Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

Not a sense of beauty, but a sense of anatomy, proportion, and attention to detail.

Some less expensive companies could definately charge more.(but some, if you raised the price, very few would buy them) If it's super cheap, a lot of people will be like "well what's wrong with it?"

Also the lack of professional quality pictures on the official websites lend to the idea that the doll isn't very good. If a lot of the sites show pics of wall-eyed dolls with eyes that are to big for them, an amature faceup, no backdrop/setup or anything and taken at an unflattering angle, etc...you think "if the OFFICIAL pictures look like this, what are they like in person? O_O"

 

[Also the lack of professional quality pictures on the official websites lend to the idea that the doll isn't very good. If a lot of the sites show pics of wall-eyed dolls with eyes that are to big for them, an amature faceup, no backdrop/setup or anything and taken at an unflattering angle, etc...you think "if the OFFICIAL pictures look like this, what are they like in person? O_O"[/QUOTE] Quoting Nelfa, the quote thingie did not work.

The thing is, I have almost the opposite reaction than this comment describes. Maybe because I have studied photography, both in the dark ages of film and darkrooms and in this digital age, and I know how much things can be faked. A too beautiful picture puts me off; I tend to think, "ok, what are they trying to hide? No doll can look like that except in a photograph". Then I come running to DOA to look at some 'real life' pictures to see if I like the doll. And really, really wish I lived within a reasonable distance of a meet-up.

Actually, I think this is almost two debates, one part being the "do you only allow yourself to buy a less expensive doll" and the other being "What really makes a doll worth X amount to you?" If X amount is in your financial range and you want the doll, why don't you buy it? Is there some sense of not deserving to spend the money on something that will bring you great joy? I find myself sometimes reluctant because I think lots of money should be put aside for a "rainy day", even tho I know for the kind of rainy days I have lived through there is no way I could have saved up enough money to be of much help.

 

Which all feeds into a sense of beauty--however, when it comes to details and anotomical accuracy it's still going to vary from person to person. I can think of a lot of dolls that are not proportionally true to life, but are still thought to be beautiful by a lot of people (quite frankly, my 60cm AOD boy has as much detail as some of my $500 dolls--woudn't mind having a set of the new boy hands, though). It still comes down to what details are important and what aspects of the doll make that doll beautiful to that person.

I still stand by what I said before that being an artist doesn't have much to do with it outside of personal preference. Being an artist might cause you to notice specific things, but other artists might be drawn to other aspects of a doll and have a completely different opinion about a sculpt. The two of us obviously don't have the same tastes in sculpts, and this board seems to be crawling with artists all who have different opinions when it comes to dolls. Sculpt is probably the most subjective thing about a doll.

Now this is true. There are some company websites that really need to redo their pics. For awhile I wasn't going to buy dolls from a particular company, because of the official pics. It wasn't until I got to see them in person, that I bought one (and it's now become one of my favorite companies). Luckily there are a lot of owner pics to look at now, and I generally prefer looking at owner pics anyway. However, before owner pics start showing up it does feel like taking more of a chance when the company pics aren't so hot. .

 

Hm, I suppose. Although to me it's very obvious in drawings as well as sculpture when someone is doing something out of stylization and when they did it by mistake. Faces have the most room for variation I think, since the features are so expressive and can be exaggerated to give off a different feel or emotion. As well as basic proportions, like you can have a chibi, a bishounen, a kid, etc...Something like the legs and arms having no curve to them and just being sticks straight up and down, or the thumb starting way higher than it ever could on a human, etc...I think those things aren't intentional.

Urg, I've gotten so off topic

 

Well, personally, I can't justify spending lots of money on a doll. It makes me mad, because I adore dolls like El and Lishe (of course) which tend to be... well, not cheap. With my financial situation as it is, living paycheck to paycheck, I can't really afford it either. I wish I didn't want to take part in such an expensive hobby! A couple of years ago I did break down and buy a Catsy, my first ever BJD, but was so terrified to do anything to her because I didn't want to damage her (restringing, face ups, fixing her head cap/joints so that they would work properly) that she sat in her box. I ended up selling her a few months later because... I needed the money. If I ever get the chance to get another BJD, it will be something a little less delicate, and possibly a little less expensive so that I can experience the joys of customisation and having a functional doll.

 

I started out wanting these really expensive ones, thinking that they were what I wanted. But the more I shopped around, the more I fell in love with Tinies. They are most of the time much cheaper, and I love their look of children more than most of the others. And thankfully, I have never liked Volks, so I guess I saved myself from those. Sometimes I felt like because I wanted mostly tinies, and I would be looked down upon for only buying them. But I realized it isn't what you spend on the doll, its what you do with it and how you love it that makes it the great doll that it is. For me, I guess the best way to explain it is when you buy this big amazing toy for a young child and you think it will be amazing. Only, you come to find out that the box is more fun for them than the actual toy. I dunno if that makes sense.

 

If I really like a $400 doll but absolutely love a $1200 doll, I'd be inclined to lean towards the $400 and spend extra money on making him more special.

Though if it's something really crazy and I had the means to do so (*cough*DODOneOffs*cough*) I would seriously consider my options.

 

I think it is perfectly fine for people to purchase dolls of lower cost. ^^ Either because you cannot or do not wish to spend a lot on a single doll, or for any other reason. It is your/their preference, and nobody should look down on you because your doll didn't cost $500 or more.

However, I do agree with others who had posted mentioning that resorting to a lower priced doll simply because you can't afford the doll that you'd like to have so much more probably isn't the best choice. I think in those cases you should hold out and save up for your dream doll, because it'll just feel so much more satisfying when you get him or her!

 

Sadly some people just can't justify themselves spending so much money on a doll, even if they technically "saved up" for it. If I saved up over $500 I'd have to pay bills or save for a house or save for future children. I'm kinda kicking myself for considering spending $300 on a doll with two sets of eyes, four wigs, and two outfits.

 

I know if a doll is TOTALLY out of range financially, I can sigh and let it go..

But otherwise, if I really REALLY want the doll, I'll buy him/her somehow. Otherwise, I find myself buying a bunch of cheaper "substitutes" that in the long run might add up to more than the original doll I wanted..

 

Im not fussed. Im not a real big fan of the uber expensive dolls, I actuall love the delf dolls more than any other, so I only have 1 that is not delf, my DIM odelia.
some may say that are expensive, but then you turn to volks and the money for those, Im happy where I am. Of course my husband doesnt care hjow much I soend on dolls as if I added up what he spends on pc parts, we'd have a slinging war! hehe

 

I think people who are serious about collecting these dolls should get at least one doll they truly love regardless of the price (even if that price happens to be cheap). I can understand money constraints preventing someone from doing just that, but if someone has the patience to do it, I think they definitely should at least get that one doll they love. :3

But in all honesty, if their dolls make them happy regardless of the price, what does it really matter? Personally, I'm choosing to buy the cheapest doll on my wish list (BBB Apollo) before my dream doll because I want a doll to keep me company while I wait for my baby. :3 Especially since I'm buying someone else a doll before I even buy myself that YID Barron I want. X3

 

I can't understand getting a doll instead of the one you really want. The money spent on that place holder doll could've gone towards the doll you really wanted. There's always a way to get the one you want and not feel guilty about spending so much. Besides, I do assume you save more money getting the one you want rather than the place holder. But that's just in my opinion.

For me, if a doll I already wanted was cheaper than another one on my list of dolls to get, that's one thing. But if it's just to pass the time, and not something I actually will have much of a use for after I get the one that I want. I don't see a point.

 

Well, there is always a choice. Like maybe they want to get the more expensive one first. Or they'll try getting both... I don't think its wrong to get the cheaper doll if they really want it. (AS LONG AS IT'S NOT... "Oh I don't really like it but I'll get it anyway until I can get my dream doll" - because i feel as if they aren't loved as much. Only good point is if the line is discontinued, then they sell it to someone who really wants it).

For those that buy only cheaper dolls because they are cheap.. i don't know if it's wrong- as long as they don't look at the more expensive one and think- and all i have is this stupid doll. (*gasp* I know the horroR!!*CRIES*)
Now I'm going to stop rambling..

 

Charity, I agree completely! I mean even if a doll is only like $150, that $150 could go to buying the doll you really really want instead of a placeholder. Why would someone spend so much money on something they don't love?

I think a big reason I'm against the buying of a cheap doll just to have a doll is that I hate the whole instant gratification thing. That's why I hate 'n00bs' in the online games I play and on the forums I go to. (begging for stuff, wanting you to lv them and do their quests instead of doing all that stuff themselves) Most things worth having are things you have to earn or wait for.

 

Oh good, I was worried someone might have said. OMG!!! your so close minded blah.. Thankfully DOA isn't like that, THANKS NEFLA *huggles*

Yeah the love of and for the doll is what is most important. I earned my doll with grades, and once i get a job.. I'm going to earn more... I'm only sad i couldn't get JAY (aod) in time.

 

I'm inloved in Vera from Angel Studio. Her price is 295$ and this company is considered cheap. But yesterday I finished paying. And she costs me 681$!....doll, make-up, blushing, shipping, eyes, wig, dress, shoes...
We always don't calculate this and we don't match the total

 

Well... I bought a cheap doll... and it sounds a bit mean... so that I have something less expensive to make all my mistakes on. I mean, compared with most here I still know jack-squat and I know my li'l Jack'll probably bear the brunt of that. But hey... it's part of his character anyways. ^ ^; Poor li'l guy.

Though... cheap or no, being my first he'll probably always be my dearest. So... don't think he's just a place holder, even if that's the way it sounds. I've had the idea for him in my head for a very long time, probably longer than any "dream doll" I might be thinking up. ^ ^;

 

I think that's a valid motive, really. I know people keep saying it's all about loving the mold but I think there needs to be more to it than that. If you come in to the hobby wanting to do mods, it makes sense that your first be a cheaper doll since the chances are high you may destroy it.

 

I don't -really- allow myself to buy 'cheaper dolls'. It's more like I get them in the cheapest manner that i can ._. I never look into buying a full SD doll. Saving money doesn't work with me, at least not to the extent of the 600-800 bucks required.

mostly this consist of hybriding them with cheaper bodies. like a volks head on an AOD body (soon), though this may come off as disturbing to some people^^

I do, however look at the cheaper range heads and try to see if they could fit my particular character more than I do the more expensive brands. I'm rather aware of this, but I don't seem to feel the need to break out of it much ._.;