Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

It is indeed up to you how much money you spend on your dolls. If you want to go crazy and spend $800 plus on a doll then I say go for it but I also think that buying a cheaper doll is ok too.

 

I agree with this completely.

I'm ashamed to admit that before I got my Bobobie Nissa, I didn't want anything to do with 'cheaper' dolls. But when I fell in love with a 'cheaper' doll, it changed.

To be honest, there are more sculpts from AOD and Bobobie that appeal to me than VOLKS dolls. I use VOLKS as an example since a lot of elitism comes from that way (not everyone!^^ You can love any company sculpts of course!).

I don't think twice about what someone may think when they look at these 'cheaper' dolls. I like them and plan on owning a few, and if you love the doll, price shouldn't dictate anything.

 

Personally, I think even the "cheaper" dolls are intimidating, price-wise.

But I really think that what matters is what the person does with the doll after. I've seen "cheaper" dolls that look like real pieces of art, and also some high-end dolls that haven't had half as much thought and effort into their care. The effort that the person makes after the doll is home is what really separates the 'alright' from the 'great', regardless of the model.

 

definatly it alright to buy a cheap doll that you like. and if 85 is cheap then it cheap if 400 is cheap then it cheap. it is to your liking of the doll, and that it appeal to you, enought that you would put out the money for it, however it cost.

 

I just fell in love with one and it wasn't as if another model would have been an OK substitute so it wasn't about price at all. I'm not really interested in buying something I just *like* (but as I get more addicted or as the beloved one wants company that might change...).

 

as long as you like it, it really doesn't matter IMO. ^^ You can't honestly look down on people just because they own a 'cheaper' doll can you? *cough*elitism*cough* As long as they love there doll it doesn't matter how much it cost!

 

I bought my Tobias because he was cheaper. I wanted to make sure I loved the hobby before I spent a ton on a doll. I think I was planning on getting him a Luts head if I decided I liked dolls enough. However, I got him I was in awe of how cool he was. After awhile I started to notice things I really didn't like about him, so I started modding and doing faceups. Then I was sewing for him and re-doing faceups and he was a completely different character. Now I love him, I would never even think of selling him or getting him a new face, and I actually think he's more attractive then Luts dolls XD;;

I don’t regret buying a cheaper doll because he was cheaper at all, it allowed me to really gain confidence with owning a doll, and makes me a lot less fearful then other people are. I am able to do things with him I think a lot of other people are a little to nervous to try, and because of that I feel like I enjoy him as much as I possibly could.

It doesn't mean I'm only buying cheap dolls though! I have seen a few cheaper dolls I've liked, and a few expensive ones. My next doll is going to be a DOI Luke, and eventually I want a Migidoll Ryu on an FDoll body (I really love Topher's body, I can't even explain it XD!).

 

One thing it took me a while to realize about buying cheaper dolls... it's not that great an idea if there is a more expensive doll you drool over. Often by the time you buy several cheaper dolls you realize you could have bought the more expensive one. I thought Unoa was not affordable for me. But eventually I realized that 2 Banjis could have been 1 Unoa. I finally had to stop buying tinies so I could get the mini I really wanted.

Carolyn

 

Hobby is a hobby which should not obstruct you from
getting on with your real life. Getting a cheaper, or
cheapest doll just because you cannot fit a budget?
what the heck, who cares? If there is anyone out there
who thinks people buying a cheaper doll sounds like a loser,
than they should just keep it to themselves.

I don't see any problem of going after the cheaper one
because you don't have the right budget. It's really up to one's choice.
Some people indeed spend gazillions of money to decorate & buy dolls
(yeah and it is possible) and some would buy the cheapest possible.
The bottom line is, you don't go out and start offending people from
the other side just because you don't agree with their purchasing behaviour.
Surely you don't go bonkers about people buying Hermes burkins for the pleasure
of it do you??

 

I've tried some of the cheaper doll companies... and while some are quite decent quality, and some are quite cute, I find I'm happier with the mid-range dolls. For me that's about 300-500.00
I don't have a problem with someone else needing or wanting to stay in the cheaper range though. To each her own.

Raven

 

Well. I don't look really much doll's price. I'll get money, no matter what. If there are cheaper doll that I like, but more expensive doll that I love, I'll get the one I love more.

 

I agree with you Carolyn. Having collected all different types of dolls for many years now, this seems to always be a good rule I like to play by. More often than not, the pure joy I get out of owning a doll I'm crazy about (regardless of price) is worth 3,4,5 other dolls I simply 'like'. If the dolls I love the most happen to be 'inexpensive' (I hate the word 'cheap' here) then so be it.

One thing I want to point out though. As someone before has said, it's one thing to specifically pick out a lower priced doll because you want to see how you feel about the size, or to work out clothing patterns, ect. But (as the title of this thread suggests) to 'only' allow yourself to get a certain type of doll based on a factor other than your true love for it (ie. price) is not the best way (IMO) to build a longlasting bond with your dolls....

 

I'm going to answer this as if it were a personal question for me because I don't have any investment in what other people do with their money.

Initially the doll I'm going to buy is going to be a "cheap" or affordable doll. The doll is not officially a bjd but it is ball jointed. I have several reasons for this:

1. I want to get acqainted with a ball jointed doll without having the fear of ruining something far more expensive.
2. I genuinely love the doll I'm going to buy. I'm currently into Pullips and the face reminds me a lot of a Pullip's (Dal specifically) face. It seems like a really good transition doll.
3. I want to see if I even like bjds before I save up for a doll that I end up not appreciating.
4. This doll is different than any bjds I've seen. I love different. I'm a big fan of one of these things is not like the others .

But when/if I ever get big into BJDs I think I could justify saving for months, even a year, for a doll that I've absolutely fallen in love with. I couldn't see myself going for anything less than that. I think, in doing that, I'd be settling. If I were just going to second banana I don't think the payoff of having the doll would equal as much the payoff of having the doll that I really love.

 

Here's my $0.02 cents...

What I did in the begining was to buy a cheaper doll that had a custom faceup that I loved on her (she's a hybrid of an older volks Myu head that I got in the marketplace here, on a new (at the time) DZ body. The REASON that I stuck with a cheaper doll for my first one (even tho I was in love with a few more expensive ones like Homme Duncan, etc), was because I wanted to make sure that I really liked this hobby before sinking a ton of money into it. Of course, I was also still new then and didn't want to buy the "wrong" doll just because I didn't know any better. I decided that I liked this hobby a LOT and started buying a few more dolls. I made mistakes with a few (like the domuya body that I just don't like at all), and learned a lot on these forums over the past 6 months (april was 6 months for me), and now I consider myself a "BJD Hobbyist".

So, to summarize... there's nothing wrong with buying a cheaper doll for your first one to see if tyou really take to the hobby... that's what I did!!

FYI- These days I prefer to stick to limiteds and such, because I know they will hold their value, be somewhat more original, and the company will stand behind them. ...but that's just my personal philosophy. To each his/her own!

 

Due to R.L. issues I ended up with money that I was free to spend as I chose. So I was able to buy my boys all at once. And I did have a pretty big budget, which I never will again.

The only criterea I used was;
1) do I look at this doll and think he is the most beautiful creature
on Earth? , and
2) can I see myself loving him as much in 20 years?

2 of the dolls I bought were DollZone (Hid and Floy), 1 from Luts (El) and 1 from Buddy Doll (Mars). So I think I bought all over the price range. But each one is one I truely love and intend to keep forever. The fact that Hid cost only about 1/3 of what Mars did doesn't make me love him any less.

 

This whole thread just made me sad...
So I'll never be able to parade the new love of my life around here.
He'll be looked down upon.
Very sad.

But while I can (just about) justify splashing 700$ on a doll for myself for my birthday, when someone else is helping me pay, I could NEVER EVER justify spending 2000$ on a doll for myself, no matter who's paying.
Not because of how much 2000$ is for a doll, but because of how much 2000$ is FOR ME.
If I ever spend that kind of money on myself, instead of on my daughter, I'll die of shame.
Dealing with 700$ is hard enough...

 

Don't be sad, there are a lot of people who will like and admire your doll. Many people on this thread wrote also that they don't care about the price, if you just fell in love with that specific doll.

My boy is the most adorable little lad with the loveliest face one can imagine and the sexiest eyes I've seen. Some might say he's cheap, but I love him and that is enough.

 

My doll was "used" from a second hand market (not from here but from an actual store)... But I "LOVE" my doll, and I think she's pretty super keen! I don't post up many pictures because that's not really my "thing". But for some odd reason I like "used" dolls especially the heads and what people refer to as "junk" parts in Japan, because I can turn them into something unique and lovely.
Junk parts start at 3,000 yen (30$) on YJA.

A lot of people like the dolls that they have regardless of price/sculpt/popularity. A lot of people here don't comment on the debate section of this forum, so you're not really getting a full amount of people and their views.

Real life priorities should always go first, but, there is no reason for you to be sad. Hold your head up high and be proud of your doll! We're in this hobby because we like these types of dolls, not because of the sheer monetary value right?

Edit: I saw the doll that you ordered by looking at your waiting room post. I like him, the face and the body are great!

 

I dont like cheaper dolls one because the sculpts dont usually catch me but the main reasons are some have different sizes and slimmer bodies and i like the more normal bodies and i am really picky about my resin quality, it might be okay for the price it is, but it doesnt do it for me.

 

I don't like cheaper dolls for the simple fact that less pay, less you have...
Everyone if free to do what feel and what likes more... if you likes a mold of a cheaper doll.. buy it! If you don't likes don't buy it!
Is always resin... there's people who would spend a lot of money (even TOO MUCH exagerated prices for art) and there's people who don't want give all their money for it... do what you likes more, whatever thing you do, there's always something 'unbalanced' in both ways. Too much is like too few.... XD