Do you like the idea of "limited" dolls?

I don't mind it. I probably wouldn't buy one (I'm not an impule-ish person) but I think the idea of having a unique doll that only a few other people share could be cool. Of course, yes, it is unfair that some people may really want it but not be able to get it, but I think that's part of what makes them special. Because the second you have enough money and can make an impule buy like that, then maybe that's your perfect doll. (that made sense in my head >.<)

 

Eh, I experienced this thought when I first saw my first love, my boy Keijo. X3

I hated that he had that dreaded "SOLD OUT" under his name Dx But that just made me patient in searching for him. Surely enough, a Tan Godo surfaced and I snapped him up after pouring my every cent that I could spare into savings for him XD Just because they're limited doesn't mean they're gone for good, unless it's a OOAK sculpt

As for the argument about why they wouldn't just up their prices and keep everything standard, it's actually been beaten into the ground quite a bit. Limited dolls are a tool for the company to make large amounts of money fast.

If everything was standard people would put their products on the back burner for something a little more pressing, and their income would slow. Proof being that my list of dolls that I want is mostly compiled of standard editions, that I know will be there when I finally stop getting side tracked I know that it isn't the same in most people's cases, but there are quite a few that have the same issue, where they feel that they can "get it later".

I still don't quite get why people seem to forget that the companies are in the business to make money selling something they love to make, and it isn't like they're evil money grubbing bastards for doing it.

One reason that everything isn't standard is this:

A company would rather sell 50 dolls in 2 months for more, rather than 50 dolls over the course of a year. Larger doll companies have employees, material suppliers, taxes and everything to pay on their products/businesses. Not to mention how many dolls it takes to get 1 good doll out of how many they cast.

There's a point to limiteds. An example being with Soom Emporium, they bought out a struggling/dead company, AngelRegion, no doubt because of the wild success of the MD line. With a couple hundred of dolls being bought each month. However, if anyone remembers Soom Emporium before that, it was a relatively small and unpopular company.

Lastly, I'll never understand where the heck that "everyone that buys limited is Scrooge McDuck" concept. Where they just swim in money and buy limited dolls just because they're limited and expensive and because you can't afford it. Most forgo a lot and save towards the things that they want. Some buy them on the second hand, others use those two wonderfully magical things that have granted most of us the ability to even dare glance a limited doll, LAYAWAY PLANS and SPLITS.

Ever look into a doll waiting room for a limited that the company has a layaway policy on? Count the ratio of splits and layaways to those paid in full. Not everyone's Scrooge McDuck, and those of us that aren't find our ways of getting what we want.

 

I like it... I think it's kind of cool to have one of the few ones of my doll in the world.
True when you miss out, you miss out, but then the ones who do get it will have one of the few of that doll. Again my first and only doll so far is a Limited doll and it was nice to get free clothes with my first doll.

 

Yes and no. Yes because for me, it would just make the doll that much more special for me (especially since I only plan on owning one or two. >.> Though please do not hold me to this later on). No, because the only doll I want atm is the limited Ryoya Konoe.....which is only going to make my wallet hate me even more than it already does.

 

I like the idea of limited dolls, but have the same issue. I've wanted several of Soom's limiteds, along with one of DOD's, and now, I have to pay twice as much just to get one. It's really rather sad. I think that the limiteds should have a no clothes, no faceup, no wig policy or something for those of us unable to purchase the real limited stuff right away.

 

I generally dislike limited dolls for being fairly expensive and by the time I hear about them, sold out completely. However, I do think they should make them, as they are really cool.

 

I totally agree with you belleiseult. I think that limitedness is nothing but a chance for scalpers to take advantage on others.

 

This. In complete agreement with you both. Aggravates the bleep out of me to see something go for twice as much on the secondary market when it's not something where there's only 5 or 10 of them on the whole planet.

 

I think some limited doll will be open next time, but they will change something. the company wants to earn more money, so they sell it again.
company should tell people in advance, then we can prepare for the money if we want to buy it. and we can use the time to think about whether we like the doll or not. Maybe we see it and buy it, then we dont like it and sell it to another person.

 

I can't agree enough with this thought. I've seen people on the forum talk about how they'd hate for BJDs to become common place, and I think Limited Dolls in a way help to keep this semi -elitist attitude.

On a bit of a tangent:
Personally, I'd love to see BJD's as a "more reasonable " in price range so that it would drop the elitist mindset. I know this is unlikely to ever happen, but it's wishful thinking that I'll gladly share with DOA.

 

Yes and No..
Yes because it's nice to have a doll only a few other people have, so you don't get flooded with them.. and mostly they've got something extra that 'regular' dolls don't have and they're most of the time really beautiful.
And No because well, if it's a doll you really like and is perfect for a character or something it kinda sucks if you couldn't get it for some reason.. and they're mostly kinda expencive so they're only for the people who have that kind of money at that time.

 

Something costing twice as much on the secondary market doesn't autimatically mean there are scalpers involved. There is something called market value.
Take Williams. He's very popular and difficult to obtain first hand and I don't think it's surprising his price is skyrocketing. Even when sellers put him on Y!J for less than what they paid for him it's only a matter of time before that auction reaches the $3000 mark.

 

I do like LEs. I don't buy or not buy purely on the basis of standard vs LE, although it has made me speed up decisions; I buy on suitability to my characters. I'm a collector by nature, so the idea of rarer models isn't a turnoff for me, and LEs create more excitement within the community. Even if I'm not looking for a doll or have no reason to expect I'll want what's coming out, I LOVE seeing what Volks, Iplehouse, LUTS, Soom, etc., bring out to tempt us. I enjoy seeing others get excited about it, too.

LEs are a way for companies to keep our attention, too. There's only so many times that "Hey, here's our unchanged lineup of standards!" is going to get a lot of hits on the company webpage.

Yeah, the psychology being used in LEs totally works on me. It doesn't help that I live in a country where there's LE EVERYTHING (I've lost count of the limited time KitKat flavours I've seen).

 

A lot of people are forgetting that the majority of the companies who release LE dolls have regular release periods. Soom releases LEs monthly, Iplehouse releases LEs every three months (am I right?), Volks releases LEs to go with their regular Dolpas, Luts and Fairyland have summer and winter events...so if there's a company with a style of doll you like, save your pennies and wait for the event to roll around. If you've saved enough and you like the LE on offer, you buy...if not, just hold tight to your doll savings and see what catches your eye at another LE event down the road. People who only collect Volks YoSD have to do this because Yos aren't standard edition dolls, they're always released in conjunction with a Dolpa, so to be able to get one you've got to anticipate an event and get your funds ready.

Even if you don't like any of the new LEs released, you've still got savings you could use to track down an older LE you really love. All really is not lost...and ultimately it's not the end of the flipping world if you can't buy a certain doll. I'm sure everyone has a grail doll, but if you're really serious about it, you'd scrape your money together and go hunt it down, not sit back and whinge about how unfair LEs are. You have to hunt for them, LEs won't come to you.

 

????

Semi-elitist attitude?

Well I was not a fan of limited dolls at first because of scalpers. Also because the doll I wanted was a limited and I was disappointed that I would be stuck trying to get her second hand. So, on one hand I can relate.

I feel differently now about limited dolls (still don't like scalpers). There are plenty of non limited dolls to buy so no one is missing out on dolls. But for those who want something a little special from a company they like Limited Dolls are a nice extra. I don't think people are elite for having a doll I can't get. So what - I can get some other cool doll another time.

Also, hard to get items are a natural part of many hobbies. It is part of the excitement for some. If you don't feel the same I totally understand but accusing people of being Semi-Elitist is not really fair.

With all that said I will add that I LOVE my non limited dolls as much as my limited ones. I buy them because they fit my personality and tastes not because they are rare. I don't imagine myself parading them around to feel special and elite In the end many of our "limited" dolls will be released again so having it just for "rarity" was never much of a motivation.

As for more reasonably priced BJDs? What did you have in mind? Currently there seems to be a pretty healthy range of doll prices out there? If you don't want the pricey ones there are nice alternatives. Also, the less pricey dolls are welcomed here on DOA with open arms!!! It looks like you just joined DOA (Welcome) and I am unsure why you are going on about elitists already? It is not uncommon to see an owner on DOA with a 200 dollar doll next to a 1200 dollar doll in their collection

 

I love limiteds. I think its really cool to have only a few of a doll- I find it kind of boring when everyone seems to have the same doll. Of course, I don't like non-limiteds any less, but I think limited dolls add to the fun. And while it may be upsetting to not get a limited you really love, its awesome for the person that has it to have something so rare! I think a limited order period is better than a limited number, but either way is fine for me~

 

What I'm referring to is that I've seen multiple references such as "I don't want to see these dolls become common place" or "I'm glad BJD's aren't popular."

Statements like that seem to a newcomer like me that if BJD's were popular, then somehow that would make the hobby less special. In my opinion, that's somewhat elitist.

Granted, I understand that there are those who would disagree, and I'm not going to look down on people who disagree with me on that.

I'm a little unsure on how my status as a newcomer should dictate my opinion on this matter. I may not have been into this hobby for years, but certain trends often occur in collectible hobbies, and I've been part of collecting hobbies for quite sometimes. Be it Magic Cards, Figs or BJDs. I apologize if I ruffled any feathers, but I was just explaining my reasons for not necessarily liking Limited Dolls.

That said, it doesn't bother me that people have Limited Dolls. If you have the means and desire to get them, the go for it. I was just expressing my opinion. Nothing more.

 

Your status as a new comer was mentioned because it seemed that you were a bit quick to start calling people elitists in a hobby you just entered. I wouldn't want you to feel that way coming out of the starting gate because I think you will find that people are very nice on DOA (even if they happen to have a limited doll ). At least I hope you find it that way and enjoy yourself on the forum!

But to address your point, yes I have seen posts expressing fears of dolls becoming mainstream. I can't speak for the collectors discussing this but I am guessing that some of that comes from a fear that the dolls will become less special and hand crafted etc. When something is "mainstream" it is produced for the masses thus there would be less room for unique releases and special collaborations etc...Also, it would be harder for the dolls to be so crafted or "hand made." But again I can't say for sure what people are really feeling on DOA.

No feathers are ruffled. Mostly my post was intended to nudge you away from an idea that people liking limited dolls are somehow elite or superior before you have taken some time on the board to get to know them.

Again welcome to DOA! I hope you get your new doll soon! Waiting is a killer.

 

If you're looking for a reason why someone might not want BJDs to become mainstream or popular, here's one... these dolls are currently hand-crafted by artists, or at the very least sculpted by artists and cast by skilled craftspeople. The demand for BJDs is already quite high. I would hate for an upsurge in demand to eliminate the artisan part of creating a BJD by forcing these small producers to either shut down or mechanise their production to produce identical dolls for the masses. If you want that kind of doll, there's Barbie. Some Barbies even have ball-joints.

BJDs being a small hobby doesn't make me feel special and better than anyone else, it makes the artist-doll-owner connection special and that's why I don't want to see BJD craftsmanship degenerate into mass-production. It's the difference between getting a hand-made card from someone who has spent time and energy putting it together and making it beautiful and getting a mass-produced card from someone who plucked it from the rack last minute.

 

I'm revisiting this thread after a few months and have changed my mind.

Recently, I walked into a Sumika in Japan to renew my Volks membership and happened to see a Lillie. After a disappointing FCS order (a botched face-up that resulted in a very odd shine) I thought I was finished with Volks dolls. But darn them! It took mere moments for me to pick up the doll, take it to the counter, look at her adorable face and say that I would buy it. I walked out of the store stunned that I had a YoSD from Volks. I never thought I'd own a limited because I have zero desire to stand in line for one or go to an After Party.

So, if limiteds are accessible I like them. If they're not, I don't.

For me, it really comes down to the doll itself. I'd love my dolls the same if a million people owned the same ones. I don't care how rare something is.