Do you want your doll to be popular or as long as you like it?

I don’t care about popularity, I buy dolls because I like them. I think I actually prefer them not to be popular because I often buy, sell and trade dolls and when one is very popular, people tend to guilt trip me about selling it. I prefer to be able to buy and sell without followers being upset about it.

 

That depends. Are we talking about liking a certain type of doll (like, slim mini, SD boy, MSD girl, Minifee etc) because it's very wide-spread in the hobby and thus, it's easier to get stuff for them? Or are we talking about getting a specific doll sculpt because it seems to be popular and you're bound to get lots of likes and shares on pics you post of the doll due to that?

If it's the former - yes, I kinda do like certain types of dolls because when I look for clothes or wigs or stuff, I'm sure I can find them without too much trouble. If it's the former - nope, don't care at all. As long as I like my doll I don't care if anyone else does. I mean, yes, it's nice if other people compliment me on my dolls but I don't like my dolls any less just because I don't get any compliments or comments at all.

 

It doesnt matter if my doll is popular as long as she is attractive to me and it makes me happy. It is easier to shop for popular ones as there is a larger market but you can still find stuff for others.

 

I never shopped for "popular" dolls, just never got sucked into that particular tunnel. I looked for dolls whose sculpts I liked enough to look at day after day and I guess my taste just doesn't follow popular trends. I'm okay with that. Everyone has their own preferences, after all, and it would be an awfully dull world otherwise.

 

I don't care if the doll is popular or not. I only care if the doll appeals to me, haha

 

I don't care if my dolls are popular. Popularity comes and goes in this hobby. I have a few dolls that were considered super popular that no-one cares about now. I also have a doll who has fans while his mold itself was unpopular.
However, I must admit that it bugs me a bit when I post photos a doll I love and nobody gives a sh*t because they've never heard of the company or because the sculpt is out of fashion.

 

I buy dolls for their aesthetic, not their popularity. I buy them for their potential as my characters. It's the characters that fall out of favour with me, not the dolls. Sometimes, my tastes and desires might change, and I decide to re-shell the character in a different doll. But that's more often about sizing and not the shell's popularity.

If I was just about being part of the clique, then I'd go for the popular sculpts just for the heck of it. But that's not what this hobby is for me. It's about the freedom of expression in the art of creating characters or physical forms of existing characters.

 

Popularity means nothing to me when buying a doll. I collect dolls for myself and my own enjoyment, so all that matters is whether I love them or not

 

I shamefully admit that I have a "liked it before it was cool" complex and can get kinda irritated when stuff I like suddenly blows up in popularity..... I know this is a nasty mentality and I should celebrate that the stuff I like is getting more attention and support lol. When it comes to bjd it's still pretty niche, so even if a sculpt I liked became popular it wouldn't bother me (personally I ould love if BJDs received more mainstream attention, or at least got more recognition by the art and/or collector community, so the creators could get more support but that's an other discussion). I'm currently pining for two unpopular sculpts, so it would be great if they became more popular because I want to see more owner's photos. (But both of these dolls are unlimited so I don't have to worry about finding them on the second hand market and scalpers).

The beauty of BJD is that they are so customizable so you don't even tire from looking at popular sculpts because people style them so differently

 

Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

 

I reckon if you like a sculpt, you should just go for it whether it's popular or not. I find most of the fun is putting your own spin on it to make it more personal

 

I honestly don't give a fig if other people like the doll. It's nice to be able to share your love for something with other people, but at the end of the day, it's YOUR doll, and the only one whose opinion matters is yours. If YOU love them, then you love them, and other people should not have the power to make you stop loving them!

 

Full agreement here! I get it, people will follow accounts to see certain dolls, but gosh there is nothing quite like getting hounded on why you are selling a specific doll. I don't like being judged on what I do with my own property, y'know?

Whether it's "popular" or not, I'm not fussed. No, I only get frustrated when popularity denotes how easily attainable a sculpt is. Liking a popular fairyland event head? Ouch, the cost because so many want it! Like an unpopular/not well known sculpt? Good luck seeing one pop up for sale. Eh, the fun of the bjd hobby

 

I am torn on this because it has a variety of implications. I like buying dolls that are popular, because it’s SO much easier buying clothes/wigs/eyes for them, and I really enjoy all of my dolls to be able to pretty much share clothes. So slim-mini/Minifee sized dolls being really popular helps with that.

I also tend to fall for more popular sculpts, because more people owning a particular sculpt exposes me to it more, and brings it to my attention. I typically decide whether I want a sculpt or not after looking for photos of what other people have done with it. The more of the doll I see, means the more faceups I get to see, and it helps me decide if I might want them or not.

But I think buying popular dolls just to get more likes/follows, is a bit silly. Sure it feels nice when other people like your dolls, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting more likes and comments (I’ve felt that way before, tbh) but spending hundreds of dollars just to get likes and validation, on something you, yourself are not totally love with??? Ehhh... that’s probably something you want to avoid. I feel that can only lead to bad things in the future

Buy things because you love them and they make you happy. Because at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

 

Hahaha, I actually did get a sculpt that was super popular back then and admittedly, his rarity was part of his appeal! But I went into a long hiatus, so my tastes have changed. I'm still going to keep him and make him beautiful! But yes, for anyone is who new to the hobby, beware falling into hype sculpts. I think most of the time, these popular sculpts were made popular because of a special/custom face-up. You thinking buying the popular sculpt, you will get the same doll as one you saw in the pictures.

 

I actually prefer dolls that are not too popular, or that have been around a bit longer so that the new and shiny dolls are more wanted than the ones I want because they are easier for me to get. I go back and forth between getting a new doll on preorder that I have to wait for and not 100% sure what they will look like because every face up can be slightly different, and dolls that have been preloved. Lately I am leaning more towards preloved because you know exactly what they look like when you get them, and you can get them for a better price and with extras a lot of the time.

 

As long as I like them it doesn't matter if they are popular or not.
I am mainly concerned about affordability and my personal taste in aesthetics.

The only time I wish other people had the sculpt is so I could see owner photos!
I could understand people being drawn to popular sculpts just because of the sheer amount of owner photos and sculpt exposure.

It does make me happy when people comment on my photos though especially on outfits I've made!

 

I like to admire popular dolls, as they are really pretty to look at. But I guess this is just like the other post about seeing a doll you like and actually taking it home... Sometimes you just know if that is "your doll" or not. I think so far I only have one doll that's more popular among the doll community (Soom Euclase,) the others I don't think I've ever ran into another owner that owned the same sculpt lol So with that being said, popularity doesn't really appeal to me like most of the people who replied!

 

I'm kind of the opposite. If a particular type of doll is ubiquitous (I'm looking at you, Minifee Chloe) then it's somewhat less appealing to me. If I love the doll anyway, I'll get it...but popularity in and of itself is definitely a check mark in the negative column for me.

 

In regard to my other collecting hobbies I seem to prefer a less known make or designs that are less popular. It either means that they are harder to find, expensive or I can get a good deal.
But what it has taught me is that it is important that I love it and not do it for other people.
So when it comes to BJDs I think that I will probably do the same. If it's popular and I love it that's fine. If it's not, it is for my enjoyment anyway.
Some of the points raised are really interesting and I understand them. Sometimes I wish I collected something popular as it is nice to be able to discuss them easily but that shouldn't be a reason for me to buy something that isn't really me.