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

I just kind of answer something along the lines of "not cheap" or "you don't wanna know" combined with a lot of eyebrow waggling

 

I usually respond based on the situation I am in. If I feel safe in my environment and the person is genuinely curious, I will tell them all about doll costs (though I usually deflate the cost). But if someone is rude to me and just asks me how much my doll costs out of the blue I will not answer kindly, seeing as you don't see me going up to people and saying "Oh wow, that is a really nice purse, how much did it cost?" I actually met a woman at ihop (our waitress actually) who did the usual "Wow, that is a really pretty Barbie doll!" (she was talking about my SOOM Amber) I didn't necessarily mind because she seemed really interested, she just wasn't familiar with the hobby enough to know that it wasn't a Barbie. I explained to her about the dolls and she asked to hold mine. It made her really happy to learn about them and she was so thankful that she gave us free dessert. People like her are the reason I handle these situations on a case by case basis, because sometimes there are people who really want to learn more!

 

I've been through this with some of my family members, and it is certainly an uncomfortable situation for me. After they express how they think I'm wasting my money and whatnot, I always try to explain that I love the dolls and to me, they are worth the money I pay for them. I'm not good at lying at all, so I'm always truthful when it comes to the price of the doll.
The funny thing is I own 2 Bobobie dolls and certain members of my family reacted like it was horrible that I spend $180 on a doll. Just wait until they find out about the others I am saving up for! Then I'll be really wasting my money in their eyes.

 

"Less than the Kimber Ultra Carry .45 in my purse."

 

Well, if it is a close friend who asks me, I usually tell them the true amount.
If it is not a friend who asks, or sometime with my friends anyway, before I tell them the price, I always make sure to stress that my doll is not a child's doll, it is 'a collectable', and then they seem to have a better idea.
Just saying "...pretty expensive." works fine, too. I generally avoid bringing up the price if I can. seems like a sensitive subject...

 

Mm.. I personally think it's rather rude to ask how much the doll is if I was like outside and it was a stranger. It's really none of their business. If they were interested in buying one as well and was asking out of sincerity then I would tell them.
Like say a fellow collector or someone very curious. If it seemed like the person was just going to be all "Oh my gosh so expensive. Why would you do that?! D:<" then I'd just reply to them "pricey/expensive". If they were to pry for the cost that'd just be even more rude. As for friends, depending on the friend I'd also be very discreet about telling the price cost.

 

I try to avoid answering that question...so I don't take my dolls out anywhere very often. I also think its tacky to ask how much they cost. If they want to know they can look it up on the internet!

 

I just smile. I try to gauge if they are genuinely interested. At times I give a price range if they insist for an answer, which most of the time turns them off. But for those who wants more info, I point them here at DoA

 

I haven't even bought one yet, and I've already had several people ask about it when they saw me looking at the sites and talking about it. And that's with just my 200 dollar budget. D;

 

I now believe that we should reveal the true value of our dolls as much as possible to colleagues, families, friends and peers who are not into doll collection. This is important as we do not want others to under value our dolls and dolls are often equated to cheap play dolls, frivolous, trivial, insignificant hobby of no value.

So for me, it's no pretense, no apologies, just professionally, smartly and proudly reveal the true price. We worked hard for our dolls to own them and there is nothing wrong with revealing the price.

 

yeah my friends think it's too expensive than they look like - -

but to think that how this doll was make I think it's a fair price

but I just can't tell my mom the real price haha I just told her half of it = =

 

I take my doll with me to college on occasion because I know a few people with an interest in dolls (and actually have an irl doll friend!) or to take pictures. Of course, when I'm sitting with my friends those who haven't seen him come up and want to look at or touch him. I'm totally fine with that, for the most part, everyone responds kindly. But I swear, there's a friend of mine that wants to say something about how much he costs to everyone that shows any kind of interest in him. I think it's because she's saving up for a doll as well or something. If somebody compliments him she'll say stuff like, "He's really expensive" or "tell them how much he costs."

It makes me really uncomfortable. I didn't bring him to flaunt him, and even though I love him I still feel guilty about the money I spent on him. Not only that, but it's a college campus. If everybody and their grandma knows that my doll is worth something, somebody might try to steal him. -_-

To answer the question though, whenever someone asks I usually tell them I'd rather not say unless they know a little bit about the hobby or are looking to find out. I just don't want him to get kidnapped or make him sound so valuable that nobody wants to play with him when I bring him.

(And the crazy thing? My doll is really on the cheap end of this hobby. If only people knew...)

 

Just ask them: You want the answer I tell people who don't care or the answer I tell people who do care?

And you tell the truth to people who do care, and to the people who don't, just knock off a few zeroes.

 

I just go ahead and tell them. And once they say it's too expensive because I know most of them will say it, I tell them that it's no worse than buying a new game system and a bunch of games. Or for people that like cars (like my boyfriend) it's cheaper than buying a new car and parts. You just need to find something that they spend lots of money on and is comparable. As long as you can do that they won't have a lot to say back to you, even if they do think it is expensive.

 

I don't take my dolls out much, and if I do, I rarely get asked (must be all the black I am wearing and the evil look in my eyes ). But friends who come over to my place and see the dolls usually ask, expecially if they are interested in dolls. I always say the truth about the doll's price, but I warn the ones not familiar to BJDs first that the price is much higher than what they expect. This way I don't have to call an ambulance to help someone who fainted or is under shock ...
...and some of my friends are planning to buy their own BJD too now after thinking the dolls would cost too much at first^^

 

My saucy and not-quite-rude response would be "Why, do you want one?"

Fortunately, no one usually asks how much I paid for my dolls, especially when I tell them they're custom art dolls that you have to assemble/string/paint/clothe yourself. By the time I'm going into choosing the right set of eyes, or making fur wigs, their eyes start to glaze over and they excuse themselves. XD

 

I get really uncomfortable when people who are not involved in the lovely world of BJDs press me for the price of any of my dolls.
If I'm good friends with the person, I'll tell them a ballpark price.
If they're a complete stranger, I just say they're expensive, because they're art and refuse to tell them any real numbers.

 

I usually just tell them that it's something I love, and I bought it myself. If you or your kids have cheaper dolls, great. But I'm sticking to my BJDs.

 

It depends. If I'm talking to someone who seems to be genuinely interested in the dolls, I'll tell them roughly how much the doll cost. If it's just a random person or friend of a friend who's heard about my weird hobby sort of deal, a very vague range of prices. Really, I've only ever been asked by people at conventions who had seen pictures of ABJD online but didn't know anything about them and figured the nerd with a doll was a good place to start, so I try to be informative.