"PRETTY please?": the art of obtaining.

I'm obsessing BJDs for years but I don't have the fund to buy one so when I graduated and finally got a job...(after 4 years)...I did the following:

Problem #1: Getting the BJD
- Oogle BJD sites
- I was doomed at Iple House >___<
- Checked my Bank Savings (TwT not enough...not even close)
- Tried to show parents
Me: Look Ma! It's cool right? ^__^
Mom: Oh! That is so pretty! How much is that?
note: My mom likes dolls too, but she settles on something more...cheaper (_ _)
Me: *Scroll up to the Price page*
Mom: *gasp* It's pretty alright but not worth it! Close that page and let's just eat...
Me: T_____T
Note: I know it's futile
- Tried for a loan...It WORKS!!!!

Problem #2: Introducing to Parents/Family
- Wrote Iple House and asked them if I can put a greeting card on my parcel so it may look like it came from my boyfriend ^0^
- They said yes and I went to the nearest post office to mail the greeting card "from my boyfriend"
- When shipped...my mom was like "Did it really came from *boyfriend's name*? When I said yes and showed her the card, she was all over my doll ^0^
note: My boyfriend was a little mad because he said I used his name with out permission...ahahhaa...

That is how I got my little piece of heave It takes a lot of work but I love her to bits!

Now, I'm obsessing on how to get another doll to accompany her =___=

 

LoL hey Acrylic! I remember you! I'm also a member of MM

I wish your mom won't have a heart attack when she sees the prices XD My dad got on a fit when I told him to check on Volks USA when he was in LA He was like a raving mad grizzly bear...ahahahaha...after that, I tried not to ask him about that ever again...

I don't know how he will react when he sees my Nayumi XD

 

I'm an adult...So while i might be considerate, and let my significant other know of my plans, If i want a doll, and i have the money and bills are paid, i'm pretty much buying it with or without his blessings. I make my own money, therefore, i buy what i want, when i want. LOL Simple as that.

 

'and i made you FLAN'
LOL yummy! n_n

i know how that is xD
mine went something like this:

me: hey i wanted to ask, can i have 500 dollars?
relative: what? no =_= if i had the money id give it to you but i dont have
it now.
me: ok its fine

later that day i got a call from my brother in law that we got another
side job, we build sheds for people, so i went to work that week and SHuuuUZZAAAMMM~!
money in HOT POCKET~! ;D

 

This thread is amazing!

Ok for me it was two parts stress one part boyfriend of the year and one part destroy local post office.

Step one: fall in love with dolls
Step two: talk about dolls till friends think your mad
Step three: put together budget plan to save up and get doll
Step four: sigh every time you think about how slowly pile of money in savings is going up
Step five: doll goes on sale, still dont have enough money, bash head for several hours
Step six: boyfriend sees you bashing head asks why
Step seven: boyfriend is wonderful and has sparkly new job and so out of no where offers to get you doll for birthday which is two months away.
Step eight: love boyfriend more, order doll
Step nine: wait for what feels like an eternity till doll arrives
Step ten: drive with a friend from campus to go get doll, starts pouring, run inside and parentals offer snacks!
Step elven: open box in excitement
Step twelve: stare in mute horror for several minutes at the back of dolly's head which is broken.
Step thirteen: cry
Step fourteen: pictures lots of them, contacting dealer, asking for advice and getting the dealer to replace head cap
Step fifteen: waiting....again....

I can't complain too much though, he may be broken but not in a way that can't be repaired and he is still here, with enough in my savings for me to play with. Unexpected wonderful gifts of things you were going to pay for yourself are the best. Especially when they are beautiful and cuddly.

 

This is how mine went:
-Random day seating in my room doing homework
-Sister comes running in telling me she wants a doll for chirstmas
-Me thinking she's going though another one of her "phases" and telling her to get out I'm busy
(But she stays and takes over my computer)
-She shows me the Dream of Doll website
-Frist thing I notice is the price, that's when I freak out and know that she has definitely gone insane
-Sister tries to convince me they're worth it
(Because she knows without my help she wont be able to get one)
-She then starts showing me the different DOT dolls
-Seeing she still isnt convincing me she shows me owner pictures on DA

Thats when I see a picture of Ivan and Kirill and absolutly fall in love! After that I start looking at other websites till I go back to dream of doll and see DOC Si and know that he is the one. So 3 weeks later I tell my parents I need there Visa and show them the website, my mom thought they were cute and sence it was my money she didnt care about the price but my step-father freaked out. But I still ended up ordering him that day, using the money I was saving up for college to pay for him (I know bad thing to do).

Now I'm waiting for him to get here and my sister is kind of mad at me for getting one before her but she's really bad at saving up money and doesn't seem to like them enough to actually do resreach on them she just thinks there pretty things to look at so she'll get over it in no time.

 

The key to convincing a parent is to save up a chunk of the money by a holiday or your birthday, and then one day go '...mommy, I know you love me lots and you spent a lot of money on a TV, once, and they're just pretty to look at, and the Mona Lisa is worth billions and is just pretty to look at...but this -pulls out image- is pretty to look at, customizable, and please help me pay for it for birthday/holiday because you love me?' Worked well for me on my first doll. Second time around, I was like, psssh, I dun need her help. And she ended paying shipping out of not being able to stand watching me not spending money on anything. your mom feels cruddy when you go by a little place with sweets and buy nothing (112 pounds of straight up black hole that consumes everything in its path right here).

 

Wow, I did this wrong because I'm supposed to be working on AP stuff. Anyways, this is how it went down...
-Friend finds BJD and emails other firend at like, 3 am. Other friend is a much more dedicated, researchy person, and shows photos of the doll she starts to save up for at school, to me.
-Researches and starts to half arse save for a doll I thought was pretty
-Sees other doll and finds it way more gorgeous and does tons of stuff to gather money.
-Birthday approaches, and my mom asks what I'm saving for.
-Mom sees, and sees price, and realizes I'm pretty logical and frugal, so this is something I seriously want. Mom actually bought me doll for my birthday (I love that woman).
-MINE
-Though one was enough, but saw another doll.
-Saw another doll again.
-Saves and buys.
-MINE (now a polygamist)
-Starts saving again.


-

 

Wow, I guess convincing my mother was really easy if I read your stories I have to say that I love my mom for understanding me so well!
It went like this:

Before:
Surfing the net, clicking on a dollfie site without knowing, clicking on Hid from dollzone, falling in love with him, absolutly wanting him, staring at his picture for a couple of hours. Thinking that convincing my mother won't be easy so waiting for (the next day) when she's in an extremely good mood.

The situation:
Me: Mom, since I got a studentjob, can I spend &#8364;270 from it on something I want?
Mom: If you'll save up the rest, I might think about it, what do you want?
Me: Wel actually... *thinking on how not to sound stupid at the age of 20* A very very special doll
Mom: A doll, are you sure? 270 is a lot of monny!
Me: Yes I'm sure, and I promise I will save up the rest. Do you want to see a picture? *let mother see hids page*
Mom: Wow he really is something you should chose. For some reason I really can see something like this (she meant BJD-dolls) becoming your hobby. Oh and what is he, a samurai? You always liked China, Didn't you? (Yeah she doesn't exactly know what a samurai is and the difference between China or Japan, but I really do love China ^-^).
Me: Uhu, Isn't he beatiful?
Mother: Can I see other dollies too?
Me *let het see at other dollies*
Mother: Oh that one's pretty, this one has a lovely face, ooh look at her hair, it's so real, ... *like half an hour* ... You really want the red haired guy?
Me: Jup
Mother: Allright, but whe are going to discuss this with your father first.

Discussing it whit my father means yes, 'cause he actually never says no to things my mother alreaddy agreed to. It's more like letting him knowing I want to buy it.

Afterwards when I wanted to give my mother te monny for the doll (she paid it for me with her credit card):
Mother: Oh didn't I alreaddy tell you? Father and I are going to give this as a birthday present, But than you have to save all of your mony from your student job.
Me: *speechless for a minute* really?

...

 

When I really needed the extra funds for my Soom Chalco and Afi, I went to my dad because he mostly says yes, as long as I understand that he has to work hard to get the money he gives me.

Afi:
Step 1: Go on DOA
Step 2: Find what new Soom doll is out.
Step 3: Squee until it goes on sale
Step 4: Tell mom you want it. She says "You'll have to ask your father."
Step 5: Dad is not away from home, get up at 4 AM (It's total instinct for my dad and I to wake up at this time.)
Step 6: I tell him I want a limited edition doll. He is used to my dolls by now and will say "Go ahead. Just remember who works all the time to get the money."
Step 7: Hugged my dad because he didn't hesitate on his reply.

For my Chalco, Steps 1-4 were the same.
Step 5: Dad is away on a job. Call his cell phone.
Step 6: I explained to father I have half the money for this expensive doll, but I really need the other half.
Step 7: Dad will chuckle and say that he will help.
Step 8: I thank him a thousand times and then talk more until he has to go.

It worked, but now I try to get the funds by myself, because I know he won't be as generous as the last few times, plus I'd have more pride and probably love my doll more if I know I got it by myself. .___.;;

 

The government bought my first. AND SECOND. MWAHAHAAHAAAAA. Thank you government.

Since I'm in college, and in a bad one, we get lots of financial aid, and usually there's nearly $1000 leftover for me.

I'd call that a perfect execution. I don't have to pay the money back, I didn't have to ask anyone, because it was my gift from the government, and. Yeah.
Though I kinda feel bad, because the money could've gone to some. Charity or something.
But. They did give it to ME, so.. >: Oh well. Their folly, not mine.

 

Wow, my expierence (as of now, it continues) is this:
see dolls on art site. OMG. beautiful. -- assumes they are barbi size adn 20-40$ (how naive i was)
sees more and more of the dolls, doll wings, doll clothes. need one.
start asking doll owners questions. more then 40$ eh... thats ok
fretting because i can't find a site with "black" (african american dolls)
find a site, and HolyFChrist.... 400+ $!!?!?!!! ... i want one... still.
four months of research only telling best girl friend.
to excited... drooling at pictures of mine-to-be boys. tells bro and applies for DoA
get into DoA. tell bf (he's scared by amercian dolls, barbis, etc)
opened to a whole new world of knowledge, having to re-choose dolll molds (+ heights) so they'll be proportional.
tell dad. he says eh... but continues to watch me research them.
another month of research... tell mom. she asks how much (thinking 20-40$ & planning on getting me one.)
having to explain their "purpose" to mom, and why i'll be spending funds on them.
try to get a job so i have money... continously call places bag and bug them to the worlds end...
finally get job, and told friends want me to go to disney world with them.... a 400-800$ fee not for my boys....

and thats where im at now.... sigh...
but it's totally worth it

 

Heh, well this is a good thread. Let's see.

I started out with collecting toys from various fandoms, and recently I've sold a lot of them in order to pay for BJDs. I have no regrets, trust me- my time with those toys was short-lived and there was a lot of drama in those fandoms that I wish to forget about!

I've also learned that partial-gifts are really wonderful. My dear friend is paying towards me getting a Charlotte for Christmas, and I am paying half. That way it is partly a gift, and partly something I am paying for, but not having to pay in full for. Same with a gift from my mother and sister for Christmas- they are each paying part, and I am paying the rest.

Overall though, in the future I'll probably be paying for them myself out of my own pocket, except for the occasional partial gift. ^^

 

Hmm... Well, the first time I was introduced to BJDs was when I was living in Texas QLD in 2006. I was so intrigued by them and thought they were so darn cool! The price tag pretty much made me spaz out and because my parents aren’t really well off to do, I could never bring myself to tell them about it let alone ask for one.
I got my first job which lasted for three wonderful months with the most awesome lady ever as my boss (I only quit because I was moving) but I told myself that I would wait and see how I felt later on – that maybe it was just a fad or random thing that makes me go “Oooh! I want!”

After moving, I didn’t have the opportunity for work for a long time because it was pretty isolated and the next job I had was sewing medieval clothing but the pay was sporradic. For a long time my interests had me saving/buying other things and then I got back into looking at the companies (soooooo many of them!). I can’t remember the exact trigger that got me into it. But they interested me for many reasons. For fashion (because I’ve developed an interest in sewing/designing clothes), for clothing, for general creative outlet, for drawing, and because they’re so gosh darn awesome.
Anyway that job ended sourly – the woman stopped paying me. Because she was bordering on fraudulent (not doing taxes/not keeping any books) and there was not a lot I could do to get my money from her I quit.

Almost six months ago I got a new job. I’m now supervisor/full time employee so I finally have more money to play with. After buying my victory corset (my first one!) I started saving towards one of these dolls. And then I saw Carina at Iplehouse and new that that doll was –the- one. I’m glad that I’ve waited all these years, too, because the dolls I would have picked then are not what I would pick now. I’m so happy with the decision I’ve made and plan to save for more dolls down the track.
The only hiccup I had with customs.... Well, there wasn’t an issue with customs at all. It was an issue with the post because they came while I was at work and then they lost my girl because the driver hadn’t scanned the connote. They found her a day later and I was able to get her the next day.

My advice – if you can earn the funds, the reward is sweeter. Once you do have the money (unless the doll is a limited edition/short time only) think on it just a little longer. And – if you’re working full time/nobody is going to be home... Have the doll sent to your workplace rather than home – just to avoid missing him/her!

Good luck!

 

Ahah.....basically I just kept talking on and on about it. And started talking about "crazy" money saving plans.
Then my parents realized that it was either buy the doll or never hear the end of it.

...yup....

 

Honestly, I just made sure I planned out my arguments as to why I wanted the doll and why it was so expensive. If I present myself in a mature manner and don't start whining if my mom happens to say no, usually at some point she will end up saying yes xP

 

I had to work alot of angles when convincing my hubby to buy my Jessica---(that I just finished paying for second hand--she will be on her way to me soon)
I can most of the time get what I want if a obsess enoug---I call it the power of attraction--I just think about and talk about and research about what I want with happy thoughts knowing I will have it--and it happens--
Hubby gets sick of hearing about I think---lol

 

My wife begged me incessantly for her first one, and her second one, and her third. I obviously gave in on the first one. Then she begged me to get one, so we could do doll things together... I'm thinking 'I wonder what computer parts I could have bought with that money?' Now shes got 6 and a 7th on the way and I've got 3 and 2 on the way.

 

I saw a friend's bjd pictures on Facebook.
Then I visited DoD, and spammed up my Skype chats with links and spazzy emoticons. xD

I showed my mom, and she liked them. At night I hinted that he was over $500. (I didn't think about shipping and shoes and outfits until later.) She had a "WHAT?!" moment, but I mentioned them every day for a month. ^^

And... even now, I show my mom pictures of bjds constantly. I feel then she'll be more accepting because she had a part in choosing my doll.

I haven't gotten him yet, but its pretty much set that I'll buy him around Christmas next year. ^^ And I'm paying half, and my parents will be paying half. My dad doesn't really care.

 

See, even though I was still living at home when I started getting into BJDs, my mother never really knew about them. I would hover over the 'order' button everytime I went to the Luts site but I KNEW she would question the large box and what it was when it got delivered. Then, while I was at my most favorite Anime Con ever, my friend came back from the dealers room and was all 'ZOMG D: SOMEONE IS SELLING BJD'S!' and I was all 'ZOMGWHAT!?' and ran down there and bought one on the spot for like... Well, with all the accessories and whatnot it was like 200 dollars. Not expensive and totally worth it.
But then I had to go home from said con and my mother was all 'What is THAT?' when I got home. I told her it was an 'art thing' (Note, I was an art major in college) so she just said 'Okay, whatever' and never asked about him again xD
Now I don't live at home and I can buy all the pretty dollies I want as long as I can still buy food and pay rent. But sometimes I miss being able to use the excuse 'It's just art stuff' when I'm doing something weird. My roommates don't care xD