Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I think if YOU are happy with the doll and love it, it shouldn't matter how little (or how much) you paid for it.

I mean, granted, you can buy MORE dolls if you go with cheaper ones. If YOU love them, nothing else matters.

 

People see value in different ways so I say more power to however they spend their money. Maybe someone would be happier taking dolls they like less cause they're cheaper, but affording them to have more of them. Quantity over quality might be important to some. I personally am hoping to come across a doll I like cheaper for my first one just to make sure that if I'm not 100% into this hobby, I'm out less money. Though I'm still probably going to go with my more expensive first choice.

 

I make rag dolls and tiny felt dolls and sell them for $5-$15. You should see the looks on some of the little girls' faces at craft shows when their mom or dad buys them this cheap little doll.

Price does not matter.

Circumstance does.

There are a lot of us who have wanted ball-joint dolls for years and are just now able to scrounge up enough money to buy one. It took me a long time to decide which doll to get in the "under $400" range.

No, I can't afford something more expensive. I've had a Soom doll set aside for me and have been paying it off on layaway. I'm buying a DZ body 'cause it's the only 70cm I can remotely afford... and both of these I'm buying with money earned from working extra jobs.

Most of my friends can't do that.

And if someone enjoys their doll, plays with it, makes clothes for it, poses it, has fun with it, then it doesn't matter if it cost $1000 or $10.

I love my AoD doll. I've handled Dollzone, AoD, bobobie, Dollmore, DIM, and Elfdolls, and I'm still VERY happy with my AOD. The body is wonderfully posable, the resin is strong (to the tune of me falling with a busted ankle while holding him, and there are only a few small scratches on the surface, and not shattered or broken fingers or limbs), his face is darling (in my opinion), the doll doesn't squeak or creak when I move him, and he's just a complete joy to me!

I'm defensive, yes. Mainly because of the elitist attitudes of some of the people who think cheap=not as good. Well, sure, maybe. In your opinion. I love my doll, though. and I think there's also something to be said for the fact that I can play with this one - make clothes for it, take it over to friends houses, goof off with it at conventions, and I don't have to worry about breaking a $1000 investment.

As for me, I'm not one who collects things to sit them on the shelf and never touch them again.

 

I don't agree with it... I don't think price should matter.
And it's definitely something I've thought about--I've come across lots of smaller dolls that I like, but I still (and will always) love DoT's Shall the most. I considered buying myself a smaller doll, just so I could have one that I liked and could afford, but the thought of have to abandon my dream doll tore at my heart.
So, for now, I'm going to work my butt off to get her. I've applied for a job at the local pizza place (my first ever job!), will be saving every penny of my allowance, have told my mom to pass the word around her work that I'm more than happy to babysit for people (Kids love me, but I don't really like babysitting...), and have been cleaning the house in hopes of making some extra money. (I'm actually off to finish cleaning the bathroom pretty soon XD)

My general opinion is that you shouldn't abandon your dream doll... Don't buy a doll you kinda like instead of the one you're madly in love with. Like I said--I can only barely imagine getting a doll I liked instead of DoT's Shall. I also worry that if I did, I would regret it later, and end up selling the doll, or despising it, since I could have money to buy Shall eventually, but it took me even longer because I bought that doll.
I would want that to happen T.T I want to love and care for all of my dolls!

 

While there are a lot of expensive dolls that I look at and think, "Wow, that's gorgeous! I'd love to have that!" for the most part, it's kind of a magpie-attraction-to-shininess more than a genuine love for that doll. The ones I really love and actually want to buy, I've bought or am thinking of buying in the future, instead of opting to admire them "from afar" by looking at other people's pictures or in person. And they're all less expensive models.

Part of me feels like, if I did buy one of the more expensive ones, I'd be too afraid to touch it and might wish I'd spent the money on something more useful to myself (like gas, food, rent, etc) instead of on a doll I'm afraid to handle. With my Sprite, I can drag him out with me to buy clothes for him, or set him on my bed, or let my cat sniff around at him, or whatever, without a lot of worry. I can actually PLAY with him and not fear I'm going to destroy something I've saved up for ages to buy and can't easily repair/replace. I'll even do the planned mod for him without worrying that I'm going to damage something extremely expensive.

But, imho, the less expensive dolls are just as pretty (if not moreso) than the more expensive ones, and since I'm not genuinely in love with any expensive doll, I'm perfectly happy with my current Bb and my incoming AoD pair.

 

I'm one of those people who think you should save up and buy the doll you truly love rather than buying a cheap doll you kinda like, but 'hey it's cheap and I can have a bjd!'

I also believe that people of most ages can save up the money, despite many saying they can't. When I was about 14 (too young to have a job in most places) and I wanted something, I babysat like crazy, raked/mowed lawns, watched peoples cats while they were away, etc...I was always asking people what I could do to earn a few bucks. So whatever I truly wanted I saved up for and got it, even if it was several hundred dollars. (and if you're so poor that every cent has to go towards food and shelter...what are you doing buying ANY doll and having an internet connection and computer? ;O_o )

I think buying a doll thats just "ok", is a waste of money. It's not like the doll is $10, cheap dolls are still more than $100. I wouldn't spend that on some 'ok' jeans, purse, etc...If someone offered to trade you the cheap doll you bought, for any other more expensive doll,(non limited) is there a doll you would want to trade? If so, then that's the kind of attitude I disagree with.

However, I do believe that what we see is somewhat relative. I mean yes there are many styles of dolls and one may not fit the tastes of everyone, but every 'cheap' doll I've seen has not been up to par with their more expensive counterparts. Technically as well as aesthetically. The bodies tend to be more simple and less realistic, with less emphasis on posing as well, and the faces are usually simple and asymetrical. Plus, I have never seen hands on a 'cheap' doll that looked as good as the hands on a more expensive one. But you know, a lot of my noticing this probably has to do with the fact that I'm
1) an artist
2) deeply saturated with bjd aesthetics and tend to notice every little detail

To someone who doesn't do art, etc...they may not see any difference between a bobobie and a volks. I know my dad sure wouldn't, and many people don't see the differences in dolls especially starting out in the hobby.

 

Wow, thanks for the attitude that so clearly wasn't directed towards my previous post. Some of us who can afford dolls also have real bills to pay and might decide that, rather than splurge now and drop a ton of money on a doll (and like I said, if I got an expensive one, I wouldn't especially like it that much anyway) when the costs of gas, food, and everything else are skyrocketing, I might want to save something for later so we can continue driving to work.

I think it's foolish and shallow to assign more value to something simply because of the cost of it. And I am an artist too, and I appreciate the aesthetics of my Bobobie, and choose to not hate on it simply because it's inexpensive. (No, it's not "cheap," as "cheap" implies sub-par, and in contrast to other dolls I have looked at IN PERSON it's perfectly fine.)

Sure, there's a difference between a Bobobie and a Volks. One difference I can see is that I don't like any of the Volks sculpts. So why should I save up to buy it because someone else deems it "better"? I find the face as symmetrical as it should be (no human face is truly symmetrical, as I'm sure you probably know). I find the body pleasant to look at and, with a little sueding, he's nicely poseable. Plus, I feel a little more attached to him because I've put some work into him, instead of just having everything "perfect" out of the box. If I want that, I'll go buy a Barbie.

I've put a lot of thought into every doll I buy, and I won't deny that price has been part of that consideration. But there are plenty of inexpensive dolls out there, and plenty that cost even less than the ones I have. I didn't buy them "for the sake of having a doll" and I won't. They don't appeal to me any more than some of the coveted "expensive" dolls that people fawn over. Why should I waste my money on something expensive when I'll enjoy the less expensive one more?

 

Woah there, I wasn't directing anything towards a specific person, so please don't get offended. I'm an adult, I have an appartment and bills (and have you ever seen a heating bill in Alaska? X_X)and I can save $500. I didn't say that because something has a smaller pricetag that it's bad. I'm not one to pay more for nothing (like $400 for a famous faceup when someone in the marketplace does just as good for $60)I'm only speaking of the pictures I've seen and the dolls I've seen in person (I even own a bobobie 1/4 that I bought to practice mods on) reguardless of price, from what I've seen, those dolls are not as well sculpted or constructed.

You may not have bought a doll for the sake of having one, but there are lots of people who do. Either because they want to be part of the community, because they see pics and think theirs will look like that with little to no effort put in, or whatever.

 

I don't really care either way, I suppose. It's not really any of my business how people want to spend their money (though I suppose in extreme cases, I might get annoyed if someone squandered thousands/millions when they could have donated at least a little to a cause or something <- totally off topic, though and I doubt anyone here would).

Everyone has their own circumstances. Whether it's that they're in a position where spending over a certain amount is unthinkable due to living costs, or that they prefer the less expensive dolls, I don't see any reason to judge them on their purchases. After all, most of the people around me would think this hobby is odd as it is. I'd prefer not to have to look down or anything on people who share this hobby with me.

Personally, I do seem to prefer the pricier dolls (nothing over 1000, thank god), and I can afford to splurge just a bit, but in a little while, I'm guessing that'll change as I start to live on my own. At that point, yes, I do think I'll probably abstain from the more expensive dolls and "settle" for the cheaper dolls whose mold I would like almost as much, if not just as much.

 

I like vicemage's example of magpies being attracted to stuff that's shiny--I think it sums my position up perfectly.

I'm completely enamored with Musedoll's Clio, but she's over $1,000. Even if I had that much money that I could spend on her, I don't think I would buy her--because as lovely as she is (except for her wig), she'd sit on my shelf and bask in dust and never come anywhere with me.

My first doll was a Bobobie Sprite--she's absolutely darling, and I'm not too afraid to take her places with me, because if something happened to her body it's only one paycheck away from getting fixed. I bought her because I desperately, desperately wanted a doll, and she was the only one that I liked (also, because she didn't have giant breasts, so I could work on my meager sewing skills without having to factor in darts!) but I would have been more excited over another mold.

I sympathize with people who really, really want a doll and go for a cheaper one to satisfy the "I want it RIGHT NOW" craving for their first doll, especially if they're standing at a booth at a convention and the money is already burning a hole in their pocket--but I think it's better to wait it out if you can; if you can afford a $180 doll today, but next month you could afford a $240, and that's the one you want more, then just wait it out and get it! By doll three, if you're just buying it because it's cheap and you can get two for the price of the one you really want from another company, that's just silly.

 

hahahaha I never really join in these debates, because I'm not articulate enough to express what I really mean without sounding like an idiot.

THOUGH...I guess I have to throw my two cents in because I feel like there is prevalent arguement made in this thread that I feel is misguided.

Well...there are two kinds of dolls, Expensive dolls, and the less expensive dolls. I'm sorry but anything over 200 dollars is still a lot of money, I don't care who you are...that's an iPod, or a Utility bills, or with the way gas is going...a full tank. So much money that is going to be invested in something like a doll is a luxury...I don't care if it's a Volks or an Abio Angel, you're livin' with some luxury in your life to participate in a hobby like this.

SO...people bring up, that some people JUST want a doll..they don't really care what it looks like, as long as it's cheap and they can get their hands on one. While I don't think that's the wisest way to throw around money, if someone wants to dive head first into a hobby like this...whats the big deal if they buy a less expensive doll? They learn the ropes, have fun with their first doll [maybe even make a few mistakes with them]...learn to do's and do not's, and hopefully become a little wiser. Luckily for them...they didn't ruin a 500 dollar doll, just a cheaper one. They may decide that it was a good starter doll, but want something else next time and save up for a different doll. Maybe in the end, they decide they really love their doll's scupt, and the icing on the cake is that it didn't set them back 600!! So they get another less expensive doll, WHAT gives the right to anyone to look down on that person and say:

"What a waste of money, the product you are buying is inferior to a more expensive doll. You should just save up and buy a better quality doll"

So with that logic....Dream of Teens are better quality than regular CP Delfs...because DOTs are more expensive...and Senior Delfs ARE WAY better than DOTs because they are more expensive than they....OH OH...BUT FCS are even more superior in quality because of all the money you put into that doll!!!!

Do you see how this argument is flawed? More money doesn't equal better quality. I am rather fond of CP Delfs...but the older bodies to me...are really hard to pose..and while beautiful aesthetically...I have more joy posing my FDoll body because it can actually hold a pose for more than three seconds. The Fdoll body cost me less than one of the heads I bought. It was a great bargain, and great quality.

Really though...whose to say that quality or value in a doll can be reflected simply by cost? There was still an artist to sculpt it, cast it, paint it~ The worksmanship is there, it is made of the same material....maybe it's not aesthetically pleasing to you, but there are people who love them. Obviously, or many of these cheaper companies would have tanked by now.

In the end~ no one's tastes are the same, no one's financial situation is the same, no one's decisions will be the same. It's all fine and dandy for people to spend a lot of money on a doll....and it's great if some people spend a little less money on a doll. Everyone should stop looking at cheaper dolls like they are the lepers of the BJD hobby. :/

 

But what about the people who have experience in the hobby and with more expensive dolls but still love the less expensive offerings? It really has nothing to do with whether or not someone is a detail oriented artist, and has everything to do with what a person wants in a doll. My Volks msd has a crazy awesome sculpt--she's really stunning. However, my less expensive fellows pose much better and I prefer the texture and color of their resin. Which is better? I don't know, I love them all. People see different things when they look at dolls, because we all have different tastes. If you look at people's signatures and profiles it becomes obvious that a lot of folks have very mixed doll families, which I think says something--otherwise the inexpensive dolls would be the soul domain of the very new or very broke, and I can tell you right now that that's not the case.

I don't expect my Bobobies to be like my Volks and my Volks to be like my Unidoll and my Unidoll to be like my Soom--not because of any price difference, but because all companies are different and they all have their strong and weak points.

And here's my question: Does it really matter? Does it really make a difference why someone buys a doll? If someone is allergic to putting out any effort, they'll either learn or get frustrated and leave anyway, and what's wrong with wanting to participate or wanting to own a doll?

There seems to be this big fear that people will enter the hobby for the wrong reasons. While people have been worrying about the masses who will undoubtedly jump on board and ruin everything for a long time, I have yet to see this Mongol hord of cheap doll wielding idiots. Sure there are always going to be some obnoxious people, but that's the case in every hobby and within every price range of doll.

 

My dolls are from all price ranges... and maybe people will think of them as being "cheaper" dolls but I think they were all expensive enough in their own right. None of the more expensive molds appealed to me, maybe also because I keep in the back of my mind how much handling they get. I'm very hands-on with my dolls. They get dragged around the house all the time, sit on the table when I'm eating, sunbathe like California girls when I'm outside, get alot of touching and "omg pen0r" handling from other people (sisters, cousins...) and I'm enjoying that kind of dealing with my dolls. I would not enjoy it if it was a 1000$ LE. I'd be dead scared I'd loose part of their outfit or scratch them. Thus they would never leave my shelf. So maybe I do shy away from more expensive dolls, but it's not so much because I cannot afford them but more because I feel I'd enjoy handling them less because their value would hold me back from doing things I would with my other dolls.

 

Does it matter what other people spend their money on? Nope. But this is a debate topic isn't it? I really don't have a problem with serious owers buying any doll in any pricerange. A serious owner to me would be someone who buy's the doll at least one outfit if they cant sew rather than cutting a hole in a sock and that's its clothing forever. Someone who will commission a faceup, or have a friend who's good at art do one if they can't, isntead of doing one themselves with crayons, sharpies, and 0 artistic skill and being satisfied with that. It seems that the ones who buy the doll just because it's cheap and they want a doll also skimp in the other areas of doll aesthetics. (although some do it to more expensive dolls too)

I know it's not my buisiness how they make their dolls look, but I'm seeing more and more of this kind filling the galleries here, on other forums I go to, on deviantart, etc...So yeah, it annoys me. People who trace/eyeball art annoy me, n00bs who beg on my mmorpgs annoy me. It's the attitude of wanting instant gratification basically.

"I have yet to see this Mongol hord of cheap doll wielding idiots." I'm picturing a bunch of burly, unibrowed women swinging dolls around by their ankles. XD

 

Hi! My name is Myna, I'm very, very new to the world of ball jointed resin dolls.

I always liked them; two of my friends have some gorgeous dolls (I believe two are from B&G (rozen garden) and the other one is a cute gal from Lutz. But-- you know, they're around $330. I don't have that kind of money, but I still love the dolls. The doll I've currently ordered isn't $330, it is cheaper than that, but you know, I'd still like to get a B&G doll. So, I'll do what I did fro my iPod: take extra money each week and put it into a manila envelope and save until I have enough for what I want.

I just graduated from college last year and while I work full time, I have car payments and rent and food to buy first! So, to tide me over, I'm content with my less expensive dolls and hold off until I cna comfortably afford it.

 

in my opinon, if there are 2 dolls that you equally like, but one is cheaper than the other,
i think it matter alot on you, and your budget. and whether you willing to save up for the more expensive doll.

 

It's the dream, I think. We all know lots of people who buy art supplies or cooking equipment, even though they're not really good artists or cooks, because they hope to be good someday. I think some people just buy a relatively inexpensive doll because they want to get into the fandom and dream that, someday, they'll have the sewing and face-up skills to make that doll look like as awesome as all the other dolls they see. They'll probably never get around to it but just having the doll is like a promise to yourself and for some people just the thought of 'someday' will make them happy. I think that's nice, really.

 

Meh, I didn't think I would post here because I don't know how to say what I mean on this, but I'll try...

Yes, I have inexpensive (as far as dolls go anyway) dolls at the moment. Yes, I fell in love with them. Buying them wasn't a spur of the moment decision for me either. I waited and thought it out for weeks before pressing that buy button. Do I want more expensive dolls? Sure, but I didn't want them more than I wanted my inexpensive dolls. That's why I don't have them yet.

As far as the quality issue goes, I'd say that every company has its strong and weak points, and you can't really say that any one company has superior quality. I've seen plenty of threads recently about cracked resin straight out of the box from what are supposed to be 'higher end' companies.

As for aesthetics, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just because you're an artist (I've heard this a lot by the way, from lots of different people), it doesn't mean that you automatically have some magic sense of what true beauty is. Just as each person is different, each doll is different. Some people will love the face/hands/feet or body of one doll while others will hate it. This is true of all price ranges.

Some of the comments make me wonder a little bit. If certain companies hiked up their prices by a couple of hundred dollars, it seems like they'd get more respect from some people. That's really pretty sad to me. If a company can produce quality and maintain great customer service while keeping prices lower, more power to them.

 

But at the same time, if you find a cheaper doll you really like, and you do want it, but there's another you also like, why not get the first doll? It's fun, gives you practice, and you wanted it anyway.

I love the elf dolls I've found, and maybe I still want the B&G doll, but with my elf doll, I know I can wait for it. I know I personally won't be out $200 because I'll still like the elf doll I have now because it's very different from the other "human" doll. It has its own charm that maybe the other expensive one doesn't.

So, I will take care of bills and what not first, and then my dolls, but I see no problem with getting a cheaper doll first, making sure that this is really the hobby you want to get into.