Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I interpreted the original poster's question as not referring to moral "right and wrong" (which I agree has nothing to do with this), but rather as asking for advice. I.e., is it a good or bad idea to only buy cheaper dolls? Was it the right decision, as in it worked out for you for _____ reason, or was it wrong, as in restricting to cheaper dolls ultimately dissatisfied you for _____ reason?

 

Ohhh!

Which would explain why I felt a bit confused as most threads in the Debate forum deal with issues - or possible perceived issues - of 'right' versus 'wrong' rather than what seems to be a focus on advice asking.

Whoops! My bad.

 

Oh no, don't apologize! I don't know whether my interpretation is right either, that's just how I read it and other people saw it differently. I guess only the original poster can clarify, if she's still checking this thread - but anyway I just wanted to put it out there that it could be read this way. Especially since I responded earlier that it was "wrong," and I meant in the sense of "I think it's a bad idea to restrict yourself to cheaper dolls," or "I think you'll be unsatisfied if you don't get the doll you really want," definitely not like "I think restricting yourself to cheaper dolls is morally wrong/people who do this are not good doll owners"!

 

depends. if they are restricting because it is just out of the question to spend that much mone because they feel it is wasteful or if the person is just not willing to spend the money.

i personally feel guilty spending so much on a doll, but i don't restrict myself. of course, i have to be reasonable.

I'm saving up for one of my dream dolls and that's gonna run me about $600, which is more than I'd like, but I'll do it because it's what i really want. It's the doll that I've wanted since i got into BJDs over a year ago, so I feel like the money would be worth it.

Restricting yourself is silly IMO, because "the heart wants what it wants" and buying a cheaper doll won't stop you from still craving the more expensive doll. You might as well just save up and buy the one you want.

 

I think it is solely up to the collector. Sure, I think most of us want a more expensive doll that seems to catch our fancy, but I personally don't see many of them that I'd be willing to pay that much for.BUT, that is my personal preference. It so happens that I like sculpts from less expensive companies.

My first doll was a Soom doll, a company not many people had praised about at the time, but I fell in love with the sculpt and knew I had to have him. So, low and behold I got him (the cost shocked me a bit, of course, and I got ear-fulls from family) and have never-EVER regreted it.

Next, I was browsing ebay and stumbled across the company "AOD" (namely the chen sculpt), which were just starting out. I did some research to see if the company was okay--had some doubts about the company--but decided to go for that gut-feeling because I loved the sculpt so much. I was even one of the lucky ones who got a decent face-up...(but, I did alter it a bit)

At the same time, my Mom was one of those who thought the dolls were interesting, and being a collector herself, decided to try a cheaper end AOD doll. She ended up not caring for it (or the price eventhough AOD is WAY cheaper) and I ended up adopting her girl (for FREE!)

Moral of this story:
Buy what you want--I did, and was quite happy. If you want the doll that bad, you will figure out a way to save up for it (eh, limiteds can be a problem). And if it happens to be a cheaper company, then have at it!

 

Like many people said, it is entirely up to the collector. But from personal experience, I would advice to save up for a doll that you really want, be it "cheap" or more expensive. I started out buying an AOD that I thought looked "ok", mostly because it was way cheaper than the dolls I really liked, and it took awhile for me to spend 500 dollars or more in one go without freaking out. After all, I had never seen a BJD in real life, and where I live, people stare at me as if I'm a looney when I quote BJD costs. I ended up not really bonding with my doll, even starting to dislike him- so lesson learned; I will not waste money on dolls that I am not genuinely interested in. And, unfortunately, I tend to have an expensive taste.

My point is, even the "cheap" BJDs cost a lot of money, so I see no point in buying one if I don't really like that particular mold.

 

AOD is cheap, sure, but there are plenty of dolls in their price range now. With their price upped, they cost about as much as a Dollzone and with all their stuff about as much as any other. I have to say, I'm unhappy about prices going up but it won't change my decision any. It's the sculpts I like in the end, not the money.

 

Since I found out how much my stimulus check was going to be (and how long I'd have to wait for it--till mid-June, waaah!) I was open to spending up to $500 on a doll if it was one I really wanted. Yet I kept going back to my first choice, the Bobobie Apollo, which is actually the least expensive doll I was considering.

I'm not getting Apollo because he's the cheapest. I'm getting him because he looks like Anjiro and Anjiro's who I want to bring home.

That's all.

 

I'd feel guilty about spending a stimulus check outside of the US. Maybe I'll just buy a doll from one of the US resellers, or a fellow doll owner... though they'd probably spend it on dolls too. It's a vicious cycle.
I remember my first doll meet, someone brought a doll to sell there just like you'd bring some wool to a knitting meet. And sold it, right there. I was just like, jaw dropped in shock- I always thought it was more formal, like adoption. Shocking. But cool.

 

i try only to search for cheaper dolls but sometimes you see one that you just have to buy despite its effect on your bank account

i think there is an extent of how many more expensive dolls i would buy
for example i recently became interested in a dollzone doll very expensive but part of what would to me be a dream

i will be buying him as soo nas i get the money but because he was gonna be my first i elt like he would be lonely so i bought a cheaper doll to keep him company which to me is good

so to pretty much answer your question yes i do try to buy cheaper dolls but i think sometimes you just have to buy a more expensive one the reason i cant even begin to tell you

 

in my opinion- theres nothing wrong with buying cheaper and second hand dolls for whatever reason.
What really annoys me about this is when people say things like 'you shouldn't buy a cheaper doll instead of the one you really want, you ought to just work harder and save up more money' and '£500 is just normal for a doll-its not expensive' because to some people (i dare say most people in this world-but then most people aren't interested in bjd, and then you have to take into account that the people who are likely to find out about bjd, ie, can afford a computer and internet connection and can spend the time on it are going to be on at least the average part of the financial spectrum-but thats another thread) its alot of money... ultimately just on a doll.
If you can afford it, then great, but you shouldn't go round talking to everyone as if they're in the same financial boat as you are.
Thats just my opinion- i know most people think differently.

 

hmm it posted it twice... this needs to be deleted. serves me right for ranting...

 

im not sure who would say £500 is not expensive for a BJD. that $1000. thats how much volks limiteds or fullset unoas with extras go. i think 99% of people would agree that is not the average price. i do believe people should save for what they really want rather than something sub par to what they want, but im not offended by people that dont @_@ infact i dont really care. thats just my personal advice. but i do see how it can be annoying. but honestly, i dont think anyones goin to rip your guts out if you go for the cheaper option rather than the one you want the most. its just opinion/advice. and ultimately it IS on just a doll, i guess, but to me they are alot more than just a doll. i suppose its your own perspective. i wouldnt really say to someone that at the end of the day, thats 'just a doll' youre spending your money on. you could say that for anything. its just a car. just a computer table. just a chair. speaking of which, this computer chair im sitting on was more than my dolls, but i didnt get it, and i dont tell my mother 'its just a chair' because this is the one she wanted and its comfy. in the same sense, she doesnt ground me by telling me that ultimately im spending my money on just dolls; she knows they are much more to me. know what i mean?

 

It's really a matter of choice. I am personally saving for a doll that without eyes/wig/ect will cost $550. Now there are several less expensive dolls that I want, but I know how much this doll will mean to me. If you find enjoyment in the less expensive dolls, then go ahead. But if you buy them and don't give them the right love and time, then maybe I'd think about selling them and saving up for that more expensive doll.

Now me personally, I enjoy Pullips, which are about $100 a piece and I could simply buy them instead of saving, but im not buying any new pullips, just stuff for the one I have so that I can bring home the my Noodles. (Not that he'd be anything like my Pullip but a poor example none the less...)

 

I don't seem to understand why cheaper dolls are looked down upon. Is there a difference that I don't see?

 

They aren't always looked down on (though it's inevitable that you will run into someone like that at some point). They have gained a pretty big following, however, the idea that "you get what you pay for" can be rather ingrained even though that does not seem to be the case with the dolls themselves. There's also going to be more than one answer to this depending on what a person wants in a doll, and some people are happier buying from the more expensive companies--either because those are the sculpts they like, or they feel more comfortable with what they feel they're going to get.

All dolls differ by company in resin color, texture, posabiliity, style of sculpt (though what sculpt is best is completely subjective), how they're finished, etc. Because of this, I personally don't see the difference as an expensive vs affordable thing, but rather differences between individual companies. The less expensive companies are Chinese, and it does not cost as much to manufacture in China as it does in Korea and Japan. Newer companies might also choose to charge less starting out if they're trying to create an interest in their dolls.

I have both pricier and more affordable dolls and have been very pleased with both. I have never had any quality issues with the less expensive dolls I have. My 60cm AOD in particular stacks up well in comparison to the $500 dollar guys and gals I have.

 

In my own personal experience, the resin seems to be weaker with dolls in the cheaper range, I have recived them with bits of the leg chipped off etc with both of my cheaper doll bodies. However that may just be me as alot of people have no problems, and also alot of the more "expencive" dolls can break.

 

My first "cheapo" Dollzone beauty white is going to be 2 this year and hasn't broken, discolored, or stained and he's very well traveled. It will depend on the company, there are some like AoD, Bobobie, and Dollzone with good quality products although some people don't like their sculpts.

Looking back at everything I've paid for my family of 6 what other people might have paid for 1 or 2 very high end dolls. I'm happy with what I have and don't care what other people think of them. When my boys go out most people have never seen an ABJ in the first place and when I met someone who had they couldn't believe my mini Dollzone looked so nice. Get what you want and what makes you happy.

 

As I only have one doll I don't have firsthand experience with any of the less expensive dolls, but I have read things on the forums about swirls of color in the resin on some companies, shininess, etc. Also I prefer a more detailed doll and I have noticed a lack of details on AOD and the like. I made the decision to buy a Volks doll. Since I was already spending a lot of money I decided to shell out the extra bucks to make sure I wasn't disappointed with the quality. But like others said it's all about what makes you happy.