Buying Full Package: Is it less personal?

I think everyone displays and plays with their fullsets in their own way-- while I've never bought one, I'd love to be able to--there were several (Red Harin when she first came out, the Soom MD's and some of the Dollzone guys) that were splendid; and right from the start you have clothes and a wig that fits! Plus you can always make your own clothes, and buy add-on goodies. So two people with the same starting point would have their "own doll" within minutes of the box opening.

 

Personally, I think of fullsets in a number of ways:

• As an appearance suggestion. I have so many characters in my mind, with roles, scenes and personalities that I often leave out less important specifics--like how they actually look--beyond rough height, age, attitude, perhaps eye color(s). So when I see a fullset, that's an audition from a doll "actor". Fullsets to me can strike "Aha!" moments where I finally see the right combination to match a character.
• As the "Express Setup" option like in newly installed software, something to get a person started immediately. I personally prefer dress-up and posing more than customization so a fullset lets me gloss over the starting steps to go straight to the "good part." I can always change specific parts to my liking later. Plus, I get annoyed when I have parts and no doll. A body + head, without clothes, wig, face & eyes is "not a doll" to me.
• A split amongst myself. I will admit to being tempted to buy fullsets almost as much for the accessories as the dolls. Let's admit that fullset accessories are often quite gorgeous. "Oooh, nice dress. Great wig! Oh, and the doll is nice too. Fullset, you say? Convenient. "

None of these things really make the doll "less personal" to me. No matter the path for how you got it, in the end the doll is just for you.

 

I've bought full set dolls and while it is fun to have everything there for you all in one box, its been my expericence that I almost always went up selling the bits and pieces of the set, leaving the doll, which gets altered. So anymore I rarely get full sets, I'd have to really really really like everything about. I like to just get the doll and then add on.....personally find it more fun that way

 

I love love love LE fullsets with all the trimmings! Usually, it's because I love that artist's/company's work, and want to own the whole beautiful brainchild. Pragmatically speaking, it's also way easier to buy the gear now & not want it later, than it is to not buy now & then decide later that I want it-- and then have to search like crazy & pay mad markups.

For most fullsets I have, even if I don't want the gear for that doll, some other doll will use it instead. They're usually excellent quality items that I would want for somebody, anyway-- my dolls all have a personalized mix-and-match look, so there's lots of repurposing. But even if no doll in the house will wear the fullset gear, I keep it in the set for future value. Because someday, way down the road, the peripheral bits are what'll make those Antiques Roadshow guys really say Cha-Ching. ^^ It's rare that I check "NO" on an option-part dropdown menu.

The notion that any doll I've chosen is somehow "less mine" because he happened to come painted and dressed is, frankly, ridiculous.

 

You're supposed to buy the doll because you like it. It doesn't really mind if it's fullset or not...

 

I don't usually like everything in a full package doll so I feel it's not a good use of my money. Plus, full package clothes aren't usually my style. However, most other types of dolls are essentially "full package" dolls in BJD terms. Thus, I think it's perfectly natural for someone to only want a full package doll since most types of dolls generally come this way.

 

I think it is a little bit, but if that's what you like.. who am I to judge? I think people can still effectively create a character even if they do get a full package. They can always branch out and get more unique stuff for their doll.

 

My doll is a full set because i have no idea how to do face ups and such when i learn then i think i would customize them to something i would like..

 

I don't think it matters whether it is a full set or not, as long as the buyer likes the doll.

 

I am not against full packaged dolls but I just love my dolls to be hand picked by me and customize them til they are fully assembled, it is a great feeling... Also your doll reflects you, it is nice to be able to design her from head to toe which is like how you freely choose things you want for yourself...^^

 

I prefer a naked doll with no faceup. I like to do that kind of stuff on my own. ^^ I'm not a fullset person, but the fullsets are pretty!

 

After shopping around for dolls, I've discovered that my opinion on full package dolls is this: If I like what the full package comes with, and the full package is affordable, I see no reason to not get the full package. If the full package includes items that I simply don't need and/or it isn't very affordable, then the basic package seems like the better choice. In other words, it's all about what I want and/or need from the doll I'm looking for. So, if the full package deal is exactly what you want from your dolls, shoot, go for it! It's your cash! Spend it on what YOU want!

 

i would maybe if i liked it enough. personally i like the customization factor. but if a doll does come along that i like enough i may be tempted to buy a full package doll.

 

I don't think about buying fullsets generally because they are more expensive and seem more formal than the casual, fashion forward styles I envision for my dolls. Plus I'm very specific about which wigs I like, and basic packages do seem a little more personal to me, but that's just my opinion

 

I've ordered my first doll with a full set, because from reading I've heard that's the best thing to do with first dolls, because you have everything then and there to play with rather than having to wait around for customisation and clothes. However, I'm planning on getting nude dolls and customising them as I go along... But I could get more full sets. Who knows? I don't think it de-personalises dolls at all!

 

If one likes the full package that comes with a doll, then he or she have the choice to purchase it. If the full package would simply be discarded or erased by the new owner of a doll, then getting the full package would be wasteful.

Even two dolls with the same package can ultimately be customized in different ways, given the variety of eyes, wigs, and clothes that exist.

 

I don't think full package dolls are less 'personal'. Two people could buy the same company-designed fullset, and create completely different characters for those dolls. I personally always buy dolls with their official company face-up, and I don't feel my characters are less personal just because other dolls exist with the same face-up. I do sometimes modify face-ups (by, for example, adding freckles, or changing make-up colours), and the dolls I modify don't feel more 'personal' to me than those I don't change.

 

Buying the full package is the cheapest way to purchase a BJD when you take into account all the extra shipping costs you incur when you purchase eyes, wig, clothing, etc, separately. It also saves time because you don't have to send the head off for a face-up or wait for your BJD's items to arrive.

Buying a full package doll allows you to know exactly what you are getting and can easily be customized to your taste. So, I think it is not less personal.

But having said that, I love buying "blank" dolls as well because I can customize them as one-of-a-kind. So, I think it's really good to have both options available!

 

I think it all depends on the intention. I got two that were almost full package (minus body-blushing) but for 2 completely different reasons.
One of them was just for collection. She came complete, her faceup was perfect, and I wasn't planning to do anything else with her. Needless to say, I've never played with her and I've now put her into storage.
The other one, I gave his wig and jacket to someone else and left him with only his pants so he has share clothes with the others. I HATED his faceup and had to change it myself. It was always my intention to make him into another character that was completely different in style from what the company had. Different fates I guess.