Do you like the idea of "limited" dolls?

I don't mind limited edition dolls, just wish they would give more than a couple of months to order one. That being said, group orders are nice. There is usually someone here that wants the doll but not the clothes or vice versa

 

I don't agree that it's simply "a cheap way to jack up the prices". We don't know what these companies take home in profit but I don't think they're the Walmart family swimming in money or anything Agreeing with Silk that when you strip away all the extras on a limited like the special wig, face up, out fit, shoes, swappable body parts and over all design time (artists gets paid to imagine and iterate on the design) limiteds don't look crazy expensive.

I think it taps into the collector compulsion in a lot of us and keeps us engaged with our favorite companies. I love some hard to get dolls so I feel your pain. But I like limiteds and don't fault companies for using a business model that heightens engagement and allows them to flex their creative muscle by crafting something very detailed and unique for a shorter run.

 

Okay, let's all agree to liking limiteds one way or another. Maybe to look at them, to hunt after them or own them. Some are limited in number, some are limited in fullset only, some may or may not be periodically rereleased or become available in another form at some point. In any case, it's by no means a "cheap trick" to force the community to cash in, although it has been proven that collectability and exclusivity is highly coveted in a collector's hobby, which BJD collecting is... Some companies even go by in having limited dolls only.

Some times, for smaller companies in particular, it may be that they don't have the funds to reproduce molds once they break, so they only take as many orders as dolls they can produce from the initial ones. Some other times, it's a way to draw attention to themselves besides their basic lines that are available anytime. A big amount of imagination, planning and craftsmanship goes into a limited release and that needs to be appreciated. The market and the hobby as a whole 'needs' those limited releases in a way as it helps companies that might not be as popular as fairyland actually get some sales.

Besides, layaway, splits, or opting out of a limited fullset and getting the doll blank and bald can help anyone get their limited doll of their dreams. Customization -as well as bodies in most occasions- can come at any time in the future while that truly limited head or doll isn't going to be there for longer than that opportunity window offered by the company.

 

I like them and hate them at the same time...because it's so tempting to get every single one of them >_> so it's kinda sad if you don't get to buy them when they are on (because you bought the previous limited doll and the wallet is still empty), and by the time you have money, they are sold out... Their price can be double or triple when they reach the second hand market

 

The idea of limited quantity or release dolls, dolls that can only be acquired through company lottery system or complete one-offs; whether a fullest doll or blank sculpt doesn't make them more (or less) desirable to me - unless I REALLY want it. I also don't feel that it's unfair and that only some people can obtain the dolls or that it's the way certain companies & artists operate primarily. It's their business and they're doing what works for them. If I decide I really want a limited doll then I try for it. But as much as full sets or artist face ups are beautifully styled, they've never been the impetus for me to buy a doll. I always just keep it simple for myself and buy the doll I really want at the time because I like the sculpt and not because of exclusivity, potential for resale or popularity.

 

I like how Soom sells their limiteds, which are the vast majority of their dolls, as blank, nude, wigless, sometimes including special parts, but with the options of face-up, wig, clothes, ect. But the "full set" versions tend to jump in expense when sold second hand. Yeah it can be frustrating when they sell out, but some limiteds are unique enough to appeal to a fairly small number of collectors. They two I bought (embarrassingly impulsively) in the last two days are limited in number due to the lesser popularity of Dika dolls tinies and the difficulty in making a stable resin color that dark for Soom.

 

layaway is a good way to offer a limited doll to as many people as possible.
on one hand you get a limited doll and on the other you dont have to pay all the money right away.
if all companies could offer this option, i bet we would see more new collectors and the companies could make more money.
i think its better to have 15,000 in 3 months than 5,000 right away
that option maybe could even half companies to hire more artists ? O.o
i myself decided i want a doll right now and made an order of Qingyi. his a limited from AS.
im not so sure whats limited about him yet but his just too pretty and the split payment option came as a heavy rock on the scales in favor of getting him

 

I love the idea of Limited Dolls.

I'm more a collector. And Fairyland usually has the LE dolls for sale with out anything as well.


I like having that feeling that there is only a limited number of the doll I have out there. But I do love to take pictures of my limiteds and share them!

Well I will once we finally get settled into our new house haha.

Life isn't fair. Life will never be fair. Work your ass off, save, give up a lot of other things, Learn to coupon so that way when another limited doll that you love shows up you can get it.

And sometimes if your villigant someone will have This piece, that piece, just the head, just the body all for sale on the MP at a reasonable price. *its how i've gotten all my items to finally have a Risse Red Riding hood. The only thing i'm missing is the Eyes. I'll find them one day.

The face up wont be the same but hey I can try and try and try until I make the face up perfect!

Dont worry about not getting that doll. There are so many dolls out there now and that are sure to come out that You will find another, or make that LE your grail doll.
*my grail is like 3 times the price of when it was released so i'm just waiting to find good deals on bits and bobs for that doll until i get the whole doll*

If you dont like it. Work yourself to the bone to be able to get them!

 

I'm okay with dolls being limited. I will probably never own one myself, but I love seeing other people's special and different dolls. I'm used to not getting things I want all the time, so I don't expect to have what I see ever, haha.. I can always dream. There are always 'unlimited' dolls available, so it's not like you won't have a doll if you can't get a limited doll. I suppose I do think of limited dolls as being created for people who are very deep into the hobby, in other words people who have a very big doll budget and a lot of dolls already. I know it can be difficult though, to see a certain doll you love, you can develop a bit of an obsession with wanting to add it to your family. I would probably try and find a similar looking doll and try to style it like the doll I want, and try to be satisfied with my own limited doll, haha..

 

I love limited dolls !

It makes them feel special and their design is always interesting. Especially I love SOOM MDs, I have now 4 of them (tough I'm selling one away...) :3
But it's always sad when you miss one very beautiful dolls because of money issues and such... But you can always buy him/her in the second-hand ^^

 

BJd's will the sought after doll for antiques, like the French Fashion Dolls of the 1900's, so the limited nature will make them all that more valuaed in the future.

 

Limited dolls are fine. I hate the whole lottery thing tho. I like the IH & Soom way of offering limiteds w/or w/o the fullset & faceups. I've gotten limited dolls from both companies, w/o getting the entire sets - got wigs, shoes, faceups, weapons - but not the outfit...I like that. Plus both companies offer layaway. That's fantastic!

And I'm just going to add here: when a company has an event that is itself limited, then has their customers standing in line for hours w/a lottery for a numbered place in the real line, & has these little dolls that it only sells at said events... Yep that's a real cheap way to make something special...just saying. Plus no layaway, have to get the full set, glues in eyes & has always has lotteries for it's limited dolls, which are pretty much the only big dolls they sell - well, phooey on them. Having to have a local address is just the icing on that cake

 

I love limited dolls.
What I don't like is the likelihood being that I may never get one due to being...well, limited.
But we can't always get what we want. Guess that's just part of the charm when you do manage to get one. It makes it "special". I'm sure not everyone may feel that way but to those that do, I'm sure it's worth the money and effort to get one.

 

I think limited dolls are like the "Black Friday" in the bjd community but I think it can be a bit unfair if you don't have the money at the time of the sales period but I think if I were in the shoes of the person who bought it, I would be happy that I have a limited doll to "show off" because it's a unique sculpt

 

At the same time I love and don´t like the idea.

It is nice that there are some rare, special and limited sculpts. It makes this hobby even more interesting. And I love to see pics about limited and rare dolls! So it is a great idea. I quess it makes also a lot of money for the companies but why not? Limited doll can also be a nice thing for the owner because it can get more valued in the future.

And there is a silly reason why I don´t like the idea of limited dolls: It is almost impossible to get them later. Last autumn I really fell in love with the Souldoll Devonia sculpt. She is just perfect! The elf girl and character that I have been looking for. So I collect the money and all. But I had to move during the sale period and because of it I couldn´t place an order in time (paypall addresses and things like that all). So I didn´t get her and it is just sad. But it is not the end of the world. I know there will be other nice sculpts and I just need to find or wait for them.

Like Temishi just said: "we can´t always get what we want". (And it wouldn´t even be fun! )

 

I've never minded limited dolls since I am a collector myself and love the race for a limited doll. I also think they provide a nice focal point for a collection and are something nice to save up for. Getting that one piece you always wanted is nice. Sometimes you have to wait for it, but when you do get it you just feel that much more accomplished.

 

Yeah, I don't really care either way. Most of my dolls are secondhand, so I'll just look on the after market anyway if I like a limited.

 

Personally, I like limiteds. This hobby obviously has a collector aspect and makes that doll a little more 'special'. Business wise, it's a quick way for companies to get a lot of traffic, which is good. Artists need to be supported. However, I do disagree with the steep increase in price secondhand-- a lot of it isn't justified despite how limited the doll is (with exceptions of course).

 

Kind of a love-hate relationship with limited dolls really nothing screams "YOU'RE GONNA IMPULSE BUY" than a beautiful, limited edition, never-to-appear-again, once-in-a-lifetime doll. However I do love limiteds for the fact that they are limited, makes them more special than they already are (only in my eyes though!)

 

I love them in theory, because I always think I'd move the world to have one, but I hate them as well because I don't think I'll ever be quick enough - or rich enough - to get one before they sell out. I tend to lust after dolls who are limited, but whenever I wake up the next day and revisit their pages it never seems to be true love.