Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

hmmm for me i get attracted to cheaper dolls,its hard to fall in love with an expensive doll. also i know i can customize my cheap doll to make it look expensive. i have this feeling like " wow that's really cheap but really beautiful" and its like a treasure hunt for me. its easy to find a pretty doll that's expensive, but its hard to find a cheap doll that looks good. also the expensive dolls all look the same to me and its like everybody likes them and get them so they're not that unique here anymore

 

I think that people should do whatever they're comfortable with. Some people really really want their dream doll and are willing to hold out for it regardless. The dolls I love are about mid-range in price, but there are a few dream dolls I have that are just too exclusive for me to get. Additionally, the thing I have trouble getting over with super exclusive dolls is that I wouldn't ever want to redo their lovely face-ups--that's one of the parts I most enjoy about the hobby. I love painting their faces, so it also keeps me away from the exclusives.

 

It's funny, because I think that way about less expensive dolls "they all look the same." It really all depends on what you like.

 

I think it's totally up to the person buying the dolls. By no means should you "settle" on a cheaper doll because you don't have the income/patience/will power to obtain enough money for a more expensive doll. If you find one you really love, I think you should save up, regardless of price. However, if you happen to love a less expensive doll, then that's just great too. ^^

 

What do you mean, cheap? In my country the people are not so rich, and if I tell to anybody I spent 200 $ and than 300 $ for a doll they think i'm a fool. Or worth.
And it was not cheap for me at all!!!
Some people earn 3-400 $ in a month so what do you mean, cheap??? A 120$ doll is also expensieve for a poor people. This is absolutely relative.
And I really hate this status symbol stuff, that is much more awful.

 

I agree with you completely.

 

I have to agree that what one person believes is cheap can be super expensive to someone else. I orginally thought I would never start collecting BJd's due to the cost.

I always thought they were beautiful but due to living expenses couldn't justify spending the money And I was never very good with saving.

Thankfully with the companys that offer layaway it makes it easier to fit into the budget.
However I will say regardless of the cost in my opinion you should only buy it because you love it not due to the amount you pay. If you love the doll whether it is "Cheap" or "Expensive" you are buying the doll for the right reason and it is something you are always going to treasure. For me that's the important part.

 

You shouldn't buy a doll just because it's "cheap" - you should buy it because you love the mold. I understand that some dolls (or maybe all depending) are expensive but if you really want it you will eventially be able to save for it

I love the fact that there are cheaper dolls because it is a lot easier on the purse lol. The only thing I don't like is the stigma that cheaper dolls get In fact, I own a B&G doll, which is considered cheap (wasn't to me!) and I love the sculps more than I do Volks.

 

Actually - I don't know if I said this earlier; but it just came to me...

Buying a cheap doll as the first is a very smart thing to do. Maybe you realise that bjd isn't for you - and then you have an expensive doll lying in a box.... Or maybe you accidently use some oilpaint on the doll - and it's ruined. Do you follow me?

I think you do.

Almost everyone here is talking about loving a certain mold or whatever.... Please, guys - loving a mold? I'm sure I said this before - you'll love what you get. No matter how ugly, badly joint, crooked - you will love your first bjd doll ever (just like you loved your first doll ever) - I promise you. Well - I can't promise you that, really; but I know that I still love my first doll even though she's nearly bald and not very pretty... And I also love my first bjd doll - even though she's almost impossible to pose and her arms almost knocks me out when I try...

 

I half agree and disagree with you here. If it is your first doll then obviously you're going to be bouncing off walls and spending money to spoil him/her rotten, and you can find out whether BJDs are for you, however, I do think that you can dislike a doll if the mold isn't up to your liking. I mean, if a doll has an odd nose or or bizzare joints, I'm not going to buy it because it would just annoy the hell out of me. It may seem like im being rather picky but it's the truth - for me at least. Isn't that one of the reasons why there are so many different molds? We can pick and choose the one we like the best or the one that best suits a character etc...

That's just my opinion tho

 

I completely disagree with that. In my doll-buying history I've bought two dolls I wasn't completely fond of, but got them anyway because they were cheaper than the ones I had in mind. In both cases I sold them within the year. The longer I got them, the more the dolls were irritating me. The small things I didn't like about them became huge.
When I finally decided to go for the one I really wanted, the one I was head over heels for, it was completely different. The moment those dolls came home, I didn't even think about the others anymore.

I'm a firm believer that you should buy the once you really love, espécially if it is your first doll. This doll is probably the first one you've ever seen and your view of the hobby and the possiblilities of ABJD's is defined by it. Getting the wrong doll could easily mean you'll get disappointed with the complete hobby and all for the wrong reasons.
Like I said before, all dolls are expensive. Go for the one you like and don't waste your money on any other.

I might sound offensive here, but I'm willing to take that risk: If you have a job that gives you this little money than perhaps you could ask yourself if ABJD's is the right hobby for you. I don't mean to say this hobby is only for the high and mighty, but it ís for the ones who can afford it. And if you get $3-400 a month, you can't. It has nothing to do with status, but everything with the fact that these dolls are a luxury item and not worth getting yourself in trouble for.

When I was a student living of my studentloan, I couldn't afford them. Only now that I have a job next to my study I'm able to set money aside for them without getting myself in financial trouble.

EDIT: I already acknowledged that other people phrased my opinion better than I did in this post, but I will not edit it. I said what I said, and if I would edit it, a huge part of this discussion wouldn't make sense anymore.
If you want to comment on this, please read the next pages first, because I've already explained what I've written here in the coming posts. The reason for this edit is that people kept coming back at what I said here, which is understandable, but it won't help this discussion, because I keep repeating what I've already said.

 

I really like this one you've wrote. like many words in my mind.

I ever waste my money for other cheaper doll I have bought.
In that time, I felt very bad when try to bonding with it because that doll can't represent than my most love doll. At first when I saw it, it was Ok for me but when the time goes by... I can't bonding with it and I'm always thinking to my most love doll that I want to get. At last I have to sell it to other owner who can love it more than me and keep saving for only my dream doll.

After that I promise to my self that I will never buy any doll that I don't love it enough to buy or buy it because "only love first sight", "only cute" or "only cheaper", I don't want to waste my money any more.

sorry for my poor Eng.

 

To be perfectly honest it is offensive. I limited myself to only buying less expensive dolls - which are frankly expensive, especially when currency conversion is taken into account. It is a very expensive hobby for me, but I buy within my budget and take advantage of sales and lay-away options. I´ve sold various thing to finance my hobby and even only having ¨cheap¨ dolls I am happy.

In the BJD hobby there does appear to a like between what dolls you have and status - even if you don´t want to acknowledge it there are those that will always think it´s better to have a Volks than a Bobobie.

I strongly believe that there are a lot of people that are able to appreciate whatever doll they can afford - even if it isn´t the doll of their dreams. Sure there are some more expensive dolls that I would love to have, even so I would never change the doll I have.

 

Personally, I am more impressed with someone who takes the inexpensive doll they can afford and works with its shortcomings, honing their face-up and sewing skills until they create an object of beauty, than I am with someone who buys a very expensive Volks or Dollshe or Soom Monthly face-upped and with the latest outfit and spams the forum for the oohs and aahs. That being said, skill levels differ and people are into this hobby for different reasons. So long as both the individuals mentioned are enjoying themselves and participating at a level they can reasonably afford, then it's all good.

dolls&tea said: In the BJD hobby there does appear to a like between what dolls you have and status - even if you don´t want to acknowledge it there are those that will always think it´s better to have a Volks than a Bobobie.

I think that is very true, and certainly you'll see a lot more squeeing in the galleries for the big, expensive dolls. I've done a fair bit of that squeeing myself. But I don't let it bother me. There are also plenty of people here who appreciate a pretty doll, no matter what it cost originally. I've got a wish list full of expensive dolls (though most Volks leave me cold), but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself, even if I never get any of them.

 

Like Hojo I too felt bad buying the doll I didn't feel anything for. I tried everything and appreciated them while they were with me, yet I was happy I could exchange them for dolls I díd love. But I agree with you to buy within your budget. When I said 'go for the one you love' I also should have said, keep your own financial situation into account. Don't buy your dream doll when it's something you can't afford.

What I meant in my last post was exactly what I wrote: If you have to live of $400 a month (like I had to when I was still living of my student loan), even a 'cheap' doll might be too much and you could ask yourself if this is the right time to enter this hobby. Perhaps it's better to wait until your financial situation has improved a bit. It's up to you (general 'you') of course, but in the time I've been in this hobby I've seen people buy a doll they couldn't afford (and they admitted it), because they thought it gave them status, or because they really wanted to be part of this hobby. That's why I said it. It's not wise to get yourself in financial trouble over a doll.

So you see, I acknowledge there are people who believe Volks is better than Bobobie. I think it's stupid, they are both dolls and are both just as fine, as long the owner is happy with them. But there is a rush, or a social pressure or whatever you want to call it to rank dolls and to force each other only to buy those dolls that are 'good enough', that have the 'correct social standard'. It is this social pressure that almost made me nót to show my sig. I was ashamed of owning 1 and a half Volks doll, because people could see me as an elitist because of my sig. Ridiculous, isn't it? I love my dolls and it is this 'standard' that has almost ruined it for me. But now I'm getting off topic.

 

You're so right....

I'm very new at bjd - and I don't know all the different molds and companies; but my first doll was a bobobie - my second a Puki - and now I've just bought my third - also a Puki.

I enjoy seeing pictures of the big, expensive dolls; but I don't want one myself (even if I could afford one). I like the tinies more - and I like all kinds - both cheap and expensive - I just don't buy the really expensive ones because I cannot afford them... - and frankly - I don't think a doll is worth the huge amounts of money that some cost... Luckily I can change the less expensives ones without a big effort (if I want to) - and the more work I put into a doll - the more I love it.

(To spend the same amount of money on a doll that e.g. a new refrigerator or a used car costs is just crazy in my mind; but I also think that it's crazy to spend thousands of dollars to be able to always wear the latest fashions or whatever.. I know people here and on other bjd forums that always have to get the newest dolls - they constantly sell their older dolls to get new ones. I would never be able to sell any of my dolls; but I'm happy there are people like that; because if there weren't - I wouldn't own any dolls at all... All my dolls are 'adopted' second hands).

I've bought a couple of used faceplates for the Pukis and I'm going to try to change the faces a little more to my liking. That's what I love about bjd dolls - that you can actually change their looks so that they don't look like any other doll - either by using e.g. sandpaper or a knife - or by giving them a special faceup. And I can do this without spending a fortune.

If I got a doll that I wasn't satisfied with - I would try to change the doll's looks. I wouldn't walk around and be annoyed by the doll like some here seem to do.

I'm the kind of person that cannot 'bond' with a picture of a doll. I cannot 'love' a doll that was never in my hands. I get the doll - and then after some time and effort making the doll mine - then I bond with the doll... I can admire pictures of beautiful dolls - and I can wonder how it would be to own some of the more expensive dolls; but I'm just fine with my cheaper dolls.

And now I have to run. I want to make a yarn-wig for my new doll. It wont arrive until after Easter; but I want to make some things ready for her....

 

I agree with this.

For a couple of years, I'd wanted to get into the hobby, but my monetary situation wasn't very stable back then. I wanted to wait until I knew that not only could I afford to buy a doll, I could definitely afford to keep it and not get myself into a situation where I might have to consider selling my doll to get money for food or tuition. That would have upset me to have to do that I worked my arse off to get to a stage where I knew I could buy and keep my dolls! I want to flippin' well know I can keep them, without having to eye them up and wonder how much they'd fetch in the 2nd hand market.

I don't get dolls because they are expensive. I don't get dolls because they are cheap. I get dolls because I LIKE them. A lot.

 

Saying $100 isn't cheap...well for a bjd it is, since that's about the least expensive you can get one for. $1,000 is a lot of money, but not for a new car. $10,000 is a LOT of money, but not for a house. I don't see why saying the price of something is cheap is even offensive. I have a AS doll that cost about $350, and for a 1/3 doll that's really cheap. It doesn't offend me at all.

Also, I really think the idea of a starter doll is a bad idea. Yes, you may be out less money initially if you decide the hobby isn't for you, but not when it comes to reselling. If you try to resell a mid level to expensive doll, it's more likely someone will buy it from you at the original price or close to it to save on shipping from the company. (how many WTB luts El, Shiwoo, DS Saint threads have I seen on the marketplace, good grief) With the really inexpensive dolls, so many people have them, many have gotten them as 'starter dolls' too and decided they wanted something else, so many are for sale. But as a customer you can get one brand new from the company or one of the retailers for the same price, why would you get a used one? Second hand sellers will probably have to take a loss. I had to sell my bobobie doll for a $50 loss which was about 1/3 her total price (I included eyes, an outfit, and a wig, but still had to sell her for LESS than a blank naked doll)

As for getting a starter doll in case you ruin the doll...well if you take 10 minutes to research faceup materials, care, etc...that wont happen. And if you don't want to research anything, a floating head is going to be the cheapest thing to experiment on.

The whole elitism thing, I really haven't seen it. Of course there are people that think volks dolls are better than bobobie, otherwise EVERYONE would have bobobie. There are people that think bobobie is better than volks too. So? I think there's a lot of defensiveness and quite a persecution complex going on with a lot of people. They seem to think "oh those horrible, mean Volks owners are looking down on my doll because it only cost ____ dollars!" Maybe there's some secret volks society that I don't know about where they all get together and bash other doll owners, but I don't see it on DoA. I do however see quite a few snips at volks and more expensive companies by owners of less expensive dolls.

I remember a while back, there were 2 threads in GD started by newbies asking questions. One was about Volks and one was about Bobobie. In the bobobie thread, it was pretty much sunshine and roses from the owners with the occasional 'not my thing personally' from others. The Volks thread however had praise from the owners, but a lot of harsh or negative things from other people. Seems like a witch hunt to me, with people looking for elitism because they're afraid they're being persecuted.

Also, the people in this thread saying "save up for a doll you love and don't settle for a cheaper one" they don't mean never get a cheap doll. If the perfect doll you love is $400 and you get a doll that's $200 because that's all you have right now, then you wasted $200. Same as if you wanted a doll that was $200 and bought a doll that was $400 because you thought it would make you more respected or something. You also wasted $200. In either scenario you didn't get the one you want, you will look at pictures of the one you DID want, pine after it, and be unsatisfied.

 

This is really how I feel, too... my dolls all tend toward the "cheaper" end of the scale (including the "cheapest" Bobobie and ResinSoul), but I've spent time with them and gotten to know them while working on faceups, bodies, everything. Sueding my boy's body wasn't as much a chore to me as a way to get to know better how he's put together, and appreciate the construction in a way I haven't yet done with the others. I may find an affection toward a mold from the pictures, but I won't really "bond" until I've done something to that doll. (My newest ones are really showing this... Luc arrived two weeks before Cete and Instar, which was enough time for him to not arrive in the middle of me running from one project to the next. So I got time to play with him, do faceups, and generally get to know him, while the other two I can barely even think of them by their names instead of as "Bei and Bao." They aren't Cete and Instar YET.)

I don't necessarily feel it's Volks owners or anything (I know plenty of lovely Volks owners, in fact), and I don't think it's anywhere near a majority, but there is a definate "elitist" group out there that I notice from time to time. I might notice it more than someone with more mid-range or expensive dolls because mine all tend to be cheaper, but I do know it's not all that big. But still, there are threads like this, or ones that comment on how "ugly" or "unrefined" or "sub-par" the "cheap" dolls are, and how they're not worth the money and (collective) you should just spend the extra money on Brand Y instead of Brand X. Brand Y isn't better than Brand X, any more than Brand X is better than Brand Y. Each is offering a different set of "features," and it's up to the person making the purchase to decide which one they really want. Maybe Brand X won't be the right one for them, and they'll sell. But Brand Y might not be the right one either.

I know that will always be there, but it doesn't mean I have to necessarily sit back and take it, and I will defend my boy and my choice to buy him over the others I was looking at. I tend to like the less-realistic, more stylized look of the less expensive dolls, and I'll defend that as my personal taste. What I don't want is to be told that my preference for a less realistic face is somehow wrong, which is the attitude many people will come across as having in these cases. They forget that not everyone likes the same things, and while they may want hyper-realistic sculpts or super-anime-kawaii, that might not be what I want in my dolls. And in the end they are my dolls and it's only my tastes that count.

I do think you're right to think there's some owners though with persecution complexes, but they're all over the place. Any community or fandom you enter will include people who think the rest of the group is out to get them. But I think they're just as a minority as the elitists, and they shouldn't make anyone think that all those of us who love and defend our more affordable sculpts as being some kind of "cheap elitists."

 

i think that you should nuy the doll you feel good about regardless what anyone else might think, i my self own dolls that are a bit cheaper, than soom ore volks, but i love them.