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

I've actually only seldomly been asked the cost by strangers, and more so either receive the "What a creep" look or an interesting "Oh~ She's quite pretty!", when I do get the question I'm very open and honest with them but I tend to explain it in ways that make it seem less crazy. Like "Well, I mean, it's like any other hobby, to get it how I want it it'll cost a bit more than I'd necessarily want. But it's worth it." or I'll tell them "So far I've spent $---, little crazy I know. But I gotta say. I love the artsy feel behind it. It's a great hobby for keeping that childlike imagination, while still having some maturity to it." it's all about wording to me, and I've even got a few people into the hobby. It's really cool when they start talking to you about it... I will say, as a college student I do get a lot of "You could have bought books with that money!" and just general snubby attitudes from a lot of people but I don't really care. The only people who wont know the extent of what I pay will be my family, they'd never drop the subject, hehe.

 

The cost thing comes up in one of my other hobbies a lot. I wear lolita, and the nicer "brand" dresses can run anywhere from $300-$500 and up if you buy new, and the second hand market can be expensive too. People often scoff at the idea of spending that kind of money on dresses that aren't even for formal occasions, yet they'll turn around and drop that on a department store "designer" handbag without a second thought. It's just perception, and I've learned not to take it personally. Anytime something isn't mainstream people will question its value, but the second you put a worldwide name brand on something it's suddenly okay. I think the best way to approach this is to put it in perspective for the person asking, and just compare it to something they knows and can relate to.

 

Depends on who is asking.
Sometimes I say "pretty expensive" other times I'll tell the price. If I get a comment like "Why would you pay so much for a doll?" I'll only answer "Well, I pay my bills, my taxes, etc. work hard and I can do what I want with the money that's left." That shuts their mouths pretty good. To me is a "if you have paid all the essential, you can do whatever you want with the rest".
Some people would never understand why we puts some much money is this hobby but they don't have to... Like I don't understand why people buy 100 pairs of shoes, but it's okay!
If you are afraid of judgement it is better to keep the price for yourself, no one really have to know unless they want to get in the hobby

 

lmao this is a good topic for me. So the story is, I was staying at my grandma's house while I was in Hong Kong and my aunt lived there too. I got my first BJD there while I was at Dollism Plus 9 convention and even my parents agreed that we had to lie about the price. I think we told her around $50 to $100 as the price for my Crobidoll E-Line Lance (YO-SD size). Even then she said it was expensive :') But I understand that from others' point of view it would be expensive, even when I learned about BJDs, I thought they were crazy expensive too and that I would never buy one. But now that I'm actually into the hobby, I actually see these dolls as something I can buy. (although it kind of hurts when I ask my parents to help me buy an expensive doll)

 

I tell them the price and let them cringe. If anyone tries to give me crap about it I just remind them that I don't walk into their home or poke in their things and ask what it costs.

 

I generally wouldn't answer that question. It's honestly no one's business how I choose to spend my money. Explaining the cost to my husband took some sugar-coating though. lol

 

I get around some of this by calling them 'art dolls' rather than just toys. I think when people get that they are more aimed at adults, it's easier for them to understand why they cost more than a Barbie or Monster High doll. XD

 

Everyone except my mom know the actual price. The friends who have seen it are part of my usual gang who come over all of the time. They like figures and games, so when I told them the price they thought it was a lot, but understood why. My sister also agrees that the cost makes sense and was actually the person who told me to go for the more expensive doll I liked so I wouldn't regret it. I didn't do this though and I'm happy with my second choice since I think they have a bit more of a mature look. (The fact that it got here faster than the other would have is also a plus.)

My sister's boyfriend thinks it's too much, but he hasn't collected figures or anything like that before, so I don't think he understands the costs for these things too well. He doesn't constantly ask me why I spent so much on them (and by the way, I got MSD dolls on the lower end of the price scale), he just let me know he thought it was way too much.

My mom will never know the actual cost for my guys. She thinks they cost half of what they actually did and would probably flip if she knew the real cost. She likes them and thinks they are pretty, but I know her well and know she will not understand. She already thinks they cost a lot, so yeah.

 

I would be completley honest. And if you get any of those rude money comparison comments, just explain that this is a piece of art. People are willing to pay hundreds, thousands of dollars on paintings and sculptures, (and a bjd is both if you think about it: faceups and sculpts and such!) So it shouldn't be ridiculous or whatever to have paid a lot for it, especially since it's YOUR money, your hobby, not theirs!!!

 

I usually give people the accurate figure for the doll they are asking me about, plus whatever she's wearing, just to see the look on their faces. It's kind of amusing to me that people can be so shocked (disgusted even) by the thought of a $900 doll, all the while oblivious to the fact that I have ~$3000 of camera gear in the other hand that I have with me just to photograph the doll.

 

^ That's an awesome way to look at it. I usually respond with, "expensive" or "just enough to buy her".

 

I rarely ever talk prices outside of my friends who are also in the hobby (they know the pain, so they know the gain) Like my mom and my boyfriend are ones I'll tell prices about, since they sometimes want to go and buy me one and I want to nip that in the bud quickly. Outside of them, I'll usually groan and say things along the lines of, "it was expensive but worth every penny," or "a lot more than you'd think." I don't ask them how expensive their things are, so why should I tell them exactly how much my things are?

 

Thankfully, my family and husband know about the expense of my dolls and they are fine with it as it's my hobby and my money to do with as I please. I have had people ask in the past though (outside of family) and I just gave them a rough figure. It really does depends on who is asking and why they are asking and where I am at the time though as I'd be less inclined to say if I'm alone and the person asking looked a little 'off'.

 

I told my family the exact amount, although I was a bit hesitant to, especially when telling my mom. To conclude all the reactions, my family excluding my dad thought I was crazy, but my dad pretty much told my mom "How much is all your precious moments dolls worth?" She has a 'Little Indians' cabinet full. My friend just shakes his head about the amount of the doll. But I'm not sure how I would feel about telling anyone outside my immediate family and friends, I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable and hesitant. Unless of course the environment was leaned towards art/dolls/sculptures, I think I would tell.

 

My friends know the cost of my dolls and understand it but I will only sometimes tell my parents their actual cost. I get almost all of my dolls secondhand (often from local doll markets) so it's often not too expensive. Most recent I told my parents that two SD girls that I got for $250 each (with 2 free MSDs added in as well because the seller was absolutely lovely) were only $200 each. That's not too much of a stretch thankfully but I don't like lying about stuff like this. If someone asks me how much dolls cost I'll tell them, but also make sure to explain WHY it is that they cost so much.

 

I don't think I would generally mind saying but I would never, ever tell my boyfriend's grandparents. Never. Just the thought of them finding out horrifies me. They are very practical and pretty much dissaprove of spending money in general. My dolls (mostly incoming so I haven't actually encountered such a situation yet) are not even expensive by BJD standards! Strangers taking an interest I wouldn't really mind but I would probably give a ballpark. If they objected I would also point out that it is my money and hobby and I don't harp on their hobbies/collections.

 

I usually just tell them!

My parents know about my doll spending because they're the ones that got my first 'expensive' dolls like my first Blythes and when I was a kid, collector Barbies and Sailor Moon dolls, so they don't show much surprise at how much I spend on them. My parents were outright proud of me when I got my first paycheck and got a BJD with it because they understand how important my dolls are.

Out of my non-doll friends that don't have expensive hobbies (I'm also a horse person), they show some funny expressions but I find it entertaining and kind of empowering.

 

I'm a bit of an older collector, it's really nobody's business! To strangers, family and non-doll people my reply is....A FEW BUCKS and just change the topic!

 

No one in my family has any idea what these dolls cost. I know they would be shocked though. If I was asked probably wouldn't tell. I would just say its my hobby and enjoyment. I don't ask them what they spend their money on.

 

To someone not in the hobby, I would describe the doll as an ''art figurine" and say it was ''pretty darn expensive''. Hahahaha.