From your point of view, is any BJD worth thousands of dollars?

I have a hard enough time reasoning spending more than 600 on a doll and thankfully none of my dolls have been that much. I think my most expensive doll is my IMPL Limited Triton Son of the Sea who is currently on layaway. I believe he was $570 all together and that's because I got him in the grey skin, with the face-up, with the body blushing, and the body painting and then with his outfit because I loved how he looked as a "fullset" However my dream doll, E-An by Dream of Doll will be over $600 because I want her outfit and the tender e-an head and both face-ups....so she will be quite pricey but because she is my dream doll as soon as I have the money, I will get her. I would never ever ever spend more than that on a doll though because I don't think it's worth it.

Even if money was no object, I couldn't do it. There comes a point where it becomes too much to ask for just a doll.

Furthermore, those prices are for NEW dolls, now if you take in consideration that the 4000 asking price was for a second hand doll who was a few years old then it is WAAAAAY OVER PRICED no matter what make/mold the doll is. It just isn't worth it. I could never ever do it.

 

Something being "over priced" and one not being willing to pay an asking price are two completely different things. Just because one is not willing to pay a certain price does not mean that the item is over priced. It all depends on how much you want something and the value/worth, which has very little to do with price, it has to each individual.

 

I have a hard time spending over 300 dollars for a doll, I think my Bella was around 375 or so with her faceup... I just kind of freaked out the whole time I was paying her off. So I don't think I'd spend anything over $400 for a doll. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth it--they're worth whatever you make them worth really, if everyone quit buying Soom all of a sudden then Soom would be forced to lower their prices.

 

Something can be overpriced and still be worth it. I once bought a body second hand and paid $100 more than what the body would cost brand new from the company, because the body for sale was an earlier and discontinued edition. I didn't like the new body offered by the company even if the changes were minor, so I paid what the seller asked. Overpriced, yes and totally worth it in my opinion, because I haven't seen the older body offered for sale since then. On the other hand, I would not have paid $1000 for that body. That would be too much for me for that particular body.

 

I've only gone outside my personal "comfort level" of doll spending once, for my SD17 Williams. I consider it a special case. He was my grail doll after a year or so of looking at hundreds of sculpts, and I didn't think I'd really ever be able to afford him, even if he were to be re-released by Volks. Then my mother passed away and I came into an inheritance. I've been scrambling around making arrangements and handling various large transactions ever since, and there are still many things I'm just not comfortable spending money on, even if I can spare it. But it was an odd little comfort, in the midst of chaos, to be able to purchase something just for the sake of its beauty.

That said, I don't view him as an "investment." I have no thoughts of "flipping" him for a profitable sale like people might with, say, houses or cars. However, I also don't make any negative judgements on those who purchase limited fullsets, then sell them for more than they paid. He was worth the money to me simply because he was THE doll I wanted, and because there's no telling if he'll be released again. The marketplace for these dolls works using the law of supply and demand. If supply is restricted, then demand will increase, and it's only natural for the secondhand price to go up. If someone spends a lot on a doll, takes good care of it, and then happens to need more money for something they feel is more important, then it makes me feel good as a buyer to know that I'm helping them out AND getting something I want. If I pay a comparatively high price for a non-limited doll directly from the company, it's because I feel the product and their work on it is worth the cash. I've found that I'm willing to pay higher prices for things like clothes and faceups, too, once I've tried to "do it myself!" Even when it's fun, things like that are often quite hard work and can be very time consuming.

 

We're talking collectibles here, not cars. If the doll in question is a rare, highly sought-after limited that is no longer being produced, then its value will go up despite it being 'a few years old'. Frankly, I'd laugh my ass off at anyone who thought they could get a Bermann or a Souseiseki for less than the going rate because 'they're a few years old'. I have a feeling I wouldn't be the only one.

Sorry. This particular sentiment always bugs the heck out of me. My dolls are not worth as much as new ones, but I have nothing in my collection that falls into the realm of the rare-and-sought-after. That doesn't mean that holds true for all dolls. I can think of one particular doll that I could very easily see going for several thousand dollars on the secondhand market. He's a couple years old, true. He's also rare as all hell and absolutely stunningly gorgeous on top of that. Age of the item means nothing if the market dictates that item's price is higher than you want to spend. Sure, you can't do it. I probably couldn't either. But that doesn't necessarily make it overpriced.

 

I recently seen a hand make OOAK porcelain BJD sell on Ebay for over $10,000!!!! YEP...no type-O...over ten thousand dollars! Don't get me wrong, she was quite exquisite and beautiful but for that price....I was speechless. I know she was a true work of art to be put on display and with her being made of porcelain and not resin, there would be no chance of yellowing. I am sure that the people bidding on her did see it as an investment on a work of art and something to display for years to come.

 

It would depend on the doll, its company, and its quality. There are certain dolls that I would pay a large amount for that I missed out on. However...

I'm going to point fingers at SOOM for a second. [Sorry dont hurt me omg!]

I have an Idealian. And while I love the doll a lot, he was 600 dollars. Now. I'd spent more on dolls in the past. I have dolls worth $800 - $1000. And I was severely disappointed with Soom's quality of doll. I have dolls worth 300 dollars that were of better quality than my idealian. And they're bigger than he is, too.

So I think, while I would totally be willing to spend the money on a doll like that, it'd better be a quality doll. Sanded, even, nicely jointed, hands matching. All of these things are things my Idealian was not. His head and hands are a completely different color from his body. His resin on his hands, feet, and head are unpolished. Which lead me to believe soom is one of those hit or miss companies.

Good for me to know, cuz I totally would have jumped on a Vega or Shoshon if I saw them in the market place. I would pay whatever price someone was asking. But now that I know that, I'd probably think twice about it. ^.^;

But are there dolls I would pay a lot of money for? Yes. Yes there are. But I'd want to make sure the doll is quality first.

 

You are asking me to consider ONLY my own logic when or if I ever make a purchase in the higher end of the doll market these days, right?

I say the bjd DEFINITELY has as much hope for keeping their value and bringing a profit as any other investment. Meanwhile I could have a lot of fun while owning an expensive one, as long as I love admiring it and doing creative things with it.... And can handle and store it so as to keep it in the most pristine condition possible.

I'm totally wired to think about re-sale possibilities. Through consigning the clothes I wear, which are purchased at low end thrift stores to begin with, I've made the money to pay my clothing cost. I think it is fun to glean the "good stuff". Like 4-leaf clover hunting, which I spent hours doing when I was a little girl. I'm quite content with sort of "renting" my wardrobe. I think I'll be able to do that even if I adore a doll....maybe...?

I was a realtor and turned over fixer-upper houses ~ making most of my money to pay off my own home that way. It was fun for me to apply my gifts and physical labor to take a neglected home and bring out all it's potential. Then I had an antique shop that was profitable. = my point --> I am hopeful I will be able to regain some of my money over time by trading dolls. So I am hoping to understand resale as I plod along as a newbie in this hobby.

It is like a fun scavenger hunt to bid, or comb through listings to find the people who are just ready to pass their dolls along without making any profit at it. "Variety is the spice of life" = it is good that some people don't plan or need to make profit when they are ready to move a doll out. I prefer to buy second hands to help people keep all the dolls moving along, like dominoes.

For the expensive/legend dolls, at least part of the value for me is in the excitement of searching, finding, winning that doll. I think auctions tap into all kinds of primal urges, and that thing that makes gambling fun.

As long as I wouldn't end up paying interest for years to purchase a doll, or be unable to meet any other financial obligation,,,as long as
no baby goes hungry...
because I paid a big price for a doll -- I WOULD PAY A FEW THOUSAND for the "right" doll.

But not until I feel I've really learned as much as I could to predict the potential future value, and to avoid being scammed. Two things that can never be certainly avoided, but are highly likely to go wrong if I were to do it while I'm a noob.

PROS AND CONS...what makes a dolls worth?

I could not do it if I thought it was all just for my own pleasure. I don't judge people who love their dolls only for that personal pleasure and plan to keep them forever. I might turn out to be one of them. Hah! But I think I can equally enjoy the less expensive dolls. Even the cheapest dolls have perks for me that are well worth their price. I adore variety, and that ends up creating volume, which sort of eliminates the possibility of affording one of these major league dolls.

I admire people who have restraint and have no problem with the value system that allows a person to pay a great amount of money for a doll. How people want to spend their money on dolls is a completely unique and personal thing. To say otherwise would be like saying green is a better color than blue because I like green best.

I don't know enough yet to hunt down these top end dollies, but if I had a little more confidence, I would pay big bucks. Whether they deserve it or not, the name brands that have gained a following [and still produce quality dolls from the molds of talented artists] are the only ones I'd try for investment purposes.

At least until I've become such a sought after doll artist myself that people don't even cash my checks because they want to save my "autograph" -- HAR-HAR. I think that is suppose to be a quote from Picasso who got to be famous before he died.

Just dreaming about these things has value. Think of the billions spent on lottery tickets and other kinds of gambling. Living in this dream that produces happiness still has value and is harmless, even if it never comes true, in my opinion. As long as no babies go hungry.

There is always the question about whether this money should be given to people in need, rather than spent on our own joy. But that is a real spin off from this thread.

When I am more knowledgeable I would "gamble" on the high end dolls -- as long as I loved them enough that it wouldn't crush me if I lost money, or even never was able to part with them. I have never found anything that I enjoyed as much as bjd.

It isn't just the dolls alone. It is sharing in a community of other hobbyist/collectors. The fun of connecting, encouraging, being pleased by other people's talent and having them enjoy what I might make is priceless to me.

BJD have a special high ticket value in my mind because the number of people who "get it" is fairly small. Just as limited editions have more demand and value. Most people would really give me the "stink eye" if they knew how much I've spent on dolls and how much I think about them/enjoy them.

It's not that I feel exclusive. I think I just like being "different" and a lot of other bjd people understand that at some intuitive level. This is a place where people who are creative gather.

That fits into this discussion about the big prices because it requires other people who take interest and also love something to drive the price up. I think we all share the joy of the Sard, the Yukinojo, the William, Shinku...and the people who bid against each other, thus driving up the prices, are contributing to the whole community. They usually put them out here in some way for us to enjoy too. Through things like photographs and forums. And they preserve them so maybe they will one day be the major, major collectibles/antiques in the distant future.

I think this is a hobby that is not mainstream, but will stay strong. And if you want to make investments, I say go for the things that rich people like. No matter how bad things get, there is always rich people around seeking "frivolous" things to spend that money on.

ONE more point: I really did consider whether I wanted to trust the value of the US dollar, or purchase items that might maintain value in spite of inflation. I'd rather have things I can enjoy and share with people, than have money locked up in a building somewhere, or jewelry more likely to be stolen or get me mugged. @_@ Heh.

Even though I talk completely like an "investment" doll collector, I can't even put my dolls away in their boxes. I have them in groupings all over my house. I love looking at them. My imaginative side feels sad for them being shut away in a dark box in a closet. I do keep them away from direct sun, and I'm fearful of taking them for nature photography, or even travel with them to meet-ups...I don't want to damage them in any way. But I'm going to "love on them", pose them, dress them, and er...talk to them? My cat hates that. He gets so jealous. Seriously!

And so far -- I couldn't begin to choose one to sell. I turn over my paintings without a thought. [I'm a free lance artist]... But my emotional attachment to my dolls has come as a joyful surprise. Perhaps not such a good thing for my original plan to love 'em, paint 'em and sell so I can paint more and try out all the possibilities of customization.

 

I felt awful spending even 225 on a doll, but I think a doll would be worth thousands if it was life-size, a full-set with body blushing, and super high quality!

 

Value is something that lies in the heart of the buyer. I do not believe in buying dolls which I feel are too expensive. This is a hobby for me but not vital to my survival on earth. Therefore I tend to temper the luxury indulgence with that which is within my budget and use these caveats as a guide for what I will and won't spend on a doll.

That being said, there are just some dolls that call out to you in a way that melts away all your inhibitions and to the wallet you go because you MUST bring them home. It seems that every year some of my ‘GRAIL DOLLS’ seems to want to come home with me and no matter how much my practical mind says it is unjustified, my childish half says that it is a shiny new toy and I WANT IT!

So alas, after all the internal turmoil, I just fork over the cash because I will regret it if I don't.

 

I am new to the hobby, like a year’s involvement and barely half a years of owning one.
But I still believe I am qualified to state my opinions...
Through this essay......... -__-

-Is any doll worth that amount from your point of view?

That amount... No. The doll is not I would say. The price is due to demand, is it not? All about business...
- "Want it?
Well then, pay me thiiiiis much..!"
So for bragging rights and for the "true fan" yes, for those who value that it might be worth it!

However to compare this to another hobby of mine - drawing.
I have started using copic markers. They go for about... $6 each. They have about 314, possibly more markers, released. Collecting them all is not a must, but it helps more than not... So picking them all up would be $2000.
Is that more accepted? The fact that they are many might help justify it in some people’s eyes...
But you get creative with them, just as with dolls. What you do with them (probably) results in something “you just look at”, as with dolls...

-To those who would pay this amount but haven't/can't: What makes a doll worth this amount to you?

And like stated above, sometimes the object itself is not worth the price. But the individual might believe that the more... well "willing"... you are to pay a large amount, the more it shows your dedication.
So playing with the thought that if I really was a fan of Shinku, I do not think I would hesitate to make the purchase, if I could that is.
But then dolls would have to be a really giving hobby for me, as well...

-To those who would not pay this amount, even if you did have the money: Let's just pretend that your dream dolly is a limited going for a few thousand, why wouldn't you be willing to pay this amount?

As stated again... Dolls for me are not such a giving hobby... yet. I cannot really justify paying that sum of money for something that is mainly materialistic.
I remember seeing a doll on eBay of Enma Ai once... several actually, not sure if it was a BJD as I did really not know of their general existence. But I do not think it was a BJD...
I think it went for $600, which I thought was insane!
But now... no. It is not insane; it is the way this "hobby" is.

I believe that it would be hard to keep a doll business going without these limited dolls... So I think it is a good thing, I really do.
But of course, for us, who are not directly in the business it seems like a bitch...

But I often think to myself, as my economy is the way it is - I have always had to think about what I buy and for how much. For some this is not a problem...
And a lot of what I am going to say is similar to what DaughterofEden has said...
But... I sit here, could now afford a doll, even PLANNING to, since I would like a second one, though I believe in having that “one special one” ideology. One is enough, that is.

Could I really justify spending all that money on myself?
I am alone a lot or the majority of my time, whether I want to or not... So another doll, I argue, would add to me having something to do and something to look forward to... But it could just be seen as a thing at the end of the day, would it not be better to spend that money on friends when or while you can, and make unforgettable memories instead?

My outlook on the future might be grim, but would an expensive doll really make anyone happy? Is material joy the best kind of joy?
And could not a broken doll bring you just as much joy? You do not want a broken doll for that amount of money, no.
But what I am asking with my sidetracking is if status goes before “joy”.
“That doll is limited, that is why I love it so much!”
“That doll is JUST a standard/unlimited model so I do not care much for it...”
Group pressure, you know?
I also think many who have doubts really want to hear that it is ok. That it is ok to spoil ourselves.

 

The only doll I'd be willing to pay a staggering amount for is a Kinoko Juice Kiki, because I thought she was cute and wanted one before I ever found out she was super rare and hard to obtain. Now that I know that, I still want one... so if I ever get the chance, I will pay it.

 

Amen to that. I adore these girls, but they are so hard to find

 

-Is any doll worth that amount from your point of view?
No. At least, at this point in my life, no. I can really want it, but I still can't justify thousands of dollars for the doll. There are things that I have to do, responsibilities that I have, that paying thousands of dollars for one doll that will, yes, bring enjoyment, but has no other function to me, is ridiculous. Maybe I'm just too new to the hobby, or I just haven't come across a doll that I want that bad yet, but I can't justify it. Not when there are bills to pay. Survival comes before the dolls, and I don't have the kind of disposable income it would take to spend that kind of money on a doll.

Granted, if you factor in saving up for it, then that could be another route to go. That way, the money wouldn't really be "disposable income" but something you've scrimped and saved. The thing is, most dolls I've seen in that price range are usually limited. I haven't been in the second-hand market yet, but I am willing to bet those don't hang around, either.

Having just spent very near $1000 on my first doll and his accessories, maybe I can't say that. But, that is the point. The accessories helped drive the price up. The doll itself was about $700 with a faceup.

This is all in the eye of the beholder. The more die-hard collectors would probably disagree with most of what I've said. If you have the means and the drive, then more power to you.

-If you have ever bought a limited doll from a second hand market for a minimum of a few thousand dollars, what are the pros and cons of this? And do you worry that it may lose value due to popularity (or lack of) or from typical wear over time? What makes that doll worth it to you?N/A

But, I must say. If you are going to worry about the market value, it seems like the doll wasn't wanted enough for your own enjoyment, but rather for resale. And that's silly.

-To those who would pay this amount but haven't/can't: What makes a doll worth this amount to you?
N/A

-To those who would not pay this amount, even if you did have the money: Let's just pretend that your dream dolly is a limited going for a few thousand, why wouldn't you be willing to pay this amount
Pretty much for the same things I mentioned above. Though, if bills weren't a factor and I didn't need that stockpile of cash for something else...I still don't think I would buy that doll for it. I could put a down payment on a new car with that money. I could pay off more of my student loans with that money. I'd just be thinking of all the more practical uses that money has than my hobbies. I think it was just the way I was raised.

 

Though the doll may be beautiful, I think that my limit comes at around $800. Of course, that's likely to change in the future.

 

So here are some questions:
-Is any doll worth that amount from your point of view?
To me, personally, no. No doll is worth that amount of money that you had mentioned. This is because I am in college, and have three cats to take care of. If I had the money, then I'd think about it! c:

-If you have ever bought a limited doll from a second hand market for a minimum of a few thousand dollars, what are the pros and cons of this? And do you worry that it may lose value due to popularity (or lack of) or from typical wear over time? What makes that doll worth it to you?
I don't even have my first doll yet! c: But, I wouldn't care about popularity! Or the wear over ti--Ow. Ow. Ow. Sorry. My kitten is climbing on my tanktop, attacking my hair... And now. He's back on the floor. c: Anyway. I wouldn't purchase a doll, unless I really wanted him or her! And I would love them, no matter how old! The more wear and tear, honestly, would just make them all that more lovable. ; o ;

-To those who would pay this amount but haven't/can't: What makes a doll worth this amount to you?
n/a

-To those who would not pay this amount, even if you did have the money: Let's just pretend that your dream dolly is a limited going for a few thousand, why wouldn't you be willing to pay this amount?
Simple as I stated before! I have responsibilities! I have bills and rent, etc. to pay. What if my money falls thru somewhere else? I always try to make sure I have back up money! Or what if I, or my cats got injured? There are hospital and vet bills! I also do not see the point in paying that much on a little hobby. If you're a celebrity and have uber cash flow--how could you just decide to dump that money? I have hobbies I really love, too, but I have boundaries. :c
Then again, who wouldn't love to spend money however they wanted, when they wanted?

 

I've been in the hobby for three years now, and purchased 6 dolls. Ironically, my price limit for a doll actually went down as my time in the hobby went up. Two years ago I plopped down $1000 for a limited doll on the aftermarket without any hesitation, but now.... Now anything over $450 just seems way too steep, especially since I have a penchant for decking out all of my dolls in the best finery I could find, and that adds up FAST. If the doll starts out initially expensive, then it just becomes too much. That means that I'm currently mostly buying tinies, but, they're cute, and I like them because I can dress them up in cute, high-quality stuff and not break the bank.

-Is any doll worth that amount from your point of view?
No. And not because I don't think they're not worth it, necessarily, from an economic or artistic point of view, but because I think that, in my current financial state of working an internship that is primarily geared at giving me experience and therefore paying pennies, that's just too much for me to pay in comparison to my total earnings. I need to save the money for textbooks, and student fees, and to start a savings account so that my boyfriend and I could move out worry-free. $4000 is more than half of what I will earn on this internship, after subtracting rent and taxes. That's just... incredibly irresponsible. I can't even bring myself to pay $900 for a doll these days (was a limited I really wanted, but I just couldn't justify it to myself and click "buy"), just because I start thinking about how that's all I make for myself in a month of work (after bills and taxes), and I just think it's too much, relatively. Also, because of how expensive it is in comparison, I wouldn't enjoy the doll as much because I would worry about how bad I'd feel if something were to happen to it.

Now, if, say, in a decade I'm working a job that pays me a lot more than minimum wage, and my savings accounts and finances are good, then why not indulge in more expensive dolls? It's all relative to me. $900 is a lot now, but when you can make that amount in a few working days, it suddenly doesn't seem as bad.

-To those who would not pay this amount, even if you did have the money: Let's just pretend that your dream dolly is a limited going for a few thousand, why wouldn't you be willing to pay this amount?

Quite simply, I do not have dream dollies that are worth several thousand dollars. Or, to put it slightly differently, if a doll is worth several thousand dollars it just would not ever be anything I want. The price tags makes sure that it's automatically instantly unappealing to me, and I think that's a good thing, personally. That means I don't have to talk myself out of buying it, agonizing over the price, and trying to see if maaaybe I could squeeze it in, it's just "Oh, $3000? There are dolls I want more out there that are less than this, so, moving on~!".

... I can't even write about a hypothetical scenario here. I was going to go "Well, imagining that there was a doll worth $3000 that I really wanted...", but I just.... can't. Because it would never happen, when my complete limit for a naked and blank doll is apparently below $900. It's kind of like a Jaguar car for me right now - really nice, but nothing I would ever want to own because it's just so astronomically out of my price range it doesn't even show up on the "gimme" radar. (yay for mixed metaphors!)

 

I believe there is one doll, I'd pay in thousands for...but I believe for the amount of time and the detail and the doll box that the artist hand makes and paints make this doll extremely worth it and even then these dolls are not badly priced, compared to the 4000 one. They are very limited, and nothing but stunning. I believe her dolls go for 2000-3000. They are Lillycat dolls made by Cerisedolls.

I would never pay that amount for a company doll or one that was a few years old as I've stated before, because for me personally I can not justify it. If others want to and see those dolls as being worth that amount than that is fine, it's their money to do as they wish. But because the Lillycat dolls are made by one artist and are so different than any dolls any of the doll companies offer, I'd pay her asking price for them (if I can ever manage to catch one before they are all sold out. )

 

If I were a collector, and the doll was an exceptional limited, and it was something I so wanted and for whatever reason could not acquire it when it was first released, then possibly Yes.

However, that doll would have to sit in a glass case on a shelf. I might enjoy looking at it, more likely feel a bit guilty for not 'playing' with it, for such an indulgence. I would worry about it too much. It's one of the main reasons I acquired the one doll I do have: I can play with it, not worry about it, care for it and still not be afraid to try things with it (like taking pics in the snow).