the money towards commissioning a well regarded artist.
- The $110 USD for the face-up also includes eyes. So if you want eyes, you need to pay $110 for "Coordinated Makeup".
- You can only purchase one extra set of hands. See the price chart below for prices of extra options. SD16 Girls have an additional option of purchasing extra legs, as described on their information page.
Finally, of very important note, there are several Volks FCS mainstays that are NOT offered in the Online FCS. There is no options to choose a wig. There is no option to purchase a "Welcoming Outfit". As mentioned above, you must pay $110 for Coordinating Makeup to receive eyes. Your FCS Super Dollfie will come with:
- Body Parts (Head, Body, Arms, Legs, Feet, and Hands)
- Super Dollfie Guide Book (English)
- Birth Certificate
- Extra KIPS (Round silicone washers that are used for improving friction between your doll's joints.)
- Super Dollfie Maintenance Goods (Wig Oil Spray, Hair Brush, Pikatto Kirei(A "magic eraser", or microabrasive sponge used for scrubbing stains and dirt off the very top layer of your resin dolls.)
- Futons(Doll Pillows) and a Box appropriate to the size of Super Dollfie that was purchased
Online FCS Prices
Price for SDM Boys and Girls:
SDMidi Basic Model: $374 USD before tax.
Extra Hands:$28 USD before tax.
Seam Line Removal: $44 USD before tax.
Hand Seam Line Removal: $14 USD before tax.
Body Coating: $39 USD before tax.
Self-Standing Parts: $33 USD before tax.
Note: Self-Standing Parts is sueding, not KIPS)
Price for SD Boys and Girls:
SD Basic Model: $638 USD before tax.
Extra Hands:$42 USD before tax.
Seam Line Removal: $55 USD before tax.
Hand Seam Line Removal: $17 USD before tax.
Body Coating: $44 USD before tax.
Self-Standing Parts: $33 USD before tax.
Price for SD13 Girls:
SD Basic Model: $638 USD before tax.
Extra Hands:$42 USD before tax.
Seam Line Removal: ? USD before tax.
Hand Seam Line Removal: $14 USD before tax.
Body Coating: ? USD before tax.
Self-Standing Parts: ? USD before tax.
Price for SD16 Girls:
SD16 Girl Basic Model: $726 USD before tax.
Extra Hands:$59 USD before tax.
Seam Line Removal: ? USD before tax.
Hand Seam Line Removal: ? USD before tax.
Body Coating: ? USD before tax.
Self-Standing Parts: ? USD before tax.
Price for SDGr Boy:
SDGr Boy Basic Model: $770 USD before tax.
Extra Hands:? USD before tax.
Seam Line Removal: ? USD before tax.
Hand Seam Line Removal: ? USD before tax.
Body Coating: ? USD before tax.
Self-Standing Parts: ? USD before tax.
Skintone Colour:
Note: Please see here for a very clear comparison of the three skintone colours available, with thanks to Leigh for the picture.
Extra Note: 'Normal' has occasionally been referred to as 'Fresh', and 'White' has occasionally been referred to as 'Snow' -- so if you come across these names elsewhere, that is what they are referencing. However 'Normal' and 'White' are the official Volks names for them. 'Sunlight' is occasionally called 'kasshoku' (褐色) by the Japanese fans (it literally just means 'brown') but is almost universally in Japanese and English simply called 'Sunlight'.
Extra Extra Note: There is a fourth skin tone called "ebony" that was made available only for the SD16 Girls FCS. Read more about it here. Unlike other companies online ordering, the sunlight and ebony skins do not cost more to order.
SC-01: Normal
SC-02: White
SC-03: Sunlight