Apparently Michel Hayworth burned his bridges because even my honest review of Flavia has stirred up many angry memories.
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| Source Unknown |
I started off my review by saying that I was aware of the controversy surrounding the designer.
Why would I even review the doll and give it publicity?
Think out of the box for a minute.
I have provided a platform for those injured by Hayworth to air their experiences; however,
most of these people did not take advantage of the comment area to post.
I have copied some of the publicly posted comments with ID stripped from them.
I doubt this is the publicity Hayworth expected.
I doubt this is the publicity Hayworth expected.
-Unfortunately, I am one who has had a bad experience with Michele. I preordered the dolls at the 07? convention and also purchased a jewelry set in hand. It was missing a white rhinestone from the earrings and Mihele promised to make good on it. I asked him to simply send me a stone & I would replace it, as I make jewelry, have the tools etc. He said hewas having problems etc. & would prefer to exchange it, to please wait & bring it to the next convention. I showed up with it.... Michle did not, nor did he respond to following emails. I would love to hear from him if anyone has any influence. Teri? Mel?
-Interesting. I respect you, for being able to make such a factual analysis, but the doll looks different from the prototype that I saw at IFDC.
-Nice suit, but ridiculously overpriced. There are a LOT of fantastic folks out there who . . .
do that kind of work, too. And as a treasured OOAK, not a mass produced item.
-The fashions are nice but the OOAK and more limited fashions that are handmade by many just on this board alone are worth much more to me... My collection contains fashions by Shane, Bellissima Couture, Natalia Sheppard, LaBoutique, Petra Elise, Vince Nowell and sooo many more that I've acquired for less, are so much more rare and from what I've seen - fit so much better as well.
-I cannot see paying 150.00 or more for a mass produced fashion from ANY manufacturer - no matter how limited. The price tag is presumptuous for such a new line(and on such shakey ground) for sure.
-In my honset [sic] opinion- the fashions look nice but we get the same styling/quality from DMD for at least 60.00 less per fashion and each one of Steven Fraser's are a LE of no more than 300 per design.
-I'm not buying it literally or figuratively. After all that's happened, he's still got a long loooooooooooooooooooong way to go to prove himself.
-Thanks for posting! I find it odd he could not contact you himself, LOL
-Thanks Terri for the pix. Not loving the doll but your Kyori looks beautiful in the suit.
-One does have to wonder at the strategy being used here.......
Seems to me that they are trying to legitimize themselves by having a respected member of the boards receive a doll and review it so people will feel safe about preorders and future orders. But I think we can all see thru that. I'd be more impressed if the folks who actually preordered got their items rather than a gift to one of our more vocal members. I'm just saying......
-I'm not financially involved with this designer - BUT I think it was SHADY of him to send a FREE doll to a well-known blogger when so many people have been scammed out of big $$$ and are STILL waiting. I think it was a tacky, tacky move.
-I did read your review, and all 8 current comments after it. Your opinion was surprisingly glowing for the most part. I just think he's a scam artist to have kept people's money since 2007, that something is shady with him winning an award, and that people (like Mel) are publicly supporting him when a huge majority of the doll community knows what this "designer" is all about. I have a problem that this guy sought you out (even if it was via Mel) for FREE publicity and more ego stroking when he should concentrate on contacting his customers who are waiting for their money and/or product.
-Interesting. The dolls name is pretentious and nothing special from what I can see.
Given the history with this "doll artist" I still say buyer beware. I find it interesting that no one who ordered this doll years ago has posted that they received it. Feel free to prove me wrong though.
-I agree...very informative and thorough review! So how is Mel Odom
related in regards to Hayworth?
-Very informative and thorough review and pics. Thank You !
-Thank you for doing this review Terri...Your review is fantastic and you handled the surrounding "stuff" very well.
-Hi Terri, and hi everyone. Glad you posted this new (copied) doll on your blog. You do a beautiful job on your reviews.
Disclaimer before you read below. This is just my "humble" and "honest" opinion.
But, I must say, his new copy of a doll really pisses me off. Shame on him for using Joe's Ingrid. Before, the doll shown, as "his" new doll was a Barbie, now it looks like Ingrid. Guess he knows that Joe can't do anything to him, what a friggen shame. I compared it with my Ingrid, and it is identical, except for the screening.
I'll never forget meeting him at IFDC. Watching his presentation and listening to him talking about the "pearl" jewelry, that he has made by a "real" jeweler. I quote what he said...."I believe these are "real" pearls. He said this with what sounded like a fake accent.
Well, you guys should know me well enough to know that I know what are "real" pearls, and his were plastic. What a crock. Also - "his" new doll was a Barbie. A Bob Mackie Redhead with a new paint job. Crock again.
Shame, shame, shame......gives the doll world a bad name.
Just my humble, pissed off opinion. I guess it takes all kinds, doesn't it?
-I met Michel in 2007 and ordered two dolls at the time which required a deposit. At the same event (IFDC), I won a raffle of a dressed doll wearing the ensemble Treffen im Tiergarten. The doll was removed right before the raffle and on the note card which was included with a bottle of Champagne and Chocolates it mentioned that once finished in production, the doll would be sent to the winner (I still have the paperwork from it as well as all correspondence).The first year, Michel kept in contact via email. After the first year all contact ceased. When I learned that Michel would not be attending IFDC in 2009 I asked for a refund. In Sept 2009 I received an email stating that the first outfit was now ready to ship but that my items that were ordered were not yet produced and that they preferred to refund. After two weeks and no refund came, I inquired again via mail and received a reply from one of his assistants that accused me of spreading misinformation and how disappointed Michel was with me for no longer supporting him. Here it had been over two years, with one year of no communication and he is disappointed in me?! (Nice CS skills) I did of course receive my refund in full in 2010 however no prize came my way and from what I have read, the only doll being released is this one and the rest will be outfits.
-That sucks. This guy is a fraud, plain and simple >>I find it interesting that he sends a doll to one person to review, but can't bother to fulfill orders he collected years ago.
I also don't know what all the fuss is about with the "French couture" outfits....they definitely don't hold a candle to some OOAK and IT outfits for a fraction of the cost.
Also, the doll is ridiculous. No articulation? Maybe you could get away with that a few years ago (perhaps when he started his pre-orders?), but you can buy a fully articulated FR for a fraction of the cost.
I PRAY that people are not lured into buying from this person because of any ploys of his, including sending an unsolicited doll to be reviewed. Lets not forget that over the years, "someone" has appeared on the pink parlor and other boards impersonating collectors to try to generate positive buzz for these dolls and outfits and failed every time, rather sadly in fact. Backfired every time.
He can keep his foo foo, blas� "Flatulence, Grande Duchesse of Bearnaise Sauce". I hope he doesn't get another dime of people's money.
In the doll community, bad publicity generates a buzz but doesn't necessarily produce income. Hayworth can post pictures on his own all over the place. Having a known blogger post pictures of a free doll or any doll for that matter, is not an endorsement. It is what it is.
Above all, a company should spend it's time building a good reputation. That's the bottom line.
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| Image source: ereleases.com |
