Is it ok to think of BJDs as a form of investment?

I don't think its a good idea to think of these dolls as investments. Namely because I believe one should get them because they like them, not to make money XD Plus their value depends on popular and rare they are. Even with limiteds, the company could re-release a version or the actual doll and the price drops.

 

I definitally think it's a good idea, its one of the reasons I baught my first doll as a limited. I've already seen people with an interest in my boy's model, and im sure his value will only go up as long as he stays limited. It's just sort of comforting knowing I'll be able to sell him if need be.

 

just a general question - if in a year BJDs are for some reason worth alot, lot less, and if you were to sell your doll you made a massive loss, would that make you like him less? or is the fact he's a limited a bonus ON TOP of the fact you love the mould? or were you purely attracted because he's limited? not meant to be offensive, im just curious

 

Well, i will not think of selling my doll(s) unless something really bad crops up and i have to. Personally i dont think of them as an investment. Its fine if you do.

 

It's totally OK to think BJD as investment, because people won't bug you anymore when you tell them like that! XD
I agree that to think BJD as investment is just one of the ways to justify your spending habit.

 

For sure they can be an investment! My boys sure are for me! For me, with them they've helped me in art (for body posing etc) and I make them tons of clothes which I sell online! Plus I'm working on doing faceups as well as body blushing, so the money can only increase from there!

Of course depending on what you do with them will determine their investment standings.

 

The definition of "investment" is important here. As Streppypoo just pointed out, dolls can be an investment in other ways than simply selling. An investment is any investing of money in order to turn a profit. Anyone who buys a doll to sell doll clothing, help with art, use as a miniature costume model for later larger scale sales, or as a practice to learn to do face-ups etc... a doll is an investment to any of those people. It can also be a way of owning something that could later be sold for more - in the case of volks limiteds or other limiteds, we see that this can in fact work. For those who are prone to buying things quickly and flitting from one hobby to another, this investment may simply be a safer hobby from which they can flit and re-coup more than they usually would and the doll 'investment' keeps them from loosing as much as if they were to purchase something like clothing.

Because of this, thinking of dolls as an investment can hardly be looked down upon. The question is more, what kind of an investment is 'okay.'

Personally, I think any way of handling your dolls is fine. They are objects. If you use them as a form of income, any form of income, and you succeed with it, good for you. You have business sense. If you can turn a profit from selling dolls, you have taken a financial risk and come through on top. fantastic. If you use your doll to make other items to sell, you must have some artistic tallent and skill. Likewise, this is fabulous. Be proud!
However, I don't think these are the easiest and most efficient way to make a living.

Doll clothing, doll art, commissions, etc which can all be done thanks to personal doll investments, are slow to turn profit and very likely to fail as a business. There is an abundance right now of people wanting to do this, so while a person can make money, It's more likely to be a job you do because you love it than one you are successfully using to make quick cash. The profit is slower than your basic desk job, and a lot more risky.
Buying and selling dolls is extremely risky. Some don't turn profit at all, they often slightly loose value, and the effort and time needed to invest in trying to sell the dolls very infrequently equals the money gained by it. So if it works out it might make you good money, but there's a good chance it won't work as well as you hope.

Overall, I applaud people who use dolls as investments. However, I don't see mine as such. They are a hobby, and like any hobby I gain much through having them. However, what I gain certainly isn't money. (and boy does my bank account cry with the truth of that.)

 

As they say in the small print, the value of your investment can go down as well as up.

It's not the way I view them, but it certainly helped reduce the amount of disapproval from my folks when I pointed out that I should be able to sell my doll for what I paid for it, possibly for more if I look after it and it gets discontinued.

 

No. That is far-fetched at best. If you want a good investment try a CD or high interest savings account.

 

I think everyone looks upon their dolls as an investment, just in different ways. Does anybody buy anything that they think doesn't have value? No. Especially in an expensive hobby like this one, people think long and hard before getting a doll, so there must be some idea of personal gain here somewhere. If you love dolls and collect them for that reason, well, that's an investment. If you buy them to sell, it's an investment too. Likewise if you use them for art or anything else.

 

i would never see my 'future''s dolls as an investment.

 

I do think of my dolls as an investment to a certain extent. If I ever really needed money, I'd probably try to sell a few of them. But I don't buy a doll just because I think it'll be worth a lot of money. I only buy dolls I like. If they happen to be worth more later because no one can get them anymore or whatever, fine. If not, fine. It really doesn't factor into my decision to buy a doll. I think it's just an added bonus in case someday I need to sell some of my things, at least I know I have some that might be worth something. So yeah, I think it's ok to think of your dolls that way, as long as that is not the only reason you're buying them.

 

I think it depends on the situation. I definitely consider my house an investment. It'll probably be the largest purchase I'll make. And I bought it with the full intention of selling it in a few years. For that reason, during remodeling I decided to upgrade with "what sells" as opposed to "what makes me happy". Don't get me wrong, I love my house and I'm happy with it. But its my "style" toned down a lot. I like a combination of art deco and conteporary styles. So my house has arched entryways and stainless steel appliances. But thats about the extent of it. Its an investment.

When it comes to my dolls though, they are 100% "done" to my tastes. I don't purchase a doll with the idea in my mind that I will eventually make $$$ if I sell it. I'm currently selling my Cocori, whom I love dearly, so I can make room for my Unoa Lusis. I REALLY want to be able to keep my Ariana, but I've rationalized it with the fact that I can "always" buy a cocori, but its not often I'd get the opportunity to buy a Lusis. And I fully intend to replace Ariana with another cocori as soon as I can. I love the mold and its definitely something I want in my doll family. I love all my dolls. I buy them because I love the sculpt, not because I think others love the sculpt and it might be worth something later on.

So yeah, I buy my dolls for keeps and I hope to keep them forever.

Also, I make jewelry as a hobby. I've collected so many beads over time I don't know what to do with them! But I do on occasion sell jewelry. And sometimes I'll make items to someone elses taste. Jewelry kinda falls inbetween the Home Purchase and Doll Purchase. So I think its all relative to the situation.

 

I also think that we need to distinguish between "investment" and "money well spent". Currently, I'm saving up for my first BJD, and obviously, the fact that the dolls do retain their value is something of a comfort/justification for me. I don't, however, plan to earn money off of my dolls - in fact, I plan on amassing far more expenses the longer I own the doll than what I initially put down for it (after buying wigs, eyes, art supplies for customizations).

I think for people who do make a good amount from custom faceups, wigs, etc, a dollfie is an investment; for those who are collecting them as a hobby, it's definitely "money well spent", but maybe not an actual investment.

 

Well said.

 

I don't get the "Is it ok to" questions.....as long as it isn't breaking the rules of DOA, then it is "ok" to do whatever you wish. No one can tell you what you can or cannot do with dolls. If you would like to view them as an investement, then that is ok. It is YOUR hobby, and you are allowed to do with it as you please. If anyone starts telling what to do, how to do it, or what you can or cannot do, you should tell them where to go, and how long to stay there.

 

It's money well spent to me. XD

I spend far more money in my dolls then they are worth in money at the moment. They are yellowing, have some few damages, dollars are less in value... etc.
My dolls have far more value to me then I could ever get in money for them.

But I love to have a 'project doll'; to do a face-up on it, make clothing and sell it. I don't think that will make much money, but it's more for fun.

Also I do sometimes face-ups for others. I make a little money with that so I can afford stuff for my dolls. XD

 

If I wanted to make money off of these dolls, I'd just stick all the money in the bank and earn interest off of it.

 

I completely agree. Why should you have people on the internet dictate what you do with your possessions? These "is it ok to" debates seem really pointless. Think of your dolls in whatever the way you want, whether if it's an investment or merely for your own personal enjoyment. In keeping with the OP's question though, I doubt that most of these dolls will fetch for anything more than their selling price unless they're limited sculpts, so it's not really an investment in terms of financial profit. You can tackle on a face-up and clothes to increase the value of your doll, but for the most part, you'll end up getting the same amount, sometimes less, as what you paid for, unless it's a face-up by a famous artist or limited clothes.

 

Well, these debates are a [usually] nice civilized way for us to pick at the fabric of things that bother us... Hearing others' viewpoints, or hearing things 'framed' in different ways, may help people articulate what's bothering them. Or at least understand more about the issue, and about how it affects others. It may not be all complaining/venting, and it may not be trying to change the way others do things.

Also, if there's any trend or habit or event that's talk-worthy in this scene, most people just enjoy weighing in on one side of it or the other.