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

For me on my first choice it was the character that i have seen in the doll design, that made me choose her. I looked for over a years before finally deciding on which one i wanted!

 

I was kind of in the same boat except price (though kind of was) wasn't necessarily the issue as much as what was available to me at the time. I settled on dolls that I kind of liked and hadn't found anything better and wound up selling both. I had to learn what style of dolls work and appeal to me the most, and now I've found my niche. When starting out sometimes it's not money but the style of dolls that needs to be worked out. But if it's something that calls out to you and you just have to have it, then it's worth it to save. But most companies now are offering layaway, so it might work out better for some to do that (I've had to on my last two dolls)

 

price wasn't really the deciding factor for me. actually, the first doll i ended up getting was slightly cheaper than the other dolls i had originally wanted! The doll (Crobidoll Yeon-ho) had been sold out forever, so i was looking else where for my first. i had been looking around for months, not finding a specific one i really really liked. and then before i was going to give in and get a different doll, Crobi renewed the Yeon-ho sculpt and body! it was like a sign....so i went ahead and ordered it!
so i guess my point is...don't worry about price too much, you can always keep saving till you have more than enough, then get the one your heart is set on!

 

Price shouldn't matter. You only get your first doll once. I bought a limited edition on the second hand market for my first doll. I had no issues deciding that was what I wanted either. As for size, the bigger the better. I'd never settle for something my heart wasn't into. Forget what people tell you to do, and do what you want. It's your money. It's you life. At the end of the day, you are the one that has get enjoyment from whatever you buy.

 

If you really love the doll, then it's more than worth it. My first doll came out to around $600+ with shipping, clothes, wig, etc. but I can tell you that I was more than happy to pay it as I absolutely loved everything about him. For me, I think it's better to spend more for something that you love than a little for something that would just be a starter. In the long run, spending more now and being satisfied from the start sounds a lot better than paying not quite as much to have something just to tide you over.

 

Firstly, I honestly think objective opinions do not exist. Opinion always means a personal point of view, but in the same way I think you might always try to be as objective as possible with your suggestion. That is exactly what I always try to do and what I will try to here. In my opinion the best BJD size for a person is the one that person truly likes and its price just the unavoidable cost for it. I am that kind of person who deeply believes what you really like is what matters after all, always you may afford it even if it takes more effort. I think so in all cases, from your first to your last BJD.

 

Agreeing with everyone here that you can have an expensive doll as a "first!" I don't think you should settle for something cheaper just because it's your first doll.

Truth be told, the least expensive BJD I've purchased was my 3rd one, and that was only because he was an MSD and not an SD. C:

 

Price isn't a factor when it comes to something you want. Don't settle for ____ at $100 when you really want ____ for $700.
You'll end up selling the doll you settled for and still wanting the first doll anyway.

Saving and having to wait makes having the doll box show up on your door step a thousand times more satisfying than settling for a doll than only serves instant gratification only.

 

I have bought the expensive and the cheap and I must say that it's what I love that has stayed. Some I loved and had to sell but always planned to one day buy again. I have been in this hobby for over 3 years a novice by some standards, but have never been able to do a face up, let alone get eyelashes in. Can re string but to get it as tight as needed, seldom. If I have learned anything once you find that doll that makes your mind get creative and you will settle for no other then weather it;s cheap or expensive by your standards shouldn't matter if it gets he or she home to you. If you have a dream doll then save up and go for it. You could get lucky and while saving find it second hand to save you a few bucks and get it even faster. I would never give up my one guy. If I had to sell the others would get over it, but he must stay with me always.

 

The first doll that came to my house set me back nearly $550. I still have him and he is one of my favorites. I am an advocate of getting the doll you want because you like it (and can save up for it if you can't afford it), not because of the price.

 

Get the one you really want. Seriously if you get the one doll you really want as your first then it will be even more of a ":O WOAH" moment when you open it. :P

 

I wasn't really looking at price with my first doll; I was just looking for a doll I really like. I was surfing the marketplace and I found a cute little Orientdoll So Dong. She was just so sweet and I had a dollhouse packed with furniture that was in her size, so I ordered her. n__n The only doll where I was hesitant of the price was my Unoa Lusis, so I decided to wait to make a hybrid and I'm finally doing that.

 

My first doll was around 500-600... not including the accessories I bought with her... Imo just find a doll you like a lot and buy it regardless of price... ((unless you need to sell a kidney or two for it... but... you have two kidneys anyways so why not give one up!))

Then when you find a doll you love you will be happy no matter what when you receive it unless something goes horribly horribly wrong in the time it takes to get shipped to your place >.>

 

At least it's not one of the $800 ones! XD;;; I just ordered a $400 doll as my first, too. I just had no desire for any of the cheaper ones. (or most of the more expensive ones.) I mean, when you look at other dolls, do you really WANT them? If this is the one you want, then it's probably the right one. There's no point in buying something you don't want. Might as well just not buy a doll at all!

 

Ha, what a coincidence! That's exactly true for me also: 3rd one, cheapest, because MSD. And still the (only) smallest BJD I own.

My 1st was a limited for $600. Made my heart stop (both doll and price). No regrets.

The only concern price should be is whether you are comfortable spending that much or not. If not, just keep watching from afar. No harm or shame in that. A doll is a luxury and not an essential.

Dolls don't substitute for each other in your heart so comparing them by price is rather silly. If you're worried about not liking it enough after having it, I'd say the pull wasn't strong enough and you should skip it. Plus, there are always new dolls coming out so skipping the current/older models is not a real problem. If/when the love is strong enough, you won't have any doubts about proceeding.

 

My first doll was around 300 bucks which at the time I found...frightening. I didn't know what sculpts I loved and I didn't know what size would suit me ect. I bought a DIM Marianne doll second hand. She came to me blank and essentially brand new. I had no idea how to do ANYTHING with a bjd. So she suited me well. I commissioned a faceup, learned how to string her up and she is my most spoiled and only girl. I still love her though I found SD fit me better...even with the size I find I can't part with her. I just find her way to gorgeous.

 

Don't let the price tag stand in the way of a doll you really like so long as you can afford it.

When I first started out in this hobby I decided to go for a cheaper doll that I liked less. But I wasn't able to bond with him. His body wasn't realistic enough, he didn't pose well, and his face wasn't what I wanted. I ended up selling him a couple of months later, and lost a bit of money as a result. I don't regret having him, but if I was to do it over I'd definitely spend the money to buy the doll I really wanted, even if it was more expensive. Either way it's a large chunk of money, so you might as well spend it on a doll you truly love!

 

Having just bought my first doll I would agree with pretty much every reply here: you must buy the one you really want no matter what the price, and if that means that you must save-up some more money or wait for a cheap offer, all the better.

What has really caused me to spend $Hundreds$ of dollars more than I was expecting was all the extras. While living in Australia has meant some fairly high shipping rates to buy that specific wig or outfit from that one supplier that has that item for sale, the rude surprises have come from the variations in sizes between different manufacturers.

Since this won't just be your "First Doll Purchase" it will also be your first Wig, Outfit, Shoe, Accessories... purchase bare in mind that you might need to spend more that you expect to get that "perfect" everything - plus then quite a few spares for that 2nd or 3rd doll.

 

Definitely buy a doll based on its aesthetic appeal to you rather than the price tag. The longer you wait to get that perfect doll the sweeter the day it arrives will be!

 

I see nothing wrong with spending $450 on a 1st doll. I spent $770 on my first doll, he still is most expensive one among my dolls