Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

Maybe she didn't want to be snob. It's ok. And I understand her and your opinion.
Maybe I overreacted a bit.
But: This thread is about allowing yourself to buy a cheaper doll. Not about "can't allow yourself to buy a cheaper doll." But what would you feel if someone tells you, ok forgot your dream doll because you won't have it ever and try someting else?
I think bjd collecting is for everybody and everything is relative. Poor-rich-cheap-expensieve.

 

That's true, I definately think everyone should have the doll they dream of most I guess I was sort of imagining someone constantly buying lots of dolls and clothes that are more than their salary and getting into debt, instead of just a few. But that's probably an instinct because I know a lot of people who have done this instead of based on anything you might do.

 

I think it completely depends on what you want.
You shouldn't "settle" for a doll. It should be the doll you completely want. And if that doll is a cheap doll, then it's a cheap doll. There's not a problem with it if it's what you want.

 

I agree with you. And, no, I didn't mean to sound as though you didn't deserve the dolls you love. Because you do. Read my other posts and the responses to other people in the last few pages (Kateb's, Jessica's and Lelite's especially) if you want to know what I really meant.

I too was not so much imagining someone with a nice wage in their own country who's willing to save up for their hobby (I didn't look at your country.. which is part of the flaw), but some of the people I've seen here on this board who got into serious financial trouble. Sometimes it was because they couldn't afford the dolls they just bought, sometimes it was because they didn't have any savings for emergencies left, sometimes because they thought these dolls themselves could be considered as their savings.

Like Jessica said:

Of course it's also the other way around: If you áre able to cover the essential things in life, you are also making enough money to save for a doll.

EDIT: (for everyone, not just you cinnacinna25) This is by the way the last time I'm commenting on this. Just to make sure people will not respond only on the post that started all this, I've added a few phrases asking them to read what I've said in the rest of this thread. This is to avoid that we keep going in circles, as there's nothing more I can say about it.

 

I really don't have the money for expensive dolls, but even if I did, I know what my first doll is gonna be. She is fairly cheap, and she's a rather small doll--but I still really love her. I don't think to be a part of the community one has to spend your whole paycheck or more for one doll with no wig, eyes, or clothes. Saving for something you love is never wrong though.

 

When I started looking for doll's info, I couldn't believe they were so expensive. Yeah, lovely but expensive. It killed me. Then, I searched lots of pictures and molds and well, they continued being expensive ;_; I almost got hopeless. Then I realized there were cute molds, "cheap" in comparison with the first ones, so I said "okey, if I'm trying this new hobby, it's good for me to look for a affordable doll and see what happens, maybe it's the beginning of something big, but big things start with small ones". That's because I chose a "cute cheap doll". Well, In fact I fall in love with the mold. You only have to make it shine, you know.

And if it doesn't work, well, there would be another doll on ebay, as plain as this. It's just that right now I only want to enjoy with my new hobby and not to think of spoiling my fun

 

This has been a very interesting thread to go through.

I have never been one to dictate to someone what THEY should do...but, I believe it is wise to choose (no matter the cost) what CALLS to you. And I don't mean the random call that a person who buys whatever grabs them at the moment, but really makes a great first impression and long lasting impression.
Let's face it, there are a TON of BJDs to choose from! But no matter what the cost is, wouldn't it be wise to choose a doll that actually MEANS something to you? If it's out of your price range, but really calls to you...save up. That way, you don't end up with dolls that just sit there and don't offer any enrichment or value to you.

Art is very personal. So your choice should mean something to you!

 

Buying a doll that has no value at all to an owner wouldn't make much sense, but when it comes to saving up, it really depends on how far out of a person's price range it is (as doll prices can really get up there) and how long it's going to take to save and if the potential owner feels that that amount of time is worth it. I just don't see a problem with people having limits, and it's easy to say 'just save up' or 'buy the doll you love no matter the cost', but it doesn't mean that waiting and saving is necessarily the right thing for every individual. For a lot of people, cost will matter to some extent, because it's an expensive hobby and people only make so much money and may have quite a few other responsibilities. There are some dolls that I do like and would love to own, but are flat out of my price range, but I can accept that. Not everybody can afford everything they want--that's just the way life goes.

 

True, Taco. I should have added, "within reason". There ARE dolls out there that I don't even ENTERTAIN the idea of saving up for. There are just SO many wonderful dolls...there's bound to be one that is attainable that really grabs your heart! (I just mean, don't settle~~I've always believed in saving up a little at a time to get something special) If the one that really GRABS you is cheaper, then that's GRAVY!

 

To me, my dream doll would have to be near the more affordable options, because even though I could save up for a more expensive doll, I wouldn't feel comfortable spending so much money for it. Buying cheaper dolls is a way for me to be able to participate and enjoy this hobby.

 

My own philosophy is, if I'm going to spend money, I'd rather spend MORE to get what I want than spend a reasonable amount to get something I'm just okay with. If the doll I want is cheaper, that's okay, but if the doll I really want is expensive, I will save up for that doll rather than settling for a less expensive one. ^_^

 

I too am rereading this thread because it is so much what I'm going through as I fall in love with these dolls and keep wanting more. I didn't even know what cheap or expensive was when I started researching them.
Expensive is all relative I guess. To some people, 200.00 to spend on a doll is a LOT of money! I was thinking I was spending a lot on a doll when I was going over 300.00 but I so wanted the doll it just didn't matter. so I agree with everyone who says, it's about loving that doll. but I guess I would have my limits too, about spending more than I can actually afford for a doll. I would really have to fall in love (just me) to spend way past a vague feeling of what is okay for my budget. (I'm not rich either!)
It's somewhat subjective what expensive and cheap is, isn't it?

that being said, I want another doll! now!

 

Interesting thread... ^_^ IMHO - it's fine to be thrifty, as long as you love the doll (and you don't feel like you're settling). Considering that we're seeing more and more 'cheap' BJD's on the market (in the US, anyway) with outstanding facial and body sculpts, I don't think that working with a limited budget is nearly as problematic as it might have been in the past.

Also, you only have to take a quick look at some of the commissioned face-up's and body blushes on DOA to realize that you can take something akin to a blank canvas and turn it into a truly remarkable piece of art.

 

Wow, serious thread.

Everything obvious had already been said, so I'm just gonna tell my own story.

I've seen bjds on pictures before, yes. For me they were pretty pictures, nothing more. I liked looking at them, but wasn't interested at all.
And then I saw Rozen Maiden anime and became a fan of it. Of course, like any other RM fan I was wondering if I can get my favorite doll for myself.
At that time somebody showed me Rozen Maidens from Volks. Yeah, they cost a lot for me, but if I worked hard and saved, I could afford such price after a couple of months. It was my dream, after all. But honestly... I didn't even like them. Even before I've seen the price tag, yeah.
Note for the record - I didn't know anything about bjds then. Companies, average prices, materials, the diversity of dolls... Nothing. And I was completely sure about all this "you get what you pay for" thing. Even from the aesthetics point of view - which was pretty naive, I know. So I thought something like "If these dolls cost so much, the ones I would really like must be insanely expensive". I asked the person who showed me Volks RMs if it was possible to customize the doll I need from a different doll and got something like "well, yeah, but it's gonna cost much more and I doubt you will even get what you want in the end" in response. So I gave up.

And then I met a girl and her Dollzone Hid. I really liked him. I showed her pictures of the doll I wanted and she gave me the link to Dollzone Demi. Her face was exactly what I needed. I didn't care about the price - frankly speaking, it took me a while to realize what did this number written above her mean... Then I started to gather information about bjds, read feedback about Dollzone quality, browsed other sites and didn't find anything better. So I'm waiting for her now.

Yeah, maybe it all does look like I'm making excuses. Honestly, I would be even happier if she was 80cm limited for 1000 or so. But she is not. Well, some opinions in this thread did dissapoint me. Anyway, what can I say... If there will be a situation when the community dissaproves my doll and looks down at her - then I won't need that community. That's simple.

 

I'm a person who has four dolls, none of whom are on my wish list. I bought them a) because I needed models to draft clothes on and b) the price was right. And you know what? I still love them. In fact, I really, really, REALLY didn't want a vampire, but he was the right size and now Florian is arguably my favorite-certainly I'm sewing the most for him! They came, told me who they were, and I cobbled up the money to buy wigs and eyes and shoes for them, sewed for them, wired and sueded and face-uped if necessary. Doing things with them and for them enabled me to bond with them just fine. There are threads on this forum about people who got a doll who wasn't necessarily their dream doll and they personalized them and now love them to bits. And there are a ton of "dream" dolls in the Marketplace, some of them very expensive ones, who arrived, got looked at once and then put up for sale because they weren't what was wanted after all. Or the owner seriously overshot their budget and the cat suddenly needed an operation...

So my take on it is that if you can't afford the doll that you're over the moon about, buy one that you like that you can comfortably afford. You will grow to love it just fine, and you won't be stressed about spending too much money.

 

I don't think price should matter. If you're truly in love with the doll, whether it's $80 or $800, you should get it/save for it. ^^ The doll I want just happens to be relatively expensive, and that's just the way it is! I'll save til she's mine! ♥

 

I agree that you shouldn't 'settle' for a doll, but I think sometimes it's really hard. I'm new to BJDs but, in looking through various dolls and doll companies, I completely fell in love with Dream of Doll's Camine. Unfortunately, his price is a bit more than a I can honestly afford at the moment, even though he's somewhat of a mid-priced doll. I am a poor college student, who only works piddling hours after all.

After looking through other doll companies, I came across the B&G Sharon and decided that he was the first doll I would get (I'm saving up for him now!), given that his price was more comfortably affordable. Does this mean that I'll love him less? I don't think so. Yes, his price is easier to afford for me, but I already have ideas for him, simply from looking at his pictures.

Maybe after I get my Sharon I'll start saving up to buy Camine. I know that I'll get him eventually, whether it's right after Sharon or further in the future. But for the moment, I don't feel like I'm 'settling' for Sharon. I'm excited for the day that I finally save up enough to order him and anxiously await the day that I open him out of his box!

 

Well Kai is a AoD Guaiguai and most people know that he is quite a cheaper doll similar to many of the Angel of Dream dolls. However I adore him. He looks even better now that he has a new outfit.
So sure I could just go and buy another AoD just for "cheap sake". Until I saw the Dollfairyland Eliya. Oh. My. God. My heart melted!! I had to buy her. Shes about 3 times more expensive than Kai. But I cant not have her.
So there is another example of that price really doesnt matter to most people. You know you can see something cheaper that may take your eye but most the time its not the price. More the look.
No offence to some Volks buyers but I find the really expensive ones really strange looking. Plus I have a severe thing for teeth and open mouth dolls. Scares the bejeebus outta me. And most the expensive ones have teeth *cry*.
Though that Soom Euclase doll... now thats an expensive doll I'd shell out on...

 

Ultimately you have to be at peace with the doll you buy. It is ok to buy the lovely ResinSoul Mei if that's the doll you want and it's equally ok to buy the lovely Volks Kurumi if that's the doll you want too! I do have hang ups about the price of my dolls, but I justify the price knowing that the dolls I have are all dolls I love and I would rather that than have a shelf of dolls I simply like.

It doesn't matter if the doll you love is a $80 doll or an $800 doll, either. A lot of people forget that for some people, learning to save up for a doll in the lower end of the price spectrum is an achievement in itself. I know when I was saving it was a big deal for me to not have those chocolate bars as a snack in work and it was tough limiting myself, but I think it was worth it in the end.

Also, some food for thought; I wanted a Volks YoSD from the moment I saw them, I liked the size, I liked the jointing, I thought they were sturdy too, the perfect handbag doll...but instead I bought a Bobobie Cookie. I didn't do any research at all, I just plunged into the sale thinking that the Bobobie dolly would be the same size as the Volks Yo and have the same posing range and everything, only to be disappointed. Had I done my research properly I'd have known that the Bobobie dolls were the same height as LaTi Yellows, not the same height as YoSDs. It would have been in my best interest to read a lot more about the doll I was buying rather than go by the price and think that I was getting a similar product for a better price. If I'd saved my money I'd have got my Yo a lot sooner and I wouldn't have bought a doll that made me unhappy.

And the moral of the story is... be aware of the price tag by all means, but also be aware of exactly what you're buying and then you won't be disappointed.

 

I guess I would be one of the people to settle for the one I'd like rather than the one I'd love- well, It really depends on the situation. I've never had an instance yet where I'd have to choose between two differently priced dolls and consider compromises. I have no source of income, mainly because I'm only 15, and my birthday/holiday money usually goes to games/gifts/online game subscriptions and such. I also don't have a doll yet, so I don't really know how it feels to absolutely fall in love with one I see. (My first one is on its way, but it was a gift. So still, I didn't have to compromise prices in any way.) Either way, I can be very hypocritical when it comes to this. (ie; choosing between two items and/or compromising because of price) If I have the money, but its more expensive, but I really LOVE it, I'll get it. Unless I need the money for something else of equal importance. See what I mean? I'm very indescisive.

tl;dr: Yes I'd compromise for the more affordable doll, this can vary depending on the situation.