Rare or popular: discuss your preference

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Honestly, I could really care less if it's popular or rare. I do tend to get sick of seeing a certain mould after a while, but I would never not own a doll just because it was popular. I've got several dolls that are considered popular -- my Dollshe Saint and my Bambicrony Elf Gun... The rest of my dolls are neither popular, nor are they rare. They are just what they are, and they appeal to me because of what they are. Of course, if I happen to have a more rare doll, such as my Dollstown NS Hue, it does make me feel rather giddy inside knowing I was able to snag one on the secondary market... It certainly doesn't make me want to go out and try to buy nothing but rare dolls.

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views?
What? No way. I don't even rarely post in the gallery. Most of my doll photos go on livejournal, behind friends locked posts. I don't post photos of my dolls to get comments and try to gain popularity points -- that's just retarded.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest!
...what? No way. CP dolls are my least favorite dolls. Unless it's a doll belonging to one of my close friends, there's really no way I'd click on a gallery link that featured a CP doll. I just pass over them all because they are ALL. THE. SAME. It's boring, redundant, and I wish people would get off the stupid CP bandwagon.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Absolutely. If the doll wasn't a rip-off of another doll and shown to have strong, thick resin, then yes... I would absolutely. I bought my Dollstown Hue without seeing any owner photos of him, and haven't regretted it one single iota.

 

Well, I really try not to base what I want on what other have or don't have...but I definitely see where that could make a difference...

Take for instance, right now I have a Dollshe Van on the way here! I really love that sculpt, even though a lot of people don't seem to have him on DoA. At first, this was kind of exciting to me! I was thinking "Yay! Maybe I can spread the Van love! Or maybe, if some one loves him as much as I do, and wants to see pictures of him, I can help!" I also tend to look for threads with pictures of dolls that I like as INDIVIDUALS. There are certain Hounds on DoA that I like, and others that I don't. So that's a situation where "rarity" really doesn't make a difference. It's more of how the owner makes their doll look and things like that. One Chiwoo can look completely different from another with just a chance of face-up!

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
I have to admit that there is such a thing as 'too popular' in my mind (I get a little tired of seeing certain molds). I find myself more drawn to rare dolls, but I certainly wouldn't refrain from getting a doll just because it is popular. Nor would I like it any less because it is. For example: I had one of the first batch of Unoas out there. But it doesn't in any way cheapen mine to have so many more in the family these days. In fact, I love seeing what each and every person does with theirs!

- 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?
Sometimes you have to see what someone else does with a doll before you fall in love with the mold. On the flip side, you often have to decide if you are going to get a doll or not before you've seen any user photos. Usually, I find myself wanting to be on the 'cutting edge' getting dolls before other people do, but that's more because I don't want to pay secondary market prices than because I care about gallery hits.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
CP? No, not that I have anything against their molds but there really are so many out there... However, every single day that I'm online and sometimes more than once a day I do a search for "Hypermaniac" to see if there's another post or gallery or even discussion about my favorite company!

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Yes, and I usually do. So often you have to decide based on company photos because the ordering period is over by the time you see any user pics.

Ideally, for me, I'd always be able to see gallery posts on the forum before I bought a doll. But, I'm not so insistant upon it that I will wait and pay secondary market prices for a doll.

But again, that has nothing to do with popularity and everything to do with seeing the mold in a different setting, etc.

In sum, as most people here have said, it is far more about the mold of the doll and how it strikes me than about how popular or rare it is (although I do admit a little thrill with having a particularly rare doll) . Sometimes it takes seeing what another user has done with their doll for you to fall in love with the mold.

H

 

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

I don't think popularity plays a factor in my decision. Rarity plays a TINY bit of factor in it though. If it's appealing to me and it's rare, most likely I'll probably try to get it. I'm not going to get it just for the fact that it's RARE.

- 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 the first one! That is so absurd. I don't understand it whenever people do such a thing (blindly follow popularity instead of following your heart). 2nd one, also no. I think each doll is its own person.

- 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 more likely to click in a thread that has dolls I'm interested in, or a user that I know of.

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

Of course! I've done that already! (my Yuki and Murasaki are examples)

 

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

I mainly go with, does it appeal to me? I've never been into buying just rare/popular dolls. In fact, sometimes I hate rare dolls because if I like them... there's no way I could get one. xD

- 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 said in the first question, it's my appeal to the doll. It doesn't matter it's status. But I will say, that because a doll's popular sometimes I do get scared off if buying it. Mainly for the reason that people won't look at my doll because it's "popular" or hate the doll. But luckily I haven't been scared off too bad. xD Yet. I was worried after I placed my order for an El. I do like the mold, not because it's popular... but because I like it. But I understand lots of people hate El's so I'm warded off to not post pictures of him.

- 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 like CP. xD I liked them before I joined the forum (I never knew they were popular. ;_; ). It's not because "they're better" but because they appeal to me. Actually, I usually only click on molds I like... because I do dislike quite a few CP molds. That and friends dolls I look for. But lately, as I've run across other molds I like, I'm starting to look at more.

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

If it caught my attention. Yeah. O: But that hasn't happened yet. xD

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
I also like to feel unique, I admit- thus, I like rare dolls better-- also because there's less of a chance of someone having a doll really similar to yours. I have a collector's mentality, I've been collecting all sorts of things for pretty much my entire life, so I do have a weakness for high-value, rare items more than common, easy-to-obtain items. However, if I find a doll I truly connect to which is common, it won't stop me from buying 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 would never buy a doll because of what other people would think of it. I'd buy it because *I* like it. Thus, I would never buy a doll "because it gets me more gallery views". To me, that seems like a really bad reason to buy a doll.
I also won't care whether people see me as "a follower" or not. I buy my dolls for me, not anyone else.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
On the contrary. I've seem so many CP dolls I'd prefer something a little more refresing . But yes, if I see in the title that the thread features a mold I especially like, or a doll made by a company I especially like- I'd more likely click on it. It just wouldn't be CP for me.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
As long as I can make sure it's good quality and worth the money- sure, why not?

 

I am very curious as to how people feel about this.

Here are just a couple of questions to get you thinking.

EDIT: By rare I mean not commonly seen on the forums. I didn't make that clear at first.

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Honestly neither. The only thing I look at is aesthetics and if it inspires me to create a new "concept" doll. That's just my way of collecting. I have a backdrop with a bit of a history and my dolls are all characters within the backdrop. It's nothing elaborate it's how I enjoy collecting 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?
Wow, no. I hardly post in the gallery and when I do, it's because I was inspired to create a certain "scene" with my dolls. I guess you could say I treat photographs of my dolls more like you would a painting or storyboard. I never just snap X doll outside, or X doll on my computer etc. So whether or not it's going to be popular in the gallery has zero bearing. I take them more for me than anyone else. But it's fun to share a photo-project when you're finished.

- 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 avoid certain dolls I know that I just DON'T like, but I typically click more on threads with dolls I collect or are thinking about collecting. I'll always look at Supia, Limwha, Narindolls etc, because I love those dolls.

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


Personally, I would buy a doll because it is rare. I enjoy having 'the only one on the forum' and have decided against Minifees because I have seen too many. I'm terrible I know!

That's not terrible, but it doesn't seem like the most satisfying way to base your collection. If you really like the look of a doll, I would think it would be more fun having that doll than one that you don't like the appearance of as well, it's just more rare.

 

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

Uhhhhhhhhh . . . neither. The only question for me is whether the doll makes me dizzy with wantiness (either at first glance or after it's grown on me for a while; both have happened).


- 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?

Again, I feel a huge amount of because 98% of the time, the Gallery isn't where I post my pictures; I prefer the smaller community of my LJ flist. When I do post, I can tell that my dolls don't interest the majority of DoA members--but that doesn't have anything to do with what I like and choose to buy.



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

Er, no.



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

Oh, hell, yeah. Would buy, have bought, do buy, probably will again.


Hmmmmmm, I feel like some clever meme graphic should pop up now, saying that I'm, you know, a Belgian Malinois or Severus Snape or a sea anemone or Marge Simpson. Or else I should get a gumball. *poking meme*

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Echoing most of the people on this thread, it's strictly what appeals to me aesthetically. I had little idea of what was popular when I ordered my boy, and I wouldn't let that sway me now. I might be more inclined to buy something I'd been debating over if I'd seen a lot of different owner photos and had gotten a sense of the sculpt's possibilities, but that's different.

- 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 a follower, so I don't care that people might think so. I also don't mind how many Gallery views I might get, only that any comments are intelligible and useful.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll?
At present, yes, because I want to see what other people have done with their Moons. Otherwise, I tend to click based on whether the subject line is interesting, not which dolls are featured. Soon I'll get to know people and their dolls, so I might well follow someone whose photostory plots I like, or whom I know has good photographic technique.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Why would I worry about it, unless the company was infamous for poor quality, or forbidden on the forums for another good reason, like knocking off other dolls?

 

I do find it harder to make a doll unique if it's all over the place. So a lot of my dolls are less common. But I still would like a Chiwoo someday. ;p In the end, the doll I like is the doll I like, you know?

 

Neither is a consideration for me. I like dolls because I like the look of the particular doll. I really couldn't care less how rare or how popular it is, and I rarely post in the Gallery. I did it once or twice just to try, and I posted one picture because the person who sold me the doll in the Marketplace specifically asked to see a picture after received.

Taking pictures of my dolls to post is not that enjoyable for me whether people view the thread or not, and I'm even less interested in the whole "popularity contest" aspect of gallery posting. Who cares what other people think of my dolls? They're my dolls, not theirs. I'm also kind of a private person and not gung ho about putting myself or my dolls on display for people I don't know.

I'd be happy to buy a doll I hadn't seen on the forums, and in fact I have done so (artists' OOAKs).

 

I would buy a rare doll, because it's more different than other's dolls. A popular doll maybe cute and everything, but it looses it's "shine" when a lot of people own it. I usually don't look whitch dolls pictures are in the gallery. I look at the headline and if it seems interesting then I click
And yes, I would buy a doll that is not seen in these forums. I'd love to differ.

 

Hm... I know that when I found out that a mold I liked was one of the companies least popular models, it made me happy, and when I found out that I wasn't attracted to some really popular molds it made me happy. When I learned that a mold I really liked was really popular I was put off. I like being different, and set apart or at least, not mainstream. If something I like starts becoming too mainstream then I am instantly put off but at around that same moment, I think "well I shouldn't suddenly dislike something I liked before just because it has become 'popular'". I then transfer into the 'I like what I like' mindset and try not to let it bother me too much. I don't want to let popularity of something turn my love into hate, because that's just stupid and immature. Make sure that I realize that, even though some people may like something because it's popular, I like it because I genuinely like it.

 

I'd rather have a not-so-popular doll, simply because I don't want to go to a meet and see familiar faces. As for forum and gallery views, I don't believe I'd spend hundreds of dollars just to get internet attention

 

I pic a doll, based on whether I love it or not. But if I have to pic between dolls, I may pick one that is rarer, because I cant see new pics of it all the time. It's like I am sharing a doll when its image is everywhere. If I only get a few pics of a doll, that can drive me crazy with wanting it.
Does that make sense?
I rarely post photos of dolls, so that doesnt factor into it.
I love CP's, so I look at all pics of them, also narae, Limhwas and supias.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
Neither. While I seem to have the (un)luck that the dolls I find appealing are usually limiteds, I don't pick a doll simply because of its unavailability or popularity. I don't buy dolls for other people, I buy them for myself. ^_^

- 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?
Um. No. I don't post very often in the galleries anyway, so it doesn't make a difference to me. I'm not looking for popularity through the internet via a doll. And no, I don't see a reason to avoid a doll just because there are a lot of them. I couldn't imagine buying doll with someone else's approval in mind. ^^;

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Again, no. There are certain companies I tend to favour, but I don't seek them out in the galleries (though admittedly, there are some that I do avoid). Usually I click on a thread link if the title appeals to me, or occasionally if it's someone I recognize.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
If I liked it enough. I pick out dolls that could possibly represent characters of mine, if customized correctly. If it was something I'd not seen on the forums before, it wouldn't make a difference to me, as long as I loved it.

 

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

I'd never buy a doll because it's popular or because it's rare. I buy dolls based on the mold, if i like the mold i will buy the doll. But there's a difference between popular molds being "Just loved by alot of people" and being "owned by alot of people". I strain away from owning dolls that a large amount of people have, i really dislike Shiwoo molds and i'm also not keen on El. Mainly because i've seen them so many times and disliking the molds anyway has made me dislike them more =/ But then there's "Rare popular" dolls like Jun Tachibana. Whilst i'd love to own her, it's not going to happen. Her popularity AND rareness has made her to be quite expensive D:

- Would you ever buy a more popular doll knowing that it could get you more gallery views?

No. Never, that's not even on my consider list. I don't post in the galleries and definatly not very often.

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

I don't like the majority of CP molds. The eyes.. are too "long" for my liking. They're not very aethetically pleasing to me. I'm surprised i bought a Kid Delf, but then again my Bory's eyes and more rounded than most CP molds to me. Anyway yes i'm more likely to view threads that feature dolls im interested in owning. It makes more sense to and helps me decide on wether i want to purchase it!

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

If it was from a trustworthy company yes, if it had not been then no. I bought my Bory back when he was first released, so he hadn't been seen in owner photos before.

 

- Which is more appealing when buying a doll: that it's rare or that it's popular?
I prefer "rare" dolls, in that you don't see a lot because they're just not that popular, because I like having things that a million other people don't have...It doesn't have to be the ONLY one on the forum though. I just like being unique...>.>; *feels like a horrible person*

- 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?
Nah, if I like the doll enough at the end of the day it doesn't matter to me how popular or not it is. Nor do gallery views matter to me because I've rarely (if ever) posted in there.

- Are you more likely to click gallery threads because they feature a CP doll? Be honest! Nothing wrong with having a favourite company.
Nope, my favorite companies are SOOM, DOD, and Peakswoods. If I saw a PW Skiya thread, I'd most definately click that...but its a bit different because she is my ultimate dream doll (and I'm saving for her now) and she isn't that popular of a doll. If anything I'd be more likely to click on a thread about a doll I've never heard of than one that I've seen a million of...^^;;

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Yes I would. I bought my all of my dolls before I looked at pictures on here, I even got my first one before I joined this forum! Granted DOC Si turned out to be extremely popular, but he's such a cutie and I love him anyway. ^^;

 

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

For me it's not how popular or unpopular a doll is, it's the sculpt. I bought my Soony because I loved her look, same with my hound, my Ylders and my Freilian. So it's more about if they're pleasing to my eye.

- 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?

Can't say I would. I mean I'm sure my hound and Soony get a lot of gallery views because they are semi-popular sculpts. I want to get a few dolls that have been deemed popular because I love their look not because they'd get gallery veiws or comments.

- 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 like to see pictures of CP dolls, mostly Ylder and Soony because they are the most pleasing to the eye, I do the same with Bobobie and Hounds and a few others I just love to look at. And in the same breath I also click on gallery links because of the author and their dolls because I like certian ones more then others, I know that can sound bad but some are just more beautiful to me.

- Would you buy a doll that you had not seen on the forums?
Probably if I really liked the site pictures. I do prefer to see owners pictures first but sometimes I don't get to.

 

If Esthy's Peroth was a regular instead of a limited, I would use it regardless for the character I had in mind. If MNF Chiwoos became uber limited, I could care less. The popularity status of the mold means absolutely zilch to me; I'm in this hobby for myself. I'm not here to get noticed, or to show off my dolls. If I like the mold, I will use it whether or not it's limited or common. Sure, it might mean more work to order from an obscure company, or risking getting cheated by a new company that hasn't proved its trustworthiness, but why decide on a different mold to get more views in the gallery? Do the numbers mean that much? o___O

I want to enjoy them without worrying, 'perhaps I should replace [regular mold] with [limited mold] to get more page views'. Are people really that shallow? Do you need to feel like other people love the mold you have simply because it's uncommon to get gratification out of your things? I think the BJD hobby should be about what you personally want to see in your dolls. Not in DoA's dolls, but yours. You don't owe the community a rare, pretty doll to look at.