Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls? Part II

I think what I do is find a doll I want and then look at the price, if I want it enough I'll just wait and save up to get it.
Luckily the MSD girls that I am absolutely in love with were pretty decent prices (>200$ each)

 

I don't think anyone should ever limit themselves if it's not absolutely necessary (specific budgets, life situations, etc). If someone wants the expensive doll, I say let them save and enjoy their hard work! This is a luxury hobby, any doll is expensive, but if we are going to spend, we should get the ones we like! Some people luck out and the dolls they prefer are on the cheaper side of the scale. I spent quite a lot and it was my first doll, but I didn't like any dolls that were more affordable. I didn't limit myself and I am absolutely happy.

 

I don't think people should limit themselves. If the doll they want is more expensive, I say go for it.

 

I would argue that technically none of these dolls are "cheap". XD Now, some are more affordable or less expensive than others, but even a $100 doll is worth a pretty penny financially. I think it's good when you know your price range. I've bought dolls from the mid-high end price range, and it's hard. (So worth it but hard to save. XD) I think as long as you love your doll, the price doesn't matter--as long as you don't go into debt for it. A lot depends on the clothes and quality of face up appearance wise. And in terms of joints and mobility, even some of the more expensive companies have had some really weird issues.

 

I have definitely been completely incapable of sticking to "cheaper" dolls, as much as I'd love to some days. Our house is full of Volks and Iple and Unoa. That's just always been what's appealed to my girlfriend and I. Our oldest doll is an SD16 Olivia, she'll be 6 in August and probably set us back about $1,400.... my computer cost more, and probably won't last me as long. So I can't really say I regret spending the money on her when I still love the doll and know she'll probably be here many more years.

I understand the appeal of "cheaper" dolls for sure, god do I ever, and I am insanely jealous of people who find dolls they love that land in those lower price ranges. I wish mine did! Unfortunately it just never panned out for me that way.

 

I don't think I could appreciate the more expensive dolls. I got into dolls because I wanted to do crafty things and I'd be too scared to touch the more expensive dolls. Restringing the cheaper bjds and cutting Barbie hair makes me nervous as it is! Other people like full sets or just want to do clothes or aren't as worried and that's great! If my doll is getting dragon wings, different ears, hooves, antlers, a second set of wings under the first set of wings, and a boob job I'm not really focused on what the original model was. (I do not yet have plans for a doll like this, but your concern has been noted.)

 

When I got my first doll (a Souldoll Soulkid Yewon) the price wasn't really something I thought too hard about. I got her with faceup and because of an event I got to buy the outfit from her promotional pictures too. When the time came to pay for her she was about 500$ in total including shipping. Yewon by the way was an MSD sized sculpt, but at the end she cost me about as much as some SD sized sculpts do. I do remember wanting to get an MSD because they were less pricey and if the event hadn't happened she'd probably be closer to around 430$ total I think, but that's not the way things worked out and I'm eternally grateful for it.

That said I did get D.O.D.s during an event where you could get two dolls and one would be a whole lot cheaper and frankly... My bond with them today is kind of... Meh. I won't sell them but it's not the same kind of feeling I get looking at my Yewon or my more recent Aquariusdoll or Withdolls. In comparison to my first both my AQ and my WDs were cheaper (about 350$) to get but I don't love them any less and I'm sure I wouldn't love a doll less if it was half that price either.

However I did learn, through the D.O.D. event that I won't get a doll simply because it's cheap. I really do want to get a bigger doll (around 60 cm) and for awhile I looked at "cheaper" SD sized dolls simply because of the price until I remembered how I feel about my D.O.Cs who while not "cheap" still made me feel a bit bleh when thinking about it. So I changed tactics and began looking at both the "cheaper" sites as well as the slightly more expensive sites (I have decided to stay below 600$ for the doll itself for now, but I won't necessarily say no to a more expensive one it's just the limit I have for now) and began searching through Flickr to see owner pictures and get a sense of what the doll looks like in real life. I still can't say I've found a definite doll yet, but I'm more likely to find one I truly love this way. If it ends up costing me less than expected - wonderful, if it ends up being more - not so wonderful, but I guess I better start saving!

 

Actually I don't care about the price. Many reviews or stories from friends told me that more expensive + more famous + more difficult to obtain = nice quality and worthwhile. But I disagree about it because I also own many cheaper and less famous dolls but with nice quality. The way to make my decision isn't if this/that doll is from XX company or limited, I choose them because I really like their sculpt. (almost every doll from my collections are from different companies.) It doesn't matter if my dolls will become less worth than, when I bought because I don't have plan to give up on them.

 

I can see how this works... I grew up poor and could never justify one doll for 800. I did, however, manage to justify 900 for three. Somehow. I don't think you should say, "only cheap dolls" but at the same time, you have to look at your financial situation and decide if an $800 doll is really feasible for you and your life.

If you can't buy them and still be able to eat... then it's probably not a good idea, and there are cheaper dolls that you may love just as much.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I827 using Tapatalk 2

 

That's what I intended to do at the beginning : I wanted to have only dolls with a reasonnabled price, or hybrids, so that I could afford them ; and I tried to force myself not wanting very expensive dolls. Well, one year and a half later, it's not the case anymore xD I'm getting my EID (once I'll have the money at least) and a beautiful Cerisedolls Ellana. I'll have to save a lot but that's what I really want, and even if I have a lot of other projects that I'd enjoy a lot, those two are currently my priorities.

 

I think price doesn't really matter if you really love the doll. If you want it but can't afford it, work and save for it. If you can easily afford it, well good for you.

When I completed my doll, 5 years ago I was asked why I chose to go with the 'cheaper' body. I never spoke up that it was really what I liked for my doll, that despite the price, it was highly recommended on the discussions I've read before I bought my doll. I did my research and in the end, I preferred that body over the expensive ones.

I just let them complain about how the hands were 'very plain' and the 'nipples are weird' etc etc...but now I realized that I don't have to be conscious about it. I don't care about the price, as long as I love it, I'll go ahead and save for it.

 

I have only found a few sculpts I really want to have. I am still going back and forth on the cost. It would be one house payment just for the doll. I also started looking at the RS and other less expensive dolls, but it came back to what many others have said.
Should I buy a less expensive doll just to have one, or should I hold out for the one I really like?
I did buy a small inexpensive anthro cat for research purposes.
Currently my plan is financing the doll I want by selling things I already have.

 

What Scholar said. My friends and I call this "Doll Blindness": $ 100 for a doll is not actually cheap. And however I came to pay more for my doll's shoes than I pay for my own? And what's with buyind a pair of doll eyes for $ 60? That's a whole quarter of my monthly spending money (after paying for rent and such, but before any books, clothes, school lunches...) during semesters!

Still, I don't think I'd ever limit myself to cheaper dolls. If I could save $ 200, it wouldn't be that much longer to save some more and get the doll I really want. Of course there's a difference between really wanting original release SOOM Amber full set or basic Iplehouse Kid. If I wanted that Kid, I would save enough to get them. Amber, however, would be too much at least until I graduate and get a steady job. But if I really wanted Amber, I'd rather try to buy her later when I can than save some money and buy a cheaper "replacement" I probably ended up not caring that much because every time I looked at them, they'd just remind me of the doll I actually wanted.

To sum it up, I'll buy a doll if I want it regardless the price. However, if there's no reasonable way to afford the one I want, I'd rather buy other, more affordable dolls than try to buy a "replacement" for the expensive one. I doubt there's ever a situation I'd only want the expensive one: I always have several dolls on my wish list. ^^;

 

my opinion about this: better save for what you really want than buying cheaper, beeing unhappy and buying the expensive one to be happy and have both

 

I'm saving up to buy a spiritdoll smart line Ginger. He's 280$ by himself, like nude with no faceup and either white or normal skin. I want tan, which is an extra 35$ I think, and a faceup till I can get the tools to do it myself, which is 50$ extra. I've been looking for dolls forever, and this one is basically my grail doll. I originally wanted a Dollshe doll, but honestly the size of those dolls would freak me out. I believe though if you want a doll enough, be it 100$ or 1000$ that if you save up you should get any doll you want. It doesn't matter what your financial status is looking like(unless you have no money coming in lol) if you save up, you get that doll you want :3

I'll have enough money next month on the 15th to buy my doll and everything I want with it, I'm so excited!

 

I think I've commented on this before but here goes.

I tried purchasing the cheaper dolls and being happy with it. What ended up happening? I was never really happy with them and ended up with the more expensive dolls anyway. Costly lesson to learn.

 

I have an MSD sized girl that only cost me $120 (nude, but with a wig). This is probably on the cheap end of the bjd hobby. She is a hybrid, I had to do a ton of work to restring her. I had to buy her new hooks. I had to go through several wig iterations to make her work the way I wanted her to. But in the end, I still think she is a beautiful doll and although it took more work to bond with her, I'd say she was worth it.

On the other hand I have an MSD sized girl that cost me $700. I would say this is on the expensive side of the bjd hobby. She's absolutely perfect despite a slightly chipped chin, but I've bonded with her quickly and I love her. It took very little work for me to get her where I wanted her.

I love both of these girls equally but for different reasons.
I think even for 'cheap' dolls, if you put a lot of work and effort into them, they will mean more to you.

Echoing everyone else here- buy what you like

 

I think people should buy what they like and not worrying what other people think of there BJD/dollfie. I don't give a rats but what other people think of my hobby and if the BJD is cheap or not also l like what l like and that's that and if a person can't like me for who l am then there's the door. Hope this dose not sound rude but l think people should stop worrying so much.

 

Price matters to me to a certain extent. I have my magic number limit for each thing I look at. I want to look at something and know why it costs as much as it does. Expert craftsmanship is one of those things I'll pay money for. That can be had for all price points, you just have to look! That said, I've learned that I like a lot of "cheaper" face sculpts, but I'm very picky with bodies. The bodies are restricting my dolly budget to 2 dolls a YEAR. Why bodies? They're covered in clothes, plenty of brands can pose well, ect. I know, it's silly, but I fall in love with a feature of a body and that's what I fixate on. I will make a hybrid just to use that amazing body!
When it comes to heads, I somehow can't justify the price!

 

I don't let myself spend more than $300 on a doll. I'm really sensitive about money, and I know spending a lot on a doll could make me really upset, and I don't want that to happen. So, yes, my budget means I can't get all the dolls on my wishlist, but I find there are many beautiful dolls in my price range. And events can make dreams come true! Dolls once out of reach suddenly become affordable!

I know there are people out there who criticize cheap dolls, which I think is insane. Dolls shouldn't be judged based on their price (or at all, really). A doll that is $300 is just as beautiful as a doll that is $800. I will never be ashamed of having a "cheap" doll.