How do you decide which dolls you REALLY want and which you're just infatuate...

I don't buy dolls on an impulse. I let time test how I feel about that doll--when a few weeks or months have passed, I measure my interest level and take note. I also keep in mind that tastes and opinions change. Sometimes a doll that I didn't care for becomes a doll I am thrilled to purchase. Sometimes a doll that I thought was perfect becomes a doll that I am okay with selling. It happens. When it's infatuation, though, I can usually just wait it out and that will make it obvious.

 

I don't have my first doll yet, but with her it was really just instant. I knew I was going to get her. I haven't felt like that with a doll since then. Of course I browse VOLKS and LeekeWorld and I've considered UMM. . . "Off-topic dolls", but I guess I just don't get attracted to dolls much. It may also be a money thing, where I know after I get her I'll be low on cash for a while so I may just be turning myself off to the idea of another doll for a while. I hope it doesn't stay this way for long, she may be the lonely type.

 

The ones I know to buy are the ones I keep coming back to over and over... Every time I see a pic of that sculpt, I fall in love again. I buy them when the time is right (money, availability), rather than when I first see them. Other dolls I might love when I first see them, but over time the spark goes away... For example, when Doll Chateau first came out, I was amazed by Bella and wanted to get one. But now I just see her as DC Bella, she's nice, but I don't need her. But after all these years, I still love Delf El when I see him around. I bought him too eventually and I still love to see him around

Although, if I bought a doll I was only infatuated with, I might stay in love with them because now they are mine...? Nonetheless, I think it's best to wait and see if that sculpt still calls out to you over time.

 

When I came across this thread during my habitual DoA lurking I got all sorts of excited cause these are questions I myself have been struggling with & I've been very curious how others decide, but a bit shy to ask, being a newbie an all So thank you very much Last_bus_home for creating this thread. To be honest I've never even seen a BJD in real life, so my decisions are solely based on pics & info I gather online. There are sooo many gorgeous dolls, I'm having a difficult time figuring out who is going to be my 1st. Luckily I'm having a blast narrowing down what aesthetic I find pleasing & I have access to the most amazing people with vasts amounts of knowledge here in DoA. If only I could come out of my shell a lil bit more & be more interactive within the community.

 

well I see how long I am infatuated with the mould and whether I still like it after seeing it with different faceups... nothing beats having it in hand. I've had a doll I bought and sold a year later when i realized i didn't really want to work on it ever. there are some 70cm dolls i really love but just can't bring myself to buy because it's just too big for me... I'm glad my friend had one so I could hold him and really tell or I might have bought and sold the big girl I wanted... still really want her though haha

 

Alot of times, "you just know" you get her, and you just melt, with love...and alot of times it's "just wanting to have" and you open the box, and then you feel this rush of "doom" and your heart sinks, then you wind up selling it. I've bought alot, and I've sold alot. But now, my collecting is very "limited" to what I really want. It has taken me almost 2 years to get to this point. You'll get there too. Hang in there! We collectors buy, and then we sell so we can buy some more.

 

I swear for me it's random. I find a doll I love then I find another doll I love...It's an endless cycle til this ONE doll jumps out at me...I was gonna get a Kid Delf Yuz, I got a Resinsoul Song...I was saving up for a Qing now I have a Haruka head.

 

If it were up to me and I had deep pockets, I would buy almost every doll languishing on the MP. I'm good about resisting random purchases though.

I know what I like and what fits with the storyline. At this point if it's not a fantasy critter, I probably don't want it so that eliminates a lot of dolls right there. There are specific character ideas that can be shelled if I find the right doll, and I'm open to ideas if something new gets released. (Soom, I'm looking at you. ) Aside from that I just don't have a huge wishlist so once it's caught up, let's see!

 

I think it depends. If I have the luxury of seeing the doll in person and it's of a company that my husband and I do not have resin allergies to, it makes it really easy to say, "Oh man...I am totally willing to save up my money for this doll!" versus "Meh...it's a gorgeous doll, but I'm not willing to buy it".

I think I do get a specific "feeling" when I see a doll that I really, really want and it is more than just lustful "infatuation". I was totally infatuated with Nobility Doll LIE and thought it was going to be my first doll. However, after seeing some of the in real life pictures of Nobility Doll LIE, I realized I loved the stock photos of the doll more than what the doll actually looked like in person. On the other hand, when I saw my Marie/Volks Kun on display in the outfit she was wearing, everything about her made me want her to be my first doll and she ended up being my first doll exactly the way I had found her.

I have learned the difference between that "feeling" versus "infatuation" the hard way when I decided not to enter into the lottery for Volks Suigintou and Volks Amakusa. Both times that the dolls were available for the lottery, I had means to enter into the lottery, but thought against it as I was saving up for a wedding. Hahaha, yeah...priorities. I think if I had not won the lotteries, I would have had more closure than not even trying to enter the lotteries. Anyways, over the years, I regretted not even trying for both and have been on the prowl for both dolls in unmodded/pristine condition, which is hard to come by after so many years later. I was fortunate to acquired an Amakusa head to have a little sense of closure, but the feeling I got once I just got the Amakusa head made me realize that what I felt was more than just "must have pretty item". It was more like, "Gee...I really do want this dude to be part of my dollie family!". So, if I get that feeling that I had with Suigintou and Amakusa, I go for it. Luckily, it doesn't happen that often. Haha.

I enjoy admiring dolls. Realistically, I think I will max out my collection at 7 dolls as having three now is already a lot more than I thought I would ever have. I don't think I would buy every doll that I have ever wanted as that would be too much of a financial investment for me at this point, and I don't have enough room or time to take care of all of them as I should if I were to go ahead and get every doll I have fancied. Even now, when I think someday having 7 dolls I do think that is a lot more than I had ever imagine I would have. But we'll see. If I do get that feeling again, hahahaha, I must say I'll probably be doomed.

 

When I appreciate the doll from every possible angle, I think that is how I decide. Usually, I already have an idea about the shape and size of the eyes and how the other facial features and the body should be like. I think when a potential doll owner already knows what kind of look and character they are hoping for, it makes it easier to decide.

 

If I am still keen on a doll a while after seeing it and that feeling is not going away generally I believe the "want" is genuine. But some dolls I've just seen them and known they were meant to be mine. No question. RS Vampire Lucy I knew when she was posted that I was going to go there and I am just as happy now with her as I was when I first saw her on DOA. Ditto my Miro blue Wind. I had been coveting her for a while and I'm really quite happy to have her now. I kind of feel like it was destiny that doll and me. If I had not bought her in the Market I'd have gotten her done from Miro at some point. I just really liked her when I saw her and every time I saw her on here the more I wanted a blue Wind for myself. When she got recycled I went for it. I had other plans that had to be delayed because of that but that was okay. She was more important just then. There are a lot of dolls that I have seen and admired and wished I had the $$$ to buy but I knew going into this hobby that I was not going to have a huge collection of BJD's. Right now the only doll that I want to get together is a RS Dai. There are a lot of dolls out there that I like but she's the one doll I really want to add to my collection if not this year, next.

 

I learned the hard way not to buy dolls that I have a temporary obsession with, bc it's horrible when you can bond with them. I've made some other people that bought them from me very happy.. but I've found putting them on my wishlist here or mentally for a bit and then if I really want the doll then I will buy it.

The horror of trying to buy a Volks Dolpa SD has helped keep my bank account healthy, bc it's a long shot being able to win their lottery when you REALLY want it.

I really adore the MSD sized girls in the FCS section and just looking at some of the ... I just felt that it was right.

 

For me, it just happens.

It's like falling in love with a guy (or girl) you do NOT choose the person whom you're gonna fall in love with, it just happens and you know it in your heart if it is just a one night stand or something more...it's the same with dolls...but I always give it time, that's why i only buy one doll per year.

 

Being that these dolls are fairly expensive to start, I need to see one that takes my breath away, stop and give it some time. If I can go back after a week or longer and still feel the same way, then I know that's a doll that I want to have.

 

I think its really the best to take the time and narrow a few sculpts down.
I usually save pictures of dolls I 'like alot' and getting myself owner pictures too, if possible.
After a while I browse that folder again and most of the time, half of the sculpts I put there, I delete again, because the 'spark' of liking them,
was just for a short while.
As others stated above already: A doll you can look at, over and over again and it gives you that warm feeling inside and makes you smile,
everytime you look at this particular one...that is one of the special ones.
I have that with my grail doll and I suppose other feel the same way.
(Though for me she is far out of my range, at the moment ^^)

 

As someone who has decided to sell quite a few dolls, I am beginning to feel I can't tell the difference between "I want you home" and "Oh gosh you're pretty!"

I really don't know... Because one of my favorite dolls was an impulse buy (I typically avoid limiteds, but Nabarro's Boys Har was like I NEED YOU).

Though the doll I spent the longest deciding on was my first one and despite the fact my stylistic preferences have changed since I bought him, I still love him a lot. Saif is still my most spoiled doll!

 

I tend to wait a long time before buying a doll. During that time, if I loose interest in a doll or find one I'd rather byu more then I know that doll isn't at the top of my list. I've never really lost all interest in a doll, though. I still have all of them on my "want" list, but I have other dolls that I wanna get first.

 

It's a feeling, really. And if I'm unsure, I give it a few days to a few weeks to determine if it's a true want or simply an infatuation, and it's quite effective. I will always strive to try and purchase any wants though and ogle infatuations from my Flickr stream.

 

initially when I had no/few dolls, I was easily charmed by a new face, and I wanted them all. Now just over a year on I've had about 20 dolls, sold some that I just couldn't get along with, and know what I like better than I did when I started out. Also my money is running out LOL - so I am careful over purchases, have a wishlist and a purchasing plan taking me till next March so far, so I'm more organised now I know what I want, as opposed to what I'd rather admire from afar.

I admire pretty much ALL dolls, but the ones I actually want to buy have something about their face that just gets to me for some reason - I have no idea at all why one doll attracts me more than another - it's such a subtle thing. The only recent impulse buy I had was my Impldoll gladiator - I had no plan to buy him at all, and just saw him when I was looking at clothes on Alices Collections - and I got so overwhelmed, couldn't sleep that night, bought him next day even though I couldn't afford it. Him being limited made me want him more, as I was afraid of losing him forever. Same with the dollzone Una I've just bought - I'd never much looked at her until they said they were discontinuing them, so then there was some urgency in making my mind up. I think it does help push me into a purchase if I know time is limited - It also helps me prioritise which dolls I REALLY want.

 

It seems that for me, the only way that I know for sure is after I've seen it in person which, unfortunately, is usually after I've purchased the doll. I keep a wish list and try to limit my purchase to dolls that have been on it for a while as opposed to one I just added. And right before I purchase, I make sure to look up as many owner pics as I can find to see if I change my mind. I also "weed out" my wish list from time to time by doing the same thing, looking up pictures of them.