Is it a good idea to get a $450 doll if it's gonna be your first?

Price shouldn't be the deciding factor, it should be the sculpt and how much you love said sculpt. If it's expensive, save up for it!

 

Get the one you love. There are a lot of threads on the idea of buying a smaller/cheaper doll just for the sake of it being smaller or cheaper, and whether or not that is a good idea. However, from a person who started this hobby by buying a doll that was not top of the list, I can say firsthand that most likely if you settle, you will not be happy or satisfied, and will probably end up spending twice as much money after you realize your mistake.

If you're apprehensive about having such an expensive doll, I'd suggest getting involved in the community near you (if there is one). Seeing other people handling their dolls and being around them is a good way to get used to the hobby without diving right in.

It may seem frustrating, but you have to realize that in the first place, this isn't a cheap hobby. Smaller ones aren't really THAT much less, and if you know that you want a particular sculpt, you're still going to want that one even if you go for a cheaper one. Just be patient and know that it will be worth the wait, no matter how hard it seems now

 

There are already threads on the idea of spending less or more on a doll. Again it depends on the person and their situation. If those are the dolls you want, get them. Just do so in a responsible manner, if you dont have the money don't spend it. If you buy a doll that you 'don't really want' you may come to love them but you also may thoroughly regret the decision and that's a waste of time and money. My first doll order was $450, my 2nd and 4th were $800-$900. The prices had no influence on how I ended up feeling about the dolls.

 

Follow your heart. My first doll was a Minifee Lishe and it took me several weeks to decide on her. I think I paid around $350 for her and never regretted a penny of it. However, I don't know if I could have brought myself to spend more on a first doll, because I'm VERY conscious of money and my finances, so if I HAD spent more and ended up not liking her or something, I would've been crushed with personal guilt. But that's just me

There are a lot of people who will tell you to save up for the doll you want, regardless of price, and I agree to a point. I think I would lose interest if I had to wait several months or even a year before I could buy my first doll.

 

Welcome to DoA and to the hobby!

In my opinion, you should save for the doll you LOVE. With a little patience and some perseverance you'll have your dream doll in no time. You can do it! There are tips around this forum on how to save up and earn money for your dolls.

My first doll was $300+ and 41cm. I'm so happy I followed my heart.

Even the "less expensive" dolls in this hobby are expensive in my eyes. In the scheme of things I would not settle on a doll due to price alone. Go for the one that makes your heart throb and your mind happy - whether it be a $100 or $450 doll. Good luck!

 

My first doll was slightly over $600 with shipping so I don't think that's bad at all. I think saving up for a doll you really want is much better than settling for a doll that you have neutral feelings for.

 

Definitely get the doll you love. I mean, this hobby is always going to be expensive--unfortunately--and if you're going to be spending so much already... what's the point of getting a doll that's 'okay' as opposed to the one that you love? For me, I ended up getting an SD for my first doll. With the default clothes, a face-up, shipping, etc., he set me back about $900. But I absolutely LOVE him, and he's the one doll that I can't picture ever giving up. I don't regret getting him instead of going for a much less expensive doll, and I know that most members will say the same, too.

 

You will probably end up saving again and again...it is just part of the hobby!
I would go with the doll you love, that is what I did. If you get the doll and it is not the right doll for you, you can always sell it and find one that suits you better (there is nothing wrong with that) ^_^

 

As many people have said and I'm sure will continue to say, you shouldn't settle for something that you don't really want. That being said though I understand the reservations you have about spending a lot on your first doll. I myself was very cagey about spending so much money. My first 'dream doll' was much more than I was comfortable spending especially because I wasn't sure where the hobby would take me. I did chose a doll that had a less intimidating price but that I still really admired. And now 4 dolls later he is my favourite of my bunch and I still do not have that 'dream doll' since my interest in it has since waned enough that I see him as a I'll probably eventually get him purchase.

My advice is to give it some time to think about it and search around. If you give yourself time to really survey your options you may find that unexpected dolls will grow on you and dolls you initially adored may not be as appealing as they once were. The main thing is that you don't want to be doubting whether you will love the doll after you make your decision and time to think on it will generally clear up any doubts.

 

Go for the one you want the most. It doesn't matter about price. It just makes it that much more special by the time you've saved up enough for it. I wanted an expensive doll at first (still do, in fact) and loved her to bits and pieces, but instead bought an MSD and now I want to sell her because shes not special to me. Yes, going cheaper is much much quicker and easier, but sometimes you won't be happy with a cheaper one because their not what you have your heart set on, imho.

 

If that's the doll you want, go for it. My first doll was $700+ limited SD boy. I saw him on the second-hand market and it was over for me. You can still get used to the face-ups on the larger dolls - I found it was easier for me to start our big and then go small - and how much it costs is entirely your business.

 

The only reason I could see for not buying an expensive doll for your first is if you think that you might not really be in this hobby for the long haul. If you know this is what you want to do and you've done your research (you should probably see a doll of the same size in real life too because that's really helpful) then you should just go for it.

And always keep an eye out on the marketplace once you get access. You never know you might find the doll you love there and won't end up paying the full price.

Good luck in doll hunting

 

I think that, if you can afford it, it's better to spend $400 on a doll you really love than $200 on one you just settle for. Dolls aren't really functional or necessary items- their only real purpose is to look good and make you happy. So while I might opt for a less expensive pair of shoes or set of dishes because it will do the same job, I'd rather buy the doll I really like because one I settle for won't really do the same "job".

EDIT: If you're not sure you'll be able to maintain an interest in BJDs, or are uncertain about size, have you considered going to a local meetup? It's a great way to see some dolls in person and get an idea of what they're like, what sizes you like, etc.

 

If those are what you love, save and get them. I may have all Resinsoul and Bobobie dolls right now, but there are other, more expensive, dolls that I want as well. I started with the low cost dolls on my list because I knew I would love them as much as the more expensive ones. While you're saving, look around. You might find a different doll, or set of dolls, that you can better afford that you will love at least as much. I know I PLANNED for my first doll to be a Minifee...A Miyu, in white skin, on the cutie bust body, with the cutie legs, and the number 6 hands. And I still intend to get her, hopefully soon. But then I found 2 dolls, 1 Resinsoul and 1 Bobobie that I just fell for to be other characters, and decided to use the money to get both of them first instead. Now my wishlist has grown by leaps and bounds, includes a LOT of RS and BBB sculpts...in all sizes...and a lot of dolls from companies and in sizes I never would have dreamed I'd want a year ago. When you find the right doll, and have the money for it, you'll know. You won't hesitate to spend the money on it, and you won't start doubting your choice (Well, outside of passing flitters through your mind because of how long most waits are!) while you wait.

And remember...your worst case scenario is that you won't like your doll once you get it home, and you'll put it up for sale on E-bay, or here on DoA brand new and get at least most of your money back.

 

Yeah, get whatcha love. Make your money happier. My first was a 45cm SDCute and he was some $800 on the aftermarket. I adore that little guy; he helped me start wrapping my brain around the levels of Price vs. Materials vs. Dedication to Care vs. Wow Factor vs. Presence & General Mojo that a BJD entails. Besides, I did have to get my feet wet about spending so much-- I knew what I really wanted was to collect the big Volks Tokyo Boys, but I knew that they'd be fifteen hundred bucks apiece on a good day, so I had better get used to walking on hot coals before I started wading in volcanoes. So to speak. ^^

If you recognize the price-range of the types of doll you like, right away, you'll find yourself less shocked by prices as you go along. So if you like those particular Lati & Luts dolls, and you know that that's really what you like, that's the aesthetic you want to bring home, and you're ready to pay their prices, then accept no substitutes! As soon as they arrive you'll say "worth every penny".

 

I think it is worth the money to buy the doll that you want the most. That way, when you get him/her, you will know for sure whether you want to be in this hobby or not. If, upon seeing your desired doll, you decide you don't like him/her after all - sell the doll, get most (not all but most) of your money back and move on.

I feel like if you settle for a second-choice doll because of price, then if you are unsatisfied with it you won't know for sure if you aren't into bjds in general or if you are just unsatisfied with that particular doll (because it wasn't your top pick, and you might've liked bjds if you had gotten your top pick).

And when considering cost/value, keep in mind that a large portion of the cost of this hobby goes to the cost of buying (and shipping - oh god how shipping kills!) doll accessories. Try looking up the thread titled "the real cost of a doll" in which people list how much they spent on a doll total; the cost of faceup, clothing/wigs/eyes, trying different clothing/wigs/eyes because some clothes don't fit well or don't look good, and shipping shipping shipping all these things - that all adds up to be a bigger percentage of your total doll hobby expense than you might think. These smaller purchases look less significant compared to the big lump sum of the base doll, but they do make quite an impact.

So, when considering cost, I would advise you to also consider whether the company that is selling the base doll that you like is also selling clothing, wigs, and eyes that you like. And if they provide faceups that you like (and also do some research in the DoA gallery forums to see if the company's faceups look as good in owner pics as in their promo pics; some companies are more consistent than others). If you buy all these things from the company that produced your doll, rather than shopping around from various other vendors, you stand to save some money from shipping and also you'll see how the clothes look on your doll's exact body type. I own a body from a company that produces few clothes/no clothing to my taste, and as a result I have to take on the expense of more shipping, and the expense of potentially having to resell things that I buy because they don't fit quite right on my doll.

Also, dolls don't depreciate in value too much (at least, relative to other hobbies I've been in); I realize your account isn't old enough/doesn't have enough posts to view the DoA Marketplace yet, but once you see it you'll find that dolls tend to resell second-hand for 80% or more of their cost brand-new from the company. Some limited edition dolls appreciate in value too. So if you go in for a big purchase and it doesn't work out, at least you can unload it.

In my experience, I've owned a cheaper ($180 at the time I bought it - now it's selling for $150) body which I purchased essentially as a placeholder until I could upgrade. I did replace that body eventually, but in hindsight I feel I would've been better off saving a little longer and buying the more expensive body that I wanted from the beginning, because I think I lost something like $65 (considering shipping) in the course of reselling that body. And there was a noticeable difference in quality.

I also took your question to mean that you're worried that you might cause damage to your doll as it is your first, and that's one of the reasons you're hesitant to put a lot of money into it from the start. I think that as long as you read up on the care of dolls (and check out the horror stories of freak accidents too, to see what to watch out for), you are unlikely to damage your doll. Dolls don't require a huge amount of maintenance.

 

I think it's fine if you really love them and you're sure that you've considered carefully.
I've known many people who have big and expensive dolls for their first, and they're still happy with their dolls.(I myself prefer MSDs and tinies, but for their own sake not for lower price.)