Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I bought a pair of MSDs from AOD to get my feet wet. They met all my basic aesthetic criteria, they are well made yet inexpensive, and if I messed one up irredeemably, I wouldn't feel as bad as if I'd FUBARed a more spendy doll. So I guess you could call these my "practice" dolls. Once I'm comfortable with the painting, sueding, re-stringing, etc. and if I'm very sure of my long term commitment to the hobby, I will start looking at the more expensive dolls like the Hound and Celestyn. Those two really flip my cookies. Yum!

 

Sometimes it is all about the $$$ baby! If you can't afford a Volks fullset doll, but can afford and like another cheaper doll, then hey, why not? After all you are going to have to live with him/her. I had my heart set on a Luts Dark Elf Soo ( saving frantically, time is money people!! ) and ending up buying a Dollzone girl as my first ( and could not be happier ). Some people can be doll snobs and have the attitude that "oooh, its cheap and therefore not any good".

PS - I'm not throwing stones, just making an observation.

 

I would rather save up and get the doll that I want, rather than buying my dolls per a certain price range.

In the end if the dolls makes you happy thats all that really counts.

 

To each his own, really.

Being someone who has been interested in BJD's for five years, and actively wanting/saving them for two, I can say that on MY part, I'd rather save and wait for the one I *know* will be quality, and that I really love.

My family is really poor (for an American family, that is) and a $300+ dollar doll is just such a luxury that it seems stupid to even think of getting one. Up until now, something in Real Life always gets in the way of getting one, be it housing expenses, school, not being able to work enough or being homeless for a couple months. At certain points, I COULD have had a cheaper doll. Yet, because we make so little money, I know personaly that I value quality over quantity or quickness. I don't have to have it now if I know that some day I will, and that it will meet my expectations of stadards. I would regret my purchase if I bought a cheaper doll because the difference between $125 and $300 is not that much, since both are expensive for me, so why not save for the one I really, truly want?

That's just my opinion, though :3

 

Most of my dolls I have right now are considered "Cheaper" dolls in my book (Under $500).

I do have my eyes on an SD Volks FCS girl to look exactly like me in every way, shape, and form. Which won't be a cheap doll at all. To get her, I'm gonna have to travel tot he Volks store in LA, which will also cost me travel expenses.

I can afford all the expensive dolls I want, but I just choose to buy the cheaper ones instead cause honestly, I'm spending my husband's money and not my own hard earned cash and I'd feel horrible buying alot of expensive dolls and spending that much of his money.

Cheap doll are great for beginners or those without money, but I think eventually, we all move over the "hump" and set our eyes on the more expensive ones eventually.

My FCS will prolly be my one and only doll over $500 and that's it.

I used to tell myself, I'd never spend over $500 on a doll, but now that I have my eyes set on a FCS to look exactly like me, I think I'm over that.

Luckily, my husband doesnt mind my doll hobby and supports it because ti si something that makes em happy and we can afford it.

 

How you spend your monies for dolls is really only your concern....as is your choice in what doll you want.

Now, personally, I've been of the mind that if a very specific sculpt is what you REALLY want, then if you don't have the money Right Now to buy it, the next step is to save. However, if you go for a second doll that is cheaper, be sure that it meets the same 'needs' that the more expensive sculpt does. It's why I have a Dollshe Hound instead of desparately trying for a Bermann (that, and I prefer the joints better after further investigation ).

It's good to be honest about what you can afford and attempting to stay within your means. It's REALLY good. At the same time, be mindful of what your wants are as well, and see if there isn't a way to get a compromise somewhere that will make you truly happy

 

I think cheaper dolls are really great when you know you want to experiment with modifications, because you know that if you mess things up, it didn't cost as much money as a more expensive doll. Then when you do get the ones who are more expensive, you're more confident about modifying, and have some experience.

If someone only wants to buy cheaper dolls, that's fine. I don't think it's my business how much people spend on their dolls, or the clothing or accessories for them. Everyone has a different purpose in collecting dolls.

 

I got some cheaper vinyl dolls that had the personality of the more expensive doll that I loved. Then one day I realized that if I had just saved the money that I spent on the three, I would have enough for the more expensive one. I never did that again, and just wait and save to get the doll that I really like.

 

I originally said I was only going to get "cheaper" dolls. Both of my doll friends had Volks, but I didn't feel comfortable spending 2+ months of rent on a toy. I looked at cheaper dolls and never found one I liked. It wasn't until I saw my Elizabeth, a Volks one-off, that I realized it would be a waste of money for me to settle on something I didn't like for a cheaper price then spend the extra money and get something I loved. It didn't matter that Volks was considered an expensive brand or whatever. It was that Lady Sylvie mold that hooked me and it was cheaper for me to buy her than a bunch of "cheaper" dolls I wouldn't love as much.

 

i agree with that. Actually, i'm now waiting for a Bobobie Sprite, an "amazingly cheap" BJD, but the point is that I've fallen in love with her despite her price. Of course I like (even love) other dolls, but as I cannot afford them I prefer to get the cheapest one among all them and enjoy her. if I had a higher budget in the future, who knows...

 

If you like it, it doesn't matter how much you spend for it.
My first doll was a Dz Nina, there are so many people with a collection of Dollzone bjds, but I don't think they buy them because they're cheap. Maybe, that's because they are fond of the doll house sculpting style.
Well, now I'm saving for a Soom SD, but I'm doing it cause I'd like to have a nice sd boy, not to increase the quality of my collection.
I can understand people looking for something special, for example Limited and unusual molds... It can be worth 300$, 500$ or 1000$ - but loving it or not it's just personal taste. And yes, people could keep cheap dolls they love and resell expensive dolls they don't like. If you're happy with your doll, the price isn't important.

 

I agree with SailorLimaBean. It's a waste of money to buy something you don't like, no matter how cheap (or expensive). To me, it's more about the mold than having a doll, if that makes any sense. I'd rather have no doll than have to settle for a doll I'm not totally crazy about.

If a persons dream doll happens to be one of the less expensive kinds, that's great! It frees up more money to spend on doll clothes ;D

 

I bought my first doll almost only because of the price. 200€ for a MSD was ok for me and I was afraid of buying something from asia because i (still XD) don't know anything about shipping etc. I only had 2 pictures of him and neither knew if Luts was a ''better'' brand or not. so my first doll was kind of surprise XD

means: I had no dream doll I fell in love with.
But after he came into my house I learned to love him and today I can't think of a better doll to start with.

My mind about the price of a doll didn't change. 250$ would be the highest point for me. Although I could easily save the money for a more expensive doll more than 250 wouldn't be acceptable for me. For sure, we LOVE them, but they are only dolls. Even my beloved guitar was cheaper than some dolls XD

I think it's absolutely ok to like and buy cheaper dolls if you like their appearance.
I'm planning to buy a cheaper one the next time and to work on him.
You can make a 150$ doll look more gorgeous than a 500$ one.

 

I'd been planning on getting a girl this summer, and had been patiently waiting for months. Then I happened to click on a link for bobobie. When I saw the prices, I thought at first the dolls might look generic. I definitely wasn't considering buying one.

Then I saw Elena and I fell in love! Really, I fell in love with her. She's so beautiful and she fits perfectly for me! I love moody dolls. My first doll was an IM Hound. It don't get moodier than that gorgeous boy! And I'm just as in love with my Blake as I am with this new girl. I can't wait til she gets home!

So moral of the story: True love could care less about money!

 

I agree. If you find a doll that you really, really want and absolutely can't live without, then why not? =3

However, as a college student who works at a not-so-high-paying part-time job, I totally understand about not having the money for the more expensive dolls, which is part of the reason I chose an Abio Angel as my first BJD (of course, I also really, really like the dolls to begin with; the price was just an added bonus, as I was torn between getting an AA and a more expensive doll, but finally went with the AA because I liked it more than the other doll). But if ever I find a more expensive doll that I fall in love with, I'll be saving up for him/her for sure~

 

This has been an interesting thread to read!

There certainly has been a large increase of "cheap" dolls available this past year. It used to be if you wanted a doll below a cetain price range there were very little choices -- Dollzone was one of the first companies to offer less expensive BJD's, but now, I don't think limiting yourself to "cheap" dolls limits you nearly so much, and certainly not more than limiting youself to only more expensive dolls such as Volks and LE's. I admit I have been a bit skeptical about these so-called cheap dolls, and didn't even pay any attention to them for awhile. But, having seen some in person . . . I do think that they are quite a bargain compared to more normal/expensive priced dolls. They have different resin than my Volks dolls but by no means inferior! And sculpts are truly a matter of taste.

And as has been mentioned already, I also see it as a matter of a "cost/benefits analysis", sort of. I look at the cost of the doll vs. my love/want of the doll. For example, I really love Momoko. She is adorable and one of my favorite molds! But I would never pay such a high price for her. Because as much as I like her, there are less expensive girls that I also like the same as or very nearly as much as her. On the other hand, I did save up and shell out the $$ for my Jun on the secondary market, but if there had been ANY other doll that could have worked as well for the character I had in mind, there's no way I would have bought such an expensive doll. ^^;

 

I don't have any resins yet, but I don't see why cost should matter. I love some of the cheaper dolls, so of course I'll be starting out with those. But I have been looking for a good doll that looks like a character I designed. I've found ones that are close, and I like them but nothing that striked me as the one. I fianlly found her. It's a Limhwa, but I love her soo much.
When I told my friend and she found out how much she was, she freaked. But, I would rather spend a lot on a doll i lovelovelove as opposd to getting a couple dolls that I just like.

 

I wanted a CP Lishe, it's the doll I've always loved and I still kind of want her, but I was at a point that I was SO into the dolls and my friends had dolls, that I just kind of snapped and bought a different CP doll (a Kid Delf) that I liked and was less expensive then the Delfs. My doll came and I was blown away with how lovely she was and how great the craftsmanship was, and it was really nice to be able to share the hobby with my friends. Now I don't know if it's because I wasn't as into the dolls as I thought I was, or if it was because I bought a doll I was only so-so with, but I just don't really care for her that much anymore. She just sits there and looks pretty and doesn't really do much for me. I still drool over the Lishe and kind of hope to get her someday, but now I'm just wishing I had my $400 to spend on something else. I really wish I had waited another few months and purchased a Lishe instead.

 

I don't have a doll yet, but it's just my luck that the first doll I'm determined to buy is pretty cheap. Doesn't mean I'd choose dolls because of their price. What I like, I'll buy regardless of the price unless I consider the price to be outrageous, as in not on par with its craftsmanship. ^^ Hopefully, I'll save enough money for my B&G Sky soon!

 

I just read the first page so someone might have already said this but:

I believe that when buying your dolls, you should always keep your eyes out for that doll that's your "Dream Doll" and even if that doll is $5,000 (yeah, just a small exaggeration lol) you shouldn't give up hope of having it, and just go with a cheaper doll.
But then again, I see no problem in buying cheaper dolls (I'm currently wanting to buy a Abio Angel San) as long as your buying them because you WANT them. Not because they are just cheap, and that's all you can afford at the moment.
I'd Love to have A Kirill...but I know that will never happen, so I have accepted that and now I'm looking at cheaper dolls that are in my price range.But even so, I'm fine with not having an expensive doll. I don't see why I'd need an expensive one if I like the cheaper ones as much (or better) and they are as good (or better) than the expensive ones.
Yeah, some day there might be a doll that I'm just "dying" to have that's expensive, but in reality I have a lot more stuff that I could be spending that money on that's more important than a doll I have never seen before or really bonded to in anyway. I'd feel awful if I went and spent tons of money on a doll, only to realize that I can't bond with it, and I'd have to sell it. Anyway, my point is buying a cheaper doll because you personally want the doll is fine, but don't buy one just because it's "popular"