Only allowing yourself to buy "cheaper" dolls?

*laughs at "snork-ing" above*
I too wonder about the Dollzone thing. They have a very particular stylized look to them. I see lots of young people have them... I never thought too hard about it, but I always thought they *did* like them. They look like anime-character boys, after all... Young people seem to like that sort of thing? I dunno.

But anyhow. I have/had expensive dolls and I own a Dollzone BB too. I wanted a cheap tiny that was similar to a Yo. I love her stylized face, I love it that she's cheap. I buy her inexpensive things (I think it's funny when I see Dollzones in Volks clothes for some reason). She's also my little Chinese dolly who gets cute Chinese made/styled clothes. So I think it's actually possible to love cheaper dolls.

^_~
Raven

 

what I find interesting about this thread is the way people imply that they've been the victims of classism, when in my observation the only time anyone says anything unpleasant about cheaper dolls is in threads like this.

maybe I just haven't seen the classism in action elsewhere, being a new member with a middle-of-the-road doll, but I always think it's a little funny reading people's impassioned defenses of their cheaper doll purchases when I don't know that anyone's ever said to them "what, you have a dollzone? pssh!"
methinks the lady doth protest too much, much? I can certainly understand how one could take Kim's perspective, and wonder if those speaking out are trying to convince others or bolster their own conviction that they bought for love.

of course, as someone who wanders around looking at companies because they happened to be mentioned, and often only notices the price tangentially after looking at several sculpts, I can also well believe that love for a sculpt can be unrelated to price. and that's proof that I like to sit on fences.

 

Well I think people are probably being defensive in this thread for the same reason that others are expressing their distaste: It's here, it brought up the issue, and they want to contribute.

Also, so far as love vs. like goes--eh. If a person intends on getting the 'loved' doll later anyway who cares? Nothing will stop them from loving a liked sculpt once it becomes their own. That is, nothing that wouldn't stop them from loving a loved sculpt.

Besides, owning one doll can perversely making affording the next doll faster if you have a modicum of sewing/painting talent, you know?

 

Wow, there are a lot of very ignorant, exceedingly presumptuous blanket generalizations being made in this thread. I am not a child, I am not a dependent of my parents. I am educated, professionally employed and decently compensated for my work. I own Dollzones, I bought them because I wanted them. I wouldn't keep them in my house if I didn't love them and enjoy them just as much as the dolls I've dropped $500+ on.

The purpose of this entire thread seems to be more about validating the owners of 'expensive' dolls than any sort of true discourse. I find it disturbing that there seem to be a number of people avidly waiting, if not prompting, people to step forward and say 'alright, I admit it, I'm a cheap bastard, please forgive me.'

If it bothers you that there are people that derive just as much enjoyment from their 'cheap' dolls as you do from your 'expensive' ones, then have the stones to admit it. Talking around it just makes you look look like an ass.

 

...wow, got a chip on your shoulder there?

I had actually gotten the opposite impression of the thread - that its purpose was to reassure people that it was okay to have a cheap doll. (It is okay, but no one should need anyone else to tell them that).

 

Honestly? I was thinking the same thing about you.

 

my decision for my first doll was to buy my dream doll, a tender shall... but then i saw someone's arrival pictures of a buddy doll april. She made my heart throb with that smile of her's and she happened to be cheaper. Well, my point being, I spent the cheaper amount buying the 2nd best dream doll of mine, and I'm extremely happy and although i would die for a Tender shall, she just isnt in my price range for now.

i say buy the doll that is in your price range but is still a top fave, otherwise, you'll feel sorry for your purchase.

 

Callin' it like I see it, without needing to smack anyone in the face with my financial state, age, or credentials.

I couldn't care less what other people own or how much they spend. I enjoy seeing people enjoying their dolls. *shrugs* What the rest of the dollery is doing really has no bearing on my enjoyment of my own dolls. If I'm an elitist by your definition, I don't feel particularly bad about it.

 

Your opinions , obviously, but quite wrong in a lot of cases I am sure (also quite right in some cases no doubt ! LOL!)

I for one do not fit your sterotyping of cheap dolls and their owners. I have a wide range of dolls from AoD to Volks. I have fallen in love with every one of them and would never buy a doll just because it was cheap, neither do I slap awful faces on them, I try my hardest to do a very good job. Nor do I buy cheap clothes that look awful. I do try to make nice things as well as shell out good money on clothes to make them look good. You certainly can't beat spending money on a good pair of boots! God I love their shoes!

You mention dollzone- I guess because they were one of the first cheaper lines- well I love Shadow / Ling ( or is it Wing can't remember right now) I think he has a great, expressive face. They are quite stylized dolls, but people actually like that about them- of course there are a lot who buy them because they love them- to say otherwise is demeaning peoples personal taste. we all have doll makes we love and we hate- shock horror, I don't like LUTs very much, I find them very pointy- but I still see how people do like them ( and I do like Soony- my hubbie has one).

Of course there are people that buy cheap dolls because they are cheap, but also people DO fall in love with the dolls, My AoD chen is stunning to look at- I couldn't resist buying him. The next doll I want is about 3x his price- but they are equally beautiful.

You can tell a difference between him and, say, my volks, but considering the price difference, it is to be expected. the resin is lovley- he is just lighter to hold.

there are plenty of "expensive" dolls that are made to look cheap, given horrific face ups and paraded around like " gods gift" and dressed in an old sock- now THAT makes me sad!

xx

 

Hm, I don't quite see how refuting a stereotype falls under that heading. But hey, maybe I needed a little smiley face to clarify.

That sounds good, and yet you've stated some strong opinions, including implying that people were being 'PC' if they didn't agree with a few of the more outspoken posters. That tends to say to me that you do care. So which is it?

 

maybe I missed something in the earlier pages (I admit, I hopped around a little), but I don't see what you're complaining about in armeleia's posts, mosaicwolf. unless what you mean by

is this line

which I think is a valid point...ad hominem argument is not a valid debate tactic, as I'm sure you'd agree were it leveled at someone you wanted to support.

this kind of makes me want to go through the whole thread and take an accurate count of who has weighed in as a) supporting people buying cheap dolls for financial reasons, b) supporting people who buy cheap dolls for sculpt reasons, or c) disbelieving people who say they buy cheap dolls for sculpt reasons. and perhaps d) not supporting the purchase of cheap dolls for any reason...which I don't know that I've seen anyone say.

 

If you read my posts, I've basically said three things.

1. People can buy whatever they want.
2. Not everyone likes the cheaper dolls because of a) their unique aesthetic and b) their prolific numbers on-forum.
3. People should be allowed to say that they don't like cheap dolls even if other people don't want to hear it in this thread.

Personally? The fact that you have them only means that I'm less likely to click your gallert post unless it has an interesting title, or if it's linked to me by a friend. I'm not going to PM you and tell you I'm going to break your dolls, and I'm not going ignore your opinions because OMG you have a Dollzone. I'm not attracted to the aesthetic, but it has no bearing on anything else.

However, I find getting in people's faces and telling them that not liking something makes them an ass very unattractive and not particularly condusive to a good discussion... nor does it cast your side of the argument in any sort of positive light. (TBH, I'm not sure what your argument actually is - "I do it and I'm different, so therefore none of you are ever right to think anything otherwise ever of anyone?")

 

^^ Dollzones aren't even really the "cheap" dolls anymore, with the other new Chinese companies out.

I tend to think the less expensive dolls can be just as nice. A good faceup, sweet clothes, and some awesome photography and you can't even count the dollar signs anymore. I'm not even sure I think the more expensive dolls are "better."

 

I never said not liking something made someone an ass. I said talking around it, attempting to couch negativity in false politeness, makes them sound like an ass. And forgive me, I'm multitasking so I'm not going to trawl back through the thread, but the general statements made about 'cheap' doll owners were that they were looking for starter dolls, that they were buying them only because they were cheap, and some other rather uncomplimentary generalizations. What I said at the beginning of my first reply was that I was disturbed by the presumptions and blanket generalizations being made. Then I followed that up by making statements of fact that contradicted the blanket assumptions.

What else can I clarify for you?

 

Most of my dolls are "cheap". My first doll was my Obitsu, because I saw them and was amazed at how posable they are. My boy's a little stained (especially his feet, but who sees feet?) but I wouldn't trade him for anything. I have an El head on an AoD body, and I'm planning on getting another one of their bodies soon. They're nice, pose well, and speed up the time that I have floating heads around.

I found my dream doll for a reasonable price too. I have a Rasendou head I paid somewhere between $100-150 on, and found an oldskin body for him for about the same amount on Y!J.

For me, I just haven't seen any really expensive dolls that have called to me. (The vampire heads of CP limiteds aside, you can usually find those for fairly reasonable prices...) You couldn't pay me to take a Bermann, he's just "eh" to me; but at Anime Iowa I saw some stunning AoD minis in really cool outfits the girl made. (She also won an award for her costume, so it was much nicer than a sock dress)

What I'm trying to say is everyone has their own priorities. I like nice heads on well-posing bodies. If Obitsu matched anything I'd have a legion of Obitsu-bodied CP heads. I don't look down on anyone unless they come off as a total idiot. Even if they have a crappy faceup and bad clothes, if they're trying and care about their dolls I'd probably like them better than someone who rubs their $1000 limited in your face.

 

There are the occasional people in real life and on the net that can be very unpleasant about certain dolls, companies, etc. However, the vast majority seem to be very friendly. I've never been afraid to post pics of a doll or take a doll to a meet because of people's reactions. I'd rather give people the benefit of the doubt that they can behave like adults, than constantly worry whether or not my doll will be accepted.

I think the problem is with perseptions. It is easy to make assumptions about other people, especially since it's not easy to really get to know someone on a big forum such as this. People assume that others don't like their doll because it's inexpensive while others worry that people will think them elitist for owning expensive dolls which can lead to a sort of preemptive snottiness on both sides. Threads like this tend to stir things up since people naturally become defensive about the things they care about.

 

I personally don't like Dollzone...a bit too square for me...but i love Angel of Dream and Luts, and Pipos...but i don't like Volks becasue i don't like what they look llike etc.

See something???? i don't care about the price. Price does matter for me sure...but i just don't like some companies but love others...just like everyone else.

To not like a company based on $$ is just stupid in my opinion and shows a lot of ignorance on your part.

 

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? Or is it "okay" for people to restrict themselves to only buying cheaper dolls?

I am a person whose first doll was a "cheaper one I liked", rather than the more "expensive one I loved". When I decided to purchase my first ABJD, Elf El was just being offered through CP's rep Liria, and when I saw pictures of him, I couldn't imagine a more perfect doll. But being nervous, and never having seen one of these dolls in real life, I looked around, and decided upon Tender Too from Dream of Doll. At the time Dream of Doll was looked upon by some as the cheap alternative you got when you couldn't afford Volks, the same way that the less expensive Chinese dolls are now viewed by some.

One face-up and a pair of pointy Apoxie Sculpt ears later, and Dio was, and still is, the prince of my little world, regardless of his $200.00 price tag. I don't think I could ever let him go.

Although I didn't exactly "settle" for my T.Too, (since he was on my short list of choices and for me, did have the same aesthetic as CP El), I did chose him because of his price tag, but have not regretted having him instead of the shiny Elf El I was considering (plus, I am never tempted to sell him in times of money need ).

As far as aesthetics go, most companies have a few sculpts I like and a lot of sculpts that I do not care for regardless of price, so if someone was restricting their doll purchases to only the more inexpensive doll lines, I wouldn't assume it was because of price. If someone offered to trade my Dio for a Super Dollfie Cute, I wouldn't do it, even though there is a $400.00 price difference.

The thing I am seeing more in the hobby is that less people are into customizing their dolls, so if you can afford to purchase a Volks limited with a nice face-up and outfit, versus an Angel of Dream with the default purple face-up and sock clothing, which doll is going to be more impressive out of the box? If Satoko Ohno customized an Angel of Dream doll, and BtSSB or h.Naoto designed an outfit for it, would that doll now be viewed differently? Would that sculpt become more desirable if people saw it's potential? Personally, I never saw the deal with Volks School Head A, and didn't understand why people would bid crazy money for one until I saw Satoko Ohno's vision, (who is now owned by JennyN) and was convinced that I could, in fact, like that sculpt... a lot.

As for "dream dolls", I've seen quite a few of those in the market place during the three years I've been on this board, so how dreamy could they have been? You sell your "starter" doll, you sell your "dream" doll, what is the difference? In the end, they are dolls you chose not to keep, regardless of the price you paid to get them. And I still have and love my cheaper, second choice for a first doll Dio

 

I certainly would view it differently than I would the default one out of the box. It is entirely possible to make one of the more inexpensive dolls look just as expensive as any of the brands that do cost more. It just rarely happens and when it does, gets lost in the sea of the ones who aren't given the same treatment and look cheap next to it. The same thing can happen vice versa as well, as I have seen plenty of cheap looking CP and Volks dolls.

I would also be quite amused as a Satoko Ohno faceup is generally more than an entire AoD doll. Possibly be impressed that someone was ballsy enough to do it. But that's the crux - again, most of these dolls aren't given the same finishing a lot of the more expensive dolls are given. If someone's willing to spend $1500 on just their doll, they're also more likely inclined to commission an excellent artist to paint their doll, purchase or commission the well fitted designer clothing, and use high quality eyes.

 

Throughout the melee of this debate, I think Salamander is right, I don't think I've seen anybody say that they don't support the purchase of cheap dolls for any reason. Seems like almost everyone here has been fundamentally agreeing that the treatment of the doll is more important than its price.

The thorny bit seems to be: How much does the price-point of the doll seem to influence its treatment? Kim's point about a hypothetical Satoko Ohno Angel-Of-Dream doll (treatment more expensive than doll itself) is well taken. With somebody who is willing to spend such silly money on 'just a doll', that doll is more likely to be well-finished and better-presented. No matter the price of the doll in question.

If the dominant trend on DOA was opposite-- say, a huge influx of fabulously-outfitted Dollzones with Ohno faceups-- this debate would be totally different. Instead, it'd be something like, "Is the recent swarm of cheap dolls in expensive couture faceups ruining everyone else's chance of getting an Ohno paintjob"? ^^ I for one would enjoy seeing this alternate universe. Imagine: if you only have to spend $250 on your doll, you can use the rest of your thousand dollars to buy Gumdrops eyes & an Ohno paintjob for it. Expensive dolls would be liketotally SO out of style. Volks owners would have to have a support-alliance. However (reality-check), this is not currently the case. In reality, there are more cheap-looking cheap dolls up in our Galleries than expensive-looking cheap dolls.

If you actually have the time and energy and moral endurance for it, please do! I should be curious to see the breakdown.

The actual points of the debate got lost pretty early in the swamp of emotion & self-righteousness, and they only get buried deeper as we go. Since it is a debate thread, it's expected that people would bring to the table their own reasons (or questions) why they like/dislike the very decision to buy cheap/expensive. I haven't seen anyone specifically dissing anyone else's doll, or anyone's favorite doll company, or anyone else's reasons for buying what they bought-- or any other owner, for that matter, until the tone got lowered with a blanket assumption ending in "you look like an ass".

And here's a head start for your count: At least 4 people so far, on both sides, have already said that they've encountered beautifully-turned-out Dollzones or AODs in amazing outfits, AND badly-turned-out Volkses in sockdresses. Sounds like that argument should've already been absorbed, but people still don't seem to be hearing it.