I just read what Elfdoll posted on their site about Ms. Cholong. As a former Elfdoll retailer, I know that what Elfdoll claims about Ms. Cholong couldn't be further from the truth.
Ms. Cholong is largely responsible for the success of Elfdoll in the USA. She worked endlessly and at times to her own detriment to promote them. That Elfdoll is trashing her so badly now is unforgivable and totally unprofessional besides being ridiculous and rude.
Ms. Cholong is the one who worked with the retailers to solve problems. She mediated between Elfdoll and the retailers if either side had issues with the other. She was in the unique position of understanding just what it took to produce dolls and also what it took to market and sell them. She tried to help Elfdoll understand what the retailer's reality was, and vice versa. Good customer service to both the retailers and individual Elfdoll collectors was very important to her.
As I understand it, Elfdoll's financial troubles are primarily due to bad business decisions made primarily by the director and her staff . Not for the first time, Ms. Cholong is being used as a scapegoat by people unwilling to admit their own mistakes. Not for the first time, Ms. Cholong is being blamed for circumstances beyond her control.
When Elfdoll sent its abrupt, rude email to its retailers to tell them they were dumped, I wrote a blog post about it, but refrained from posting it, not wanting to cause trouble for Ms. Cholong. Now all bets are off and I will be posting the blog entry shortly.
I urge all of you to write Elfdoll regarding their incredibly nasty announcement about Ms. Cholong. They should know how unprofessional their conduct is and how badly they have damaged their own reputation, (no doubt not for the last time). Please also join me in boycotting all Elfdoll products. If nothing else, maybe Elfdoll will finally understand it has gone too far when their sales go downhill.
Money talks.
It even speaks Korean.
Wow. I am really surprised by their actions, and I had no idea they were this kind of business. I have never been an Elfdoll customer (and now I never will be) but I always enjoyed seeing Ms. Cholong posting on DoA - it struck me that someone from such a prominent company would take the time to personally come and make posts and interact with the members. She is a pleasure, and to see them throw her under the bus in such a manner really bothers me.
The part about Elfdoll not refunding your money bothers me even more - I'm really sorry, and I hope they come to their senses and pay you back. But I will join you in boycotting, and will be sure not to purchase anything from them. Is all decency lost in this world? Sure seems like it.
Anyway thanks for posting, because I for one had no idea that they practiced business this way.
I have left two messages under there announcement I am disgusted they would do something like this. .and I will never buy from them again not ever. there are far too many good BJD companies and US dealers that know the meaning of customer service and how to treat people
Dear Kathy:
This time I don't agree with you. I know Ms. Cholong was a wonderful person and I'm sorry about all the misunderstandings I've seen in all this issue, but I think Elfdoll's communication is exactly what we demanded of them: we wanted an explanation and they've provided it. Dealers and even customers only know Ms. Cholong's side of the story, and even believing it, Elfdoll can have their part of reason too. You have had a business and you should know it, if you have financial problems, you cut in the parts which make you loose money.
I'm not saying Elfdoll was right and Ms. Cholong wrong, but I have never thought things are black or white. I'm afraid in this issue both parts must have something to blame, and I'm not going to boycott Elfdoll unless I have proof that they've been unfair.
Since Ms. Cholong had already terminated her online shop and her physical shop relationship with Elfdoll in June, becoming a Dollheart dealer instead (so she still has a job), I can't believe she didn't know the contract was over, and if she was the only link between Elfdoll and dealers, maybe Elfdoll expected her to inform dealers in time instead of having to say it in September.
This is my humble opinion and I hope you don't mind to post this comment. It wouldn't be honest if I didn't say it here.
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for your comments. I don't expect everybody to agree with me all the time. :) Yes, Elfdoll did provide the explanation it was asked for, however rudely it was done. But I can truthfully say I know Ms. Cholong did her best for both Elfdoll and its retailers. Sometimes there was just no way to make both parties happy.
As I understand it, DK and Ms. Cholong mutually agreed on when the retailers would be notified of the changes being made, then Elfdoll sent out the notice prematurely and without telling Ms. Cholong. Also, DK had threatened to cut off the retailers several times in the last few years, and had then changed her mind. How was Ms. Cholong to know this time DK would really stick to her decision? The other thing to consider is that DK also owned Artmaze, USA, not Ms. Cholong. Ms. Cholong handled its operations under DK's direction.
What it boils down to is this: DK felt Elfdoll was losing money by selling to retailers. She considered the retailers competition instead of a asset. Certainly she had every right to stop selling to them; I'm not saying she didn't. What I object to is the way she handled the whole situation-first by being so ungracious and ungrateful towards the retailers, then by violating the agreement she and Ms. Cholong had made about when and how to notify the retailers, and finally by posting a totally unprofessional, unkind and falsely accusing "explanation" on Elfdoll's website. All DK really NEEDED to say is that Elfdoll was no longer financially able or willing to supply its former retailers. End of story. No vitriol necessary.
I'm not saying Ms. Cholong is perfect; nobody is. And few things are completely black or white. But from my years of experience in dealing with Elfdoll/DK, I can tell you that DK was rarely willing to accept responsibility for the decisions she made, or for the consequences of her actions. There are also other considerations I can't go into now, but hope to in the future.
It's a shame, really, that now fewer people will be able to experience the joy of owning an Elfdoll.
I don't know much about this, but I've been to the events Ms Cholong has run in the store and she was always very enthusiastic about promoting Elfdoll. After the relationship was over, I have never heard her say one bad thing about Elfdoll. It's too bad that those at Elfdoll are not being as polite about it!
Well, I can't thank you enough for you blog, I really admire you for posting it and saying what
you really feel and know about the business. I enjoy reading but haven't had anything to
add until now.
Frankly I am outraged that Elfdoll has treated Ms Cholong so badly. I can't imagine
how she could have done more to promote the company than she did. She was tireless and
always there for the customers going the extra mile.
I do a bit more about what happened, but all I can say is Ms Cholong has only been a
wonderful person to work with and has never has an unkind word to say about anyone, ever.
I know Charles Stephen left and started his own BJD company because of the difficulty at Elfdoll,
how sad. I suspect Rainman will soon be leaving too. Then what will they do ? Pride before
fall ?
Seriously, the retailers made that company popular by making the dolls easy to see and buy with
an ability of a fast purchase. I thought this was madness when I heard they were going to drop
all their retailers because frankly to build up that kind of a network is priceless and to just
throw it away like that just seems a waste to me. I don't think this was a well thought out business
move but thats just my opinion.
I have to say I do know Ms Cholong, I live close to the showroom and I have seen for a along
time. Any company would be lucky to have her working for them. She is a lovely person and
I know that this was though no fault of hers. Personally I think that was part of the problem.
I am so surprised to hear this! When I bought my first Elfdoll (June) in August of 2008, Ms. Cholong happened to be there and made the whole experience so exciting by her enthusiasm. My daughter and I didn't know much about bjd's at that time, at all but she spent time with us, and even gave us two Elfdoll mugs! I have always thought that she was the nicest person and that the company was so lucky to have her.
I am so happy that I came across this blog. I'm not a retailer, but I know what kind of service I got and Ms. Cholong's attitude. I am so sorry to hear about all of this. And Rainman is leaving? He was the coolest part of the company. There're no other dolls that compare to the Rainy girls!
I was just going to look to buy Ryung when I came across this. Now I'm not so sure.
I wish Ms. Cholong well.