Would you buy a custom fullset?

Val Zeitler does this, she creates a custom makeup and outfits if you look her up on google you will see some lovely work. Her work sells well, she even does doll shows with her full sets. It took her a while to get a following though. She has a particular style that people tend to like a kind of fun antique look. She also dyes and styles wigs. I think you have to be good to make it work. Her focus is dollstown girls and they are not available full set. Even if they were though I don't think people are buying her creations for the reason of lack of full set availability. It's more the demand for that style she does.

There are a couple of other artists that come to mind also that do the same style as Val and they also sell well. I can't think of anyone else though with a different style. Other than Yahoo Japan artists that sell their dolls at auction.

 

For me, it's about the artist, their vision, and design they are selling. So in short yes, I have no issue buying a customizer's full-set design. Makes no difference to me if the doll comes as a full-set from the original manufacturer or not. My doll collecting stems from the fashion doll arena where there are a lot of customizers out there who do awesome renderings and interpretations of designs and concepts on various dolls as one-off, full-set designs so this isn't a crazy idea.

 

I think I only would if it was of a character I wanted. I'm not normally interested in company full sets, as I prefer to face up and clothe dolls myself.

 

I think its a possibility, so long as the artist isn't trying to gouge the price of the actual doll.

If I'm buying a doll that is 300 dollars and all you did was a face up, wig, a simple black tshirt, a pair of jeans and socks/shoes (like, the simplest/basics. Nothing fancy with a logo screened, or embroidery, just fabric sewn together) I don't want to see it going for like, 900 dollars. Yes, Time, fabric, skill, etc should be taken into consideration when it comes to the product but there becomes a point of no return.

Another good example is some people turn around and try to sell the doll (nude) that they did the face up on for a huge mark up, Like a 500 dollar doll for 700 dollars. No face up is worth that much. Unless you're using literal gold/silver/gems/jewels in the face up that contain quite a bit of value its an unrealistic price.

While I think there are still people who pay a huge mark up, if you're trying to make an actual business out of it you'll have a bit of a tough time (at least in my opinion).

 

Like @Spuggey, I'm more interested in styling the dolls myself, so it would have to be a set where I really liked all the pieces individually. I'm not typically that interested in buying a doll's "concept", with a few rare exceptions where it really hits my preferred aesthetic. So it would have to be a) a doll I wanted, b) the kind of look I wanted for them to begin with, c) a bunch of pieces I liked and would use anyway and d) not outrageously expensive.

Since the BJD hobby is generally more geared toward hobbyist customization (those garage kit roots), it isn't as common a practice as it is with fashion dolls, which tend to have more of a "collector" base. Not to say there isn't some market for it, though.

 

Nah. My dolls already have characters I made based on the sculpt. I almost said maybe because I thought you meant making a fullset for your doll based on your input. That would be neat.

 

I'd say yes, with conditions. I'd have to feel that the price is reasonable for the level of detail, quality of materials, and doll sculpt. I have passed up on fullset customs that I loved because I personally felt the price was not worth it at the time. All the other times was because I had no doll money available...

EDIT: Also, OOAK mods as part of the set would be a big seller for me, so long as they are well done and only subtractive (in case I have to fix or redo the faceup, I won't have to worry about covering up ugly epoxy). I love unique doll mods!

 

I wouldn't buy one, but I don't love fullsets in the first place. I like being able to choose everything myself. Also, my dolls are generally super casual and fullset outfits are usually very frilly/fancy. I don't want to pay a lot of money for something I would literally never use.

 

I actually have one in a layaway been searching an ios 70cm body bonus is it's a Sebastian custom ❤ i got a pretty good deal for it too ❤ few more until he is mine ❤

This is actually a good thing if you're looking for a particular character. I don't like what ios released as an official Sebastian Michaelis bjd. Also I do agree with what other people said about the artist view about the doll.

Having customs for me is like a collection of arts from different artist especially for the faceups :3

 

Yes but generally I'd rather commission my own if I'm going to buy a custom. The name of the artist isn't important to me either, it's all about whether or not I think their style is a fit for my commission request.

 

I said no because my dolls represent my role play characters, and unless a fullset was made specifically to be my character, then I doubt a fullset would meet my needs. I like to do my own faceups and choose my own wigs and eyes and mix and match separate pieces of clothing. I've only owned one company fullset and I ended up changing every single thing about him, so even though fullset dolls can be beautiful, it's just not worth the extra cash to me.

 

I wouldn’t because customizing my dolls and choosing each detail is the majority of my fun with the hobby.

 

No, not really. I love doing my own wigs, outfits, shoes, etc. So I would rather make it myself than buying it. The only exception would be if it were a doll that would not be available otherwise. But then I would also buy it for the doll, but not for the other items.

 

I choose maybe because right now I am still exploring BJD and I am not familiar with a lot of the independent BJD sellers. I still need to do research first on what their style of custom is and what type of BJD molds they use, etc before I say yes to buying.

 

Maybe: It would depend on it being a doll/sculpt I liked and the fullset ALL being stuff I liked - I don't usually buy fullsets at all, largely because there's usually something (or several somethings) about them that I don't like and I won't pay fullset prices unless absolutely everything is to my taste.

Teddy

 

I don't really like fullsets, or really even full dolls. (I usually go for hybrids.) The only clothing or accessories I'll spend money on for BJDs is really blue jeans (because I have trouble finding small enough rivets) and modern shoes (because I have trouble making rubber looking soles).

I usually don't like everything in a fullset, and there are usually only a couple articles of clothing that I could even imagine maybe using, let alone loving. I do like seeing other people who make their own doll a kind of personalized fullset (a wardrobe for their character).

 

Maybe, because it`s interesting. But I would get more the fullset created according to my criteria.

 

Maybe, if the seller had made already completed one of a kind customised dolls and it was just a matter of picking one where you really really liked all aspects of it - I see nothing wrong with it Of course it would be a bit more risky trying to get a customiser to do a fullset doll based on an unmade 'envisioned doll'. Nothing wrong with this either, but the customiser would need to be an expert in all fields such as good faceups, an understanding of fabrics & stiching, making bjd eyes, making wigs etc. Which is seems a lot harder on the customiser than getting the best of all worlds with separate different customisers that specialise in their fields ~ whether faceups, clothes, making wigs etc .

 

The PARTICULAR custom full-set I drool over at the moment is the Dr. Strange one - OMG that is sooo awesome!

 

@Teleri I cry when I see it lol that price!! But it's so tempting
And yes I would by a custom fullset, I am already sitting on my hands almost to keep myself from hitting the "buy it now" button lol

 

Doctor Strange! I did love that one too. Not to mention the movie see if anyone hasn't yet!

 

Yeah, the Doctor Strange is amazing! I'd keep him as a fullset--although it would be fun to see him in other outfits, too!

I have a ton of full-sets. Some I keep dressed as fullsets, but others I don't and will swap out nearly everything that came with them.

I love seeing Val Zeitler's dolls, and Marbled Halls dolls... Val's sell out so quickly that I haven't got any (although I have a sort-of Val Zeitler... Dollstown with Val faceup and outfit). I like them because of the artist's vision.

But most of my dolls I tend to tweak a bit, even if I've bought them as full-sets.

 

Yeah, Dr. Strange...that is a whole other affair. If I had some extra cash, I would get him in a heartbeat. But isn't he a company fullset?

Anyways, as it stands now, I have to solve that missing spot in my crew in another way...he is anyways 10 cm too tall. And I would be much too afraid to play with him. The only thing I would do with him is to stare at him and think "OMG, he is sooo perfect". Which would be perfectly fine with me. But like I said...no funds for the man.

 

No because the style and look I imagine for my dolls aren't similar to what is out there. The full sets are gorgeous but I've never seen one that I had to have. I'd rather build my doll's look myself.

That being said, I have to agree about the Dr. Strange doll. In his case, his character is already established so the set works for me. But otherwise, I'm not interested in them but I'm not opposed to having one someday if it was really calling to me.

 

I would! The problem is the cost. They are already pricey enough as it is and now add custom face work and clothing and whatnot...

 

I might, if I liked the style of the faceup and clothes. I'm a fan of full sets, even though I usually do different eyes/wig/custom faceup to "make it mine". But I always keep my full set items that belong with my dolls, I think they are fun to play with even if I don't have them in certain items all the time.

 

Assuming I had the money, I might. I know that customization and shelling characters is a huge part of this hobby, but sometimes a doll just really captures my imagination as is and I can't stop thinking about them until I buckle down and purchase them. I can't think of a particular reason that kind of doll couldn't be a OOAK fullset, so I answered "maybe," though it obviously hasn't happened yet. =)

 

Fullsets just aren't for me, whether from a doll company or custom, so I voted no. Not that I don't think they can look amazing, but I'm into BJDs for the crafting, so I almost never buy wigs/clothes/etc. even as separates let alone as a full package.

 

If I'm in love with doll - I might buy it) No matter who will make full-set for it.

 

It depends on both the price and how much I love it

 

I voted no, because what I love the most in this hobby, it's building everythings that surround the doll : Clothing, character, make-up sometimes ... So, I guess I just can't buy a fullset Doll because of that.

 

I might if the fullset was to my tastes and was a good price. It would have to be a doll I like and don't already own but I am very particular for the style of the dolls I want.

 

I put maybe. It would have to be exactly what I was looking for and a reasonable price range. I find some fullsets can be less expensive than putting it all together myself depending on what I have in mind.

 

Although I have been tempted by some limited edition fullsets, I've never purchased like a one-off artist fullset or the ilk. My only doll that was a basic fullset was my first doll because I was too chicken to face-up and sew for my dolls when I first started in this hobby.

But now that a lot of my joy in the hobby comes from making my own way with my crafty skills, it's a lot harder to sell me a fullset than before. It would have to be like..... exactly my aesthetic and made up of things I do not like to sew myself or cannot sew for myself in a way I like (i.e. like how Freedom Teller takes all my monies...).

 

if its a doll id only have to tweak a little... YES!

 

i love cute fullsets

 

I voted no, because the customizing is the biggest part of the hobby for me. It would be a very soft ‘maybe’ if I found a full-set I absolutely HAD to have, but that’s not really a thing I’m tempted to do often.

 

I quite enjoy styling them myself

 

It really depends first on price and what the full set details, and whom the artist is.

 

I would only buy a custom fullset depending on if it fit a certain character of mine that I've shelled.

 

I kind of did. Someone was leaving the hobby and sold their doll and his things. So I got him with a defined “look” that I have kept. Although I did swap out his body.

 

Yes, because some future dolls have sophisticated clothes which are way out of my sewing experience. Learn it to that level consume to much time as the modding and make accessoires take a lot of time too. So i have to custom order them.

 

I think it would be really cool if it was well made. But it sounds like it would be too expensive for me!

 

If I really fell in love with the whole design of the doll then I don't see why I wouldn't buy them. I buy full-sets from companies when I really love them, so buying one from someone else wouldn't be that much different for me.

 

For me, if I like the look of the fullset, I would be open to buying it, be it from the company or someone that customized a nude doll that way. (Cost is a different factor though.) A fullset is nice but I do have my preferences for wigs and clothes and face up so if there's a part of the fullset I don't like, then I probably wouldn't buy a fullset.
So far, I haven't seen too many fullsets I like enough to consider buying one. But they are nice options since can sometimes save you on costs for buying individual items.