Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

Umm, I think what the original poster was saying was slightly different than what you have interpreted it as. = )

In the western countries like USA, making $400 a month is measly money that you can hardly get by on. This perspective only works in USA and other such countries, however. I remember back (over a decade ago) when I was a kid living in Russia, my mother was a co-chair of an American-funded private organization, making about $550 a month.

Let me tell you, this was VERY GOOD money at the time. We were solidly in the middle-class, and this salary supported a family of three + cat, a car, and a three-bedroom apartment + renovations. Obviously, it's not the case anymore, but there are other countries where $300-$400 bucks a month is a very good, solid salary that you can live comfortably on. I think THIS is the perspective the other poster was stating, and as such, there... really is no "getting more financially stable" because.... $400 a month is financial stability? And there's nothing to "improve" upon?

Even spending $120 on a doll is a lot. I dunno, you (general) could go on to talk about residents of different countries and whether they should or should not own dolls based on the financial situations of their countries, but there's no way of tip-toeing around that to avoid being offensive.

Anyways, I could absolutely never justify buying a doll for the price of a car (and you certainly can get a small used car in running condition for a little over a grand). Or if you don't own a car, save the money for something... else. My psychology forbids me from buying useless (and okay, pretty, enjoyable, lovable and all that, at the end of the day they're big, giant dolls.) items for obscene amounts of money (obscene being defined by my current financial situation. For example, if I win the lottery, of course I'll buy a few more expensive dolls, because their cost would be small relative to the amount of money I would have.)

I have two mid-range dolls, and this is generally my purchasing mentallity for everything in my life. Not too expensive, and not too simple, with a fair amount of research before buying. And absolutely no impulse buys. I just always end up with buyer's remorse.

 

I still think that while it's ok to buy cheaper dolls if you see a cheaper doll that steals your heart, if you really, really want an expensive doll, you should wait longer and save more to get that particular one. If your heart is set on it, why get something second-best? It's not second best because it's cheaper, but it is second best because it's not the doll you've set your heart on.

 

First of all, don't flame this post for it's bad phrasing. I have trouble making myself clear.

And I think that you and I were actually looking at this subject from the same perspective. I know that there are countries where a decent middleclass person makes $400 a month and it is considered good money there. I wasn't looking at their monthly paycheck, I was looking at their position in society. Are they considered rich, middleclass or dirtpoor in their country? Because if they're rich or middleclass, they can afford setting money aside for these dolls.
The poster I was replying to made it sound in his/her post that people making $3/400 a month were considered poor in his/her country. Just like I was with my €500 a month. And that $120 was an insane amount of money for those people.

It was because of the way (s)he sounded that I made a mental leap and thought about the increasing amount of people here on this board 'complaining' dolls are so expensive and they can't afford it. The reason they give as to why they can't afford it is that they are only a student or because they have a job that doesn't pay well. And yet they still buy a doll that is, like they said, too expensive for them.

Of course you can say: "Well Silk, that is none of your business" and you're probably right, but this 'none of my business'-thing is easily confused with a similar feeling: The "I don't care what you do/ I don't care about you"-feeling. I can't help but feel worried when I hear people do these things and that's why I said: "Wait until your situation improves. It's worth it."

I hope I made myself clear and showed you that we didn't think quite so differently as you thought we did =).

 

You know we live for the most in a free world, right ? Then your : don't buy a doll if you just get a 3-400$ per month, it always shocks me such stupidity, you didn't know that humans do what they want with their money ? And it's not your personnal problem ?!

Why she shouldn't buy a doll if she just win 400 $ ( exemple ) ? You are all the firsts to claim : SAVE for your doll, so she can also save for her doll ? NO ? This doesn't work there ?

And I can just laugh because a person winning 400 $ may have less debts problem regarding doll than a person with 1000/1500 $ no offense to those who win over 1 000 ne ! I'm just saying, a person with 400 may be more carefull with money with someone with 1 000. It's never everytime the case, but it may happens.

Anyway Lelite is right, you got nothing of what she said .....

Honestly I always thought the BJD world was ruled by a stupid elistim that was very gross and this prove me I was sadly too right !

You're poor ?! ah no you have no right to buy a doll poor baby ..... I don't roll on money so what I do when I will receive my doll ? Sale her because poor can't afford the 'hobby' ? NO, I am able to do her face up and her whole clothes. And I'm proud of that !!!

People are free to do what they want, buy a less expensive doll, a very expensive doll, that's their life and their money. You (general) wouldn't like that folks put their nose in your business, right ? You don't like when someone said you paid too much for a doll, right ? Then don't do it. Never do to others what you wouldn't like to receive !

But I don't even get that 'fight' about less expensive doll ! I thought folks were free to do what they wished ... I didn't thought the price we paid mean so much to other's eyes .... if we start like this, we could make another fight ... why to buy girl molds ... why to ... no ?!

After, sorry if I offend some persons. That's not my wish. And sorry for my english really twisted today

 

@Ayusan: You're twisting my words. What I said has nothing to do with elitism. Read Kateb's comment and you'll see what I meant.
Anyway, I'm sorry we disagree, but I stay by what I've said before.

EDIT TO ADD: Just to make sure that people know what my opinion throughout this thread was (and it hasn't changed in the slightest). If you're head over heels over a cheap doll, by all means, go get him. If it's an expensive doll you want, go get him. Don't settle for a doll that is only second best (like Jessica said: a doll you do not have your heart set on).
In the mean time stay sensible and keep in mind that you don't get yourself in financial trouble over a piece of resin. Don't exceed your spending-limit.
And if the doll you want is too expensive for you on this moment, wait until you can afford him.

This is the way Í judge wether I want to go for a doll or not. There are a few dolls I really, reálly want (Volks Williams for example), but they are too expensive for me right now. So I'll wait until my situation improves (or until Volks re-releases him). I'm careful not to get in the 'I want it all and I want it now'-rush that seems to be part of this hobby.

 

I don't have a problem with it, unless it's only buying less expensive dolls because they're cheap. If you're getting it because you really like it, and it's not expensive, I don't see anything wrong with it. If I see one that costs $800 and I reallyyyyyyy like it, I'm going to save until I get enough money, same with one that cost $95. It's kind of annoying when people buy a cheap one they don't really like just so they can say they have one, and will get bored of it within a week.

 

I bought my boy for the exact reason that he was on the lowest end of the price scale. That, and I liked his mold alot XD I wouldn't buy a doll mold I didn't like just cuz it's cheap >O> I was looking at Bobobie, but when I saw the molds I changed my mind. . But then I found Camellia Dynasty and I was happy :3

 

Silk - I had a slightly different kind of "perspective" in mind. (That, and I read the post "everyone around here makes $300-400 dolls are expensive" to mean that's the average salary, but I guess that's just guessing).

Alright, so say you ARE in a country where $400 a month is a decent wage, and your living expenses (food + rent + clothes + etc.,) only amount to $330. So you decide you're going to get a doll, and set aside the extra $70/80 (maybe you can cut some frivolous costs for an extra $10) per month, and five months later you'll have about $400. Now, you're going to look at a $400 doll, and think "Here is a frivolous item that costs more than my living expenses for a month." Kind of like you and your Williams. Except, in this case, the Williams is ALWAYS going to stay a ridiculously-for-your-situation priced frivolous item because you're already living at a level you can expect from your entire life.

Depressing, isn't it? I think most people would decide that the amount of money is too much for something that doesn't really have a use when the cost can support them for a month, even if they can afford it. But look, here's another cute doll that doesn't cost a month's living!

It's kind of like, from MY point of view, I'll buy a $400 doll that I love, but I won't ever let myself think of taking a liking to a Bermann or something. Where I live, $400 isn't even enough to pay a month's rent, so in comparison it's not that ridiculous of an amount. It's all a matter of justification and want, and I think every person has a point where there's not enough justification for the price based on their global economic situation. (That is, comparing their income to international prices, not just ones within their country)

 

Chill out, Ayusan! Silk didn't say that people earning less than $400 a month should never buy a doll. People are free to do what they wish, but they are also free to express their opinion...and if other people put their life's details out there to be commented upon they can't very well complain when someone does comment on them. I didn't see an ounce of elitism in Silk's posts.

I still stand by my opinion that you should buy the doll you want, not the doll that's cheapest. I wanted a Volks limited Kurt. Sure, there are plenty of dolls out there that are cheaper, always available, have quicker shipping, don't incur customs fees...but Kurt was the doll I wanted, so why would I buy a doll who was never going to be as good as him for me?

I also agree in part with Silk's opinion. These dolls aren't necessary for life, your rent, food, bills and healthcare should come first before any luxuries. If you aren't earning enough to cover these essential things, you obviously aren't earning enough to afford to save for a doll either. And how many people sell their dolls on the Marketplace saying they've been stung by an unexpected bill or their cat has to have an operation? You should save your rainy-day money first before buying a doll, that's just good financial sense. It is far easier to use savings to pay for a surprise bill than try to sell a doll quickly. Some dolls stay on the marketplace for months before they sell and you still have to pay that bill in the meantime.

 

Lelite, I can only say that I agree with you. And actually what you've written here is more or less what I meant, only you phrased it much better. And I do know that there are people out there already living at the top of what they can expect (money-wise) from life and that it is still a huge achievement for them to buy a, let's say, $400 doll. I also believe that in every price category there are dolls you like more than others, so go for those.

I want to thank you for staying polite, even though there was a difference in 'perspective' (or the way I see it, a slight miscommunication. I have a way of stating things more black and white than I really feel).

Thank you, Jessica, for putting this here. Of course there are moments in your life when all seems to happen at once and you simply do not have enough to cover all of this, but most of the time you can deal with an unexpected bill if you have some rainy-day money on your bank-account. Dolls shouldn't be in the way of those expenses.

 

What an interesting thread!

I'm adding my two cents here. My boy is what some would call a "cheap" doll, because I paid a total of 250 for him with shipping and a face-up. But you know what? I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I searched all the sites for months before I bought him, but he was the mold that spoke to me the most. He's wonderful quality and I'm pleased with the level of service I received from AoD.

I think there are some people out there who only buy expensive dolls and snub the ones that are "cheaper", but I have yet to meet any. Like many other people on this thread, I think it shouldn't matter what the doll costs. If you want a $4000+ doll and you can afford it/save up for it, go for it. If you prefer dolls that are far less costly, that's perfectly all right as well.

Dolls are expensive, no matter which way you slice it. The definition of expensive varies from person to person, but you should love your doll and be able to be happy with it. Never settle with it because it's 50 or 850. Yanno?

Anyway, that's my two pennies.

 

I bought an AOD doll. 1, Because I could afford her. 2, I liked her. (3, she suits my character!)

I think the price 'wall' in this hobby ruins it for many people. Why can't someone who wants to step into the hobby buy a 'cheap' doll for under $200? Is it actually hurting you? No.

I think this whole talk of settling for second best should stop. Sometimes you have to go for second best, its called a compromise. No doll or a doll you can love even if its not your dream? There are plenty of people not driving dream cars, living in dream houses, who are we to tell them to save for a 'better' one.

 

I think it depends on how you look at it. Many people need a car to get around, they would be stuck without one, so the car they buy is the best car for their budget that suits their needs. If you want a car to get you to and from work, perhaps going for the Rover rather than the Bentley is the best way to go? Even if your dream car is a Bentley and you know as soon as that lottery ticket comes in you'll be down the car lot picking it out, you go for the Rover because it suits your current needs.

However, when you are saving for a completely non-essential luxury item where the only important thing is how that non-essential luxury item looks to you, I think it is definitely worthwhile saving for the doll you want, the doll you prefer, even if it takes a little while longer to get there. If your preferred doll is one in a lower bracket, that's great...but it is equally ok to save your pennies if your preferred doll is one in a higher bracket.

I also think that there are people in this hobby considering getting certain dolls because they think that those are the dolls they should have, rather than the dolls they personally want; a while back there was a thread with one girl asking if she should get a Volks doll when she really wanted another one. She thought that the 'prestige' of the Volks brand was more important to other people in this hobby than getting a doll that actually appealed to her, which I feel is wrong. Whichever way you look at starting or expanding your collection, if you get the dolls you want, rather than the dolls you think other people think you should have or the 'right' doll rather than the 'right now' doll, I think people will be satisfied with their collections.

 

I think you'll all have to settle with these answers; because we all look differently on this issue.

It's beginning to sound as if there's a lot of 'spoiled brats' here (joking - but with a bit of truth to it), that's used to get what they want - sooner or later; but some of us can actually become just as happy with a cheap doll as some becomes with more expensive dolls. As someone here said - it's a question of compromise - and it's also a question of upbringing. This is not about 'settling' with a cheaper doll - this is about knowing the actual worth of things in ones life (or lets say - it could be about this for some people here). I definately don't 'settle' with my cheaper dolls.

If I had a million $ I could buy whatever doll I wanted. And you know - I would still buy the cheaper dolls; because in my mind, no doll is worth that much money. I would really find it ridiculous to buy a doll for e.g. $600. And that's just me - and a lot of other people too. I wouldn't go out and buy a pair of jeans for $600 either; but some would. I don't think any amount of money would change the way I am when it comes to money - even if I inherited lots of money or won the lottery - I would still not buy a 600-dollar doll or 600-dollar jeans.... But - if the doll was on sale for like $150 I would buy it (if it was a doll that I like, that is); because then the price would begin to reflect the real costs of making such a doll. I simply refuse to pay more than an item's actual value. And - in my mind the value does have to reflect the costs when it comes to 'things'...

I do know that bjd dolls aren't the same as Barbie dolls; but still - some of these dolls costs ridiculous amounts of money - and they're absolutely not worth that much - the amount of work put into the doll - and the resin etc. used doesn't come near the amount they charge us (you also have to remember that most of these factories are situated in a part of the world where the salary is a whole lot lower than e.g. in US or Europe). It's like a pair of designer jeans - you pay overprice to get a certain brand or the latest mobile phone/computer/whatever...

Some day these dolls will become cheaper to buy - just wait and see. Just like computers or cell phones once was unreachable for 'normal' people - these dolls will go down in price and settle on a more reasonable level. It takes time, though. New companies will open up and make cheaper dolls that are just as great as the more expensive dolls. The more we spread the word about the hobby - the cheaper the dolls will become.

I have a little story I would like to share with you all. One of my friends bought a doll that cost around $770 - and when it arrived she had to pay customs and fees and taxes too, so it ended up costing a small fortune. She made clothes for the doll - and wigs - and she went to meetings with the doll. Very proud she was. She made the faceup herself, and it was so pretty. Then someone put a Puki in her hand... Can you guess the rest?

Yeah - she sold her expensive doll for a lot less than she paid - and got a couple of Pukis instead. So - guys and gals - it's not the price that matters - it's the doll - and the person owning it. Today she doesn't understand how she could have spend such a huge amount of money on that doll.

 

Exactly. It's all about the right doll, which is not necessarily the 'right now' doll. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, but if your preference is for the more expensive doll, why settle for less? And if your preference is for the more affordable doll, why feel pressured to spend more? Sometimes I really think people should trust their own judgement, instead of worrying what other people think of their dolls

 

Boots, while I take your post as your opinion, I think I have to say that something is worth whatever someone in the free market is willing to pay for it. Just because that $700 doll isn't "worth it" to you, doesn't mean it isn't to someone else. It's great that your friend's happy with their puki, but what if the doll that had been placed in their hands had been worth $1000 and they fell in love? Would you still be happy for them then? It seems quite a condradiction to me to say it's not the price that matters when in the same post, you've already spoken at great length about how to you, it IS the price that matters.

It's interesting really, to see that in the years I've been involved in the hobby, the price really hasn't come down at all. Yes, cheaper companies have appeared on the scene, but the hobby remains an expensive one over all. Most hobbys ARE expensive, all things in.

Personally I think, if you want a "cheaper" doll and you can afford to spare the money, knock yourself out. If you want that $1000 LE and you can afford to spend the money, knock yourself out. It's really got nothing to do with price, if you get a kick out of the $200 doll more than the $600 kind, good luck to you, it hurts no one and variety is the spice of life after all. The galleries would be a boring place if we all had the same dolls and now, unlike when I first began in this hobby, there IS a variety of both dolls and prices, a fact for which I'm eternally grateful!

Just my tuppenys worth

 

I think this paragraph is loaded with assumptions. Assumptions, I might add, that prove the opposite of what I think you wanted to prove.

A person is not spoiled -- much less a spoiled brat -- simply because they own an expensive item. If that was the case, I could call almost everyone here spoiled because their households have a computer.

Being spoiled has nothing to do with the cost of items owned, and everything to do with one's attitude. A spoiled brat expects the world to cater to their whims, expects to get what they want with a minimum of sacrifice on their part. They are unappreciative of the opportunities given to them, and take their possessions for granted. This kind of behavior can be exhibited with inexpensive dolls or expensive ones.

At the end of the day, who is more spoiled? The person who expects the doll market to re-adjust its pricing to fit their personal values, or the person who accepts that if she wants a given item she might need to save up for it? Is it the person who prefers immediate satisfaction, or the person who is willing to wait and work for what they really desire? Is it the person who defines "compromise" as getting an object sooner and reforming one's opinion of it in light of that fact, or is it the person who "compromises" by sacrificing items they want less for the benefit of gaining the one they want more? Is it the person who sees an expensive doll and assumes the owner is a thankless brat who has not earned it herself, or is it the person who paid for that doll with 10 months of overtime? Is it the person who implies that owners of expensive dolls have had a bad upbringing, or is it the person who was taught that making such implications is the height of rudeness?

At the end of the day, everyone has to decide for themselves what is right for their financial situation, and whether or not any particular doll is worth the price. But to extrapolate those judgments onto everyone else, assuming that there is One Truth when it comes to dolls, is arrogant. And that arrogance can go both ways! Neither the owners of inexpensive dolls nor the owners of expensive ones have a monopoly on this sort of negative behavior.

 

In response to the first thread in this post:
lol, I cannot love a doll that is super expensive. Or rather, I can, but I also have a lot more patience when it comes to money. I was raised without a heck of a lot to spare, still don't have much to spare, so the fact that I'm even considering shelling out 300 dollars to spend on -myself- is killing me. I have a hard time calling some of those really nice $800 dolls my "dream doll." The sticker-shock makes them look... well, not worth it. LOL

 

They're not worth that much TO YOU. Your entire argument, when applied to other art forms, implies - to use an extreme example - that a Picasso painting is only worth what it cost to produce the paint and canvas it's painted upon and perhaps some compensation for Picasso's time?

You don't feel that the the $600 is worth $600. That's your opinion, fine, but it is not the absolute truth you seem to feel it is. There are plenty of people who will feel the $600 doll is worth the $600, but the $200 doll isn't worth the $200 even if it is cheaper because it is not what they want and therefore would be a waste of money to acquire.

 

How do you feel about people who restrict themselves to only buying "cheap" dolls. I'm not talking about getting a doll just because it's cheaper, but getting a cheaper one you like, as opposed to an expensive one that you love.Do you feel people should look for their dream doll, regardless of price?
I don't really think it's anything to do with me what people spend their own money on.
I personally would sooner save to have my dream doll than get any doll just to have one.