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Is it too expensive?

Mar 15, 2011

    1. I would say both as well. It is pricy but not any more then other hobbies. It can be expensive when you get into buying everything. If you make some of your own stuff such as clothes or wigs you can save, but hobbies are ment to be fun so whatever you do it's up to people how expensive to make their hobbies.
       
    2. I, like so many others, will have to say both. You can go for the less expensive dolls, manage your money, and make all of their things. But, somepeople and sometimes you just have to have that more expensive cast.
      While one of the more price hobbies, I think in moderation it's actually not that expensive.
       
    3. Of course it's an expensive hobby!
      But that's from the outside looking in most of the time.
      It's up to the individual to decide if it's expensive or not. ~_^
       
    4. It's not cheap. No matter what you do, most likely you will hit the three hundred mark before you've completed one doll. That being said, you're getting alot for your money. I think people are so used to dolls being those flimsy little barbies that you can buy a dime a dozen. BJDs are high quality posable figures, whose face is usually hand painted. You're getting alot for your money and people sometimes see the cost and just don't understand what you're paying for. It's kinda like when I look at a scuplture or painting and don't understand why it's $1400, it's that expensive for a reason, not just to give people sticker shock.
       
    5. The hobby can be expensive yes, but I would agree with the statement that it's only as expensive as you make it. Some people have less self-control than others, and when they see cool dolls wearing really nice gear they have to buy it. Other people either don't want every nice thing they see or they're completely satisfied once they have their doll "finished", so they spend less.
       
    6. My definition of "Hobby" is spending lot of money for things you don't need. ;)

      No matter if it's about post stamps stamps, playing music or tuning your car's HiFi.
       
    7. Depends I've found price = quality, i don't think they are worth any less than the selling prices or any more. i think the prices they are should stay that way, If you buy something expensive you're going to look after it better, and you'll treasure it. It needs to be this way!
       
    8. I also think it depends...
      I have been in the doll hobby for 20 years but collecting bjd solely since the end of 2007, since then I suppose cos of the quality of these dolls...and the size...and the sheer customability of them I have spent less money..Less is more!
      I don't need to buy a doll..or more.. every month, and I really enjoy and play with the ones I have, so for me it has worked out less expensive and much more FUN
       
    9. Well..even if you just bought one doll, let's say for $300, some may say that's already expensive. But of course, you'll want more stuff for your doll and that racks up some expenses as well. It's pretty much inevitable.

      I'd definitely say this is an expensive hobby (since some hobbies are dirt cheap, like tennis for instance: $40 racket and $1 can of tennis balls every couple weeks or something, plus free court usage). It's much more costly in my eyes, but I do find it enjoyable (thus I partake in it).
       
    10. For me it is expensive. But it is a hobby. Most of my other hobbies requires a lot of money too (eg video games, comics). Even though I know I can buy a lot of video games using the funds for my doll, I still want it so there's nothing I can do about it. C:
       
    11. Both. The dolls are expensive themselves. If someone wants a doll that cost $1000 but they think its way too much and they are getting $200 doll only for the sake of having BJD, then end up not loving the doll and loosing interest because they still think about that certain $1000 doll then its a bit pointless. Its better to either save up for dream doll or leave the hobby. Getting unwanted dolls is like wasting money which could go towards something you really want.

      As you said, doll can wait. We dont have to buy everything at the beginning. They can sit with no clothes, eyes or wigs for ages but it just bothers some people. If I couldn't afford to finish looks of my dolls I would leave the hobby too.
       
    12. It's an expensive hobby. The accessories are expensive too...
      I know many of the dolls and accessories are small scale production, involved a lot of handwork and stuff but some times I can't help but think how can shoes in size of a keyring can be that expensive *_*
       
    13. It's an expensive hobby, but we agree to pay for it. At the same time you can always buy cheaper dolls or BJDs. I see a lot of BJD collectors that buy dolls that are not BJDs. Some of them collect Barbies or Monster High dolls. Those are cheaper by far but they add up. Another thing is ultimately, you decide how much you are willing to spend. A lot of people save money by not buying expensive wigs and clothes.
       
    14. I think that all hobbies start off as expensive, but once you're fully immersed into it, it's entirely up to you. No one said you have to buy a doll and then a fully endowed arsenal of wigs, clothing and accessories. But then, you have to factor in what you consider expensive, and how much money you're willing to throw down. The most expensive thing for me, besides the doll itself is wigs, I make their clothes, so that saves me a hell of alot of money. And I could easily just weft together a wig from human tracks, and that would cut my costs in half, but I'm not going to do that. Why? Because I don't want to. So again, I think it's a matter of choice of where your money goes, and how much of it goes.
      Personally, I think $700 is a lot of money, especially for something like a doll, but to some people, here moreover, $200 is a lot, and then there are those who think $1500 is just getting started. But anyway, if I want a doll [or whatever it is that's relevant to the hobby] bad enough, the price won't mean anything to me.
       
    15. To me it is an expensive hobby, but that is partially because I'm still figuring out how to manage my money. I always want to save it, and when I want to buy something spending 50+ dollars seems like a lot because I currently don't have very much income. I have only one doll, and she is my first. I'm still relatively new to the whole BJD world, so I only have two outfits. It looks intimidating from here because of all the things I want to do with my dolly, and it all gets a bit intimidating from wigs/eyes to face-up materials to outfits and accessories and shoes...but that is because I am ambitious I guess:sweat
      I feel like it is an expensive hobby overall, but not specifically more or less so than others. If you have the money to spend you can do whatever you want with it. Some people collect movies or books or video games, and other people collect dolls. BJDs just happen to make people think more of toys than something you'd "use" or something "practical." Although to the people who love BJDs, we "use" them as much as we want. (That sounded a little weird, sorry*_*) Overall I think whether or not collecting BJDs is expensive is a relative thing, and doesn't have a definitive answer because anyone you ask will have a different idea of what "expensive" means.
       
    16. I go with both too. Its expensive if you want to make it that way. The only thing I'm ever going to buy from a shop is shoes and the hair wigs unless I can figure out how to make them. The most expensive thing is the actual doll. Whether buying from the web store or on the market place, no matter where I look my Ducan will cost me more than $400. And for someone with very little income that can be expensive. However, you've got awesome people in the market place that will take payments so even that may be null. Either way you dish out quite a bit of money and if you believe its worth it then it is.
       
    17. I do know and prepare myself once I decide to get into this hobby that "This is an expensive hobby" but it's all about me and my money and my happiness even if someday BJDs are out dated but I think I'll still cherish them. ^^
       
    18. I have just begun this hobby with my first resin doll ordered and getting ready to come home. My father does not know at the moment, because I had explained my interest before and how some of the dolls easily can reach $700. His response was:

      Say what?
      Other people have hobbies that are just as expensive, if not more expensive than this. I never complained when my dad bought his fishing boats. He's not a tradesman in any sort, just likes to fish for recreation. This is going to be my recreation - creating / collecting dolls. If it makes me happy and it just takes me a while to save up money to do it, why shouldn't I? I shouldn't put a price-tag on my enjoyment, nor will I allow it to consume me either.

      In the end, everything is about moderation. Yes, this hobby is expensive. Yes, sometimes the dolls can be outlandishly priced, but if somebody is truly interested and committed with a responsible hand, why shouldn't they enjoy themselves? For some people it is just too expensive, and they might have realised they had lost control of their spending. For those people, that's their decision and I'm sorry it happened to them, but I do not think that for any financially sound person (somebody with a good income or somebody like myself who has saved up for months on end) this hobby would be 'too expensive'... just 'expensive.'

      Now, on the other hand, there are people who will buy and later hit financial crisis - that's an entirely different story, and my sympathy goes out to them for having to sell their dolls.
       
    19. At first, I was put off with how expensive these dolls were. But then I took a step back and realized all of my hobbies are expensive. To name a few... I like to snow ski, my skis cost me around 750 last year, plus the season pass I buy every year. I like to cosplay, cosplay fabric, wigs, shoes, con badges, etc cost a lot, too. I play golf and tennis all summer, court and course fees add up quick. I work hard and I save hard, so I decided that I'll do what I want with my money.

      But the way I see it: if I ever need money, or want to get out of the hobby, I can sell any of those things and get at least most of my money back. I can sell my skis, I can sell my cosplays, I can sell my golf clubs, I can sell my dolls. So not everything is a total loss.
       
    20. Is this hobby expensive, or is it as expensive as you make it?
      I would say it depends on ones income and financial responsibilites. It is surely not a cheap hobby by any means. I mean would you beleive I suddenly find myself guaging the value of other things, like the Flat Panel TV i just purchased last weekend, on what kind of doll I could have bought with that money? Is that horrible? I feel like, life is short and everyone has their hobby that the feel so passionaetely about, and would have no issue shelling out what would seem like tons of cash for.

      My first doll was a Blueblood doll and I was very well enamoured with it. Then I was shown the iplehouse site by a very evil person and now I have two of those which set me back a beautiful penny. however; the joy that my dolls bring me is really second to none. The possibilities for customization and creativity are out of this world. Yes these thinks are ultra expensive but for right now then bring me joy so therfore i have purchased them. If i were to loose my job or have a sudden need for liquid cash, then off to the auctions they will go and I will sart over when the economic climate is right.