Rare or popular: discuss your preference

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

I'm fitting dolls to characters, so if it's popular, fine, if it's not, no big deal. My crew has members that fit both the popular, the not-so-much, and not-at-all crowds.

- 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?

As I post about one gallery post a year at this rate, it's a non-issue. Even if I posted more, it still wouldn't be an issue.

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

Nope! I tend to look for molds I have and/or are interested in, snazzy titles, and just sometimes I look at everything. As I have CP, IH, Volks, Elfdoll, Soom, and CD dolls, I'm not too picky.

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

Normally I would say that I usually hold off buying until having either seen the doll in owner shots or in person, but my Akando broke that rule. It happens.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular? Neither really influences my decision when purchasing. Nixing limiteds my tastes seem to go after both, but if I had to pick...I would choose a rare mold over a popular one. I'm really fond of the 'unloved' molds that are rare on the boards because they are unpopular.

- 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, I don't choose molds to get gallery hits, and I don't avoid molds because i don't want to be seen as a follower. In all honesty though I do tend to avoid really popular molds because at some point the sculpt loses a certain quality for me. I really don't know how to explain..maybe I get tired of seeing so many that i get bored with sculpt..and feel i couldn't be 'original' with it..even though nothing is original. XD

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company. Yes~CP/LUTS/Volks are my fav companies, and I do click on molds/companies I like. But that never really stops me from looking at other dolls and companies. I do hit rare doll threads than popular ones though.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums? In all likely hood, no. I like owner pics, but if I really NEVER saw a picture of a doll I really wanted...I'd chance it.

 

I really notice dolls for their hair. On every site, every company, I'm always drawn to gray or white hair. It's a character defect that's stuck with me for years: I love silver hair. So when I see a doll with a cute wig and they turn out to have a gorgeous wig, I get upset when the wig is random. Likewise, if I'm looking at rare dolls (which I love to do, even though I don't have the money for one) I notice the hair, or the make-up. I love looking at monthly dolls from Soom: Anthro is extra-awesome to me.

But price, rarity, popularity doesn't really matter: it's what I see in the doll. It's when I begin to create them a name and a story that I now they're for me.

 

I do tell myself that what I find most important is that I love the sculpt in itself no matter what company it might be from or wether or not it's popular say for example here at DoA. Still though I tend to find rare ones more interesting and most of my darlings are made from sculpts less popular. ^_^;

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
It doesn't sway my choice, but I tend to like the dolls that others don't. I have always had odd taste!

- 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?
Neither. I don't take many photos of my dolls as I am just not very good at it.

- 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'll look at pics of dolls from the companies I like. I rarely look at photos of dolls from companies I don't like.

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

 

I would buy doll on whether it was pretty or not. It would be better if it was rare, while the oppsite if it ws popular. But either way if I like it I would get if i had the money

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
rare
I just hate popular things somehow...

- 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,my choices on dolls won't be affected after I've decided, even if it become world-wide popular while I'm saving...first sight is the most important

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
yup...I am in love with some companies=///=

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
yes,of course if I love him/her

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Doesn't really matter, I have to like the mold, if you just buy because they are rare it's a wrong intention to buy the 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?
Buying a doll because you like the mold and owner pics isn't following the crowd. I wouldn't let my choice depend on it.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest!
Especially here, on a huge community I filter through the gallery to find images of dolls I like, or from a certain company. On smaller forums I check evert topic but here it takes ages :p

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
I always check for ownerpics to know how a mold can look like when it arrives. It might always turn out a bit disappointing when you order a doll whitout research ...

 

Honestly, since BJDs are such a small niche anyway, I really don't see the point in worrying about whether my doll is popular or not. And considering the fantastic customization options out there, unless someone copies my boys EXACTLY to the last detail, then I'm pretty certain that my boys are going to be one of a kind.

If you're really losing sleep over it, then just make your doll one of a kind through special mods, handmade eyes/wigs/or clothes. I've been through galleries with the same doll listed dozens of times and none of them resembled each other. Especially when you read the backgrounds and look at all the different things you can do like opening the eyes, or sanding the nose and cheeks, there's tons of stuff you can do to make your doll less like anyone else's.

So basically, people who limit themselves to rare dolls in order to be "different" are so different already just by collecting bjds in the first place that it's getting a bit silly. Unless a rare mold really grabs just because of what it is, don't worry about being the only one of 30 to have this doll- just get one you like and make him or her your own.


On the other points: Unless said CP doll is a sculpt I love half to death, the no I honestly don't care if there's one or a dozen in the gallery.
As for buying a doll that I haven't seen on the forums: I'm already going through that- there's only one thread featuring a Bobobie An, and I don't think another of the molds I fell for is on here at all, which honestly freaks me out a little- I like seeing owners pics- it helps me decide whether I want a doll because of how he/she looks on the company website, or because the sculpt itself is truly phenomenal (which it has to be or else I won't buy it.)

I'd never buy a doll for the express purpose of it either being rare or popular. There's just no reason to go that far in my opinion.

 

Hm, I don't care if mold is rare or popular... but I'd find it odd to have a doll with an individual personality but with "exactly" the same face as so many others.

 

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

I'm a sucker for rare dolls. I don't know why. Anything rare and beautiful grabs my attention so much more than standard editions. I think I'm really a colector at heart. I want things that not everyone has. If something it TOO popular I turn against it. I like to go against the grain- example- I've never seen Titanic, the popularity really turned me off.

- 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. I don't spam my dols all that often anyway,but I do think that when I do I don't get many replies because they aren't popular.

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

No. I actually dislike looking at CP dolls now because every other post is a Shiwoo or Chiwoo or El, or now Senior Delfs. I look for gallery posts with dolls that I haven't seen before. Dolls I'm curious to see more of and dolls that I'm interested in possibly getting. I also look at molds I own a lot. I like seeing other people's Lunas and Kurumis and such.

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

I have. I'm one of only TWO people on this board to have bought Honig Dolls first doll Sidra and she was limited to 10. I bought based on the website pics as there were no other pics or owners.

 

All of my dolls have appealed to me in some way. I guess there is a little satisfaction with my DollGa Noella twins, because there are a few owners out there besides myself, but in my own little meet-up circle I'm the only one who has them. So they do stand out a bit, at least to me, and in that respect I regard them personally as a little more unique. But I also have a MD Ryu, and there seem to be a LOT of owners of this head sculpt. Had it not been for all the Gallery! posts I saw, though, I probably wouldn't have ever noticed him. But I didn't look for my dolls thinking to myself, "OKAY which ones are super popular/rare/expensive and most likely to get the most attention!" I just found the ones that appealed most to me, regardless of company or cost or whatever else. ^^

 

Really? I don't give a rat's arse about what other people think. I like my dolls because they appeal to me... yeah, it's a selfish hobby.

 

Part of collecting can be the thrill of the hunt, for me at least. Obtaining a rare or hard to come by doll can feel very exhilarating. I have experienced this with my other types of doll collections. I understand that sense of privlege. My current bjd's are very common, yet they are the ones I was consistently drawn to and love to bits. It happens to be that my current wish lists are very limited hard to come by dolls. Not because they are limited, just because they make my heart race every time I see them. I know I would not enjoy a doll as much if it were for the mere sense of collecting rare dolls. I buy what I know will bring me joy for the play value.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
When it's rare. But if it's a doll that is popular but fits my likings to a T, then it doesn't matter at all.

- 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, and no? The first one is just silly, and the second question is like saying if you liked a certain artist, would you support them, or would you rather hide your love for the artist because you're afraid of being called a fan?

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favorite company.
Don't really like CP. But I'd definitely click if it's a doll I want to get. :'D

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Nope, way too scared of the momentary magical lighting effect of photos. Heck, I wouldn't even dream of buying a doll til I see a blank faceplate from three angles at least.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
I perfer to buy a rare doll. A rare doll as in either an old limited edition or a regular doll that isn't seen much on the forums. I like and want to show the beauty of these dolls that don't get much love. But I would only get them if I fall in love with them and they fit a character I'm looking for.

- 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?
Yea, that's what I think. Unless, I see a "popular" doll fitting as one of my characters that I want for my dolls. I wouldn't want a popular doll to get me more gallery views. I don't think I want to be seen as a follower either. But the latter doesn't have to be taken that way.

- 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 not really biased when it comes to clicking gallery threads that pertain to a certain doll company. I'll click most of them if I want to see that particular mold in action. For example, Lishes around, I'd like to see what everyone does with her since there's so many!

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Of course, only if it pulls my heart strings. XD

 

i wouldn't buy a doll just because it's rare, i will buy a doll that i love but the "rareness" would be really cool addiction!

 

I do not ming if it is popular or not.... But I have more chances of buying a doll that his shown more here :P

I do not really care if the doll is popular or not and will not buy a doll because of it, it is a little sad if the doll is not popular becasue it is as if no one wants to know about them..... but at the same time it makes it a little more special :3

If I like a doll, I will buy it even though I cannot find it here.... but it is a little boring not to be able to find exemples of what people have done XP

 

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

I would love to say it doesn't matter as long as I like the doll, but the funny thing is-- why there are so many limited dolls on my wishlist? Like 80%-90% of my wishlist. Yes, on one hand I am a fan of Volks and most of their dolls are limited and therefore rare, but on the other...? I don't know. I am trying to answer myself if I would like Volks Okita Souji so much if he wasn't limited... or if the sculpt name wasn't "Okita Souji"? (I am a fan of both Peace Maker Kurogane and Japanese history). It's hard to asnwer such question, though. I can only add that at first I really liked DoD Camine, but now I soo have enough of him... Maybe I shouldn't check galleries...? Would I still like the doll...? Argh, my head hurts.

- 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. No. No. I don't really post pictures of my dolls^^;

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

Yes, lately I only search/click Volks and only a few certain dolls from Luts/d.i.m....

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

Yes. I would like to see other owners' pics first, but I still may buy the doll if I find none.


Edit; Just realized that even those non-limited dolls I want are "rare"^^; I couldn't find any pics the board of the first one, and there aren't many of the second one... The only "popular" doll (in this case, head) I like is probably Volks F-01... so yeah, rare for me.

 

Neither, I buy the dolls I love, those that will make me happy. I have dolls that are a dime too many on ebay, neither popular nor rare but I love them all.

Having said that, I have been collecting dolls for decades, it is truly very disappointing to see my beloved dollie sell for less than 10% original buying price on ebay 25 years later. You really wonder what the doll did wrong to deserve such devaluation except that the brand is not well known and she was, is and will never be popular. POPULARITY reigns supreme in the dollie world. That's my humble observation. Our family has never sold a doll but it is sad to see 90% doll price devaluation after 25 years. I vote for popularity and branding, not rarity. A rare and unpopular doll is forgotten with time.