Getting over Limited Edition Dolls

If you really love them, I don't think you need to give up on them!!! There is always a chance that you can find someone selling just about any doll, in parts or the full set, if you are patient and dedicated to finding them! Posting up a WTB anywhere that allows sales, can help too, I was able to find some rare dolls just by posting a WTB for them, the owners had not listed them yet but they were motivated to sell when they saw someone was looking and ready to buy

I will say though that I am finding these days, I can usually find some other doll that can make me just as happy or even happier to own than the doll I missed out on. I don't mean settling for something you don't want, but rather, there's so many active artists these days which results in many similar faces, there is a good chance you can find a doll that makes you feel the same way as you do about Mir and Gru. If you are open to such an idea, figure out what it is you like so much about them, and go sculpt and/or clothes hunting

 

Very true.

But, having said that, the very first BJD I fell in love with was a limited editin,that was already sold out beofre I discovered BJD existed. I bought another (non limited) doll I liked as my first and regretted the missed chance to get the one I had fallen for.

That missed doll has (and occasionally still does) come up for sale on the secondary market but I think I'm destined not to have him as, every time, I've either lost out to someone else buying before I could, or I've simply not had the money available. If I were to get him now, I think I'd be buying him for the sake of twenty years of nostalgia rather than a continued burning urge to have that particuar head sculpt.

Teddy

 

Dollzone brings limited sculpts back every now and then so not all is lost @Cow_Snack !

I'm usually not super into limiteds, so thankfully doll collecting is usually hearbreak-free for me. However, I did kick myself over not being present for the first preorders for dollzone ji-zero - I tried to get the sculpt later when one last specimen was still in stock somewhere, but somehow, almost fatefully, the sale fell through. When they released her again recently, I had already moved on and was no longer interested. Sometimes it's also useful to look at the dolls you fell for and can't have and think whether you truly still want them or if it's just the idea of wanting them.

 

Yes, I'm in simmilar situation right now. I wasn't active on the forum for several years and wasn't keeping myself up to date with BJD news and companies. Despite I fortunately didn't miss any limited dolls (not that crazy about limited ones) I closely missed several pre orders for sculpts I've wanted for a very long time, but couldn't get for various reasons.

It's really really frustrating mildly to say. I suppose my frustration will dull down a bit in upcoming months. I will concentrate on something else in the meantime -- like dolls I already have, making my pattern design portfolio, redocorating my apartment and so on. Fortunately they aren't limited, so I only have to wait...

 

I wouldn’t give up on them if you really love them! As others have said, the second hand market is your best friend in this instance.
My first ever bjd was a sculpt that was discontinued before I even knew about bjds, but I posted about wanting to buy it so many times, until finally someone reached out to me and had the doll for sale!
It’s true that your taste might change and there are a lot of wonderful artists out there constantly coming up with new dolls, but you can still find sold out dolls if you ask around and wait a bit!

 

I have definitely experienced that, finding dolls that are no longer available is hard. I got over the feeling by thinking the ones I am meant to have will come around, and a couple actually did!

 

My personal opinion with situations like this is - if you really love something that much, stalk the after market, MAKE A WTB AD, bump it and be ready to pay whatever price for it. If you have the means to put a little away for the doll, if you want them that badly, then don't miss out by being too hard on prices. People love answering WTB ads for people who can make a quick sale. I'm a huge advocate for people putting up WTBs as well because sometimes listing dolls is just a lot of effort and people put it off, and sometimes people don't want to list their doll for sale publicly.

Don't give up. The hunt is fun and will be so rewarding! I've found my ultimate unicorn grails after years of searching (Nabarro Har, Feeple65 Chloe, Fairyland pink pegasus) and the feeling of them arriving was magical. Two of these dolls were discontinued even before I knew what they were! I've been in the hobby for 10 years and it took almost that long to find them, but it was very worth it. Don't give up!

 

Luckily I don't usually have this issue. I'm more into anime dolls and their sculpts have limited variation across brands.

That said... I am very sad I didn't get in on the Misako Aoki puyoodoll. :') She has the sweetest face and her outfit is adorable. Maybe someday....

 

Echoing this! I've found every rare or limited sculpt I've set out to find. Be patient, watch the marketplace often, and definitely make a WTB.

 

Never give up! Everyone here on this forum has a success story of "the doll that almost got away" - I have dolls in my collection that I cannot even fathom how I ended up with due to their scarcity, but it happens! If you want something bad enough you will just need to come up with a plan (especially for finances so you have the money in had in the opportunity arises), prioritize accordingly (ie. don't settle for something else) and I cannot stress this enough... be patient. Best of luck to you!

 

Secondhand market! All of my favorite dolls seems to be discontinued or just somehow completely illusive- but somehow I always find them secondhand! I can't even have a grail because they just pop up! That doll will appear someday!!

 

I am not much one for super limited dolls however I have missed out on pre-orders quite a few times due to life issues. The one I was most sad about missing out on was a Soom pre-order some years back but luckily a few years later I was able to get the doll secondhand. Another doll who wasn’t a limited doll but was discontinued long before I got into the hobby I was by a stroke of luck able to find secondhand early on in the hobby for me! I always would definitely keep your eye on the secondhand market as some gems definitely do come up! As other people have said here WTBs really do help!

 

When I started in the hobby and I didn't know many companies, that's exactly when two limited edition dolls I love came out and I only find out about their existence years and years later. Second-hand market is always an option, but limited edition dolls can be very pricey / hard to find even there. I've kind of given up on finding them and I don't think I would buy them now even if I got the chance because they're prettier in my imagination probably, but if they were the right price... xD