The Doll Hobby: Is "Conspicuous Consumption" the Main Event?

I was actually talking to a friend tonight about the nature of commercialism in hobbies. I have to say, I don't really feel it with dolls because they are expensive purchases. I honestly hate the entire "BUY NOW OR YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET THIS AGAIN WITHOUT SELLING A KIDNEY" tactic and the stress that gets involved with trying to scrounge up the funds. I've seen a few of my friends agonize over it, and I just wish that they were able to purchase dolls they wanted on their own time; not on the companies'. A few years ago, I did stress out over it, but now, I really don't care so much.

I'm not big on buying the latest newest things for my dolls because frankly, I'd rather go on Etsy and buy stuff for myself or buy books from Amazon. Nowadays, I find myself fairly detached in regards to doll shopping. Unless something is a bargain, or it's something I've been desperately searching for the past few years, I would say that I'm removed from it. I'm happy with the doll stuff I do own!

I do think that some people do spend too much time concentrating on acquiring or selling things off. However, I do think that some people truly do enjoy that aspect in the community, and if it makes them happy, good for them! I think agony is a killer in the hobby, though, and it can easily lead to burned out feelings if you ask me.

Most people who I'm friends with in this community buy things thoughtfully and for keeps. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but for the most part, it does. Personally speaking, I can't really imagine buying a doll on a whim due to the cost, but thankfully, there's the marketplace for any buyer's remorse.

 

Sure sometimes I wonder why I feel the need to keep on aquiring various sculpts, clothing, wigs, eyes ect. and spend yet more money on the hobby. Then I remember that being part of the consumerisim [spelling?] side enables me to have my perfect boy sat next to me in his loose-fit cargo pants and elegantly cut shirt, his shockingly blond hair cascading down his shoulders and obscurring his eyes with its bangs. It feels good. Good to have something tangible to hold, and he does so feel better on my lap than his equivalent in money

I don't feel pressured to buy more and more and more. The money I do spend results in something pretty ariving in the mail, which I like. I guess the gist of my feelings is the money spent is a means to an end, the end being getting these beautifull little sods to admire everyday.

And really, I don't feel some people spend to much or give to much time to the aquiring and selling side to things. Each to their own and all. It also gives us a good supply of items to browse on the marketplace!

Ugh, rambly post, but hopefully someone understands my meaning?

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why? Fatigued and swamped, especially when buying dolls and wondering when it would end. Think the doll buying has ended now, and concentrating on the dolls themselves. With 5 of them, I do feel that I've overstretched it a bit though.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.? Of course I looked at all the new dolls coming out and wondering it I should buy some I liked, but in the end bought the ones I kept my eyes on for quite some time. Haven't looked at stuff for a few weeks now and not worried about what's on the doll market.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls? Not at all. If it came to that, I'd have some problem that would probably make me step back from the hobby and wonder at the compulsion.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off? Sure. I'd call them hardcore. But aren't those types in every hobby? We live in a culture that defines a person by what they own, afterall.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps? I'm not really a bigtime consumer but will spend a good amount of money on something frivolous if I am sure it's for keeps. Rarely do I buy on a whim.

 

I read your posts following this one and I feel essentially the same. If just collecting makes one happy in their hobby it is none of my concern although I find it mystifying.
This is why limited dolls have very little appeal to me. What are you supposed to do with them? Other than look at them I suppose.
When I come across a decades old NRFB doll on Ebay of any kind it sort of saddens me, weirdly enough. Dolls should be played with, I think.
I wonder if the fatigue of the commercial aspect of this hobby is responsible for some leaving the hobby before they become deeply involved. It must be quite discouraging for those who, for whatever reason, find they can barely afford the doll they want, never mind the the wigs, eyes, and clothing.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?

For starters, I normally spend very little money on my dolls. I feel awful for buying things like $25 wigs, $20 glass eyes, and it even makes me feel worse to even look at and want an expensive clothing set (because we all know how expensive those can get!). While I admit that I dislike the constant "buy this, this, and this" attitude that has made it's way into the hobby, I would not have avoided getting into the hobby because of it. I enjoy making something beautiful, even if the price of it is not very enjoyable. The only "fatiguing" thing that I have found about the commercialism about the hobby, is the constant "In your face" and "You HAVE to buy this to be ANYONE" message that seems to get out to people. I personally do not have the money to go out and buy a $150 Fer, or a certain limited clothing set.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?

I think that when I first got into the hobby, I did feel a huge amount of pressure to do those things. But reality always has to hit at some point, and I realized that my dolls are MY dolls and they don't NEED to be what other's dolls are. They don't need a certain artist's face up or an outfit that will make them "popular" and it's the same thing for the doll sculpts. Now, everyone can admit...Soom dolls and the Hound sculpts are a really big thing, or they have been really popular in the near past. From the first time that I saw the Hound sculpt, I remember asking myself "Why is he popular?". I personally did not care for him. Then about a month later, I had seen so much of him and heard so much of "OMG I LOVE THIS DOLL" that I actually thought that I might want one. (Thankfully, I didn't have the money to buy one) But now that I look at everything, I would have disliked that sculpt even more if I had gone out and bought one because they were popular.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?

No not really. I think that having a place like DOA where you can post and chat about your dolls (or dolls in general) really does help you keep your interest in them verses if you had no one but yourself to talk about them to. I do enjoy looking at other dolls, but If I haven't been on DOA for a week or whatever, I don't find my boys any less enjoyable. I have a tendency to pick them up and carry them through the house with me when I'm at home, or pose them and stick them in random places in the house to scare my parents. I try to do small things with them, or just have them around with me or in my lap at all times.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?

I think it's really a matter of what they like. I have no problems with a person who finds enjoyment of buying things and selling them or trading them off for new things. It's really all a matter of what makes the hobby enjoyable for YOU. If you want your doll's eyes to be a new color each week and trade different eyes off daily, it's your problem. I personally, find enjoyment in just having my dolls with me. I could have my dolls sit around naked and wig less and eyeless and still love them. But to have some nice clothing on their bodies, and some eyes and a wig on them really brings out their character.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?

I don't normally "buy on a whim" unless it's a really good deal that's slapping me in the face and saying "You'd be stupid not to buy me". And if I'm smart about my purchase than I really don't feel "buyer's remorse". It's only when I do silly things like "buy it because I can" then I feel remorse. I try to buy things for keeps, but If something just isn't working for me like I hoped that it would, then I'll sell it to the next person. There's no reason in keeping something that you don't need or don't use when it could be the best thing for the next person.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby,
I don´t think it´s any more commercialized than any other hobby, however the commercialism is more obvious due to most manufacturers and companies being based internationally to many hobbyists. With my other hobbies where supplies/items are available locally the commercial aspects come up less often.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?
I don´t feel any pressure to buy the latest dolls or to put in money to improving/finishing dolls - although I do enjoy updating wigs or doll clothes.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
I have felt it with the fashion dolls I collected, but less so with ABJDs. I think part of this comes from the ABJD community being incorporating most ABJDs, where as most fashion doll communities are doll specific - for example if you collect Pullips then you only communicate or meet with the Pullip community and not the Momoko communities, however with ABJDs it seems to matter less if you like Volks or Resin Soul dolls.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
I think it depends on what got the individua interested in the hobby to begin with. I also believe it to some extent depends on the individuals financial situation - it´s an expenive hobby and you get people who might start off buying cheaper clothes, but as their situation changes they become more able to afford more expensive clothes and sell off the cheaper ones.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
I find that there´s a combination of factors that lead into this. Being an expensive hobby that constantly has new releases coming out it´s not as easy for people to get the latest release that captures their imagination, so you find yourself selling dolls acquired earlier to get something that captures them.

I think that for some there´s also the quest to find the ¨perfect¨ doll and the emotional attachment that seems more prevelant with ABJDs. While you might fall in love with a sculpt, when you receive the actual doll you might not bond with the doll.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby,
Most hobbies are commercial, I think. The only thing that worries me is that I want more dolls than I have money to buy, but I can deal with that.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?
A little. It doesn't help when they release limiteds, but overall, I'm happy with the ones I have. I feel some pressure to improve the ones I have, but I'll get to that when I do.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
Not at all. I find it comforting to have them around when I'm doing things like reading, watching television, cleaning and playing video games.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
At the risk of sounding judgemental, yes.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
I'm a hoarder, so if I buy something, I'll keep it. I have absolutely no plans to sell any of my current dolls now or in the future.

 

Interesting thread.

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why? Absolutely. My solution was to find 3 companies I could seriously see myself buying from, and kind of just browse the others occasionally for amusement. I also try to avoid notices of sales and the like.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.? No, because I buy good materials to begin with, and I'm good at sewing.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls? No.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off? I won't try to qualify what might be "too much" for someone else. However, I can't say that I understand the amount of "acquiring" that goes on in this hobby.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps? I desperately try to avoid buying on whims. Buyers remorse I avoid by setting price limits. There are amounts that I cannot logically allow for spending on hobbies, and I stick to that. This hobby is not my life, it is a very small portion of my activities. I find that I buy things more carefully, and treasure them more fully when I keep this kind of attitude.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby,
regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why? I don't get fatigued by it. I don't have a lot of extra money, so I don't go looking about. And when I do have money for dollie stuff, my room mate makes so many nice clothes that I generally just buy them from her. So, I don't *see* a lot of the commecialism over the hobby.


2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?
I will admit I do get a little uppity to "finish" a doll, but that's because I don't really bond with it until it's finished. However, I have arcylic eyes, and homade clothes and wigs. A few extra's, but not many. My dolls my own, and doesn't need to have "better" stuff. I honestly don't really see the point in spoending the money on crazy good eyes when mine photograph just as well with my icky camera. "better" wigs is personal to what you like, same with face ups.
3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
Not at all. Shopping for my dolls is a low end of the hobby for me. I only buy things I can't get made. As for shopping for new dolls? Oh no. I never "shop" for new dolls. I've had 4 all together, and 3 of them got sold. >_> So, I've stopped shopping for dolls for the time being.
4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
Yeah, I have a couple of friends who are too into the commercialism end of the hobby. One friend continually buys, just to have her dolls sit about in their "defaults" without ever changin them. I don't see how that's enjoyable.
5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
I'll do it occasionally. Like, I bought one MSD, and I ended up having buyers remose. I only ate rice for a week to get her, and then was horrifically dissapointed with her when she came. Mostly because I didn't do enough research on her, and just bought her on impulse. She has a good home now. With my Puki, I had some remose over her because I never played with her. She's now going to a new home. I've gotten a few outfits that I didn't do enough research on from sites, and ended up regretting them when they got here and didn't fit.

But for the most part, I am fairly responsible with my spending.

 

I think attitude is certainly an "issue" here. Finding dolls, put them on your wish list and pine for them can be an enjoyable pass time. However I once had the feeling that even though I could scrape the money together to buy one doll on the list, I would still be faced with the fact I had to continue to scrape money together for the next one on the list and then the next. I don’t mind cutting my other budgets for a month (or two) to be able to bring home a lovely doll, but doing that for months and months just to get the dolls I’m pining over makes me very unhappy. It is however an attitude problem and not a problem of the hobby itself.

I changed my attitude towards the feeling I had to get dolls and doll stuff "Now! Before it is out of stock!". Not every penny needs to be spend on dolls. I’m slowly picking up some of my older hobbies that I dropped in favour of ABJDs. There’s no need to regret buying a (comic) book while that money could have been spend on dolls, as I like to read too.
Being trapped in the consumer loop of always wanting makes me very unhappy and it is very fatiguing. Luckily I don’t need to.

Still I admit that I’m a consumer whore and buying things makes me happy. I like window shopping, but I also like stepping inside the shop and leave with something small, figuratively speaking. High shipping costs for shipping from Asia keep me in check, but getting a new doll is only a bit more of a party than getting a new wig or eyes and see which one of my dolls is going to be made pretty or completed with it.
Although I don’t keep long lists as they make me unhappy (see above), I do keep an eye out for things that may fit my dolls and that I may want to buy.

If other people can deal with long wish lists and enjoy rearranging them, it’s fine with me. If it makes them unhappy doing so and they complain to me they are unhappy or cranky, I’ll let them know they don’t need to be.
A while ago a new hype started about a certain doll where I live and people started to buy it left and right. Some people including me said that it would only be a matter of time before the first ones would be put up for sale and it didn’t even take two months for that to happen. Not that those owners were not charmed by the dolls and just bought them on a whim. I have the same type of doll and it is a lovely doll, but it has certain short comings that do not justify the "omg, it’s so fantastic, I must have it!" hype. I get the feeling that some people felt that they would miss out on something if they didn’t get what others were so enthusiastic about.

On the other hand, you’ll always have people who buy for the buying or to have the latest. A certain enjoyment is attached to showing off your new doll or doll clothes. If you don’t like that, you don’t have to be one of those people. As people have said before me this hobby is like other hobbies based on buying and selling stuff, but there’s so much more to it. Maybe it would be different if I were filthy rich, but I do other things with my dolls besided buying them stuff.

Personally I don’t mind it if others buy the latest limited or hyped doll. As long as they take pictures, that is, so I can oogle at the pretty and not miss out on something great while keeping my money in my pocket. I also don’t mind people buying and then selling. More of the same at the secondary market gives me the chance to look for the best buy.

(and I’m yapping far too much. A cookie if you read everything. )

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?
No. I buy and shop when I want to and feel like it. And I'm a very happy window shopper :P

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?
Nope. I usually find the latest and hottest things don't appeal to me. Although if something is limited edition I feel a little preasure to buy it asap. But I dont get upset if I cant. You win some you lose some.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
If it's been a long time since I've added a doll to my collection, I feel a bit 'empty.' I love all my dolls, but I need newbies. But my 'long time' is usually about 6months to a year lol And it doesn't have to be an expensive doll to keep me happy, so I rarely feel like this.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
I think the ammount of time someone spends obbsessing over something is upto them, I don't let it bother me. If it makes them happy...

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
I'm definatly a "for keeps" person. And I never buy on a whim... Even at a bootfair lol I spend ages trying to decide whether something is a yes or a no lol I've never regret anything I've brought

 

Very interesting topic!

To answer your specifics:

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?

~~~~~~~I am what is known as a hunter shopper. I look for very specific things to finish out costumes or sets. I don't shop for shopping sake, and feel absolutely zero need to have the "next latest thing". So I guess, I find the shopping to shop element very easy to ignore. I often go months withot buying anything at all..

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?
~~~~~~~~~I feel no pressure to by the latest new dolls, UNLESS, they really call to me in some way. And by calling tome, I have to be able to see them as a specific character that fits into a storyline I'd like to work with. I do have a bit of a wig addiction and frequently have to do major clean outs with that. Eyes, once I have settled on what the doll wears I rarely, if ever change them out, so I don't buy alot of eyes. And as to nicer face-ups and clothing, I do all that myself, so I don't go buy, I go create!

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
~~~~~No, the shopping for them element has nothing to do with how much I am enjoying them. I go into creative dry spells, and that is when I enjoy them less, or spend less time enjoying them.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
~~~~~Yes, in a way. But at the same time, if that is how they get their enjoyment from this hobby, more power to them.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
~~~~~~~~I don't buy on whims. I weigh out buying decisions VERY carefully, especially when it comes to buying a doll. Not that I haven't sold a few to get others I liked better, but in general, once I buy, the doll stays.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?
I'm really new to the hobby but I do get worried by all the buying. I don't find it easy to ignore, I have to make a conscious effort to look at what else I can do with my dolls. Photograph them, sew, knit, write for them.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?

I don't feel pressured, more tempted! haha The problem with this hobby and others like it is that on one hand it's great to have a board like this to meet like minded people and it's also great to have new and better products coming out for us to buy. But then it becomes a 'collecting' hobby. I have gone into this not aiming to continually buy new dolls. I've put hours and hours and hours of thought into which dolls I want to have in my doll family and I'm hoping to stick to it. I already have had to fight temptation to deviate from my goal and I think one of the cons of a website like this is that you get to spend time with people who are buying new dolls constantly. So it can be easier to justify doing it yourself. You get to see someone else's pics, someone else's enjoyment of a new doll and it's harder to resist buying. I've also thought long and hard about what I will do with my dolls, where is my enjoyment coming from? Not just buying new clothes but from talking about them, taking photos, creating interesting photo shoots/environments, writing up their stories, creating great living areas for them, etc. So the conclusion I came to is that while I LOVE DOA and will continue to use it as a fantastic resource and place to share my dolls and comment on others' posts that I also have to limit to a degree how much time I spend here. Because all the purdy dolls are way too tempting! *lol*

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
No, I just think about other things I can do with them.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
I'm new to the hobby so can't really comment on that.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?
Again, new to the hobby and haven't seen any of that yet.

-MOP...

 

I've been in a more expensive hobby, so I've seen conspicuous consumerism on a grander scale than in this one (though I was never able to even remotely keep up in that case). While that kind of culture bothers me on a mass mainstream scale, I quite enjoy it on a more specialized one. That probably doesn't make sense, but there you have it.

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?

Well, I've not even been in the hobby for a year, so it was already kind of that way when I got here ^o^. So far I'm still enjoying all of the attempts on the part of the companies to attract our attention.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?

Well, I'm not getting any pressure from other people, especially as I've never been to a meet-up and I don't really know anybody well here. However, I get lots of pressure from myself. I love the excitement of new LEs, new outfits, new developments. It's kind of embarrassing, but I do really like owning something limited and rare. I'm also still at a stage where there's a lot left to buy because I'm only about half-done tweaking the dolls I do have. Again, that's all pressure coming from myself.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
I do seem to need to switch things around to keep myself excited by the hobby, but I don't feel that I've ever been bored by it, either. Just changing outfits or playing with a wig can get me swooning over a doll again. However, I get bored easily seeing the same outfits or feel like I don't have just the right thing (I do this with my own clothing, too).

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
I can't really say that I know one way or another what exactly other people are doing, and to each her own. However, I am definitely someone who gets a buyer's high, and so I can understand why some people might keep buying and buying.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?

I am a very impatient person, and I'd say three of five were bought without a whole heck of a lot of thought beforehand. However, only one of those is not based on a character and he's the one I'd call a pure impulse buy. He was a sculpt I adore found at basically retail price, and I pounced ^^;;;. No way I'm giving him up, though! My one friend in the hobby is a lot more thoughtful and careful than I am.

Weirdly, my impulse buy boy may have cooled down my doll-buying for a while. Not only did it make me feel like I really, really have to pay down my credit card, it also brought home the fact that I now have a pile of dolls to move across the ocean with in a little over a year, which will be something of a pain, and that has made me able to be more clear-headed than purely financial considerations. I feel like he's forcing me to grow up!

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby. Yes I get fatigued from the shopping and wanting. I wonder when the day will come when I will just be satisfied.There are way too many choices offered usually what I want is sold out or hasn't been made yet so I am always looking to see if there is something new at a price I am willing to pay. When I discover something new I wonder how I can go on living without it now that my covetious eyes have seen it. Many times I just shut down the computer and walk away agonizing with the demons in my head. 24 hours later and I have forgotten what I was searching for.
2) Do you ever feel pressure
The only pressure I feel to buy a new doll is when I want something to have and to hold.
I will never again get caught up in trying to collect everything in a set or series, keeping it mint in box, saving the box etc. never again.
3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?
I don't get tired of my dolls and If I do I can get them new face ups. I enjoy making things. If I want something to be able to enjoy them I create outfits, furniture, stories and scenes for them. My boredom comes from real life waiting for other people to make decisions and do things.
4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?
Whatever other people spend on the hobby is their business I just don't like when they complain about it
Sometimes I feel as if I am financially cheating on my husband and our future with wish lists of bjd's because I have real life dreams and obligations and there are so many things I am encouraged to have that I get lured away from my big dreams with small purchases that add up to big dollars .
5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them
I do get tired of the same people who are always buying and selling complaining about not bonding, not the right character for what I had in mind, doesn't fit with my other dolls, overspending whatever their excuse is. Most of them enjoy buying and selling and should offer up no excuses for doing so.

 

^ This. For me, the "peer pressure to buy the latest and greatest" isn't really that at all. I don't really care about the peer pressure or "keeping up with the Joneses" aspect of things. But I do feel pressured by the doll companies sometimes. I often find myself saving up for one of the basic, standard releases on my wishlist, only to have that purchase pre-empted when a company releases a limited that I adore. The choice is either "buy THIS doll now, or pay twice as much later".

Because of that, it may seem like I'm trying to only buy the latest, newest items... but a lot of it is just that "limited item pressure".

For me, acquisition is a major part of the hobby, because it IS a collecting-driven hobby. Without the "collecting" aspect, the customization aspect wouldn't exist. They go hand-in-hand. As Zagzagael mentioned, the ultimate goal of the "perfect doll" is what drives many of us. If a company releases a new limited outfit that's just what I've been waiting for, of course I'm going to jump on it. Same thing with eyes, wigs, anything I need to complete that "vision" I have for the doll/character.

Personally, I don't find it fatiguing... I find it rewarding. That "treasure hunt" for just the perfect eyes, wig, and clothing is one of my favorite aspects of the hobby, and finding that one item you've been looking for can be so satisfying. I've been looking for a certain style of army jacket for one of my boys for some time now, and I just found the exact jacket I'd been envisioning, purchased secondhand on the Marketplace. I'll admit it's kind of a rush when that happens. But it's more about completing a specific idea than simply acquiring "more stuff".

Once a character reaches that "perfect" status, I tend to stop buying things for him/her. And yes, I'll usually move on to acquiring things to perfect the next doll in my collection. Does that mean I stop playing with the first doll? Of course not. If anything, I play with that doll even more now that everything is "just right". I don't think acquisition of new items naturally excludes enjoyment of current possessions.

By the very nature of the marketplace, the buying and selling of items is always public. But the personal enjoyment of dolls is not always a public event. Not everyone posts photostories... some people just enjoy playing with their dolls in private, writing their stories as a creative, fun way to relax. Perhaps the perception that it's all about buying and selling is just a result of what is most visible in the hobby, rather than what takes place on a private level?

The flaw with this theory is that selling a doll is sometimes looked-down-upon in a hobby where there is often a lot of personal investment. I've heard many negative comments at meetups about "Oh, that's so-and-so, I can't believe he/she sells so many dolls just to buy new ones".

There's a lot of peer pressure in the hobby to explain oneself when selling a doll, I think. While those who appreciate honesty and see the dolls as inanimate objects may appreciate the frankness of such a statement... Merely saying "I'm bored with this doll and I'm selling it to buy a new one" will garner a lot of negative attention from those who feel that the dolls have souls/feelings, or that the dolls should be treated differently. (There are threads that touch on this subject elsewhere on the board, like the "Do some owners mistreat their dolls" thread). I think that's a lot of the reason for all the threads that list long explanations about why they need money ("cat needs surgery", "laid off from work", etc)... people don't want others to look down upon them for selling, so they feel compelled to explain their reasoning. (Whether the reason is true or false).

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?
Well, I go both ways. Some days, I think it's definitely one of the best aspects of the hobby. Market Values don't really drop, so if you don't connect with something, you can pass it on to someone who will. Other days I feel completely exhausted. I'm moving down a list that's growing faster than I'm moving. It's just, sometimes, when reflecting, I realize exactly what a huge investment this hobby is, even just for a naked, eyeless, wigless doll. And then, double that to buy some essentials. It's an amazing commitment. Sometimes, it can be draining.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?

I feel like their is some pressure on the community to meet a certain minimal standards, like nice faceup, a few nice outfits, a new nice eye/wig combos. I feel like, as a community, styles of dolls change, which in turn, most collections add additions that reflect those styles. I don't in particular feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls, but I do notice my own tastes starting to lean toward the popular new styles though. I do feel pressure though to have good looking dolls before I post or bring them to meets.


3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?

Sometimes. Shopping for new dolls (or things!) is one of my favorite aspects of the hobby.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?

I do feel like others do that, but I spend ridiculous amounts of time concentrating on the acquiring aspect, so who am I to talk? XD

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?

I probably do both, and that's healthy(for me!), I think.

 

1) Do you ever feel "fatigued" by the commercial nature of this hobby, regardless of whether or not you spend money regularly on doll stuff? Or is it something you find easy to ignore, and if so, why?

Sometimes I do think this hobby is only about 'buying, buying and more buying'. Everytime a new doll is released there are so many people screaming they 'need it at once' that I feel we are forcing each other to buy more.
It is one of the reasons I decided to give give myself restrictions. Each doll will only get one pair of shoes, one pair of eyes, one wig and one outfit (some will get two, depending on the story they have). Even though I have more money to spend, I will only buy one doll a year.
I'm afraid that if I don't I will feel tempted to buy more and join the rush. Don't know if I do, but these rules are just to stay on the safe side.

I do have a wishlist and on it are all the dolls I want to buy eventually. It hardly changes and is a project that will take years and years. I don't have to have them on short notice. I'm more interested in getting them for a nice 'bargain'.

But the best thing I did (in my eyes) to stop this constant buying is to start making a doll myself. Eventually he will be just as expensive as any other doll, but there's something extremely satisfying about working with clay and slowly building your own doll.

2) Do you ever feel pressure to buy the latest new dolls coming out, or to constantly put money into improving/ finishing the dolls you already have with better wigs and eyes, nicer faceups, nicer clothing, etc.?

No. And it's because of what I said earlier. I have my wishlist and stick to it and don't change it when new dolls arrive (unless they are more like the character I want) and I stick to my 'one outfit, wig etc for each doll'- rule.

3) Do you ever get bored or feel less enjoyment from your dolls when you're not shopping for them, or shopping for new dolls?

No. I love writing stories for them and spend almost every evening sculpting on my doll. I hardly ever buy something for them and I don't miss it at all. I'm happy simply having the dolls I have.

4) Do you ever feel like other people in the hobby spend too much time concentrating on acquiring things or selling things off, or agonizing over what to acquire and/or sell off?

Well, I am surprised at how many dolls are bought in a short time. Sometimes I have the feeling that it is different than in the 'old days' where people could have one or two dolls and that was it. Nowadays I hear more voices saying 'I háve to have him NOW' or, 'I bought my second doll, allthough my first doll's still in customs'.
Perhaps I'm just an oldie, imagining things were quite different when shé was younger and of course, things like that happened few years ago as well, but- well, I don't know- the hobby feels rushed. Much more than it was before. We're more busy planning our next doll than appreciating the things we have.

5) Do you or other people you know often buy on a whim, have "buyer's remorse" or get tired of things in a really short time after getting them, or do you/ most people you know usually buy things thoughtfully and for keeps?

I can only speak for myself on this one. I'm not someone who buys on a whim, the hobby is too expensive for that. Sometimes it means that I got the perfect chance, didn't take it and regret it(I could afford Williams when Volks released him, but didn't buy him at the time), but most of the time I'm glad that I like to wait.
That doesn't mean I haven't sold dolls. Some of my characters have changed and the doll didn't look right anymore. Most of the time, however, the stuff I buy is for keeps.