How do you decide which doll to buy next?

Usually limited editions/dolls being discontinued have higher priority than regular sculpts for me. The regularly obtainable dolls usually get pushed until a good event comes up.

 

If the doll isn't limited I reccomend thinking it over, if you can't get a certain one out of your head after a month or two it's a safe bet you should bring it home

Right now I've been dreaming of a Iplehouse Yui for months! I'm so glad Iplehouse has the full choice system so i can take it slow and save for her~

I like to take my time, Draw or photoshop my top picks and think about their characters or style. I Always browse owners photos because of how different they can be from the company website. ^^

 

Firstly, its really important for me to know that I am 'in love' with the sculpt/doll whether it is limited or not. I usually purchase my next doll when I see that it will fit into my style of characteristics and the theme that I either really like or it is a theme that I was searching for. I know there are just so many companies out there where you might be seeing 'similar' types though when you look closely, every doll has its own and different characteristics. Even the slightest thing could set a different aura around the doll, and that is the most fascinating thing about this hobby

long story short, it does not matter whether it is limited or not for me, but it is important to see and think if I really like it. (something like love at first sight)

 

I completely agree with Yuna-ki. When a doll stuck in your head for months you will eventually bring her/him home. I also like to look at other owner's dolls on google to see if I will still like the doll. Right now I'm dreaming of Iplehouse FID Yur and Raffine. LOL

 

For me it's really just what happens to be eating at me when I have the money. I save "doll money" but I'm never 100% sure what I'm going to get with it until I see the doll and have enough money for it at the time. (Unless I'm saving up for a specific preorder or sculpt that is absolutely my favorite.) I do have a wishlist I generally stick with though; I rarely make impuse purchases unless I see something that I absolutely adore that's limited, like others have said. If I like something non-limited enough that it stays on my wishlist for a decent amount of time, then the chances are I'd love it if I bought it, so it doesn't really matter when I get it, if that makes sense. Basically, wishlists are your best friend.

 

I like making lists to decide who to get and when to get them. I thinned out my wishlist to make it all easier for me as well. I personally don't like having super large collection because its overwhelming to me, so this thought has helped me to make my wishlist smaller.
Its good to be honest and realistic with your finances as well. Sit down and decide what you can afford this year and make plans.

I have a "doll fund", so I only take x amount each month from my paycheck and put aside for doll things. Therefore I have to calculate which dolls I can afford to buy and finish in said year. I normally buy non-limited dolls at the end of the year, if I have doll funds left or if there is a good event I can save money on. I prioritize limited and soon to be discontinued releases first.

From the non-limited wishlist a plan for each doll helps me too. There are dolls on my wishlist, for example, where I have the style and face up planned out and some where I'm still unsure about things. So the planned out dolls will be bought sooner.

 

Usually just impulse..

 

I like to look at a sculpt. Like to see it blank, then the factory default face-up, and then if I am lucky enough,
I stumble upon the same head that a talented face-up artist has done.
That fact usually seals the deal!!!

 

I got into doll collecting and purchasing because I had a couple projects in mind.

I try to stay focused on certain projects or goals for a doll. For example, I hope to use mine to practice photography, art and crafting. I want them to be in the same stylistic world and the same general scale. I try to stick with the realistic looking dolls. I have had my next doll picked out for ages and I am waiting until I am a bit further along with other projects before I pull the trigger.

This keeps me from going on a spending spree and getting things that don't fit with my goals or current projects. An example of why I do this is this.... I had a few dolls and then fell in love with several of the Doll Chateau offerings. I wanted several of them. They do not fit in with the dolls I already have or the projects I have in mind, so it would be like starting a whole new project or collection (stylistically). I am hoping that by staying in the same creative realm.... the clothes, wigs, heads, and accessories will be interchangeable. To add a whole different family and style of doll would have been a fortune and taken time and money away from the current ideas.

I guess the reason I share this is that say that setting goals keeps me on track. The list of things I want in life is miles long and setting short term attainable goals keeps me sane and wealthy enough to buy food.

Goals could be as simple as a diverse collection, many dolls, a few quality dolls, a certain style, investments, or who knows what. This is all just for fun and entertainment, so don't lose track of what makes you happy. Focus on what will make you the most happy.

 

I prioritize my wishlist based on the character the doll is meant for. If the character I intend to shell a particular doll with is dear to me, it's pretty high up there. For example, the next two dolls I'm saving up for (a New Territory Liuli and a Spiritdoll Liana) are going to be the MC and her primary partner in my story, so I've been kind of OBSESSED with that project. However, there are also other factors, such as what I have presently in my collection. When I purchased my current girl's body, it came with a head I didn't have plans for, but I've learned that I hate having a floating head, so I've honestly been debating between doing the aforementioned plan or buying a body for this doll first (a Resinsoul Tang body, I've decided in recent days)

Also, weirdly, limited sculpts sort of stress me out to think about, so I've kinda just avoided looking at them as potential wishlist items altogether...

 

I put their pictures on a dart board and see what I hit.

Just kidding...If a new doll pops up and it's limited, or a limited sales period, I usually jump on it. Otherwise, I wait for an event and buy the doll I like the most from that company. All of my dolls so far have been either during an event or a limited sales period.

 

I love all these suggestions! I am having a hard time deciding on my first true bjd doll and these suggestions have given me a direction, sage advice, and so much to think about. Between DC and DZ and some days it's one girl and some days another ( Medusa, Alma, Vita2, or Mirai to name a few) . I have been back and forth so many times. I just wanted to say thank you.

 

I save the sculpt photo and it information by size, and let it sit for some months to see if I still like the doll after all this time, I want to love it! If I just find pretty or like, I will move on from it pretty quick. I even did this with limited and got it after one year or more of it being sold.

Another is see if the sculpt inspire me a character idea, some do and others despise being pretty don't. Usually if it happen is on the first time I see, the ideas just start rolling. So I know I will probably get them.

 

I look at dozens of sites, carefully consider which size and sculpt to buy to fit a specific character that I have in mind...and then get completely blindsided by a new release from some other company in some other size, and having nothing whatsoever to do with my character - and I hit the 'buy' button before I even know what I'm doing. It's all very scientific...much like falling in love

 

Keeping a database/wishlist is actually a good idea! I also surf around for owners' photos to look at the doll's potential to help me decide one doll over the other if I am still unsure.

For me, I have a normal and a priority wishlist and dolls in my priority wishlist are the ones that I will get if I have the chance to and they are the ones I am more likely to get next. Whichever dolls come home first depends on whoever get re-released first or has a promotion/event going on first. However, my dolly plans get derailed all the time with new releases LOL. Like others said, if it isn't limited, I'll sleep on it for a bit and if I still love the doll after a couple months then he coming home the next time there is an event (I usually wait for an event for non-LE ). If it's an LE, then I need to decide if I love the new doll enough to justify getting it first over the ones in my priority wishlist.

Good luck with choosing!

 

I pick the next doll on my long wishlist xD

 

Funny, I actually have a wishlist. Or as I call it, 'The Coming Home Queue'. It's my collection of dolls whom fit the ideals for my characters. Whenever doll fever comes round the bend I consult this list, but, uhh.

I feel like my doll collection just consists of impulse buys LOL. There are specific sites I go to and various dolls in mind but often times my wandering eyes stray then, for goodness sake, I buy a doll that has been no where near my wish list before. OTL This is what I call, 'The Calling'.

Because even if I have a doll on a list, if it doesn't call for me at the time, I refuse to buy it. It's turn must come before it joins my posse (often times that leads to said doll going out of stock ;A OTL.

 

This community can make it a little hard! I thought I only loved Lati but now I'm saving for a Fairyland Littlefee and I see that I am stalking and admiring so many other BJDs I see here on DoA.

I'm sure in a few years I will a very varied BJD family!

 

I tend to get the limited ones first too. Cause if you miss it, it might be gone forever. For the regular ones, I look for other owner pics and also wait for a few weeks to months to see whether I'm still thinking about that doll. Due to the hefty price tag of BJDs, I try to refrain from impulse buys or just buy a head first if its possible. That way I can decide whether to buy a body for it or sell the head later on.

 

I look for individuality
I want all my dolls have their own character
And therefore I would consider dolls of different brands.

I tend to be more willing in spending on a new sized doll that I don't have
For I would love to be able to buy all the beautiful dresses and I can easily find a doll at home that can wear it.

 

I have many characters already thought out whom I'd like to shell as dolls, so I usually try to find sculpts that match those characters as closely as possible. I try to go in order from most to least beloved OCs. I'm not usually one to buy the doll first and create a character after, but I could imagine that happening too if I found a suuuper gorgeous must-have sculpt.

 

Deciding beforehand which doll to order next usually never works with me. If I decide I'm gonna order doll "A" within a couple of months, I might end up ordering doll " B, C, D or E" on my wishlist instead. When I'm ready for my next order I order based on which of the dolls on my list I feel most like ordering.

 

My dolls are mostly shells for my role play characters, and I've learned that if I get a doll with no character in mind, I don't usually enjoy it or keep it very long. It's harder for me to write a character around a doll. So, I typically go with whichever unshelled character I've been enjoying playing most for the past few months before I'm ready to buy.

.....

...but sometimes I end up with spare money and just impulse buy myself a cute tiny or pet doll. >.>

 

I see dolls that I may save as favorites but what makes me purchase is when I see one and I'm just like WOW. Then the saving starts

 

If it's an older limited release I'll check the going rate at multiple locations, jot it down and when I'm thinking the doll I'll check to see if there was any changes in price and keep track. If the price gets too high I'll re-evaluate how much I want the doll and whether or not there is a different release that I like more and etc.

If it's not a limited release, I'll wait for an event or a sale. Sometimes I'll check and see what other owners have done with the sculpt and see how versatile it is. Another reason why I'll wait is to see if I still like it a few months down the road, and if I still have plans for the doll.

 

I'm struggling so much with this right now and this is just for my first BJD. I was trying to come at it from a character-based angle but I've raised so many questions for myself concerning the aesthetic I'm going for and if the dolls will work well together etc. It's actually almost comical how much I tie myself in knots over it, but I feel like my first doll is going to set the tone of my collection to an extent. Perhaps I need to change my approach and just go for one I like...

And then I find a sculpt I like but they end up being limited and not ones I can afford right now. ::head desk:: patience is not my strong suit and I start wondering if this hobby is really for me but then I've been dreaming about them for weeks...

 

I don't really plan my next doll purchase. I just sort of watch for second hand sales or preorders. When something speaks to me I know that's the one.

 

For me I decide based on a few factors, I do have the benefit of only being interested in dolls for a couple months of the year (April-May and sometimes August-October, however August-Oct I typically restrict to only buying accessories unless the marketplace has a great deal.) So I save for dolls all year until around April-may and then I make my purchases. So the Criteria I use to choose is as follows:
1.) Is it limited? if so it's the next doll I buy.
2.) Gender. Typically when looking to get the next doll on my wishlist I try to go in knowing if I want a male or female next and that usually cuts the options in half.
3.) Sales/events. typically after all the prior criteria are said and done I go for the doll that's company is having a sale or event to maximize savings/ value.
4.) Is one of the dolls on the wishlist available for a great price on the marketplace? If so unless I'm after a limited or it's not the gender of doll I currently am interested in that's the one I get. (though that's only ever happened once so far which is why it's so far down on the list.)
That's the system that works for me. I find checklists really help to narrow down selection. It's so interesting to see how everyone else goes about choosing their next doll purchases.

 

I am trying to stay in my storyline and get my main characters set up first so it's important to get those dolls at the start. I have pictures in my head of my future stars but it is hard to find the perfect actors. Then of course I have to save up the money. It's the search and research that has proven to be very time consuming. Of course since I wanted both fantasy and modern day characters I wrote a story so I can eventually have both! Best of both worlds.

 

I usually find my next doll by accident. I just always am saving up, and I buy what strikes me. I did look for some dolls specifically, I knew I needed a MSD unicorn girl for my story so I was looking for a RS Yao body, and I did find a really pretty one luckliy. Her head was a purely random find, but it's perfect for her.

 

In my case it's similar to animals, they always chose me, no matter what I imagined to do. I see/saw a cat/dog, go to the shelter and one of these beautiful creatures choses me.
It's similar with dolls, I'm browsing the Internet and sometimes a doll tells me she/he wants to come home and /or want to be rescued.
I know this sounds a bit crazy but it's the way it is.

 

OMG I don't have a wish list I only have one sculpt in mind for this time and since I'm new I don't have much advised to give. because aside from bjd I do have a few other dolls and all of them was an impulse buy. But when it comes to BJD this is the first time that I have actually think about things throughly. Also maybe one important thing is to have a taught what will you do with the doll? Is it enough that you love the sculpt and just have a doll that you end up not bonding with? I don't know I felt there is so much thing to consider before buying a sculpt because they are pretty to look at.

 

I kinda just wait, and when the time comes the perfect doll appears before me. I've tried in the past to plan out which doll I wanted for so and so character, but I feel the ones I find by chance feel more special.

 

I try to work out why I want that particular doll - is it really unique enough that I need to own it? Do I have plans for it? Or do I just think it's pretty in a general way?

I also like to think about how available it's likely to be in the future - not just in terms of being limited runs, but how limited, and how often dolls from that company become available second hand. I've bought several dolls just because they were limited and I was afraid I'd miss out, but almost without exception I ended up having opportunities to buy them again later (either because they were available on the MP here, secondhand on Mandarake, or because the company did a re-release).

 

I would prioritize my wishlist and make my purchases based off of that when I was actively collecting dolls. Many dolls I purchased were "impulse" buys because they were newly released limited edition dolls that were available for a short period of time. I prioritized those because I didn't want to take the risk that I might pay more on the secondhand market and I always prefer buying directly from the company for various reasons.

 

THIS! Both of my cats chose me, and I believe that things, living or inanimate, that are close to your heartwill choose you too.

I do have a mental list of dolls that I like and would like to own one day, but I don't feel intensely about them. I've occasionally bought dolls that I didn't feel anything for, and so I passed them along to someone else.

A doll has to really sort of call out to me -- like, I see them and can't get them out of my mind for weeks. I see them in my sleep. I start saving money with them in mind. I stalk Google images looking at the various ways that sculpt has been face-upped (faced-up?) and I see how others have customised them (often I don't care for the factory face-up). I research their sculpt and body types (what are the pros? what are the cons? what size clothes and wig and eyes do they wear? how do they pose?). When I'm satisfied that I will love them, I'll put the order in.

So far that's only happened twice, but I am super happy with my girls.

 

The doll decides for me.... lol I see his picture & he lures me to get out my wallet and purchase him to come live at the all male bjd condo with their 3 kitty overloads

 

For me, it is really hard to decide, which doll i actually want sound strange, but it is so. I'm trying to buy dolls to fill my collection, so they must match and look well together. So i can think a millenia before buying somebody

 

Already decided since my favourite sculptor is releasing a series of dolls (members to be exact) that I like very much so I can predict what they will be making next and if my predictions become a reality, I would buy them.

 

*spends several hours scrolling through websites, but still miss the order period for favourites so winds up with nothing*

 

Basically; I just buy in order of convenience! If I find a particular doll that I've been looking for on sale for an event, or on the second hand market for a really good price, I pounce! Similarly, if there's a particular doll I want that is on limited sale, that would rise to the top of my list and I would work on getting that one first, rather than having to wait until they popped up again on the secondhand market.

 

This is a good question, I take my time deciding on a doll I write down dolls that I am intrested and then if I scratch out names if I forgot about them, no longer like their style, etc. This makes the process of buying dolls take a long time but it saves me from buying dolls that I will not cherish on a long run.

 

I don't plan any of my doll purchases. I don't follow any companies or artists, so I'm not waiting for their next release. I go about my day just looking and wow! That doll is amazing! I think about it, look at my finances, think some more. Then get it. I've learned which dolls set off a certain feeling and spark my creativity. If it's nice, but no reason other than I like it, I pass. I look at it like a butterfly flitting through a field, who knows were the wind will take me.

 

i first decide which size bjd that i want, and then i look for a sculpt that i really like and then i got for it.

 

I wait for the stars to align. Seriously though, it is really random. Something just happens to pop up and I am pushed to buy. I know what I want for the most part, but the timing is always because of random circumstances.

 

Um...well...if when I see the doll...I jump out of my chair, and run around in several tight circles screeching a jumbled chain of, "OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!" and then when I tell myself, "No, don't buy the doll! Be strong!" I instead proceed to roll around on the ground clutching at my hair...uhh..then I think, "yeah, probably that one."

Then I research. Furiously.

It's a very scientific process.

....

 

I have a list of characters to shell - & what dolls I've decided will work. That changes some (the sculpts especially) but it's working. I've only got 3 full dolls, 3 heads & 2 bodies left to get on my list (I've over 40 dolls BTW). However, when a doll comes up that's NOT on my list but I HAVE to have it, (Souldoll YunGi or whatever they are calling the Key MmN LOL) I'll make room & get $$ if possible. There was one time where I tried to curb that impulse (IH EID Leonard) & I've regretted it ever since!

I have to admit, that when originally scouring the Internet looking at all the doll companies etc, one big criteria for my crew was whether they could cosplay a Bleach character LOL

 

I'm shelling characters, so I buy the dolls in the order they appear in my story. It's the easiest way for me.

 

I definitely have a wishlist set up that helps me decide. It also helps that certain sculpts seem to scream at me to buy them then they would be the ones I'd go for first. Limited are higher up on the wishlist because the chance of getting them is slim.

 

I don't decide. It's my friend, the impulse demon, who does

 

I have been keeping a running list of the dolls I actually plan on owning. Then, as someone else mentioned, if one is limited, that will take priority - right now, the doll I want most that actually became my grail, is one that is only limited to 100 being made so I need to buy it soon if I want it! Then, the other doll I want after that, is an artist doll that will only have a preorder open for one day I believe, so I will need to snatch that up.

After that, I will probably just go by what I can afford at the time. I have dolls that range from $150-$500 or so on my list. The cheaper ones will probably come first since I have bad impulse control, so once I have enough money for a cheaper one I will probably go for that one XD

Another factor is if a dealer such as DDE has them in stock. If I can get instant gratification, I will probably go for that first. Especially since I live in Denver so DDE is only a 15 min drive away, I could go there and buy one on the spot if I wanted X'D

 

I go by my feelings. If I'm debating between two or three dolls, I think of them in my room next to my other dolls and think about whether they fit in my family or not. Or how I would feel holding them and dressing them up.

 

I have a wishlist, but it isn't organized by priority. If I fall in love with a limited doll and have the money, obviously they would be first. Some of my dolls I got because they were being discontinued, so I I waited, I'd miss the chance. A few I got when I did because a dealer had them in stock. Otherwise, it's just who I'm thinking about the most.

 

I only want dolls that I really fall in love with. I guess the promo pics have to be perfect.

 

Usually a company punches me in the face with a limited release or a tan event and I have to grab it lmao

 

Thankfully, I am quite picky and thus there's only certain sculpts and artists' dolls that attract me. However it's still quite a few dolls, 13 to be exact but I can't realistically get most of them so that narrows down. I make a wishlist and then obsessively follow the artists to see if they will re-release or release any new sculpts since I prefer pre-orders > limited edition > standards.

I think when I first got into it, I liked a lot of dolls and I settled a lot due to costs but after a while I started to understand what types of size, looks and sculpts I really like and will stick to that. If I keep thinking of the doll or going back to the same sculpt even after seeing owner photos of the same or previous dolls then I will keep an eye on the artist/company.

 

I can completely relate to this! I want the doll to make me think: 'Wow, I wish he existed in real life...' and I want the doll to be perfect in every way, so I won't end up disliking certain parts more and more and more. Finally I need proof that the doll can pose really well, because that's a must. It's a BJD after all. And then... Convincing myself I can get the money xD