Falling in love with a doll and it's unavailability

I had a similar situation, except my grail was Ender. I was too broke to even start a layaway during his original release. He was re-released a couple of years later in their Free Choice event, but not in the color I wanted, and again I was too broke. Finally, after about two years, I found the head in the color I wanted on the market at a good price and my husband made him my holiday/birthday gift. It's never impossible, just takes some patience.

 

Bide your time and look on the secondhand market, eventually you will get your way! (That's what I did with my Volks Kohya )

You should also take a look at some other dolls with a similar style/type just in case:
Some ideas:

Welcome to LUTS - Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD) company

*Special ball jointed doll for you, SOULDOLL*

RingDoll

Dollmore.net :: Everything for Doll & more

 

The original Puss in Boots is one of my favorite dolls too. Even though I don't have access to the marketplace...yet but I scroll through facebook bjd selling groups or Ebay everyday and that's where I found my ultimate grail doll Soom Hyperon. One of my advice for you is that you should have an extra fund for your grail doll in case he pops up out of nowhere. And when you see him, do not wait!!! These limited Soom boys sell like pancakes ^^ I know this because I missed out some of the chance to get Hyperon until recently. Wish you luck ^^

 

Secondhand marketplaces basically make it that "limited edition" poses no difficulty on obtaining a doll. The DoA marketplace is arguably the best resource for that, but shopping services for auction sites and websites like Mandarake are also pretty great.

Also, if you don't really care a ton about the clothes, faceup, and papers, buying the head and body separate can make the process easier. I just bought a Volks Creamy Mami which I couldn't necessarily split because it would have been way more expensive and inconvenient to buy a head and then try to hunt down the body type she came with, but for most other dolls this method works. There's always ways to get a doll you want. Even the rarest ones pop up every now and then.

 

A WTB thread??

 

A "Want to Buy" thread

 

That was actually a reasonable price. Dont they usually come blank, without face up, wigs, and clothes?

 

I was gonna say this would be one of the things I'd expect from any hobby. An endless list of unobtainable dolls. But those who say to keep money aside for possible doll discovery are right... It all adds to the thrill of the chase!

 

I've never myself hit a sculpt that I couldn't come across easy enough- the thing I want the most that I can't get from the company anymore is a Doll Chateau Ada. Just have to have the money first, haha.
But my roommate fell in love with a particular DollZone sculpt and accidentally came across it, and the corresponding sculpt at a later date. Just gotta keep looking!!

 

After seeing pictures on Tumblr and Instagram I fell in love with the Switch Soseo sculpt.. it's a very limited sculpt, it's only been available twice and in very small numbers. I had to spend a lot of time and effort searching for one on the second hand market, constantly checking sale groups and the BJD sales tag on Instagram.. it was so worth it though once I finally got him!

 

Sigh... I can sympathize with you guys.

I didn't realize how much I wanted the Dearmine Nero Mooncat (who looks JUST LIKE our cat, even down to the trollface) until he was sold-out... I'm still regretting not getting him when I could, even though he was out of my price-range! ;__;

Edit: Obtained! :') I asked Dearmine and they had ONE LEFT and they sent it to me, I think for the regular price. ;__;

 

Ahh, this has happened to me several times... I have deeply fallen in love with the Glorydoll Lucy sculpt and several of Elfdoll's sculpts, especially Vivien. I'm still hoping to somehow find sculpts that look similar to them (-- although the best case scenario would be finding the actual sculpts keks), but I'm a patient person. I think one day, they will find their way home to me.

 

Soom in a nutshell. I've been trying to get a Rosette Lavender and Dahlia for months now, but no luck with catching restocks or finding either in the marketplace so far XD I just have to keep looking and hole I get a lucky day!

 

Oh I know this feeling only too well being an admirer of several of SOOM's limited monthly dolls. Every time I go on their website the newish dolls are already sold out. All you can do is keep searching the second hand market - facebook selling pages, Ebay, etc for the doll you want to turn up and then typcally when it does you've not got the funds available at that time, grrrrr.

 

I guess I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to dolls, but I try and make sure I have some money saved up in case a doll comes along (this is often impossible--but I have enough for layaways sometimes, and that gets me lots of dolls I wouldn't otherwise be able to get).

I also totally check the News and BJDcollectasy and other places to make sure I catch sales periods.

If I miss a doll or fall in love after the sales period is over, I will totally haunt the Marketplace. and other places (used to check Ebay--but too many fakes there now, so I'm kind of boycotting).

With Soom and rare dolls, I have TOTALLY been able to find them! Just be thorough and prepared and patient and persistent. I have seen all kinds of rare dolls come up for sale. They used to be marked up, but now... not as much. You might have to pay a little more, but it's not as bad as it used to be and maybe you can try and negotiate.

Seriously, it is work, but it is possible to get sold-out dolls. (you have to be a bit insane, but it's possible!) Personally, I find it TOO EASY. I have too many dolls now and it's too easy to keep finding more...!

 

Falling for the unattainables is, as others have said, one of the unfortunate realities of this hobby. But never give up hope!

The first doll I ever fell head-over-heels in total love with was a Volks Tohya, about 11 years ago. But at that time he was very limited, and very, very expensive. Even if he weren't limited, I could never afford him, and even if I could have afforded him, he had already been sold out for a year. They were released again in 2008, again limited, but I still didn't have the over $900 they cost. So I had just kind of written it off as something I would never have. It was sad, but I got used to it, and got many other lovelies whom I adore.

And then, something happened. The stars aligned, heaven opened, angels winked, or something, but I now have a Tohya sitting right here next to me.

So, the point is, don't give up hope. Someday, that unattainable doll you're in love with just might make its way to you.

It just might take 11 years.

 

Not really. There are so many dolls available now that I can't imagine getting too upset over missing out on one. BUT, if the sculpt is really unique, you might just have to wait a while. Unless he was a one of a kind and the owner burned him, you've still got some chance!

 

I finally decided what my first bjd would be to discover she is sold out. Luckily she isn't limited and will most likely be rereleased in the fall but the wait is agonizing!

 

My grail dolls have always been most of the Dust of Dolls collection. I had been looking everywhere for dolls with just that right amount of cuteness and curvature figure. The prices have always been off-putting too (since I'll be going to full time college next year so I need to save up). Plus the fact that every doll is limited time pre-orders only and I usually miss most of them!

But, I'm happy to report I'm getting the Zouh Spun of my dreams within the next two weeks and I am in awe I found her when I did.