Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I'm in a tight spot. I WANTED the more expensive doll. I originally had my eye on the B&G Freya, and I wanted her. Then I saw DOD Shall. I felt I could not live unless I had her! I opted for the cheaper doll because it was cheaper. I'm a new mom. My daughter is going to be moving around soon and I didn't want to risk her getting a hold of my doll and breaking it. Also, finances are tighter when you have a family. I couldn't afford a $600 doll when I knew that my daughter would be outgrowing all of her clothes soon and I would have to stock up on diapers!

But I love my Freya. She was originally supposed to represent a character I write about, but when I saw Shall I thought she was a better representation. But I still felt justified about buying Freya because I was connected to her. I found that as much as I wanted Shall, I wanted Freya too.

I would probably continue to chose the cheaper doll because they are cheaper, but that doesn't mean I don't love them! I won't buy a doll I'm not in love with, even if it is the cheapest doll.

 

I'm pretty fine with people who get or already have "cheap" dolls, since it's their choice and if they love it, so we might as well accept the fact.
But the irritating thing comes when, some people get a "cheap" doll not because of the fact that they are in love with the mod or whatsoever. It's because they want to follow the "trend" or that they envy their friends having one. (Eg. The large and increasing number of AA owners in SG)
Okay, i'm not trying to stir up some argument. But it's quite true, for all you see.

Personally, i think that as long as i like the mod, regardless of whether or not it's "cheap", i would try my best to get him/her.
It's of course, the best, if a person could look for their dream doll. (but if it costs omfg expensive or way out of their budget? → some people do have them, i believe) Then, they might as well get a more affordable doll? (which they like of course, if not they might end up selling it off just because they couldn't bond).

But restricting themselves to buying only "cheap" dolls is another thing of course..It may show that they don't truly love the dolls as much as we do? And bought them just because they are the latest trend or something?
These dolls were never meant to be associated with the word cheap. Just affordable.

 

I restrict myself to more affordable "cheap" dolls and it is because while I like some of the more expensive molds I cannot justify the price when there are others that are more in my buget... I love my dolls as much as the next girl and I love each of them regardless of the price... I also think that some companies make their dolls expensive so that they are more exclusive and only for the kind of person that can afford them.

I find it offensive that I am considdered less of a collector because I won't pay out silly prices for a doll... I don't have them because I think it is some companies way of making their dolls seem better than others...

 

That insinuates that the amount of money you are capable of spending = how much you love the hobby.

 

I agree. I understand that these things are luxury, and some people care alot about how the dolls are presented. But just because we try to keep to our means doesn't mean we don't love the doll.

I am one of them who keeps to my means. Even in terms of dressing them and their eyes and wigs, I don't pay more than I need to. Nor do I commish faceups (except for two from friends) because I do not need a face that I'll be too scared to touch in fear of smudges. But that doesn't mean I don't care for my kids. I don't think I need to be able to buy a BTSSB or a Dollheart or Mio set to prove that omfgilovemydollcanyoutellyet??? (sarcasm intended)

as for the problem you're facing, Will... well.

Singapore is a small country full of those eager to be as awesome as the next kid. The chances of people wanting one of them pretties is high, and a cheaper alternative is just around the corner with a sales rep who's job is to sell. How could they uninitiated hold themselves back?

That kind of attitude is frowned upon by the doll community here, that's true. But then, there are also the rich kids who does the exact same thing, but only on the other end of the expense spectrum. And they only do a little better cos they usually throw in the $600 costume, the $300 faceup and the obvious LE/EliteBrand factor, so people can't tell until they delve into the personality of the owner. And when they try to resell that doll that they in the end grow out of, there's usually a long line waiting to buy. So they don't end up in the marketplace in a sad, sad state like a lot of the cheaper dolls do.

 

A lot of this discussion seems to ignore the fact that BJD's are more than just a "collection." Sure if you're talking about normal collections, price is probably the most important thing about any individual item... But the "BJD hobby" has sooooo many more faucets and so much more complexity than a "collection." I feel that to say a BJD is defined by their price is to say that they are just collectables... Ick x.x!

The only thing that price really reflects in "the BJD hobby" is the status of the company you are buying from, and occasionally the quality (though I've had cheap dolls with higher quality resin than some of the ones I paid more for).

Speaking personally here-if only the "expensive" dolls existed I would have never gotten into the BJD hobby, because-coincidentally-I don't really like those companies' sculpts as much as I like some of the cheaper sculpts. If the companies I buy from now bumped their prices up-I'd still buy from them and not from Volks or Luts...

That's my opinion on this whole never-ending issue -.-;;

 

I think people are saying that because some people do just see this as a "collection". And the fact that everyone knows that they're sold more as collection items on a whole does make it more "collectible".

 

Well I eventually went for a doll that was somewhat cheaper than the one I'd first fallen in love with. I saw the Dollshe Van and was SO in love. But, although I could technically afford it, I couldn't quite justify spending over $600 on my first doll. So eventually I opted for the one (DZ Ying) that I'm currently eagerly awaiting the arrival of. After all, the DollZone dolls are almost $200 cheaper than the Dollshe counterparts, and while I still dream of one day actually owning Van, I'm looking very much forward to my Ying. He has that little bump on his nose that made me fall in love with Van, too. So...

Another fact was that I could get Ying pretty much here and now. And since I've never ever been even remotely patient... that's a bonus point in my book as well.

 

At first I bought a doll that was "cheaper", my first one into this hobby, not really realizing what all there was out there, and settling for less...

I regret it though... The doll I first loved most, I wanted badly, and there were two things stopping me from getting her first... sadly nothing to do with money. I had a friend who needed to use my credit card to get her doll, a close friend so I wanted to help her out... she was ordering her fourth doll at the time, and her credit card limit wasn't high enough to cover it.... so, my mistake was >.>

She convienced me that the fullset doll I wanted wouldn't come into stock (i really wanted the dress on the more expensive doll) and by getting the "cheaper" doll, my credit card would have enough space to fit her doll onto it too.....

I've never actually admitted this to anyone before, but I knew tthat after aaaall the terrible things that happened with the "cheaper" doll that I got (things out of my control, like my car accident, which ruined her head), it was fates' way telling me that I really shouldn't have gotten her... and as much as I tried mold her into what I wanted... she would never really be what I truely wanted, so the entire time I had her, inside I wasn't happy, unable to admit this to my friend, whom to this day still doesn't know.



The lesson in all this for everyone, which is pretty much obvious... don't get a doll to make irregardless of if it's "cheap" or not. Only get a doll you love and/or you want most, because then, you'll be happier, versus something you just "settled" with.

 

Yeah, i understand that part. Besides, there's a shop here in Singapore that imports only AA dolls. And the way they market them..is like any other product you see in stores.
So, i guess, it's inevitable that many youngsters would end up with one.. and that causes the company's dolls not to be special anymore? Because there are so many other people out there, carrying the same one as you are.

And yes again, the part on them being sold off is saddening as well..

 

Well, the dolls would still be as special as Els, I guess. Some would find them on the "ugh" side for being everyone's first doll a while back. Some would still genuinely love them for how they look.

Although... being in close proximity IRL does pose a bit more irritation that it would, seeing 50 of the same mold in the same forum >_>; At least in forums, you'd have to click the links to see them^^;

But I heard that AA has upped their price. So are they still on the cheap end of the doll spectrum?

 

I think buying cheap dolls to follow a trend is, well, cheap! but the less expensive dolls need a home too. We can't begrudge the less expensive dolls just because they are just that. But collectors who are just trying to keep up with a friend or just because they are not and don't have a real connection to the dolls is comparable to smoking just because everyone else is doing it.

 

I'm sorry if I don't have much to add, it's late and I'm sleepy, but all this talk about AA dolls ( if I'm being daft and we're NOT referring to Abio Angels, then just never mind ) and referring to the way some people might be 'using' them, makes me a little sad. Sure, maybe some people get these dolls to look cool, or fit in or whatever, but like I said, it makes me sad to think that if a person gets one of these dolls they're automatically seen as not really truly appreciating that doll. For the longest time I wanted a DIM Rain for my final doll, but I had seen an Abio Angel doll ( Er to be exact ) awhile ago, and as of late for some reason I can't stop thinking about him. It's honestly not about the price as to just how drop-dead gorgeous I think he is. And now I really am in a bind as to which doll I prefer.

Sorry for the personal rant/story/etc. Please continue.

 

Yeah true..
Oh. It's for their french resin. But i've yet to see anyone here owning one of french resin just yet. It's unsuitable for the weather here as well..
I guess it still is.. at 720 SGD?

 

You gotta know your limits right? I'm sure we all like/ have liked dolls that we've probably had to turn out backs on because of the price. If you still like the less expensive doll, and it's your alternative to the more expensive doll, then go ahead and buy it. But buying a doll just to say you have a BJD, like "I can't get ___ because he's $800 so I'm going to get this $200 doll, even if I don't really like it" is just annoying.

 

Perhaps people can't comprehend the mental state that we love a doll, however we are happy

 

My first bjd doll I really considered getting was a Volks Emma. I had come into some money to spend at the time. Still, I am a person who thought $100 was alot to spend on a doll. I chickened out. I thought $50 was the most I would want to spend on a doll. My first "expensive" doll was a Blythe. Okay, I am in no way rich. I just really enjoy dolls. I ended up getting a "too good to be true" msd Volks Yuni doll to start with. I thought I would start smaller then. She turned out to be not what the seller said she was, a pureskin. She was an oldskin with a Yuni 2 head. I had heard of Volks the most, so started with them. Dispite the deception which I was rather nice about while she denied it still...( I got some refund), I tried to start with what I thought was the best. Just in a smaller scale.

So I sort of started small but thought I had got a good price. grrrr.... I still enjoyed the beauty of the doll.
I then went bigger...( to me ) and bid on a modded vampire Shiwoo head. I did not even have a body. I later purchased a used type delf sd 1 body. I had never ever spent that much on a doll. Ever. He was beautiful.

This hobby is a total luxury. A crazy (so much money) luxury. We cannot forget that. So many people would not, or cannot afford this. I cannot pretend I do not consider price. I cannot buy some limited Volks doll, or even a limited higher end doll anywhere just because I want to. Rather, I really have a limited amount of money to go toward dolls. I have to sell dolls to get others. Do I really want to part with my limited minifee elf Shiwoo for another doll? That is what I have to ask myself now.

Expensive or "cheap". You do get more acknowlegement on here to have a more expensive doll. More people look at your pictures, etc. It is a status. We cannot pretend. Just like the more expensive sneakers, etc.

I am all for the doll you personally love. I think it is great to be able to see the different kinds. I think that may be important. The qualities are different. They are still all special and you do like them for what they are. Different qualities. You can understand they have differences and appreciate the doll for what they are. Dollmore is a different quality then Luts or Volks. I still have liked them all.

 

Are they now? I know I asked a lot of Doll-people before settling on DollZone - their dolls are noticeably cheaper than the average dolls of that size. I was assured from several people that the resin and overall quality was just as good on the DZ dolls. Quite a few even stated that their poseability was superior in some ways (I've opted for 70cm dolls so there's not all that many to choose from)

I know some kinds of resin is more expensive than others, but I don't think (from what I've heard) that there's any "discount" dolls on the market.

I could have afforded my beloved Dollshe, but I didn't feel I could *justify* spending $600+ on my first doll when I could get one for around $400... $200 is a lot of money to me.

 

What makes you say that? I've owned dolls made by both Luts and Dollmore (no Volks yet, though), and I cannot say that one was better or worse. Same goes for Dollzone. While their sculpts might not to be everyone's taste, I've yet to notice a different in resin and casting quality, and their bodies pose just fine.

And I've heard far more horror stories about Luts sending out damaged dolls than I have about Dollmore or, for that matter, Dollzone. (Even though Dollzone are notorious for having had a shaky start.)

Saying that you prefer one company's sculpts over another is one thing. Saying that one has better/worse quality to the other is another.

 

I must admit, when I bought Naomi, I was looking for a cheap doll. At that point though, I thought that a doll was a doll, and couldn't notice a difference in the faces. I just wanted a doll. ^^;; I'm glad I got her though, because I tend to be picky about the joints now, and I love how hers look. I don't regret getting her, nor do I wish I had gotten a different one as my first doll. (In truth, I'm kind of glad I got a 'cheap doll' for my first one. I've nicked her up quite a bit talking her apart and such.) The only thing I don't like about her are her hands and her feet. XD And her knee joints don't seem to want to bend right. 0.o'' But I love the personality that she's adopted. She's such a snarky little thing.