Should you only buy BJD's from well established companies and avoid new ones?

My bank doesn't joke around when it comes to money, so I'm not afraid to order from a recently established company if there's no immediate red flags and the price is right.
If something feels off or I'm getting the run around, I chat with one of the reps and let them know "hey, I might need some assistance in the next few days [with this transaction], thanks for looking out." and they're like "okay, thanks for the heads up" and then if the proverbial stuff hits the fan I'll be like "Yeaaah....pull the plug." and that's that.

I exaggerate, but a new company has to get sales somewhere. As far as I'm concerned since all the companies I'm remotely interested in are overseas the odds of damage or whatnot are inherent anyways. I just treat it it as part of the package and keep my bank happy by letting them know in advance when I purchase something with a potential risk.

I mean...when it comes down to it, just cause they've sold to someone else doesn't make them immune to taking the money and running. Some of those companies are even on the wiki in the reference tab...

 

After buying a doll from a new, not well-known at that moment company now I'm very careful about it, cause I faced many issues regarding the body and its posing abilities that I wasn't ready to. So now I prefer to choose well-known companies with feedback regarding the skintones, resin quality and posing

 

I'm still new to the hobby, but when I was researching for my first doll if I couldn't find any owner pics online, I didn't go with that option. It just felt safer to me to see what it looks like outside of the company photos first. If a new company started getting good reviews, then if they had something I'd like I would consider buying from them. Every company has to start somewhere, I'm just not that big of a risk taker.

 

I would buy from a new-ish company if I liked the sculpts, but not from a brand new company- new enough that there aren't any owner photos and reviews of the product. Some dolls look 10XX better in the stock images and I like to see real-life photos of each sculpt before buying. It's also important to keep an eye on new companies in my opinion, because there is a lot of deceit in this hobby and I don't want my hard-earned money going into something that I can't trust.

So it sounds bad, but I'd rather wait and see how the transactions go for other buyers before getting something.

But hey, I like the 'classic' BJD aesthetic anyway, so not many new companies appeal to me in the first place.

 

As a new collector, I would be happy to purchase from up-and-coming companies, especially if I fall in love with the doll in question, but I would still want there to be SOME feedback, somewhere. I am simply too inexperienced to understand resin and sculpt quality just by looking at touched up stock photos.

So I guess what I'd say is.. I am happy to order from new-ish companies, but I'd never be someone's first customer. And probably not their second, either. :P

 

I buy what appeals to me. I will definitely check out the new companies... might not be a buyer until some people have some in hand and can review them... but if they look good to me, and worth the risk, I might still buy. But it IS more of a risk.

I'm not afraid of recasts if the companies advertise here, since people here have an eye out for re-casts and scammers! But new companies are a risk in other ways... it's hard to tell if their quality is good, and if they have a good record with customer service, and if they won't suddenly disappear! With any company, it's safer to not throw too much money at them at once and to check to see if they have a good track record. Most companies WANT to stick around and make dolls, but sometimes crap will happen. Need to keep that in mind and make safe decisions... or risk if you really think it will pay off (with a doll you HAVE to have). I've bought from some of the smaller companies, but usually they have sold enough dolls to have people here report about them so I have a little idea about the company at least.

 

Back in 2005-06, Iplehouse was a small BJD company and it was really all about Volks, Souldoll, DOD, and Soom from what I remember. I bought my boy from Iplehouse from their old artist, I still to this day, love his design. Fastforward now, Iplehouse is really popular and even had to defend themselves from recastors. I mean, there's nothing wrong with buying from already-great companies, it's easier because they have a more developed inventory so it's easier to buy merchandise from them and they've got great designs. But in the end, if you really love a design, just go for it. Obviously if they're doing illegal business, you know where to stop.

Personally, nowadays, I'd like to purchase a Volks in sole spirit of owning a doll from the first SD company. Other than that, I'm all about aesthetics.

 

If there's something I really like or I think there is potential, then I would stick around for owner's pictures or feedback to see how well the company deals with their customers. If all is good, then I'll got for it. But it really all depends on their availability and if the sculpt is suitable for my characters or not.

 

I've ordered an Angell Studio Adam literally on the same day they announced the launch of the company. I fell in love with his sculpt and the price was unbelievably good. I didn't even put much thought into whether it could possibly be a scam or whatsoever. They shipped him in less than a month and he arrived home safely in a week, and he was absolutely gorgeous. I don't mind giving the new companies a chance. Even the well established companies were new once. They have to start from somewhere.

 

Yes I would buy from a new/or fairly unknown company and have done so in the past. For example my first BJD was an only-doll Kexin. There were few owner pictures to judge from and not much information on the company but I was relatively confident buying from them as I purchased her through their legitimate agent on Ebay. I'd already been on their website to check the legitimacy of the agent/seller in question so I had no issues buying the doll through him/her. The doll was a good price and I REALLY liked the sculpt so was prepared to take the risk knowing I was covered by paypal if there were any problems. She arrived after a little over a month. Just because a company is new doesn't mean their dolls are of poor quality. It makes sense for them to charge less money for their dolls intially in order to attract custom away from the more well known (and expensive) companies. Obviously if the company became very popular with their dolls being in demand they would be able to hike up their prices somewhat later on. Its an extremely competitive market and sadly many good companies "go to the wall" simply because they can't attract enough custom and lure people away from the more established competition. I won't buy from a company simply because they are popular they have to sell dolls that I actually like. There are many "popular" BJD company websites I've visited and the dolls simply didn't draw me in at all. Of course if the company has a very bad reputation its best to steer clear of them. But at the end of the day (after doing some research), if i'm happy that the company is above-board and I really like a particular sculpt from them then I will absolutely buy from them.

 

Well, it depends. As long as the feedback for the company and their products are solid, I'd be willing to give a newer company a shot. But in all honesty, I would much rather go with a well-known company, since these companies have had time to build a good reputation and put out quality dolls.

 

Definitely not. I believe in buying from relatively newer companies, since they may have sculpts that are different from those in the existing market. Though of course they have to be legit businesses, haha, so doing research - like all the other DOA-ers have said - is absolutely essential. Try to understand their terms and conditions, read reviews and owner photos, look at their website, stuff like that is important.

 

I've had an issue with a larger company and an issue with a single artist (though after years they did come around and I got my doll). The bottom can drop out of any transaction, we're all human. Admittedly after being burned, I'd like to see some feedback about any company I wanted a doll from, but if I really wanted the doll, I'd probably take the risk.

 

I pick a doll base on how much I like the sculpt. I usually check on the company if I don't know it already: Does it have feedback? Has anyone had issues?, etc and then decide. Being new or unknown doesn't worry me much.

 

As long as they seem legit (and you pay in such a way as to be protected,) I'd go for it. Most of my personal faves are from small companies like Dearmine.

Don't settle for less than your dream sculpt!

 

At the first, I only bought from bigger companies, like DoD, Luts, Crobi...

Then, after a few years, I even dare to get dolls from new and smaller one.
As long as they always keep in touch with me, always update and/or reply to my Qs, I think I'm willing to give chances to them.

 

Every company is new at one time. Just like everyone starts ebay one thing at a time. I would buy from a new one if it all seemed to check out.

And it is like the marketplace here. Each person who buys or sells starts at some point with no history doing it. You do not go anywhere if you do not start.

 

I would buy from an established company only. It's a lot of money to give in good faith to a new company, and a long wait to see if you're happy with the outcome /service.
ofcourse reviews, owner pics and box opening vids/photo sets help with nerves surroundin trusting new companies.