Minimalism in the BJD Hobby

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I always go to the secondhand market, I wont really purchase dolls from the company anymore. I've had a string of really terrible luck with preorders so now I will only purchase dolls that are ready made, which is usually the secondhand market.
2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Nope, I've yet to order sleeping plates or extra hands. I desperately wish i could get a sleeping plate for one of my favorite dolls, but she's a very rare sculpt and there's no sleeping plate available, and getting a standard one to modify is very difficult.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
One of my dolls did come with additional fist hands, but I really don't switch them out very often, so I dont regret not buying extras for my others.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I always look to see if there's anything else I want or need, but I'm very picky and there rarely is, so I rarely take advantage of those deals. I do know they're a merchandizing trick but if I'm looking for something anyway I dont mind buying into them.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Often I'll pass on a doll because it's more than I'm willing to spend for what it is, it depends on the individual doll.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I honestly dont think I could do it, of all the dolls i have home currently, most of them are extremely precious to me. I'm autistic and I get very attached to some of my posessions, and other than a couple I'm currently considering selling, I dont think I'd be emotionally able to downsize drastically.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I think I could definitely be happy with just one doll, if I'd started with the idea of just having one. The problem is I cant get rid of most of my current crew, they mean too much to me.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I dont like most popular sculpts, this is less an elitism thing and more a "my tastes are odd and eclectic" thing. Most of my dolls are rather rare or uncommon, but that's just how the cards lined up, I dont look down on people with more affordable or popular dolls.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
If I had unlimited resources I'd likely seek out a dust of dolls doom edda. I dont even know what the current going rate is for them, just that it's well outside of my budget.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I do not keep track of how much I've spent in the hobby. I have a lot of generalized guilt in my life and often feel like I dont deserve nice things, so if I paid attention to how much I've spent in the hobby I would only feel more guilty. I dont need that. I keep my spending well within my means, but dont track it otherwise.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Typically, I will try to find it secondhand. I am a very impatient person! If I want a new doll in general, I will see what's up on the market, but the newer doll sculpts I want I almost always have to order from the company just cause they're newer.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I think I will only order extra hands going forward, but it really depends on the doll. I bought a sleeping face and hands for a minifee and never gave it a faceup, but I also didn't do anything with the blank doll either as I don't think MSD size is for me. So, I can't give an assertive answer on this. I do like to have multiple hand types though!

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Seen above--I don't think MSD was for me. I think I'd use a sleeping face variant for my other girls though! I like to have options. I got all of my dolls except for one fullset secondhand, so I can't "regret" not having the sleeping plates. I would like them, though.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
The only events I took place in were when I bought dolls from the company, so you auto-qualified. If I wanted something from an event, it would be worth since it is less likely you'll find it secondhand. There's also the option of joining splits!

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I have not. I do most of my company purchases through dealers to make it cheaper (via layaway). The only time I buy in full is for Christmas for myself or when I'm buying seconhand (and that's just if they only allow short layaways).

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Definitely not. I think I could cut it down to four out of the dolls I have right this second, and that is out of 10. They all have great meaning to me.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No, I don't think so. I like different styles and colors and some just don't look great with those varied styles while some do.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Nah. I had a Feeple Chloe that I ended up selling because I didn't like her faceup. It was a company and an older one to boot, so it looked very plain. I kind of wish I didn't since now I do my own faceups, but I didn't sell her because she's common or anything. I am not bothered by it. Everyone has their own tastes. I personally don't really like Volks dolls and don't get why they are so stupidly expensive, but that's probably because they flood the sales markets and I don't like seeing them lol. Too much to weed through. Others probably would disagree. It is all opinions!

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
A ton of 65+ girls from various companies. The F65 Ingrid, most of the Grace Loongsoul girls, some Spirit dolls, etc. I love bigger 1/3 dolls a lot, even if the clothing and accessories are super limited. I'll make them myself! Ingrid was $955. LS fullsets are $700+.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I don't; not really, though I did add it up just now to see (dolls alone, not accessories). I don't have extra funds anymore due to a breakup leaving me with the entirety of bills of our apartment, but at the time I didn't keep tabs on it as it was my extra money. I've never forgone important bills to buy doll stuff. My mother has made negative comments, but we aren't close and she has nothing to do with my finances. My friends all have their own vices/interests (looking at the new 3070/3080 gpus they're all getting) and they don't have any need for my money either

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I don’t actively look for a specific doll secondhand but if I see a secondhand doll I know is on my list of dolls to get eventually I might get it if the condition/price is good enough. I almost always have to pay over layaway so unless I’m saving a lot of money it’s not really worth it to get used over new for me.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Hands yes, sleeping faces no. I’d only order an extra sleeping/expression head if it fit a dominant trait the character has. Like if it’s a character I’d call lazy or tired I would consider a sleeping head. I don’t do a ton of doll photography either or I’d consider getting sleeping heads.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I’ve gotten hands a few times and I don’t regret it. Hands are fairly cheap (usually around $20) and easy to switch out. I did get extra hands for one of my dolls and the resin didn’t match despite buying them within the same year so that was disappointing but it’s not super noticeable in pictures and I know I can just blush them to match later. I love when doll brands have hand choices.
What I HAVE regretted getting before is a Fullset. I’ve only gotten the Fullset for one doll and I never use the wig or eyes. The outfit is nice and comes in several parts I can use but I don’t think it justified the cost of the parts I don’t use. And it made what should be one of the cheapest dolls in my collection way more expensive.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Yep, and I notice this even in non-doll stuff. I don’t really mind it even though I know it’s a trick.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. A lot of times I’ll pass or wait until a holiday event to get a discount or free items. I also tend to plan out my dolls way in advance and sometimes I change my mind on getting a more expensive doll and switch to a cheaper branded one.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I’ve thought about it before and it would be a hard choice. I think I could narrow it down to two if I absolutely had to but one would be really hard. Some of my collection are very hard to get now but my go-to character is shelled in a common and easy-to-get sculpt.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No, I like having several dolls. I like being about to shell characters I draw/play as bjds. I have lots planned out that I may never shell.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don’t really like getting super popular sculpts in general and I’m not sure why. It’s a dangerous preference in this hobby because sometimes you have to risk getting an expensive doll without being able to compare owner pictures to company pictures. I’ve done it a few times and have had some regrets from that. I don’t mind other people’s preferences on this since I can see why people pick one or the other. It’s kind of fun to have something rare but at the same time those common sculpts are popular for a reason - because they are versatile.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I’d probably try a few minifees or some more SD or fantasy dolls. Funds are pretty limited for me so I limit myself to only shell the characters I care about the most and msd-sizes are usually cheaper. Fairyland is usually out of my price point so I don’t have any yet.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I don’t really keep track of accessories but I do know about how much I spent on each doll and I keep the receipts just for resale purposes. Dolls and accessories don’t reduce in value as dramatically as other things so I don’t feel like I need to keep a close count of how much I spent on things.
I don’t talk about bjds a lot to my friends or family except a coworker who collects fashion dolls. Honestly most people have at least one “expensive” hobby anyway.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I mostly buy from the company directly. I usually only look on the market when second hand is the only option. Most of the time the doll I want isn't available on the market anyway, or shipping from a private person would cost more than from the company. Also I like buying new.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Sadly none of the dolls I have, have sleeping heads available If the price is okay I'd probably buy the extra head though!
Regarding hands, I tend to buy them when the doll a) has no jointed hands that could fit and b) I already know I need a specific pose later for photos.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I tend to buy the extra hands and then later never swap them out. For heads I would use the regular head most of the time too, but I like knowing I have options for possible photos later.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

Hmm I think I never was in that situation before actually! Usually I wait anyway for an event, because I know my purchase will probably grant me the gift/discount. If I would realize there's an event going, and there is something I could easily add to meet the requirement, I would probably do that.
And no, I don't mind. In the end I still decide if it's worth the event or not for me to pay/purchase more.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yes, certainly. There were a couple I liked but just didn't like enough, or because they exceeded a certain price I'd be willing to pay for that doll type in particular. Like pet dolls. They are cute, but because they are mostly decoration pieces in the end I would never pay a lot of money for them personally.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I mean if I have to, I guess it doesn't matter whether I could or not
But phew, that question is always difficult. There are some I certainly know would have to go, but who in the end would stay I really can't say. I have a couple that are big contenders for that spot.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

No, I don't think so. There are too many styles and aesthetics I enjoy. I can live with a small group, but just one would be too restricting.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

Naw, I buy what I like. Whether a lot or only a few people own this specific doll doesn't matter to me.
And I'm not bothered by it, I don't care what others do. However, I do certainly find it a little silly when people stress out over stuff like that

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Phew, no clue! Maybe one of the new LLT Ballerino guys. I love them but the 1000+ price tag is just too much for a regular 70cm guy for me
I am very happy with my collection, it's hard to still tempt me.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I don't. To be fair, after 12 years that also would be a bit much. I do have friends who do spreadsheets for everything they bought in the hobby, but I don't see the need for it. I don't do that with anything else, why with the dolls?
And no. My father (i.e. my family) early on knew how much this hobby costs and I'm now an adult that lives alone.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I do try to find dolls I want secondhand. Sometimes they're a little cheaper, and I don't have to sit through months of wait time.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I never order sleeping heads or extra hands, but have bought them secondhand before.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I've bought a sleeping head secondhand once, but didn't use it enough to justify it. I don't regret passing on them.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
No, yes, and no ^^

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Honestly if I have the money I just buy it.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
If I had to yes. I already know who I would keep. She would be very difficult to replace, and she's my favorite.
7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No. I enjoy doing faceups and I think I'd get bored painting my one doll over and over.
8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
No. Yes! I like having something unique and hard to find.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Any Dust of Dolls Cham. Not entirely sure the price, they're always released at a bad time for me. ALWAYS. I've missed every one I've seen on the second market too
10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No. I think I'd feel guilty. Yes, my husband

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I usually do look secondhand. I like to buy things I will get relatively quickly over things I'll be waiting months to get, but the price is a big deal breaker sometimes. If I can buy brand new for the same price as used with yellowing, damage or missing box/CoA, I'd rather just buy new unless the company has serious issues like shipping out damaged dolls or 6+ month wait times.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Never. I've only owned one sleeping faceplate and that's just because it was included when I bought secondhand. I've never found them to be very useful or practical. As for hands, usually no, unless it's something very specific to the character (like a gun-nut needs gun hands!) I'm more likely to buy high heel feet.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I never regret not getting extra hands or faces.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I do look around, but I won't buy junk I won't actually use. Sometimes spending the extra is actually cheaper, for example spend $500 and get free shipping. If you're at $490 and shipping is $80, it's definitely worth it to spend that extra $10. With event items, it really depends on if I want the event item badly enough to spend the extra, or if I know anyone will be interested in buying the event item from me to balance it out in the end. I don't spend extra just to get more if I'm not interested.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. The most I've spent is about $700 and I don't think I'll ever be okay going over that amount.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
It would be one of two, and it's hard to choose between them. Harriet is my favorite doll, so I'd want to keep her, but Amir is my very first doll, I've had him for over 12 years and I just don't think I could part with him. I can't really see myself cutting back to just one doll.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No, unless I was totally quitting the hobby and just holding on to one. My dolls' characters are all connected and I would get far too bored with just one.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I buy sculpts because I like them and they fit my characters, I don't care if everyone else has one or if everyone thinks it's the ugliest sculpt ever or what it's worth. People can buy however they want, it doesn't affect me, but I do think it's a little sad to not get a doll you love just because of what other people think about that sculpt.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I've currently got what I want for the most part and don't have any that I MUST buy on a wishlist. I guess either rebuy Opaline who is a ResinSoul Mi I sold two years ago and regret, she'd be $199, or I'd reshell Blake, though I'm not sure what sculpt he might be. Maybe Soom or Ringdoll. I don't know. Buying new dolls isn't a priority right now.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No way! I've been in this hobby going on 13 years, and it would probably make me sick to see exactly how much I've spent (and lost with buying and selling...) I'd prefer to just have fun while staying in my budget and not keep track of what it costs to enjoy the hobby. I've had people comment about it being a waste of money, but I don't think having a hobby I enjoy that causes no harm to anyone else is wasteful. If I were neglecting bills or starving myself or my dog, then yeah, it would be messed up, but as long as I'm responsible, I don't care what they think.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I regularly go onto various marketplaces because I enjoy browsing different sculpts and getting a bargain. For company it's usually for a full doll plus extras or if it isnt available on marketplace.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Only if the sleeping face appeals to me. Extra hands and feet though, yes!

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Yeah they're so good to have; I go so far as to get matching jointed hands from different companies, big men's heeled feet for my SD boys, and open-toes for geta. I don't have elaborate setups for pics in terms of props or background or furniture, so the devil's in the details and it adds a little something to give my dolls a little more life.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Of course, but not if I'm too far off from qualifying. Sometimes it's a legitimate bargain that's worth that little bit extra.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Not really? Space constraint is a far bigger concern because I collect SDs.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Yes! I like a small family that I can pamper to death. I'll keep my 1st, my son Shouma. But only because I JUST completed my hybrid daughter Yoshie and havent time to bond as much yet. But even down the line I don't forsee myself owning more than 5 at once.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Now that I have more dolls I think I need 2; one of each gender. 1 means I might be missing out on the different clothing styles I could be making for such different bodies.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
A little? I value uniqueness rather highly and am picky about how I want them to look. So it's not so much a dislike of popular sculpts but realizing that my aesthetics and what appeals to me is not shared by the majority. Everyone should be able to like what they like, it's subjective!

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I would get my current hybrid girl custom cast to rework her neck gapping and enlarge her hands and feet a little. A one off cast should bankrupt me nicely hahhahhaa

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Not really. I only pay in full so I know if I can afford it out of my disposable income without guessing. If I'm worried it might exceed budget I Do Not Buy™. Layaways are personally so dangerous for me cos it presents a slippery slope; I might be more inclined to buy something I do not Truly want just because it's "only 200 bucks for 5 months". As opposed to "IT'S 1000 BUCKS DO I LOVE THIS ENOUGH TO SINK A THOUSAND DOLLAROOS?!" Can't imagine paying 2 rounds and then getting buyer's remorse. Of course this is just my opinion, with regards to me. People do ask, but I'm a working adult so they have no say

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
After learning about the 2nd hand market, i've been trying to check it everyday. but my first doll I had no idea about 2nd market and just bought straight from the company, my next doll. I hated the body, so I didn't buy from the company but miraculously found on the 2nd hand market and managed to snag just the head, then the body i just straight bought from the company due to them hosting a sale for cheaper than what the 2nd hand market would likely have listed him at.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I vaguely considered getting heel legs from the company bought body i got this year, but I really didn't think I'd use it all that often, esp on a 65boy body. so *shrug* I think i'd be more amenable to buying different faces if the head employs a faceplate option compared to the traditional head style.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
In terms of extras, rather than an extra head/extra hands, I ended up getting an extra body for one of my fantasy dolls, so that she could be a mermaid that could have legs as the situation called for kind of like the little mermaid. It's my most recent arrival, so so far, i suppose it's getting used to justify its cost. but i'm probably going to trade it in for a bigger body. The remaining headless body whether memaid or human, i'd probably use it as a practice head stand.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I have yet to participate in an company event that had extra goodies or frees shipping, but totally would use it lol

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, I admire some dolls and wouldn't mind them in my collection such as Switch dolls, but i think they're a bit pricey, and find that many Luts head sculpts achieve that similar look but at a price that i'm willing to pay for.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I cooooooouuuuulldddd if I was forced to and I would know, but I def have 2 favorites. but again my collection isn't very big at all with a total of 3 company dolls. so it's not much of a choice.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Maybe, My boy is spoiled with clothing, but i'd wish for him to have a partner.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I like what I like without regards to what's popular or not. i got into bjds because of the bjds not because other people like bjds and without knowing anyone in the hobby. I do own a limited doll, but I wouldn't say that it's a tendency though. I have no issues if people prefer those kind of sculpts. people like what they like. I guess the only thing that would bother me would be people who would view it as a competition(?) and actually engage in dialogue putting down other people's dolls.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I have already bought my grail. It cost quite a bit. lol. Brand new it would have been around $1500. I managed to find it 2nd hand for about 18% less, but it did require some work on it.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I have made a spreadsheet in google sheets to keep an account of what I've bought and sold. I started just for to be self informed, while also being handy in case of needing to use it for renter's insurance. My mom things they're over priced, but I'd rather have pretty dolls than the fancy furniture and plates/bowls she suggests. I keep my SO informed on everything and the SO thinks they're pretty pricey, but doesn't discourage me since the SO also spends on personal hobbies.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I almost always look at the second-hand market first, but rarely have I ever managed to find a doll I was looking for at the time I was able to buy it so most of the dolls i've bought have been directly though the company. Its awesome to get doll faster/at a lower cost secondhand when possible, even if they are a little old/damaged. I like projects!

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Most of the time, yes. With limited dolls sometimes i've had to skip on extra parts as I couldn't afford them all with such short notice/time to save. I don't always opt for SP/alternate heads, but I do always like for all of my dolls to have a few different pairs of hands whenever possible.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Extra hands I use all the time and i've absolutely never regret getting them. SP/alternate heads, however, I'm a little more conflicted about. I think they are beautiful and a fun addition to have, but often times I struggle to find the motivation to paint them. I tend to want the other head's faceups to be noticeably distinct in some way from the OE head's faceup, but then I waffle on ideas too much and sometimes the SP heads just end up in a box unused for ages. I wouldn't really say i've regretted getting them though.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Yes, and course I know its business purpose. I've only ever joined events if I was already planning to make an order soon anyway. In the case of free shipping, if you can find items that would be equal to what you would of paid for shipping anyway, then why not? You're essentially just getting free stuff at that point.
Gift items are a little different though, it really depends on if I have a use for it or if it has resale value. In some cases, by spending a bit extra money to get an event item you can make more money selling it than the extra you had spent to get it. Many Fairyland event items are like this, for example. I usually custom paint and sell the event heads I get and I more than make up for whatever the extra cost was to add it to my order, so as an artist its often my benefit to be "seduced" in a way~

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, absolutely. An expensive doll is still an expensive doll, even if you can afford it. I always have a difficult time committing to buying a doll if it costs as much or more than the combined cost of two others on my wishlist. Also, after having a lot of amazing fantasy dolls its now become so much harder for me to justify a $500+ price for just a basic human doll. They pretty much have to become a grail sculpt for me to consider paying that much now.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Yes, of course. I adore my dolls so much, but there are many things in life that are far more important than dolls. Thankfully i've not had to do this and I hope that I never will, but still I like to think on the positive side and instead of being sad over the dolls that I lose, I would try to keep excited for the new dolls I could get in the future.
I do know which doll I would keep if I could only keep one, yes. It would be my Fairyland Feeple60 Cygne, Guppy, who is my favorite doll who i've never once considered selling. They are endlessly inspiring to me in a way that no other doll i've owned has been and I worry I would not enjoy the hobby as much as I do now if I lost them.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Yes, of course. As I said before, my most beloved doll, Guppy, is so very inspiring for me and while I'd much prefer to continue having more than one, as long as I have Guppy i'm sure i'd be happy. I feel like it should go without saying, but having one doll is certainly better than having none at all...

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
No, of course not! I buy dolls because they inspire me, I don't care if they are popular or not. Its fun to share in the hype of a popular sculpt and equally as fun to show the world the unique beauty of a rare one.
And no, so long as they are supporting the artists, there is no reason to ever be "bothered" by what criteria others chose their dolls.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I'd probably buy multiple dolls to be fair, haha~ But if I had to pick one it would be a Soom human OE Heliot in grey skin. Heliot has been one of my biggest grails since I joined the hobby 8 years ago but i've finally figured out the perfect character/plan for him so now i'm just dying to get one! He was a limited release with that head/in that color and if I did manage to find him secondhand he'd probably be close to $1000. I've yet to ever spend so much on a single blank human doll though, so its been hard to fully commit to hunting for him.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No, I don't keep track of the total over the years or anything. I do keep a very rough estimate of how much money i've put toward each of my current dolls as I like to spoil all my dolls evenly if I can.
I try to avoid talking about the financial side of the hobby with anyone outside of it, but when I have to its just easier to explain that as an artist the dolls I buy are investments that gain value once I customize them. Its the quickest way to get someone to do a 180 if they were initially being judgmental.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I prefer to buy directly from the company whenever possible. I don’t have MP access yet and I don’t trust eBay/Instagram as a reliable source for original dolls. The few times I did look for a specific doll on Mandarake, they either didn’t have the doll in stock or it was very close to the same price as if I bought the doll new despite having visible signs of wear and tear.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No for the dolls I already purchased, because they did not have this option.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Not applicable. If they made jointed hands I would buy them in a heart beat, but I’m not currently interested in other optional parts.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I haven’t done this with doll purchases yet, but I’m guilty of doing this for other purchases. I’m 100% aware this is a gimmick to get me to buy more money, but if it were for things I’d purchase anyway I don’t mind. Shipping can be pretty expensive anyway, so I try to bulk order as much as possible.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
No to the first part - I refuse to go into debt to buy a doll, so I always make sure I can afford the entire amount upfront before purchasing the doll. I’ve passed on buying several dolls because of the high price, but for the dolls I truly wanted, I bought them anyway even though I thought they were expensive.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I would do everything in my power to NOT get to that point, but if I had to choose only one doll... I’d choose Erwin. He’s literally the reason why I got into BJDs, and I’m fairly confident that I could find another Levi doll if I had to since he’s been rereleased 4 times already.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No! I bought my two dolls together because they’re a pair and I’d hate to separate them!!! Although I could probably be happy if I ended my collection with just those two... but definitely not just one!

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Personally I don’t mind purchasing popular sculpts if they appeal to me. People should purchase what they like, and I don’t really care if people have a “limited only” mindset as long as they aren’t condescending to others in the hobby.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
If I had truly unlimited resources, I’d definitely purchase another IOS Erwin and IOS Levi (which I bought new at $1570/$1550). I’d also get IOS Han with outfit ($590 + $330), but I would want a custom faceup for him. Possibly a couple of Granado sculpts, and maybe a Ringdoll Levi ($1036) too because why not?

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I keep track of all of my spending, doll related or not. It’s a force of habit. I don’t disclose to anyone I know IRL how much I spend on my dolls. My family knows they’re expensive but they keep their comments to themselves

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

No. So far I have bought new dolls. I'm a little nervous to dive into the second-hand market but I may one day!

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

I have extra hands for most of my dolls. No sleeping faces yet.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I switch out the hands often for photos. I'd say for me it's worth it I wish I had gotten sleeping faces though!

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

I know it's a trick and usually squint and say you suck when you're off by like 5 bucks and you just know they priced it like that on purpose lol I usually just shrug and pay for shipping. But if it's for an event I really want then fine they can have my money!

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yes. Before I knew the price of Popovy Sisters' dolls, I really wanted one. Now I don't haha

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I could do it if I had too. As long as I get to keep the pictures I took of them. Hands down I would keep my pukifee. She has been the most inspiring for sewing.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I think I would. I'd probably just keep giving her new personas like she was a different doll whenever I would get bored.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

Lol I definitely do not have anything against popular dolls. I'm a Fairyland lover It doesn't really bother me if people have elitist attuitudes. That's their headache, not mine haha

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Probably a fullset Feeple60 Cygne. I don't know how much she would cost these days, but I bet it's expensive!

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

No, and I don't wanna know Sometimes family might comment but we all have our hobbies! They know I can budget well

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
It depends - if there is something like a face-up or option parts that I want from the company, I will buy it new because it's easier than getting the doll and parts from more than one place. I don't mind buying used dolls though, as long as they're well-taken care of. I also think it's better for the environment, even though it's a small difference.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No, I order these things as I have a need for them. I find that I'm happy with the versatility of most default hands. Also I've gotten quite good at photoshop, which cuts down the need for extra parts lol.

(Question 3 not relevant to me)

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
No, I try to be aware of the sunken cost fallacy. However if there are extra items I am interested in, and they cost less than shipping (and would allow me to hit the free shipping cutoff), I will definitely do it. The sunken cost fallacy is prevalent in many different areas, and it is not inherently a marketing trick, so I don't mind it at all.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
If a doll is expensive enough for me to pause (usually >$500), it's because I really really want it. Usually the first thing I notice about a doll is the price, so for me to still want it after finding out I have to really desire it. I bought two dolls that fall into this category and I have zero regrets. They've certainly brought me much more happiness than items of equivalent value.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I'd hate to do it, but it would def be my first doll (OT Smart Doll Summer).

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I definitely think I could be, because the thing I enjoy most is photography and sewing for the dolls. The doll is like a canvas for me. I find it challenging to get one doll to display multiple personalities or styles. However, I also just love sitting and admiring different dolls, so I'd hate to only have one.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I really don't care, as long as I'm interested in the doll that's all that matters. There are plenty of dolls I like that are super popular.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
A custom painted Popovy Sisters doll on the solid torso Venus body, with wig, clothing, lingerie, and jewelry made by the sisters too. From what I've heard, this is going to be a lot harder in the future as they will only be making OOAK items (no longer MTO from catalogue).

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Oh no. I think I'd go insane. I'm sure my partner is aware of it, but he never judges me for it. He knows that these dolls are so much more than decoration for me. They bring me happiness every single day, allow me to hone my skills, and inspire me. They are my emotional support at times too. Instead of spending money on new gadgets, designer clothes, or expensive paintings, I choose to spend it on my dolls.

 

Hmm these seem vaguely familiar but it's been many years... so maybe my outlook has changed?

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

i do. However generally, the doll I'm interested in isn't available on the secondhand market when I am interested. Unfortunately most of my MP buys have been ones of 'opportunity' arising. AKA I happen to scan and a doll that's been on my list is on the MP for a reasonable or amazing price and I snag it up. Most of the time if I want a specific doll I order from the company the way I want it.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Depends on the doll and what I have planned for it. However the only dolls that have different faces and hands are my FL dolls.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I have multiple faces for some tinies, and no, I don't really use them that much, so I don't invest in them in the larger sizes and haven't since I discovered I don't use them as much as I've planned. So I learned I don't really need them and I don't regret *not* having them. A lot of my dolls don't have the options for faces/hands and I don't feel a loss.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

Nope. I don't really do events. The last time I did it was a group order many moons ago. I do understand it's a trick, and I just don't feel interested in spending more than I've planned on from a company despite an event. Usually anything I'd want from an event will pop up on the secondhand market at some point.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Generally: no. I plan my purchases or I make sure I have the ability to pay for a doll without it being financially irresponsible. A doll purchase, even if one of opportunity doesn't happen unless it can. It does serve as a 'secondary' check in terms of desire though. I tend to prefer MSD and smaller sized dolls, it's a preference, and when I do find an SD the expense of cost does tend to reflect on how deep my desire for the doll runs. Recently I stopped myself from buying an unplanned doll not because it was expensive, but because I didn't feel confident committing money to it at that moment, for a doll that wasn't part of my overall plans and deep reflection found me not as aesthetically attracted to the body of the doll as I would need to be to keep it long term in my collection.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I've seen this happen a lot in the hobby, and I would hope it would never come to that. I don't like the idea viewing my personal dolls I enjoy so much as a monetary asset... but I have thought of what I would do if I needed to sell them and whom would be sold, in what order. For keeping: I am torn between three dolls I'd keep. two because of sentimental reasons and one because of sentiment and pure pricelessness, if I sold her I know I'd never be able to get her back,

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

Nope! I tried in the beginning... this is why I have the amount I currently do!

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

The popularity of a sculpt has never stopped me from getting it if I liked it. It did bother me at one point that my FL Chloe was so popular, but that was because the sculpt was SO popular it felt like everyone had her...but I feel that's a reflection of my own inability to properly commit to a character/idea for her. It doesn't bother me so much anymore and other individuals hobby preferences/attitudes don't generally bother me.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

LOL, I'd buy pretty much every doll I have on my list. Just to try and see if I do truly like them.
I'd probably start with a Limhwa Half-Elf and hybrid it onto a twigling body because I've always had my eye on that face-sculpt and never been a fan of the head to body proportions of the limhwa/eosdoll bodies. I'd like to try and see if I do 100% love that sculpt and size.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I used to when I first started and then I realized that I felt so guilty and bad about my spending habits. I also learned that it's a hobby, and If I had the income to spend on it, I didn't need to track it as I was enjoying it and only spending what I could at any specific time. No one has ever commented negatively on the financial side of my hobby. In fact my mother has always been the one with a healthy spending attitude towards hobbies after bills, savings etc. My husband who I started dating after I joined the hobby has his own high expense hobbies and can't throw any stones, nor has he.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

It really depends what the doll is. If it's Chinese... I tend to go right to taobao because even secondhand prices seem inflated through the roof over here in the western side of the hobby. I used to be all about buying secondhand but now I'm not as impatient.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Honestly... I don't think I have a single doll who has a sleeping face option. I can't even really say if I'd order one if they did... I think it would depend on the way the sleeping head looked. Hands are slightly more common, but still not extremely so... I don't usually buy extra hands unless I particularly like them.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I feel like this is kinda N/A? Since none of my dolls really come with extra hands/face options. I guess I sometimes wish I had more hands but I rarely use any hands besides the defaults... I mostly just want replacement hands for the ones that I've accidentally broken.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

See, I hated this at the beginning of the hobby. ACBJD used to give you free shipping with $100 worth of accessories and I just hated it but felt like I had to because the shipping seemed so absurd anyways. I still buy extra items on taobao and stuff but only in a "I'm probably going to need this later anyways, might as well combine the shipping fee" sort of way.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yep, definitely. Not to brag or anything, but I have enough walkin' around money to buy most dolls I've ever wanted. I could easily drop ~$600 on a Dust of Dolls tiny, but I simply can't justify it to myself... I figure I can achieve a similar level of enjoyment with a doll 1/6 the price.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

This sucks to even think about, but if I had to keep only one it would probably be my Lumedoll Baughn since he's the rarest, most unique and probably the most difficult to get back. I have too many dolls I'm too attached to at this point though, so it's tough!

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I wish, but most of my enjoyment of this hobby comes from doing faceups on all different kinds of faces and crafting for all of my different sized dolls. I think I could cope if for some reason It was impossible for me to ever have more than 1 doll again (obviously lol) but it would definitely change the way I enjoy the hobby.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I don't avoid popular sculpts (Dollzone Carter and Miracle Doll Baiye owner here, lmao!) but I definitely prioritize having obscure artist sculpts, especially lately. There's something special about having a sculpt that no one else seems to know about. Maybe it's "elitism" but I prefer to think of it as collecting *rare oddities*.

I also like making taobao artists more well-known, even if only a little.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

As foolish as it sounds, I feel like even if I had infinite moneys I would still find myself turning my nose up at dolls that are ""too expensive"". The cheapskate is strong in me.

But first priority would probably be one of the larger-scale irrealdoll dolls. No idea what Nur is going for, but there was a Ringo head on the marketplace a while back for ~$250 iirc. The issue there is more with availability than price, though. I'd also buy a lot more indie artist dolls in general.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I kept track early in the hobby, but once I passed $6000 it became too stressful to think about. I've NEVER had a collecting hobby like this before, so I was very self-judgmental about how much I could spend on it. But I figure I don't keep track of how much I spend on junk food or video games, so why stress about a hobby that holds its value significantly better? Having said that I should keep a database of general prices of all my dolls, just in case. You never know what your family might be stuck trying to liquidate.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I usually go straight to the artist/company for a stock sale or preorder because it feels safer for me not to get scammed. But I still keep an eye on the second hand market for dolls that aren't made anymore or for dolls that doesn't have an incoming preorder

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I generally don't get the sleeping face except if it comes with the doll as a set. I prefer my dolls with open eyes. Same for extra hands.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I have a Spinie from Mishisdoll that came with a sleeping face. It is absolutely adorable, but I use it way less that the open eyes face. It was part of the set, somI don't regret getting it.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I've never bought from a company that does this, but if I do, I'm sure I'll get tricked and add items to get special event parts x)

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, very expensive dolls like Popovy Sisters for example. They are so beautiful but I don't think I'll put that much in a bjd for now. And I think I'll just be so scared every time I would hold it because of her value...

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I just started this year, so I don't have that many dolls. It would be a really hard choice because I only buy dolls I absolutely love! I think the one I would keep is my dark tan Ellana on the Lune body because I looked for her for so long and pay quite a lot because the Lune body was discontinued. And she is just so beautiful!

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
To be honest, I wish I could, but there are just so many beautiful bjds out there that I can't stop myself from buying more! And all of them are so different and beautiful in their own way.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I prefer getting dolls that are a little more unique and special, but if I like a popular sculpt, it won't stop me from buying it

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Probably a Popovy Sisters doll, with everything made by them (wig, clothes, face up, body blush, shoes,...)

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I only keep track of the money I can spend every month on dolls and accessories, not the total amount I already spent on the hobby (it would make me feel guilty and stressed haha). I have to follow a budget because I'm the only one with an income and I don't want my hobby to put my family in danger financially My husband sees that bjds are more than just "dolls" for me and he respects my hobby and knows that I won't spend money if it's out of the budget
The rest of my family doesn't understand the hobby... I try to avoid to speak about the financial part of the hobby but sometimes they ask and I often have comments like "you're too old to play with dolls", "how can you spend so much in just one doll",... but I learned to ignore these comments! x)

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Depends really. I'll generally look at the secondhand market before I buy something to see how often what I'm buying specifically comes up. If it seems to come up quicker than the company's wait time, I'll stick it out, but usually I just end up buying from the company.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Only my vinyl dolls have the rights to extra hands. If I want my resins to have differently posed hands, I just get jointed hands. I think the extra expression you can get out of differently posed hands is worth it.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
If I didn't think something was worth it, I wouldn't have bought said thing in the first place.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Not particularly? I'll put extra things I like or might need in the future if I don't feel like what I actually want to buy is substantial enough to justify the purchase, but I won't do it just to qualify for an event. If I happen to, then that's cool, but I won't do it on purpose.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Oh for sure. I remember back when I first got into BJD's back in 2017 I wanted a Minifee Risse, but her price was just way too out of my comfort range at the time. Now I don't want a Risse for completely different reasons, lol.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I don't think I could! I'm not sure anyone would want my horrific frankenstiened, milliput covered dolls in the first place.
If I had to choose though... I'd probably keep my Resinsoul Mei. I encountered this very specific doll very early on in the hobby and I was absolutely enamored with her, and I think it's cool that I actually own a doll I admired so much. I could replace my other dolls just fine, but because this Mei has a very specific history to her I don't think just acquiring another Mei would be the same.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Nah. My tastes are too varied to limit myself just one. And even if they're my characters, it would still be weird to me to make them wear something that would be out of character for them.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I think I fall sort of in the middle. I generally just buy what I like and don't care about how popular a sculpt it, but I do tend to find less common sculpts to be nicer. It's probably because you don't see them often, so it makes them more interesting to look at. I've noticed that a lot popular sculpts tend to end up being styled the same, and I end up finding those sculpts boring because of it. But then someone will style the sculpt in a unique way and I'll be like "this sculpt is nice, actually"

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I'd probably commission a whole new doll. I can't remember what company does this, but I do remember it being super expensive, like 5000+ I think? I want a big, busty, beefy lady and there just isn't one on the market unfortunately. Sure I could mod a male doll, but with all the work I'd have to do to the body I might as well sculpt a whole new one, and I could certainly not live up to my own standards, lol.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I simply do not think about it. I pretend I do not see it. What money?
The people around me have learnt to not ask about the prices. Good.

This was fun!

 

1. 1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
   If it is an older doll, I will look in the marketplace if it is offerd within the EU. Otherwise, I will order it from the company.
2. 2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
   I am not very interested in a sleeping face. But as I see my dolls as giant action figure, I like different hand positions. I tried jointed hands, but they don't function as I imagined. Therefore, another ongoing project of mine is developing a quick-change system and designing different hands (flat hands, fists, gun-holding, sword-holding, and others). But you rarely see that from companies anyway. Also, most big man factory hands appear to be a tad small.
   3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
   See above.
   4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
   Well, not really. I normally look one specific item. As I have mostly big men and two ladies with a bit special bodies, it is normally easier to make clothing for them. For some of them, I was looking for formal business clothing. But companies do not that much of it, so I find pieces more often on the DoA marketplace.
   5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
   Yes, very often. I also know very exactly what I want in my dolls. A sculpt may be as nice as it wants, if I do not like the body that comes with it, I will pass. Maybe try to find it separately on the DoA marketplace (looking at Iplehouse).
3. 
   6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
4. Probably, yes. Interestingly, I attached a character to this doll I made on my own. Maybe this is the reason why I am most attached to this one guy. Technically, as almost all of them share the them body, I could probably do with one body and many heads...okay, this is cheating. I am not really THAT interested in the ladies.
   
   7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
   Maybe. Although I would be supersad to pass on all of my Avengers team and other random characters important to me. I made all of their superhero outfits myself. Years and tons of work (and yes, money too) went into them.
   
   8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
   I do not care whether something is trendy or not. If I like it, I buy it.
   
   9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
   Hm, I don't know. I have acquired all of the dolls I ever wanted over the years. All spaces in my glass cabinets are occupied.
   
   10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
   No. As I did horse dressage very intensively, this hobby is peanuts compared.

​

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Not really. I have only one single second-hand head by Light Limner. It was absolutely irresistible deal. I prefer buying right from a company/artist but I'm not sure why. There is no rational reason I would be aware of. It's only about dolls. I like buying second hand, but not dolls. One can find really rare items this way.

I've recently decided I will buy DollShe only secondhand. The wait time is just over the top.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No sleeping face yet. I probably wouldn't use it enough. And only one pair of extra feet, so far.
Extra parts: I never bought extra parts right with the doll. But I may do it in the future. I only got extra geta feet for a boy I already have for a couple of years. I'm buying one pair of high heel feet in advance for a doll I'm planning now.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
No extra hands, yet. I'm very happy with the geta feet for my cat boy. I've designed many shoes for him and cant wait to start making them -- this was, in fact, the reason I bought them for.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Definitely not. I'm not an impulsive buyer in most cases. I usually wait and plan or need to think for a couple of months before I actually buy it. Impulsive shopping mess up plans quite badly.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Not yet. I shell paticular characters so when I see the right sculpt I will save up and buy it. I usually, usually is a keyword here, don't like dolls over 700 for some reason.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
No, nope, impossible. I'm very attached to my possessions! Some of my dolls are rare and some discontinued -- probably. The companies didn't make any statement in these regards, but don't seem to be interested in continuing the production either. If I would absolutely have to sell all the dolls I would keep all heads. Hybrids are my thing. Bodies are more expensive but easier to replace than heads in my opinion.

While I'm unable to sell them I can actually give them (to someone I trust) -- it's strange. I had 2 girls I never did much with. Since then I'm don't buy dolls just because I like them but only when I'm planning a preexisting character. My mom liked the head of one and the body of the other, so I mixed and match and gave the hybrid to her. It made me feel very happy, she finally got home and the attention she deserved. But selling? Nope. I'm not able to do that.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Yes...it would be possible. I keep on buying dolls only when I want to shell my favorite characters and OCs but I'm technically able to be happy with just one. Even one single doll provides enough creative outlet.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I usually don't like popular sculpt except for Dollshe. It's purely a question of esthetics and how I envision this or that character. Popularity as such is irrelevant to me. However, I love seeing photos of all dolls, that's a completely different thing.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Unlimited resources and, most importantly, a time machine...FairyLand Steam Age Rho full set for 990. He has this cool mechanical arm! I need it for my character but it's damn rare, unfortunately. Full sets were gone when I started to collect SDs, unfortunately.

Almost all Soom SDs. They are so pretty. But I'm afraid they would be just a waste of money because I currently don't have suitable characters for most of them so I would lack the motivation to craft and customize.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
It's unnecessary in my opinion. The important thing is not to ruin my account. It requires planning but looking back isn't productive at all.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Straight to the company. I'm a provenance goblin and my best way of securing that is by purchasing directly, barring limited sculpts that I'd have to find secondhand. The only standard doll I didn't do this for was my blue Impldoll Colby from user Krowbar; I was toying with the idea of buying firsthand to customize it into Totodile, and like magic this exact idea had apparently been floating around the marketplace. It saved the time.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Teenage me liked extra hand parts. Currently I actually find it very bothersome to have multiple parts for the same doll, as not everything is guaranteed to see equal use. Parts in storage have aged differently, and I've apparently developed the organizational itchiness that if it's extra, I simply don't need it.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I don't use, and I do regret. Some extra hand parts I received were already included in the base sale of the doll, which I'm less niggled about, but I also could have done perfectly fine without them. Extra heads I've received were sold or given away to friends.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Sometimes yes. I acknowledge it as a merchandising trick but there are times where pitching in for one large order will save me from multiple small ones. I mercifully haven't felt the need to qualify for events due to my feelings about unnecessary extras being clutter.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
So only twice have I ever broken the $1k limit for the dolls I buy. The first time was because the original $968 (Volks Tony) had shipping that brought it over, which I reasoned didn't count as actually shattering my limit, and the second time was $1283 (Volks Kiriko). It absolutely was too expensive, but I did it because I loved his face that much. I'm now nervous that I have proven capable in ignoring myself...worth it tho!!

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
On gut reaction I say I would not, but if it took dire financial straits or natural disaster, my first doll (Dream of Doll Wi) is the one I think immediately about saving. I've had him for over half my life and he represents my enduring love of art and my own creativity after all these years.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I know I can't. I've loved this hobby for so long and loved the dolls I've had since the moments I got each one, and while 19 is dauntingly apparently my minimum, I genuinely enjoy my life better with them.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
While I wouldn't like to characterize myself as somebody who avoids popular sculpts on purpose, I will admit that being exposed to oversaturation drinks the curiosity of possibility right out of me. No, I don't prefer limited and rare dolls, but yes, if I see them less, they're the sculpts I'm more inclined toward. I'm also a Volks fan so limited and rare go hand in hand with it. I'm not bothered by how people are compelled for/against anything.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I'm actually, bizarrely free of any dolls I'm craving to own. The only doll that I've ever entertained as a distant fantasy as a "just to have and admire" is the old DollShe SA Bermann--it's one of the few sculpts I've found breathtakingly beautiful despite any condition--and I could still do without.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I used to only keep track of how much I threw in for the baseline major doll orders, and I stopped because even 5-6 dolls into the hobby, it was a wild number to behold. I don't actively keep track of how much I spend on my other hobbies, so why hurt myself my dolls? People do comment if they figure it out (I don't say a word about the price to anyone because that reaction is old) and I explain it as a committed art hobby.

 

Questions:
1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I usually just order directly from the company or through a distributor. I started out with mature tinies, then switched to fantasy MSDs. Dolls I love enough want to own are usually niche enough to be near if not completely impossible to find second hand

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Only occasionally. I've only ordered a sleeping face once, for a Fairyland Real Puki, and extra hands a few times.M

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I like how the extra plate gives my Kali (an RP Aki) a second expression. I sold the one that came with my other Real Puki when I realized I'd never use it. I use the extra hands for my Minifees and other MSD who has them relatively often.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
The only time I've participated in an event like that, just the basic doll I was ordering was enough to qualify for the free calendar and resin hat. In the future, it would have to be items I would actually use.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I cant justify paying BJD prices for something smaller that a Real Puki. However, since I've expanded my collection to MSDs, how much is too much has gone up. There are still artist dolls that have prices I couldn't possible justify to myself, but I recently spent more on a BJD than I thought I ever would- because I love it that much.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
No I could not! I could downsize if I had to, but I really love many of my dolls pretty equally.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No. I like having multiple dolls because they are all different. I sew for my dolls and they have different colors they look good in and different styles that suit their characters.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Most of my dolls are limited or discontinued, but that's mostly because they're mature tinies, or fantasy dolls, and less common. I've got a trio of Fairyland Puki Puki, who are popular, so I'm not against owning popular dolls, but some of what I like is weird or quirky. I'm not intentionally elitist but what I like seems to often be less popular. I love seeing other people's dolls that are the same sculpt as mine and seeing the different ways they can be styled, but it doesn't happen too often. As for other people, they should do what makes them happy. Isn't that the point of this hobby? Of course, no one should be a jerk about other peoples' preferences.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Fortunately, I've been able to afford the dolls I've wanted when they were available. Though if I did have the funds (and the ability to travel to a doll show where they are sold) I might go for one of Connie Lowe's 12 or16 inch dolls in a tan resin color. They tend to be over $1,000, and don't fit the overall fantasy aesthetic of my dolls this scale, which would bother me.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I have a list of my current dolls and the price of each not counting shipping, eyes, wigs, ect. The total price of just the dolls is pretty scary. I guess I've kept track just to have the info for them individually, but since my record keeping is in Airtable, I can easily see the total. I avoid talking about it with non-BJD people, since I've gotten a few shocked expressions mentioning how much the less expensive ones cost.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I have only ever bought secondhand (after verifying legitimacy) or in-stock, I suppose because I am impatient and love the idea of giving an existing doll a home.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

So far, that hasn't been an option for any of my dolls.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

N/A

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

I don't really have this experience with dolls and events, but I usually wait until I have enough items that I want to qualify for free shipping if that's an option or add something that I can use as a gift for someone if there's nothing else that I want.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yes. When I browse secondhand, more than $200 inspires a pause, and more than $500 is a look but don't fall in love. Conversely, I am highly susceptible to considering dolls I am not really in love with just because they trigger my "what a deal" instinct.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I'd never want to get rid of my first doll Walt (Resinsoul Ming) because he is a physical representation of my favorite tree/childhood friend of sorts, but since he is very closely tied to Baz (Dollzone Yi, another childhood imaginary friend of sorts), keeping him but getting rid of Baz would be extremely difficult. I also love all of my fantasy tinies, but if I could only keep one, I'd have to choose my Cuarto Darkhorn because I find the tactile sensation of handling him extremely pleasing (plus I adore dragons). I'd also have a hard time getting rid of my newest doll and first SD because I am already enamored with him.

I have been able to rehome dolls in the past by gifting them to a friend, but the ones I'm left with now are the ones I'd currently struggle to part with unless circumstances were extreme.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

Hmm, perhaps one or two dolls in each size. I like being able to reach for different dolls depending on inspiration, and each size has its own perks and drawbacks.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I honestly don't know what's popular or not. I guess part of me is drawn to the "unique" factor, but purchasing something that is a unique size does make finding clothing and accessories difficult and limits the joy of connecting with other owners of that same sculpt.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

I love looking at artist dolls, and if I were in a better place financially (and space-wise), I would love to support them because I love the diversity they bring to the hobby (more skin tones, more body types, more cool fantasy creatures).

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

Nope. I just know the answer is probably "too much but never enough." So far, I haven't had any comments.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I’ll go straight for the company, if the doll is still available there. I’m too paranoid about the possibility of recasts, however… I do sometimes get sentimental and think about giving poor dolls a second chance :c So I do occasionally check the secondhand market.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Sleeping faces not often, but I do order extra parts like hands and especially, high heel feet/legs! I’m always scared of a finger getting broken off, and I don’t know if I could glue it back in a way that wouldn’t be visible, so I like the thought of spare parts. Also, if I want the doll to have different colored nails, I don’t have to send them to repaint, I can just switch their hands. I also like to buy hands in different positions, like for example a hand that points somewhere, or heart shaped hands.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

Well, as a person who fell out of the hobby for a while, I definitely didn’t justify the purchase, yet I don’t regret it. Most of my dolls’ extra parts can no longer be ordered, and it’s better to have them now that trying to hunt them down on the secondhand market.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I’m kind of obsessed with shopping so yeah. But at the same time, I live pretty far away from most doll companies, and with pandemic making shipping even slower, I don’t really regret buying most of what I need instead of buying them separately in smaller orders.
5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

I try to stay below 700-800$ for my sanity’s sake. I’m not saying a limited doll with lots of extra wouldn’t possibly broke this imaginary boundary but I’d need a lot of layaway and I’m always worried about layaway (what if I forgot? What if I don’t have the money by then?) so I try to stick to dolls I can immediately pay for. However I’m not here to judge anybody for this, you can spend on dolls as much as you want, as long as you take care of yourself!

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

That is also a tricky question. My grail doll is currently on a body I really dislike (long story) so I might pass her, and keep one of my Peakswoods Yeru dolls (probably Lavender, I can’t resist her pastel goth style), but it would break my heart to sell my SQLab dolls, after all, one of them (Shiori) was my first BJD

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I don’t think so. I think collecting different dolls is part of the fun! I also like to collect as much sizes and types as possible, because I like the difference!

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I have to say I don’t really care. If I have sculpt that I immediately see as one of my characters, or who immediately charms me and make me think of a new character, I’ll try to purchase them, if I can afford them. I don’t care how others think about this, as long as they don’t try to force it upon others or shame others who think differently.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Huh… I try not to look at too expensive dolls, as to not to get my hopes up to a doll I cannot afford. However if I had unlimited resources, I’d soon be buried in dolls
10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

My parents always comment on it, and I don’t plan on telling anyone about the financial side, because I know I’d get negative comments about it. And no I don’t keep track of it it’d just make me feel bad. It’s an expensive, but harmless hobby, let me enjoy my dolls in this dark world in peace

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I started out looking on the second hand market (generally on ebay which can be so frustrating weeding out the recasts :v) so I generally go secondhand first! Sometimes I just like browsing and seeing dolls I might be into. With limited release dolls I have gone straight to the company because I'm pretty sure there's going to be little to no second hand market TvT (looking at you Dragon Po/Chuan and Ji-Zero mech ver) and generally with second hand I stumble across things I never knew about that I fall in love with!

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I don't/haven't yet. I probably will if I find a face sculpt i really like, or i want to have 2 different face ups for a doll. Hands I haven't thought about tbh

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
N/A

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I'm generally pretty good about getting what I want and then jumping away from any more purchases, but I love some event dolls that I have literally considered getting a doll I dont really want to get them >:0

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, it's actually what made it so hard for me to get into the hobby in the first place. I found out about it because of a popovy sisters video and nearly cried at the price. Otherwise I'm pretty lucky with family being supportive and helping to finance me (for immediate buys on sh market) but otherwise I'll put stuff on layaway so it's less daunting

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
That's super hard even though I currently only have 2 dolls physically at home with me. It would probably be my first doll the DZ scorpio event doll (2015 I think?) He's the light of my life and I own my interest to him. I would be super unhappy though because I'm so attached to my DC charon and my layaway dolls :c I dont foresee this needing to become reality though and honestly as long as I have storage room I'll be happy and can rotate out my dolls if I have more than I can display at 1 time (although idk how likely that it to happy )

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I dont think so. I love seeing all the weird fantasy dolls and just one would be so limiting! I want to explore different avenues and sculpts, look at their differences and just have individual styles that make me happy all around me. Maybe at first when I just started, but definitely not now

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Sort of, but only because I'm not interested in them generally. I've seen mostly human sculpts be very popular and I am only focused/interested in nonhumans/human hybrids/anthros. I have no problem being interested in what is popular though, it just generally not where my tastes fall and as long as someone loves that doll I dont see why it matters if it's a popular sculpt

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Hhhh I would definitely get a fullset Popovy doll! I would get a Yoland¥ RAT head with a Body II body. They got me into the hobby and I would absolutely only get one in a fullset simply because I want a completed piece of theirs, otherwise it isn't really worth it to me :c Although I would also super consider most of DC and DZs fantasy dolls

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby
I sort of do? I know how much my dolls cost and the average for supplies, but in general I don't think about it unless I'm actively trying to buy a doll. I also know that it makes some people feel really uncomfortable that hobbies like this are so expensive, so I generally try to keep it away from people I don't know very well because they may try to guilt me for what I have. I've had some friends offhandedly comment, but never in a negative way. Generally they are super supportive and interested, plus when I show them the sculpts that I'm talking about and their price they understand why it can get so expensive. I don't talk to family outside of my parents and grandfather about it though, again b/c I'm aware it would make them uncomfy.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I seem to have an unfortunate love for dolls that're long discontinued, lol. For a doll that's currently in production, I'd generally rather go through the company directly. (Unless they have a reputation for unreliable quality or something, then I'd rather buy secondhand so I know exactly what I'm getting.)

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Well, because of that whole "long discontinued" problem, I really haven't had a chance to do this...But if I were buying new and could afford it, I probably would spring for extra hands and heel feet, if nothing else. Sleeping faces/alternate expressions would be a very case-by-case basis. But alternate hands? Oh yes. Hands are the second most expressive part of the body (behind faces), and unlike with faceplates, you can't really change their expression with paint and camera angles. Various hand options are an instant buy for me, as long as they're available. (I don't like jointed hands, though. Too fussy and delicate...)

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

See above.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

I'm pretty sure everyone knows that's a marketing trick.

This mostly applies to doll STUFF, since I've never actually bought a doll straight from a company yet. But I'm an obsessive planner and a total miser about shipping costs, so I tend to save up money and hoard orders until I get to a point where ordering everything at once will get me over the free shipping limit, lol.

As for event stuff, it would depend on the item. If it's something I'm not really interested in, then no, I wouldn't bother. But if I DID want it, I'd make sure to get it during the event. Stuff like that is hard to track down after the fact...

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

More than once, yeah. There comes a point where I feel like I wouldn't be comfortable actually playing with the doll if it cost TOO much...It's not really a specific number, though. More like, if a doll is way out of the "usual" price range for its size, etc, I feel weird about it. There are some gorgeous Volks sculpts that I absolutely love, but I know I'd be scared to touch them if I got them because they're two or three times the $500-$600 price range I expect a 60cm doll to be in.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

Oh god, this is a terrible thought. I mean, obviously if I HAD to sell my collection, I'd figure out how to get by.

As for which one I would keep...I'm not sure. I love them all very much. I think I would keep my Rosenlied Holiday's Child Ribbon. She was difficult as hell to find, and she's one of my favorite sculpts of all time. Plus, she's a very good size for me, and I love sewing for her.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I mean...I'd be happier with one doll than no dolls. But I don't think I would ever intentionally downscale my collection to just one. I really like cute little girl sculpts But Also mature adult male sculpts. There really isn't a single doll that would encapsulate all my tastes, lol. So bare minimum, I think I'd have one 70cm boy and then my Rosenlied Ribbon.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

If anything, I'm the opposite. I'm a lot more likely to fall for a popular sculpt than a rare one. In large part, it's because I love looking at owner pictures! Seeing what other people do with their dolls and all the myriad ways they style them inspires me way more than just the company photos!

As for people who only collect rare or unusual dolls...I don't really have a feeling about them one way or the other. Of course, there's the occasional elitist jerk, but that's hardly limited to rare sculpts or artist dolls. And the reason I dislike that kind of person is because of their jerk behavior, not because of their dolls. I enjoy seeing unusual and rare sculpts, so overall I'd say I feel positively towards the people who collect them. After all, I wouldn't get to enjoy their beauty otherwise!

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Oh lord. It would be a custom sculpt and cast from Grenado, I think. There is a doll I've had in mind since I came into the hobby, but sadly my mind is the only place he exists. I think Grenado would do him justice.

But if "unlimited resources" also includes unlimited luck? I would want the...Hmmm...I've forgotten what it's called. But there is a special version of the Volks FCS that is very, very expensive and only available by rare lottery, wherein you can choose literally ANY sculpt in ANY skintone and with ANY makeup/eyes/wig/body/etc that you want. The ultimate Volks dream, right there. There are a couple of "otherwise unobtainable" dolls I dream about...Picking which one to get would be difficult, and I honestly can't say which one I would choose in the end.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

In a very general sense, I know how much I've spent on the hobby, but I don't keep close accounts. Just like I don't keep close accounts on how much money I've spent on video games either. It doesn't really matter in the end, as long as you're staying within your own budget.

As for anyone else commenting on the expense...I keep it to myself. My spouse knows, obviously, but that's the only person. And as far as my spouse is concerned, what I want to spend my "fun money" on is my business.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I check the company first to see if it is available and for how much, plus all the details of the doll to make sure it is something that will fit with what I really want. From there I check the secondhand market to see if I can find one that is available now. I like getting new, but I also like secondhand because you know what the doll looks like already (as opposed to a doll who hasn't been made yet and will come with random eyes etc) I like knowing EXACTLY what I am going to get. So basically I don't have a preference per se, I will buy from whichever is available, and most convenient.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No. If they come with them, that is fine, but I have found I won't use the sleeping face. As far as the hands go, it depends if I like the options and what they cost.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I have not regretted not getting them.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I do this all the time, but that is usually because there are many items I want and I figure why not add them in to get the free shipping. The problem is deciding which of the things I want to add in and picking and choosing which I want more. If there wasn't anything I wanted I would be fine paying the shipping, it actually works out cheaper that way. I do realize it is a trick and it does bother me that I give in to it.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. I have realized over the years that I can't depend on stock photos, and even owner pics to really know if I will like a doll or not. I have lost my shirt on several dolls over the years, and I am not really willing to do it again. There are some prices I am not willing to pay even if I have the money sitting there free and clear.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Yes, because I have done it a few times. Right now I only have one doll, and two on preorder so it would be easy for me to choose the one I already have

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I do, because the times I have had just one my focus was on that one doll and I enjoy them more. Once I start adding more I tend to not bother with any of them as much at all. It is a constant struggle for me because there are so many dolls I want, so having a revolving door so I can enjoy each one at a point in time, them sell to buy another I would like is working ok for right now. I would love to break this and find THE ONE, but I don't know that that will ever happen.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I buy what I like, if it is popular or rare that can make it more difficult, but I don't really follow trends so I probably wouldn't know what is popular or not in any case. People can collect how they want as long as they aren't rude to me about my own collecting habits, everyone can do their own thing.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I would have a LOT of dolls if I have unlimited resources, the price would be endless lol I don't really have one particular doll that I feel I just have to have thankfully.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I have written lists of what things I have collected over the years, as well as how much I spent vs what I made back when I sold things. It is a very ugly ugly number, and makes me kind of ashamed of myself. However, if I had not spent it on things I enjoyed at the time I would have wasted it elsewhere, at least most of what I spent I was able to resell, even at a lower resale value I got SOMETHING back, which can't be said for how some others spend their money that like to judge what my things cost me. Everyone has something they "waste" money on, I choose dolls. I can resell dolls, maybe I lose money when I do, but I know people that spend their money on things that are a one time deal that cost more than my dolls. Most don't like when you point that out though...but if they had their eyes on their own plate instead of making comments about what was on mine it would never be an issue

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
If I could, I'd only buy from the company because I like having a new doll and not worrying about providence or the chance of ending up with a fake. Though I have bought from the secondhand market before when it was a good deal on a doll I wanted.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I like to get the sleeping faces though I haven't gotten any extra hands yet. I don't do this for every doll, just the ones that I know will end up using them.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I somewhat regret one of the sleeping faces I got simply because I did the faceup on the OE head and don't think I can replicate it on the sleeping face. Granted, it was a Resinsoul head so I wasn't out too much and I'll probably give it a shot one of these days.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
The only time I looked for extra items was when it was to reach a 6 month layaway limit from DDE. Even then, I only spent an extra $20. Normally, I don't though.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I did once and am so glad I did because I later realized that the size was not something I enjoyed. Even then, my tastes in dolls tend to run on the less expensive side (aside from my three a la carte Fairyland dolls).

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I don't think I could sell them all. I have less than 10 dolls already and while I could see myself selling one or two, the rest I couldn't.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I don't think I could be happy with just one doll because I like them to have a companion of sorts and I like have a few different characters. Each doll has their own clothing style that I, personally, would like to explore but don't feel confident enough to try.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Oh stars no, I don't mind popular sculpts. But I will say that I'm bothered by people with that attitude if it's only because they're popular. If they just don't like the way they look etc. then I can understand. But just to dislike something because it's popular seems silly to me.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
At the moment, if I had unlimited resources I'd buy five dolls to suit the characters of my Magical Girl OCs. Two of them I've already decided to be Souldoll's Juno and Annamari. Total, the two cost over $650 so it's not astronomical in this hobby but definitely not a price I'd feel comfortable spending right now even with a layaway.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I do not because it would make me annoyed with myself I think. I know the dolls make me happy, but I'd feel guilty every time my parents bring up anything to do with money. My mom comments on the financial side but I try and downplay the cost of things so she doesn't judge me too hard. She's starting to come around to it though, understanding that this is my only hobby and that I really don't do anything else.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Depends on what doll it is. I tend to look for dolls to fit certain characters, and sometimes I don't know who that will be until I see them up for sale somewhere. Other times I have to go secondhand because they're hard to get or too expensive otherwise. But I try to get from the company if possible (or a dealer so I can get layaway), because then I know I can get the skin color and faceup I want instead of having to hope the perfect combo magically appears somewhere.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I don't think I've ever ordered a doll that even came with those options; the closest I have is my Dollfie Dream/Icon.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I don't have any at the moment; I have been thinking about getting some extra handparts for my Volks dolls, but it's not an urgent issue for me. I'd be more likely to get hands than a sleeping face though.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Depends what the event is, where it would be shipping from, and how much I actually want the stuff. Also the amount - I'm more likely to splurge on $100 in accessories than $700 in dolls.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Bold of you to assume I have money...lol
Real answer: I try very hard to talk myself out of buying expensive limited dolls, or expensive dolls in a certain size and style I could find at another company I like for cheaper. The only company that can make me break that rule is Volks - I ended up getting a Dollfie Icon over the summer, and there's a very good chance I'll be trying to get Elsa as well.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
NOPE. I am that b*tch who gets overly attached to inanimate objects. I have not sold a doll yet, and I would have a very hard time doing so unless I knew the person I was selling it to.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Nope again. I like my dolls to have friends/storymates to interact with.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I am at the age where popular is irrelevant, I buy what I want. And sometimes it's good to be interested in popular sculpts, because there'll be lots of fan pics around to help you decide if you really like them or not.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Both Elsa and Anna, I have no idea because they haven't been properly announced yet...Also a bunch of Dream Choice dolls.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I vaguely try to...my parents comment on it sometime, but right now they're just happy I have a job and can spend my own money on the silly things.

 

Looks fun, thought Id join in

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I mainly shop from the secondhand market, usually because the waittimes are much more up to me and how quick I pay lol. Also feels a little more sustainable to get them secondhand. A lot of my grails are also either discontinued, events or hard to buy new, so waiting on the secondhand market is my only option. Does make the "hunt" nicer and then having that doll or part I wanted for so long suddenly in my hands is just great
But I do buy dolls new occasionally.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Sleeping face plates never, I personally find them quite useless for my collection. I used to want to get all the extra hands and feet and bust parts when I first started the hobby, but then quickly realized that most just dont make sense for me, so now I buy only what Od want on the doll. Mainly flat feet and somehow I like the flat chests always so much more haha

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
When I had them, I did regret it when I realized I wasnt using them and just sold it.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I wish I did, but sadly I dont have that much money. Plus most event dolls dont speak much to me and my very specific doll taste xD

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. A while ago someone was selling a grail for double the price the company sold it for and I thought nah, Ill wait for the company to rerelease

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
It would mean crying a lot of tears and secretly keeping another head, but yes I know who Id leave. My very first doll (now reshelled though) who got me into this hobby fr and had me knee deep in developing story, characters and world. That really saved my sanity back when I started and still does to this day.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Umm. Honestly, I could do it, but I know when I had only one doll, while the relationship with this doll was very intense for me, I was looking at others and now I have more and I am NOT mad about it xD. Does water down the intensity of the bond for me though.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I used to be "arrogant" like that, thinking I was a more special or edgy collector with "taste". Apart from the very obvious personal problems with such an attitude, that Ive been luckily able to shake, I quickly realized a more practical problem: these dolls are expensive and hard to sell if you decide to pass em on. I had a head, beautiful sculpt that just didnt fit and it took me a year (!!!!!) a whol mf YEAR to get rid of it. I hated every bit of it, because I felt like I was stuck forever with that doll. Also looking for rare dolls online to see what other people did with them is much harder. Now I am somewhere in between. All of my dolls are more or less popular sculpts, I love them and I think if I had to, Id be able to sell them rather easily. Personally many of the very popular sculpts out there dont really intrigue me much, but thats just personal preference.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
In the scenario that all dolls Id ever wanted are suddenly available, a DC SD Lillian!! (honestly dk how much shed be)! And a Unoa Xyle (450 ish). And then the rest Id spend on my other dolls from my wishlist, and throw some money at cool companies I like, just for the sake of it. But so far I have to say Im so happy with my collection and where its headed. The wait, the anticipation, thats what is the most fun about collecting in terms of buying dolls (crafting ofc and fotos too but thats another topic) that I wouldnt want to cut my happiness short by just getting everything at once

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial s ide of your hobby?
Yes, Im a nerd, I have an excel spread sheet that tracks ALL of the dolls I own and have ever owned, where when from whom I bought them for how much, tracks shipping and fees aswell plus if I pass em on to whom for how much. Plus there's a calculation for how much my collection is worth in total. When I first set it up that number shocked me, because I was expecting it to be maybe 1,5k or something but then it was over 2! Ouff. But yeah, 8 years can amass quite a number of dolls. I have 6 and dont think thats the biggest collection out there.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Straight from the company. I don't like buying second hand, although I would in case I were looking for something discontinued.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Yes! I always get all the possible extras and having lots of extras available is definitely a point I consider. So far I have not had the option to order a sleeping face, but I most certainly would.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I use the extra hands a lot. I love to pose my dolls and extra hands add a lot of expression.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Not really so far. I wouldn't mind it either because there's always something I actually want to buy that I'd throw in the cart in case I needed to.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I approach this hobby as "I'll have only a few dolls but I'll allow myself to spend as much as I want on those few".
However yes I did have a couple occasions where I thought something was not worth the asking price, and the excessive costs made me realize I didn't want the doll enough to justify it. Just because I'm setting a high bar for what I'm willing to spend doesn't mean I will spend it lightly.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?


7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I think I could have been happy with just my first doll, she is perfect. But I did want a few more. I'll eventually make a nice roombox and I want to have dollies interact in their own little vignettes. It's a big draw of the hobby to me.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don't care at all about it. I tend to like not so popular sculpts and I have trouble finding owner pictures online which is a bummer.
I think it's convenient if a sculpt I want is not limited because this way I have more room for planning. I frankly dislike the "collector" side of hobbies where people own things for the sake of owning them and keep them mint in the box for the "value", I think it does inevitably ruin the hobbies, because companies will cater to this kind of collector as they're the biggest spenders but at the same time rarely care about anything except exclusivity and value. Similarly I don't understand seeking a doll just because it's limited/rare unless you're a scalper, but I obviously understand it feels good if a doll you own is also something rare that few other people have. The fact that BJDs are not mass-produced industrial goods is part of their appeal to begin with.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I'm getting that doll now! I think I wouldn't ever get a doll larger than 70cm, and I do not like the aesthetics of the most expensive dolls (Popovy, etc.) so I would very likely stay under $1500 even in the wildest scenario.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Nope, I don't keep track outside of budgeting. I don't really talk about the hobby with other people so I never received comments.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

If I’m shelling one of my characters I look absolutely everywhere, and I don’t care if it’s brand new or secondhand as long as it’s in good condition.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

Absolutely not. I’ve only wound up with a few of these things that came as a special deal from the company or were included along with a secondhand purchase.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I seldom use them, but they were essentially free anyway so…

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

Only if it saved me substantially in the long run, and then only for things like extra wigs or eyes I’d be needing anyway.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

No. I always buy on layaway so even an expensive doll can be made affordable by being broken down into smaller payments over many months. My most expensive doll (my Dollzone mermaid Sawarieda…over 100cm) took me an entire year to pay off, but she was so worth it because nothing else would have fit that character as well.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

No! Absolutely not.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I began my foray into this hobby with this hairbrained idea…and it was a dismal failure! I immediately fell in love with creating unique characters, and it’s all been downhill on the slippery slope from there.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I will purchase whatever sculpt best fits the character I’m trying to shell, so this kind of thing never even crosses my mind. My collection has been based on diversity from the very beginning, so while some of my sculpts are limited or rare, others are as ordinary and popular as apple pie. It truly makes no difference to me.


9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Like I already said, because I only buy on layaway I have always managed to get exactly what I want…it just took longer to pay it off. So there really isn’t anything I’ve missed.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

Absolutely not. I’m of the same mindset as @CloakedSchemer, who said they’d prefer to just have fun while staying within budget and not keep track of what it costs to enjoy the hobby. Well said, indeed! I budget very carefully, so no one dares say a word.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I look for dolls second-hand mostly, pre-ordering directly is a bit of a last straw situation for me. I find the months of wait in relation to the amount of money paid quite difficult (it is justified, don't get me wrong, but it is not enjoyable in ways I'd like the hobby to be for me). I also tend to like older sculpts and am happy to pay less in exchange of having to do tlc.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I wish I had (ordered extra hands and heel feet)! I had a recent body come with extras and now I'm kicking myself for not doing that with some others because the wait for small parts is long, too, and might not guarantee a resin match. It's not relevant for every doll I have, of course, and I don't really want every available extra part either.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I've sold faceplates and parts I found no use for in the end. I don't regret getting them, I guess one finds out through experience whether or not they are of good use or no. I do have a few parts I wish I had gotten sooner, though!

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

Hahahaha yes. I calculate long and hard if it actually makes more sense to just pay shipping and decide based on that, but sometimes it's also nice to throw in some items and accessories I would not get separately. Dolls are a business, so of course there are marketing tricks here and there - it's how dealers survive after all.


5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yeah! I'd feel bad going over a certain amount because if a doll feels too expensive, I know I'd feel too precious about it. I'd rather have something I can enjoy without worries like that!

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

Can I pls pick 2? I think I'd be able to do it - I'd probably keep Michi (and Acorn, if 2 are allowed!) as they are special in non-monetary ways and also quite irreplaceable as they are no longer made. They always bring me to a good mood, too! While I really like the rest of my current dolls as well, I would be willing to part with them if that's the option I have to take, as they don't have an emotional impact of that extent.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

When I just had one doll, I really wanted them to have a friend so I guess not Maybe if I was less involved with the hobby I could make this decision, but I really enjoy the little variety I have.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I don't dislike most popular dolls and I'm hardly ever tempted by limiteds. I will customise my dolls myself anyway so it makes no difference to me. I think everyone is allowed to collect however they want, and as long as they don't judge other collections, all is well.


9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

If I had unlimited resources I would spoil the dolls I have


10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I keep track vaguely but I keep working hard at not impulse-spending and also sell the stuff I have every once and a while so tallying it all up doesn't make sense to me. I feel like it would make me feel a bit weird towards the hobby as well - I don't spend tons on it and I just want to relax and have fun to my best abilities. I don't give anyone a chance to comment on the financial side of the hobby as tbh every hobby costs something to keep up with it and bjds are not comparatively in a very different price category than most other hobbies people enjoy.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I browse the marketplace fairly frequently (and have even bought a few dolls/heads from there) but I usually buy from the company. Somehow it always lines up that I’m buying a doll that’s either new (so not on the marketplace) or rare and re-released from the company when I’m looking/waiting for it (more than half of the dolls I’ve owned have been first-time releases). Plus unlike most people I seem to be the rare person who enjoys the wait, as long as the company is honest with me about how long it will take (if they’re dishonest I begin to worry that they’re trying to scam me and that gets stressful, but if they’re like “oh yeah btw it’s gonna take 11 months” I’m usually like “cool, see you in the new year”). I like taking the time to search for the perfect items for the doll and gather it all before it arrives (I’m usually never done by the time that happens).

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Unless I’m looking to do something very specific with a doll, then yes. All of the extra heads/faces/hands are all part of the same doll to me, they live in the doll box (so that they experience the same conditions as the doll), get painted at the same time, and get used whenever necessary.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Whether it’s often enough to justify the purchase - I don’t know, but I don’t see it as clutter/extra parts, I see it as all parts of one big doll blob. The one time I didn’t get extra parts because I was trying to be “pure minimalist” with this tiny travel doll, I’ve regretted it. There’s already been one or two times when I needed fist hands, for example, which I did not get.


4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Yes, but I generally don’t force it if it doesn’t make financial sense/if I didn’t already need this item and just put off ordering it in the past. Like if I need $10 and I knew I needed a wig or an accessory for someone, I will comb through the seller’s other offerings. Like other people said it makes no difference to me whether I spend $25 on a wig or on postage, so I don’t really find that those scenarios really exploit my wallet that much. If the difference is more than $25 (or the cost of the shipping) then I don’t bother.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Many times. I instinctively compare the cost of a doll to my paycheck. Being disabled, I can only work 3-4 days a week. If it’s more than what I can make in a couple of days, I feel like I can’t afford it. Like, I have money, I have savings and investments etc. So I can swing a high-cost doll financially. I’ve done it before when I was younger and healthier. But I just don’t want to spend my money that way, it makes me feel gross and regret my decision. If it’s something REALLY special, then I think I’m comfortable with the idea of saving up for it for a while/foregoing other nice things to maintain my savings the same, but I honestly don’t find myself feeling that way about almost all of the dolls out of my price range.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I’ve actually done whole stretches where I only owned one doll. I had my first doll for a while, then I sold him because I realized he wasn’t what I wanted and bought a second doll, who was my only one for a few years. When I was in college my doll ownership exploded a bit (scholarships and some family windfall). I bought Anka in 2016, after selling all of my previous dolls, and for 4 years she was my only doll. As to who I picked, I think it would depend on the circumstances. If it was for purely financial reasons, but my family was okay, I’d probably pick the iMda Angie because she’s is my cheapest and would net the smallest return. She’s also tiny and easy to transport through moves. She’s not my favourite doll of my 3, but it would just be the most practical. If there was bad stuff going on in my life… That’s tougher. I have a grail doll I’ve been saving up money for 2 years for that I don’t yet have (not because she’s expensive, I just keep missing the darn preorder windows). So, if I do pull it off, probably her. Otherwise Anka and Leonie are both equally-sentimental for me.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I think I could be happy with the grail doll. Like I said, I’ve had stretches in my collecting life where I did only own one for years at a time. I found out the key to being happy with the doll is having a bunch of nice clothes and accessories that match, so it feels like you own more than one doll. I’m not really interested in completely stripped-down minimalism for my collection anymore though, so I don’t think I’ll be going back to just one for the foreseeable future.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I’ve owned some trendier dolls in the past (Iplehouse in their heyday, a couple of fantasy Sooms) and I just found I didn’t really bond with them. I don’t think it’s the popularity, but I do think that everyone else’s excitement made me feel more excited for the sculpt than I actually was. These days I’m usually falling for the ones that aren’t super obscure, but also not that well known.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Unlimited resources = unlimited space, so I’d probably have the entire cast to every one of my novels in 70 cm form (aka the size that’s easy to find high-quality clothes for). I’d probably want a Volks girl in suntan that I can dress in Desers dresses. I actually have a “win the lottery” wishlist that’s just there to dream a little.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I keep popping in and out of the hobby and every time I return, I start a new spreadsheet (and lose track of the old one). I find it fun, it helps me budget, and maybe if I die unexpectedly my family can evaluate the cost of the dolls and act accordingly. I don’t feel like I outspend my means so I don’t really feel guilty looking at it. I spent about 4k in the last 8 years, given my income and where I live, that’s not that much in the grand scheme of things, and I don’t really have many other expensive hobbies. I spend more getting my car serviced every year.
And no, no one really does. I don’t have an excessive collection and even though my family doesn’t get it, they do see that I’m spending within a reasonable budget and just chalk it up as fun money. My husband even pitched in for a layaway payment and a face-up as a pair of gifts, I think. He gets input when I want to buy a doll, but he’s never said anything besides “if it makes you happy, let’s get it.”

 

First of all I have to say I'm not a minimalist in any sense of the term , also I think of "minimalism" as a choise think like one has all the money in the world to have a big house and everything inside it and consiously decides to get less than can afford or smaller space than can afford ... people of my social status usually are just practical live in a house they can afford have the stuff they can afford sometimes a bit more , sometimes a bit less , sometimes buy an expensive doll and others sell it etc it's more of a practical thing than a belief system thing.
Even so I am as maximalistic I can be inside my room , the rest of the house is fairly much more "minimal" because my son has autism and things /toys / stuff must be organised etc but my room is like a bazaar when it's tidy and sadly like a storage container when it's not.
1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
when I used to buy dolls I sometimes did that and others don't it really depended of the doll , the price , the company if p.e. it was an event sale in the company site I would go there etc , also many of the dolls I liked were not the most popular ones or if they were they weren't often for sale in the marketplace cause they were fairly new releases back in 2009-2013
2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
no never I was ordering only what I wanted back then
3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I don't have any of those now but I have extra fantasy parts and floating heads I got and regret every one of them while I still can see the beauty in them they are absolutely useless for me and have been for a decade
4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
not in bjd's but yes I have done it with other things and stores . It is a trick but one that someone can get advantage off sometimes it pays off cause you find something similar to what you wanted anyway and pay less , sometimes it just creates clutter *guh guh craft materials for 2 lifetimes guh guh*
5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
not have the money at hand , I cannot dream the time I'll just have the money for a bjd at hand just like that but have the ability to put it on layaway and pay it yes I did I passed in many like that.
6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I'm selling my collection and yes I'm able to do it but slowly , I couldn't stay with just one doll to me if I continue with the hobby which is something very hard for me timewise I will keep about 5-8 dolls from what I have if I decide to not do anything with bjd there is no point to keep any so it's either a small group or zero . The ones that would stay in such an occation are the ones who I like most and pose better just that.
7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No because one is not a collection and I am a collector and I like variety so if I want to not get bored with my doll hobby I need the variety and a few dolls , my current circumstances space wise time wise and money wise make the more than a few more of a problem than pleasure so many is not possible but one doll to me is as useless as none I'd better sell it and get my money back.
8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
no I bought always what I liked no matter how popular or rare it was , I'm not bothered by what other people collect each has their own taste
9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
If I had space time and money I would get a spiritdoll catalina , but I have neither she costs 2700$ with face up and I think the shipping/customs will also be a small fortune as it is a 125cm tall lady. But I don't have the money , I don't have the space and time neither the strength to handle such a size in resin form.
10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
plenty of people did comment , I kept a track and happily for those others my buying days are no more and now I'm selling off so they should be pleased and shut their mouths . Back in the day were I was spending my general spending in entertainment was less than everyone of them it just happened for me to be on dolls which I can now (and do) sell and get a pecentage of my money back while in the meantime I enjoyed the dolls/hobby. so who's laughing last?

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I tend to buy dolls new because I don't have much stamina or patience to wait/watch for something to pop up secondhand, while not knowing how long the search will last. If the doll isn't available from the maker -- like a preorder that ended long ago -- I will look secondhand for a while (maybe 2-3 months?). But as more time passes, I'm more likely to lose interest and go for a different doll that's easier to buy.


2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I really like option hands and feet for posing, so if that's available I'll either buy them right away or soon after the doll comes home. If the company releases option parts later on, I will also pick them up. I'm less interested in alternate faces.


3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I use option hands and feet quite routinely, and I've gone out of my way to hybrid hands to my dolls to give them more diverse poses. Generally I don't regret owning more option parts.
I just got the sleepy version of one of my dolls, and I don't think I'll swap alternate faces as often as I swap hands/feet.


4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Sure, I've taken advantage of events before if I could make it work to my favour. But generally I try not to get sucked into a deal. Doll stuff is too expensive to use as padding for a shopping cart, and I tend to want specific things for my crew anyway.


5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I can and have bought expensive dolls, but I've also passed on other dolls because as much as I liked them and had the funds, I couldn't convince myself to part with my funds.


6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
No, my dolls are a single cast of characters. They're too important to me as a collective, I can't break one from the others like this. I'd rather sell all of them and have no dolls at all. (If this happened I would probably leave the hobby for a pretty long time, possibly for good.)


7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Maybe, it means I'd have to completely change the way I engage with the hobby. Currently, my doll collection is a single cast and I tell stories through them. I could not tell those stories with just one doll; I'd have to create a different kind of story.
This is probably the way I can endure question 6 without leaving the hobby - I'd sell all of my current collection, start afresh with one new doll, and enjoy it in a completely different way.


8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I can't deny that popularity/rarity does influence my tastes. I generally don't pay attention to big companies and gravitate towards indie/small-release dollmakers instead. When a doll seems (by my judgment) quite popular, I find myself distancing from it, whereas if I'm drawn to an uncommon sculpt, the uncommon-ness makes it more attractive. I have a few popular sculpts/companies represented in my crew, but by and large, I like owning uncommon dolls.

I guess it's a mixture of being a contrarian (but probably not as edgy as I think I am, lol) and arbitrarily constraining my choices. There are SO many tempting dolls out there now, the more dolls I ignore the more I can focus my tastes and avoid temptation. So I've decided to mostly ignore bigger companies and focus on indepedent dollmakers. It's all arbitrary, but that's how I'm going about it.


9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
No doll - I've had the funds to afford all the dolls I want and I'm pretty satisfied with my crew.
Instead, with unlimited funds I'd buy a second pair of articulated 1/3 resin wings from the Chinese crafter Whimstudio. These wings cost about as much as a 1/3 doll body, I bought one pair, and though I really wanted 2 pairs I couldn't justify the cost. Now if I had unlimited resources ... or if Whimstudio re-released the wings later...


10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I'm ... kind of obsessive about tracking my spending in this hobby I used to track every dollar of my expenses when I was younger and learning how to manage money; I don't do it anymore for anything, except for BJDs. I track doll expenses in Excel spreadsheets and the Notion app. I don't feel any guilt knowing how much I spend -- in fact, I would feel guilty if I did NOT know or didn't keep a paper trail. I think the hobby is too expensive for me to not stay accountable to myself, and I actually feel more secure being able to track where my funds were going.
People haven't really commented on my spending. If they ask, I say that my dolls are expensive and leave it there.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I will nearly always go secondhand first, unless it's a new doll/head from a smaller artist, but I won't pay above retail price for a secondhand doll that's still available. I like having dolls that have a bit of a backstory before I encounter them

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I don't have any sleeping heads, but yes on the hands. Generally if I get a new doll from Volks, I use the hand sheet links to get some extras.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I use them a lot! I'm not a fan of jointed hands, so I like having lots of different static hands for various scenarios/poses. Because the vast majority of my dolls are Volks, there's usually 2 or 3 dolls that can share each pair of hands, depending on size and colour. I do wish some of my other dolls had more static hands available, especially the 65cm and above boys.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Volks never offers free shipping, and most of the time if I order a new doll through a dollmaker or ACBJD, my order will automatically qualify for free shipping. I don't go looking for it, but the cost of shipping does make me wait to order doll parts/clothes until I need enough to justify the cost; for example, I'm not going to buy two pairs of shoes by themselves.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
I have this feeling more with outfits. I love Black Saturn's work, but I feel like if I did have an outfit that costly, I'd be too scared to even put it on a doll. I do tend to wait for sales periods if I'm looking for bodies or parts both new and secondhand.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I don't think so. I've already been in tough financial situations recently and I didn't consider selling my dolls. There are other things I'd sell first. Plus, it's a buyer's market right now, and the Australian dollar is pretty weak. I've only sold dolls/heads that haven't worked out for me: one took months to sell, and only the body sold, and the other I sold when a WTB popped up. The cost of shipping from Australia would also probably deter most buyers.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No, I like having my dolls interact with each other. I did take one doll with me on holiday to Japan but she came home with several new friends, haha.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don't care about how popular a sculpt is, though I may grumble to myself if it affects how easy it is to obtain secondhand. The usefulness of a popular sculpt is you can see how lots of different people have styled a particular doll. Sometimes I do find myself wanting more obscure sculpts just to get more pictures of them out there!

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I'd probably get a custom sculpted 1/3 grandma. I just want a funky grandma doll to sew for sometimes!

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
My layaways and any potential purchases fit into my budgeting, so I'm aware of the costs. I try not to talk to non-doll collectors about the financial side of the hobby because when people know how much the dolls are worth, their eyes usually turn to dollar signs and I get told to sell my whole collection. Explaining the market and economy as I've said above does not compute for most people.
When people find out the monetary cost of the dolls, they often don't understand the value the hobby brings for me as a person: having a creative outlet for writing/sewing/etc, meeting new friends, going outdoors for photos, etc.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

Almost always - not only are second hand dolls cheaper, I love the process of repairing and customizing old dolls. The wear and tear is a plus for me!

There are companies whose work I like but they have limited order periods, so it's much easier to find their dolls second hand.

I'm also put off by the long wait and uncertainty of a preorder; there are horror stories like Dollshe out there, as well as tales of the occasional defective/miscast doll.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

I wait before purchasing any extras. Default hands are usually enough for me, and I've never purchased a sleeping face for any doll I own.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I don't regret extra hands because they're usually cheap - compared to the doll itself, at least. I view them like a change of clothes for the doll.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

The angel on my shoulder says, "this is a just marketing trick!", and the devil on my other shoulder whispers, "...but you might save money this way..."

Then I fill up my cart for the promo and spend more than I intended to. I don't like it but I can't stop falling for it, haha.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

A lot of limited SD-size dolls are out of my budget currently, including many cute Volks FCS dolls.

I'm trying to build up savings right now, but in the past I would spend money as soon as it was in my hands. I would get ideas about some custom doll or another and purchase all the parts on a whim.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I only have one doll

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

Yes. Finding new eyes and hairstyles which suit her, expanding her shoe collection, making/buying new clothes, and refreshing her face up. There's so much to do for just one doll.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I don't dislike sculpts because they are popular or limited. I simply don't purchase them because they tend to be more expensive than what I feel they're worth. For example, I think Dollfie Dream Sasara is super cute, but she's incredibly expensive due to the hype surrounding her, commanding close to $1500 second hand. That's too much for me.

I haven't been in the hobby for long. My impression of attitudes in the vinyl doll world, is that purchasing and customising a limited DD is seen as a greater commitment to the hobby than "just" owning a standard model.
I've never seen any snobbery towards people who choose not to buy limiteds though, so I don't think it's a real problem.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Volks MSD F-48 - $300
Luts KDF Aru - $300
An SD-sized doll, probably Volks - up to $1000

Plus accessories... So many accessories! Including a fully furnished doll room box for them.

I don't have space or money for many dolls so I intentionally lower my dolly ambitions, haha.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

No, it would make me sick. It gives me a headache just thinking about it sometimes. My boyfriend knows about my spending habits and encourages me to spend less. No one else knows about the real cost of my dolls.

That being said, I feel better about spending money on dolls than other collectibles - like figures - because I can interact with my dolls and create artwork with them.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

Having been out of the hobby a while, most of the dolls I'm currently looking for are no longer sold by the maker and have to be acquired second hand. I typically buy heads and bodies separately because I'm nitpicky so I prefer buying from the companies if I can because it's easier to color match fresh resin.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

The only dolls I'd ever buy optional faces for are my u-noas, and even then I never buy the sleeping fave. I just don't think it's worth the cost of a second head and having the face-up done.

I do enjoy optional hands, I think they make a doll more expressive.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I use and love all my u-noa optional parts and I love having extra hands. I love the jointed hands companies are doing for the larger dolls and will absolutely buy a pair for each of my boys when I choose their bodies.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

No but I have skipped on ordering a piece of clothing I liked from a dealer because there wasn't enough other things I wanted to justify the shipping cost.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

When dolls only come as full sets, looking at you Volks, I almost never want the outfit/wig/shoes and lately I don't want to deal with the hassle of splitting the doll so I just pass as they're too expensive.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I'd have to keep my oldest girl because the guilt would eat me up but she's not currently my favorite and I'd probably be a bit bitter about it tbh

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

Nope. I regularly go through phases of who is my favorite, who I'm inspired to sew/create for, etc and I would not be happy otherwise.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I wouldn't say I dislike purchasing popular sculpts outright, I find that I am subconsciously influenced outside of what I know is true to my taste the more I see something so in that sense I avoid specifically looking at popular stuff.

Rarity has no influence on whether I want something, only how much to budget for that doll.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

The only dolls I really want at the moment all must be acquired second hand, there's really no price guidelines to follow. There's one head I'm looking for currently available that's out of my budget so theoretically, $500 for the head alone to buy it up today.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

Absolutely not as long as I pay my bills, don't create debts, and enjoy what I'm doing then there's no need. My family is aware of the costs. They're also art appreciators in general and understand, while they might not be bjd collectors, it is buying into someone's art and creating art myself so they don't criticize the cost. As for strangers, if they comment I'm polite as long as they are.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
These days I'm more likely to look only at the secondhand market if I'm looking for discontinued dolls, bodies/heads separately that the company doesn't offer in that way or standard dolls that I think might be easier to find. Other than that I tend to get them directly from the company, and in most cases they are directly from a preorder period, reason why also I don't have the option to check secondhand before if it's the first or only time they're released.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No I don't, I only got a sleeping face once but recently I've been getting more extra hands if they're available.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I had one doll with a sleeping face that I got as an extra thinking that I would use it a lot. In the 10+ years I had the doll I used it maybe three times and I've never gotten a sleeping face ever again, it's not worth it to me and I regretted buying that one. When it comes to hands I've been getting some when they have been offered (mostly for smaller dolls they seem to be offered more often) and I do use them quite a lot so they're justified to me. But I'll always check that it's worth it. For example, recently I got a body and there were optional hands, you could get around 4 pairs in a single set price or pick individual pairs. The set together came to less than buying individual technically, but I saw that of the sets offered I would only use consistently two of the pairs, so even though it was a bit more per pair individually I only purchased the two pairs. I don't like to buy what I'm not going to use and I still technically saved money even if I paid a bit more for the individual pairs than the whole set.

I also do regret not getting some of the extra hands for my Dollshe 6F size doll because she is in the honey resin and we know how it has gone with the company so I have absolutely no chance to find them or buy them ever what is a shame and I regret not buying them at the time.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Unless I absolutely happen to want something they have I never do. I know it's a merchandising trick and a lot of times when you do the numbers you realise that either you end up spending more or the money you save is not much at all. If it's a very good deal I won't miss it, but I read and calculate everything to make sure it's worth it and an advantage for me. It rarely is, so I rarely do.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Sure, very often.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I think I would be able to do it but it would be difficult to pick only one, I think two would be a lot more manageable. The first one that always comes to my mind in this type of questions is my Narsha Zihu, she's so versatile, love the 35cm size, one of my best posers even though she's single jointed (even with her limitations) and she can easily be transported.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Maybe. It would be annoying for a while until I got used to it. So I wouldn't do it voluntarily but I could do it if necessary. As to why I wouldn't do it voluntarily, I enjoy different sizes and faces and the creativity that their different styling and customising brings to my life, as well as the entertainment they give me to use them as models in my photos. Bjds are my only escapism and as a frugal person they're literally the only thing I spend money on (the dolls themselves, eyes, some shoes, I do the rest myself), so considering how much I don't spend on other things it would be quite silly of me to limit myself to only one doll specifically.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I have to like the doll, I don't care if it's popular or not. I've had some sculpts that were considered very popular at the time I had them and now they would probably be rare. Trends come and go so who cares, get what you like. Generally I do gravitate towards dolls that maybe are not as popular as others (but I don't consider them very rare either) but for no reason in particular other than my taste in looks and poseability I guess? I don't personally like limited dolls even if I've bought into it because of wanting a doll and feeling the pressure, but I'm not bothered by people that wants to buy only limited or rare dolls, it's up to them.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I wouldn't purchase anything different than now because even with unlimited resources I still wouldn't be able to justify myself certain dolls at certain prices. With time my limit of how much I spend for a single doll is going down, mostly because I find myself getting more anxious owning and using dolls that have a very high value, I enjoy them less and I find they limit my creativity.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Yes and no. I don't keep a written record nor I do since the beginning of the hobby but I remember how much I've spent or sold in the last few years. My boyfriend is the only one that knows about my hobby in depth and he doesn't comment since I restrain myself a lot more than him, he usually enables me to buy dolls more than myself

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Both. It really depends on the doll and circumstances.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I've only done this a few times, after one of my favorite companies (Bluefairy) changed the design of their dolls' hands. There was the option of ordering the classic hands for a while and I usually did this if I was ordering a doll. Bluefairy resin can be notoriously difficult to match, even within their own dolls. Otherwise, no, the only other times I have alternate hands/legs/feet is if it originally came with the doll or the previous owner included them.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I think I answered that above? I have occasionally ordered fantasy parts (cat's ears, for instance) which I don't use that often, but I like them and they go with what I intended for those dolls.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I've done it to qualify for an event (looking at you, Luts), but usually those are items I wanted anyway. I know it's a merchandising trick as I used to work retail and utilized it myself. Business is business, there is no Free Lunch. I am well aware. It doesn't bother me.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
It has. Life happens and I need the money for something else. With a couple of the Volks Limited Dolls (Jo March, Beth March, Hermione), I do regret passing on the opportunity because they are so hard to find as a fullset and very overpriced when you do see them. I can only pray for a re-release.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
If circumstances forced me to make that tough decision, I would. I have sold a few dolls in the past, but it was almost more trouble than it was worth to me, and that's even more true now. It would take me some time to pick the doll I would want to keep. I bought different dolls for different reasons.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No, not really. I started out in this hobby buying two dolls (MSD-sized Bluefairies) at the same time. Just one doll seems so lonely. It's not logical, but that's how I think.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I purchase the sculpts that I like. I don't really care about popularity. In Limited cases, it's still a matter of me liking the doll. How other people approach the hobby is their own business. I think the only thing about "limited and rare" is the issue of scalpers buying up a lot of dolls so that it makes it more difficult for ordinary doll fans to get a chance to purchase them.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Probably Volks SDGR Jo March and Beth March, because Little Women was my favorite childhood book. I regret Volks never got around to doing the other two sisters (Meg and Amy). Gosh, I forgot what they originally went for, but I would have had to buy both at once. I do remember that we were having to do some extensive repairs on our house and so I could not justify the cost, so I didn't try for them. Oh, well.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Yes, I do. My husband makes some snide remarks, but he has some pricey hobbies of his own. He likes some of them (the Dollfie Dreams or anything with a more anime feel.) I do let him know (and agree) when I am buying a doll. Honesty is vital in a marriage.

This is an expensive hobby, more expensive than I anticipated, but I budget in other areas to afford it. Plus, I do like picking up older second-hand dolls and restoring them. For me, that's part of the fun. Everyone has their own way of approaching the hobby and that's fine. The variety makes it interesting!

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

I can't remember the last time I bought from companies. I would rather buy a second-hand doll, waiting times are shorter, cheaper and I don't mind working on my dolls if they need to be restringed, clear or have a full MOT.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

No I don't. I prefer sleeping dolls, but I have an awaken faceplate for my Unoa and a few extra hands for a MSD boy and they already came with these extra parts. I like to change hands/faceplates on photoshoots, but not for going crazy purchasing extra parts.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

Kinda answered this one above.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

Nope. I buy clothes and accessories from second hand markets or make them myself.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

Yes. Many of them. I love a lot of the big boys, but I don't have the mental space or extra resources to invest in them. I feel they'll be more of a hassle than a joy (for me right now)

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I won't. I don't have many dolls, but I have my two grails and a doll I purchased second hand from someone from my country. I has the doll sent to my mum's and she packed him to me with some of my grandmother's clothes. I don't think I could sell any of them. It'll make me extremely sad.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

Nope for the reason above.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I dislike it yea. Sadly it happens pretty much with anything that gets popular, not only with dolls. I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over again and I prefer to pass. Not surprised to see these dolls flooding marketplaces after a few months.
It doesn't bother me at all. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Perhaps a Switch Waseon or a Devotion Doll Bite.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I have a journal where I note everything about my dolls. I have noten how much they cost, where I bought them, etc. I never did the total nor I think it's important. I don't buy dolls that often at all.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I do! I usually check this forum as a bunch of FB groups and IG before going to the company, just in case I can get them without the waiting times, but I don't usually have much luck.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Nope, not at all. I enjoy having only one type of head and don't feel the need to have different ones. If the doll comes with extra hands or feet, it's fine, but I seldom use them.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I don't regret it. The only time I bought extra hands were some jointed hands and I ended up selling them cause I didn't use them and wasn't comfortable having to also pose the hands besides the doll itself.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Yes! I know it is a merchandising trick, but I don't really care about it. I don't usually buy stuff for my dolls, not even a yearly shopping spree so, when I do, I don't mind browsing and spending a little bit more just to qualify.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. I don't have a steady income, so I have to count my every coin and decide wisely where to spend it. Even if I have the money, I can choose to wait or not buy. I also have a defined amount that would be the most I would spend on a doll so, even if it's a doll I really like, I won't buy it if it costs more than that. Second-hand market is always an option.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I think I'd be able to list them for sale, but I don't know if anyone would be interested in most of them (I have one for sale now and it's just not happening xD). I would keep my main MSD girl, as she's the one I feel the closest to, and she's fairly rare to find in the second hand market.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Definitely nope. I would feel like she's lonely. My dolls are characters from my stories, and them being surrounded by others is what makes them who they are and what make them evolve.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don't really care whether a certain sculpt is popular or not, I just care if it feels right for my character. I've met people who treated my dolls like inferiors just because they weren't from popular companies or limited from small artists at a point in time and felt really weirded out about it. I just don't get the whole limited thing.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Right now, I'm not hunting for any doll (just a body), and there are no dolls in my wish-list that I'm really interested in purchasing (I just keep there certain dolls I'm kinda interested in but not necessarily doll I need to buy).

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I keep track of how much I've spent on each doll in particular. I keep all my receipts and I even have a list which the pieces of clothing/shoes/etc. that everyone has with the price and the shop where I bought them. I've never had a person (be them friends or family) commenting on what my dolls cost. We all have expensive hobbies, even if they differ much from one to another.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I'm always looking at secondhand listings and almost never seeing what I'm looking for. If I do find something, the aftermarket prices are too high. I generally have been having to buy from the company because of this, but only if I'm lucky enough they rerelease it.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I love extra hands, feet, and heads. I end up buying all the extras I can reasonably afford. I regret not doing this for my older dolls, so I'll buy them for every new doll.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Anything for my most precious dolls!!! I swap them out once in a while. I'm happy to have them and that's all the justification I need.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I generally don't shop at too many places that use this tactic, but yes, I'm easily swayed because half the time, they're including shipping in the price already.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Any and every time a secondhand doll is being sold over its original price. I'll wait for a rerelease even if it takes 15 years.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
In the terrible event this occurs, I would choose my Iplehouse Louis though due to the fact he is irreplaceable. I've never seen another of him him in his resin tone. All other dolls can be replaced with some amount of money and effort. I would replace them at the next given chance.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
It's far too late for this. I could maybe have picked one perfect doll to start with, but I cannot return to only one doll. It's super fun to own couples, but maybe I could have never discovered that. Interactions between characters are very fun to write and photograph.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Popular sculpts are popular for a reason. I buy the faces I love the most, regardless of popularity. I really do not care what other people own or how they choose their dolls.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I would like an RG Williams head. I'll rig a one-off lottery for him. He'll cost over $1k as a full doll plus the cost of bribing the Volks employee pulling my name out of the hat.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No. I'm at a huge financial loss. Almost no doll holds their value and my older dolls are worth almost nothing if I were to try to sell them. My dolls were not purchased for financial gain, so this doesn't matter. They've given me a lot of happiness and I have no intention of selling them.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I only have one currently, and I bought her straight from the company since buying secondhand would have been more expensive. Future purchases I'll probably also buy direct because I don't want to worry about undisclosed issues or buying a recast.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I purchased extra hands after purchasing her.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I love having options! I'm guilty of not changing them out enough for sure but it's great to help bring realism to a pose.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Not for free shipping or an event, but just to make it feel more worth it to myself. I would feel silly buying a pair of hands and paying shipping, then wanting another pair and paying shipping again. I can always resell or give away anything I end up disliking so it doesn't bother me to try things out.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Currently yes but only because Christmas is coming up and I'm going to ask for it as a gift. Otherwise I'd just get it now.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
N/A

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I don't think so, no. It's been great having my one girl for nearly a year, but I'm ready to expand! My current girl is 1/3 and I find her a bit too large. The one I'm thinking of getting is 1/6 and I intend to get another that's 1/4 when I find one I love. I think having each size will maximize the cute outfits I can buy for them hehe. I also want to be able to have both vinyl and resin dolls so having at least 2 is a must!

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I genuinely don't care. If I like a doll, that's all that matters. And I don't care what others do with their money either.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I haven't found another I love yet so I don't have any type of wishlist ^^;

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No, I don't keep track and no one comments on it either. I think all of my friends have their own expensive hobbies so the cost doesn't really faze them. As for why I don't track what I spend, basically because it just doesn't matter to me. I think happiness is worth more than money, and realistically we could die any time...if I want something and it's within my means to obtain it, I will and I don't feel guilty.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I look on the secondhand market some, but I’m interested in mature mini dolls so from what I’ve seen the options are limited. So I have looked around some but I’ve mostly been looking at new releases in that size.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I immediately order jointed hands for one of my guys because I want to be able to take fun photos with them, but I don’t order any extra non-jointed hands for the other doll.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I haven’t used the jointed hands yet because I haven’t had a chance to do a photo shoot yet, but I doubt I’ll regret the purchase.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I have done so, I know it’s a merchandizing trick, but I like to check in case there’s something I actually need to get.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes. I think I’d like a sd sized doll, but I don’t think the higher price and not being able to share clothes with the dolls I already have makes it not worth it.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I’d save my first doll, since he’s the guy that made me want to buy a doll.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I plan on keeping it to two dolls, so I can pose them together for photos. But I don’t think I could dedicate enough energy to more dolls.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don’t dislike purchasing popular sculpts. As long as everyone lives and lets live, I don’t have any issues with how someone participates in the hobby.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I’d purchase some big SD fullset guys, and it would cost more money than I want to think about.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I do not, I am conscious about making sure my purchases are “worthwhile” to me, but since the dolls cost what they cost I don’t stress about the total.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Not at all. Actually look for good makeup, so I won't have to experience the pain of commanding a satisfactory makeup - the process is really long, difficult and costly !
2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
For sleeping faces, I don't order them. I always stick to the one head one body policy. An extra head does bother me a lot. For the hands, that depends on doll designs. If the hands can be changed easily (e. g. magnetic hands) I am very happy to buy them immediately and use them often. But for cases like Iplehouse, it's suite tricky and I don't punish myself.
3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I do love hands and feet from fairyland, and I am forced to buy some hands from Iple since some original hand rings have been lost. Yet I don't change them often, unless I have to remove the hands to put on clothes, I would change hands.
4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
Better to find someone to order together....
5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
No, usually either I don't have enough money, or I just buy them.
6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Ahhhhhhhhh absolutely no ! Very probably I would keep the twins since they are my first dolls and I do love them deeply.
7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
Like I have said in the last question, happy with two.
8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don't buy popular sculpts, not because they are popular but the popular taste isn't really my taste. But I really want a Dream of Doll no matter who. I don't like people who consider buying popular sculpts as a kind of "investment" hoping that the prices will be higher when the sale closes, otherwise I don't feel bothered.
9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Dodollsdream of all colours ! They costs around 1000€each with extra parts, but the colours and sculpts are gorgeous !
10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I dare not calculate the amount, I know it would be enormous.....thankfully I am rather picky with the clothes and accessories, and even more picky about dolls.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
My doll purchases are not usually premeditated to the extent that I have a specific doll and date. I tend to more so have multiple dolls/sculpts that I like and if a good deal presents itself I consider it. I also browse secondhand doll shops and the marketplace for fun and sometimes happen upon a doll that compels me. I have also ordered dolls directly from the company--for BJDs specifically I don't necessarily count on there being a good deal on a specific doll/scupt/faceup so if it's exactly what I want I'll buy new.
2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Never have, just not compelled to. I do have extra hands for some of my off-topic dolls and I don't find I use them.
3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
Have never gotten any, and don't regret it. But in general would consider them a neat little bonus if they were included as an extra.
4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I absolutely clock this as a marketing trick every time and am mildly resentful but then will add something if it makes the total charge decrease (which sometimes is the case).
5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, although my ceiling for what is too expensive has risen over time. I also, as a collector of mostly mature minis, take into account what a BJD that size generally costs and not just my overall doll ceiling.
6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I definitely could but would be sad about it as someone who is sentimental about decluttering objects on a good day. I do know who I would keep -- my SolarWinds Alexander, who was/is my grail doll. He's overall my favorite as a work of art, and it would be difficult to rebuy him if I wanted to.
7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
I could be in general happy as a person with no dolls, which I recognize are luxury goods. But they spark joy and I prefer to have the multiple I have! If I did ever go down to one I predict I would acquire more again.
8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
Popularity is not something I consciously take into consideration. I have a couple of smaller batch dolls, and a couple of company fullsets that are still for sale. My main metric for wanting to purchase is how much I'm compelled by the doll. I do get why others might want to take that into consideration, since I'm sure the thrill of the hunt of something rare is part of the experience of collecting for them in a similar way that I enjoy browsing used sites because you never know what might be on offer.
9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I would be getting a The Voice doll and one of the Volks Interstellar Dormitory fullsets! And probably other 1/3 boys that caught my fancy over time.
10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
I do incidentally track this. I have a spreadsheet of all my dolls and their information including things like price, size, year of manufacture, etc. The purpose is more intended to be for individual valuation for potential resale or to help with reference measurements for clothing etc all in one place. But the aggregate is there! It is... more than I would *want* to have spent but at the same time I don't regret it. My wife knows the general numbers and has access to the spreadsheet for gifting purposes, and is non-judgemental. We discuss our shared finances and saving plans together on a regular basis and don't judge what we each do with the "fun" money.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
I plan to shop more secondhand in the future for sure. Which means that yes, it was straight to the company (or an official dealer) until now.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
No. And no. I don't really care about sleeping faces or extra hands.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I've never regretted not getting a sleeping face or extra hands.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I know it's a trick, but so far I've never needed to add extra items to get the free stuff (which just means that the items I bought were expensive enough already, I guess ) .

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Absolutely. I'm not spending over 1000$ on a doll that isn't big enough to justify the price.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
Well, if there was a good enough reason, then yes. I'd probably rather sell all of them, though, because I wouldn't know who to pick (and I don't have that many dolls, yet, so it wouldn't be a too big of a hassle...). Guess I'm an all or nothing type of woman.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
BJDs are luxury items, so yes. If I could only have one, I'd rather have none, though.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I generally buy what I like and not what is or isn't popular. That's not to say that there are no limited dolls on my wishlist...
Other people can buy their dolls according to their own preferences. It's not my money.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
Definitely a Dollmore Lusion. They range from 1500$ to 2000$.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
Yes, because it's a habit. NOT pleasant to look at the combined cost, but it is what it is.
Ugh, my mother has commented on it before. Not positively.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
Generally I don't buy anything pre-meditated. Either I see a company release I fall in love with, or I see a doll on the MP that I really like. I don't like to gamble that a limited edition doll "will turn up second-hand in a few months", so if I see it, love it and know I can afford it, I buy it.
There are only four or five dolls I am actively on the look-out for, and all of them are discontinued, so the second-hand market is my only option there. And most of these dolls are way more expensive second-hand than they were if I'd bought them straight from the company when they were first out

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
Not if they cost extra. I don't really care enough about either.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
No and no. I don't regret getting them, because if I do have them they were a freebie with the pre-order. (There's one exception - I may try to find a second-hand sleeping plate for a RP because his regular faceplate has a broken ear.)

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I do look for extra items, but only add them if I need them or can use them. If the shipping is too high compared to the item(s) I'm getting, I usually end up not buying anything at all.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Very often. I've also learned that in the long run I will regret buying expensive dolls, because I'd be afraid to handle them. And because full set clothing tends to deteriorate massively (you wouldn't believe how much faux leather will start flaking after a decade, even if stored carefully!)

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
No. I'd just get rid of them all and get out of the hobby and away from temptation.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
No. I like the variety. I wouldn't know what to do with just one, I'd get bored with it and I would soon buy a second, third, etc. and be right back where I am now (over 100 and counting).

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I don't care about how limited dolls are - except that if a doll I fall for is limited and hard to get it becomes more of an issue to try and find it. So if I fall for a limited sculpt that I can afford, I will buy it when it's available.
As for other people's attitude about the hobby, why should I care?

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
I would probably rather blow it on cute outfits and wigs rather than more dolls.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?
No. I have been collecting for 14 years or so, and never kept track, so it's a bit late to start now. I've never had comments, and if I did I would probably shrug them off.

 

After thinking on the low buy/no buy thread, minimalism came to my mind again. More so on the "What does that look like in the BJD hobby?"
Minimalism is a goal in my mind, probably for longer than I want to admit. But it doesn't feel like a reality...yet

(Guess I will keep floating around old ideas)

 

Same, I get you. BUt if youve been on ethe journey thin back to how things used to be and how far youve come. I have too many dolls to confidently say Im a minimalist... 7 full dolls, three floating heads, two bodies on the way and another full doll on the way lol. BUt you know? I decluttered a bunch of dolls I didnt like and curated my collection, it brings me so much joy now, so I dont worry anymore

 

My collection is smaller than yours but deep down I want to push it more. Especially since I have another hobby taking space. I see progress but I'm not "there" yet, whatever "there" is.

 

i totally get you! I cant say this is the case for you aswell, but I also realize sometimes theres too many things on display or out and all the visual stimuli make me feel like I have too much and need to hard core declutter, when the solution sometimes is just to put stuff away. Maybe you could experiment with that too? Only having one doll out at a time. Whatever helps you - or of course going through everything and ruthlessly pairing down your possessions even more

 

i totally get you! I cant say this is the case for you aswell, but I also realize sometimes theres too many things on display or out and all the visual stimuli make me feel like I have too much and need to hard core declutter, when the solution sometimes is just to put stuff away. Maybe you could experiment with that too? Only having one doll out at a time. Whatever helps you - or of course going through everything and ruthlessly pairing down your possessions even more

 

I think I may have figured out my direction and I will try the setting out 1 doll at a time (I only have 4 actually). I want to try rotating who gets a spotlight so to speak. As for the official storage spot, I have a rhino trunk for my BJDs and BJD items...and non-display anime merch.

 

That sounds great! I really want a trunk for my dolls too, but have too little space for that currently, sadly

 

Space is always a challenge for people with hobbies. I think if I didn't have space for a trunk, I would have used suitcases but that would mean reducing the amount of items I have even more.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?
It depends! I think almost all of my dolls were limited releases in some respect, so the ones who were in their preorder stage were ordered from the company and the ones which were no longer available were ordered secondhand. It doesn't matter to me which option I go with, it's just a matter of which option is available to me at the time.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?
I have ordered extra hands for Percy, and am hoping to order extra faceplates and hands for a future release! My other dolls have not had this as an option.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?
I change Percy's hands a lot! I don't have any dolls with different faces, but I find myself wishing that my dolls had alt hands/faces often.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?
I have done so once, but only because the difference between my existing cart and the minimum for free shipping was less than the cost of shipping, so it would actually work out cheaper for me to buy more things. I ended up donating the additional items to a charity table at a convention, but I did actually save money by buying them so it wasn't a problem for me. I am aware that it's a merchandising trick, but I am not typically a victim of it.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".
Yes, this happens relatively often. I see a lot of dolls that I want, but I don't actually end up buying most of them! It's usually not so much a hard financial limit, though, as the cost in relation to the amount of joy I'd get from having the doll.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?
I know who I'd choose - August was my first completed human dolls, my first faceup, came with my to my first convention, was the first doll I bought clothes for, my first desk buddy.... But I don't think I'd let it come to selling my collection, I know I'd regret it and I love my other dolls very dearly as well.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?
My impulse is to say yes with this, and I do think that I could be happy, but maybe not satisfied? When I have a doll I tend to want to get them friends and they spark new ideas, which leaves a sort of void to be filled. If for whatever reason I only had one doll and couldn't get any others, though, I do think that I would enjoy having the one and be able to be happy in my situation, even if I would still want to have more.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?
I'm indifferent! I want the dolls that I like, not because they are/aren't popular. I actually have really enjoyed speaking to people with the same sculpts as me and talking about how our dolls would interact! I also don't really mind people who collect for rarity, that's their business, though I can't say that I understand the mindset.

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?
D.Lace ex machina no.4 She's $1200-$1300 if I remember correctly. Truthfully the price isn't the main reason I didn't buy her, it's that she doesn't fit into my stories and I don't feel that I can rationalise standalone dolls/dolls which I don't have a personality in mind for, but if I had unlimited resources I don't think that I would have that same hurdle.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?I don't keep track - I'm maybe a little irresponsible with money in that way, in my mind when it's gone it's gone and it's no longer a concern to me. At the end of the day, I ask myself how much I'd be willing to spend on something that makes me happy and limit my purchasing accordingly. My friends and family seem to pointedly NOT comment on the financial side of my collection, and at the end of the day I don't find others' opinions of how much I spend to be important. I am an adult with my own money and I am careful to spend only within my means, so I don't think anyone has a place to judge me.

 

1. Do you bother to look for the doll you want on the secondhand market or do you go straight to the company? Why?

All of my dolls I have at the moment save one (and one incoming preorder that's had some issues) I had gotten secondhand, mainly because you can get good deals on the secondhand market and you get them faster, haha. Some dolls I'm interested in are also no longer made by the company, so at times it's also because that's the only choice to try to find them popping up somewhere like Mandarake. I have happily ordered doll parts directly from companies, though, as it can be really difficult to find very specific things like a body in a particular resin match secondhand without having them custom done by a maker like Doll Family H.

2. Do you immediately order sleeping faces and extra hands for your doll through the company? If so, do you do this for every doll you purchase?

For my Loongsoul order, I sprung for jointed hands because I thought "might as well," but if I had the option for any new dolls I was interested in, I'd totally go for an alt sleeping head or expression. Otherwise, not really as I've no use for cool additions like heel feet, unfortunately.

3. If you have dolls with sleeping faces and extra hands: do you actually use them enough to justify the purchase? If not, do you regret getting them? If you don't have the above, do you regret not getting them?

I think the jointed hands I got were absolutely worth it and I haven't removed them since I put them on the doll it was for. I really like jointed hands, lol.

4. Have you ever found yourself looking for extra items to throw in your shopping cart just so you could reach the necessary minimum amount to qualify for an event or free shipping? Do you realize this is a merchandising trick? If so, do you mind being seduced by this?

When I'm shopping on dealer or company sites itself that offer free shipping, I usually just go for whatever I wanted to get in particular unless I'm, for example, 10 dollars shy of free shipping and there's something additional that I can buy and use like a tool item or something. In cases like that, I don't quite mind.

5. Did the cost of a doll ever stop you from actually purchasing it when you had the necessary amount of money? Have you ever thought, "This doll is too expensive, I'll pass".

(Laughs in being swayed by a Fairyland sculpt and then seeing how much they go for for their 1/4th lines)

I usually end up having thoughts of how if I wait, maybe I'll be able to find the doll cheaper secondhand if they're a little more niche, and that the remaining funds I would have used for the doll itself can go toward things like the shipping fees instead.

6. If for some reason you had to sell your whole collection except for one doll, would you be able to do it? Would you know who to pick? Why choose that one?

I wouldn't like it, as I like my little dolls, but if I had to, I would, and the doll I would keep would be my Nils (Volks SDM boy) as he's become my favorite in my collection. In terms of "practicality," he's also small (easy to display or store if needed) and has the most wardrobe pieces compared to any other doll I have.

7. Do you think you could be happy with just one doll? Why?

I think I could be happy with one doll, though knowing how diverse the options are out there, it would make me think of having more again. If it was just narrowed down to Nils as in the earlier hypothetical, I'd probably just get him a lot of costumes and prop sets instead of dolls.

8. Do you dislike purchasing popular sculpts? Do you prefer limited and rare dolls above others? If so, why? If not, are you bothered by people with this attitude?

I don't mind popular sculpts at all, they're popular for a reason, though I'd understand if someone didn't like it because they might see it as oversaturation of the same "look."

9. If you had unlimited resources which doll would you purchase? How much does he/she/it cost?

Dream of Doll Homme Ducan would be super cool, though would probably be really pricy, I've never seen one up for sale in the brief time I've been in this hobby.

10. Do you keep track of how much you spent on the hobby so far? Why (not)? Does anyone else ever comment on the financial side of your hobby?

I keep a log just in case, though I don't note down things like the cost of clothes. I wouldn't dare share how much I've spent with my friends, though two are vaguely aware of bjd's as "hey, aren't those expensive?"