A decline in the doll hobby?

Right now I feel like the hobby might feel a little closer to equilibrium because the scale between "people who want to buy dolls" and "people selling dolls" is not as steep. The hobby is large and still has plenty of members, but more people are selling dolls (both secondhand and in new companies/models) and that will cause a slowdown in how fast things like the marketplace move. Also, people don't wish to lose money on dolls, especially in a bad economy, so fewer people are buying and then selling either older dolls or the new one if it doesn't suit. There's a certain risk to doll-buying, after all.

As for me, I have plenty of dolls, so I'm not browsing for new ones. I'm short on space and I'm short on time and short on money, so I'm glad just to have them in a spot where I can see their pretty faces every day. I can't invest an entire weekend in a photostory like I used to, most of the doll props are in storage and there's nowhere to put up a set. I know how to restring, put on a faceup, where to buy clothes and wigs. So I'm not posting in the gallery, and I'm not mining the threads for info.

What I am glad for is I know if I have a question, I can come here, and I will find the answer. If something happens in the doll world I will know about it when I do my weekly news-thread check. If I take a notion to make-over a doll I can not only find the necessities for that on sale here, but pictures and info about how things will fit my doll.

We all reach a point where if we have limited hobby time, we're not going to spend it answering the same newbie questions, or commenting on a box opening for a model we're not interested in. I have no intentions of "leaving" the hobby, because it's not like a hobby is a /place/. It's something we do when we can and enjoy on the side, sometimes more, sometimes less. It doesn't have to be constantly at the forefront of our thoughts. Something might change that has me on here nonstop for months at a time: A dazzling new model, a group order, a fascinating storyline.

I wouldn't mind a quieter hobby, with more doll companies getting into the business because they love making dolls, not because they want to make money or hop on a trend. Not that dolls produced by trend-following companies are intrinsically bad or poor quality, but I think the product is better when it's done out of love. I've seen a lot of small sculptors done in by increasing demand and a pressure to produce in greater quantities, and I've seen larger companies whose products and service have gone downhill, I've seen companies churn out NEW SCULPT WITH INSERT TRENDY THING HERE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T SHIPPED THE LAST SIX NEW MODELS YET because too many sellers of dolls have become the followers of trends rather than the starters of them.

I know I sound like someone bellyaching that downtown hasn't been the same since that Wal-Mart came in, but what brought me to this thread was the wistful memory of a favorite company, a rare new limited that cost less than $1000 with all the bells and whistles, and the slow, happy planning for a new arrival. But times change, and maybe the hobby is simply on the verge of some new incarnation. If it is, I'll still be watching where it goes.

 

I wonder if that isn't just a byproduct of there being so many more people/companies out there making dolls.

Going back to the original question, I think the fact that there are so many new companies (plus the fact that mods have stated that users here are at an all time high) I think it's fair to say that there is no decline - but it doesn't surprise me that it might feel like one given that with all the choices out there there might be a lesser percentage of people interested in talking about any one given thing.

 

I have to agree with everybody here. I'm guilty of being a 'newbie' who posts on old threads, yet I sense joy in others who join in on those, especially the authors of those threads. I've even found some items for sale that sat stagnant until then.

My daughter's been in the hobby for several years, so a lot of the advice I need I get from her. She spent loads of time here in the beginning, owns several dolls and has traded/sold many more, so I've got my own in-house teacher!

I also subscribe to tutorial threads and marketplace threads, and that activity doesn't show on the post counts; in fact, I mostly posted comments so I'd have access to the marketplace. But, by doing so, I was welcomed into the community.

Summer seems to get busier every year; my household had to cut back on many pleasurable pursuits this year. Winter is the time for recovery and renewal, which means I'll get better at sewing clothes for my tiny, maybe make a little playhouse for her, and practice indoor photography. And of course, post more photostories

 

Personally, I've been less active in the discussion forums because I've become busier in the marketplace. ^^; I also have been less active in the meetup threads because I'm no longer living in a city where bjd are much more common. *sigh* Between being busier with life stuff and commissions, my time to be social has been very limited. :<

I very much would like to be more active given the time in the picture requests and the gallery threads.

 

Well I think 5 pages of responses should put to rest whether or not DoA is active!

I'm still active and I've been on here a long time!

 

I have only recently joined so I'm not sure if I should comment but here goes.
I find it hard to find things. It took me a few days before I event tried to comment. I though it would be more simple. Like a QandA with lots of information about the dolls. Like what the initials used mean, What sizes the dolls come in ectr. . All the answers are there but it's hard to find.
Also I think people have less money to spend on doll these days.

 

I'd agree about the economy, I haven't been able to afford any pretties for my resin crew, or indeed a new doll for over a year. I'm enjoying the ones I have but the lack of money means I can't attend meetups any more. I've also got more hours at work so less physical time for taking pics and suchlike. I love having my dolls around and would love to spend more hours making things and taking pictures, but we've had a lot of changes in our household this year, a new real horse, then a big hit in working hours for partner so it's all a bit of a mess atm.

...and then there's xmas...

I have missed the chatting tho, and for a time I didn't come on DoA as I was having problems with the layout but that's all sorted now and I'm back

Wish I could afford to do a swap or something - I feel so out of the hobby.

 

I couldn't have said it better! I too have been around since 2006. It took some time to learn my tastes and get to the point I am now. I love my present group, with little interest in adding more. They have tons of clothes, shoes, and wigs, and as hard as I try, I am not finding new things to buy.
I remember those first exciting months on the DOA boards, participating, posting, learning, buying, selling, it was wonderful. But with time, posts can look the familiar, and I don't find the need to respond. Am I on DOA now? Yes, I usually check in daily, and look at a few subscribed threads / forums. I have also noticed that some of the members who used to posts in the same threads I was very active in, are now not posting. I assume they have become lurkers like myself.

 

It says I've been on here since 2008, but I really didn't invest myself on here until 2010 (which I think I mentioned somewhere here). Since last year, I've noticed things changing. I've noticed people who used to be on here very often have not been on here all that much. I've seen a lot of newcomers, as well.

When you're new, you want to contribute to everything, no matter how relevant the subjects discussed relate to you. I think I didn't invest myself on here until last year was because I found it hard to discuss topics about BJDs without having one, or seen one IRL. All I had was two OT Dollfies (that I still have), and I began to realize that the two were not equal. I found that I didn't have a lot in common because of this, and ended up not contributing. The only other time I did try to contribute was when I attempted to save up for my first doll in 2009; when I ended up failing at that, I left again.

I'm a novice at financial trends in the BJD market, though. My time is usually spent on the Discussion, Memes, and Debate section. If nothing interesting goes on there, I'll go towards the sewing/accessories section to see if there are new patterns or tutorials. After that, it's the galleries. Very rarely do I venture into the MP.

 

When I first joined, I was on everyday, looking at as many threads as I could. It honestly took me a while before I was willing to post, and when I did, I became very active.

I dropped DoA altogether for a while when I'd lost all my doll money due to other financial things, and I recently came back because my saving is back on track.

The reason for the forums not being active is likely a mix of several factors. But the activity on DoA doesn't reflect the activity of the hobby. I have a friend that want to get a BJD or two, but she honestly has no interest in joining DoA or any forums. Shops are getting more molds, more clothes and accessories, and they certainly wouldn't be doing that were it not for a growing interest in BJDs.

 

I think there must have some reasons to decline the hobby.
For example, the financial problem and busy works. It seems that BJD are usually expensive(for me, it is.) sometimes we can not afford how many dolls we but, then it will ba s stress on us.
So I think sometimes you will feel tired of it. But I think it just pass the passion time. Like me, I still buy dolls and their clothes. But I will choose and consider much on the balance between the money and my desires.

 

I'm mostly a lurker, but I've noticed a big slow-down in some of the threads I visit relative to how active the threads were during the summer. I think some people are just busy with school/work during this time. I still check DoA and try to make a few posts a day, but I don't spend as much time as I did before school started. Also, for those with financial difficulties, spending time on a doll forum is kind of risky if you don't have good impulse control. Looking at the dolls I already own doesn't make me want more dolls, but browsing on here definitely does.

 

I think of it as more of a settling down than a decline. I know I have reached (almost) my limit in dolls. I think I only want 2 more and they are already set in my mind. The big flurry of buying is behind me. I feel just as enthused about my dolls as I did in the beginning. Now I can just focus on my lovelies and buy them nice things.

 

I agree. I've been noticing that quite a few members are leaving the hobby. It's disheartening to see them go, but given the constraints that this hobby can pull (dedication, time, money) it's quite a commitment. I myself have been in and out of this hobby for awhile now, (it's been about 2 years of me going on and off) and I think it's mostly because of which point we are in our lives.

 

(Total unrelated sidenote: I am wondering though, how this sudden drop of hobbyists are gonna effect the doll-value secondhand-market. Food for thought)

 

I've been noticing more and more "Leaving the Hobby" threads on many BJD fourms in the past half year, too.

And as for the marketplace for dolls, most likely, but it will either increase or severely decrease prices, most likely the latter from what I see in those threads.

 

I haven't been around long enough to know what things were like before, but I agree with quite a bit of what has been already said. The economy is slow, and I know alot of people who have had to sell their collection at a pretty significant loss to pay bills. I also wonder if people are relying more on meetups and small groups of friends meeting in person rather than relying on the online community as the hobby becomes more popular. It also seems like the BJD community is influencing mass produced dolls, and for better or worse is showing up more often in mainstream media so I don't think the hobby overall is declining by any means. Slowing a bit due to the economy perhaps, and defiantly changing.

As for DOA itself I can also relate to the feeling that I've seen and answered the same handful of questions over and over. I also feel odd posting to an opinion thread like this or to a photo game or project theme thread more than once so at some point there are fewer threads that I haven't already weighed in on. I think some groups have also moved to other sites, either other doll groups or to social media sites like Facebook. These groups tend to be a bit more open as far as who can join and what can be discussed, and in a lot of cases it seems that they are more oriented to a local or regional level which can make it easier to plan meetups. On the other hand it can be a lot less organized and there isn't the same level of protection when it comes to sales and trades. In any case, I'm sure the hobby is not going to disappear any time soon.

 

A huge factor, for me at least, are all the other hyper specialized forums that have popped up. I know some are older and well established, but they could at least cross post a bit for the benefit of those who don't want to have to check half a dozen forums for important information.

The theme forums, the regional forums, the brand forums... Ugh. I can't keep track, so I've nearly given up all together.

 

I think the hobby was always kind of a niche thing anyway, to be honest.

It's pretty expensive, on the whole, and sooner or later you're going to hit a point where storage capacity issues factor in. I'm getting close to my maximum for the moment.

As for now, I'm only looking at buying/ordering two more dolls, and one of which is a significantly cheaper "build your own Dollfie Dream" option.

Things will probably change a little over time, but I'm very aware of the harsh reality that I might have to sell off or trade one of my dolls if I want another one in the future. *shrug* It's why I had to pretty much dismantle my "Doll Wishlist".

It's less a matter of interest waning for me, and more that I should just focus on what I've got.

I'm also intermittently shy about posting on the forums here; sometimes I really want to be active and helpful, and other times I'm afraid about making a thread or other things because I'm terrified of the idea of putting the post/thread in the wrong place or something.

 

I've noticed quite a bit of people leaving the hobby, true, but then there are also quite a lot of new people joining it. I know of at least seven people in my town, among my acquaintances and friends, who recently joined the hobby, or are planning to join, and even more acquaintances/friends out of my town. I'm not the most senior member in the hobby, but for the year and a half I've been a member, the member count on the Norwegian forum (which is quite some years old) have approximately doubled in size, and I don't know many who've actually left the hobby.
So from my point of view, the doll hobby is rather becoming more mainstream, and more people are joining. There have even been some news articles about the hobby over here, in later time.

Also, a possible reason the forum has become more quiet (something I haven't experienced, since I probably didn't have an account at that time), may be that people can't join without an invitation? I was lurking around, trying to get an invitation about half a year - a year before I was actually able to get in. A few of the friends I have, who recently joined the hobby, also sees this as some sort of elitism, and therefore refuses to join DoA...