Doll research *or* Buying too soon?

I'm horribly impulsive, but with BJDs I have done my research. Although I think I'm too easily won over by a beautiful face. The only reason I end up doing research is because I can't justify spending so much on a doll, so I just mooch around the internet longer looking up all the details I can, trying to justify the buy.

 

Interesting thread! Glad this was posted.

I echo many of the same comments already posted in this thread about "impulse buying". But each to their own way regarding this thread and what may work for me won't necessarily work for someone else which I can accept and respect. When I got my first BJD I did "a lot of research". I'd been in awe for some time about these dolls, but hadn't given thought to purchasing one. One day I was looking for something totally different & non-bjd and was just following a bunch of "links" when I happened to stumble upon my first. I was instantly taken with the first picture from this particular company. I can still recall how I just sat still before my monitor silently saying to myself "OMG". Finally after picking up my jaw from the floor, I clicked to see more of her and instead saw another doll that just did it! The arrow of cupid of BJD's hit hard.

I knew I wanted her, but I still needed to know more about her. This is an expensive hobby and I like others am concerned also about what I spend my dollars on. In the process before getting her, I researched for whatever I could and learned so much along the way & still am learning for which I am grateful for all the info available out there.

There are so many beautiful BJD's out there that could easily eat a hole in one's wallet. Sure, sometimes now days I've been tempted to buy on impulse but when it comes to finalizing the sale, that's when I step back and say to myself ... wait a minute. What do I know about this doll? Will clothes and wigs be easy or hard to find? What about their eyes? What quality resin do have? Are they sanded & etc. This list can go on and on. But from my small experience with these dolls so far, it's been best to research before you buy and understand what your getting. It's not just their initial purchase that can be expensive, but everything there after that can end up costing more than one suspects.

I made a huge costly error with my first BJD. In my excitement after I preordered her and in the months I knew I would have to wait before she would finally arrive, I started shopping for clothes & such. What a mistake for a "newbie" as myself at the time! What I hadn't fully understood yet was that just because she was an MSD didn't mean she could fit everything that was listed as "MSD". I put in a HUGE order with Dollmore, more so because of the expensive shipping costs, and was tickled beyond all joy when the items came and thinking to myself how well dressed she was going to be when she finally arrived. WRONG!! My girl is a slim MSD which I didn't realize at the time wasn't the typical size for all MSD's, so you can guess what happened. Most of the beautiful clothes didn't fit. Plus due to the small size and detail on the items it made alterations even more difficult. That was a costly mistake. Today, I know better! I've learned and luckily those beautiful items from Dollmore can fit my other bjd's I'm now acquiring. But because of my error, on the positive side, it made me delve in sewing for mine finding another hobby that actually brings me much joy.

So my input here would lean to research before you buy. I've been stumped on buying my next doll only due to my indecision about her skin tone. But I also know, when I finally make up my mind which to get her in after asking questions and looking for other pictures of her and not just from the company who she comes from, I'll be happy with my decision. I want to venture possibly into the whites but am still uncertain. Many of the whites are stunning, but some also are down right scary and that's not what I'm looking for at the moment at least! I like the french resins but from research I've discovered there is also a down side to that resin. Impulse buying? It's a risk that can be good or bad. What you see in pictures is not what you might get when the doll arrives. Another lesson learned when I went through that problem with a Domuya that I got the first of this year. I got him in normal skin to go with my other, but what a big difference between the two. My Domuya has more yellow in his skin than I would have wanted, but it's not enough to put me off. He just looked so much lighter in all the pictures and I didn't detect the yellow tone. (This is one of the reasons that I came out of lurking mode and finally joined DoA.)

So yes, you can learn along the way when buying on impulse, but doing some research before hand can greatly save your pocket book in the long run and disappointment in the doll itself. The more you know about your doll before hand I think is better. That's just my 2 cents.

 

This is my research, LOL. It really took me a while to make the jump. I started seeing them, and paying attention about a year and a half ago. At first the seems on the body (legs, arms, torso) bothered me. But then I just started getting sweapt up in their beauty. Like I'm guessing a lot of BJD fans I was an anime fan first, and there was just something so beguiling about a big, beautiful, doll that looked like an anime character. I am nervous about some aspects of ownership (my sister just recently presented me with a doll head, so I still don't have the fullset, yet) but I really don't think I fealt that I needed to do research. If I had the money I would have just bought one. Having this board is awesome, though. Everyone has been really sweet and tolerant of my ignorance and it is so great to just immerse yourself in the dolly world. I imagine all the new owner experiences that await me would be a lot scarier if I didn't have some support.

 

I didn't do much research before I bought Rin. I couldn't afford to if I wanted to get her. The lottery period was coming up soon after I discovered her and it only lasted for a few days. She's my first doll and I fell in love with her when I saw the pictures. She's what pulled me into this hobby.

I am not getting her until July so I've been doing a lot of research in the meantime. I feel like I'll be decently prepared when I receive her. I treat all of my stuff in general very well so I'm not worried about damaging her or anything. But it has been nice to learn the doll specific quirks, how to restring them, etc.

 

I agree with Kaycee

I bought my first doll two days ago. I looked at dolls for months, I knew they were expensive, delicate, and an investment both financial and emotional. I also knew that they took some care, and there would be defininte do's and don'ts but after I decided on a doll and ordered him (knowing he came in just his underwear) I knew I had a lot to learn before he arrived.

I have some great friends who I found out also have BJD's and they have been really helpful in sharing information, tips, and a link to this forum where I have spent two days pouring over information learning everything I can.

I think that when he arrives I am going to be ready for him. of course it is still going to be a learning process, and I did jump into this with both feet and little brain, but I am preparing myself for his arrival now and when he comes I am going to know to not use a sharpie, or acetone.

I think that for people like me ,who look and look and then buy and then learn about care knowing that it is going to take a while for their new doll arrive, are really lucky to have a site like this and all the wonderful people I have meet so far on this site who are willing to help out and answer questions.

 

I was attracted to them years back but not enough to REALLY really desire one. But then one day I was bored and decided to read on them and I researched a lot on them. That's when I did jump right in and decide to buy my boy. ^^

 

I know that I need her. That is unquestionable. I've been dreaming about having my own Souseiseki for two years. And I know that bjds are not barbies and require a lot of attention and care. That is more than enough for me. I've ordered her as soon as I was introduced to bjds and started looking for information since then.

It's just I personally prefer to deal with problems as soon as I get them. I will never do anything to her without researching first. That's simple. And three weeks I've spent waiting for her are more than enough for me to find and learn all the basic information I will need when she arrives.

Like I can find any information that will prevent me from buying her. And it's not like I always have enough money in my bedside table, you know. Future is unpredictable, after all. I don't want to die in World War Three without having a doll just because I couldn't allow myself to buy one without spending half a year reading about different types of strings.

 

I have a habbit of researching first because it's really difficult to reason w/ my father and to avoid wasting money and time. I don't want to regret anything later or cry a sea if i ever broke a part of my doll when i get one because i don't know how to handle her.

 

i aslo so do months of research before buying or doing any modifications on my dolls!
i only work during summer. i make about 1000$ but still, the rest of the year im broke! so im REALLY careful with my money. i wont go like OOOHHH this doll seems nice on the pics of the site! lets buy it! then it get here and i realize its ugly 0o and then i go like OOOH lets do that on it! and mess up wich mean i would've lost ALOT of money! because exemple i buy a doll from Eluts. its 410$ US but i live in canada so its WAY more than that!

 

Great point. I've been reasearching for over a year now, and due to a great many factors, including money of course, I haven't purchased one. However, my father brought to my attention in an argument:
" Why pay so much for a doll?" Then he proceeded, referring to my artistic abilities to say, " Why not just make your own?"
So I did...and I continue this hobby.
Making my own doll, helped me understand why these dolls cost so much, and why they're so difficult to handle.
Even ignoring this, I wouldn't have just gone out and baught a bjd no matter how much I wanted to.
I would be afraid to ruin such a precious peice of art.
I know quite a few people like you mentioned, that have no clue how to handle their dolls.
The end point: research before you invest.
Its a principle that should apply to nearly everything.

 

I'm definately the researcher type. I'm still researching as I think on which doll I want. I'm very nervous that I will get the wrong one or that something terrible will happen, so I'm on here reading the threads to make sure that nothing goes wrong. This is a long time investment and I am treating it as such.

 

I come from a long line of engineers, and my family is split about equally between the people who, upon receiving a new gadget, read the manual thoroughly before turning it on and the people who turn it on and mash buttons until something happens. Thankfully I fall into the former group, and so I lurked on here for a good few months before I bought my first doll. Even though mine are fairly cheap, I still feel that I should know everything about them before I buy!

 

I think a certain amount of research needs to be done, but it doesn't have to be quite so in depth as a lot of people seem to think it should be.

Some doll owners are a bit more casual, don't really have an interest in knowing every doll sculpt, knowing how to keep resin from yellowing, etc. Then there are people like me who need to know every single thing and just soak up information like a sponge.

Although that said, I feel there are two distinct types of research; brands, and technical knowledge. The two of course overlap but I think in general there is the group who cares more about knowing what the brands behind each doll are like, what kind of history they have, who comprises their staff, their significance in BJD evolution, etc. Then the group who know how to restring, sand, do their own face ups, sew, and what have you.

I spend most of my time in brand mode, but that said I have also looked into most of the other things. I could restring my dolls if I had to, I can put in eyes and remove heads fine. I'm also getting into sewing classes, but that's not solely for dolls.

 

I agree with the need to research. I'm still in the process of doing the research before I make any purchases because I'm also new to the world of BJDs. Ideally, it should be enough to give whoever the individual is an informed decision and that varies between people. For myself, I probably won't be buying for several months as I look things up and figure out what and who will suit me best in terms of design, customizations, financial cost both up front and long term, etc.

 

I am the type of person who loves to plan. Needless to say, I am researching like mad before I purchase my first BJD. I want to know all about maintenance, care, etc. so I am ready for the day she comes home.

 

Ow!!! Oh man, I wince just thinking about that. Coming into this from the resin model horse hobby, I could tell 20 years of horror stories about the things I've seen (and heard of) being done to those beauties--some of which could and did once cost as much as any doll here. Auto body putty, bondo, leaving painted and customized models in in hot attics all summer...

I am 100% in favor of research, asking questions of those more experienced than yourself, and reading the FAQ first. =)

 

This is so interesting! I'm constantly finding out just how much there is to learn here. I hope I'll have the chance to listen to people from both groups of experts.

 

I kinda did both. I jumped in with two feet running, but I did research a little during the purchasing process. I wanted to paint my own so I bought my dolly and all the paint supplies available on the website. It worked out well. Then I found DoA and was able to get full knowledge of my dolls and how/what to do with them. ^__^ Though I do concede that I may still have my first doll if I had thought it through and researched the different molds before jumping in on the first one I thought was pretty. ^_^

 

I'm definitely the obsessive researcher type =P . I do this for every hobby I get into, or have my interest peaked in, before taking any action at all whatsoever. I pour over piles and piles of links, FAQs, lists, examples, etc. until I'm technically familiar enough with the dry facts to write a book on the subject XD . I like examining my options, turning them over and over again in my head, making absolute certain as to all the pros and cons of each possibility.

I'm incredibly indecisive as well, and I absolutely hate making a decision prematurely only to regret it later XP . So I have to examine eeeverything, once I chose what brand, size, type, I was looking at resin quality, skin tones, availabilities of different models and limiteds, reputation, size, poseability, etc., etc., etc..

And even once I've chosen dolls I liked, I turned my decision over and over and over in my head until I found something that bothered me and made me reevaluate my decision. I'm giving myself plenty of time now to stew on my current decisions, before making any purchases, to make absolute certain on what I want. Until approximately the end of 2009, to be exact XD .

I kind of don't like that I'm like that though, as it makes me picky, and I think it makes me overworry myself to the point that I may find flaws in something where there aren't any, simply because I've searched for one so hard. Also, I'm afraid that sort of thing might suck the fun out of what I'm doing, by taking it too seriously.

ali

 

Well, from the tone of the question I can only really answer with my personal experience. I'm not an impulsive sort of person, but when I make up my mind about something I tend to do so rather quickly. So my first doll, A DollZone Yuu, who I purchased from Dolls&Friends, I decided to buy within a matter of minutes. I just knew he was the right one for me and anything else I needed to know about him I could look up. I'm also a real big fan of this little thing called common sense ^_^* so I'm not likely to attempt to use wood products on a resin doll. As for less obvious issues, there is always this really cool place called Den of Angels where you can just ask and learn as you go.

But, yes, I think it really is a matter of "to each their own."