What to answer when people ask about the cost of your doll...?

To this day, I've never been asked how much any of my dolls has costed me. The cost of somebody's possessions isn't really an acceptable topic for polite conversation. I'm kind of shocked that people are being asked this about their dolls, especially by complete strangers. I don't even think relatives have ever asked me.

If asked, I'd probably just say "None of your business", because honestly, that's what it is. The only time I could see somebody asking about the cost of something is if they were interested in buying something similar. If it was a situation like that, I'd probably just give an estimate or something.

 

This is one of my pet peeves! My mother knows my love for my dolls and yet everytime I have shared a new one, the first thing out of her mouth is "And how much did that cost you?" I'm 59 years old and have been paying my own way in life for quite a long time now-not her place to chastise me on how I spend my money. Decided it was easier not to share with her anymore and bypass that anger over her response.

 

I don't think it's anyone's business to ask about how much you spent on your dolls...I think it's a bit rude. I just give them the information (doll websites) and tell them to find out themselves. LoL.

 

I haven't even received my first BJD yet, but during the years I obsessed over them and talked about wanting to own one, this was typically the first question to be raised after showing someone pictures or something. I'd reply, "Pretty expensive," and most of the time I'd be bugged to push out an estimated number, to which they look horrified after. To be honest though, when you buy your own things, it really is no one's business to know the price (unless they legitimately are interested in wanting said item). I won't hesitate to reply with a rude, vague answer if I can tell they're questioning me similarly.

 

hhaa...many people have asked me how much they cost and how much i've spent...i just tell them the truth..and they go like "are u crazy" "why so expensive" "barbie dolls are cheaper" and the best i've heard so far "you could have bought a muimui/LV/Gucci with that" ...but i just dont bother..i tell them its my hobby and my precious dolls make me very happy. I find people who dont have hobbies (other hobbies included) generally dont understand.

 

Like some people said i do not like to talk with strangers about their real prize...i don´t like numbers, so i only say that they are expensive but i try to explain that they are like art dolls totaly customizabled.

 

My first Doll is on its way to me and when some ask, what its cost. I tell the true. Other people spend a lot of money on stamps oder regular dolls.

 

I think non-doll people think the prices are so insane because they see dolls as 'children's toys' and don't really understand how much work goes into making and customizing one.

I haven't had a whole lot of people ask me about the prices, but most of my relatives and friends spend just as much money on shoes and clothes that they only wear every once in a while. At least I plan on using my dolls quite often and actually get my monies worth.

 

Usually when someone asks me how much one of my dolls costs, they're interested in getting one. Though I do have to say that I was kind of apprehensive about it the first time someone asked. My health teacher wanted to know because she also runs a day care. I was tongue tied between explaining to her that BJDs aren't really for young kids and how much Owen cost.

 

The few times that I've ever mentioned my dolls to anyone other than my parents I say something like that they're "just plastic and they're aren't antiques" and people assume they're cheap. I've never given anyone a number. I don't consider this lying, when you consider how much more expensive some antique or artist dolls are relative to my BJDs.

 

If the person who's asking is interested in getting one I'll tell them the cost of my dolll, but then assure them there are cheaper ones or that I got mine 'used', as my first two babies were second hand. The two I'm getting now I'm getting straight from Iplehouse and are a bit more expensive. One of my friends was a bit surprised when I told her, or well a lot surprised, but when I told her why she understood a bit more.

For non-doll people though? Eh....Generally the only non-doll people who have asked are my family and they just look at me when I'm crazy when I tell them the cost. But then I kindly point out to them that it's money I earned from doing my job and I'm not doing anything illegal with it. Which tends to get them to leave me alone about it.

 

I'm sort of in that position at the moment - my nan is an excellent knitter and I plan to take my dolls to her for some clothes (they're getting desperate lol) but I know she'll be curious as to how much they cost, and I don't want to give her a heart attack (she's in her 80's) so I'll probably just fudge it a bit and add in the usual stuff about them being art, collectables, handmade and the like. But as for people outside of my own family I don't think I would say - I live in a not so great neighbourhood so I don't take my dolls out so thankfully it doesn't come up. Although I might tell someone who had a genuine interest in the hobby but only in a private conversation and probably add that I'd prefer it if it wasn't repeated.
At the end of the day it's our money and we can spend it on whatever we chose ... plus I know people who spend ridiculous amounts on designer handbags and the like so if I ever were to be upfront about the cost of my dolls and they ridiculed me about it then I would just point out that I find how much they spend on their designer stuff crazy ... hopefully that would shut them up pretty sharpish

 

Depending on who is asking...

Fellow collectors and close friends: Honest truth
Family/acquaintances: Not cheap

People not in this hobby will most prob never understand... like how I cant understand guys who spend tons on their cars.

 

I would like to say it depends on who is asking but for the most part I just tell people if they ask. Though I'm not big on volunteering the information if they don't ask.
My one coworker is angry at me cause I introduced her to them and that they cost so much since she wants one now.
For me, I know most people have hobbies and they invest just as much money in their own way.

 

This is such an interesting thread and question. I am pretty new to BJDs and I mostly surround myself with doll people who may not be BJD enthusiasts but generally have an appreciation for dolls. By the time they are done gushing about how realistic their face ups are and how well their clothes are made, I think it is just understood that they are horrifyingly expensive and that question never gets asked. Now as I go to more meets or venture to take my dolls out for photo shoots, I am sure this question will drop from the lips of non-dolly folk. At that point I think I will evaluate on a case by case basis how much about their cost I reveal to the 'nosy Nellie'.

I think dolls are a very personal thing and perceived value is what causes them to fetch the prices they do. I am not really impressed by the companies listing dolls as extremely limited just so the price can be escalated. I choose dolls by sculpt first, then by size, skin tone, and other features. I see how they appeal to me, what characters I can make out of them, and how they will fit in with my existing Resin family.

I am not sure people’s curiosity about the dolls and th4 hobby comes from a place of being rude. They may be well entitled to their feelings of what someone would bother spending so much on a luxury item. I remember hearing one extremely annoying woman say that to a friend of mine about his doll while she carried a $5000.00 Hermes bag on her hip. What made it even funnier was that the next time we saw her at an event, her eight year old was carrying a Volks limited edition doll. I think in her case her reason for asking was not to wonder why anyone would spend so much on a doll but to ask herself why she or her child didn’t own such an item if it indeed existed. Aren’t people fascinating?

 

I'm still waiting for my first doll, but I've shown him to a couple of my coworkers. Naturally, the price was right there on the page and I got a few O~o looks. I just do my best to explain what goes into making the doll so special and they just kind of dumbly nodded their heads.
When I first heard what the price of a BJD could be, I nearly had a heart attack... but then I remembered that I used to work in a hobby shop that sold VERY nice RC race cars.... Some of which were a few thousand dollars and were frequently brought in for new parts and tune-ups. It made me feel better about the price, lol.

 

I just say............................. You don't want to know, but they make me HaPPy!!

 

My Mom usually knows the price(s), but that's about it. When asked by other people, I tell them that BJDs cost anywhere from $70-$5000, but that I own dolls on the cheaper end. Which may or may not be completely true, but it usually gets people to back off.

 

When I've had people ask me how much my doll cost, I've been frank with them and told them the cost. Usually when someone asks me how much dolls cost, it's because they're more often than not interested in buying one. For complete strangers who ask me out of the blue, I'd probably just give them a ball-park cost in interest of keeping my doll safe.

 

I tend to just say "a lot" or "it's expensive" if it comes down to it. Now, if someone is seriously asking, then I'll give an approximate figure. Otherwise, I don't feel like spilling that the doll I have cost me upwards of $900. XD