How much is too much for a BJD?

In general: My current monthly income x 3.

I can save sometimes (if I’m lucky and nothing breaks down), 1/4-1/3 of my paychecks for monthly indulgences if all my responsibilities are met. So a third of my pay per month in three months is a full check. If I am willing and able to save up like this for 9-12 months: it’s totally worth it.

Thanks for asking us!

 

I personally wouldn't go over 400 for a doll that isn't limited or fullset. That said, I don't even think that is too much, just my personal budget.

 

When I initially bought my first ever bjd I was okay to spend whatever I had to in order to get the doll I wanted. That was back when I had a steady job though, and no other bills to worry about. Now I'm on more of a budget, as I can't work because of health issues, and basically anything over 600 with shipping is too much now to me. If I ever got better income again though, I'd personally be okay to spend more to get one doll I absolutely cherish, as opposed to multiple that I'd be basically settling for.

 

It depends on the doll and when it's released. If it's more than I can comfortably spend that month, then it's too much. If I had to put a number on it, I'd say $1000. Now I have spent that much on a doll before (a grail doll, but still), but I don't know that I'd ever want to do it again. It took a lot out of my finances for a while, though granted I made less money back then.

Like I said I guess it depends. Would I spend over 1k on a doll if it was something I just had to have? Possibly. There are options like layaway and such that make that more doable. Would I feel guilty for spending that much though? Yeah absolutely lol.

 

My cut off is $500 for 1/3 dolls and I try to keep it well under $300 for 1/4 and 1/6 dolls. I don't buy full sets and I buy blank dolls so I can stay within my budget.

 

I would say for a blank SD doll 1500 USD is the most I'd find acceptable. Even then it would have to be something really worth it. I have paid that or at least close to that a couple of times. Any more than that, and I'll notice it hard to enjoy the doll anymore because I'm afraid of value loss. All it takes for a popular sculpt to become unwanted is some time and change in buyers' tastes.

 

I feel like I have an Upper Limit per size of doll, and then an TOTAL upper limit for like any doll. Dollmore Lusion dolls are outside my range at any size, for example. But there's some artist tinies and 1/4s that I don't buy just because it's a bit too much for me, worth the cost though they are to the right people for them.

 

It depends. I've never paid over $1,000. But, for that price, I expect a fullset with lots of extras and don't buy another doll for a year or more. Which is, no fun.

 

When I first started the hobby I said no dolls over $500 and stuck to mainly 1/4 size and under. I have a couple of fullset 1/3 dolls that I paid more than $1000. One of them was a grail that I thought I'd never own. I really don't limit myself by price anymore. If I see a doll I have to own I'll buy the doll. I'm just lucky I don't have expensive tastes.

 

I think everything over 1000$ is really high.
I've currently fallen in love with Dolfie Dream Sailor Moon, but honestly, if a doll costs the same as a car, I think that's a bit irrational - even though it really hurts if you can't get that doll.

 

Right now, due to current employment situation, it's probably only around $300 as an upper limit unless I wait for a while setting money aside. In a more general sense, probably $800-$1,000.

 

Currency conversion wrecks any of my grand plans.

I won't really consider a doll over 1,000 USD as a realistic purchase for me. The conversion and shipping is not friendly. Unless it was a fullset that I absolutely wanted.

 

I used to have a set limit of $1500 or so for a fullset, and I definitely sailed past that this year when acquiring my SD16 Oscar because... Oscar. However, I don't think I'd be able to justify that large of a purchase again for some time. In a general sense, I think $2000 is my absolute upper limit. I know there are dolls that fetch $3K+ but I'd just have to love those from afar.

 

The most expensive dolls that are currently on my someday-maybe-wishlist are a in the $1000-$1500 range (one of them has a shitton of optional stuff), and I'm a bit torn up about it haha. Currency conversion (our currency sucks, it just changes sometimes how much) + customs make me cry if I think about it further too. Idk if I would ever go past that.

 

i personally wouldnt do more than like $800 and even that is pushing it considering i collect msds (but second hand puyoos are expensive QAQ) for $800 it better be super rare or limited and be a fullset. Actually i think my first full doll the minifee Kyle Tyr fullset was a little over 800 so ive been decent at sticking to this limit.

 

I'm sitting at 1K USD at most. Getting my girl new with some extras clocked in at about $700. I have told myself she needs her basic full wardrobe before I can think about getting another doll...lol

 

It's really interesting to see everyone's ranges and reasonings. They all make a lot of sense.

Typically I'd say the most I *prefer* to pay is $400-$500. Anything over that gets a lot of consideration, and if I'm looking at dolls over that amount then I'm probably only bringing one or two home total that year.

The most I've spent on a doll was my most recent purchase (not yet home), and he was about $700. Usually I would NOT have considered that much, but I'm really soft for boy dolls, especially when they have elf ears, and the way it all happened just made it so I felt like he was worth it. There was only ever one run of him and he is unlikely to ever be produced again except in artist casts, and I only got to have the chance to buy him because the artist responded to a comment I made about how pretty he was and how much I wish I hadn't missed his preorder to tell me she had one left! He also comes with eyes, a wig, and an artist faceup...and if a doll comes with the artist's work on the faceup it makes it more special to me. So I ended up snatching him! And he's inspired a whole world of creativity for me without even being home yet, so I'd say he was worth it.

 

The range in everyone's limits really makes me think about how I should approach buying dolls in the future. The third doll I ever bought I dropped $1,500 on because I couldn't imagine another opportunity to get her presenting itself - do I wish I had waited and not splurged on a grail right away? Maybe. I agree with the sentiment that it's kind of up to you, what you collect, and how you build your collection. If I'm looking to get a MSD size doll it's going to be a different price range than a smaller doll, so I can't really say something like $500 would be my strict all-dolls cap. Right now maybe $700...though I could easily spend just that in clothes and shoes for my dolls! lol

 

I'm in Australia so unfortunately my currency is really weak against the US dollar, so buying from companies or dealers who use USD hurts a bit.
I'm lucky that a lot of my current collection are second-hand, which eases the sticker shock a bit.
Though I'm eyeing off Volks one-off fullsets and maybe a big Loongsoul guy. So probably for me, the most I'd pay would be $1300 USD

 

I used to be able to say I wouldn’t spend over $400 on a doll… (most of my dolls are under $200) but then I was confronted with a grail and I dropped $700 without thinking. So $400 is obviously NOT my limit. Haha. I don’t think I know what my limit is yet.