Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

I don't buy or not buy dolls because I'm wary of breaking them, I buy them because I like the sculpt. At present, I'm currently collecting Customhouse because once I started on the sales, it was hard to stop. I find that I frequently buy one from a company, decide I like the sculpting and buy more. I recently bought a Lati Red M and would happily keep collecting from them. For $410 with outfit etc, he seems like great value. Customhouse are incredibly cheap. You need to put work in but they're worth it. The opposite can happen, I bought an AoD and a Bobobie, I liked the AoD body but didn't go for the face. I didn't mind the Bobobie face, but wasn't keen on the body so I didn't buy any more and ended up selling the ones I had. Price had nothing to do with it. Ultimately it's whether you like the doll or not. There are a few cheaper companies around at present that I'm interested in buying dolls from. I got hold of a Dragondoll bust today to see if it matched the head of my BJD and it's really nice. I plan to buy one or two bodies in the future. Popodoll, DB dolls, Resinsoul have some interesting ones at present. As long as the sculpt interests me, I'll look at buying them.

 

I wouldn't restrict myself to only cheap dolls, but I'm a fan of being patient. If I know or think there will be a winter sale, I will wait until then to save money. Or if there is another special event, I will buy during that time. If no such thing happens, I will keep saving until I can afford what I want at full price.

I don't think that there's any harm in wanting to save my money when I can (I think the country would be a lot better off if more people for a little more smart with their money...), but if there's no way around it and something is really worth the high cost to me, then I will get it.

 

I have a DOD DOT Camine in a DOT outfit and boots and a resinsoul Ju in a home made outfit and no shoes.

Guess who gets the love!

Camine feels 'finished' to me... like nothing i do can make him any better. He's an ornament who stands on my desk looking pretty. Shadowvixen (Ju) on the other hand is my canvas whom I'm continually making new clothes for... has a detailed backstory and travels with me for photo shoots etc.

The main reason for this is the price tag. Camine was SOOOO expensive that if anything happened to any part of him I'd just die. (I do love him still, don't get me wrong), While Shadow with her thrifty price tag frees me up to play with her and not fus so much if she gets a little scuffed up... which is easy to fix in any reguard.

 

I buy/choose/will buy etc dolls whose sculpt and style I like. If they're on the cheaper end, that's a bonus, not a reason to get them. If they're more expensive, oh well, I'll just have to save up.
'tis how I see it, anyway ^^

 

If they really truly want the more expensive doll more than the cheap one, then I think it's better to wait and save the money for the more expensive one. If you're about tied and want to save abit of money, get the doll faster, etc, maybe then the cheaper one is better to start with. If the decision is weighed on what will make the person happiest than that's whats important, if it's weighed on total cost only, than I think there is a good chance they'll end up wasting their money on a doll they don't even really like that much. And that's a terrible thing.

 

I think that one should go with their feelings of if that doll is going to match the character they r saving for. I mean I got a head from a friend and now am looking for the right body for him because I do have the head that is perfect for him it is him. I do not want to spend over 600 but I will if it is the right thing for that character.

 

That's understandable. When I went to my first meet I was still saving up for my first doll. I loved to see all the dolls (back then there were only a few), but I didn't dare to come close... especially since one of them was a Bermann.
Like I said, it changes when you have a doll and you can find out for yourself how strong they are. I'm still careful with other people's dolls, but I'm no longer terrified of breaking them.

 

I am of the opinion that one should buy what they like whatever the price - expensive or inexpensive does not matter to me, it's whether you like the doll you are actually getting at the end of the day.

As for those that buy cheaper dolls because of budget (myself included here), I feel the vast majority of us are still just as choosy as those who can drop $2000-3000 on a single doll, because we will still only buy dolls we really like whatever price bracket it is in.

It is not always feasible to save up for a doll of a higher price range than your immediate disposable income dictates simply because those who are less well off have higher pressures on their money, and any savings soon get used for things that are really important just for survival. It's funny how the poorest in western societies get higher taxes than the rich in direct percentile to their earnings.

When I was working I was earning £15K PA and when you factor in council tax I was paying about 30% tax each year when my boss who was earning at least twice as much was only paying out about 23% of her wages in taxes.

So for the poorer amongst us it is sometimes not practical to just save up for a more expensive doll - the wealthier you are the more disposable income you have and the easier it is to save up for really expensive things. Now I just wish I had a UK supplier that did layaways...

Phil.

 

I dont think that I will buy expensive dolls anytime soon. When I found Dollzone Luke, I thought he was perfect, its true that I also found other dolls that would be perfect for me, but why would I pay double? Im glad that I ordered the "cheap" Dollzone Luke instead of having to save for another half a year (I dont have a job xD) just to get something I would be just as happy about.

Next time I will order a Bobobie Song, who is perfect for the character I have in mind x]

 

For me personally I won't settle for anything less than exactly what I want. I learned that lesson in a far, far cheaper hobby but it was still a lesson that cost several hundred dollars over time. That and I know I simply won't bond as well with something that I settled for at a lower price - definitely been tempted though, don't get me wrong.

I think in general, it probably depends on the person. They may be pleasantly surprised with how well they bond with whomever they can afford at the time, or it may turn out to be a long lesson in selling and buying due to bonding issues. There's nothing wrong with any of that though, it's a good learning experience regardless of the final results.

 

I have a pretty unique problem. I have the money for an expensive BJD. I am really good with money, and have always had a significant savings. I want to treat myself to something nice, and I want to get the doll I WANT. I have expensive taste, and all the dolls I like are over $300.

The problem I am having is forcing myself to spend the money on the expensive doll I want. It's not a lack of having it, it is really just trying to justify spending that much money on a doll. I could spend that on rent, or food, or a plane ticket/vacation, or vet bills or car payments etc. Knowing that I would be spending that much money on something that is, for a lack of a better word, "frivolous", is very hard for me.

Don't get me wrong. I love BJDs, and I don't judge people who spend thousands on them AT ALL. I just somehow feel like I would judge myself? If that makes any sense. I need to loosen up and give myself permission to splurge on something nice for myself -- and get the dream expensive doll -- but so far I'm not quite there yet :/

 

I have the same problem as nightmaren. I wouldn't consider myself a stingy person, but I'm certainly careful with my money; I always agonize over every purchase I make, trying to decide if I'm getting the perfect blend of quality, quantity, and price. I also ask myself, do I really need this? Am I going to get a lot of enjoyment out of it, or is this a spur of the moment decision that I'll regret later on? Should I be allowed to buy fun things for myself sometimes, or do I need to be saving up for important things?

However, when it comes to BJDs, it's rather impossible to be cheap. These are good quality dolls and people are willing to spend the $ on them, so they're never going to be cheap. In this way it makes it a little easier for me to justify buying an expensive doll-- I'm going to be saving up for a while anyway, so why not wait the extra month and get my favorite doll rather than "settling" for the less expensive one? I don't actually have a BJD yet, but this is how I am with any other big decision purchases. I'm always a lot happier when I splurge on something that ends up being absolutely perfect rather than having a little extra money to show for something that's never going to be as good as what I wanted.

On the other hand, if you honestly will be just as happy with a less expensive one, then power to you! It's all a matter of balancing personal enjoyment with relative price. Besides, there's no one saying you can't eventually have both!

 

I also have a problem with dropping lots of money on things, the other day I was shopping for a lunch box for work, and couldn't bring myself to spend $10 on something when I can use an old plastic bag and it do the same thing. It makes me wonder if, once I save up enough for my first doll (I haven't yet decided who I'm saving for, although I have started saving) I will be able to actually complete the purchase?

I never used to be a cheap person but the last two years have been very trying when it comes to money, so I think I would have a hard time buying a more expensive doll, especially as a first time purchase.

 

if you like, money isn't a factor. but if you're poor can't be helped.

 

I used to think BJD's were nice, but really not for me perse. It was enough to look at them on line occasionally. that was as far as my desire went. Untill I one day stumbled onto a photo series on BBB Mei.

Love at first sight I tell you! So i realize she is "cheap" but to me it was the sculpt and the petiteness of her body. Now if she would just hurry up and get delivered!

 

Back in 2005-2008 when I had more money I have bought more than one Super Dollfie that cost between 800-900, and one around 900, but there was this Custom House doll I wanted on that major auction site that cost 1000, and I never got him because I just coundn't do it . I could come up with 800, or 900, but not more, lol, I guess it's kinda funny. One of my fav dolls to this day is an aod doll I got in 2007 straight from the makers for uneder 300, I think it was right arond 2, but I forget the exact price.I love my Dollzone 70cm, and some of their other dolls and comparitively speaking they are not an expensive company

 

I essentially have no money (no job... living with parents... trying to make it through university... you know, that situation lol), so I probably would try not to buy the more expensive dolls (even if I end up loving the doll, I'd still feel like I wasted my money and could have spent it more wisely...), but if I don't like a doll's appearance, I won't buy it just because it's inexpensive. If I love the doll AND I can afford it AND I feel I won't regret it, then I'll buy it.

 

First of all, I profoundly believe that it's not the price, or even the "quality" your purchase, but the amount of creative labor you put into the doll which makes it precious. But for the argument's sake, I think there is a danger of spending more money on several less expensive dolls to substitute for your "dream doll." Think about it, the price of three $200 dolls with accessories is approximately the same as a full set LE. Unless each of those three dolls makes you happy, the money's spent, and the dream is as far as it's even been. Just sayin'! (BTW, you is a figure of speech, nothing personal)

 

I think it varies from person to person. Some people may grow to love a certain doll through the extensive time spent working on it. Some may love a doll because it's a breathtakingly beautiful fullset and they don't have to struggle with it. There are others who fall in the middle and enjoy doing some things to their dolls like faceups, but having to do too many things like suede joints, restring, do mods, etc...might frustrate them.

I'm one of those people who wants a quality doll rather than a project. If I know I can make a doll gorgeous and with good quality by working on it, then I'll enjoy the work (such as a doll I really wanted, but it's dyed, stained, or has some fixable damage)but if it's a low quality doll that needs a lot of work just to be "ok" then I don't want it. I did have a doll one time that was so poorly constructed that each time I worked on it I just hated it more and more. I completely resculpted her torso joints, did a ton of epoxy modding, and it still wasn't enough to make her what I would have liked. (I would have had to actually sand OFF all her joints and sculpt completely new ones, as well as sculpting new hands) I would personally reccomend buying a quality doll, but not everyone gets into the hobby for the same reasons.

 

Good point. I'm still relatively new to the hobby and right now it's all about experimentation for me.