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Rare or popular: discuss your preference

Jul 25, 2007


    1. Maybe it is so in other doll collecting hobbies, but I'd say I'd have to disgaree when it comes to the BJD world. An unpopular doll only is forgotten if you, the person who owns it, decides to ignore it. And as for rarity, I've noticed that in quite a few cases here in the BJD world, there are some rare dolls that come to mind (Esthy Peroth, Dollshe Bermann, a large number of tan limiteds... ) that are extremely sought after.

      I'd have to say at times it feels as if the tables are turned. After awhile when looking at the galleries people tend to skip over another Delf El, Dollzone Mo or Fairyland MNF Shiwoo. After all, once you've seen one, you've seen 'em all, right? ( not my personal sentiment please keep in mind, just pointing out how often I've read an almost disdain for overly popular dolls just because they're everywhere)
       
    2. I don't have a preference, though it helps my decision if I see more owner pictures and like the sculpt. Rare dolls are usually breath taking, so they're usually harder to buy with my method of saving. I save weeks and months ahead of time in order to get the doll that I want, and rare dolls are harder to obtain.

      It doesn't put me off a doll if it's insanely popular, but rather it gives me a good idea about what potential the doll can have, what it can look like other than just default-factory. They may be the same mold, but no two dolls are alike.
       
    3. I would never not buy a doll because it was popular. If I liked a doll enough to buy it, it wouldn't bother me if there were lots of them about. But if it was rare I suppose that could be a bonus?

      I'm not very skilled when it comes to sewing, so for me owning a more popular doll would make it easier to buy clothes etc. I'm saving up for twin MNF Shushus and I'm fortunate enough to have found someone who makes clothes for the small bust model.

      So yes, rare dolls can sometimes be fun because of the whole exclusivity thing, but that really doesn't bother me. I want to buy a doll that I really like and who I know I can buy clothes for.
       
    4. This is exactly how I came to get my first doll, if it wasn't for the owners' photos I would never have bought him.
      I couldn't care if a doll was rare or popular. As long as I like it, that's all that I care about.:)
       
    5. - Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
      I guess that it is rare? No matter to me though, I buy bjd that are unpopular because I not like having same doll as too many others X'D

      - 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 >3 I buy doll based on MY likes, even if many people were to have, I care not. Quite strange if one were remark that I were "following" someone in the bjd train of whatever doll it is. But I not like too 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.
      *Shrug* Ah...not matter to me, you know? Im more likely to click thread with AOD dolls in it, and I hear not much of that company dolls >3 But I love them so! :aheartbea

      - Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
      No Ma'am! I spend time looking at gallery and arrival threads of dolls I like so I get better idea of doll in person, so to speak. I prefer members pictures to company pictures.
       
    6. But who cares if you are the one who owns him and love him? You will not forget your doll and you will love him just the same.
      And besides, even the popular dolls are most of the time sold below their original price. Only the price of the popular and rare dolls will increase in time.
      Most of the time you won't know if a doll will become more valuable over time. When I bought my Peroth I had a hunch that he would be popular, so I bought him because I was afraid that I would have to pay more in the second market place. I never thought he'd become thát popular, however, and that a blank Peroth head would go for insane prices today. If I knew that I would've bought more! (kidding of course, but you get my drift)

      We don't know which dolls will be popular in 15 years time. Only a year ago, no-one thought much of the Soom Dia mold, now the gallery is flouded with them. And Dollkot Kiss once was a doll that everyone liked, but now most people have forgotten him. I don't think popularity should be the main reason to buy a doll, because you will probably end up disappointed.
       
    7. This is evil of me but the time I would think of the rarity of the doll if I'm thinking of eventually reselling.

      However, as a mere viewer of BJD (I actually don't have my own yet), all styles of BJD have appealed to me one way or another. I think the appeal for me has also been the ability to make them custom in a certain way to fit with a certain character or create a character within the dolls personality.
       
    8. I'm in the boat who believe that if you love the doll, who the heck cares how rare or popular the sculpt is? Honestly, if you worry about how "popular" your doll will be within the community just because it's a common sculpt that everyone seems to have, you're not going to really enjoy being a doll owner in the traditional sense. A typical "collector" in terms of "obtaining like objects" who doesn't create personalities for their individual pieces may be solely concerned in the notoriety of owning rare and highly-sought pieces. These are collectors who generally worry about how many they have and what their worth is in the marketplace (i.e. stamp collecting, coins, etc). However, doll collecting, particularly for BJD's, has become different because a typical owner/collector creates personalities for these items and thus form a "bond" (which so many of us believe in). Therefore, if you had a choice between a "popular" or a "rare" sculpt, do you worry about whether or not you actually love the particular sculpt, or by how "popular" your doll will be within the community?

      Personally, the popularity of a doll is the last thing on my mind. My current dream doll is Luts' Yder, which I understand to be extremely popular and common. There's usually a reason why certain sculpts are so popular, and that's generally because they're beautiful dolls. My Ty is a Dollzone Megi, another very popular sculpt. It doesn't matter to me, because Ty is so unique, there isn't another Megi like him. The same goes for my recently ordered girl, Shoyo. She may be popular, but to me she'll be unique. Sure, Ty doesn't get much attention in the gallery or at meets, but no one can deny I love him with a passion that shocks myself. THAT'S what matters to a BJD owner. Or at least, it very well should.
       
    9. Oh that's not evil at all; that's just business. The rarer the doll, the more it's worth. Granted, people may not buy it if they think it's too high, but you actually DO need to think of the rarity of the doll if you feel the need to sell it. Every hobby company does it from dolls to stamps to coin collectors.
       
    10. I understand...it is just that in this sense I would be just thinking about the profit more so than the doll itself. For myself, I just would like a doll in a certain specification...
       
    11. These days, in this market, you can find steals on dolls that used to be quite expensive, and are still both rare and popular... so really, I've cast aside any assumptions I used to have on the value of dolls based on mold and pretty much don't get the doll unless it's something I really want for my collection.
       
    12. I hadn't even joined the forum when I bought my first boy... seriously I only joined to use the marketplace... shrug

      I've yet to see any Wang Zi's in the gallery, I liked his eyes and his coloring so I bought him.

      The head I have on order is a Rickydolls... *listens to the crickets*

      So popular doesn't even figure into the equation.
       
    13. I've already posted in this thread quite a long time ago, but I've since fallen in love with a very popular doll -- and have discarded the idea of owning it because of its popularity, though not intentionally.

      The doll I fell in love with was LittleFee Ante, and I'd planned to buy one as soon as I'd found a new job. Then the first owner pictures started to pop up, and she was so sweet and cute and perfect. I clicked on every thread in the gallery, I searched for Ante pics on Flickr, but eventually, I realized that I... just didn't want her anymore.

      I still found her as cute as ever, but somehow, the drive to own her had gone. I think it's because I know that even if I don't buy her, I'll be able to look at new pictures of her almost every day, and that is enough for me.

      So it seems that popularity plays a bigger part in my buying decisions than I'd previously realized!

      It's just more special to me to be able to open the door to my secret "doll house" (a couple of shelves hidden behind my home office door) and look at a doll that you don't see around that often.
       
    14. Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
      I would have to say popular, because that usually means cheaper :(

      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 wouldn't want to be called a follower haha but I wouldn't want to get a doll just so I could get gallery views either

      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 tend to click on ones that involve DoD, Volks and Soom. I think they're the prettiest lookers.

      Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
      Yes, deffinately. There are a lot of dolls out there, and I'm sure that not every one is pictured on the forum.
       
    15. I prefer rare ones. But. If I like popular one, the decision to buy or not depends on who dolls with this popular mold belong to. If the doll with the same mold lives in my friend's house, I won't buy it. In other case - I will.
       
    16. Wow, that's so the opposite of how my friends & I are. Our purchases are often influenced by each other after seeing the doll in person. None of us consider it following, rather it's a bit of a compliment, that another person likes your doll enough to want one of their own.
       
    17. - Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
      Neither of these really. I look at face sculpts and a good deal. I want to feel inspired. I'm not sure I have any rare or really popular dolls in my collection.

      - 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 to gallery views, but I likely would not buy a really popular doll just because everyone else has one. I would have to mod it to look like something else. A Lishe is a Lishe, her looks are just to popular to make her something else.

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

      Big no to the CP dolls. I'm actually more likely NOT to click on it if I see an El, Lishe or Soony in the title, unless its someone I know has worked with the sculpt and made it their own. I will click if I see a doll company I am buying from or have bought from before. I look at all Kyries and have been stalking spirit doll threads for months.

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

      Yes. I am waiting on a tan spirit doll abies, and there have been none on this or any other forum because its a new company.
       
    18. So far hadn't fallen in love with very popular mold. When I first got into BJD, I liked Sabik of course, but later decided, that he isn't my type. I can't be sure of what waits me later, but for now most of my BJD-love are quite rare. It is even hard to find good owner photos :(
      As for gallery browsing, it is reverse - I usually look at popular or a bit less popular dolls, because I know, how they look like, they are more familiar to me. If I sat down and look through all photos I would be overdosed by graphic information very fast X) However now I try to see as more as I can.
       
    19. Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
      Hmm... I really like things to be unique, but I feel that's where customizing comes in. My daughter just got her first girl yesterday and I decided I want one as well. Only I'll have a different wig and a different set of clothing, etc. If I change her face-up then she's even more unique. (I think I live in a town where no one else collects these dolls, so I'm already unique anyway.)

      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'd have to say no to both sides. I don't really care if I get more views. As long as I am happy with the doll and I like looking at the photos, well, that's good enough.

      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 that's the one I'm trying to decide about buying. I won't look at the threads for dolls I know I do not want.

      Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
      Yes, but only if the company had really good shots. If the only shot available is a close-up of the face, I'd wonder what was wrong with the body, or the ears. I do have a tendency to go looking through flickr and other places to find pictures.
       
    20. Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
      Neither. If I like a doll, then I'm going to buy it, whether its popular or not, or rare or not. I guess having a rare doll is a plus, but in the long run who cares? As long as you love the doll right?

      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 would NEVER buy a doll just to get hits on the forum. That is quite frankly stupid. Conversely, if I was ever to buy a popular mold, I would just have to strive harder to make it more unique than the other dolls of the same mold.

      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 of that lol. I tend to look at threads that have the same molds I do, molds I want to get, or molds I've never seen before and am curious. Plus there's a few users that I thoroughly enjoy their photos and will look at regardless of the molds.

      Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
      No. This is only because company pictures don't show everything. If the doll appeals to me and I see owner pictures, and it STILL appeals to me, then I would consider buying it. Bonus points if I've seen the doll in person lol.