Perception of BJDs in other doll circles

I collect other dolls and know people from other collecting circles. Everyone seems open minded and not at all grumbling or upset about the press or attention. They see them as dolls. If they don't like them, they just don't really pay attention. I think the fashion doll world has SO many different dolls and companies, people are used to seeing new things pop up and are not to worried about it. But that is just my perception. I actaully find the BJD community might be less accepting to fashion doll collectors than fashion doll collectors are to the BJD community (and this is just going on various comments on these boards). But it is really hard to tell.

 

I collect antique and vintage dolls too, I participate in a very accepting mixed discussion group. No complaints really. (other than a comment on the price after someone saw a majorly scalped limited fullset)

 

I agree with NabeeRain, other doll collectors seem to be much, much more accepting of BJDs than BJD collectors are of other dolls (or at least the communities of each). Many people complain a bit about the prices, sicne they are certainlya step up price wise from most fashion dolls, but it doesn't seem to be in a mean-spirited way at all, usually they will get upset because they really would like to own a BJD but can't quite afford it. Almost every doll forum I've been a member of will have an off-topic or other dolls section where, among various types of dolls, BJDs are often discussed or pictures of BJDs posted and I've never seen anything but admiration and compliments. For a lot of collectors (especially of asian dolls like Pullip, Momoko, Blythe, etc) BJDs are the "big" doll they aspire to own. I know it's happened quite often that someone will get interested in, say, Pullips because they are cute, lose interest a little and move on to Blythes because they are higher quality and more stylish, and then eventually buy a BJD. It's like the asian dolll ladder, with BJDs as the top rung. XD

I suppose there may be a bit of jealousy over that- the fact the people outgrow other dolls and move on to BJDs, but really I've never seen any hostile posts about BJDs, BJD collectors, or BJD communities. Most people who are already into dolls seem to find them pretty impressive.

 

I belong to several other doll collecting groups -- many of these groups deal with child dolls and some deal with fashion dolls. I find that they are very accepting towards bjds. Most of them look at bjds as just another form of doll that they either like or don't. Barb. (in L.A.)

 

Interesting question! I haven't been involved in the other communities, so I really don't know what they're thinking--BUT, I have Barbies and Genes and artist porcelains and vinyls and Pullips, etc. I would hope they'd think what I think--that BJDs are amazing dolls and something to look into if they're interested.

 

I doubt they would balk at the cost really, misa1, since some antique dolls can fetch $10,000+ . I know someone who makes her owns porcelain dolls, and when I showed her my friend's BJD, and told her it was made of resin, she was quite excited about it (porcelain has its pros and cons, and so does resin!).

I'm sure there would be some really snooty people... But does that really matter? We can't let people's opinions annoy us.

 

Depends upon the collecting circle! I find that most are very tolerant and think they are cool especially with the 15-16" fashion dolls collectors. They like the aspect that 1 doll can be more easily customized just by changing wig, eyes, clothing and accessories. What turns most people off is the price point really. IMHO, I find around here in my area that it is more exclusive Barbie collectors that don't really like BJDs much...you get all the excuses: too big, look creepy, too expensive, too hard to get, etc.

 

I usually skip any blythe, pullip, tonner, etc. articles in fdq/haute doll if they don't appear to interest me any. I presume that other collectors do that with the bjd articles.

 

i'm one of the folks who used to destroy their old barbie dolls, and while i sorta collected procliens they lived in boxes and where stashed away in storage. i never got the -allure- of dolls, painted eyes and faces limited poseability, the infamous ken crocth- why did he have undies that where fresh colored? and part of his body- how could he pee my child mind would ask- that and barbie became what i hated. blonde haired blue eyed big boob'd got all the people to love her was hip, trendy and popular.

ie. the kids who picked on me the popular girls.

i just don't like barbie / i love bratz due to clothes alt. fashions, and there is no single doll in that collection that is the main doll, barbie centers around a white blonde girl- bratz centers around a group of friends from different clutures and backgrounds.

the only -fashion dolls- i like are bratz and be goths. i like pullips but for what they cost i could just save up and buy another bjd.

sorry rambled.

in short. i came to bjds BECAUSE of how different they are. they have -bits- you can pick eyes wigs eveyrthing, you can honetsly take any doll and make it be whatever you want. and good boy dolls who didn't have the ken crocth syndrome.

i guess it depends on teh other collectors.. personaly. i'd love to see this topic asked in other collector fourms, to see what they really think of us you starte dout with bjds, to us spending 2oo to several thousand on a doll is nothing odd.

to them it maybe amazeing to crazy. can't know unless we ask.

 

Most artist dolls cost just as much, if not more, than the average ABJD. I don't think they'd find it any more odd than spending $600 on a Himstedt.

I remember a long time ago, people on certain fashion doll forums would be irritated if someone occasionally posted a picture of their ABJD. They also called them alien dolls.

 

i remeber that! someone on this fourm posted about how they wnet to a doll show and one of the middle aged ladies there started berating her and her bjd. the nerve of some people.

howeve rthese dolls do cost more then say gene dolls ect.

 

I think as a whole most other collectors seem to be tolerant and accepting. However, on a another forum there has been recent backlash towards BJD collectors. This started primarily because the BJD collectors on another BJD board posted their opinions on Tonner's 9" faux BJD. From there it seemed that BJD collectors were being blamed for the decline in the Tonner market.

 

it's our fault tonner is declineing in the market?

-lulz.-

I know the mods here stated that the tonner? I think or another american bjd-plastic- are not allowed on this fourm.

Which I agre ethey are not abjds. there's more to an abjd then being made in asia.

as several artist dolls are allowed here- it's also how they look.

 

Tonner is declining because he's making too many dolls, letting too many other stores have specials making it hard for collectors to acquire some dolls, and producing too many different lines. His prices are going up considerably as well. It's all too much and the seasoned doll collector is more savvy now, buying more for what one likes rather than the need to have an entire collection.

 

I collected porcelain dolls before BJDs... and I got pretty negative comments from a few of the 'mature' ladies when I bought Hayden. They told me no skill goes into casting resin and they wouldn't even pay $100 for him, because he's not even worth that. They also said porcelain was far superior to resin.

Having said that, I did get more positive comments than negative, but that really annoyed me.

 

I've never really been into any other dolls but BJD...but over Memorial day we found this nice doll shop in Cape May, and I chatted with the ladies behind the counter about "Dollfie-dolls." They were very open-minded about it, and even helped me find a new wig for Cam (I believe one of them said she owned a Pullip, but that may be my mind playing tricks on me).

Hiritai-- That's horrible! Nobody should treat other people in a dolly fandom like that--especially to their face! Maybe they were jealous because lovely Hayden is sexier than their dolls. (Hayden fangirl)