Is it too expensive?

Many hobbies are expensive. Bjd's are more expensive than some but less expensive than others. Some of my friends who hunt will spend a few hundred on a shotgun, and they still have to buy ammo and licenses and warm camouflage clothes, and after the hunt they have to take their bagged game to a professional for processing. The point is, most hobbies can be expensive, and the doll hobby isn't really more expensive than others.

 

While I agree with a lot of what's been said, I would go ahead and say it is an expensive hobby. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth it though, right?

 

as far as doll collecting goes BJDs aren't even that expensive. Sure, they are a lot more expensive than fashion dolls but on the other hand, a regular, not very rare antique doll will often cost two, three, four times more than your regular BJD. I've also seen artist bears scale quite high in comparisson as well, same as reborns.

The hobby is also as expensive as you make it to be. I've seen owners who've never spent a single penny on clothes or wigs because they make their own which minimizes the cost and others that are comfortable just buying the most expensive clothes out there for all their dolls because they want them to dress in high-end fashion. There are also ways to downsize the cost of the actual dolls by hybriding and everything. If, even after doing everything to lower the cost of a doll, an owner still thinks it's too expensive I think they're better off getting out of the hobby. After all, expensive or not, owners buy their dolls because they think they're worth what they cost.

 

I think it depends, really, on your own financial situation. To me, it's very expensive. It's going to take me a long time to save up for my first doll and all her initial stuff, plus the shipping. Personally, I think they're expensive for what you get. I think for the price they should include at least an cheap outfit. But I still desperately want one, so yes I'm saving for it. Saying you "make it as expensive as you want" isn't really true, because it's more "as expensive as you can afford." Could you really tell someone "no, this hobby isn't that expensive, it's only as expensive as you make it." Doesn't that mean "it's not expensive if you limit yourself to cheaper molds and less elaborate/well made clothes or suddenly develop the ability to sew really well?" It's not really how you'd like it, but rather what you're capable of. It's also niche hobby, so even thought you have items that are made for not that much, they get sold for way more. I think for most people starting the hobby, you have to make the decision to get over the cost, and probably also sacrifice some other things you'd like to spend money on.

 

You raise an interesting point, so here is my two cents.

There is no denying that the hobby costs more than many; just the base will cost $200+, and then you've got customizing supplies (or pay more for someone else to do it for you) and everything else.

That's not to say that a stamp collector or what-have-you won't spend that much on their hobby, but that they'd probably have to work a lot harder to do so (I don't know the ins and outs of stamp collecting though, ha, ha).

But no one is obligated to spend so much; we choose to. So... yes and no, I suppose. Thanks for the thought!

 

I think once it gets too expensive people should just take a break, not give the whole hobby up, but that's just my opinion.

 

it is too expensive.... to be honest..

 

I also have to say 'both' in answer to this. It really is as expensive as you make it. Even that perfect sculpt can generally be found secondhand so that you don't have to pay full price. My DZ Mo was purchased off ebay for about half of what I would have paid for him from DZ, because he was about 4 years old and needed some work done to get him back to his best appearance.

 

The longer I am in this hobby the more I am willing to spend on a doll and I never regretted any amount I spend on a doll. They are all worth to me what I pay for them.

 

I think it depends on how much you are willing to invest in it. You could easily buy a $200 doll, buy $50-$100 in accessories and nothing more. With video games, that will buy you a console and 1-2 games. Seems pretty equal. If you want to invest more, you certainly can, along with any other hobby such as video games. I also have a friend who collects rifles, pistols, etc and just a pistol goes for around $600, much like a basic doll in this hobby. They also just bought a rifle for $1,300, pretty typical for an LE from the company, right? One could easily pay $2,000 for a nice scope for that rifle, or you could spend $200. I could keep going. I tease my friend that guns are so much like dolls, due to the unlimited amount of accessories. I think this hobby is just like any other, it is all about how much one is willing to invest ^_^

 

Honestly, it's a bit of both, I'd say.

Of course, there are ways to cut corners as far as cost goes(making your own eyes/wigs/clothes, and so forth). However, the sculpts can still be pretty pricey, even second hand. Yes, it is possible to get cheaper sculpts, but it's still a lot more than some people would consider to be "okay" to be spending on a hobby. That said, I'd imagine that it's those same people who don't appreciate the hobby and look at the costs involved who are among the harshest critics we face.

Goodness knows that seems to be the case with my mother.

 

To be honest, I don't think this is an expensive hobby at all.
However, for me, who only eats out three times a year, and has never bought clothing over 25 dollars, I can save all that money for dolls.
For someone else, it might be a lot harder.
Dolls only seem expensive when you buy everything at once, but if you can compromise, then this hobby is very sustainable.

 

Well, I do consider this an expensive hobby, even though I try to be very moderate with what I purchase. I have a reasonable job , I am single and have no dependents, but it IS a little hard to justify paying more for a doll than for ones monthly rent.However, the fact that I am writing this and you are reading it, pretty much indicates that we are both hooked on BJDs. Who can resist their unearthly beauty? Not me. I am one of the lucky ones I think, because I can make almost anything I need for my doll: wigs, clothes, and eyes. Shoes I haven't tried yet to make, but I will. This is the hobby I have been looking for my whole life. I see the doll as an artists muse, a wonderful, infinitely customizable beautiful toy to create costumes for. Even though I consider it an expensive hobby I consider it so fun and creatively challenging that I cannot ever imagine giving it up. So my summation is : Expensive, YES. Worth it ? YES!!! Emphatically!

 

Its that expensive that everyone wants. Im not working and must stay cheap. So i have only 2 bodies and more heads. Maybe i have someday own bodys for all heads but now is top list have more clothes, shoes and eyes. I think that my husbands console games and consoles are more expensive than my dolls. I have sd sizes bjd and 2 heads is second hand, 1 female body new. My sd boy is event time sale and have event gift head. I think its possible keep this hobby simple with basic dolls and cheap accesories .

 

Without reading all 13 pages and having read the first couple instead, I'm going to have to go with:
Is this hobby expensive, or is it as expensive as you make it

and agree with the ones as "expensive as you make it". But only in the way that if you can make your own things it may be a little less expensive.

For example, I can ventilate wigs and have begun to adapt it to doll wigs to have a realistic hair flow and etc. I'm still learning of course and by no means am anything but amateur but the starting up expenses could be a an issue for some too.

I suppose it really /is/ just "As expensive as you make it". I really do like this topic, book marked it for reading more people's opinions later xD this is just mine meant to be my own~

 

Is this hobby expensive, or is it as expensive as you make it?


I would definitely say that it's both. It's generally an expensive hobby, seeing as even the cheapest tiny dolls seem to be at least $60 or so without a face-up, wig, clothes, etc. However, of course it can be as expensive as you want it to be, what with very expensive SD dolls, very expensive face-ups, expensive wigs and clothes and accessories and much more.
A lot of it does depend on how much you're willing to spend or how little you want to spend.

 

I would have to agree that the hobby is both. However at the same time most hobbies are. Some people would consider gaming to be an expensive hobby, when you have to pay $60 for a single game and would think that BJDs are very expensive. I find that for the most part hobbies no matter what they are, are dictated by how much you're willing to spend on it. You don't have to but the most costly items available just to be in a hobby and could choose to find ways to make the hobby fit into your own budget.

 

This year, I spent $1500 on new dolls and accessories but only 1 out of 4 new dolls is a resin AsianBJD. Point here is, doll collection hobby is expensive no matter what type of dolls you collect. If the money ain't spent on resin dolls, it's spent on something else. .

 

I'd say that it IS an expensive hobby, but there's LOADS of expensive hobbies around and people seem to mangage.. Ofcourse i'm but a student and therefore i'm extremely proud of the 2 dolls i actually have.
Having said that the hobby is just as expensive as you make it. True some can't get 50+ dolls in matter of seconds and some times the first doll takes 2 years to get. But if you really want it, nothing is stopping you.
It's true doll stuff is expensive, but all popular stuff is expensive no matter what kind and most get's around that by making their own clothes, wigs, trying to make their own doll-sized furniture and such ^^

I completely understand people that lave this hobby because of expenses and i can level with those who loose interest. I'd never quit because of that though. Even if it takes me the rest of my life getting the doll family i want, then that's what i'm going to :3

 

The hobby falls within both lines but prices shouldn't stop us from enjoying something we love right? ^^ And I'm actually okay with this being pricey.. it teaches one how to really value the doll and their care. Its not just something one can play with and leave hanging after. Its about dedication and love for the hobby. Other people have far more expensive hobbies without even knowing it, like my Dad and Uncles.. I like the feeling of responsibility for the doll because its my baby and should never be taken for granted. Everything comes with a price XD