Is there such a thing as an inferior ball-jointed doll?

God, I am so angry on your behalf... seriously, ignore her. She doesn't know what she's talking about. Some people are just like that in general, and ultimately they're the ones who pay the price. She's in the hobby for the wrong reasons!! It's not about cost/availability, it's about the beauty of the doll in our own eyes! Seriously. One of my most beautiful dolls is by far the cheapest one I have. Don't let it get to you at all- she's probably insecure anyways, and clearly needs a new hobby.

 

My most treasured doll is a basic sculpt, in the normal skin colour, with a company faceup that I modified a little by adding freckles to it. He's perfect for me because he fits the idea I had in mind of his character exactly. With a different skintone or as a limited sculpt, he might be more rare, but he wouldn't be right for the character so I certainly wouldn't find that situation "superior." I agree that certain dolls can be superior in objectively quantifiable ways - some of my dolls have better resin than others, some pose better, some have more skillfully done faceups. But what makes a doll perfect to one person might make it undesirable to another. You just have to worry about finding the best doll for you and that's all that matters!

 

That person sounds like a huge snob to me. I mostly own limiteds, with custom face-ups and a hybrid body, but I also have two standards with company face-ups. Neither one is better than the other.

Don't listen to people who say such silly things. If they're basing their superiority on what resin they own, they are quite pathetic.

 

Now, I actually had my very first doll, that was a Resinsoul, called 'a cheap piece of garbage' when I was still pretty new to the hobby. I'd got her beautiful clothing, wigs, and a killer face-up. I couldn't understand why on earth someone would say that about a doll I loved and clearly put a ton of work into. Sure, it wasn't an expensive doll, but it was my doll and I put a lot of love into that thing.

I now have a range of dolls. Dolls aren't special for being tan. That's pretty common now. I'd know. I love tan dolls! I actually hate fullsets. I dress my dolls very casual-contemporary and have very specific character ideas so they are a total waste of money for me. Limiteds aren't really that elite. Dolls become amazing because the work people put into them that make them that way. There are dolls I am not a fan of, but I totally marvel at them and respect the people with them for the vision they had with their dolls. And if you just want to get a doll that's a fullset or a default doll and keep it that way, rock on. It doesn't make that doll less valuable. We buy dolls because we love them and should be supportive of each other.

 

I have just realised that I have sold every fullset or the doll to which it belonged that I have had so far, hmm, maybe because I tend to mix and match. Your Leah is beautiful and you love her! Fairyland dolls are not at the cheap end, and she is not a common sculpt. Maybe this person is a teeny bit ignorant.

Honestly, collection snobs in any hobby just piss me off. To me, a collection lovingly built and loved is worth more than any buy off the shelf, keep in a cabinet (or the box) collection... Sure, I think some dolls are inferior, sculpt or build quality, maybe. Would I tell the owner that? NOT IN A MILLION YEARS

 

Every doll is beautiful in their own way and in my opinion, every doll owner should be proud of their dolls! I mean, you work so hard to get them and make them look like how you want them to, so you should be VERY proud of them! I definitely have dolls in my collection that i am more proud of than others, but that's just because i put more work into them. I dont think certain dolls are superior or inferior because of limited edition or anything. It's all a matter of choice and oppinion!

 

OK, I have to step in here and say that the BJD only policy of DoA is to maintain the focus of the forum, not to imply that other dolls are in any way inferior and unworthy of discussion. DoA is huge; if other types of dolls were discussed here it would just be too overwhelming for the moderators to keep up with. Every single BJD owner I know collects other dolls like Blythe & Pullip, Tonner and other fashion dolls, and play line dolls like Monster High. So it's not that we're all saying "our BJDs are better than your dolls", it's just that this forum is BJD focused. I'm sure there are a few BJD collectors who will saddle up their high horse when other kinds of dolls are around but they are in the minority.

 

Agreed. Actually, my most expensive doll is not a BJD, not resin, and far more limited than 99% of BJDs...Do I feel discriminated against by not being able to talk about her on this forum? No, I do not.

 

I am pretty shocked that someone would have the nerve to say that to another collector. Thats like a major no no in my opinion. I don't care what you collect and what type of doll you get and how much you spend no one should come along and say theirs are better. I think better manners would be to keep those opinions to oneself and find a way to enjoy another person's collection because its what they love. So, no inferior is just a word that I don't like to use when referring to any collection.

 

Saying a doll is "inferior" because they just have the company face up, or aren't expensive, or are popular (the last one was so ridiculous it made me laugh) is stupid. The only inferior doll is a recast.

 

Geez, after reading this OP and some others, I feel really lucky. I haven't met anyone who is rude about other's dolls. Which is lucky for me. I have one of the least expensive dolls made, an Only-Doll QianDong. He always has some crazy, jacked up wig I made myself on and some sad little clothes I made too. I don't really know how to sew, but I have so much fun doing it! And as far as the face up, technically you could call his custom, since I did it myself. However, I can't paint, draw, or put make up anyone, even myself. But no one has ever been the least bit critical!

The idea that someone else's collection is inferior because it is too basic is crazy. Personally, I like the regular, human dolls in human colors best. Not even the tans really, though that's the color I am. However, I have a friend who has any difference you can think of, and everyone of hers is beautiful. To me, seeing dolls that are different than yours give you such a chance to appreciate the variety of artistry that is out there, individual and company-wise. When someone else can't feel that way, it is a loss to her, not you.

 

Do you find a doll superior just because it has tan skin or was only available for a limited period of time?

Uhm. No. Just no. And if someone told you your dolls were inferior because they were not of a special color, with a 'special' face up, fullset, or it was limited, then it seems to me that THEY themselves must feel fairly inferior inside if they see the need to put down someone else's toys. Honestly, how childish can people be that they get some enjoyment out of making people feel bad for getting basic dolls with company faceups. Nevermind that many company faceups are quite lovely.

 

Recasts are inferior. Otherwise that word does not apply to this hobby. For example, my first two mature tinies-
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Yin, on the left, is a DIM Honey in NS with a company face-up who has sadly been discontinued. She came with her wig and an outfit she isn't wearing in this photo.
Blaze, on the right, is a Soom Mini Gem in tan, my first BJD and still blank a year after I got her. She's a standard who's always available in NS or tan.

Yin poses better and is rarer, but I don't think that makes her better than Blaze. Just special in different ways.

 

I think there are inferior owners.

The kind who have an inflated opinion of themselves and like to put others down while preaching arbitrary ideas about what is good and what is not.



Seriously I can't believe people have the gall to actually say some of these things in person, like at a meet. And my heart goes out to the sweet people who manage to sit quietly and not say anything back, whether out of nervousness or politeness or what. If anything like this ever goes down in my presence... there will be retribution. :/

 

I agree!! I haven't known before that there has people who called other's doll "inferior". That isn't nice at all. Every doll is equal in collector's eyes. My first doll is also cheap and not popular (DF-H) but I like him as same as to my other more expensive, LE, one and I don't care if other may think that he isn't worth or inferior.

 

As long as you love your doll, that's all that matters! I usually like the simple factory face-ups

 

It's sad that some people try to boost their own self esteem by belittling others, or in this case the dolls of others. I have also noticed that some people do not have filters when they speak. Whatever they think gets said, no matter what. I hope you can dismiss this experience and not take it to heart.

 

definitely not! i have bought limited edition dolls because they were ones i really wanted but they aren't any more special to me because they were only available for a certain amount of time, i just consider myself fortunate enough to have been able to get them when they were available , and regret missing out on other dolls that i couldn't get. i have certain companies that i personally prefer because of the look of their sculpts or the quality of their engineering, but i just think that is my personal preference not evidence of superiority over someone elses dolls. just like i personally don't like fullsets or le faceups 'since i like doing my own, even if that means they aren't as fancy. i like tan skin of all shades, but just because i like to have a variety of skin tones to add to my normal skinned dolls again, they aren't superior just different.

as long as you like your dolls that's all that matters.

 

I've never heard of someone claiming a doll in their full set is superior to one not. Actually, isn't it usually the opposite in this hobby? I'd think most people would avoid keeping their doll in a full set because it wouldn't be perceived as being very original of the owner.

Either way, it's all personal opinion. That person is free to prefer/think better of LE full-set dolls just as much as the person that likes basic, company default ones.

 

Seriously - have that person check out Adalwolf's dA gallery. I can only speak for the Iples in there, but all of those are available at pretty much any time thanks to Iple's Doll Choice system (and some are basics), all but two are in basic colours, and the amazing customizations were done by the owner, not the company. Not one Iple in there is a company fullset. If said person can claim those to be inferior to fullsets / LEs, you'll know for sure she's lost her mind.

Also, what pretty much everyone else has said: when I hear people talking about "inferior" dolls, I think engineering, poseability etc., not price or availability.

All my dolls are basics, except for one head which was bought in a split during the LE release period. I usually don't go for LEs at all, because I've found company pics rarely ever do a sculpt justice and I prefer having seen owner pics and making very very sure I'll like the doll before spending that kind of money.