since I get a lot of questions about lead times and total processing times, I'll post an overview of what is to be expected as of now (end of July).
Generally, the total processing times are calculated like so:
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lead time + (added value services) + international shipping + clearing customs and taxes + (domestic processing) + domestic delivery
Current lead times:
- OR, YL - 2-3 weeks
- DH168, Maiden: 10-12 working days
- Currently delayed: 3+ weeks - Sanhui
- Currently delayed: 4+ weeks - WM, especially the WM-161
- Lovely Doll - 2 weeks
- Happy Doll - 3-4 weeks
- Doll Affair: 3-4 weeks
- DDC: 4 weeks
- Currently delayed: Doll Sweet (shipping issues still not resolved)
Please note: lead times can be zeroed by purchasing a doll from stock (RTS = Ready To Ship). We currently have a couple of preconfigured dolls on stock like DS Mini Eve, JM Chloe, DH-158, a Maid-Fong and a couple of Lovely Dolls. They ship with zero lead time on the next working day after payment has cleared.
Added value services:
Things which require processing in China are - for example - running a PQC at X/S, adding a gift set, modifying a head, or assembling a hybrid doll; this adds a significant overhead to the total processing time. Calculate at least 10-20 days for a PQC that passes, plus another 10 days if it fails. Assembling a hybrid doll or waiting for the gift set parts can take 3-6 weeks.
The PQC is available for all dolls X/S can get domestically. It is currently unavailable for WM-155, WM-168, Jellynew, DS, LD, and DH168 dolls, as well as for all dolls which do not come from China (like Doll Affair, DDC, Incrididoll, Maidlee, R13).
International shipping and clearing customs and taxes:
This usually takes an average of 5 days if we can use our own shipping account, or 7-10 working days if the shipment runs through a shipping agent.
Again, added value services add another overhead to the total processing time (4-5 days to Shenzhen, 1-2 days to HK, then 7-10 days for international shipping).
Domestic processing:
All regular shipments for EU customers run through our office in Berlin where the cartons are opened, the dolls are checked, and finally repackaged. This check takes 1-2 days.
Domestic delivery:
Shipments to final destinations in the EU are shipped from Berlin on weekdays (no pickups during the weekend). Shipping within the EU takes 2-5 days; typically 2 days to location near Berlin, 5 days to locations far away like Finland, Portugal, or Greece.
I hope this hels to get you an idea.
Sandro