Rare or popular: discuss your preference

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Rare is nice, having something that not everyone else has. Popular sculpts tend to be popular because they are aesthetically pleasing though as well. To me, having something that I myself like, doesn't matter if its popular or rare, as long as I like it and can add my own influence to it

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
I don't think gallery views are simply due to the sculpt. I think it also has to do with the person's photography skills as well, and their unique aesthetic for their dolls. I wouldn't base what doll I get purely because of want or fear of people thinking things of me. I would get a doll based on if I like it, if I want it FOR ME and not for others to admire.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Only if they were the Nanuri 07, Breakaway or Lu-Wen. TBH I'm more likely to click on a Dollshe 70cm male or Soom Gem/Mecha Angel gallery thread, I don't really care much for the other CP sculpts, it's just a personal preference thing and no offense should be taken by anyone

 

Mercenarily, I do feel better at times if something I like isn't incredibly popular. I think it stems from years of being the underdog in junior high, high school... when you're an outcast, a good saving reflex is to like things that are also outcasts. And now I think it's so fundamental to myself that I couldn't change it if I tried. However, once I got out of high school and realized how horrible an experience that was, I slowly shaped myself more into what makes me happy, and not what I think other people would consider happy. If that makes sense. What I mean is that even if it's the most popular thing in the world, if I like it and I want it then I'll get it. I know that my happiness outweighs anything else. How hedonistic!

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
I would not buy a doll that I hadn't seen off the company's site. Whether that's here or Livejournal or Random Geocities Blah, I would have to research the doll to see how it looks outside the company's ideal-conditions, ideal-pose shoot. That's one reason I love the galleries here so much. (The other reason is cause eeeee, gorgeous!)

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?

I quite like having rare dolls I like the "Oh wow don't see many of those" Type comments but I would never buy a doll because it was rare or popular for that matter it's all about personal choice for me.

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?

I don't think its all about the sculpt that influence gallery posts but even if it did I wouldn't. But on the subject of too popular I would love a mnf shiwoo but he would be quite a femmy character but I don't think I could stand the Oh look another femmy mnf shiwoo stigma

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.

I might be more inclined to look at a gallery thread if it featured a mold I was fond of but I tend to go for the ones with witty titles lol yeah I know judging a thread by it's title and ones that are on a subject I like, couples ect

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?

No I would never buy a doll that I hadn't seen user pics of.

 

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
When I see a doll on a company's site that I really like and don't find it here on DoA (which is my only BJD-forum) then it won't change my opinion in liking it, when the store is reliable and it's just the mold that is not popular. So it's both and none. ^^

Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
I buy the doll I like and not because it's popular or not. My Mayou (Angell Studio KANA) seems to be quite popular whereas VAN (also AS) doesn't.

Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Yes, I do. I just love how the same dolls of a company change through their owners. And when I like certain dolls I look through the gallery to see the different characters one doll can have 'cause of it's owner.

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Yes, when the company is reliable.

Laoky

 

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Neather, I buy what I like. Doesn't matter if I'm the only one who has one, or a million people have them. There are pros and cons to both, and thus I choose to not care what others think of my doll choices.

Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
Well, stating that I have a fat dollfie and that people seem to brush past him all the time because of it I would say that no, I wouldn't buy something for the sole purpose of gaining popular views and I certainly don't like to be a follower. Most of the people who have these popular views have earned that title, and thus you can't break the mold by sitting around and copying others. You gotta be yourself and find your creative streak and stick with it. There's nothing worse than trying to pretend you are something that you aren't.

Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favorite company.
I have my favored sites, and some that are my not so favored sites, but it depends. I look at the contrast of views to replies before clicking things most times. If it doesn't sound really interesting, and has had 300 views and 3 replies I can tell what happened. If it's only got 2 views and 2 comments I know I'll be checking it out. ^__^ But usually I just roll down the line and see all the new ones I can. Unless there is something I really, really don't like to look at.

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
If I have heard about the company then yes. I would buy a doll without seeing it in an owner's hands. I know that in comparison my DZ HID looks nothing like other HIDs because he does not have a default face-up. It was done by myself. I think that at times seeing it in another owner's hands can be good and bad. Sometimes, like with my GF's Yuu, she almost didn't buy him because of a person who did a profile picture and displayed how huge his nose is. Now, I had seen tons and tons of Yuus and never once saw another with such a huge nose. So after showing her the other pictures she got him, but that almost broke her from him. which would have been extremely sad in all actuality.

 

Personally I dont feel that it should make a difference. Rare or popular, it should be about the moulds look and feel, not how many are sold.

However, I tend to sometimes lean away from more popular moulds. When browsing online, I'm sometimes put off by the fact that the mould is very popular. When I go to meets, I'd rather not have people think, "Oh look.. it's another so-and-so...". I don't personallly agree with my own thought track here though, and if a mould that I see that happens to be perfect for a certain character I've promised myself that I will still get them.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Neither. I buy what I thinks works best for the character or that I find striking. Some of the "popular" dolls do nothing for me and it is unlikely that I would get one. Rare doll are almost always striking to me, but I would never have a character for them and would probably not give them the attention they deserve.

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
To the first question--never. Getting views does not really matter to me. Being in the spot light for a while does not do much for me. To the second question--I do not know. I have never really thought about it like that. It has never crossed my mind. Perhaps, but I cannot honestly say.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Depends on the mold. Most of CP/Luts' dolls do nothing for me, but there are some I am drawn to. I try not to judge a mold based on the maker.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
If it fits a character or I think I could make one to fit it. I would never just buy a doll to say "Look what I have--isn't he/she neat?" I do not like to boast, it is more about filling a character for me.

Kirsten

 

Currently I'm pining after a mnf shiwoo. I don't know if I would still want him if I hadn't seen him around the forums so much. I don't mind him being a popular mold. Usually I don't like things that are too popular, but I guess in this case I'm happy.

 

I'm with the person who said "I like what I like."

I generally like smiling dolls that look happy, and being limited edition has nothing to do with it. There are some really beautiful limiteds, and some equally beautiful dolls that are more popular, but what does it matter so long as you really like the doll?

The only issue with deciding whether to get a limited vs a more common doll that you like about the same amount should be which you like more (and have the ability to pay for), IMO.

 

Since I last posted here, I've been thinking alot about the whole popular/unpopular schpeal. While I certainly love my Homme Kirill and Homme Ivan ( the Kirill being of the more popular of the DoC's, obviously ), I've found that I do get very frustrated with my Kirill alot more than any of my other dolls. My Ivan has been dyed, modded and all sorts of other things and he certainly doesn't look like any other Ivan I've seen, but with my Kirill, his character is a little more low-key when it comes to his looks, and I will admit, it bothers me that I have this highly customizable doll that still looks very....default, even without a default face-up. I do plan to modify him just a little more and get him a new wig, but because the wig will be black he still feels plain. I wouldn't trade my Kirill for any other doll because the sculpt is honestly exactly what I envision for that character, but it does make me think a little different about my other dolls, as well of those on my wishlist who also don't seem to be very popular.

However, there's another part of the question for this debate that also has me thinking, and that would be if I would buy a doll that I haven't seen any owner pictures of. Recently the company the Little Monica just opened shop, and I swear I haven't stopped thinking about Kliff since I've seen his picture and I'm doing everything I can think of to bring him home ASAP. Of course, seeing as how he is literally brand new, there are now owner pics of him to be found so I'll really be taking a leap on him. The company shows him from quite a few angles and has pictures of him without a face-up as well, but even so, it does make me nervous.

Of course, then I remember, when I first got into the hobby I didn't look for too many owner pics of DoD Kirill and Ivan either, and there just weren't many Angell-Studio Gus pics either and all three of those boys are my absolute loves. And wouldn't you know it, my Lati heads, which I did the most owner-research on and found alot of pics, are the ones I've had the most trouble bonding with. x3 maybe I shouldn't worry too much about Kliff after all x3

 

I don't know...somehow I'd like rare dolls....but I end up buying a CP!? XD
Well, I see your point in how nice it is to be the only one with THAT special doll.
When I'm on forums, I don't pick the newly arrived threads, because those dolls look exactly like the pictures on the doll-makers sites. But I like seeing how many different kinds of face-ups you can give the same doll. ^^

I'd really like a rare SD girl, but she'd also have to be a mold I'd connect with. But the latter is what counts the most.

 

I ended up ordering a doll that no one have here, nor on the French bjd forum I'm on. It's a MiniGem uyoo quite-rabbit. She's not limited or out of stock or no more on sale, but people just don't order this model. At first I was scared because may be no one likes her. But I'm like... proud that I'll one of the rare owners to have one!

On the other hand, I liked a lot the DOT Camine, but when I saw that a lot of people had already one, I don't want one anymore, because I think i'll never be able to customize it enough to make him unique.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Neither.
I buy one which i like
i mean if you're gonna spend so much money on it why must you follow blindly in the footsteps of others?

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
Actually
i don't like dolls that are too popular >.<

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
I'm guilty XD Luts dolls are just too pretty to miss

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
It all depends on whether I like the mold. There's a fairly small BJD community in my country so its hard to find everything TwT

 

I love the rare dolls, but only have one. For me, it doesn't matter so much because it's so easy to make each one different, according to my likes and dislikes. I guess "different" is more appealing to me than "rare". Randi

 

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Rare dolls usually have a bigger price tag that is out of my league. So rare really isn't that important to me. If I could afford a "rare" doll, I wouldn't buy it because of that alone, but if I already liked it, being rare could give me a little push. I'd probably be telling myself if I passed it up, I wouldn't be able to get the doll later. Popularity doesn't mean much to me. Usually if a doll is popular and not limited or rare, the doll will stay in production. Thay way I have nothing to worry about and can get that doll later.

Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
Not really. Having a doll that is popular doesn't mean more views. You can have the coolest, most popular, uber-limited doll, but if you have bad photography skills or dress the doll like poo, it's not great to look at. There are some pretty unpopular dolls that I adore because the owners present them so amazingly.

I think I've kinda strayed from the "safe" dolls in terms of popularity. I wouldn't call any of mine popular, but they aren't generally disliked either. I could see myself not wanting to buy a doll that everyone has though, but then again, I don't prefer a lot of the seemingly popular dolls.

Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
I do have a preference, but I also go by comments. If I see a thread has a lot of comments (and it's not due to being fandom related or anything like that) it's safe to say that the thread has some gems in it and is worth looking at. I generally go for threads that feature certain sculpts, not companies (namely CP/MNF Miyu, Migidoll Ryu or Miho, any of Soom's MDs, B&G Sapphira, MNF/CP Chiwoo, DOT Lahoo, Ducan.....)

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Probably not because I like to see lots of pictures first. The only exception would be a limited doll and even then, I hold off. I waited until I saw some owner pictures of Pipos Sugar Robin before I ordered mine, hoping she'd stay in stock.

 

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?

I usually tend to love rare molds more cause im more drawn to them. Some popular molds really bug me and its annoying to see so many people owning them.


- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?

Course not I do care that others think my dolls are at least decent but I wont buy a doll to get more views. I dont normally like popular dolls but if theres a popular doll that i absolutely had to own id def buy it.


- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
It depends on molds more so for me. Im more likely to look at dolls of molds that i like then not.


- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Yes if it was a new company or some rarer mold, but im not very fond of artist dolls anyways so i wouldnt be buying something like that.

 

I've never thought of buying a doll that was rare or popular just that if it was a mold I wanted or was attracted to, I would buy it, if I could afford it. My Aki is an AoD Chi and noticed not just from this forum but from other forums that people don't really like his mold, why, I don't know, I think he's amazing! I'm also saving for a Homme Ducan and I've notice, even thought I'm new to this hobby, that many people own him. I want him because he is just gorgeous! I love everything about about him so I want to get him because he appeals to me.
As for looking in the threads, I am guilty of mostly looking for molds that appeal to me...

 

I don't have any rare dolls (I have a puki at home and a minifee on the way), but think it's awfully fun to have a doll that lots of other people have and are crazy about. I mean, just look at the puki thread- my impression is that it's the most active one here! Or at least one of the most active... it's in its third incarnation, and its 2nd incarnation had gotten up to 300+ pages before the mods restarted it. I enjoy being able to be part of a close-knit fan thread like that.

That said, I did NOT buy my puki because lots of other people had one. I actually discovered pukis before I knew about DOA, and I had made up my mind to get one as my first doll before finding out they had such an enthusiastic following.

I would definitely buy a rare doll if i liked it and could afford it, but thus far, I haven't found any that make me want to break out the credit card. I enjoy my "everyone has one" puki very much indeed.

 

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Rare dolls are usually waaaay above my price range. That being said, if I had the money to spend and I loved the sculpt, I'd certainly get a rare doll.

Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
I'm not in this for any sort of popularity, so no. She's my doll, I love her. That's all that matters to me.

Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Yes I am! I'm currently in love with Soom's monthly dolls. But that doesn't mean I won't check out other galleries too. It just means I'll probably look at my favorites first.

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
I wouldn't buy a doll that I hadn't seen "real" pictures of. I did as much research as I could before buying my first doll.

 

Hmm, my last post in here is really old, so I guess I should update my answers:

Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
I still don't care one way or the other. I have a mix of popular and unpopular dolls in my collection: an old, once-popular doll (Magie), a very popular recent doll (Puki Sugar), a fairly popular Volks limited (Cristal), and a fairly UNpopular Volks limited (Amakusa). It is nice to have dolls that for the most part are not spammed constantly in the Gallery, but it's not the reason I own my little hoard.

Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views? Conversely, would you ever choose not to buy a doll because you believe it is too popular and you are afraid to be seen as a follower?
No, because I don't seem very good at gauging the Gallery in the first place. The most comments I've received in the last six months on a Gallery post was for a quick, repetitive shoot I did of my friend's DZ Mo girl. I generally hear crickets chirping every time I think I've taken really good photos ^^;.

Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
My answer still hasn't changed: the adult-looking CP dolls (Delf and MiniFee) are not to my taste. I love Pukis and can't wait to see more of the LittleFee, but El and Lishe and their friends do nothing for me. But of course there's nothing wrong with having a favorite company and subsets within that company, and I admit to looking at Volks MSD and Yo-SD gallery threads the most . Cute childlike molds are what got me into this hobby in the first place!

Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Oh, yes. My original Cristal, Yo-SD Kun, and Puki Sugar were all purchased before anyone had posted owner pictures. But sometimes owner pictures make me want a doll I didn't want when it was first released, like my Snow-White Yuh and Amakusa.