Doll research *or* Buying too soon?

I feel like I'm one of these 'jumped into it with both feet' people, I only did a couple of months researching, but I'd been looking at them for for about 6 months before that. I'm a very spontainious(?) person and if I see a doll I like, I will get that doll (money depending) I got my first doll in july last year and I had 6 by the time christmas came along (Two were christmas presents) But i love them all, Ive only sold one and that was because she wasnt right what so ever for me, even though i love her to pieces.
A doll has to jump at me before ill buy it though, i couldnt just 'buy for the sake of buying'

 

Buying to soon? Certainly is pays to research. I researched before I bought my first smaller doll but I had no idea how to do a face-up or even sew when I got her. My plan was this.

-I love dolls (I will not get tired of them)
-I will research the look of my chosen doll as much as possible.
-I will research the doll company quality as much as possible.
-Once I get the doll I will learn how to customize step by step. After all she is a doll and she can hang out in a room with me while I research this stuff.

That is exactly what I did. First I researched sanding (and cleaning) and sanded her properly. After I started teaching myself how to sew (still learning! Ack this is hard) After I started on wigs and then face-ups. Next, how to restring etc...

I don't see any issue with doing things this way. My dolls are precious too me so I don't experiment directly on them without checking first. But I am NOT waiting around 2 years so that I can anticipate every bump in the road either.


To answer your questions.

I think the hobby is pretty complex and different from other kinds of doll collecting. It is natural for people to misunderstand from time to time. DOA is a great source but it can feel like a maze to a newbie. Also, some people just don't anticipate how easily they can ruin resin if they are not familiar with it. I would also add that I think some people might start with no intention of customizing a thing themselves. They might be planning to buy beautiful clothes and pay for face-ups but then change their minds later. Thus, they are slightly uninformed ooops

As far as holding back questions to avoid looking like a newb? I find this question interesting? Do you think they should ask? In the OP it sounds kind of like asking makes you look like you didn't research and...that is the problem yes? I don't know myself. I ask when I get to the end of my knowledge and I can't find a DOA thread to inform me. I suspect some people might not want to look silly on DOA. You will often find posts that start with apologies for this reason.

I have yet to meet a Hobby-Band wagon jumper. If someone does join just because they want to be part of something fun I don't think that necessarily makes them sloppy with their doll. Sharing things with other people is fun and if that is someone's main motivator to be in the community so be it. Obviously it would be smart if they learn from others what it involves. Hopefully they are lucky enough to have friends in the hobby already. I was alone when I started with BJDs and I have had to learn everything through the internet. All my friends are Blythe people

Also, just something to think about. The term "Band Wagon Jumper"sounds rather judgemental and I do think it comes up a bit too often lately Someone might join a hobby for reasons other than loving dolls and wind up in the end being an amazing customizer. Who is to say?

 

research is not always possible - take my Dollzone Clovera who should be here tomorrow. I waited MONTHS for owner photos, looked in the Gallery, put up requests, asked (nicely) for more owner pictures ... after months of waiting for better photos i just ordered her and wouldn't you know it just DAYS before she arrives someone finally posts a good profile picture of her that makes me go ::. Oh well, maybe IRL it won't be so bad, but it's not for lack of TRYING to do research that's for sure. I do wish companies would have good faceupless sculpt shots along with their "glamour" style photos so we could make more well informed decisions.

 

I didn't fully understand BJD until I bought one. A blogger referenced a Super Dollfie in her blog and I had no idea what she was talking about so I Googled it. Went to the Volks site, was captivated by them, bought one. Saw another beautiful one (Luts) on eBay and bought that one the following week. I work hard and am blessed to have a career that's successful enough to allow me to buy them, so I recognize that my fast choices probably weren't as thoughtful as those made by people who have been saving money for months.

Everyone's going to throw things at me now, but to be honest, I thought most people bought these dolls as a financial investment, not an emotional one. I only truly developed an appreciation for mine after reading threads on this forum. I learn something new here every day.

But yes, I'm the type of person who plunges into something enthusiastically and figures it out as I go along. Since I bought those first two a month ago, I've purchased three more. And yes, two of those purchases were in the vein of "saw it, liked it, bought it, enough said." I did get excited over the beauty of these dolls and purchased them with very little understanding of this hobby. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but why is it a big deal? I think we need to keep in mind that there are people with varying degrees of perception and . . . I don't know what to call it . . . doll devotion? . . . in this forum. It's not a crime if some of us buy them for purely aesthetic reasons and perhaps do not hold them as sacred as others do. But the fact that I jumped into it with little to no understanding doesn't mean that I can't still appreciate the greater meaning this hobby holds for other people. I'm here reading about them, after all.

 

My husband and I are examples of the two extremes described in this thread.

When it comes to purchasing expensive items, he's the one who wants to wait, consider all opportunities, then step back and think some more. Me? I jump on opportunities. That doesn't mean I don't do the research. I'm just a whole lot faster than him, and my heart plays a bigger role in the decision making process.

I saw the doll I wanted and went for it. Then, during the interminable wait for his arrival I read everything I could about maintenance, etc.

Hubby would have waited, made a spreadsheet of their pros and cons, devised an elaborate scoring system... etc. @_@

In the end we arrive at the same destination, however.

We have different ways to approach life. I can't say one is better than the other.

 

I have a friend with a BJD, and while I'm still looking around for my first resin doll, I've learned a lot from her allowing me to handle hers - she even allowed me to do a faceup! Through her, I found out a lot of things that aren't good to use on them (sharpies, acetone, etc...) and how the doll itself is strung up. However, there were a lot of things that we learned together, like oil-based anything being bad for the dolls, and where locally we could find wigs and eyes for them!

So I wouldn't say I've just jumped right in to this hobby. I've done a fair bit of research, and been given the opportunity for hands-on experience before even buying one. I should even be able to buy my first resin doll before the end of summer!

 

I can't say that I have all the materials ready and laid out yet, but I have done extensive research. For me, it is best to have something I can see and touch in front of me to better get a handle on what I am working with. I have a list of things I want to buy so I can do my own faceups but I am constantly doing research about what I need for my doll.

I agree with some of the other posters though. Everyone is different and works differently. Some people are planners and others are more doers. I will never cease to ask silly or "noob" questions even if it makes me look bad. I constantly ask questions when I don't understand so things go smoothly. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

 

I found the doll I wanted before joining DoA, but then I did several days of basic research on this forum before buying--basically making sure I knew the general idea of what I was getting into, then I ordered my boy
I've spent a lot more time on DoA since ordering him, and now I sort of think I bought him faster than I should have since I now realize I knew so little about dolls -_-, but I console myself by knowing that I still have time before he arrives, and I have learned a lot so I'm sure I'll be prepared when he does come.

I am the type to research a lot over a decently long amount of time though before getting into anything--that's how I convinced my parents that I was ready to have a pet bunny (I had lists for everything, food to best toys to litter etc. ); research makes me feel better and more prepared, which is hugely important to me

 

The research I did before getting Josslyn involved visiting one dealer table, not getting a strong vibe from any of the lovely dolls, and then walking away. I remember wondering if they made any with brown skin, and at another table there she was; the vibe from the doll was strong and right. I spoke with the dealer, verfied some things on my iphone (process of making dark toned dolls, prices, etc.), and came back to get her. The people at the other stall mentioned Den of Angels, so that's how I came to be here. I consider this my deep research phase. I had no idea that dolls came without the pretty blushing and that it was something you do on your own. I haven't tried changing her faceup (even though I rather like it) or restringing her because I haven't seen enough examples of how it's done yet. I learn best through heavy visuals and then through doing it.

Umm...I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a jumper that formulates questions and does research as she goes. There's enough prior knowledge (knowing what they are, seeing past pictures, and recently getting to see bjds of all sorts up close) to form an initial jumping point. ^_^;

 

I buy too soon all the time. I went (am still going thru) through a kimono phase, manga/figure phase and now its on to the dollfie phase. I first heard about them 2 years ago at ndk when I was walking through artists alley and saw two oversized beautiful dolls and asked the price (they were 230 a piece but I dont know what brand they were). Ive looked into them off and on but finally made the move. The only thing I actually know about them is that they are strung, one does the face up on their own and virtually everything is customizable. I didnt really want to buy one outright from a store because I didnt want to have to string the doll by myself... I fear I am getting myself into a whole world of something I dont know but I have confidence that I will become *somewhat* of a pro at this in no time, so Im okay with buying before knowing.
It would seem that with this hobby I also brought back manga buying and made my kimono habit worse>.> But hey, my dollie is all worth it

 

Hi hi! Sorry to bug, but does anyone have good preparation reading for Alice Cherry Blossom dolls? I'm shopping around for one, and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can!

 

I totally agree with this. While I only had a few months-worth o' Dolleh-Knowledge tucked under my belt, I had been gazing at these dolls for months prior. Besides, even though I don't have near as much experience with ball-jointed dolls as many others here and elsewhere do (I'm still awaiting the arrival of my first one), even I can tell you not to use Sharpies for a face-up!!=.=* I also flat-out refuse to purchase any doll if I am not entirely certain that "This is The One" (like the feeling I got when I first saw the female Luts Kid Delf doll, Cherry which I have since ordered, >w<).

 

I discovered the dolls accidently many years ago when I was researching online on some clothing design ideas and a BJD came up. I thought they were pretty cool but at the time did not think about getting one. Then earlier this year it came back into my mind so I started looking for websites and bookmarking them. I didn't do research into the care of the doll or read any forums at that time. I didn't have a lot of money so I was looking at some (gasp) American BJD's, Obitsu and Bobobie. I decided tho the American ones were ok they just looked...well too American, I wanted a more anime look. So I was on Ebay and started watching a bid on a 60cm Obitsu, she came with the basic no eyehole head and a haruka head and she was only $165 so yep I impulsively bought her. I regretted it a little because I really like the Bobobie resin colors and really wanted one in blue resin.

So my obitsu girl showed up suprisingly the following week, and I was very excited to get her out of the box. Wow was she tall was my first thought, the other was I wasn't too sure I like her torso because it is the soft vinyl version, very odd. But I have decided to keep her for now, she will be a good model for my mini top hats that I sell. I have sent her to a friend of mine who is an artist that is going to do her face-up for both heads and body blushing, can't wait to see her finished.

Yea I probably prematurely bought her, thought at the time I just couldn't pass up such a great offer, but now I am doing research into the blue resin doll that I want, which has been very difficult. I am finding it hard to find exactly what I am looking for. And now I have found out there is a difference between Bobobie and Resinsoul so I think all my research is making me more confused and harder to make a decision. So impulsive buy or vast research its a toss up for me. But I would like to order one before my birthday in July and my boyfriend has agreed to buy one for me. I will continue to do research her on DOA and hopefully make a decision soon.

 

I usually research hella before I buy. It's not like they're fifty or even a hundred bucks... I'm talkin a couple paychecks on my end. It's something i feel needs to be thoroughly learnt on before I put 300+ simoleons on it. It's not easy to sell them if they're not the right one.

That being said i find it easier to buy all the default stuff at once. Ie; get the eyes and wig you want for them, and pick out the outfit they'll normally wear at first. I know it's a learning experience and dolls evolve as you own them, but ti's good to have a nice starting point right?

And just so I don't splurge buy, I make sure i have a story for the dolly first before i buy it ^^

 

oh gosh .///. i was (sadly...) raised as a spoiled kid and i jump into something i find "cool" at the second sight of it. i usually grew tired of it fast, probably cause i dived in far too fast and missed the learning expirience from it all, and not understanding--so i jump back out and wander around till the process repeats itself.

bjd's was probably the first thing i jumped into and found the learning process D: i have 3 dolls as the moment--(yeah--i know its a big jump T_T i PLEADED my grandparents not to buy the last two for me ;A; i thought it was far too early to get MORE) and i'm still learning the basics and whatnot--i got my first doll in march-april 2010 (dollfie dream) but i didn't start properly researching on how to maintain her till the tips of her fingers got stained T_T i learned from there and rapidly started researching basic care and customization (cause i was trying to sew clothes for her--incidentally using dark colors). i guess you could say i learn best from expirience, or if i put my mind to it and went into information overdrive mode.

anyways--i learned (and still learning day by day!! literally...) that this also ties in with my procrastination problems...i do think there's a buying too soon, like what i did (and i'm kind of embarassed to admit it ^^. but as long as you're willing to burn your eyes off learning how to maintain your doll and apreciate what you just did with buying a doll i guess its fine, [and if theres some sort of reasonable solution to whatever mistake you created, good! (now there's a stain on her upper arm too T_T wish i could fix that--but she's vinyl)] DETERMINATION is the key to success with bjds i guess ^^;

((sorry ;A; i feel like i'm re-phrasing too much ;A)

i guess learn the basics beforehand, and learn even more as you go and make mistakes (try not to blow too much money though o3o) is the best way to go!

 

I don't do too much extensive research before buying a doll, though I make sure to check out what some other people have to say about the doll/company. Most of it up until now has mostly been little thought before clicking the order button, which I've come to realize is not such a good idea ^^;; i.e. Initially I wanted to make an Unoa hybrid and proceeded to look at painted faceplates on Y!J. I ended up bidding on one then realized I'm totally not ready to do assemble my own hybrid! I couldn't even tell the difference between the doll types very well. Luckily I was outbid in the end, but that short experience told me that I need to do a lot more than look at pretty pictures and a few information threads

 

I think research is really important usually but it doesn't mean success per say- just perhaps better dolly care and hopefully less surprises. I've done a lot of research for most of my dolls and have still ended up being surprised or disappointed when handling them in person. With my latest doll she's a pre-order and seems to be the only female doll released from the company (that I'm aware of). So I'm taking a big leap of faith on the promo shots and hoping she works out. The upside is - I've gotten so used to ordering, not liking them, accepting this and moving on that it's not too daunting. Even if this doll fails it's the size I intend to get for my character oneday so the wig/eyes should still fit most of the moulds I would consider in its place. And hey, if some of us didn't take leaps of faith then we couldn't share our experience and photos on here for others right?

 

I think not reading the information as it is fully provided (such as reading the info about the doll on the site) is unforgivable. I mean, I hate to be rude, but you already know your doll is going to cost you $600 - why would you not know what you're getting?

But aside from that, I understand the 'flying by the seat of your pants' thing. Not everyone is going to buy a doll with the intention to do a face-up in the near future. I, at least, don't imagine myself ever really doing one. I try to buy something that already looks good. I really don't want to totally screw it up and hate myself for ruining an expensive doll head. When I get a doll, I want something that won't take a lot of time or skill to maintain. A lot of the stuff people talk about are actually optional, and you never have to do them it you don't want to.

I tend to see myself like that. Of course, I may very well consider doing them as my experience goes on, but I don't want to set to work right away. I'd rather wait a while and see what I want to do.

As of now, I don't know if a face-up needs to be maintained if I never did anything to the doll's face.

But I also think it's not a one-way issue. People should, IMO, at least know what they're buying, and what a face-up is (because you can't mention BJD and not talk about a face-up at some point). They should know that the doll's hair and eyes can come off. In my opinion, this sort of thing is as elementary as knowing 2+2=4. And anyone who doesn't know should ask! But be polite about it. If it applies, admit you really didn't think it all out. If not, say so, too. However, the wold of BJDs doesn't equal an X-box chat. People who are veterans to the hobby have to remember that they were like these other people before. They have to be kind, and friendly to the newer doll owners who are being polite to them. No one has the right to call someone a 'n00b', or lecture them about why they should've done this or that. It's up to the veteran owners to educate the newer ones!

And, on a final note, I agree it is better to ask before, and not when you've totally screwed up.

 

I bought my first BJD (head only) because I saw it going on ebay second or third hand and fell in love with the face, I bought it and did the research while I was waiting for it to arrive. Some people might think that was reckless but it didn't cost much and I was already used to customizing and repairing dolls, plus knew already that resin was just another type of plastic. That was 2 and a half maybe 3 years ago, and many dolls further down the line.

I understand people falling in love and just buying because of that, no matter how expensive the doll, and doing research after the fact. Don't think there is anything wrong with that, BUT, I don't understand people who buy the doll and then proceed to actually try and customize, do face-ups whatever, without doing any research. Like a friend of mine who always jumps in feet first and is currently buying her first, I sent her lots of links about customizing and what you can/can't use with resin dolls, but she has already said she prefers "to find her own way" rather than go with the "accepted wisdom".... Lordy. Some people are just very headstrong I guess!

 

I think if you jam too much infomation into your head you lose the romance of wanting to buy that doll your obsessed over.
I have a note book now (>///>...) that I make all the dolls I want in and costs and of my favourite sites (dollmore ).after my first two I thought I should start planning to keep things in order ^__^

I see so many dolls on ebay due to impulse buys