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

I would also read carefully the feedback threads and reviews of the dolls you're interested in. If you plan to buy either, I have owned both a Lati Red M and currently own a Lishe on a Fairyland body (I'm into larger dolls). My only comments would be:

Plus for Lati - you can buy as a cheap fullset as he comes with the school outfit he's pictured in so you'll get shirt, pants, cardigan, necktie and all you'll need is shoes. Minus for Lati, he does have a pinhead so if you're planning to get a Luts girl as a partner for him eventually, they probably won't look a great match. The lati body is really nice and compatible with Soom, Volks etc ie yellow normal so there's always a head match solution down the track. The body I had posed well and was not kicky or floppy so no work needed. Personally I didn't mind the pinhead as he was such a nice sculpt.

Plus for Luts - really nice dolls, well sculpted and extremely beautiful. Frequently have event heads so you can get an extra head or sell in marketplace later on to offset shipping costs. Minus - don't come with clothing but Luts isn't too bad so you can always save and order accessories at the same time and save on shipping. Dollmore is cheaper though with $10 outfits. Some of the Luts dolls can be fairly kicky so some hot gluing or sueding may be necessary. Youtube has some great videos on restringing your dolls.

 

Size/price should not matter if it's a doll you -really- want. I've noticed that there are those people who find 'the one' (Be it once or over and over again multiple times), honestly if you are lucky enough to have that (Alas, I've not been so lucky) then save up and get the one that spoke to you despite the size. I am very jealous of the people able to see a doll and have it speak to them. My experiences have been more along the lines of 'OH, I like the sculpt on that one' instead of the 'OMG, that is the one I -want!-' reaction.

Go for what you love.

 

I think it depends a bit on what you plan to DO with the doll. My own firsts where expensive fullset dolls with factory face ups.

Then I wanted to experiment with modding and face-ups, so i got myself a lot cheaper 2nd hand DZ girl I ALMOST liked. And kept sanding and epoxing her till she was EXACTLY what i liked. Now while i still love and adore my "collector" dolls, I find myself playing more with my mod-dolly, cause i know if something goes wrong ill be able to fix her as she is now. Plus she feels way more MINE, because I made her what she is today.

When i started out in this hobby, I would have never had the confidence nor the guts to go cutting& sanding into the face of a 700+ doll. If you want to try youre hand at face-ups and modding, I would actually advise to get a cheaper one for that, so you can find out if youre able to do those things, without wrecking the doll.

 

I was looking at similar dolls for my first and found a previously owned one for that $450 with faceup, wig, eyes, and shipping included. Sometimes you can find a good deal on what you want. I am really enjoying her. I'm glad I did not settle for something less than what I wanted even though it is scary to spend that much at first.

 

I think the idea of having 'practice' dolls is completely silly!

If you want a Unoa-Zero, Chiron or Sard as your first doll that's your business. Enjoy the dolls you love!

ETA~ If someone pays so much attention to what doll is your first and gives you any lip about, they need to get a life!

 

There is a girl I know at work who can spend $600 on shoes and not even blink...weekly! I would rather spend my money on my dolls. If you have the money and really, really want the sculpt...I say go for it.

 

For my first doll I decided to get an SD to make the price worth it.

So I spent a good $600 on my boy and am glad I did. It's really up to you I think on how much you have available to spend.

Personally though, I would say to make your first doll one that you love.

 

Well...I don't have one yet..I'm saving up for him. When I first know BJD and consider to buy it, I look for the cheaper one..say 175-300...but I'm not satisfied...they all look the same to me...and when I found DIM Alpon..I love him immediately ...I don't care anymore on how many time will it take to have him and how my parents will think because..

It's your money, yours, you can buy whatever you want and LOVE .

450$ for first doll is fine.

I say...if Alpon now cost more than 600$ I will still save to buy him.

 

My first doll was a Narin Charisma, and he cost me $700. I don't regret it in the slightest. Price should never be a factor in first purchases - if you truly want one, get the one you want. Finally getting the one you've been dreaming of after saving for it for so long... it's a wonderful thing! ^_^

 

I went the more conservative route with a variety of learner dolls under $200 apiece. That was the first five. I don't regret it, because I learned a lot, but you know what? All those dolls are in pieces, awaiting painting and clothing and have been for nearly the entire time I've had them.

My husband gave me a Luts Senior Delf full set last year, and I discovered what a treat it was to have a higher quality doll that was ready to go right out of the box. After that experience, I saved and scrounged until I could afford a male counterpart and he's quite the sucker punch to the wallet, too, but I won't regret it.

In summation, get what will make you happiest and don't be afraid of it. Be careful and enjoy yourself.

 

Go big or go home.

 

Well it all depends on which doll your heart is set on doesnt it XD
The one Im planning to get (wig and everything else included) should come up to around 460£. He shall be the first XD.

 

It's what you like not the price. Price is always an issue for me but that's not why I have all MSD. I've just always thought if I had a doll that was almost half my height I might be in trouble >.< W00t for being short! If you know you're going to enjoy this hobby and stay then don't go for a doll just for the price...save up a bit and go for the doll you like. Or your doll might sit in a box in a closet and then it was really a waste of money.

Size, price, how long it will take you to get...shouldn't matter as long as you love the end result!

 

I agree with everyone else, save up and get the one that you really want. I bought an Angel of Dream doll for my first simply because it was cheaper, and i sold her a couple of months later because i didn't absolutely adore her. So it really is not worth it to settle, i think. It wasn't for me. It was just a hassle on the way to getting the right one. But it really is worth it to just save up and get the one you really want.

 

I dont like any of the smaller ones either xD
i'm saving for a $429 one(DOD Kirill) its almost the same as the price for the ones you want.
i never even thought i'v giving up on that for a while and getting a cheaper one first. it only delays getting the one you really want and you end up spending more money in the end xD

 

Get the one that makes you happy! !
My boy was $627, and that was after Dollmore dropped their prices due to currency changes. [He ended up dropping again after I already bought him, but eh. lol] And I saved for a year to be able to afford him, and I wouldn't have it any other way. He makes me really happy and I think if I would have passed him by for the DOD Si, that was waaay cheaper, I wouldn't have been anywhere near as happy as I am now.

 

I think it doesn't matter how much you pay for your first doll , just make sure it's doll you want and look carefully at all measurments and do good research
My first doll was $507 (Harin) I never regret i got her as first one . Learned a lot about BJD and stuff and she helped me realise that big dolls are not for me :P I still love her to bits tho but it's time to say goodbye.

 

If it fits in your budget... go for it!

As many other peoepl ahve said ealier in the thread... It's all aobtu doing the homework, and following what you think is right for you to enjoy the hobby!

 

I just ordered my first doll and she was $450 blank. (Thanks to a promotion, she was also $450 with a default face-up.) I think you should save up and order what you want, least you find yourself pining for your dream doll.