Buying you friends and family dolls

well, my 9 yr old is already on the hobby boat lol, she has told me "mom, this is the best hobby ever!, we can do so many things with the dolls and we can spend more quality time together! so, i am thinking in getting her a dollie of her own in the future, when she learns the responsibility that comes with owning expensive resin hehehe!!! XD. also my mom, she has always liked dolls just like me, but she only collects betty boop figurines. even though she likes the doll i own and the ones that are coming i don't think she'd be interested in the hobby itself, at least for now, but maybe later we can get her to join, and yes, i'd love to get mom as well her first bjd, it'll probably be a tiny since she's hinted that those are the ones she likes best because of the sweet baby faces :3. i don't think i'd have an issue handing the doll over to them. we live together so the dolls would be in the same house and i could borrow it whenever i'd want XD

 

When I first told my mom about this hobby she said that she had always wanted a big doll to make clothes for. We started talking and it turns out that she would be interested in owning one, but she would like it better as a gift. So, I would get my mom a doll eventually. I would have to have it shipped to me and make sure that I set it up with the right eyes and wig and make a slip for her before giving it to mom. Mostly because she thinks changing eyes looks creepy and if it would be a gift it would be for Christmas so she would be opening her in front of the entire family and I know mom would be uncomfortable if her mature female doll was completely naked.

 

It is really going to depend on the person whom I'm buying for. If it's like my sister or someone whom I'm close to then yea but if its an acquaintance then no. Also, I would make sure that s/he hints at a doll or stare longingly at one before I'd consider the purchase.

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?

For Christmas some years back, my brother and sister and I went together to get my mom a little anthro doll(Off-Topic for this forum), along with a couple other little things she wanted.

2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them?

She did pick it out beforehand. She was going to order gifts for my sister and I from the company-- dolly shoes and hands and such-- and fell in love with the little guy.

3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise?

My mother was very supportive of my sister and I getting into the hobby, but always thought she didn't want one for herself, because there were so many other things she could do with that money... She said 'maybe a cute animal, but I just couldn't spend so much money on one!'

She is very happy to just have one, that has its own tiny chair and sits next to where she does a lot of her work. She doesn't want to collect them, but thinks having one cheerful little anthro to be cute nearby is nice.

4) If not, would you ever buy a doll for somebody else? Why/why not?

n/a, I guess.

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?

I don't think so. Even for an inexpensive doll, it would be a lot to spend on a gift that might not be really appreciated...

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?

My brother actually is looking at getting his first doll. Beyond my gift budget, but I said if he couldn't work out a layaway plan that he could make, I'd be happy to lend him money, since I know where he lives (he's pretty dependable, actually... his money just trickles in slower than mine)

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over?

Nah. I wouldn't buy a gift that there was a danger of me, like, super bonding with it.

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?
Yes, I bought one for my mother and gave it for her birthday.


2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them?

I was previously showing some random photos of dolls and noted which was the one my mother liked the most. But aside from that, it was a complete surprise.


3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise?

I was already in the hobby and had a few dolls, so my mother knew about them already.


5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?
No, unless I know a person likes dolls in general. It is something not to everyone's liking and too expensive to be a present the person might not enjoy.


6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?
Only looking at my own dolls or photos, but not expressing any will to buy any themselves.
Not counting those close friends who already owned a BJD before me (that's how I got into the hobby ^^)

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over?
Well, the one I gave to my mother is still in her room and I can see it anytime.
Still, if it was a present specially chosen for a person, important to me (I wouldn't get a doll for not close people!), then I wouldn't have trouble letting them go. After all, if they're close friends/family, I can see them and the dolls often ^^

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for? I didn't buy the doll, but I gave my younger sister one of my dolls for Christmas last year. I also bought my partner a body for a free pukipuki faceplate he was getting when he ordered.

2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them? Technically since I'd bought the doll for myself originally, she didn't choose, but I knew she liked her and wanted her. For my partner, he chose the faceplate which he was getting, and I just got the body.

3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise? She'd had an interest in it for almost as long as I had, and desperately wanted a doll of her own. My partner had an interest all on his own (clearly, since he ordered himself!)

4) If not, would you ever buy a doll for somebody else? Why/why not? If I had the money, I'd definitely buy dolls for people who I know are interested in them.

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did? Probably not - theres too high a chance that they wouldn't enjoy the doll, or want, and since they are a pretty involved hobby, its a bit too much to give to someone who wasn't into it.

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves? My sister liked them for as long, if not longer, than I did, but other than that not very much - a lot of my friends really love seeing the pictures I take of them that I put on FaceBook, and always say how amazing they are, but they've never really showed interest in actually having any of their own.

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over? Having done it, I didn't have that much of a problem - I still liked the doll I gave my sister, but she got very little attention with me just because I spent more time on my other dolls, and I knew my sister would love her far more than I could.

 

This might be a little off topic, since I have not bought a doll for another person. Though I probably would if I felt it was something they would enjoy.

My first doll was a gift, and while I had looked at bjd's before I had never thought I would own one. My friend got herself a doll and when I went to visit she surprised me with a doll of my own, and it has to be one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given!

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?

I bought my youngest niece an Only-Doll Hong Xiu for her birthday this year.

2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them?

Oh, she definitely picked this doll! When I was visiting in May, we sat down together and looked at all the dolls at Mint on Card. When we got to Hong Xiu, my niece said "She looks like me!" (My niece is ethnic Chinese.) So that sealed it, as far as I was concerned.

3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise?

I think she was surprised. I had fun with the setup. I wrote a story for her, in which Hong Xiu was a fairy princess being sent off to a Select Academy for Fairies. (It was a huuuuuuuge pastiche of "A Little Princess", "Harry Potter", and heaven only knows what else.) I worked in all the little props I sent with the doll - a crystal ball, an "emerald trapped in a dragon's claw", and even the little freebie wooden bjd from Dollmore. My sister gave her the story the morning of her birthday, and my niece thought *that* was the present. Then she opened the doll and props after dinner. She called me to thank me, and said, "She's BEAUTIFUL!" It was one of the most gratifying moments of my life.

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?

Honestly, I think my niece is the only person in the family (besides me) who really loves dolls. So no, I don't think I would give a bjd to anybody else in the family but her.

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?

Just my niece.

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over?

Not at all! Thought I did think that Hong Xiu was so cute I'd like one for myself some day.

 

1. i plan on buying my friend a BJD for her birthday next year
2. i want her to choose her own. i gave her a bunch of links to lots of different companies but she hasnt responded yet
3. not really but i think she would really like it if she got into it. shes very into character creation and customization
4. i dont think i would buy a doll for anyone else
5. god no. never. i feel like it would be mistreated
6. nope. my mum calls them creepy coz they look so human and my brother hates everything i like
7. not at all. i plan on buying it specifically for her so its completely hers

 

Hi everyone! Just wondering if anyone else is like me and loves to give gifts? My family and partner tell me off every year for spending too much on them, and it doesn't even need to be for a special occassion, if I see someone I think they'll like and I have the cash, I'll buy it! In fact, I often put others above myself and will blow any excess cash I have on something for someone else above and beyond someone for me.

Apparently, as I have recently discovered, that also goes for dolls earlier this year I bought a Dikadoll Bonnie for my much beloved cousin, and now I'm considering getting a close friend of mine her dream doll which has just turned up on the second hand marketplace.

Has anyone else ever done this or would consider doing so?
Would you buy them a new doll, a second hand one, or whatever came up first that seemed right?
Is there a limit to your generosity, for instance, would you only buy it if you could get the doll under a certain price, or would you buy theirs dream doll's head to get your friend started?
Has anyone ever unexpectedly bought a doll for you as a gift?
What would you do if their perfect doll came along but at the same time there was a doll you wanted?

 

Has anyone else ever done this or would consider doing so?
~I've considered it.

Would you buy them a new doll, a second hand one, or whatever came up first that seemed right?
~Depends.

Is there a limit to your generosity, for instance, would you only buy it if you could get the doll under a certain price, or would you buy theirs dream doll's head to get your friend started?
~Yes, there is a limit. Because these dolls are so expensive, I'm not quite sure if she'd be fully comfortable accepting it. I think she'd be very ecstatic, yes, but still uncomfortable. What I would consider doing is going in with her to split the cost of one. For example, we both like Fairyland's minifee woosoo vampire elf girl. I would totally go in with her to split the cost of a doll with both heads and an extra body so that we could have sister dolls. It'd be a good summer project. She could show me how to sew and I'd bring all my faceup stuff. We both just need to find the magical money tree first, hahaha!

Has anyone ever unexpectedly bought a doll for you as a gift?
~No, though Husband has said that if he ever bought me a doll it would be a pukifee Pong.

What would you do if their perfect doll came along but at the same time there was a doll you wanted?
~I'd let her know about it, but I would still get the one that I want.

 

Wow, you're super generous

Buying things for others is nice, my sister has been nice enough to buy me DC Faramita for Christmas as well as paying toward the first doll I ever got (5 years ago now, I think).
I bought her a K doll Karon head + body as a random gift...basically, if either of us see a doll we really like then we try to help each other out. Money is a serious obstacle, though, but I am darn good at saving up.
If a doll my sister loved came up at the same time as one I loved, we'd buy hers because it's her turn (since I have three dolls and she has two)...seems like a fair system.

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?
I haven't, but I am considering it as a possibility.

2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them?

3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise?
Well I haven't bought for anyone yet, but the person I am considering buying for is already in the hobby.

4) If not, would you ever buy a doll for somebody else? Why/why not?
I would. I don't really see why not. Due to the issues that second-hand buying can have, I would never buy for someone else that way, though.

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?
Not a chance. The risk is too high that they'll hate it and then you just look like a jerk.

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?
No. They don't even know BJDs exist, but I know that they would not be interested in owning one even if they did.

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over?
Probably not. I'm fairly picky about my dolls and ultimately I bought that doll to make someone else happy, not myself. I spoil myself plenty, so giving up something I got for someone else is not difficult for me.

 

Because I don't really have a way of making money at the moment, two out of the three of my dolls have been gifts for me, not sure that I could afford buying one for someone else. At least with people I know, buying someone who's not immediate family something over $50 dollars is seen as a bit rude, just because they might not be able to reciprocate type of gift, so BJDs which go from anywhere from $80-$2000 is not ideal. Also, a lot of people I know aren't that into the hobby, so buying them a doll could be interesting (unless I want to take it). But, if I did have a close friend who had really been wanting a doll for a while and had no way of getting themselves one (and I had the money at the time) then of course I'd get them a doll as a gift. I love the idea, and think it's a fun way to spread the hobby.

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?
Nope.

4) If not, would you ever buy a doll for somebody else? Why/why not?
Doubtful. They would have to be a very good friend and I would have to know precisely which doll they wanted with all the specifications and such, so it would be too complicated.

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?
Absolutely not. That's a huge waste of money as far as I'm concerned.

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?
One of my friends is interested in the hobby but hasn't gotten into it for financial reasons. She's never seen my dolls and was already interested in BJDs before we met.

7) Do you think you'd have trouble letting a BJD go when it came to handing the present over?
Not at all. I'd be buying according to someone else's tastes, not my own, so I wouldn't want to keep the doll. If it happened to be a doll that I desperately wanted, I wouldn't buy it for a friend until I had one of my own. Yes, I'm selfish, but it's my money.

 

My mother-in-law was always fond of Teacup (my CP/Delf Elf Shiwoo-), so when the oppotunity came up a few years ago, I bought her one of her own as a Christmas gift. She named him Sam and he hangs out in her sewing room. She's an avid quilter, but he seems to get first dibs on the new fabric these days.

 

1) Have you ever bought a doll for somebody else? Was it for a special occasion? What for?
I bought a doll for my boyfriend because I wanted someone to share the hobby with and he thought it was kinda cool to have a representation of his character. I ordered the doll together with my first dolls. I paid for it because he was a bit unsure if he thought it was worth his money. In a way we kinda own Dayreth together.

2) If so, did you let them chose a doll or did you pick one for them?
I looked up a few dolls that fit the character from the same company that I was buying my dolls from, then we agreed together on what to get.

3) Did they already have an interest in the hobby or was it a complete surprise?
No as I said, I convinced him to get into it

5) Would you give a doll as a gift to somebody who doesn't know what BJDs are? How would you explain it to them if you did?
No, first of all even the "cheap" dolls are way too expensive to give to someone if you are not 100% sure that they want one, second of all, no matter the price I wouldn't give anything that is such a niche hobby to anyone if they weren't interested, that would be rather rude in my opinion

6) Have any of your close friends or family showed an interest in owning BJDs themselves?
No one except my boyfriend