Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

For a first timer, price is probably a good thing to consider. Maybe you think you'll love the hobby, but when you open the box and see your first doll, suddenly you realize this doesn't quite hold the magic you thought it would. Not that it happens often but I'm sure it does. Starting small and working up instead of putting out $600 or more on your first will make sure that you're sure.

Or you could just go for it and start big... and sell if you're not instantly hooked. XD

 

I was leaning in this direction for my first doll but I decided that If I was going to get a doll I was going to get the one I was pining for no matter how long it took to save up for him, and low-and behold, I got him.

 

I suppose I come under the category of 'going for the cheaper option', as for my Juri I plan on getting him a Fantasy Doll body as opposed to saving up for a Luts one.
I think... To me, it's the face mold that attracted me the most, and I don't particularly like the Luts bodies anyway. The fact that the FDoll bodies are smaller than the Luts ones which would fit the event head better, and that the skintype matches well are a total plus, making my decision even more solid to me.
I would never feel the need to justify buying the cheaper body to anyone but myself.

It seems fairly self explanatory to me that most owners get the dolls they really love? If they can't afford it they'll get their next favourite, or a cheaper one they like a lot too.
As a poor student I really count myself lucky that after pining for a DOT Sha for quite a while, before I had saved up enough to buy him I got a CP Juri 06. By far totalling to be MUCH cheaper than Sha and thus making both me and my bank balance happy. I love Azu to bits now, and I can't wait to get his body~

In summary... I suppose it doesn't matter how much you spend on the doll as to how much you'll like it? I've let myself take the cheap route this time because it makes more sense and doesn't really... Compromise anything in my opinion. I would do it again if I felt the need, too.

 

My first doll (an AoD Gu) was partly bought because he was affordable, but also because I wanted to base him on one of my existing original characters. His personality didn't suit a lot of the dolls I've seen, which seem to be more cute or pretty boy, whilst the Gu suited him almost perfectly.
I haven't actually seen another doll yet that would suit his character.
And I absolutely adore him, regardless of his 'cheapness'.

My second doll, also based on an existing original character has been more difficult. I've been almost convinced by DoD Sha and then by a Delf El but went off them both before almost deciding on a Dollzone Wilka before settling on a B&G Sky because the sculpt had a little smile and the eyeshape I want.
...Until I recently saw a head by a company I'm not even familiar with that cost $100 that I've decided is about as perfect as I'll get.

With both my dolls it just seems to be luck so far that I've preferred the 'less expensive' sculpts.

But if I earned less than I do I wouldn't be afraid to buy a doll just because it was 'cheaper' (which none of these dolls actually are) as long as I really wanted it. Nor would I give a crap about what other people thought.
No one should feel bad about, or be made to feel bad about their doll, they're supposed to be loved.

 

My first doll is a Dollzone TinTan and by doll standards, she's cheap right, or at least that's what alot of people on msb's say. (In comparison to lati or dod she is!!), and I am perfectly happy with her! She's prettier that I had ever thought and would deff. buy another dollzone doll, they are great quality in my opinion!

My next doll is a Torrie from dollmore and she's deff. alot more ($335 ? as opposed to the $235 I paid for Tintan?), so we'll see the diff when she gets here. ^.^

I'm used to collecting fashion dolls/pullips and Blythes, these are my first BJD's so, to me, in all reality, they are ALOT more expensive, but in their expensiveness, they are worth it to me, their quality is alot nicer and better than any pullip or Blythe thusfar. Different materials I guess

 

If its something you want and it was pricey then save for it.. and if its something you want and don't have to save then go for it.. but keep in mind what you want and what you're willing to pay doesn't always mean you will bond. My four dolls now are very inexpensive but they were all on my wish list.. expect my 1st one I bought on a whim and I am just madly in love with all 4. Cost shouldn't be the issue if its something you want... its really up to the individual.

 

My first doll is planned to be Mars from Buddydoll, who I suppose is kind of pricey for a newcomer's first doll. But he was the first doll who really made me stop and stare, and after looking at several dolls (I'm finding one to fit a character profile) I simply couldn't find a better one than him.

As opposed to making myself buy cheaper dolls, I'm more the type to make myself buy them more slowly, for price reasons. I someday plan on having about five or six dolls - that would be my dream, four of them have basically been picked out. But I'm not letting myself spend that kind of money yet, it will probably be about a year's worth of saving between each, unless something rather serendipitious happens But once I find the perfect doll, assuming it's not going to cost me an arm or a leg, I'll find a way to afford it - even if it means years of saving.

 

Well, if yourgoing to buy a "Cheaper" doll your still going to plop down 85-300 thats still a heck of a lot of money. So, in theory, you have to really like the doll to pay that much for it. I love my "cheaper" doll, but she was the only doll that looked like what I wanted which was a bonus .

 

I went through three dolls that I bought secondhand because they were what I could afford. After a few months, one would be sold and a new one bought in the same price range. Finally I decided that I really wanted my twins, and I was going to find the right mold regardless of price and how long I'd have to save for them!
I came across the Bobobie Sprite by accident, I didn't even realize how inexpensive it was until I went off to find out where I could buy them. Imagine how happy I was when I realized both twins could come home at the same time!
So no, I don't think price should matter. It's the character that you put into them that does. If you settle, you always think "I wish I had this other doll instead" and not enjoying the company of the one you do have.

 

I ever had a problem like this too.
my dream doll is Yukinojo of volks company and yes, you know that his price was really high. So that make my can't afford him in any case. I ever thing that why doll are so expensive and why my lovely dream doll is soooo very expensive like this. Sometime I felt sick with this sometime I felt sore when compare with many things in my life.

It's difficult to say...

 

recently ive been thinking about this again...

i used to be pretty against the cheaper dolls purely because i dont like their aesthetic (DZ, bobobie, AoD) but recently ive been EXTREMELY lusting for a DZ fenyo or tintan

and yes, because theyre cheap. but not just that; because theyre so unusual; honestly, no other mold out there looks remotely like tintan

why would i want them because theyre cheap? because i can customise them or try some whacky style. i already have an idea for an extremely stylised geisha fenyo. i am seriously leaning towards it. i just love customising and painting, and sometimes i just sigh at the $600 an afgha will cost me.

and yes, its true, id probably love the doll less because i bought it because it was cheap. but i really wouldnt know til i got it. so its hard to say

 

If you like both of them and one of them is cheaper why not get the cheaper one.

 

I guess it just all depends on taste and if you love the doll why would it matter?

My first and only kid right now is an AOD Rao, I instantly fell in love with her mold and she was perfect for the character I had in mind. I was just completely stunned by how gorgeous she is when I opened the box and saw her for the first time. She's my sarcastic little tomboy, so she's been getting onto me for a. not having gotten her right eyes yet and b. not yet getting her pants and shoes ^^; She has a dress, a kimono, a skirt, a pair of socks, and a hoodie so far. She's only been with me for a month and she's already spoiled.

 

Sadly, there are a few very expensive dolls I would love to own, however, I have to purchase one I like instead, so I can still put myself through college, without going without the doll entirely. And maybe someday I'll be able to afford the one I truly want, and I'll sell the other.

 

I'm buying pretty cheap dolls, but only the ones i really love ^^
I think it's okay only to buy cheap dolls, if that's what you want.

 

I don't choose for the money, when I choose the pf.

Not directly, at least.
yes, I told me "I could make her dress (so,we can say "i won't buy expensive dresses for her), I could make her shoes (the same above), and I could make up her little word with little things I could create by myself." but.. it was not about being cheap.

I bought her on ebay because I was interested in the doll (not in the complete set of dress and shoes and whatsoever), so from a certain point of view, it looks like I've decided for her because it was cheaper for me. Maybe it is but not intentionally.

 

i think that no matter how much money you put into buying the doll. its what you do with it that matters.

like i had my eye on Hara from dolkot for my character but there is no way i can afford 550 bucks on the doll and another 50 for that faceup and then another 69 for the shipping and handeling. and thats without the wig or accessories and things like that. so thats why i looked around for another head that had the basic structure i liked and im getting a similar faceup with that doll. its going to cost me 275 for the doll and 35 for shipping and handling. and im doing the faceup myself ^__^ and then anoter 60 for different eyes and a wig and shoes...cuz i think everyone here knows you cant make shoes unless you seriously seriously seriously take a long time to learn. X3 the pain....


and esthetic's are hard to do, which i know alot of people cant do and it takes a long time to learn unless you got a nack for it.

so i suppose its just a matter of personal choice. would you be willing to put out that much money to get that doll. vs. using that money for something else.

now if you cant eat nothing but ramen for 3months if you buy that expensive doll then may the gods help you on your nutritious journeys and hope you live to enjoy it XD

 

I did spend the full $600 on my frist doll and face up, I will admit I'd been looking around to see if there were any less expencive doll's that I liked becaus elets face it, I'm a student and that was a lot of money for me to be thinking of spending while trying to get through uni, but the more I looked the more I realised that unless I got the Doll I really really really wanted it would feel like so much more of a waste of money to me..
Now, I'm not saying other dolls aren't lovely, but Daye, my Soom Laon, was just so perfect for me with his cute slightly tilted eyes and his lovely tiny smile that I simply couldnt see myself getting anyone else in his place, so eventually after about three weeks of further deliberation I decided that the extra money for the doll I'd fallen in love with was worth it..
If it had been a cheaper doll that I'd liked this much I think the same would apply.

 

Personally as long as you are really in love with one of the so said "cheaper doll" I would say Go for it. and likewise for the people that fall in love with a 600+ or even 1000+ limited doll.

if its the doll for you the price does not matter be it 85 or 600 dollars

 

I'll say this...Me personally I buy what I like...if I happen to like a "cheaper" doll, then better for my wallet