"Why are BJDs so expensive?"

all of those reasons are true... I am just poor so $500 is alot to me ;-;

 

You know, I've been in sticker shock and off for ages, especially in the direction of Luts/Volks. I've found an easy way to void it: I'll never buy either brand, let alone anything more expensive. I'm sticking with MSDs, and AngelRegion is the most expensive brand I'll pay for.

Maybe I'll break that in the future.. but that's my way of dealing with it ^^

 

I love Volks dolls however Id love to see the more mature body type such as Luts Mature Girl body or the elfdoll large bust on there dolls as well. Give a girl alittle shape. will ya.. lol

 

This hobby is pretty expensive, no matter what company you buy from ^^; With Volks, you pay for very high quality. If you want one of their dolls, I'm sure there are ways to save :3

 

It's a lot to most of us, actually.... We all spend months, if not longer saving up! There's actually a few threads about it. Try searching for 'em!

But welcome to the hobby and good luck saving up for your dollie!

 

$500 is a LOT for just about everyone. No one here is made of money. Ya just prioritize, save up, and live realistically. You'll notice most of us have a "someday..." tag in our sig. Gonna take me another year to afford another doll.

 

yes that is very true. I like this hobby already because of the people. Everyone here has been so nice. I am so glad that everyone is so accepting to me. Hopefully I will be able to get a volks doll (at least one!) and then I can feel... i dont know... happy! But my sense of taste is to expensive for my income! (jun tachibana is the apple of my eye! praying for re-relase )

thank you everyone for being so nice to me

 

$500 is a lot for me too. ^^; In fact, I just paid $930 for my newest girl; and Eva cost $350; and Sakura is worth at LEAST $650. ^^; And I am dirt poor, but still manage to find ways to buy my sweeties. ^.^ I'm very lucky.

 

All BJDs in general are expensive. Even tinies are too o_O
The price you must pay for something so wonderful *sigh*

 

Any and all of these dolls are expensive. No matter what country you are in, these will always be expensive. So save up your money for the doll you really want. Why stop saving at $400 to get a MSD that you're just settilg with when you can save up a bit more and get another doll you truly want?

Now, I think Volks does a whole lot for their customers, and Ive seen their dolls quality in comparison to my own and others. Im surprised they can afford all of the events and shops they own, while so many other companies just have websites that people can click on to order their doll and have it manufactured just for them.

Also, Volks USA doesnt hire people on a continuous basis, unless Bailey or any of the other staff suddenly dies. I've asked, but I haven't asked about employee discounts. I barely know any of them, so I think me asking them if they discounts would just be rude....although I am curious.

 

Honestly I don't even think about how much each doll costs to produce and what all the extra fees are. I think "is this doll worth it to me?" Sometimes companies make hugh profits off of items and sometimes they actually take losses.. Things are just worth what people are willing to pay for them.

I dunno, I guess I've taken too many economics classes in college to think about it any other way.

 

Volks isn't particularly expensive. When you compare them with other companies' dolls, and look at quality, you'll quickly realize that Volks is certainly worth the money. To clarify, Volks is probably THE most famous BJD company. People in Japan who aren't even interested in dolls know about Tenshi no Sumika. Also, Volks has had more time than most companies to perfect both their molds and their methods. As such, Volks' resin quality, and in many cases design quality, is far superior to that of other companies. Their popularity and quality are both reasons they are able to charge more than many other companies charge. (Disclaimer: I don't even own a Volks doll yet, and I'm definitely not a Volks purist. Continuing.)

I'm poor too, but I own three and am working on two more, so it's possible to get them regardless of price.

As for Volks hiring people, uh, yeah, I'm pretty sure the people working in Sumikas aren't robots, though I could be wrong. XD I assume you mean are they hiring now?

 

I agree whole-heartedly with what fireflytantric said - that's pretty much my philosophy on BJDs. Money is only useful because of what you can do with it, to my mind, so you sit back and decide whether a certain doll is worth working for at all, and if it is...well, you're working anyway, right? Don't think about the price, think about the doll - that's certainly paid off (if you'll forgive the term :P) for me!

In terms of Volks specifically, well, um, look at my sig for an indication of preferences (and another one on the way! *dies of happy*). I've handled (and owned) dolls from a number of different companies, but I just have to admit that Volks gets me every time; it's in no way a conscious choice, they simply happen to be the dolls I 'click' with.

In terms of why they cost more:
~the resin is stunning, and there's no way to explain what that really means 'til you've seen and touched it. When my first boy arrived I had dolls from two other companies and I was in so much shock at the difference.
~they are much heavier for their size - one of my SD13 Boys weighs more than a Hound, despite the height difference (that definitely goes into cost - as someone says, resin's not cheap, and heavier means more of it)
~the quality is amazing - no bubbles, no rough/shiny patches
~if you're looking at an FCS...I'd say it's almost worth it for the Zoukeimura eyes :P
~lots of optional parts (this doesn't count for everybody, but I love being able to change hands ^^)
~they pose beautifully - not only do they hold their positions, but I can make mine lounge as casually as any Hound.

Everyone approaches BJDs differently, so whether they're worth the money or not is your choice, but if you need a recomendation you've got one from over here! ^^ If the big ones seem too much, but you like Volks sculpts, maybe you could try an MSD? Or manage to snatch a Yo at the next Dolpa After-Event ^__~

 

I can understand this, as I was blown away when I was new to the hobby, too. But the bottom is that the hobby is expensive, I agree. If a face stands out to you and you love it, it's well worth the price, if you are serious about being a BJD collector or hobbyist. Since even 'cheaper' BJDs are expensive, settling doesn't exactly make sense, either. And at the end of the day, they are more than worth it. Getting over the initial hurtle of that first purchase kind of makes it clear. It did to me, anyway lol

 

thank you everyone! I have been pressured by people (mom) saying that even $200 is too much for a doll. (planning to buy dollzone but am nervous because of what has happened in the past with them)

The thing is the doll I want is about $1600 (jun tachibana) which is a limited and popular girl...

so getting her would be great but i am not sure if they are going to re-relase her (if they did right after I bought her I would kick myself <_< and with my luck it would happen)

thank you! I am not looking at price (as much) but it's all about love now!!

 

Great comparison. Don't forget the wig though. Volks includes a high quality wig. Luts/CP does not unless it's an art doll. So that's another $25 -$50 depending on what kind of wig you would buy.

Okay so I am a Volks Groupie. I am always pleased with their quality. I love their fullset dolls. And well, I love the company. No other company does for their customers what Volks does.

 

Well, yeah, it is pricey, but look at the resale value. Not many things hold value the way these dolls do. My car dropped several K the moment I drove it off the lot, meanwhile I just bought a Cyndy for 900 and I could sell her for 900 no problem.

Well, don't compromise on something else. This hobby is very good at developing patience and money management. Yes! Money management! You find yourself noticing all the ways you waste money without thought. I don't buy salads on campus anymore! Every five dollars I spend on that is $40 a month just EATTEN.

Also, if you don't ~NEED~ default Jun there is always the possibility of winning her one day at a doll party. My Lady Sylvie is a PAIN IN THE BUTT and $$$ to find on the market, but I won her for only $1100. (hahahaha. "only.")

 

juz to add someone was mentioning about the quality of volks reisin dropping and i was like [orly?] so any thoughts on that?? [shopuld i start a new topic?]

 

I'll have to disagree on the wig for only one doll. That's the Yukinojou Sawaragi. The wig fiber is coarse and rough and the strands stand up everywhere in comparison with other wigs I own; but the cut is really nice. ^^

 

Where did you hear this? I haven't noticed any such thing in any of my Volks dolls, recent ones included. They're still the nicest out of all the companies I've seen.