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

The thing about giving someone money as a gift is that you accept that they will spend it on something THEY really want. People may roll their eyes and maybe even make a joke of it, but if they know you really love your new doll and are really happy, then they will be happy for you. Don't worry about it

 

I wouldn't worry too much. If you really feel it will cause an issue, then you don't have to tell them -- it's ok to not tell some things to some people. Sometimes that's the best way to avoid stress and drama. The money is your own to spend as you see fit, and you can always point out that everybody buys things they want but don't really need.

 

It's not so much how to "combat" that look that you need to learn, so much as how to ignore it.....

 

I'm used to getting a lot of funny looks anyway--I used to do a lot of extreme fashion and I'm still not what you would call a normal looking person--so I just blow it off when people look at me funny for carrying Chaeri around.

And if someone comes out and asks me how much she cost, I usually answer "Well, she's an Asian artist doll, and those can get kind of expensive, and with all the modification I've done to her I can't really tell you how much I've put into her." Most people usually back off after that.

If they continue to press me about a dollar amount, I usually smile sweetly and answer "Well, the total is probably less than it would cost to send you to sensitivity training."

 

TRUE STORY. It's no one's business but our own how much we BJDs collectors spend on dolls- if they really want to know, you can always give them the web address for where to get one and let them go from there. And personally, I don't see it as being wasteful to spend money on dolls if it's money you've saved while still paying your necessary expenses. For that matter, how many people drop tons of money on designer clothes, bags and shoes only to wear them out or give them away when they go out of style?

Sorry for going on a rant. ^^;;; That having been said, I would just tell someone that it was a good bit of money and try to leave it at that.

 

i'm usually honest about the price, but i really haven't been asked much. people who are bothered about money are usually insecure (either the person spending it or the person asking it) and need to think about why that is and find a solution.

unless you treat badly or damage the doll (or even sometimes in cases where you do just a little), the doll will go up in value over time (there can be an initial second-hand price drop in some cases, but as soon as production stops or if production was limited it will go up unless the doll is *seriously* unpopular).
i'm not as familiar with ABJDs yet but i did a lot of research on Dollfie Dream prices and the limited character dolls can really spike in price (the Mariko-sensei DD from last Christmas retailed at ~$670 and now i can rarely see her on auction sites for under ~$1000 just 4 months later). i imagine it's the same for limited ABJDs even if they have more accessible production runs and so a slower accumulation of value over time.

of course the doll will not be quite as valuable if you use or play with it, but then that's the price of enjoying what you paid for. just in case you ever fall on hard times, it's usually more of a failsafe to own valuable objects you could sell than to just rely on your savings account. the value of money itself can depreciate a lot more than the value of objects worth money can.

in short, if someone were to be very pressing about it, i would explain the above. they're investments as well as a hobby. unless the apocalypse happens and the economy collapses, in which case we will all be too busy with looting and cannibalism, dolls are basically kind of like buying gold bars. maybe not quite but...kind of like gold bars that you can dress up and take cute photos with.

 

I may not have my doll home yet but I'm pretty accustomed to questions that in the past I've hesitated to answer, but depending on the person's interest I'd either tell them straight up how much and add in the price range. I've been told my enthusiasm tends to make most things seem even better than they are so I doubt this case would be any different.

I enjoy talking about the hobby with everything I know thus far and considering I've never spent anything near as much as I'm paying for my dolls on anything aside from my laptop . I'm a pretty simple and easy to please person so I don't have this need for shiny new things for no good reason. I like things to be practical when I shop for myself...I also just hate shopping for the most part. I've found with BJD's this is quite the opposite. To me a hobby is very different from splurges with no other motivation outside of vanity, which is of course very common as far as things like jewelry and other expensive items go just to improve appearances to others. I don't feel I've got anything to prove to strangers

 

"More than you would want to know."

Usually it works. I like my privacy and most people respect that. :]

 

I learned the following reply from a friend in high school who didn't want to reveal how expensive his jacket was, and I have been using it ever since with a lot of my shoes and purses and now, perhaps, I will start using it on my doll: "Oh, this? How much? It was enough."

I loved how it wasn't revealing the price, but in a way, it was also disclosing that the pricetag was not cheap either but in a very refined way.

Others may not really like the reply, but as for me, it works

 

Several people at work have heard about me talking about paying for my doll. They usually say "paying for? Isn't a doll only, like, $20?". I have to laugh nervously and tell them that I'm paying $450 for him. They usually just stare in shock and ask why they're so expensive and I explain it to them, they shake their heads and walk away. XD

 

I don't usually go around telling people about my hobby. Only close friends know because I think it's unnecessary for other people to know about what I do in my free time.

I avoid financial questions by giving vague answers, like "it depends" or "a good amount." People judge others. We just do. So, I do this because I know they're not really interested in my hobby, probably just curious. Also, I don't like to discuss finance with just anyone, and if they're really interested, they will look up the cost themselves. I sound a bit mean, but it's just my way to avoid hearing unnecessary comments that will effect my experience in this awesome hobby. =)

 

I will answer truthfully to almost anyone BUT my mother... She is on the opposite end of artistic so my hobbies just fly over her head. I hate the disapproving tone she gets when I say just ONE thing about them so i tend to just leave her out of the loop. She's never spent money on them so I don't see why its her concern.

 

I tell people depending on who it is and how they seem to be asking. And I only offer information about my doll if it is asked. I never go out of my way to tell anyone for no reason.

If they are genuinely curious, I will tell them honestly. Some strangers who are genuinely interested in the dolls may want to know the price range to see if its something they can afford, so I'm more than happy to let them know. :3

If they seem to be prepared judge me and I can sense it in their tone, I will be vague.

Its best to be careful though. Telling people the high price of one's dollies can make them a target for theft, so I've heard.

Honestly, I made sure I bought myself a new laptop before getting into buying more dolls. So no one can use that against me. ;3 LOL!

 

I don't talk about price)

 

I love that - it is like in fashion magazines which usually list costs next to photos - as soon as they don't, you know it is waaaaaaay expensive XD
It reminds me of a response my mother has when looking at clothes in shops; she'll see something she loves, and say "Oh, that's gorgeous/pretty/amazing!" if she checks the price and it is really high, she'll put it back saying "But it is not that gorgeous/pretty/amazing." XD

I recently had to deal with dolly cost discussions when I was given money for my belated 21st (I'm 22!), and I decided to get a Limited doll, one of the new FairyLand PukiFee sets. I had to email people and thank them for coming to celebrate, and heaps of them had asked my parents what I was getting - my mum knew, dad would have heart-failure if he did so we didn't tell him! So I had to email back saying I'd replaced my mp3 player, which I'd had for years, and then say I was getting a doll. I linked the FL site page for her so people could see her, and then, of course, had to give a quick once over about why she was special, and why she was so expensive (so people didn't need to email back and ask). It was a bit weird, but it was better to do it at the time. I just kinda explained that it is resin, not crappy plastic like other dolls, and that they are hand sculpted/painted etc, and that she was in a limited set with only 100 fullsets being made. It was also easier to explain because it was a 21st present, so buying something really expensive for what it was made sense - and I've just gotten a new laptop through earthquake insurance, so no worries about that one!

 

Well, I usually just say "A lot" when people ask me, and they leave me alone. But if someone pressed for a dollar amount, or over heard me talking dolls and asked WHY I would spend that much on a toy, I'd be very blunt.

Kids toys are usually massed produced pieces of plastic. And if they aren't, then the nice, hand made ones, are expensive too.

Simple as that. These are hand made... They're sculpted, cast in resin, and this takes a lot of work and time to do.

Not too many things in this hobby irritate me, but some peoples ignorance does. :/
The ones who can't seem to understand the concept of something being art, and not being mass produced.... They always come across to me as not only ignorant, but very selfish in their ability to just deny that an artist has a right to be paid good money for their hard work.

I have a close friend who's an artist, semi realism, and it's ridiculous how some people will just scoff at her pricing for commissions, even though it's pretty modest for her talent...
It's the same thing with dolls... No respect for the hard work of others.

 

It is almost impossible for me to lie so if people ask I'll tell them.
Don't understand what all the fuzz is about.
Money means nothing to me. If I have to throw out some dough, to get something that makes me happy, I have no problem doing so.
The good thing about money is that there is always more of it out there. Just have to be patient.

 

I try to avoid the cost and hope they dont bring it up, but yeah even talking to my mom and fiance about it they brag they can get so and so for the amount you pay for the doll. Maybe a way to get around it is just saying its collecters items might make them understand a bit more?

 

If someone I knew well asked me this I would be honest about the price. However with a random stranger I'd tell them they cost way more than a figurine!

 

I think I would just reply with a simple "way too much money".
There's no need to get into details.