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

What I said is that it's *more* accurate to compare a doll to a print than to a painting - which is still true - not that the 'doll = print' concept was the end all be all one true comparison. I understand that a lot of work goes into making these dolls. I wasn't trying to devalue them, or printmaking.

My definition of what is or is not art, and where dolls fall on that spectrum, is my own personal opinion, that's all. I wouldn't pay $4000 for a BJD. If someone else thinks it's worth that much, then their money is their business.

 

In my opinion I believe that some dolls are worth multiple thousands of dollars - one off full-set limiteds for example. I don't think all limiteds are worth the pricetag on them - for example I thought a fullset Heliot first hand was a rip off because the outfit turned out to be just strips of material and not something actually tailored - but I believe many of them are worth the amount they are sold for to first-hand buyers. However, just because I do believe that in the realm of dolls they are worth as much as they may be sold for, it doesn't mean that I wish to spend that much on a doll and will. I have self-imposed limits as to how much I spend on a hobby, and at this point in time I wouldn't be able to justify to myself spending more than $600 on a doll, even if I could afford it.
So yes, I think some dolls are worthy of the hefty pricetags on them, but I do not wish to own them and I prefer to admire them from afar

 

Any collectible is only worth as much as the consumer is willing to pay

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

Yes - when the technical details are weighed up, the care and talent that goes into the art-work, the attention to detail with the garmets and the quality of the manufacture > if all of these things are of the highest quality then yes a doll is worth it.

-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 bought a Unoa second hand for close to a thousand which at the time was almost 1.3 thousand in Australian dollars, she was worth every penny to me and even when I had to sell her due to circumstance, the reduction in her value was minimal. The degree of difficulty in procuring a doll makes it more valuable and worthy of the additional cost and effort it takes to find one.

I now have a New Souldoll Chiron on layby (Full set in Grey resin with Centaur body, blushing etc...) he came to $1778 which in Aussie dollars is $2169 he is worth every single cent of it - the sculpt itself would have taken months of hard work on behalf of the artist and hours of trials and tweaking and adjustments to get it "just-right" so when spending this amount of money its not just the finished product you are buying its the blood sweat and tears of it creator that come with it and a level of quality a couple of hundred just cant buy....

Having said that - I own many dolls on the MUCH smaller dollars scale and they to me are worth every bit as much as the more "exclusive" and expensive part of my collection - it all comes down to the individual and what is important to them. If a doll doesnt talk to me whatever its price tag - its not worth anything to me even if it is an $8000 limited OOAK... but if I see and feel a doll that sparks somthing inside, then the price-tag isnt as important.

 

As for my opinion,
Any BJD can be worth a thousand dollars,
It just takes the devotion of love of the owner to price it.

*no offends, peace-s finger*

 

Well-said! I wish everyone would remember to take this into consideration. It's a similar situation in comics: what takes perhaps years of production, might only take 20 minutes to read... It can be so disheartening when people only value the finished, tangible product and not spare a thought for all the time and effort, the blood, sweat and tears, that has gone into it! Dolls aren't born from a magical fairy-land and delivered to you by a stork, lol.

 

WHAT???
Next you're going to try to tell me there's no Santa Claus!!!


Speaking of storks- got email this morning that Ms. Cholong had a healthy baby boy last night! Slightly off-topic, but she is the Elfdoll person in the US.

 

For a BJD, I'd never spend anything over a thousand & it would have to be a danged special doll for me to consider even that amount. Why? Basically because these dolls are made of an unstable material & haven't been around long enough to know how they'll hold up over time. Also, even though some of these dolls come closer to fine art than simply dolls, they are made to be played with & if I spent that much on a doll, I'm not sure I could find it in me to play.

Have I ever spent over a thousand dollars for a doll? Yes & many times over back when I collected antique dolls. But they were made of proven more stable materials & already had a century or more of experience behind them. And yes, I played with them a bit but very carefully. I finally left that aspect of doll collecting as I wanted something more "interactive", not to mention that the prices had skyrocketed since I'd started collecting & there was very little left that I wanted & could actually afford.

Really, the correlation that I'm drawing is that for me, the more I have to spend, the less "fun" I can actually have with a doll. I can't justify spending huge amounts of money on what is essencially a toy.

 

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

Not really. Someone earlier on the last page (which I confess is the only one I read) likened BJD production to comic production - I have several fairly successful comic writer/artist friends so I know how much hard work goes into creating and distributing them, but I wouldn't pay $100 for one! I balk at spending £6.99 on a new manga, but that's just me Personally, I don't feel that any BJD is worth several thousand dollars, but that doesn't really mean they're not, just that I wouldn't pay that much. No matter how much hard work goes into them, ultimately I'm more likely to spend a huge sum on a First Edition book I really love, than a LE BJD. That said, haha, my max price is probably in the region of $2000, but that would have to be for a doll I had coveted for a long time, that was in excellent condition My first tiny cost me just shy of $700 - so although I wouldn't pay, say, $4000 for a doll, I don't mind forking out a bit extra if it's one I really want, and really, really love.

-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?

This doesn't really apply to me, but I think the question is really the same no matter the cost. I have bought a couple of LE dolls from the marketplace and yes, I do sometimes worry that they will lose value. But I think it's less because of the popularity of the doll (there will always be someone, somewhere out there, waiting to find your LE ____ and happy to pay anything you ask) and more the "popularity" (or notoriety) of the seller. If you know someone either personally or by reputation, you are far more likely to pay the price they ask than someone you don't know anything about - because you're more likely to be able to trust someone you know better (one way or another). However, the exact opposite is also true, and your doll could become more coveted or you more well known :3 I also hate the dang exchange rate ¬_¬ Because how can you justify selling a doll for what you paid, when you bought it when it was $2 to £1 and now it's closer to $1 to £1 - so charging $800 for a doll that only cost you £400, which would cost the buyer £800 is... well... a bit mean So that's also a factor (for those of us who don't natively use USD) in to the cost of a doll for me - not everyone alters their prices to reflect the exchange rate, but I do... but then, I've gotten some wicked bargains from some fab sellers, so I try to make my buyers feel good too ^_^

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

Depends on what you mean by 'this amount' really. My max limit would be $2000, and that's a nice flexible number that pretty much catches all the dolls I would likely want, since I only really like small 1/3's and smaller What makes a doll worth that amount to me? Well, it would have to be a LE or one that I truly cannot find elsewhere (i.e. from the company), and it would have to be in very good condition. I'd be a real pain buyer if I were to part with that kind of money, as I'd want extensive pictures and a lot of information. I see some Volks moulds on the MP going for (and bear in mind these are only MSDs, I don't look as SDs) $1500 or more that only have one or two pictures. That may be fine for some people, but for me I would need a lot more information. Does the doll have any flaws? Bubbles? Yellow spots? Has the head plate fallen off? Does it come with the original box and papers? Are the outfits in good condition? Faded? Well loved? Can I pay by layaway? Will the shipping be included? All of these things determine for me if a doll is worth a large price tag and if the seller isn't willing to provide me with that information, then it's really not.

-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?

I'm going to answer this assuming 'this amount' is higher than my top bracket. I wouldn't be willing to pay this amount, because I would rather wait several years and get the doll I want at a price I want or not at all, than buy a doll for a huge sum and then be unable to get back even a fraction of what I paid if I chose to sell. For example, I've just seen Glot's (or Glati's?) hooves and horns go for $300 on the MP - that's twice what I really want to pay, and if I changed my mind about the character I want to have those parts, I couldn't guarantee I could get that money back. I am too fickle to want to spend too much money on something, particularly if that sum is in the thousands. Every time I look at a doll costing more than $500 I think "what else could I do with that money..." My doll collection could probably pay for a really very nice holiday in Japan - for me and my boyfriend. I could do improvements to my house or buy those kitchen bits I want so much. I could go and visit my brothers in Vienna and Australia, or go and see my American friends. I sometimes feel a little foolish allowing myself to be won over by aesthetically pleasing but ultimately pointless objects, but... but... but... they're so prettyyyyyyyyyyyyy D8 <ahem> So to steer back from my tangent (sorry ) I wouldn't be willing to pay that much because there are many much better things I could do with that money, and I would be afraid that if I chose to or had to sell the doll on I wouldn't be able to get the money back. :3

I do see why some people would think differently to me, and my current opinion is subject to change anyway. I once said I'd never pay over $1000 for a doll - this has now doubled It all depends, I think, on how much you want it and what you're going to do with it. ^_^ I do, sometimes, envy the people who can spend a lot on dolls...

 

From my point of view, if a doll was extremely limited and beautiful and exquisite skill had gone into making it and there was some other feature that just wasn't industry standard - like Versace had designed her outfit or a certain artist had done the face up - then it would be worth something over $3000. The rarity alone wouldn't justify the price to me, what if the sculpt was pretty bog standard at the end of the day?

 

Maybe I'm only saying this because I'm a teenager who lacks a realistic ideal of the value of a dollar, but personally, if I love a doll, I'm going to be willing to spend as much on him or her as I need to. If this means years of putting aside bits from every paycheck, then so be it.
If the price in question is that high, though, of course I'd have to be absolutely sure that I'm serious about said doll, and there'd have to be something really special about him or her.

 

I think that BJD can cost one thousand and more dollars. Especially, if it is the limited high-quality doll.
And still we spend many money for autfits, shoes, wigs of a toy for our favourites. If these expenses to add to doll cost it can turn out and not one thousand dollars!

 

In my view, to someone, a doll is worth whatever they're willing to pay. So if someone is willing to pay $2k+ for a BJD, and have the spending power to do so, then that doll is worth that much to that person.

Having seen in my other hobby plastic dolls with cheap bodies that will often crumble or break go for more than what most "standard" BJDs are worth (i.e. average BJD ~$450+, plastic doll ~$800+), it all comes down to personal preference or choice.

For example, CP Delf LISHE (Tanning Skin) is my grail, and I would absolutely love to have her. However, there is still a limit to how much I would spend to get her. Grail or not, I know that one day I may grow out of this hobby and no longer want my doll(s), and I want to be able to look back at my dolls and think "This was definitely worth the investment."

I don't know what her market value is, and even if I did, if it was more than I was willing to spend, I'm not about to break my bank to have my grail. Perhaps if I had unlimited spending power, I might splurge to have her, but in my current state, absolutely not.

I'm also of the opinion (for myself, at least) that saving up over time will make me closer to my dolls. It becomes a real investment besides just the monetary aspect. I think that being able to just drop $XXX on a doll at the drop of a hat would make me less likely to bond well or feel as attached to the doll.

/twocents

 

Hmm. Interesting!

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

Perhaps it's my background in economics, but yes. The value of a doll may very likely exceed thousands of dollars, a classic example of supply and demand. Prices fluctuate.

I personally would not spend that much on a BJD, but if someone else wants to all power to them!

-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. I could never bring myself to spend that much money on one BJD.

-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?
I was raised to never take anything or anyone for granted. Just because I might have the money to spend on a doll as described doesn't mean I should - what if down the road I run into financial difficulties? Sure, I could always try to sell the item, but there is no guarantee that it would appreciate or break even. I physically (and emotionally) could never purchase such a luxury item for myself. Heck, even if I won the lottery I would hoard most of it in investments or savings so I could enjoy it over time.

I think I am this way because my parents were born during the Great Depression. I'm not nearly as risk-adverse as they were, but I am still conservative. I'm just a penny pincher. The Petsha I recently ordered is the most expensive item I've ever bought for myself. And I'm happy with that.

Like I said though, I have an open mind. It doesn't bother me if someone else decides he or she wants to purchase a thousand+ dollar item. It's just not for me.

Same.

 

I have a Limhwa, a Supia, an IpHouse EID, & a Unidoll (all 1/3s). Each cost well over $500. Throw in wigs, eyes, & all the fabric etc. for their wardrobes, accessories, furniture, jewelry & all the rest of it & I'm sure I spent several thousands on them (which is why I'm perpetually broke, lol!). I'm now in the process of trying to sculpt my own bjd & I can assure anyone who doubts, that it's a LOT harder than it looks, even when one is used to working in the plastic mediums & is a decent sculptor. My estimation of the value of the labor & skills of those who create the originals on which the dolls are cast has skyrocketed since I've started.

That said, I'd have to equivocate & waffle & say it depends on the doll, the quality of its make, the skill of the sculpt & modelling, the excellence (or lack thereof) of the joint system & posing abilities, etc. not to mention the intangible of how much I 'love' it. My Bella started off as a Limhwa Dreaming Half Elf, but she's been extensively modded (by me) to an OOAK unrecognizeable from her starting appearance. Maybe my changes detracted from her value, or maybe they added to it since she is now equally lovely but absolutely unique, but I wouldn't take $10,000 for her. At the same time I've seen others priced far higher than she was I wouldn't even consider buying, even if they were less than $100.

It's too much a grey area to answer yes or no to this question, IMO. There are just too many intangibles, including the sheer factor of "love" as noted above by Doktor Thanatos, who may be 'just a teenager' but seems to be wiser than their years in this regard.

I will say I do think the costs of most of the mass-produced clothing & shoes, wigs & eyes, etc. are out of proportion. I make OOAK doll outfits including jewelry, accessories & shoes, etc. so I could understand a high price for a well made custom OOAK outfit. I know how much labor I put into mine & frankly if I charged for time as well as materials Bill Gates couldn't afford my stuff. But when we're talking doll shoes made by the tens of thousands, & jeans or shirts or wigs likewise, I think they're massively overpriced. There's also the outrageously inflated shipping costs some of the companies charge for even the smallest items. No one can tell me it costs $30 to package a pair of doll shoes & mail it from there to here. I know how much the packaging to mail it costs & I can go online & see how much it costs to pay for postage for a 2 ounce package & it does NOT cost any $30. That's a peripheral issue, however it does contribute to the cost of buying a BJD, sometimes materially. Over 10% of my IpleHouse EID was sheer shipping; but when just for curiousity I compared how much it would cost me to mail something of comparable weight & size, I found the shipping price IpHouse charged had been inflated almost 600%. I paid it but it galled me & still does as being grossly unfair & even unethical in a way.

All this nattering on & it all boils down on my part to: it depends.

 

Honestly, I haven't even been in this hobby for an entire year yet, and already, I feel like I can answer the main question here:

There is one sculpt that is no longer available, that would honestly pay up to $1200 for. I can't exactly say he's utterly worth it, I mean he is to me because I desperately want him, but in terms of an object, he's not. He's a tan doll, so colouring would fade and possibly be imperfect, as well as the fact that he probably wouldn't come with default clothes, and if he did, it still wouldn't be worth it. And, to make matters worse, I'm not even sure if I'm not speaking from a simple lack of understanding of exactly what else one could buy with that much money. I'm 19 and I've only had one tiny part time job in my entire life- this said, at what point does "But I want it" outweigh "Gah! The Price!"

For me it's the fact that the sculpt embodies so much of what I find beautiful, I'm not even sure I'd handle him daily like I do my cheaper dolls. I might be afraid to if I'd paid that much for him. And that would make him even less worth it. And yet, I'd still buy him like a shot if they even remotely offered him for sale again.

It's a curious phenomenon, because when you look at something like a classic car that you only drive once a year for the annual car show- but you paid a six figure sum for, what is the difference really? And is that worth it? Probably not to anyone except the owner. It's the same with BJDs- they're not worth it probably 75% of the time from a practical standpoint, but that doesn't mean that when they get bought and loved slowly to death they're still not worth it. In the eyes of the buyer, they're worth everything. Even now, looking at my $165 bobobie, is he worth it? No. Not practically, but in terms of something that belongs to me, that makes me happy: Yes. He's like the $250 iPod, and the $1600 macbook, there are so many things that aren't really worth the price tag, and yet, once they're yours, they're worth every penny.

 

I could see a bjd being over 1,000 bucks if it were near life size.
and had 6 arms. But other than that no, However my personal opinions doesn't say they are not worth over $1,000. But I wouldn't buy it, dude to money issues.

 

I believe that a if someone wants to buy a doll that is thousands of dollars then it must be worth it to them. To me? Yeah I could spend a couple thousand dollors but I dont know if I would, the only doll at the moment I would like to get is a Daliah but I know I wont be able to get it however I do think she is worth it.

Thats just my opinion though, whatever someone wants to pay is their own business and you shouldnt judge someone by that.

 

So here are some questions:
-Is any doll worth that amount from your point of view?
--A few thousand? Only if I made that much, and if I wanted it THAT badly. I can easily say that 2k is probably the highest I can afford to go on a doll and that's WITH layaway.


-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?
-- Dolls with super high price tags in the second hand are pretty much on a case by case basis. If there's a doll that isn't very popular there's no way it'll make its way into those super high price ranges. Popular but rare is what drives those prices high. And no, I don't worry about losing money because of popularity or lack of, because you pretty much figure out how popular a doll is when it hits the market and you shop around to make sure you can get one for a price you're willing to pay.

For example with Dollshe's Bermanns. Those are rare as hell. We knew that from watching the site that those guys are rare, any one that sells on the second hand is more than likely to switch homes almost instantly as long as he's in good condition. Demand is high for them. One can easily get what they paid and then some for one of those guys.

Vs. a rare doll that's only rare because no one purchased it during its order period and there's little demand for it now. Charging a rediculous price for that doll would be silly. And yes, in order to move it you'd probably have to lose out on it.

-To those who would pay this amount but haven't/can't: What makes a doll worth this amount to you?
-- Its likeness to the character that I want it to be. For example if I see a doll that will be Shale, no matter how expensive it is.. . if its perfect for him I am going to get that doll somehow, as in through owner piccus and such I have decided that this doll is 100% the smexyness that is S-H-A-L-E, hell yes, I. am. getting. that. doll. xD

-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?
-- If it was seriously over-priced. If I saw this doll on the second hand and it was my dream dolly but way over what they usually go for. There's no way that I would pay that price. Example: I really want a Soom Topaz, REALLY REALLY want one. But if the only one on the market is a blank head for $700, I wouldn't pay it even if I had it, because that's not their going price, and that much I couldn't make back if I had to sell her.

I don't judge people on how they spend their money, I can only say "I wouldn't pay that," etc. because I know it's what they wanted, and you couldn't tell them they're not happy with their decision.

 

I agree 100% with Whitewings ... in admiration to the wonderful craftsmanship of the sculptors, moulders, casters, textile artists, painters and all makers in general who's blood sweat and tears go into some of those more expensive creations...you get what you pay for! Great choice on the Chiron Centaur too...I'm also in love with the grey skin and am desperate for the human version Chiron...also with the grey skin.

 

I personally am not willing to pay more than $1500 at the absolute highest for 50-70-ish cm BJD : I just don't think its worth more than that, being "art" or not. They're not that hard to make, (yes, actually do I have experience), especially for a "larger" BJD company. IMHO, I think some of the prices are just ridiculous, but hey, if people are willing to pay then they can sell them!