Did you purchase a "test" doll before fully committing to an aspect of the hobby?

I did not! Maybe I should’ve... I love my boy though! my friend bought a “tester” doll because she didn’t know how she was going to feel going into a new hobby, and didn't want to spend a bunch of money on a doll she may or may not enjoy! We talked back-and-forth and I’ve always wanted to get a BJD, So I did it! I bought one that was fairly inexpensive ( $370) and now I’m hooked!

 

I intended to buy a test before really dive into this hobby, but as I suddenly loved my first child at the first sight, there was not any test, but a true friend

 

Yes. In fact, I haven't bought a resin BJD yet. I am considering buying a "starter doll," or one that is less expensive to start with. I a curious which companies offer less expensive resin dolls that would be great for shopping for that first doll? I can't imagine just jumping into an expensive hobby, especially crafting, without taking baby steps first.

 

I went all in with buying my first doll, but I've been into the hobby for several years, looking around and learning and stuff so I knew I was definitely ready to head into the hobby.

 

That's a good approach too, and I suppose I am kind of doing that. I watch utube videos and I have been on lurking on this forum, off and on, for more than a year. I still have a lot to learn though, and some things you just have to get your hands in there and try it to learn. I guess I would rather make major noob mistakes with a less expensive starter doll than something really high end. Maybe I am not as brave and self confident as you. LOL So, how did it work out going all out? It sounds like it probably worked out great for you!

 

Yeah it actually worked out for me quite well. My first doll was Dollzone's Nighthawk, he isn't one of those higher priced ones but he was the most I could afford at that time so I did go all in. It turned out to be worth it, he is the only one that has been staying forever. I bought dolls after him but I did sell most of them.

 

Oh I am so glad to hear that! That's awesome!

 

Kind of sort of, but not really... I ordered Dollzone Carter because I really really wanted him, but he took over eight months to get to me.

While I was waiting I ordered Hedy and Oscar from Doll Leaves, because they were in stock, and really wanted something to take pictures of and show off. I really didn't plan these dolls but they were cheap, and that is why I bought them. I like Hedy a lot, but Oscar? He is like super short, and does not look like an adult boy doll at all, he looks like an over grown YOSD, and I have to shove a small cushion under him for pictures when I want him to sit with the rest of the MSD sized dolls.

I didn't know much about doll sizes and just assumed the boy would be taller then the girl, big misunderstanding. I like Hedy a whole lot, and am glad I jumped into the hobby with her, sort of, because Carter was on order. Oscar on the other hand, has always felt like a bit of a mistake.

As far as sewing machines, I did buy a cheaper sewing machine, because I wasn't sure how long I would keep up with sewing, or much of it I would do. I discovered I love sewing and making my own clothes, and my daughters clothes, and well as my dolls clothes. While I am not going to replace it with a more expensive machine, if it was ever to wear out, I would definitely feel more confident buying an expensive sewing machine at the is point.

Just like I am now more confident at buying expensive dolls.

 

This thread has a link of dolls under $300 you can check out, if you want. Last updated in 2016, but I checked around and it still looks like a good starting point for cheaper dolls.

In my case, I wasn't planning on buying any dolls until I moved out and got a job, but I stumbled on a really cheap listing for a tiny, so I jumped on that. She's yellowed and will need new elastic, but she's cute and will be a great way to see if I'll actually keep up with my BJD interest.

 

When I started I only knew of two companies, Volks which were really hard to get in the USA and Luts. I also got to see a number of dolls (which expanded the companies I knew about) in person, which helped me chose my first doll. But there were so many companies I'd never heard of and was nervous to buy anything that I hadn't heard of. But I know I wouldn't have been happy with a cheap doll. Some of the cheaper dolls don't pose as well (some are great though) but I think if I'd started with something less than I did I wouldn't have enjoyed the dolls as much as I do. Quality can vary, sometimes wildly. So that is something to consider when picking a starter doll, if that's the route you want to go.

 

Thank you so much! I will go take a look at that thread for sure!

 

I did not buy a test doll before ordering the one I really wanted, though I definitely considered it!

The tipping factors were that I planned sewing and making furniture and props for her, not modding the sculpt. If I wanted to mod the sculpt I would most definitely start with very cheap dolls, including second hand barbie and other, and moving my way up to cheap BJDs to hone my skills first.

 

I'm in the same boat with someone else here already, who said their first doll was just coincidentally on the cheaper end! My first love was a Hujoo, which before they vanished were nice and affordable! But I feel that's also a positive, because if I had fallen in love with a more expensive doll I may have gotten too nervous to spend the money and instead never gotten involved in the hobby outside of watching doll videos. So being cheap certainly wasn't a downside to my first doll!

 

Hm, kind of. When I was choosing the first one I juggled between Fairyland Chloe (MSD), Ariadoll Isabel (MSD) and Souldoll Juana (SD), but each of them was unreachable for me at that time. So with a choice of none of them or anything else from my country secondhand, I chose the second option. My first one was the first affordable and locally available doll that I liked thinking "she's pretty and good enough, so why not?" It was a bull's-eye because I'm in love with her now. Today I don't want any of these first dolls, but my actual first one (SOOM Adamelli) is with me and is the most important doll in my collection. I don't regret it.

 

I guess in some ways you could consider my first Pipos Baha as a test doll. I hadn’t really known there even was a hobby back when I purchased her in 2008. I just thought people took photos of them to post online and really had no idea. Had I never purchased her, I’m not sure I would’ve become a part of the hobby at all.

 

My first doll was also a Hujoo, specifically a Hujoo Sara, I got her because it's what I could afford

I'd been vaguely interested in bjds since the 2010s but I hadn't considered buying one until youtube reccomended an Asenva video. I'd browsed junkyspot for a bit but I was impatient and didn't want to save up so I bought a MSD. It just sorta worked out that my first doll was relatively inexpensive. As a plus I still use the plastic body for my minifee head so she was worth the investment.

 

I did, kind of. I bought a Doll Leaves Amara because she was so much more affordable! Really helped me define my tastes more.

 

I bought a cheaper 45cm as my first and still have him. However, I fell in love with the bigger ones first. It was only after I had him that I went for the larger dolls as I had no idea how much I would come to love them and they were such a large money commitment.

 

I started by buying a cheap 1/3 size off-topic doll to see if making clothes and other things at that size would work for me. It was also pretty good to tide me over while I was researching BJDs to pick out my first doll and then for the six-month wait until it got to me. It was definitely the right choice for me and even now that my first BJD got here, it's still pretty good to have a cheap doll around to test things. My first actual BJD wasn't a test run though, once I was sure 1/3 size dolls were right for me, I went straight for the one I wanted the most.

 

‘Aspects of the hobby’... my first ever dye attempt was on a Dollshe 18m. He was expensive & I’d waited ages for the body. I wanted to hybrid him though, and the mismatch with his head was huge. So A) spend a lot on a new body or B) dye him. I plunged for the latter. It was terrifying but worked brilliantly!