Doll research *or* Buying too soon?

After a good two years or so of researching, I still haven't bought a single doll. ^^; I'm always learning new things about dolls so I'm just going to wait until I have a lot of knowledge on dolls. I only learned a few weeks ago that sanding even exists, so I still don't think I'm ready at all yet! I'd also like to be an even better seamstress than I am right now, so I'm going to have to research lots of new sewing and pattern making techniques. I get a lot of hands on practice with my friends' dolls, though. I sew most of their dolls' clothing and when I do that I get to see things like how the bodies move, flexibility, etc but even so, I know I have a lot to learn.

 

I can't imagine anyone buying a BJD without doing some research first, unless they're very wealthy or very impulsive. I'd cut a teenager more slack, however. If a teenager isn't aware of DoA and other resources, I can see why they might assume they're just buying a complicated plastic toy. At the same time, the cost ought to make even a teenager slow down and seek out as much information as possible before buying.

I'm like a lot of posters here. I waited to get my DoA membership, and I've been researching the dolls for at least five years. I've lost track now. I want to know not only about the dolls in general, but about individual companies--whose sculpts do I prefer, which bodies are more posable, what's the resin quality and customer service like? But I probably would have bought sooner if I weren't at a point in my life when I can't justify the expense. I doubt that many years is necessary to learn all that's necessary for a first-time purchaser.

 

I did reasearch for about 1/2 - 1 year (I dont remember 100%) or something, back then I thought I never would be able to get any doll ever.
But I was wrong. I bought my first one one year ago.
It was used, damaged and cheap but it worked well. I mainly used him as a "practicing doll" because I later found so many other companies and dolls I liked.
However I could not afford so many so I ended up selling him (cheap ofc) and getting two used tinies with the money I got.
I did that many times. Bought a doll cheap, tried it out and sold it if it weren`t what I liked.

So even though I did a lot of reaserch I kept on doing that, buying one cheap and selling it, buying another one i liked for the money I got and so on.
I`ve only bought tree new dolls, and I saved up a long time for them @__@
You might consider that heartless or rude...but you know what?
I`ve learned SO damn much.
I have found out 100% what dolls I prefer.

I`ve tried them all, SOOM Monthly doll, DollfieDream, Tinies, MSD, SD.
And now...I have my two precious babies. One SD (the only one I`ll have) and one MSD.
I know which dolls I might want in the future, but they are new (not used like all the others) and quite exspensive so I`ll wait a long time before deciding that ^w^

But it is kinda ironic...the two dolls I was most spontanious with (it was the heads of the two I`ve got now) which I bought tree days after I saw them....they are the ones I love the most and ended up keeping

 

I'm researching before buying! Almost 1 year without buying another one! I've one small obitsu and now i want an dd!

 

i have to say that many people rush into things and then they dont know nothing.
To every hobby there is the need to theorycraft (origination of the word is the game starcraft: Theorycraft is the attempt to analyze game mechanics in order to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of the game. // the word is also used to describe intense interest in thing and dedicated focus i.E. inform yourself and stay on top of your game/hobby)
There are always people in every hobby who do not "theorycraft" before they dive into something, these people seem to be very needy because they already have a doll to take care off and they seem so uninformed.
Bevore i baught my very first Doll i was reading a lot, looked up how the internals of dolls work, how to repair thinks, how to remove a stain etc.

I think it is the same as with every other hobby. It will never change, there will always be people who first read and then buy and those who do it the other way around

 

A little research is always handy

 

I think the price tag alone would propel someone to research about this hobby before getting into it. Definitely should research and make SURE it's the ONE you want!

I've been in the anime community for almost ten years now, and known about these dolls. The extent of my knowledge was 'expensive' and 'not a toy' and that they were very different from your average American Girl type doll. I actually used to find them creepy/scary and stayed away. It wasn't until my roommate got one, and I met someone who had four of them, that I started to become interested. Still I told myself I could never pay THAT much for a DOLL. I started making clothes for them last summer and loved it. I watched the friend with four dolls do her own face-up. I've played with the dolls and gotten more used to them.

Now that I'm finally at the point where I want my own, I started to look around like crazy. I joined DoA, found every company I could, scoured e-bay. I think I had it narrowed down to seven dolls I wanted at one point. Now I've finally decided on one, but not until after I saw as many different versions of her as I could, and gleaned this place for all the info I could get! To me it's still a HUGE decision, a LOT of money. I'll be trying my own face-up, but only under my friend's close supervision.

I don't want n00b fail to happen to me!

 

=_=
I was 30 when I bought my first doll and I was not aware of DOA and other resources. I don't spend my life glued to the internet, there aren't any BJDs in my are unless you happen to be part of the community (of which I was also unaware of) and I'm sorry, but my BJDs are complicated toys...some of them aren't even that complicated. They may not be made of plastic, but toys they are. They're just way more expensive than the ones I had when I was a kid. And I don't actually play with them the same way.

I seem to be the minority in this hobby when it comes to research. I did some, but I didn't spend years going through the BJD world with a fine-tooth comb. I knew enough so that I knew better than to attempt a faceup on my first doll, and to order him clothes so that he wasn't naked for days on end, but that was about it. I had to ask the doll company how to change his eyes!

Oddly enough despite my lack of research I did not open him up and immediately start using a sharpie all over his face (I would not have done that to my GI Joes when I little either). Nor did I throw him off a roof, let my dog/cat/turtle/whatever chew on him or small children drag him around the house and give him tattoos with fingerpaints. In fact, he's on my shelf at home, clean and gorgeous and completely unharmed right now.

I realize that there may be people out there who will get out the sharpies on the arrival of their first doll, but if that's what they want to do to their $600 doll, I doubt a crap-ton of research is going to help much.

I'm sorry I got off on kind of rant here, but that teenager thing got to me, both because I actually believe there are teens out there perfectly capable of owning and not destroying dolls without researching for years ahead of time, and because I'm not a teen and I didn't do my 11ty years of research first either. Does that mean I don't get slack? I don't believe I need slack, but still...

Research is never a bad idea, but even if you do it forever before buying that first doll there's always a chance you'll turn around and find one you like better. And guess what? That is not the end of the world. It happens. It will keep happening...so many sculpts are released constantly now it's almost impossible to keep up on all of them.
The best bet is to buy what you like and if it's not the "ohmygawdperfectestdollieEVER" start looking at the second-hand market. You may not make all your money back but it's better than being less than happy with what you have.

Tons of research won't stop your doll from face-planting on a hard surface and suffering damage, or keep you from accidentally flinging heads across the room while restringing (that's actually happened to me, and I do know how to restring a doll. Luckily he landed on a bag and no damage was sustained :3 Ok I did it more than once but Migidoll and Dollmore make tough heads. They're fine.).

So yeah, before this gets long (too damn late): Research = good. And if doing research extensively for years is your thing, awesome. go for it.
But if you want to buy now and say screw research, why not? It's your money and your doll and the rest of the world should worry about themselves and their dolls.

Not doing a lot of research beforehand does not always = ruined doll.

 

I have been collecting all sorts of different dolls for over 30 years. I was aware of BJD and Volks - when these dolls started to come out on or around 2003? I did a little research then and found that Volks and other companies just did not have any dolls that attracted me. Now, I have only been in BJD world about 6 months and with the help of DoA and some great dolly friends; I have learned so much more. I think many of the decisions on which dolls are in my family were the right choices for me and so far I am not disappointed.

I agree that many new sculpts and doll concepts come around every few months and there is temptation. However, there also is a sense of knowing now what I really like. Research does come in handy - yet, sometimes there is just that special "something" that happens and you feel a connection with a particular BJD. If you have saved, are informed and lucky - you will love what comes out of that box on "opening" day and beyond.

 

I agree with those who said that buying prematurely can and should be prevented with research. I was one who did not, or at least not much; I wish I had. Learning along the way means I've learned some things the hard way. Luckily though, I was only very inexperienced with my first doll. By the time I had my second, I pretty much knew the basic ins and outs of doll maintenance.

 

It can be very hard for those just getting into this. Its my second month into research. At first I was very put off because there is just so much you need to learn about finding the right doll for you. What body type you want, how to take care of it, staining, dying, wigs and cloths fits.....there is a lot more to it then I thought. I like the Luts Senior Delf body type, and there Heat Resistant wigs. I have also read lots of good reviews from them by people on DOAs, but so far none of there Senior female Delf heads make me fall in love. And I only buy what I love. So, bottom line, I'll be researching until they come out with new heads...just to pass the time.

 

Research definitely doesn't mean you're going to love the doll forever. I did ALOT of research for some of my dolls, others not so much. I've loved the less researched dolls alot more. Basic knowledge of care and the brand is definitely good but I think going with your gut should be key too. For me the best way to learn my tastes and what I like in these dolls has been to handle them. I can read until my brain explodes but just like with school - some of us learn things best with our hands.

 

Well research can help a lot, but then there are those "spur of the moment buys" I mean even with all research we all do there are always going to be questions

 

I actually like that I can't buy dolls yet. It's made me do YEARS of research. My wishlist has changed so much it's amazing. I do wish people would wait, but if they make up for that quickly, then no harm done. In the end, it's their money. Sometimes people just need to learn a hard lesson. Really, no one should spend lots of money on something that they didn't research a lot on. No one just buys any old car - you do research. For dolls it should be the same.

 

Personally, I feel (especially with a hobby that involves so much financial\emotional investment) that perhaps some people may purchase ‘pre-maturely’. That the excitement over the beauty of these dolls overrides sense and they get them before they fully understand the hobby they are jumping into. Perhaps some are just hopping on the hobby bandwagon to fit in with friends and acquaintances? Maybe some are afraid to ask questions for fear of being perceived as a 'newb'? What are everyone’s thoughts on this?

A sign that I REALLY want something is that I would spend ages and ages researching whether it's the right fit for me. I do this not limited to dolls (cameras, phones, expensive stuff really) and I think it's really paid off in the end. I used to be fairly impulsive with my buys and before I knew it I've spent upwards of 500 bucks on stuff that I don't have any attachment to. I've learned my mistake and I couldn't be happier now because I actually am already familiar with the item before I receive it, eliminating most newb moments

IMO I think research vs impulse weighs really heavily on the PRICE of the item. Since we are talking about BJD I really feel that you should spend at least a month doing research before buying anything. If anything financial concern is always the most visible. Plus I hate to see anyone either regretting buying things prematurely or just clueless to the point of neglect because they don't fully understand their new hobby.

 

I did research before I purchased my doll, for all of about two days. I feel kind of terrible for not waiting it out to see if I would... 'outgrow' the desire to have one, and I never ever make spontaneous purchases like this, so it's really weird for me. Okay, so I DID do research for a couple days before buying the doll, (reading and looking at stuff for pretty much two days straight) but that's obviously nothing compared to the YEARS some people have waited... LOL

 

i prefer to research only because when i bought my two pukipukis, i didnt research, and they hardly have clothes or wigs so i wont repeat that...i wont buy a doll unless i find good clothes, shoes, wigs, eyes, beforehand!

 

I think I replied further back, but reading Vampireangel13's post...yeah, I didn't do much reaserch compared to what seems normal here, either. I ordered within a week of seeing the doll I wanted, knew of 2 different companies, and didn't even know they where held together with elastics untill a week before he arrived. I was 17, then...that first doll is perfectly fine even now. Many, many things are just commen sence in this hobby.

 

I'll admit to not knowing a lot when I ordered my first doll. I know the basics like what the doll will come with, how much clothes, wigs and other things for the doll will cost. I know not to leave her in the sun or standing. I had heard about the dolls a little before Christmas I think. I fell in love and ordered my first doll a few days ago. I figure I knew what I needed to know to order her and the rest I will learn before she gets here. I think they only anyone really needs to know is how much this hobby is really going to cost and if they will love it enough to invest in it. Anything else will be learned during the wait LOL. These dolls can take forever to come home when they are pre-order.

 

I came upon my first glimpses of bjds last summer and they stuck in my mind a bit.. it's at the moment I realised I wanted a doll of my own (and not only playing and dressing my daughter's dolls), that I thought this is for me. It was in late autumn. I loved the versatility of these dolls and got help from a fellow blogger and quickly bought my first doll... which was quickly followed up by another.
I am very happy with my two darlings, and this is really the hobby that was waiting for me.
So I had done some research, but not tons...
Now I browse a lot more and do more research as I want all my future dolls to be stayers, too, and as I still find the prices noteworthy (but they are worth their prices, don't get me wrong), I do not want to spend lightly.