Options: Satogaeri & Extras
These are other things listed on the FCS forms that you have the option of choosing when placing your FCS order.
Satogaeri Options
'Satogaeri' roughly translates to 'returning home' -- it is refered to as such because these options can be gotten at any time if you take your doll to a Volks store, and the dolls are sent back to Kyoto, the 'home' where they were made, to receive the sanding, coating or sueding.Note: This is called 'Fresh-Up Service' at the LA store.
Extra Note: Choosing any of the Satogaeri options with your FCS order will not increase the time it takes to be completed.
Sanding
If you wish you can have Volks remove the seamlines from your doll for you. This is a personal preference per owner, but if you want the seams removed and feel uncomfortable doing so yourself, it's recommended to ask Volks to do so for you. This costs 5,250yen for SD/SD13, and 4,200yen for MSD.
* Extra Options Note: if you order additional option hands or feet, you can request for them to be sanding. Each pair of hands or feet costs an additional 1,575yen per pair for SD, and an additional 1,365yen per pair for MSD.
Coating
You can ask Volks to coat your doll to protect them from staining and yellowing. This is also a personal preference per owner, but Volks do a very good job of it, so if you want it done, it's best to ask them to do it. If you choose this option you must also choose sanding. (However you can choose sanding without coating.) This costs 3,150yen for SD/SD13, and 2,625yen for MSD.
* Extra Options Note: if you have choosen sanding for your additional option hands or feet, they will be coated free of charge if you choose full body coating.
Sueding
Volks will put sueding in the joints to help your doll pose better and be more stable. With the newer, upgraded bodies this is not as necessary, but it does allow your doll to hold a wider variety of harder-to-hold poses and can be a good idea if you are particular about that sort of thing. This costs 5,250yen for SD/SD13 and 3,150yen for MSD. Please note that Volks does not recommend Sueding and KIPS on the same doll, and will generally not take orders for both at once. It's up to you which you prefer for your doll. Also please note that sueding wears down over time and will eventually need to be replaced.
Note: This is called 'Self-Standing Parts' at the LA store.
KIPS Insertion
KIPS are now included in all FCS as a standard option without added cost, and so are no longer a part of the Satogaeri options. Please see the Things To Note page for more info.
Optional Extras
If you order any of these with your FCS you will receive them at the same time as you receive your FCS, not before.Carrying Case
A Volks carrying case for your doll and accessories. This costs 4,410yen for SD/SD13 and 3,990yen for MSD.
Please note that this is currently sold out (and therefore not orderable) in MSD size, and possibly SD size as well. Please check with your shopping service before ordering.
Stand Type A
This is the type of stand that holds your doll around the waist area and is better for outfits with pants. This costs 5,250yen for SD/SD13 and 4,725yen for MSD.
Stand Type C
This is the type of stand that holds your doll around the crotch area and is better for outfits with skirts. This costs 5,250yen for SD/SD13 and 4,725yen for MSD.
Omukae (Welcoming) Outfits
You can order a special outfit to come with your doll so that they are not completely naked upon arrival. Each type of doll has their own defined omukae outfit -- you cannot choose the type of clothes you want for them.Please note that Volks semi-regularly releases new Omukae outfits and discontinues older ones. In general, Omukae outfits are released at Sato first, and then moved to Sumika 6 months to 1 year later. Omukae outfits also often take much longer to get to the LA store. In addition, Volks has limited stock of these outfits so they may sell out at any time. Therefore, even if you ask for it, it is not guaranteed that your shopping service will be able to get it for you.
Current Outfit Status:
* The 'Milky Tea' series will be released at Sato on December 23rd, 2009, replacing the Japanese style series.
* The Japanese style series is available at Sumika since September 21st, 2009, and at LA since November 15th, 2009.
* The previous two series (the Sailor Suit series and the original series) are no longer available to order at any location.
Pics of all series are shown below for reference.
Sato: 'Milky Tea' series (available from December 23rd, 2009)
SD13 Boy Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(No pics yet available. Will probably look similar to SD Boy.)
SD13 Girl/SD Girl Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
SD Boy Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
MSD Boy Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(No pics yet available. May look similar to SD Boy.)
MSD Girl Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
Sumika: Japanese style series
SD13 Boy Omukae Outfit - 6,510yen
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
SD13 Girl/SD Girl Omukae Outfit - 6,300yen
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
SD Boy Omukae Outfit - 6,300yen
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
MSD Boy Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
MSD Girl Omukae Outfit - price unknown
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
Discontinued: Sailor Suit series
SD13 Boy Omukae Outfit - 4,725yen
Comes with white sailor shirt, blue scarf, beige pants, and brown shoes.
(Pic from Volks.)
SD13 Girl/SD Girl Omukae Outfit - 4,725yen
Comes with white/blue sailor style dress, blue scarf, and brown boots.
(Pic from Volks.)
SD Boy Omukae Outfit - 4,725yen
Comes with white sailor shirt, blue scarf, beige pants with suspenders, and brown shoes.
(Pic from Volks.)
MSD Boy Omukae Outfit - 4,410yen
Comes with white sailor shirt, blue scarf, beige pants, and brown shoes.
(Pic from Volks.)
MSD Girl Omukae Outfit - 4,410yen
Comes with white/blue sailor style dress, blue scarf, and brown boots.
(Pic from Volks.)
Discontinued: Original series
SD13 Boy Omukae Outfit - ??yen
additional pics: one, two
(Pics provided by Ria_Ria and Y!JA.)
SD13 Girl/SD Girl Omukae Outfit - ??yen
additional pic: one
(Pics provided by chiquitita and Y!JA.)
SD Boy Omukae Outfit - ??yen
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
MSD Boy Omukae Outfit - ??yen
(Pic provided by Ria_Ria.)
MSD Girl Omukae Outfit - ??yen
additional pic: one
(Pics provided by Ria_Ria and LoveOnTheRox.)
Other Things on FCS Forms
Stringing Tension
You can specify the tension of your doll's stringing; the three available choices are "loose", "normal" and "tight". Loosely strung dolls are more floppy and less capable of holding specific poses, but are easier to play with in general. Tightly strung dolls can hold a larger variety of poses easier and are more stable, but can be more difficult to bend at the joints. If you are unsure, it is best to go with "normal". Note that you can also choose 'between' options; that is, "between tight and normal" or "between normal and loose". "Normal" has lately been reported to be fairly loose and "between tight and normal" is probably the best current option for a normally strung doll.
Doll Name
You can tell Volks the name of your new doll to be written on your order form. However this is generally intended for you to write on the birth certificate yourself, rather than for Volks to print on the birth certificate. So unless the manager of the store decides to write it in, or your shopping service writes it in, the "name" section of the birth certificate will still come to you blank. It's your honour as the new owner to write your doll's name in for yourself.
Owner Name
You can request for your shopping service to put your name on the order form so that your name will also be written on the doll's birth certificate. Please however be aware that this is not always feasible and depends on the staff taking the order and the location it is being ordered at. Some staff will require the name of the person placing the actual order to be put on the form, regardless of who it is being ordered for. Particularly of late, Volks are becoming quite strict about this sort of thing.