Do you like the idea of "limited" dolls?

Y'know thinking about it, even though I don't mean to, I do seem to end up with a lot of LE dolls. I can't explain it really! It's just kinda happened.

 

With the exception of two complete dolls and two heads that eventually became full dolls, all of my dolls have come to me 2nd-hand, via the Marketplace or eBay. So when I'm looking at buying (whether it's standard or non-standard dolls) I have to look at what the MP is offering.

I own quite a few limiteds, but not because I enjoy their rareness or their exclusivity and get some kind of kick out of the idea that they're limited. It's partly because I have an aesthetic preference for mature, realistic faces that's primarily satisfied by companies who enjoy making limited dolls, so I don't have much of a choice in the matter. The other part is that, well, limited dolls are harder to come by, so I have to jump when one is available or I might not see it again for a while. Especially if it's going for a really good rate.

When confronted with the choice between a standard I can still get from the company next month or the month after, or a sold-out doll I've wanted for just as long that may not come up for sale again for months or longer, the harder to find of the two is going to win out because who knows when I'll get another opportunity to bring it home.

Then my money is gone and I can't afford that standard model I'd been saving up for in the first place. Then...just when I get the funds together again...something else comes up that I've been pining for for a long while and the cycle repeats.

 

I totally agree with this.

 

I dislike the limited dolls because you cant always afford it right then and there, and i prefer new dolls fresh from the company. So I would miss out on some really amazing dolls.

 

I don't really see doll collecting as a hoarding hobby that I have to get all of them. Limiteds are limited for a reason, if you want something save up for a rainy day so you don't have to dig pockets. If you have to dig your pockets for it, maybe its better to think of it that
A) I can save more so that a better limited may come out in the future
B) maybe I can purchase it 2nd hand when I do have the money.

Also... without limiteds, im not sure we would admire certain dolls as much? Unless if their regular buying price is absolutely skyhigh anyway even though they arent limited. Just a figure that, there wont really be any grail dolls anymore because anyone can just buy them anytime. If that makes sense o.O;

 

I like it. It would probobly feel more special to have one of them.. But hard if they're sold out to thats kind of no fun.. :S But then I think "It wasn't ment to be" I dont have a se doll myself.

 

I like Estrial's take on it, but that could also be because I am a SOOM girl and their limiteds are lovely to me. This way it is easier for me to save up and really force myself to realize if I am making a good decision or not, since I get kinda stingy when it comes to big purchases.

 

Yes, I too have a handful of limiteds (I've also lost out on limited events). I didn't pursue them because they were limited, but because the thing that influences my own choices happened: the face reached out, grabbed me, shook me hard and wouldn't let go. When that happens and if I wasn't successful in the event scramble, I've stuck with the quest to bring them home, whether that's in new condition or from the aftermarket. Most of the limiteds I have came to me second hand. Love 'em just as much.

And this certainly influences whether one might insist on acquiring a limited only through the event. For my part, I enjoy the search ... I actually enjoy this much more than the angst of dealing with limited events. And I'm willing to wait long enough for the exorbitant aftermarket prices to return to a more reasonable range. But then, I like finding a head, then finding the right body and making a project of it. Given that I go for faces rather than styling, I generally don't mind when the fullset parts aren't included. But I know the fullsets are often the deciding factor for many. I've just found I put the fullsets in a ziplock bag to protect them and then never used them ... so I have to scratch my head why I'd bother with them anyway.

I haven't noticed that problem here, but again, I'm not swayed by the cachet of limited, so I truly don't mind if 1000 other people have the same doll ... few of those dolls are going to be carbon copies of each other no matter how many exist. And then, limiteds or scarce dolls aren't necessarily guaranteed admiration- or envy- or awe-status. I have a doll of which there are probably no more than 16 in the world. I know of only two others here on this board, and only I have ever posted the sculpt in the Gallery. Virtually nobody commented (and that's fine), because virtually nobody has or knows of the doll. It has no cachet just because it is rare or limited. Obscurity as an outcome, rather than fandom, is equally possible.

I think if we're shooting for admiration, we often do better with popular dolls, even popular limiteds that have a much larger release.

 

Sounds nice, but then what? New customers join the hobby, see the doll that was available for a year, but is now sold out and are miffed, 'cause now they can't get it. You can't please all your customers, so companies make choices they think is best for them and their fans.

 

I like the idea of the limited models, even if I can not afford any or them. But someday I will, thanks to God the second - hand market exists and I am saving my money to buy it.

The idea of them being almost unique is what made interesting, after all, each fan wants their BJD to be unique, of course even if the model is limited the owner can change it completely, that is something thar surprise me a lot, about this kind of models, personally I do not think I will be able to change a limited doll, I loved it in the original way.

 

I am new to this hobby and missed out on a doll I really wanted by a few days (so long Pipos O.Charlotte!) so I am slightly "disliking" LE right now. Though at the same time, I do understand why companies make LE. It's giving people the chance to own a "special" doll.

It's also usually pretty exciting to sit and wait for them to come up for sale. I guess I have a love/hate relationship with things that are LE (and not just BJDs). For now, I tell myself that I missed out on some in the past, true, but there's always future ones to look forward to.

And as some users mentioned, there's the second hand market if you're very patient.

 

Not at all.
I love soom, but every doll is limited.... that makes me miss soooo much dolls ...
T T

 

I don't want to make the "It's not fair" argument, even though it isn't. XD Life in general isn't fair, so the point is moot. I do see LE dolls as a bit strange, though.

I think it's weird to make limited quantities of something that we can't even really keep as collector's items since they get coloration damage so easily just by the very nature of what they're made out of. It's not like glass or porcelain where as long as you don't drop it, it'll be ok. Not even storing these dolls in boxes for years will keep them from doing what resin does naturally. Limited outfits and makeup and wigs and shoes and eyes, ok, those make sense. But the doll itself? Eh... And then with the economy like it is the last several years, if you have a timed release LE doll, it almost seems like a bad business practice because most people don't have enough time to save up to get the doll because it gets announced with about a week's worth of warning and then POOF it's no longer available, and so the hard earned/saved money goes to the second hand market at an increased price usually, which lately has had to drop because... surprise... not as many of us can buy right now.
That's not to mention that we tend to be customizers in this hobby, so it's not like "more" of them would make them less special.

 

Well,the conception of 'limited' is good on some aspect for me~If there is no time or number limitation I normally hesitate for a long while until I loss my passion on it~but when it is limited, I ought to make decision soon and think about how to save money for it~Fortunately,those limited dolls never made me disappointed!

 

Are you familiar with limited edition food products? Like candy or ice-cream released in a particular flavour for a limited time period. You eat it and then it's gone, but the whole concept of "you can only experience it now" makes the product more desirable. A more desirable product sells better and if you do it right as a company the increased production costs will be covered and some more by the increase in sales.
It's not that different with dolls. Some people like to "experience it now" with limited edition dolls instead of thinking how their dolls will look 10 or 20 years from now.

 

I'm pretty impartial. It's a great marketing strategy, and like so many others have said, it encourages an impulse buy. Luckily, I have never been SO enraptured by a limited doll that's sold out that I just had to have it, but I feel for those who are and who end up spending well over what they could have spent if they'd bought the doll from the company.

For those who do get the limiteds and love them, it's great. They feel special, the doll feels special, and even if they don't like it, they know they can turn it around for a profit even if that wasn't their original goal (aka. not people who intentionally buy the limited dolls to sell them). For those who don't get them that really wanted them, they could either end up buying that doll for a much higher price OR they could become disenchanted with the doll and bitter about it. You could say 'well, good thing they didn't get them in the first place, they didn't really want them.'

The only 'limited' doll I was only sad about not owning was the Limited Fullset of Mars from Iplehouse. But I just bought him custom make-up when I made his basic purchase and got the company to give me the limited face up. They were more than happy to do so, too! So, if there's only ONE specific thing about a limited doll you like, who knows, you may be able to come across it without the price gauging.

 

I dont have any limiteds, but not for lack of wanting.
I cant afford to have a limited because it takes ages to save. Half the time i wish some limiteds were not so limited!
I dont understand people who buy limiteds just because theyre limited and add to a collection.

 

There are pro's and cons.

Pros: You dont have to really worry about TONS of people havin the same doll as you. It gives bragging rights ;D

Cons: Sometimes it takes a LONG time to save up enough money for a doll. And they may be gone by the time you have enough money

 

Limited dolls are great but the customising options are also... limited I feel these dolls come perfect the way they are and there's not much that can be done about them. Having a lot of experience with fashion dolls, I have to say I've always preferred basic versions.

 

I like the idea of limited dolls, they are not more special than non-limited dolls for me but as itachi1chan said, it feels nice to have a doll that not many people do. it also makes the hobby more interesting, grail dolls and the hunt/research for them, the smile on your face when you finally got THAT doll after year, two on even more, priceless.