Misty Copeland Barbie Unpleasant Surprise

Stock Photo of Misty Copeland Barbie

My Misty Copeland Barbie order from Amazon arrived last week, but I was too overwhelmed with other things to open the shipping box.   My order contained two dolls and one of the boxes is severely damaged. The box is crushed and torn on the top and bottom right side.  The lower back and the bottom are also dented.  The right corner of the liner is folded in as well.   This is the main reason I dislike ordering dolls from Amazon.  They often arrive with box damage when there is no visible damage to the shipping box.  This means the boxes were in poor condition when they were packed.

Why would someone pack a box in the condition I have captured in the following photos?

Above images illustrate top right side and lower right side box damage.

The lower back of box and bottom of box dents are illustrated above.

Torn top right corner and bent-in box liner

Why would this be shipped?  Why?

This extensive box damage was very disappointing.  Since this is not the first time I have received a damaged Barbie box from Amazon, I called them to report it.  The customer service person was very helpful and apologetic.  He offered to give me an immediate refund or send a replacement when stock is replenished.  If stock is not replenished in a sufficient amount of time, I will be issued a refund.  I chose the second option in hopes that stock will be replenished.

I removed the doll from the box but kept her attached to the liner to take additional photos without cello/flash interference:

Close-up of the Misty Copeland Barbie

The back of the box contains an image of Copeland and a description:

Misty Copeland, the first African American female principle dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, leaps across a stage ablaze, with unwavering strength and beauty, breaking boundaries, redefining a classic art form, and epitomizing grace.  Her fire red bodysuit with sunburst orange tulle cutouts stretches over her perfectly poised body, while layers of red and orange tulle tease a luxurious red tail.  A vibrant tulle headpiece tops off her elaborate look, adding drama and flair.  Glowing from the inside out, Misty Copeland is truly a bright shining star, paving the way for future dancers all over the world.  

The Misty Copeland doll, which was designed by Linda Kyaw, has the new ballet body and Misty head sculpt.  Her eyelashes are painted.  Her red costume and shoes, which are removable, replicate the costume Copeland wore in her title role in Firebird.  The doll's head piece is a small piece of red tulle that fans across the front of her high dark brown chignon.

The high chignon and red  tulle headpiece are illustrated in the above and next photo.

The doll's complexion closely compares to my redressed 2013 Holiday Barbie, shown in the next photo on the left.

                

The complexion also closely compares to my redressed Fashionista  #6, shown on Misty's right in the above photo on the left and in the photo on the right.

Since the doll in the damaged box is still attached to the box liner, I have not tested the functionality of her joints.  I will do this later.  Aside from the damaged box, I am pleased with the doll's overall appearance, complexion, and costume.  Initially, in the online photos, I did not think the doll looked enough like Copeland, but in person it is a decent likeness.  I like the new body and appreciate the larger calves.  The rotational seat of the doll stand will enhance display possibilities. In addition to the doll stand, a certificate of authenticity is included.

In the future, unless a doll is one I know I will remove from the box, I will proceed with caution when making future doll purchases from Amazon.  Sending a doll in a damaged box is not acceptable, even if the customer plans to discard the box.

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