Were You Afraid to Start The Hobby?

like a lot of people the price was a big mental/emotional hurdle o|-<

 

Yes, I was.
I was 14 at the time of buying my first BJD after having Pullips for 2 years.
I was scared because the rest of the community seemed much older; also, they were expensive and I was young lol.

 

No, I wasn’t scared. I did spend a long time contemplating on what to get for my first OT doll (about a year) so I guess that helped.

 

If we are talking just dolls in general (Pullips, vinyl bjds, playline dolls), yes I was a bit. I used to think the cost of Pullips was insane, and then I got into Smart Dolls. Sold them for reasons about the owner, but then got into Dollfie Dreams. Right when I got my first Pullip, I vowed that I would never, ever get a resin because of how scary the resin community was (from the rumors I had heard). Made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I have no regrets about getting my SDGr Marie Antoinette! The resin community isn't as scary as I had heard. Everyone here seems quite lovely!

 

When it comes to collecting BJDs, I was definitely scared, which was mostly a money factor. X'D I'd wanted BJDs ever since I was maybe 13, and once I hit 18 and got a job I ended up collecting two Pullips, then a Jun Planning AI doll around 2016. I ended up buying my first BJD in 2019 and it's been smooth sailing from there. At times I think, why didn't I just buy a BJD sooner!? But I'm glad it ended up the way it did, because I found all the dolls I have by chance at particular moments in time. Now I'm slowing down on BJD collecting because of a space factor.

 

I'm a fad person so ive waited about a year before getting a doll to make sure it's not just a passing phase. It's the safest bet. But then again, I'm trying to make characters with them so that way they follow my other "fad' interest, haha

 

I've wanted a BJD since I was a teen, so I wasn't too scared of actually getting into it now that I'm older and the resources for where to get things are more readily available! The money hurdle wasn't actually too hard to pass because I thought, well I've wanted one for a long time, why waste more time now that I can pay for one? As someone who loves fashion and wigs though, I should've realized the real threat to storage space and money would be the amount of customization you can do with the dolls! Since I can use them for other interests I have though (photography, posing models for art), and they're cute enough on their own to just look at if I don't feel like doing much, I think it's a worthy use of my time.

 

I’ve had some similar fears myself, especially due to how expensive dolls are. My philosophy is that as long as I gained enjoyment from it somehow, it’s worth whatever I spent for the experience!

 

I got into BJDs back in the early days of DoA, when it was still a Yahoo Group. I don't remember being scared - just super determined to get my hands on one. I'm admittedly scared now that I have grown up bills to pay and am getting back into the hobby as an active participant, haha.

 

When I was young and looking into things (a decade ago, more than), the price definitely intimidated me, as did the whole web of considerations to keep in mind - who was legit, how do you avoid counterfeits? How do you handle having to make everything for the dolls? (I was hanging around on DeviantArt, I didn't see folks selling clothes or wigs or eyes, I saw patterns and tutorials!) Would I be able to cope with putting one of those super fluffy faux fur wigs on my doll when those seemed like the only option?

Young me almost considered getting a tub of apoxie and making my own doll from scratch - until I realized the material costs from faceup supplies weren't much cheaper than commissioning one, and enough sense entered my head to point out that especially as a like, fourteen year old, I was no doll engineer. Even if by some miracle I pulled off decent aesthetics, those joints were gonna suck, no matter how many DeviantArt tutorials on how to make a torso joint I read. So I resigned myself to pining from afar when BJDs did come up, making my own soft dolls when I was a teen, then getting more into fashion dolls as I got older.

Cut to a few years ago, when I found myself gainfully employed, inside for fear of The Plague with little more to do than trawl the internet, and a pause put on student loan interest. I started looking at BJDs more again; I'm not sure how I came across them in particular, but at some point I found Impldoll, and from there their Avery sculpt. I fell in love, but I worried about finances and falling out of love. I told myself that I had to pay off my student loans before I could get him.

For the next several months, as I chewed away at my loans with renewed vigor, I dreamed up what resin color I'd get him in, what his character would be like, what I would dress him in, how I'd want his faceup done... Everything. I even learned that faux fur wigs weren't the only option any more! Then in January 2021, I paid off the last of my loans, and a few days after, purchased my Avery in celebration!

So, like many others, finances put a hold on things before. However, I don't know if I was afraid to start the hobby so much as, at least as a kid, dangerously overconfident in my ability to do things like sculpt an entire doll from scratch and only held back by financial considerations.

(And now, of course, though there's no faux fur wigs to be found at my house, I do find them a touch nostalgic. Even if they're not at all my style.)

 

I was hesitant, not afraid, but raising your budget threshold is always a bit intimidating. When you get into more expensive levels of collecting anything there will always be nervousness or excitement and sometimes anxiety over spending a lot of money on a luxury item. Eventually I get comfortable at the new level and catch myself bumping up how much I’m willing to spend because I learn to appreciate the value of what I’m collecting. I had no other reasons to be afraid because I don’t care what others think about my hobby, it’s not my problem if they don’t like it.

 

I was very afraid to start collecting BJDs. I started collecting regular dolls, pullips and such first. It soon led me to the BJD world, but the amount of companies and informations was overwhelming for me. I still regret a bit to not have taken more time to save and buy a sculpt I really loved. I went for the cheapest doll I could find as a "test" since it was a gift from my mother (I was in high school at the time) and I didn't want her to spend too much on a doll. I wish someone told me everything I know about BJDs now, but I guess making mistakes and learning from them is part of collecting. Honestly, I don't think that what other people think of you should matter (and if they're really your friends, they won't judge your hobbies). If dolls make you happy, then you shouldn't be ashamed to collect them. As for the fear of losing interest, well, it's a risk, but even if you don't like your doll anymore, you can still sell her or change her style completely. There is a a lot of different BJDs, I'm sure there is something you'll like and never get tired of !

 

I first came across BJD's when I played Nameless - the one thing you must recall. And at first, I thought they were pretty but not very remarkable otherwise. Then I discovered Ringdoll and fell in love, but lost interest for a few years because of the high price tag.
Later I fell into the rabbit hole of Nier Automata and discovered they released dolls of the main characters. I missed the release date by a few years. I was very disappointed by that and forgot about BJD's for a few more years.
Then I saw my first doll I truly fell in love with. I'd been waffling for a while, but whenever I looked at him, I felt something I hadn't before and I knew he was the one.
Despite the high price, I knew I couldn't pass him up. So I saved up and got him despite the eyewatering price.
He should be coming home soon and I can't wait to meet him!

 

I was afraid to start the hobby due to price and opinion. I did not want to buy an expensive doll, just to not interact with it. Now, I love my dolls and I enjoy doing things for them. I prolonged my entrance to the hobby because I was afraid of what others would think. I am still afraid if this, so I just don't share my dolls with others outside of the hobby lol. I would like to be able to share them one day, but I do not see this happening for the foreseeable future.

 

Just needed to pop in and say I loved that game! It might be a long advert for the doll company but it was my first otome game. I’m still wishing for a Lance or Tei doll.

 

I was definitely nervous, because I knew even for cheaper dolls that it can be a money sink type of hobby with clothes and accessories and whatnot. I still feel nervous every time I actually order a part for a doll!! I think I have a fear that others will be like "look at you wasting money on such a frivolous hobby!!"

But at the same time, it's been so genuinely fun to get into recently, I can't say I regret getting into the hobby so far. And the people I've met have been so nice!

 

It was a challenge for sure because being 29, and African American, it’s frowned upon to be alternative in my community in any way. Luckily for me, my mom supports my doll collecting hobby along with my Cosplaying and alternative style and music taste. I did get made fun of it as I was growing up as a child and into my teenage years, my mom tried to protect me, but she realized it was what made me unique. I did feel ostracized among other adults at first, but now I don’t care, they are my lil resin besties.

 

I hope I'm that good a parent when my kid is 29. Never ends.

 

I wasn't afraid of entering the hobby. I knew that this was exactly what I wanted and without a doubt I was going to get a doll. I was more afraid of buying the wrong doll. I did a ton of research so I was prepared and felt really comfortable with my knowledge of bjds. I looked at sooo many dolls, so many different companies. I loved them all! It was to the point I didn't really know what kind of doll I wanted. I just really wanted one. It didn't matter, but it did make finding my first doll pretty hard. For some reason, I thought that this would be the only doll I would buy. (yeah right) So, I was really afraid of picking the wrong one. I'd see a doll and I would think, ok, this is the one. Happened so many times, and the fact I kept changing my mind meant that maybe that wasn't the one. I did eventually find the doll I had to have. She was a little more expensive than I had planned for but was totally worth it. I really shouldn't have been scared or worried about getting the wrong doll.

 

I appreciate you for this, I believe you will be