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Charlotte and Olivia

9/26/2018

 
Two new-to-me little girls joined my group the other day....
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I already had a Real Skin Coco (boy), and a Normal Resin Bono (Holly), but the deal was just too good to let pass, so I went for it. Unfortunately their journey to my house was fraught with drama. 

I was impressed by how quickly the seller sent them - by 'Express' courier (DHL) as agreed upon. I thought it was a great start. But then tracking had them stalled in 'Security' for almost four whole days, until they finally started on their actual journey - first to London, then another location in England, then to Cincinnati, and then finally to Hamilton.

They were scheduled to be delivered last Friday, but we weren't going to be home, but since Hamilton was just a short side-trip to where we were going, we called ahead to see if we could pick up the parcel in person. Yes, we could.

But when we arrived at the DHL depot at Hamilton Airport, it turned out that they'd but the parcel on the truck to Toronto anyways, with delivery scheduled for that very day. And of course we weren't going to be there.  So I had to sign to change it to a Monday delivery.

Well, Monday came, and I waited anxiously the ENTIRE day. Couldn't go out - or even outside -just in case, because there were hefty courier fees and taxes to be paid. The courier finally arrived after 8 that night.  The box had been opened, and hadn't been re-taped. Bono's certificate of authenticity was missing, Coco was a mess. Her head was on backwards and her head cap was open.  She had two big cuts in the back of her head.....
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The seller assured me he had included both COAs, and he had photo proof that he had wrapped Coco securely and that she didn't have any damage. So we contacted DHL.

Turns out that the package had set off an alert for 'explosive residue' (!?!?) in Security in the originating country. So they had opened it, and tried to see what was inside the dolls. But unless one is familiar with how a BID's head comes apart, that would not have been easy. In the process they damaged Coco, and lost one of the COAs. After they didn't find any explosives, the package was sent through Security a second time, and finally sent on it's way.

I don't know how deep the cuts are, or if it might be possible to sand them out. I'm just glad they are on the back of her head.

After Monday night's shock, I took the time yesterday to wash the little outfits the dolls came with, to freshen them up, and found some wigs I thought suited them, and didn't look too much like the ones their 'twins' here already had. They are both adorable....
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Especially Coco, whom I'm naming 'Charlotte'. She's the older, original Real Skin resin...
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I fixed Bono's eyes, and decided to name her 'Olivia'...
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​Both dolls have Iplehouse face ups, but I may change that. They will need body blushing and manicures at any rate. 

I'm not sure yet how they will fit into my group, with existing doll families.

And we are continuing with DHL to see if the missing COA turns up (they apparently have 'Lost & Found' for things that fall out of packages) and what they want to do about the damage to Coco. One thing for sure, I'll not surrender Coco if that becomes the condition for getting an insurance claim. The doll was discontinued, so is not replaceable. I will keep her as she is then.  If anyone ever comments on the two big scars on her scalp, she'll have quite the story to tell!

​Anyways, meet Charlotte and Olivia...
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Sara
9/26/2018 02:51:12 pm

I’m so sorry all that had to happen to your package! Sometimes those shipping companies... But the dolls are really cute, and the wig hides the scar so that’s a silver lining. Can’t wait to see what you do with them in the future.

Martha
9/26/2018 07:08:12 pm

It's the very first time I've ever had issues with a doll shipment - other than super long waits at some Postal depot while underway.

[email protected]
9/26/2018 09:48:01 pm

Goodness, that was an adventure! I would have freaked on DHL for sure. Hope they can compensate you for the damage. They are both very cute and echoing the 'hidden scars' silver lining.

Renate
9/27/2018 03:21:26 am

Oh dear, poor coco.
Try to think positive : sometimes things get even more precious, because they have a story to tell. This one definitely has.
Being considered as "explosive"....! Try to get it right with the mail service, but don't be too harsh with them. They're just doing their job. And - as a policeman once said : explosives aren't always round and black with a fuse on it. Criminals conceal their bombs often as something looking completely harmless.

Some time ago this year, I read a message from DHL, that they had gotten a bomb threat, and that customers should pay close attention on certain details on packages they recieve. I don't remember all those details, but one of them was : if a package is overly taped, it could be a hint. I remember that after DHL published that list on their website, I jokingly "warned" a buyer of one of my sales items, that I had to secure her package with quite a bit tape and that it is NOT a bomb inside :D - Now that I read your story, I guess I was lucky that my package wasn't suspect to DHL.

Martha
9/27/2018 07:49:43 am

That's interesting, because even though the dolls were shipped in a DHL box, it was heavily taped.

My husband is dealing with DHL - he's way more calm and businesslike. The main concern is the missing COA. Not that I plan on selling the dolls, but it will be important to someone else some day.

Renate
9/27/2018 08:41:54 am

Just in case of curiosity : I've found an english website with about the same list of suspicious details on packages, as had been on the DHL-site back then :

https://das.iowa.gov/general-services/mail-services/mail/suspicious-mail

Martha
9/27/2018 11:34:43 am

There wasn't anything suspicious about the box itself. It was a DHL courier box. I looked again, and what I had thought was 'heavy taping' was in fact the plastic envelopes that hold the way bills and Customs forms. One went right over the edges.

Laura J. Underwood
9/27/2018 11:30:19 am

It was a bear! I was running through the woods being chased by a bear, and just as I was ducking under a fallen tree, it took a swipe at the back of my head...

I was playing in the backyard, and I climbed a tree Mom told me NEVER to climb, and I slipped and fell and the neighbor's chain link fence caught me in the back of the head...

I can come up with several reasons. ;-)

Congratulations on getting your two cuties.

Martha
9/27/2018 11:35:59 am

Those are both plausible reasons for sustaining two big scars. But she will likely never appear in public with a bald head.

Donna
9/27/2018 05:29:25 pm

Congratulations! They are both adorable.

Poor Charlotte! What an awful experience for a little BID. She'll probably never want to travel anywhere out of your sight. I hope her COA is found.
DHL has never been one of my favourite courier services and it just dropped even lower.

Martha
9/27/2018 06:35:17 pm

I'll never use DHL again! It's just that out of the choices offered, it was the only one I recognized. I should have asked for EMS. I've never had any problems with that. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20.

Dorothy
10/1/2018 12:53:40 pm

Dear Martha, wow, what our doll children go through just to get home!
I am doing some research on dolls children played with during the Civil War in the US. There are stories about dolls being used to smuggle medicine to the Confederate soldiers. I don't know that this is true as I have not found a primary source. It just reminds me of your story.
I am happy that Charlotte and Olivia are finally home. I look forward to hearing about their next adventure.

Martha
10/1/2018 12:59:58 pm

That story is probably true. My Mom smuggled cuttings of her favourite plants inside at least one of my dolls when our family immigrated to Canada, way back when I was almost 5. I didn't know anything about it until she told me as an adult.

Almost everything doll-related is on hold for now, as I've come down with a nasty cold/fly bug. Plus the weather isn't cooperating for doll photos at all, even if I felt up to it.


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    Author

    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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