Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I never said that a cheap doll meant poor quality. In my own experience, when researching quality, it has just always ended up being found in a more expensive mold. I'm not at all saying it's like that all the time.

Right, I also agree that the most important thing is genuinely liking the doll. It's an investment, after all, and shouldn't be done for the wrong reasons (because it's cheap or because they would be admired for having a more expensive and impressive mold).

 

Who told you that going for a more expensive doll means you aren't able to manage your finances and you're destined to starve or end up in dept?
Going for a pricy doll simply means you'll (general 'you's' from now on) need a little more patience. Instead of buying two/three dolls a year, you'll only have one. You're not going to starve, you're not getting a loan to buy it, you'll simply wait until you have saved up enough money to afford it.

As I see it it's up to two choices:
1. Do I think it's important to have more dolls? Consequence is that I possibly have to let go of one or two because they are out of my price-range.
2. Or do I only want to go for those dolls that are truly special to me? Because then the consequence is that I'll only have a few.

Of course, if you choose for option one it doesn't mean you don't love the dolls you buy or that you are never able to get your dream doll. And if you choose for option two doesn't mean you don't have a price-limit.
What I try to say is that it is simply a matter of knowing what's important to you. Because if you stick to that, you won't make a wrong choice.

 

It's hard to say, since different people have different opinoins and economic conditions.
It's their own choice, not the problem of right or wrong.
As far as I'm concerned, even the cheapest bjd is still more expensive than normal toy dolls, so if I bought a doll only for their price, it will be end in a encumbrance and I will be still looking for my prefered doll no matter the price. I bought a doll bcz I love it, not only to be a bjd owner or flaunt I can buy something that many kids can't afford.

 

Cheap is still expensive in this hobby. When I looked around for my first doll I definitely looked where I would get the most for my money. There weren't that many "cheap" Chinese companies (there was Dollzone) as you have now, but I looked at how expensive dolls were and what I would get for the money I would pay. Extra hands, wigs, face-up, carrier, etc. There is nothing wrong with looking for the best deal.

If you think $600 is too much for an SD sized doll and you can find dolls you like closer to $300, why not buy those? I do think it's a waste of money if a person likes a $600 doll the best, but settles for a $300 doll just to have something. $300 is still a lot of money.

I bought an F-Doll body for less than $200 and it was exactly what I wanted. "Cheap", but I like it a lot. Decent quality and it poses great.
I also bought a limited edition of a certain body $200 above the market price for a normal version of the body, because I knew that if I settled for the cheaper option I would regret it as the normal version isn't what I really want.

No matter what your spending budget for a doll is, as long as you spend it wisely and buy something you'll really love and won't regret, you should go for it.

 

I don't have a BJD yet, but I do have a 25cm obitsu. I asked for it for christmas because I knew I would never have enough for my dream doll, an unoa, an I can say ,from the experience, I really love my little obitsu but she just isn't completely satisfying. So far i've been saving up for my future unoa and bought her a faceplate with a nice face-up, instead of caving in and buying a luts kid delf

I think people should aim for their dream doll before anything else. If you end up not wanting many other dolls after it, it might just save money.

 

For me, personally, the price is not the first thing that I look at- but, at the same time, there is an upper limit of what I would spend on a doll. As I am still a student, this price is not high compared with what others probably spend on dolls.
It is true that I could save to get a more expensive doll, but in my current situation, I would still feel bad for spending so much money on a doll, even if I had saved for it a long time...

 

I admit that I'm a person who will only buy cheap dolls. I can not justify spending 3 times as much for a doll of similar size when I genuinely like **both** dolls. I will not buy a doll that I don't like, although sometimes feelings can and do change - doll stock photos look different, owner photos look different, etc. I'm trying to sell one of my "cheap" dolls right now, a dollzone mowen. Not because he's inferrior to any other dolls, but just because I could not bond with him. I think maybe just boy dolls are not for me. I like gothic lolita and girly fashions heh. I bought him to have a boyfriend for my first doll, dollzone demi.

Which brings me to point 2: I really love demi. (my icon) The stock photos of her on junkyspot are horrible. And when I bought her over 2 years ago there was only 2 other owners who actively posted pics here on DOA and one of their demi's was a boy mod.

I agonized for a long time over which doll to get. I did not just go out and buy first doll I seen. I went through junkyspot for my first two dolls based on positive feedback I read here on the forum and to save on shipping and at the time, junkyspot only carried dollzone, obitsu, and soul doll, and I did not care for the soul doll sculpts (personal tastes). I was torn between Demi, Nina, and Shoyo. It came down to Demi or Nina in the end, and Nina had something more... doll like... about her face which put me off. She had that almost too perfect - unnatural look. It was a very static looking sculpt too I thought.

Demi is very versatile. From certain angles she can look mischievous or impish and from other angles very sweet and somber.

I also disagree with comments about what one should do regarding clothing or faceuping their dolls. It is their dolls. I know my face ups are not very good. Demi is on her second faceup right now. But I do them myself because I ENJOY it and to me it makes the doll more personal and unique even if it's not the best, it's my own hard work and love of my doll (and I still think she looks better than stock photo (they are really unflattering pictures of this mold) lol).

I also can't sew. I bought a buncha teen trends outfits and have purchased outfits on doa forums and ebay. I also do have sock dresses from before I had the money saved for their other outfits. So what? Who cares? They are my dolls. I did not buy them to be "cool" I bought them because I like the aesthetics of the dolls.

But does that mean I dont really love the hobby? I don't think so. My favorite thing about the hobby is that it offers something for almost everyone. I love photography and nature. I take demi out in the woods, to the beach, streams, rivers, nature trails, hiking, camping, etc, and try to photograph her in nature. That's my favorite thing to do.

Other people may enjoy other parts of the hobby like making clothes and yet others may just like to collect and display their dolls with factory face ups and limited edition clothes neatly stored on pretty shelves.

To each their own, I don't think price makes a doll or fan of this hobby any more/less worthy than anyone else.

I have all cheap dolls right now:
Dollzone Demi (one of my favorite face sculpts of *any* company)
Dollzone Mowen (looking to rehome)
Obitsu Gretel (and let me tell you, I have more fun and take more pictures of gretel than any other doll I own. The obitsu pose unlike any resin doll ever could, she is a blast to play with. Also she is second hand and I've had her for 7 months, she has one TINY stain on her left arm, seriously about the size of a pen tip. And her torso has never once broken like I hear so many people say. And I play with her **alot** seriously. Once again proving cheap does not mean the doll is inferior If one gets enjoyment out of it.))
And now have my first tiny on the way, AOD Mimi.
My next doll will most likely be Dollzone Luke or AOD An. I like the sculpts alot. I also really like AOD Qing, Yiu Lin, and Rao, (but think I want to give owning a boy one more try before giving up and sticking to girls) and alot of their 1/3rd dolls are beautiful (but I think minis are more for me).

I do not think one should purchase solely because a doll is cheap. Of course I also really like Luts and Volks and Ipplehouse molds but they're just more than I'm willing to spend.

Honestly the only volks mold that I really like enough to think of owning one day is Volks Kaede. The molds just aren't to my liking in general. I realize they are beautiful dolls, but just not for me I prefer dolls that are a little less "perfectly beautiful" Makes them seem more human and less doll like, because most humans are not perfect either

But what one person is willing to spend and what another person is willing to spend and what they're willing to spend said money ON are very different things. For example, I went out and spent 600 dollars on a high def tv last christmas... I could have spent that 600 on a doll instead. To me, the tv was a good deal (got it on black friday) But the thought of that much on a doll... I could not bring myself to do it. I really do like some sculpts.... but maybe it's the fact that it is a doll... I dunno... It's not so much that I'm cheap, it's just I can't justify spending that much on a doll, even when I have the money - it's like "I should really put this into savings or pay towards my loans and bills" When it's only (heh "only") $200 I can justify it a little bit more. I know it's not cheap... but americans and economic studies show that there is a certain point at which one is more inclined to buy an item. That's the reason you see stuff in stores for like $1.99 or even like $59.99. It's an economic tactic. People see $1.99 and buy maybe 2 or 3 of said item, but if they seen same item for $3.00 Which is actually only like a dollar more but looks like more, they may not buy any at all. I know it's weird but it's true. People are more inclined to buy an item when the price is lower. For me, 200 doesnt seem AS BAD as 600...

Also who's to say, maybe some people had rather have 3 dolls (and thereby a complete family) that they really like alot as opposed to one that they love. Everyone is different and likes different things.

 

Some people have to buy cheaper dolls, like me. All because a doll is cheaper doesn't mean it's worth less or not as loveable. Although my doll is a recast, he's still my most treasured possesion and I love him more than anything else I've ever owned. It doesn't matter how much a doll is, because you'll love it all the same.

 

I think it really comes down to knowing your own financial situation and budgeting. I know I have a limited budget and my financial situation can be unsteady since I live off a student allowance. A big bill comes in and it can wipe out any savings I have.

When I decided to take the plunge into the BJD hobby I made a decision that the most I would pay for a doll would be around $200us (+ any shipping costs). I also looked into companies that offered lay-away plans or raising funds from selling other items.

I found a number of dolls that I totally adored within my doll budget and even after having seen some of the more ¨expensive¨ dolls I wouldn´t change my mind about the ones I chose.

For me only allowing myself to buy ¨cheaper¨ dolls is about being financially responsible, while still indulging in a hobby that I love. I also don´t feel like I am settling for something that is second best, because I spent so much time researching as many dolls that were within my budget as possible and seeing what types of discounts companies offered when they had sales.

Even within my budget range there were dolls I though were stunning and others that held no interest to me - I´ve found companies whose sculpts I think are some of the most stunning out there (seriously I fell in love at first sight with the 70cm ResinSoul boys and think they are the most beautiful dolls I have ever seen - you just have to ask anybody I have spoken to about how excited I am about getting my Long to realize he is my dream doll).

 

Isn't it all about what makes you happy?
If it's the cheaper doll you like more, just buy that one..

 

I didn't read all the posts in this topic; but I still want to express my opinion.

Does any of you know the old saying: 'If you can't afford to get the doll you love - you'll have to love the doll you can afford'? Well - it doesn't say exactly that - I re-wrote it a little... But - I think it's true.

When I was a kid I wanted a Barbie doll. My mom thought it was too expensive and got me a cheap look-a-like. You have no idea how much I loved that doll. I still wanted a Barbie; but since I couldn't get it I put all my love into my doll. I made clothes for her and every day I told her my deepest secrets...

It seems like a lot of people here thinks that if you really, really want something it will come to you. It's just a question of prioritizing - and it is - sometimes; but sometimes it's not. I do have enough money to buy a very expensive doll; but then there would be next to nothing left for clothes for us or school trips or whatever. So it isn't always that easy to just go and get what you want.

My first doll was a Bobobie. I bought her second hand (which is almost the same price - or a little more - as a new one from e.g. Japan or Korea); but it's not easy to get new dolls in Europe - we have to pay a lot more than you guys abroad). She wasn't my first choice. Not my second either; but she was affordable - and she was an elf - and that's what I wanted. And I do love her. From the moment that I decided to buy her it was as if the pictures of her changed. She looked more beautiful - even without wig and faceup - than I had ever thought a doll could look. And she looks more beautiful by the minute now that she's here....

I wanted a little brother/sister for her right away, so I started looking for a Puki. I found one - a Puki Pongpong - and I absolutely didn't like the face of the doll. I wanted another type of Puki; but couldn't find any at an affordable price - so - I bought the Pongpong. And am I happy I did? You bet. I adore the little creature - I love the big smile on it's face (it has no name/gender yet). It makes me smile just looking at it.

So - if you can't get what you want - want what you get.... Get it?

True love to dolls have nothing to do with the price. And the great thing about bjd dolls are that you can actually change their look entirely if you don't like the look they come with. I haven't changed anything about my dolls yet, though. I want to 'get to know' them first.

I didn't get the dolls I wanted - and I'll probably never get them - but who knows if I would have loved them as much as I love my secondhand, cheap dolls?

 

Yay, dolls&tea. You're absolutely right on all counts. The strangest thing about threads like this is people who seem to feel that being financially reponsible, budgeting and making adult decisions about money is a source of shame - and that it's something ethically superior to waste money you haven't got on something that is merely a hobby.

There's also an assumption that beauty in a sculpt is something that is calculated in cents to a dollar, which is patently wrong. There are super expensive dolls that look plain hideous to me - and the same for the bottom range - but I've never seen another a doll I love in every detail as much as my RS Lian. To me, "well, I like doll X AND doll Z, and doll Z is half the price, so I think I'll pick doll Z" is just being, well, a financially responsible grownup who recognises that she has a full human life and other demands on her purse.

I feel all the more so because I don't think the assumption that the more expensive dolls are of higher quality is actually true. Thing is, if I could afford any doll in existence right now - it would probably still be ResinSoul Lu. Her fabulous mouth and ears and delicate body powerfully appeal to me, and I love the silky, flawless RS resin. But I don't need to apologise for the fact that part of the reason we're planning on getting her, rather than just drooling over photos, is her price range.

boots, I loved your doll stories, both about your resin dolls and your childhood doll. That's what I wish doll collecting was all about.

 

This. There needs to be more thinking like this in the world.

 

I am pretty cheap when it comes to getting things for my dolls, but when it comes to getting dolls well... I have to basically force myself to pretend they are much cheaper than they are. I can never justify it, but my want overrides the '$500?? I could pay rent with that!'

 

I'm finding I'm looking more at cheaper dolls, not because they're cheaper, but with the income I have, I would feel so guilty spending more on a doll that it would ruin the pleasure. Finding a doll I like in the 'cheaper' category would help with the guilt and knowing I was getting the best deal would make that doll a million times more enjoyable. It's not a matter of saving; I have saved for expensive things before, but always useful, needed things, like a washing machine. Even if I saved $400 for that expensive dream doll, I'd be unable to buy it, because I'd always think, "With this doll I could have repaired the car.....paid the car insurance....replaced the rusted-out sink...." and so on. I couldn't enjoy an expensive doll that way.

I'd definitely consider/like to do a hybrid, though I've been frustrated by not knowing if resins matched or the neck sizes were the same. But getting the most awesome face sculpt, and putting it on an inexpensive brand body, would be a way I could thriftily get the doll I dream of, without the guilt of making a costly pleasure purchase. or not enough, at least.

 

"So - if you can't get what you want - want what you get.... Get it?"

"To me, "well, I like doll X AND doll Z, and doll Z is half the price, so I think I'll pick doll Z" is just being, well, a financially responsible grownup who recognises that she has a full human life and other demands on her purse."


--Sorry, I just have to concur fervently with boots and autumnrain. Very well-put; hear hear!

 

I do only allow myself less expensive dolls at this point in my life. I don't have lots of money to buy dolls with. Even though I would love a Crobidoll it's completely out of my range.

I am currently looking at buying dolls that need fixing up. That way I could have a more expensive doll, but not go broke on it.

I hope in the future though, to not have to restrict myself, because in the end if you really love a doll you shouldn't let it go because of price

 

I personally do not have a problem with cheaper dolls. If you find a doll that you're in love with and it happens to be cheaper than the average doll, then that is an added bonus. [It leaves you more money to spoil the doll silly ^^;].

Now, if they buy a cheaper doll just because it's cheaper well then... it's really up to them. Whether they want to save up for the uber-expensive or the slightly cheaper models. Just don't be ashamed if you happen to spend a small fortune on a doll. If it's what you really wanted, then it's alright. ^_^

 

For me it really hard to say....

I want to buy cheaper doll if I can... but, the doll molds which I love are NOT cheap at all.
And I CAN'T go with the dolls that I don't like event if they're just only that cheaper....

 

I have not many BJD on my wishlist, and their price may vary from simple to double, but surely I know actually I win more monney than in 2 or 3 month, so, If I wait, I won't need 2 or 3 month to get enough monney to buy them but 6 or 8 month and I know I'm not enough patient for this

Second, al the BJD I love are around same price (but not same rarity perhaps)
Yep I also wish some no BJD doll very cheaper,

But I think those cheaper dolls, I'l be able to buy them later, for now, I really make big efforts to save for my BJD wishlist and this is the first and last period I'll win enough monney to.

So I refuse to loose this hard to win monney by buying a little cheap and another little cheap

My Wishslit first !!!