What do you think of "starter dolls?"

Depends on the person. I'd say I'm one of those people that if I'm prepared to spend a couple hundred dollars on something... might as well make it worth my while. I guess the way I see it is as long as I'm prepared and have done my research there is no need for a test doll or whatever. Just look at all the other expensive stuff we buy in life and we don't plan on replacing it after we "test it out". Like... cars? You research, you test drive, you ask around, you read articles. Then when you know what you want, you get it. TVs? Cameras? I have never had someone go out and buy a thousand dollar SLR just to try it out before they get the next model up.

 

I got my first doll because I fell in love with it. It was the doll that got me into the hobby, not the hobby which obliged me to buy a doll. In fact, I'm wondering if I'm really a proper BJD hobbyist, as I'm finding my first doll a hard act to follow.
I'm really glad I got just the guy I wanted straight away. I was full of trepidation about such a (comparatively) large initial expenditure, but am glad I took the risk. "Faint heart never won fair maiden", and all that. Now I'm hooked, and feeling more adventurous, I got the second doll to fiddle around with and potentially ruin. Good times!

 

The concept of a "starter" doll doesn't really make sense to me, because none of these dolls are truly inexpensive. It seems to me like if you're going to have to drop $200 or so to get one of the least expensive dolls, you may as well save up for the one you want - whatever that entails for you personally - because you're never going to get a resin BJD for pocket change anyway.

I think it's better to save up for a doll you'll be satisfied with in the long-term, rather than settling for something and always wish you'd gotten what you really wanted. The $200 you could have spent on a less expensive doll if you don't really want it could have gotten you a good start on saving up for your dream doll.

(If a less expensive doll is your dream doll, though, then awesome, go for it! Mine is. )

That said, I don't think it's bad for budget to be one factor in choosing your doll. Money and practicality do sometimes need to influence our decisions, and that's not a bad thing, nor is it always settling to choose what you can afford in a reasonable timeframe over what you can't.

I just think that making price the primary consideration over everything else is likely a recipe for being unsatisfied with your purchase... which may lead to loss of interest in the hobby as a whole anyway.

I also don't see much point in worrying about "ruining" the doll through our efforts. BJDs are intended for customization, and I don't think we need to be afraid of that. Almost anything that can go wrong should be fixable, with replacement parts if nothing else.

So yeah, having a "starter doll" doesn't appeal to me.

I'm planning for my first doll to be a Bobobie Sprite, but not because of price. I'm genuinely drawn to that sculpt most at this point, and the price is just a bonus. I don't consider her a starter doll at all; she's the doll I truly want most.

 

I'm one of those people that don't believe in starter dolls. There is always the change that one is not satisfied with their "starter doll" and in worst case scenario would end up giving up on whole hobby because they don't get the feeling it's for them.
I'd say to get doll you really want for the first. If it's cheap thats a +
Or possibly, if you have more than one you'd like to have, pic the cheapest one. But I don't see buying a cheap doll instead of one that one likes the thing to do. If one ends up not liking the hobby they can always sell the doll forward
I understand that some people believi in starter dolls and go for it, they can do so but doesn't change what I think

 

My first dolls were my "dream dolls" (dollstown, soom, DIM minimee) My cheaper dolls were the 4th and 5th dolls (resinsoul msds). To be honest, I loved them all at first. Then I grew out of my "starter type dolls" (resinsouls) and they found new homes.

It depends on the person buying. I didn't make any mistakes with my dolls. But I did learn to restring on one of my RS girls because I'd never have tried on my more expensive dolls!
With faceups I was much more confident and started faceups on my expensive dolls. So, really, it depends on the confidence of the new buyer also.

For people who definitely seem worried about certain aspects (price, size, etc.) it's easy to make more specific recommendations.

 

At first, before getting into actual bjds, I was going to get an OT Hujoo as a "starter doll"--because they seemed to work a lot like bjds (so I'd learn how to do faceups and restring them, etc), but were way less expensive than bjds. But, as I thought about it, with the faceup supplies and EVERYTHING, the little guy would've added up to $80-100, so it was like, "Wait, why do that and put off buying the girl I want, when I can skip the little guy and save that money instead?"

And really--I don't think the "less expensive" aspect of a "starter doll" is excuse to run around crazy with it. For me, anything over $50, and I make sure to be extra careful with it. So, yeah, it was terrifying to learn to restring my first girl, etc., but I was really careful with her, and got a lot of reward out of being patient and working hard to make sure I was doing everything right in taking care of her. :]

 

I don't believe in starter dolls. I believe that one needs to really love a doll to be able to have fun with it and if you get a doll you don't love like that, what's the point of having it? At first I wanted a Doll-Love Anona, but I've been observing the BJD community and lots of companies and sculpts for about a year before I fell in love with the Asleep Eidolon Blueberry sculpt when I saw her in real life; after that I was sure I needed her. The funny thing is, once I'd ordered her I also fell in love with a second hand Angell-Studio Leira right here on the marketplace, and instead of the Blueberry, she turned out to be my first BJD. I love her to bits but I'm still anxiously awaiting my Blueberry, plus just today I bought another second hand doll, plus I'll be ordering another before the end of the month. LOL. Yeah, I've got resin fever. I guess it's different for everybody...

 

In a sense, everyone's first doll is a "starter" doll, isn't it? All the research & planning in the world doesn't take the place of actual experience. You may think you know exactly what you want & where you want to go with BJDs but you may grow in a completely different direction once you get into it! Get what you love & go with it! That's the beauty of this world--you don't have to stay locked into any one place, enjoy it!

 

That's very well said. I also think ANYONE"S first doll is their starter. After all, if you buy a SOOM but learn to restring is, paint it, and clothe it, you're still learning. It seems so strange to me that there's a running assumption that cheaper dolls are to learn on. ANY doll is to learn on. If someone wants to buy a $2000 limited and nail polish it, it's their money and I wouldn't consider it any worse than doing the same to a Bobobie. After all, they may have paid more but I'm just a spectator, I didn't pay any more to look at people's SOOM dolls than I did to look at Bobobie pics. Everyone else's doll costs the same to me: Free. (Now budgeting my own is another matter... XD)

 

Personally I don't subscribe to the idea and would rather buy a doll I know I would love. Anyway 'cheaper' dolls still cost much more than most other hobbies and ruining them doesn't seem like a good idea.

I would think reading up a lot and asking around before one does something one is unsure of could save one's heart from being broken. I have been saved many a time by asking local enthusiasts for tips on caring and dos and don'ts.

 

When I got into bjds I wanted to have SD Megu, but at this point she was not available. I searched a while and found Serendipity Alice. She was available with face up, wig and black nighty dress. She's MSD sized and she was much cheaper than other BJDs were and I immediately fell in love with her.

She would have been the perfect starter doll, if it wasn't a bit difficult to find clothes for her.

I never regret getting her. She's adorable and I'd never give her away. It's okay to buy a 'starter doll', if you buy a doll which really 'appeals' to you.
I saw it happen that people bought absolutely dreamy, rare dolls as first dolls and they sold them later though.

 

I guess if you have the money to spare and want to test things out for yourself on a doll you don't really care about there's no harm in getting one for those purposes.

Sadly I don't have money just to spend on something I don't love though, so no starter doll for me...I'll be getting the doll I want

 

Pffffft, I don't really think there is a 'cheap' doll in this hobby, let alone a starter. They all cost a lot of money. Why on earth would I want to waste my money on a 'cheaper' doll that I don't even love, when I could be saving up for my dream doll? Besides, most of the least expensive dolls are usually a lot smaller, and my BJD preference is SD sized.

Resin is more durable then a lot of people seem to think, and I've always took care of every good quality doll that I've owned, from porcelains to vintage Barbies. If it's my first time restringing, then I'll probably ask a more experienced collector nearby if they'll help me and maybe give some useful tips. And doing some research before getting into the hobby works too. I'm still not sure yet if I'm even interested in doing my own face-ups. I haven't worked on something that involves a steady hand and good detail for years, back when I still painted ceramics.

 

I've just gotten into the hobby and have like $500 down on my first doll (she's on layaway), and she is DEFINITELY not a "starter doll." Honestly, I wouldn't buy a cheaper doll period, because most of the low end dolls are of the sort that creep me hardcore.

I have a huge bias towards iplehouse dolls because they're the ones that made me think that maybe dolls aren't as creepy as I thought. I wouldn't buy anything but them... And the fact that my "dream doll" came out while I was waffling about getting one and was limited edition helped push me into buying too. :P

 

I can see it either way as well. I think I ended up with the perfect "starter" doll in my Zaoll. She was simple, single jointed arms and legs, with simple stringing and stood well. She also wasn't a limited and had replacement parts should I have needed them. However I bought her for the way she looked and her size rather than because she would be a good first doll.

I was surprised when I got my MNF at how much harder she was to pose and string but I think I would have been fine starting with her as well. Ultimately I think it will depend on each individual especially when it comes to how likely they are to want to mod, how careful they are with their things and how much money they have to spend

 

I started with a Soom Amber (she was almost a fullset-just missing her necklace). I figured I liked her the most, so it was my best attempt at getting into the hobby. It worked great for me, so I'm not sure why people recommend "starter dolls" that are cheaper. I strung her with the fantasy parts since she came unstrung. After that, I redid her in human parts. I read about many people who have been in the hobby for awhile and never strung a doll. I did it on my first day! It was a good learning experience.

I always say go for the doll you really love since you're going to like it more than a doll you just settled for.

 

I feel that getting the doll you really love first is the best way because I want my first experience to be with a doll I want to keep. Even if i do mess up every now and then, thats just memories with my doll.

 

I think it depends on the purpose. Why do you want to start this hobby? Is it because you fell in love with a specific doll or what? I start the doll hobby because I'm interested to faceup art. Therefore, my starter doll is the one which resin is easy to absorb colors, my choice *after considering some advice from friends* is LUTS. That's my Rion. Originally bodyless, I decide to get into this hobby deeper by completing him. I end up adopting more dolls since then XD But if you decided to enter this hobby after falling in love with a doll, buy that doll as a starter! You won't regret it ~

 

I think that you should just choose the doll you most want, unless you're intending to practice face-ups or majorly modify the doll. I mean, I guess even then you could just go for the doll you had in mind, but you could end up wasting a lot of money if you ruin the doll from inexperience.
It would be a pity to buy a "starter doll" and just be completely indifferent or dislike the doll which may lead you to leave the hobby, whereas if you'd bought your dream doll in the first place you might have had a completely different experience.
My first doll was an impulse buy and could be considered a "starter doll". He was cheap, small, and came with a face-up and some clothes. I didn't do too much research on him before I bought him, either. I just thought that he'd be a good introduction to the hobby. He's since moved on to a new home but I've never regretted my purchase or experience.

 

I only buy what I love. If I didn't, why would I put the time and effort into it? I wouldn't like the end results no matter what if I didn't like the doll to start with.