Does the fear of missing out influence your buying decisions in the hobby?

It's partially true. I've never seen some of my dolls in second-hand markets.

Edit: lol I forgot to answer.

I always buy the dolls I want but only if I remember to do it before the PO ends.
If I don"t remember to buy the doll it means I wasn't that interested.

 

FOMO heavily influences my decisions, although this only applies to second hand dolls. Most of the dolls I want are second hands with custom full sets from previous owners and some dolls I want are those second hand very limited edition ones [production in single digits], so there really is little to no chance to buy it again.
I don't have this problem with new dolls though since there's a lot more time for the listing to be up and the item is still in production. It's also not uncommon for me to just lose interest in them by the time the doll ends production.

 

Less FOMO and more low impulse control when I'm sad. Thankfully its improved as I've worked on regulating my emotional self.

I also tell myself that if something is supposed to come into my life, it will whether that's new or not eventually. This has been the backbone of talking myself out of many purchases that probably would have been pretty FOMO-y.

Recently I got a piece I had been wanting for a while secondhand and it felt better than any impulse purchase I've made in years.

 

I had that fear early on, when I first discovered these dolls. However, I have very weird likes, so I don't really like what's popular and probably meant that I would have zero to no chances of finding the dolls I missed on (had I really missed on any), second market. I am also a germaphobe, and that has grown with me, as has old age. I can't say I care about it anymore as much, because I know resin is not for me. I decided a while back not to get more resin cast dolls (or OT toys cast in resin). I have done pretty well, and in more than a decade, I've only gotten one single doll, because I was afraid of missing out! I missed out on owning a mature tiny many years ago, because I was broken back then -- I just couldn't justify him. The doll I got winter last year, and arrived earlier this year, is kind of a "replacement" for that doll I missed out on. They don't really look alike, but they are similar in build and have extremely cute-ish faces, which is not really something I do often. I love the doll and I wouldn't have purchased it if I didn't, but I also wouldn't have purchased it if it wasn't a doll size I am biased towards. I know I won't ever purchase a large BJD ever again, for as long as I am alive (unless SoulDoll re-releases their Paris, in a more mature head sculpt version, with more realistically proportioned face and body but not cast in resin -- which is not happening ever, I know!).

I did miss out on a lot of head sculpts I kind of really wanted (from my earlier years in this genre of dolls), but I wouldn't be able to get them, even if someone, somewhere was selling any. I am not willing to purchase a lot of second market items in used condition, due to me being a weirdo. These dolls don't come sealed, so it's hard for me to want to purchase used, yellowed resin, from other people I don't know now. I'm a weirdo, which could be a burden to others, but it's kind of a blessing in disguise for me. DX

 

I do FOMO purchases quite a bit, but I also tend to buy secondhand more than from artists/companies directly just as it happens (mood lining up with opportunity )

I find when companies don't have a solid gallery/doll list, the FOMO is higher when I find them secondhand, because I can't look up when the last preorder was/what options were available/if they'll be available again. This, however, will be a problem solved with time as I follow the same companies for (years?), to reduce the illusion of rarity that may not be present...

 

After so many years in the hobby, I’m pretty good at taking my time, with a strict eye toward my budget. But even I have occasionally succumbed to FOMO. One was the doll in my avatar, Dollzone Anson. I remember when she was first announced, my jaw dropped! I’d never imagined such a doll would ever exist, and I was so completely mesmerized by her that I haunted my doll dealer for a week waiting for that “buy” button to finally be activated. When it was, I ordered her within mere moments. It turns out that was an excellent decision because although she was unlimited at the time, she was suddenly cancelled after only 3 months due to shipping difficulties with those delicate petals. I’ve always thanked my lucky stars that I jumped as quickly as I did.

And over a decade later, Dollzone re-released a limited doll I’d initially missed out on owing to budgetary constraints. So their plant/mermaid confection, Sawarieda, became a distant dream doll of mine…something to be admired from afar in the collections of others. But this past October, Dollzone released her again with a limit of only 17, and offered her with a discount (and available in purple skin!) I had to buy her on an extended layaway to fit her into my budget, but when I saw she was available, I contacted my doll dealer so fast, I swear smoke was rising from my Ipad!

 

It definitely does for me. Limited dolls always take priority when it comes to purchasing new dolls. I don't want to be left unable to purchase a doll I love due to scarcity in the second hand market, and I also don't want to end up having to pay more in the second hand market.

 

Luckily there's only one limited doll like that I've ever been interested in. I've had multiple friends who have specific companies that seem to have their number, who routinely release exactly what they want in dolls, and so far a company like that for me doesn't exist. The Luts KDF Quino when it came out was exactly what I wanted in a doll, and I managed to snag it in time, but no other company has released something like that since. I'm fortunately very picky, so I don't have to worry about missing out 99.9% of the time.

 

ah yeah i get this mostly with doll clothes ad such rather than an actual doll. the closest i get to this is when companies do tan releases..and harucasting releases...someday ill get a harucasting doll but i keep missing whenever he put one out QAQ

 

I used to get this with dolls a lot because every single time without fail the doll i really wanted was sold out so it was tough and it was the reason why i kind of impulsively bought the current bjd i have now.

 

Usually no, but sometimes yes. If it's a doll I've been wanting for a long time, but is not always available from the seller, then I do sometimes plan around their order periods or if one is available secondhand. Sometimes it does mean changing my priority list. Just this week, I had planned to buy some clothes for my newest doll, but one of my favorite clothing artists just opened up after a year of being closed and I have no idea how long she'll be open, so I ended up ordering from her instead.

 

Yes definitely, because a lot of the dolls I buy these days are done in small limited ordering periods and then not available again for another year, or two, or three! And I am not patient to wait that long. Haha.

 

Yes definitely. I hate missing out on preorders especially from artists that only do a few a year. You just never know if the doll will be released again and how long that might be until it is.

 

Even as I know better, I still keep reading FOMO as 'For One Month Only', and then feel surprised when I see someone write out the full phrase. Sigh.

I fell for this recently, with the Dream Valley moon scorpion. I hemmed and hawed for two weeks before deciding that I'd thought about her for so long and entrenched her in my brain, I'd only regret missing out. Think I'll name her Sinthia.

 

I missed the most beautiful doll when I first joined the hobby just over a year ago, I haven't seen him for sale with his fullset for that year, he's my holy grail. But now I'm terrified to miss out on limited dolls that I love, so FOMO is a huge issue for me lol

 

I get it a lot, especially with dolls I like going on sale or new limited releases. Since I'm very new to actively collecting, I keep running across new sculpt to fall in love with too. So, if I find a doll and feel like "I must have them now," I'll make myself wait a few days just to be sure

 

I feel like available dolls and sales come in waves, there won’t be anything for awhile and then there will be 2-3 dolls or a lot of outfits and accessories available in a short time. I definitely get fear of missing out and buy way too much sometimes but there are the times in between with not much going on to even it out. I think as you have more time and experience in the hobby you learn to ride the waves a little better and have a bit more impulse control.

 

Fomo influences my decisions when buying doll clothing and accessories. I like buying from small businesses and typically handmade stuff so the fear of missing out on a one of a kind item is real.