Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

Well, I actually have a "price limit" on the amount I can spend on a doll. I asked my Dad if I could save up for an Iplehouse Gentle Soori and he said, "Not over $600." He was well over that price. But I was able to find another doll I fell in love with, a CP Delf Shine.

If you love the inexpensive doll, then go for it! It all depends on your thoughts on them. However, I don't think you should simply buy the doll because it's "cheaper". If you'd like a doll in a higher price range I think you should save for it, no matter how long it takes!

 

I can relate...
When window-shopping for dolls, I like to just pick dolls as normal; for how much I like them, rather than how much they cost. Then I take that list and order it from favorite to least favorite... Then take that list again and order it by price. Using those two lists, I make a sort of average to determine which doll is my next goal.
If I came across two dolls I liked equally, I'd go for the cheaper one. But if I was choosing between a Bobobie and a Luts, I may choose the Luts because while it's more expensive, I like it more and want it more than the Bobobie.
Those were both hypothetical, by the way.
My system sounds a little complicated but it works for me ^_^

 

I do not really look at the price of a doll until I have decided 'that is the one' that I want. Then I plan on how to purchase her or him.

I have noticed that the doll I have and the doll I want are considerably less than most of the "high end" dolls but it is only because I have fallen in love with a cheaper doll before knowing the cost.

 

i think it depends on the reason your getting a cheap doll! reason one would be getting a cheap doll because you just want to "have one" but you don't want to spend the money. reason two would be because you might not have a lot of money. not all people have amazing parents that buy dolls for them or what not! and reason three is because they fell in love with the cheaper doll! i am reason three lol i have looked at pricy dolls off of awsome sites but none caught my eye like the B&G Sapphira who is a very good price!

 

I personally restrict myself to cheaper dolls because for me its just silly to think about saving money for a $800 when i could pay a months rent and my utility bills with that much money. Its unrealistic of me to do this period the end so thats my thought about it. IF you have the money and your single dont need to take care of others and so on have at it but keep your prioitys straight and do what you need before you spend your money on a hobby.

 

Before i was into BJDs, I bought offtopic dolls that were around $100 on average and even had an old one that was hard to get that I paid $300. They fit barbie clothes and you could do some customizing... then oneday it dawned on me, that the amount I'd spent on those dolls and their clothes... I could own a few BJDS instead if I had had the patience to save up to begin with. I was very irritated with myself and remedied that by selling them off and putting the funds to other things. Responsibilities should always come first, but if you're going to enjoy a hobby don't be stingy because you'll probably regret it, have some patience and get what you really want.

 

I often fall into the trap of buying a cheap doll that's only "OK" because it's cheap and I feel like I want another doll right now. These dolls are never satisfying and always end up sold (and at a loss too!). I would definitely discourage anyone from doing this, especially if you're an artist and every artistic, engineering, and anatomical flaw drives you crazy. Save up for the doll you really want and do lots of research beforehand.

 

I personally think it's really rude to discriminate anyone who has 'cheap' BJD's...it shouldn't matter how much they cost, if the doll makes you happy and you can express your artistic ideas and creativeness on to them, price should never be an issue! Anyway, not everyone has bucket loads of cash to spend on the more expensive ones, and some people are in a situation where it would take way too long to save the money for an expensive one..
As long as you like the 'cheap' doll, then no one has the right to be horrible to you ^^ If you just bought a cheap one even if you don't like it, then that's not really the best idea, because you've wasted a substantial amount on something you'll come to resent because it isn't your dream doll >.<

 

Discrimination is not the norm on this forum.

 

Waaaay back in the murky depths of this thread, somewhere, I *think* I posted that I tend to only get cheaper dolls. Man have I ever blown that away this year. O_o

The flip side of the coin turns out to be that sometimes the very expensive ones aren't especially satisfying, either! I'd have to say again - and this time with more experience to back it up, even - that the price of a doll does not necessarily say anything about how much you'll enjoy it.

And THAT ought to be the only thing that matters!

 

I think it's a good idea for people to build up to more expensive dolls. It's so that, if they don't particularly like the doll, the haven't spent as much as if they'd bought a $1000 doll. I see myself doing this, first with MSDs that cost roughly $300, and then working my way up to an SD-size. It just seems right to me. Though I do want a PukiPuki or some tiny doll.

 

I don't really care, its their money they can do what they want.
but I think I would rather have a doll that I love then a doll that
I just "like" even if its cheaper. If you get a doll that you just like that money goes towards it,
rather then using or saving it to buy the doll that you love. I will not buy a doll that I just like
absolutely not no matter how cheap it is! I have to love the doll to buy it. But of course if you love both the cheaper
and expensive one equally then get the one you can afford first.

 

Coming from a family who hasn't ever had any extra money (single parent, two kids..you know the drill) I honestly couldn't see myself having any "expensive dolls"

But I've lucked into my two boys that I ordered..Long story short, I was in a wreck and I got my insurance settlement that was for a lot more than I thought..so I got my boys. It sounds funny, but it really was exciting for me. Although I do have a messed up back, I will have two friends to make me feel better hahaha

My other doll, my Nara, of course is cheaper because she's a tiny little anthro. I had no problem buying her awhile back because she was so easy to afford. It felt good to be able to get one I actually LIKED that was affordable.

Granted, I think most of us can agree that the more expensive ones tend to be more appealing but when it comes down to it..You may like the way a corvette looks but that Mitsubishi is a heck of a lot more affordable and it gets the job done. While you may ogle the corvette, you love your Mitsubishi and it gets the job done for you. :P You can still wash it, paint it, and put nice air fresheners in it..

Actually, that might be a silly reference. I'm not sure XD

 

Don't know if I said anything here in this thread already, but if so, you can always add this to whatever I said.

Expensive doesn't always equal Best Doll Ever.

Just because this doll over here is $800, and this doll over here is $150, does that mean I have to buy the $800 one because it costs more? I never like people saying that you 'settle' or 'confine' yourself to getting less expensive dolls. This hobby wasn't based on keeping up with the Jones's by having dolls that cost tons and tons of money. Just because you have a couple of dolls that cost almost a grand, and I have a couple that go up to only $300, does that mean I'm limiting myself in any way? Or could it just be because these are dolls I like? Do I become a legitimate BJD hobbyist by having to put out big bucks for a doll I'm not that crazy about?

Calling a doll 'cheap' infers, in my opinion, that it's low-quality and not as good as more expensive dolls. And even though I've had very limited doll experience, I've come to know through other outlets that cheaper doesn't always equal low-quality. A lot of times, the cheaper ones are more no-nonsense, get-the-job-done-types that end up being better than the ones that cost and arm and a leg, with all the bells and whistles. Not to say more expensive can also be good depending on what it is.

But a doll's a doll - resin is resin.

Saying someone's limiting themselves to buying 'cheaper' dolls may make doll owners who happen to own less expensive dolls that their dolls aren't as good as more expensive dolls.

I hear a lot how people shouldn't limit themselves when it comes to their dream doll, but does it mean my dream doll HAS to be something pricey? When did dreams cost so much?

 

Absolutely not! Though do note the advice you're giving here in regards to this:

It goes both ways, honestly. There's not really a 'should' or 'shouldn't' here when getting a first doll -- or any doll -- beyond the barest basics of 'do so ethically, legally, and within your budget'. If the doll someone wants is the $1k doll and they can get it ethically, legally, and within their budget, getting something that isn't what they want first is... well, it doesn't quite work.

My 'first doll' was actually two. (Ow.) They were the only girls in a size that was the size I wanted -- and I knew they were perfect for what I wanted them for. Still are, bless 'em. (Shame I haven't actually gotten back to that sewing thing... )

 

I wasn't aware that a thousand odd dollars is expensive for a dream, but you're right. The monetary value of the possession shouldn't affect your perceived value of it. But dream dolls tend to be expensive because people tend to need to dream. If that something is just out of reach, it's more exciting than if it's in your hands. The thrill of the chase, so to speak. And sometimes, as people acquire their 'dream dolls', they end up finding new ones to lust over, considering how many companies have popped up, and how often new dolls are released nowadays.

Back on topic, though...

Looking at my collection now, I would say, yes, I have been limiting myself to 'cheaper' dolls, as far as I'm concerned. Except for my damned Chalco which I waffled about for way too long and had to find a second-hand body for, the rest of my dolls are under $1000. Chalco gave me a lot of a headache, because he was just that much more expensive because I wanted his clothes as well. Anything over $1000 is more or less automatically excluded from my price range... at least, until I start working, probably.

 

Most of the people in this hobby have a lot of spare cash compared to the average joe who barely makes ends meet let's be upfront about this! For whatever reason, I seriously doubt anyone on here is on the breadline. If they are then maybe they should reprioritize and put the money toward their next meal and keeping a roof over their heads rather than buying expensive luxury items like dolls.

Having said all that some people have a budget for their hobby and buy what they can afford. That shows willpower to my mind. Especially when all around you people are snapping up the latest must-have all whistles and bells limited release. We may all hanker after those shiny glamourpusses but if a person sets themself a limit and sticks with it they will probably love their "cheaper" dolls as much as the next person...

That's if they are actually in it for the dolls. I have met some people who seem to need to have what everyone else has, I'm not sure those people will ever be happy.

 

The doll I've finally bought (my first one) IS a cheap doll, but she was the one I fell for. I don't even like some of the more expensive ones, I think some of them are really ugly. But at the same time I also find some of the cheaper dolls equally ugly.
I think it's important that you buy the doll you really love. The one you keep going back to look at, regardless of price.

 

(Off thread topic, really, but I hope you share pictures of Lura when you get her, Barmy Bunny! I can quite understand falling for her, she's awesome, but I don't think there's any owner pics yet.)

 

I don't ever see myself buying dolls that cost $1000. I just can't see myself falling in love with a doll that costs so much.