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

I prefer to say - It's a little cheaper than Boeing)

 

I love my dolls and have been collecting them for over 20 years (not just BJD's). If someone asks me what a doll costs I tell them the truth. I don't have to justify to anyone but myself (and hubby but he doesn't care) what I spend my money on. I don't drink, don't smoke and don't gamble, I worked a full time job for 20 years and now I'm retired and can do what I want. I didn't buy expensive dolls when my kids were living here, and I only got them on special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. Now I don't have to take care of my kids anymore just me and hubby so we buy what we want when we want it. I've been reborning for a little over 6 years so I'm used to people asking me what they cost.

 

Ahh, this thread reminds me of a funny story... My aunt asked me once this very question. She is the type of person that can have no interests of her own until someone introduces her to an idea - and then she's only interested if its worth money or could bee seen as high-end or something she could brag about. She had seem my dolls a couple of times and when we went to visit my aunt and uncle in NY (I'm a bit old for family trips, but oh well) I brought them with me because its usually extremely boring. My mom knows how much they cost and we made a couple comments and jokes that alluded to the fact that they were quite expensive. I had seen the wheels turning ever since she got an eyeball of them and she finally asked one night. I had to stop myself from laughing.
"So..... <_< >_> ... how much do they cost?" <--it had been dead silent before she asked.
"Ahh, well, enough lol. Its definitely not a cheap hobby : D "
"... >:l"
Lol and I will never tell her either.

 

I don't like talking about it so I usually try to change the subject or say "it depends, but a lot" and try to leave it at that. I'm not exactly ashamed of it, but still. I don't like talking about it because I feel like it's bragging even though it's not. For example, my mom is more straightforward and if someone asks she will give an honest estimate without batting a lash. I'm way too self-conscious, lol.

 

I'm known for my snark, so I tend to have to think about things with a bit of kid gloves before talking.

I've heard people talk about "how expensive" on a number of things, but I think the best thing to do is remind people that designer goods and clothes cost that much, and more. I've seen people who carry Coach and Juicy Couture, but seem to be pretty good at telling other people they're spending their money on the wrong things.

Be honest about it, and let them think what they want. You could've spent that money on a purse, a laptop, a few weeks of groceries, a new mattress or whatever, but you didn't. Let them go off into wherever land, and just peace out.

 

I always say something to the extent of, "It ranges depending on the doll company, they can be $300-$1,000 but because I find them so gorgeous and inspiring I find them worth it!"

 

Them: "What?! XXX$ for a doll?!"
Me: "Yup, xxx$ for a 3D completely customizable, pose ready, model shaped, canvas. We all have our priorities, mine are just with my craft and art abilities."

I also fill them in on details and comparisons to 'their kids dolls' which drives me nuts hahah

 

I think my answer depends on who's asking. My family and close friends I tell them the price.
I have been asked a few times by strangers before and I usually shy away from giving a specific answer. It makes me feel awkward to talk to people I don't know about money so I'll usually say, "depends on the doll/company blah blah blah ..." and change the subject. hahahaha
If they seem truely interested in the hobby I may be more open with them but usually I think strangers are just being nosy.

 

Someone once asked me "how much did you pay for that stupid thing?"
and I looked at her and saw her bag and her shoes
and I go
"How much did you pay for those stupid things?"
And she was like, "Ugh. A lot."
And I was like "I'll tell you what. If you're willing to part with them, I'll trade you your bag for my doll. You'll probably be able to sell her and have money left over to buy yourself a new bag."
and she goes "You paid that much for a piece of plastic?"
And I say "You paid that much for a piece of fabric?"

But that's the obnoxious people. The nicer people, who are actually interested, I tell them the truth. I tell them that they are quite an investment of not only money, but time and patience. Most of them are really surprised, but I never felt judged or insecure about it.

 

I generally tell anyone who asks they are 'quite expensive' and if pressed will give a general figure about half of the actual cost

 

I just got my doll and when people first asked I told them the truth but I kept getting weird looks like I was crazy for spending that much. Now, I just say she was expensive.

 

Hey it's my money. If they are curious, then I tell them. My roomie asked what they cost when I was ordering, and just from her reaction I'm fairly sure that most of my friends probably realize that I spend my hard earned money on whatever I please with no worry of what others think. Didn't even flinch, and was just like "Now you have to buy them clothes?!?!" after that bit came out, then the wigs, she was done with the questions, but continues to put up with my doll talk (though there isn't much), and is too terrified to even look at them. She may get peeved when I buy her one, as she prolly will say that she would have rather spent my money on something else for herself haha.

 

I don't know if this was mentioned earlier, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating.

But since this is a hobby, you can look at it (and subsequently explain it) as spending money towards a hobby instead of just a doll or two (or ten). I have a friend who does needlepoint and even just making a belt can cost her around $300 easy, and that's before she puts it on the leather.

I also think it's when you mention that it's a doll, people automatically think about children's playthings, or collectable items like porcelain dolls and the like where you buy them and then they sit on your shelf and look pretty for the rest of their existence. While you can do that with ball jointed dolls (for at least just a little while, instead of forever), they're also much more involved.

 

I know telling my mom was agony, since it was first, 'I'm still into dolls' and second 'Only they're about three times more expensive'. I don't really recall anyone asking how much, though I'm sure it's happened, I just have the memory of a goldfish. I do recall explaining to one of my friends that I've spent about 1000 dolls on dolls alone, with clothes probaley top 2000 and he, though I'm sure he not-so-secretly wants one, thought I was insane.

 

Since i know a lot of the people who ask me won't understand or agree i just say 'A lot.' and try to change the subject. >_>;;

 

Once a been asked about a price of my doll by a hobbyist who is interested with toy car models, and he has said: "Wow, they are so cheap! I envy you have such hobby."

 

I've been asked this question a lot. I usually just try to say it was very expensive, and if they ask for a number I tell them the truth and then quickly inform them that the material they are made of is expensive and they are fully customizable and pose-able, and maybe throw in that its an art doll if necessary. If they don't get it after that, I just assume that it's their problem if they can't appreciate it.

 

A few of my close friends know the general prices, as if I find something I think they may enjoy I'll send them a link. My mother knows how much they spend, but as long as I never back out on how much I give her for bills she doesn't care what I do with my money, as I'm quite responsible.

Then the woman that comes to help take care of my mother (Home health aid for day hours) knows the cost of an Iplehouse EID, simply because she actually knocked the box holding one DOWN THE STAIRS after I told her earlier in the day to "please be careful, this box contains something very valuable and belongs to someone else." (they have it on layaway.) She claimed she "thought it was empty" but, really, what kind of empty box feels that heavy? I yelled at her and told her if any part of him was broken, SHE was paying the cost to replace him, or to refund the woman that has him on layway.Thankfully, only one headcap magnet popped out, which was a quick fix.

As far as strangers go, I've only taken one doll out in public. Some ladies at Michael's thought he was rather interesting. One asked how much he was, since apparently she was a doll collector. I told her ones this size could cost anywhere from $500 - $1000+ and she accepted it without even batting an eye.

 

If my friends ask, I tell them roughly what the doll in question cost. If a stranger or family member asks, I just say "quite a lot" and leave it at that.

 

Well I agonised over telling my parents, because our money situation at home is fairly tight, but they were more accepting when they saw me selling my own stuff to cover the cost of the doll, and when I explained to them what he meant to me. Even so, I underestimated the cost a little and only told them the price of the blank doll. And when I bought my second doll, which was an LE, I flat out lied xD because I knew they would balk at me spending so much money on a 22cm doll. My mum fell in love with bjds though, and I think if I were to be honest with her about the price now, she would be more understanding.

Telling my brother (when he asked about the price of my msd boy) was easy. I just pointed to his xbox 360 and said "about that much." When he raised his eyebrows, I pointed out that he ALSO had to pay for games, and xbox live membership, and the fact that this was his second xbox (after his first suffered the red ring of doom). I also noted that if he ever sold his xbox or traded it in, he would get much less than he paid for it whereas the resale value of bjds tends to be high (about what was paid for them originally, in many cases). His dead xbox is now worthless, whereas even damaged or ill-treated bjds can be sold on as mod projects.

As for strangers who ask, well I think it's quite rude to ask such a personal question but if they show a genuine interest in bjds I tend to be honest, while stressing that they are handmade collectors items, not toys, and are imported etc.etc. If they are just being nosy then I will say "fairly expensive, but it's a hobby"