Do you have a doll buying rubric?

A few of my main points when comes to deciding on a doll are:

- Is it 1/4 or smaller? (Can be swapped with anyone's size of choice.)
- What is the posing like and are there pictures to show?
- Can clothes be easily found for them/would I be able to gather a nice wardrobe?
- Would I need to hybrid them? (If so, avoid, in my case.)
- Do I like the default faceup?
- A follow-up: Would I be willing to spend the money to get a nice custom faceup done if blank? Or would my limited skills be enough?

I'm sure there's more I'm not thinking about in regards to my own unwritten rubric (aside from cost, that is), but these tend to be my main points.

 

I think a rubric would work decently for playline collectors, but it seems a bit silly to score a doll based off this to me. I'm not filling my room with 50 small dolls, so I need to love it more than "Yep, this one hits 15 points! It's a keeper!" I'm going to have to spend a significant amount of time and effort on this dang doll to make it perfect and I am NOT doing that for one that is merely satisfactory.

My purchases in the last 5 years have been dolls I've wanted for a very long time. I've looked at enough dang dolls by now to know exactly what I want and exactly what I will not like. I know there are beautiful dolls, and I also know I can't have all of the dolls I find beautiful. It's really gotta be cream of the crop before I even think about putting money into it.

 

The closest i have for mine is:

- Where will it go?
Lifelong doll (among other things) collector, space is at a premium, especially since my husband is also a collector.

- How will it fit with the exisitng dolls?
Most of my SD size dolls are a large Victorian fmiy of siblings and cousins.

- Will I ever get around to making the clothes it will need?
Most of my gang are historially themed and very few commercialy availbale outfits are right, so making or affording to commission are the options.

- Will I actually play with it?
To me they are toys, and it's pointless having them if I don't play with them - if I dress them and sit them on a shelf untouched until th next time i change their clothes they ar takign up space for dolls I will pick up and play with - hence my currentl list of ten dolls I need to list for sale (well, seven now, as three have been rehomed)

And even with that in place, temptation often wins out over sense - hence the new doll arriving in April who won't fit in with any of my existing collection. Has no place to go once here, Who won't fit into bought clothing, and who I am HOPING I will actully play with, since I had to start a layaway to pay for her a when I couldn't resist her at a BJD convention last autumn.

Teddy

 

Oh, I love that youtube channel I'm not a playline collector but I still like watching playline youtubers.

The categories that I most often "score" a doll by are probably:

• Price (Can I justify the price?)
• Aesthetic Appeal (Is the sculpt appealing to me? Is it unique enough that I couldn't buy it cheaper elsewhere?)
• Size (Does it fit into my preferred size range?)
• Engineering (Does the doll have especially good, especially bad, or average posing abilities?)

I'm hesitant to include this because it veeery rarely affects my judgment, but maaaaybe a 5th category might be "company perception" or something similar. Because there are certain artists/companies that I either have moral objections to or are simply unreliable or known to run off with money. But those cases it's almost always a black and white thing, and no good price or perfect aesthetic could potentially bring the score back up into "considering buying" territory.

The biggest problem I see is that a negative extreme of most of those categories would be an instant no-go... Like a doll could be $150, the most gorgeous doll I've ever seen, and an excellent poser... but if it's a 1:1 scale 80+cm doll I am not buying it no matter what.

 

I don't really ask those questions that consciously, but I guess:

- Price (incl shipping options)
- Can I customise it fully myself or do I have to wipe a previous faceup/sell a previous wig etc (as I'd prefer a clean slate, or at least not to have to wipe super precious work)
- Is it different to what I already have/will it contribute significantly to my collection? Or would it be better to spend on option parts and shoes for my existing crew instead?
- Will I have to wait a very long time?
- Can I get it second hand? (Always love a fixer upper! And given the broken second hand market at the moment, I feel like buying second hand benefits the community, too)

Will I throw all those in the corner should and exception appear that I *need* to get? Probably

 

That's so interesting, and not something I ever really thought about when buying dolls (either bjd or fashion). I think having an actual scoring system that's rigid like a rubric would honestly stress me out more than loosely considering things. For me, I generally look at price, ease of getting (eg is it readily available from a dealer or does it come up often on the second hand market, or is it a limited order and harder to find second hand), can i find blank pictures from multiple angles (since I'm usually buying them with the plan to customize them and faceups can obscure the actual features), do i like the body it comes with or will i need to hybrid it, if new, how reliable is the maker/ what is the wait time, and ultimately the main thing i consider is how well the doll suits the character I have in mind. If I don't have a character in mind and just think it's pretty, I won't get it unless it's a special fullset that I won't need to try to figure out how to customize.

 

I don't have a rubric because it feels too constraining, but if I'm very undecided, I make a Pros vs Cons table.

How that table works -- I divide a piece of paper in half, write on one side "Reasons to Buy this doll", write on the other side "Reasons to Not Buy this doll", and brain dump all my thoughts into both columns. I can see my thoughts on paper all in the same place, it often puts words to any gut feelings I have, and it helps me get a better perspective on the doll.

The reason why I like this Pros vs Cons table, is that it reveals my priorities in that particular context, time and place. I had different doll buying criteria in March 2023 vs March 2024, not to mention the weighting I give to those priorities have changed. I think Pros vs Cons, instead of a rubric or checklist, helps me explore that better.

I've made a few Pros vs Cons tables, and some priorities that consistently appear...

- Does New Doll inspire a character in my imagination? I shell OCs but the dolls have to be the original source of inspiration. Having a pretty face is not enough - New Doll needs to stir my imagination.
- Do I have a role in my crew that none of my existing dolls already fulfill? Does New Doll fulfill that empty role?
- I adore my existing crew, I spend a lot of money, time, energy and attention playing with them and buying things for them, and daydreaming about their characters and storyline. Do I find New Doll compelling enough that I want to make room in my house, imagination and wallet for yet another character and hunk of resin, and thereby give less to my existing crew?
- What does life look like without New Doll? Can I imagine my crew without it? Can I see myself letting New Doll go forever, and just enjoying it in photos?
- Can I secure this doll right away (eg. preorder is open right now)? If I don't buy it now, am I willing to wait and search for it secondhand?

Those are questions I usually end up answering with that Pros vs Cons table.

 

@Saphira I was actually just thinking about this, because I was inspired to make a doll-buying rubric from that very video when it came out! I'll share my version that I came up with based on her rubric, if it's helpful: BJD Buying Rubric. I added a couple of columns, and this rubric is definitely tailored to my personal tastes (for example, I prefer to buy second hand or in-stock because I have no patience for preorders, and I like dolls on the smaller end). I don't know if the rubric would be definitive, because I have a terrible habit of impulse purchases, but the exercise of creating it really helped me think through my doll-buying priorities.

 

My collection was always designed as a way to tell my own story (like a life journal expressed visually with dolls.) To do so, I created a fantasy world where diversity was key, somewhat like a Tim Burton’s “Alice”. This way I could collect whatever doll appealed to my imagination without worrying about size or form. The freedom appealed to me, and I set very few limiting factors but I do have a few.

• I must be able to purchase them on layaway and roll the payments comfortably into my household budget. Price is only a secondary factor as long as my layaway can be extended long enough to remain comfortable.
• They must be unique enough to inspire my imagination and tell an aspect of my story that’s not already being told by another doll. No redundancies here…I have too much story to tell!
• They must inspire a unique wardrobe that fits into my love and exploration of unique fashion styles (and inspires me to want to create it.)
• They must be able to fit into one of my special artistic doll displays, otherwise there’s just no room for them.

 

I buy what I like in the moment so long as I can afford to without layaway (don't want to wait that long) or charging on credit (no extra costs). When I first started collecting BJD I wanted every doll pristine and boxed, brand new from the company however, I soon learned (I don't like to wait the 3-6 for manufacture and once opened the doll is no longer pristine). Now I tend to buy only second hand hoping to give *that poor cast off doll* a forever home, I seem to fixate on a specific doll line and buy them (multiples of same sculpt) until I am satiated then move on to something different. I love to fix them up (washing, restringing, new face-up if necessary) but no major resin damage. Cost plays into it too as I prefer to stay below $400 range. I don't want anything too *in demand* that would raise the price beyond *new* price. I am currently loving the second hand market for early 2000's child MSD's.

• no layaway
• no credit card charge
• second hand preferred
• no major resin damage
• under $400 and less than new

 

I don't have a rubric but I guess a mental checklist.
Does it have elf ears or fairy wings? I admit, I mostly collect elves. I have a couple normal eared dolls but they are very specific characters.
Do I like their face sculpt? This is a gut reaction either immediate YES, or NO. The ones who I am like Hmmm maybe...I do more research on and give myself time to contemplate.
Can I pay on layaway? Because I love layaway.
Will they go with any other dolls I have? For example, I saw someone had a Coral Reef doll. It was cute, so I started to research the brand and found one of their newer dolls, and my mind went "Oh that could be Cutter! He could go with Leetah (Fairyland Nuia)!" But I wasn't sure so I asked my friends to weigh in and they agreed with me. So now he is on layaway. He wasn't planned but I am really hopeful he will make a good match to my other layaway doll hahahaha.

I don't really worry about wigs/clothes/shoes/faceup until after the purchase.

 

I probably subconsciously do yes, because I prefer making highly structured decisions and can be indecisive without self imposed rules. (I have to convince myself to buy things more than not to buy. This is sometimes a problem in other parts of my life.)

Are they a size I already enjoy?
Are they a size I already know has drawbacks? (Consider carefully)

Are they something I know I like? (Rounder faces for example) If so do I benefit from another or do I actually want to work on a character I already have? (Often I realize it's the latter)

Does this doll give me an opportunity to do something new and exciting I wasn't doing? And most importantly do I actually want to do the thing? (I have trouble actually telling what I want vs. being excited about all the potential ideas ever.) Furthermore could I do that thing with a doll I already have?

How much work/money/mental labor goes into this doll? Do they use resources I've already stockpiled (eyes, wigs etc) or do I have to collect more for them? Is it going to be fun or boring/frustrated?

I think you kind of get the jist here. My rubric mostly logics me out of spending money. Because not spending money is it's own reward for me. however, after all that it's important not to overthink all the fun out of my life. This is why all my doll purchases end up feel both totally spontaneous and conscious. Sometimes I just need to go through the motions of a new project and that's ok. I must actively force myself to live in the moment.

Anyway my answer is weird as usual. But this is a very interesting topic to read from others!

 

I don't have a rubric. I'm at a point now with my collection to where I've tried most things that I wanted to try and know what works for me and what doesn't, so a rubric would be a bit redundant.

Instead, I split my wishlist into "must have" and "nice to have." "Must have" dolls are dolls I keep coming back to over time that I have a pretty good feeling that I would enjoy to the fullest extent. "Nice to have" dolls are dolls I would only purchase if circumstances aligned to where I could purchase them without it inhibiting my current projects or my ability to purchase dolls on my "must have" list. All dolls start on "nice to have" and move up if I find I'm still excited about/want them regularly 3-6 months after being added to the wishlist.

I do have some criteria for immediate removal from the wishlist, though.

• No YoSD dolls -- I've tried them before and they just don't work for me
• MSDs are iffy -- Standard MSD/slim MSD sizes are a no-go for me, I almost always prefer atypical proportions
  
• Fullsets -- with few exceptions, fullsets tend to ruin the doll experience for me by making me scared to play with/customize my dolls
• Hyper-realism -- it just doesn't scratch the itch for me and I don't enjoy it
• Inability to sit well -- this is an instant deal-breaker and the most cardinal of dolly sins for me
• Significant damage -- I'm not versed enough in doll repair to feel comfortable taking on a project with a lot of staining/cracks/gouges/other damage

As someone else up-thread mentioned, I also have a clause against certain doll companies for ethical/moral reasons. I may purchase their dolls secondhand if presented with the opportunity, but I will not buy directly from the company.

 

I don't a have rubric per se, but I definitely have a sort of unwritten checklist that every doll that I have bought has passed. That checklist includes the usual stuff as size, how easy or not is to get, if it fits my budget... but also a lot of other indicators related to the doll's character level of completion (name, age, backstory, style, relation with other dolls, etc).
I'm not planning on buying many more dolls soon, so I don't have a wish list right now, but I place there all the dolls I like that check all those usual boxes while I try to figure out the character-related things. If I'm able to get everything figured out, I will seriously consider buying the doll when life allows it.

 

No but I have a rule for myself that I have to find myself thinking about a doll for a significant amount of time in order to buy them. Significant time...being a few months at the least.
However I have broken this rule for dolls that are limited, in that case I knew that I would horrifically regret not buying that sculpt. On top of its unique features. If I'd have just been a little sad...I would have passed on it.

Other than that I just go off of how best it would fit the character I have in mind.

 

It used to be if I liked the doll and had the money to spare I'd just buy it.

I have quite a few dolls and a serious photo story now so my spending has changed. Season one, has already been made and I am slowly uploading it. I needed one more character for season two and he has been preordered. The script is written.

I've got the characters that I need for the story planned for season three, and I've picked out the dolls I want for those character roles. If they are not on the list. I have a year before I even need to worry about this. I have no reason to get dolls outside of the planned ones as I work on the script ahead of time. I can't photograph the story for season 3 without them. They are my priority.

I have future ideas on where I want the story to go, and what characters might be needed, but the dolls on the list have to come first. A couple partners for my dolls that will still be single at the end of season three, but they are distant ideas and I am not going to buy those over the ones that I need for season three.

My main shopping now is if it's a character in my photo story, and when does the character first appear. If it's not, I don't need it. Or if it appears in a later season I need to get the upcoming dolls for the current season I am shooting first.

 

I have a short list of requirements. No need to divulge.

I actually have a lot more boundaries on play-line purchases though. You have to be more strict with toys that are comparatively in abundance versus expensive, limited, time consuming, big resin dolls. I will say i dont even step foot into target though. I'd be buying everything.

 

I didn‘t see this thread before asking a similar question earlier. Everyone‘s opinions have been really illuminating to me, as I haven‘t been in this hobby long enough to properly figure out my own rubric. I find it‘s been a lot of trial and error for me!

I find sticking to certain rules helpful although there always has to be room for exceptions. Personally I don‘t like too much variety in size/style though, it makes my collection feel cluttered so I want it to be more cohesive going forward. Size and proportion, and dolls matching size-wise, is a big thing for me. Otherwise, still learning!