Is it rude to mention the price of your doll to others if they didn't ask?

Well, it depends on the situation. If you are speaking about purchasing dolls with other people in the hobby, I suppose it's nothing out of the situation. If the interlocutor is not into he hobby, I suppose is not something bad or rude, it's only useless data and of course, it depends on the context. I wouldn't say it, but not because of being rude or polite, it's just the doll price is not of anybody's concern and I suppose it even can be risky. Anyway, I don't let anybody but my very close family and friends touch or grab them, so...

 

I can say that in all of my years of doll ownership and con attendance, I've never actually had an experience where someone has tried to grab my doll or handle it roughly because I simply don't let people I don't know in an uncontrolled environment handle them. And if you have to travel with your doll through somewhere crowded or rough, use your head and keep it in a bag. You wouldn't walk around with your laptop or expensive camera in your arms unprotected, why would you a doll? That's really the best way to prevent any mishaps. And all of the tales of crazed fangirls glomping are being grossly exaggerated.

I think the more interesting question is when is it rude to mention price when among other doll owners at meets. I know I have been in awkward situations in the past where I've felt uncomfortable mentioning how much I've spent on something, not because I feel guilty about spending the money but because I don't want to sound like an ass. It often happens over the eyes I buy my dolls, almost all of which are from Japanese glass eye masters and who do cost a lot of money. And when someone you don't know is asking about them, it can be weird, especially when said eyes cost more than the doll they're holding.

 

I don't talk about my dolls' prices. I do think it is rude in most situations. I could understand a discussion of price if I'm having a frank discussion with someone who is seriously interested--not "How much was that doll?" from a stranger walking past a meetup, but rather something like a discussion with another hobbyist who hasn't paid much attention to the price of a given doll, but seeing it in person now thinks that he or she would like to buy one.

I also think that, as others have mentioned, bringing up a dollar amount has the potential to make your doll the target of theft. I don't want that risk.

I also don't really believe that stating a price would make someone behave themselves--everyone has different ideas of appropriate ways to treat belongings, and if that person and yourself don't agree, you shouldn't let them touch your things. If someone asks to hold or touch your doll and you don't want them to, you are able to say no. "No" isn't rude in and of itself. If someone is treating your doll in a way that you don't like, you can tell them to stop and you can put your doll back in your direct possession. And for really uncertain situations, as Kim mentioned, that's what carrying cases and such are for.

 

As I don't really want to incite un-welcomed interest (and possible theft) of my dolls, I don't flat out say it unprovoked, ever. My dolls don't end up in the hands of others outside of the local group without solid supervision and I've never had someone handle them in such a way that required my intervention. I might say something like "be careful, you probably don't want to be in my debt".


Unless someone is an attendee a doll meet, I'm horribly vague on purpose. My answers to being asked the price outside of other "dolly people" are usually "depends on what you're going for, there's a wide range of of prices", if someone seriously wants more info, I will state that they're in a three digit price range, which is either enough to tell them they don't want them because they're more than a few dollars or interest them in looking them up themselves. If someone flat out asks me what the price was on my dolls, either out of genuine curiosity, trying to poke at me, or trying to pester me into selling, which has happened on several occasions ("not for sale, sorry" or "too personal an item, not for sale"), I will state along the lines of "oh, he was a good bit to get home, but I've invested a LOT of time into him that I won't ever get back, totally worth it though".

 

I can't think of any situation where I would say what something costs without being asked. I get this image of, "Hey, these grapes you got are good," "Thanks, they were $4!" or whatever It seems like a silly detail to throw in unless you are asked. I think it could be interpreted as bragging unless you are asked, even if you didn't mean it that way...?

 

I think in a lot of cases it comes off as offensive, it would be like someone complimenting your jewellery and you whipping out the reciept to show it off. That being said in the situation you mentioned of grabbers I would say to them, 'She's very fragile and expensive to replace' which doesn't have to get into a dollar figure and allows them to ask you the price if they wish (which is fine). Or you could just tell them she's priceless to you!

 

Even with outsiders, I'll tell them the general price range (between $150 to over $1000), and then I'll watch them bug out, and then mention what mine costs. I think it's because my situation doesn't put me in much harm of someone stealing my dolls that I'll mention the price.

But I'd tell someone out of the blue - except if I was starting a discussion about a new doll I got.

 

I feel this way, too! It's like when you tell someone that you like their jeans, and then they tell you thanks...and that they purchased them for $150. I don't really care about the price unless I asked (or if they were on sale ), and indeed it can sometimes come off as bragging. However, I feel differently if someone were to say "Thanks! I bought them from Buckle in the mall." I think if someone were to ask me about my dolls, I would just say that I purchased them online from Fairyland's website (or wherever I purchased them from). It's informative, and if people want to know the price, they will go and check it out themselves. Though, I personally dislike telling people how much my doll's cost, because they can get a little rude.

 

Well... Telling someone an expensive pricing can be very offending... So I think a "don't ask don't tell" is appropriate unless someone starts rough handling your doll. Then I think its appropriate to calmly tell them first that the doll is fragile and expensive. Unless they don't ask, don't tell them the specific price.

I myself definitely wouldn't want to hear someone next to me tell me that they bought a $500 game system. After all, some people can't even dream about that much so keeping quiet for the most part seems appropriate.

 

I really don't tell the price unless they asked me how much did i spend on my doll..

 

My friends ask me... so I have told them... mainly because they would have found out sooner or later if they went to the company websites. Which, most of them have. They've all been really disappointed to learn they aren't readily available.

But if it was a stranger I didn't know, I'd just tell them: "This doll is irreplaceable to me, I'd prefer not to let you touch/hold/etc." That way, I'm not giving them reason to want to steal (honestly, I don't care about sounding braggy- I just don't want people to think they can make a quick buck off of MY doll). And, I'm letting them know that the doll means a lot to me. Price or not, I'm attached.

 

When asked how much one of my dolls cost I change the subject. If someone is looking to buy a doll then I'll show them the website and let them take it from there. I did reply once and then asked....how many of these things do you have? I think this is so rude so I now stay quiet!