Do you like the idea of "limited" dolls?

I'm impartial to the idea of Limited Dolls. I know for small independent doll makers like DD Anne, it doesnt make sense for her to keep making the same doll over and over again. Obviously she would like to move on to an new idea. So for that reason I think Limited Dolls should exist. I myself like the customize-ability of dolls and haven't found myself pining for an LE doll. The way I see it is that there are always going to be new LE dolls coming out and if I can't get that one I'm sure I'll fall in love with another one. So far, none of my dolls are LE but I can't say that I won't get one in the future. Most likely the reason will not be that it is LE but because I love the clothing it comes with as well as any extra accessories. An interesting faceup is also a plus but I am more interested in doing my own than getting a factory faceup that is LE.

 

I think it's a necessary evil. On one side they're beautiful and it's a bummer when you can't buy one out for a month. But if you think about it, the companies probably make a good bulk of money off of them. There is a one time production of them, but they're in high demand at that time - I think a lot of people rush to buy them, or are more likely to impulse buy because they will soon go out of stock. We don't want our companies going out of business ^^;;

 

This analogy (accurate as it may be) makes me like LE dolls even less. X( Bubblegum ice cream at least comes back every year and it doesn't cost an entire month's rent, and I can always decide to get it the next day if I felt like Mint 'n Chip today. SOOM did this sort of thing with their Mecha Angels, 5 days a month only. You knew they'd be back and you had time to save up and get them, yet they were still moderately limited. So not only did they have the Limited appeal, the company could keep making a return on them throughout the rest of the year. And then Iple does the Custom system now, every few weeks. I'd be curious to see which system actually works better as far as keeping the lights on, the timed cycles for basics or the strictly LE ones.

 

Not really. But that could be because I'm currently after a limited doll (DDdy Sasara) and it's very frustrating due to her extremely high price. :\ I understand why they have limited dolls, and I can understand why certain people like the idea of having limited dolls... I think that instead of having dolls that will never be made again, that they could be "made to order" or something like that. So they won't over-make a doll, and that the people who truly want it can own one without having to pay a large sum of money for a doll that was limited edition. However, I can be honest and say, that if I had a highly desired limited doll I would probably feel a little "proud" that I had one. But I'd always feel sad for those that wanted it and were not able to get it too.

 

DDdy Sasara is also a licensed product. Volks probably only got the licensing to do one release of her. The contract may also have limited the number of dolls produced hence the lottery. For DDdy Yoko (from Gurren Lagann), she was available as a pre-order and not through a lottery so everyone who wanted her got her provided they put in their orders by the deadline.

Since Volks Momoko (from Kamikaze Girls) did not look exactly like the actress who portrayed her Volks was able to re-release the mold as Bianka and Rose bypassing the Copyright limitations.

 

^Yes. To add, limited edition food is out for way longer than LE dolls. Sometimes, you don't even remember limited edition food was limited edition because it was out for a good couple of months. Plus, a lot of foods that claim to be limited aren't actually. I can only speak for myself when I say that a minor factor with my dislike of LE dolls is the time frame. Some of us can't cough up $700 in a month. That just isn't happening. But for me it's a pretty minor factor. The main reason is that I just don't want to buy them. They're nice to look at, of course, but I cannot see myself going for an LE doll on the company site, or the marketplace.

Call it playing safe, but I prefer non-LE dolls for this exact reason. For the most part, I know I can take my time saving up, and most likely, they won't be sold-out when I finally have enough to buy them. I'm not particularly into the 'rush' of it all.

 

I like limited edition dolls. So far, I had no desire to own one, but I like seeing all the creativity. In fact, I wish there were more limited or one of a kind dolls, as they showcase some of the best talent in the hobby. I guess I am one of those oddballs who is completely satisfied with the basic, unlimited dolls - there is so much variety out there right now that I can easily find exactly what I want among the readily available standard sculpts. Of course, I am sure that eventually a limited doll will come along that I will want to have, but if I miss out, I am not going to lose sleep over it; there's always going to be something new and shiny to be had in the future.

 

>.< I like the idea because I would love to have a limited doll, but I also dislike it because if I miss the chance to buy it, then i probably won't get to ever have it. =/

I don't think there's anything wrong at all with the idea though. It's a way to get customers to buy on a impulse, and then the value of the doll will go up if resold later.

 

The made to order idea doesn't work so well because it will definitely cost more to make made to order. If there is a batch then you can produce it in a factory style instead of cutting out the pattern for one shirt, one pants and etc. The made for order also only works for larger companies who have contracts with factories to produce their clothes for them and etc. The larger companies won't lose much revenue for doing made-to-order because they already have a lot of revenue coming in for their normal dolls. For small independent doll makers, made to order for fullset dolls don't make sense because they often do everything themselves or work with a costumer. They don't have as many customers usually and can't spend their time remaking an old design when they can be working on something new which would probably sell better since it's new.

In the end, BJD manufacturing tends to necessitate LE because a lot of items need hand sewing and crafting. Molding and casting aside, there is also sanding and stringing which is hand done. The only problem I have with the idea of LE is doing LE molds. I can understand random accessories being LE, but there is no reason to make head molds LE.

 

I'm not against limited dolls for the most part. It inspires a panicky "must buy now" feeling in a lot of people but the dolls generally can be re-sold fairly easily if the impulse buy was a bad decision (sucks to be the people who missed the sale completely, but them's the breaks. I've missed out on some limited dolls but I got over it. And there are plenty of gorgeous non-limited dolls out there.) The aspect I don't like about limited dolls is that it gives greedy people the opportunity to make money off those who fall in love with the limiteds. There are scalpers out there who buy the dolls even though they're not going to keep them, and then turn around when the doll is sold out and sell it for a ridiculously inflated price to someone who really wants the doll but missed out on getting him/her from the company... possibly because the scalper took it in the first place. :< (just to be clear here, I'm talking about people who ONLY buy the dolls to re-sell, not people who bought them and didn't like them, couldn't keep them, etc.)

 

I'm really off and on about monthly dolls, on one hand they frustrate me to no end, because I come from such a financially unstable household (I'm also still a teenager in high school, with only a summer job) and can't afford to pay so much for a doll on impulse. But on the other hand, I also understand the appeal to a monthly, and have one of my own. My only big qualm with them is when you can't get 'similar' dolls that aren't monthly (for example, soom doesn't have any fantasy dolls that aren't monthlies, and I would kill for one of their faun girls or centaurs).
But all in all, I prefer it when it's just a limited color or outfit rather than a full sculpt (my monthly is an Impldoll blue Jasper, so he's also available in ns, it's just his color and hands that are limited)

 

Hmm that's interesting...

Though it may not be fair, I still like to look at the limited dolls. All I can really say about the dolls not being fair, is that life isn't fair. There's really nothing we can do about but just enjoy the pretty pictures and maybe get ideas for our own "perfect" creations for our dolls if we cannot afford it

 

Sometimes. It's nice to have a limited doll but for it to not be sold ever again afterwards is a bit of a disappointment. If there was more time in which the dolls may be purchased, that would help a lot. But it is very hard to find limited dolls from owners and die from the amount of money they want for them.

 

Yes, I like Limiteds to look at. No, I don't like the concept of the impulse buy on something so expensive or the short time frame. If there's a forewarning or sneak peeks that might help a buyer prepare for the purchase. Or if a company (like SOOM) regularly puts out Limiteds that makes it easy to save. Granted that you are dedicated enough to watch the site and plan ahead.

The uniqueness of Limiteds make them GREAT for inspiration. If I like a certain outfit I might try a style similar. Or if it has a fantasy part that is interesting I might try a similar mod.

 

I'm kind of on the fence for this one. Like others are saying, I love how limited dolls are rare, and that makes them special in a way because they are highly sought after. I have my eye on the new Ringdoll Frankenstein which will be limited, and hope to buy him. I first fell in love with his sorrowful gaze, but part of me wants him more because he's limited. It makes it hard to discern if I'll still be in love with him in a year from now, or if it's the implse that's driving my need for him lol.

On the other hand, I hate limited dolls because Soom Amber is my dream doll, and I would probably try to find her secondhand if I didn't feel pressured to buy other limited dolls. It's a vicious cycle...

 

I like the idea of limited dolls and I don't. It's hard because, when you get the limited doll you want, you feel special for being one of few that got that doll. But, when you're really in love with a limited doll, and don't get it, you get mad and hate limited dolls. Hopefully that makes sense. ;;;

 

I don't see what is unfair about "Limited" Dolls, you or I have as much chance of buying them as the next person. I don't have any Limited Dolls and have only ever seen one that I really wanted, and yup, she was sold out by the time I found out she existed. Tough! Life isn't fair though, and so many people in this hobby love Limited Edition dolls, so as long as so many people are getting enjoyment from them I'm all for them.

I also make art dolls, each one is unique, one of a kind so no matter how many people may love that doll I just made, only one person gets to take it home. It would be a little hypocritical of me to be down on Limiteds, bearing that in mind!

 

I do like that idea of limited dolls but ofc feel bad when missing it
but still .. since this doll is so cute.. limited then its really unique
and when u get such a doll you will feel really great and that u got a really rare and unique doll
so that doll will be very special to you ^.^

 

I actually like the idea of LE doll because it gives collectors a chance at getting something rarer to hold but the down grade of that is other people missed out, and that's the point of LE doll...others get it but not you. Whereas, you may get other LE dolls but others missed out and I think that's the fun of LE doll. Plus they are really nice (many of them) but of course not every LE doll catches people's eyes and the fact that most of the buys are more of an impulse then "think thoroughly before buying." Also, there are always many chances that more LE doll will come out and sometimes even better than the ones previously...I guess that's something to look forward to in the future :3.

 

I don't mind the idea of Limited Dolls as long as it is not the doll I long for.
But if I want one and can't afford it at that time, that's torture!