So, you're still bright-eyed and in wonder of all these beautiful dolls you see around. You come to admire some hobbyists, and you think you want your first BJD.
It's exciting. It's a time where you're looking around, maybe you have a favorite sculpt, or maybe you just want one of everything. Or, you could still be held back by the price of all these dolls--maybe you still just aren't sure you'll be dedicated to the hobby, or you don't have the budget for your dream doll just yet. Those are all examples of how some people feel when they want to jump into the hobby for the first time. It's an exciting time to be in--it's great! But these are a few points you need to keep in mind when you're considering your first doll.
1. Do your research. Whether you're thinking you want to go with a legitimate doll from the company, a secondhand seller, or even a recast, you MUST do your research before buying a doll. I can not emphasize this enough, even to those who currently own dolls. Does the company/seller have a good reputation of customer service? If you are buying from a company or dealer, are they an official representative of the company? Do they ship their dolls in a timely manner? What about the dolls themselves--is their posing up to par? Are they a sturdy doll? How do they need to be cared for/assembled? You may be able to ask other owners these questions--many people will gladly offer the information, and there are lots of tutorials for basic care like cleaning, restringing, and sueding. The key here is to make sure that you know what you're getting into, and to ensure that you won't get pulled into a scam or unknowingly buy a recast (the latter is very rare, but does happen. It is very highly looked down-upon for a person to knowingly sell a recast doll--or any other copied item--as a legit while asking for the full legit value.)
2. Figure out a budget. This is a big step, probably the first major purchase some new owners will ever make. Think about how much money you make, what outlets you use to make it, and so on. Some new owners are still teenagers in high school, which no real way of making money. Or there are some with medical situations that restrict their job opportunities. These things may be parts of life that cannot be helped, but maybe you could host a garage sale or attend a craft fair to save some spare change. Maybe you make really awesome candles or bake a mean banana bread--those skills can be put to use. Some regions will offer a small cash incentive for recycling at facilities, even. There are several various options for making money. One of the best ones that everyone can do is to simply store the money away. My Ringdoll Frankenstein was almost entirely funded by day-to-day tips and change found on the ground. We're talking nothing on a bad day, 12-35 cents on a regular day, and 1-5 dollars on some of the best days. The extra head was a gift from my boyfriend, but the total I paid without that help was still something upwards of 800 dollars. It can be done with patience.
3. Consider waiting for a special event. Several companies run many events throughout the year. Common events are held for Winter holidays, Summer sales, anniversary sales... They find a lot of reasons to celebrate. Another good thing about events is that dealers will often honor them, depending on the terms! Sometimes the event is for a gift doll or accessory (Fairyland and Dollzone in particular will run these events) and others there are very handsome discounts involved. Though you do want to be careful with a special event (or even the holiday season) because they can tend to bog down orders a bit.
4. What do you want to come with your doll? Things like a faceup (a doll's makeup, so to say) clothes, wigs, and so forth often cost extra--especially if you are going to a company or dealer. Some secondhand sellers will include extras with a doll, and sometimes they are even at a discounted price. With a company, you have more control of whether you want a certain skin tone, a default faceup, or special parts like extra hands and you can order wigs/clothing along with them. Think about what exactly you want, and whether you can afford/truly need it. Figure the price of your purchase to include one wig, a pair of eyes, shoes, and one set of clothing along with the base doll and make that your savings goal. Even if you don't buy all those things outright, you will have that extra cushion of money for if/when you do want them.
5. This is a bit of a touchy subject, and I would not personally recommend a recast as a first BJD, but they are still an option for some people. I will tell you now that before you even consider this route to do as much research as possible and truly decide whether you are personally comfortable with them. If you don't know what a recast is, they are basically a form of illegitimate doll. The original doll is purchased, and then the pieces are used to make copies of molds to sell unofficially. The companies do not benefit from the sale of these dolls, and they (understandably) will not offer spare parts or repairs for these dolls. They are not responsible for the copies, and may potentially refuse to sell to an owner of a recast doll (specifically of one of their sculpts). There are many places that discussion and photosharing of recast dolls is absolutely not tolerated (and there are places where such things are welcome with open arms). Den of Angels (the largest BJD forum around currently) does not tolerate photos, sales, or further discussion of recasts whatsoever. There are also several risks when it comes to tracking, communication, and the dolls themselves. For further information from a non-biased source, Recast Reality is a good source on some pros and cons regarding these dolls. When it comes to this, I tend to say live and let live, but strongly urge even current owners of BJDs to do as much research as they can before deciding on a recast.
6. Don't worry about being called "cheap". There are some people who have anxieties about owning a cheap doll, and possibly a few people who were made uncomfortable at meetups, but I personally have not met or talked to anyone who was specifically attacked for owning a "cheap" doll. In fact, from what I've seen, the general consensus is that many owners appreciate the more affordable options offered by Bobobie/Resinsoul (sister companies who share many sculpts), Mirodoll, Angel of Dream... this list goes on and on. There is actually a list in the Den of Angels wiki for dolls under 300 dollars (of all sizes) that I strongly recommend you give a quick skim at the very least.
7. If you don't find what you're looking for in the more affordable end of the spectrum, you don't have to feel guilty for wanting something higher-budget. It's your doll, and your personal choice. Your family will probably cringe no matter if you spend 100 or 1200 on a doll. They may just be taking your doll at face value just to be a toy (they kind of are) but they probably just don't understand yet that they can be more than that. It's okay. You may be saving for longer, but you may also be putting that money towards a doll you would appreciate more easily than if you had settled for something else.
These are just a few suggestions, and I try not to come off too strongly, but do please try to make an informed decision when you consider buying a BJD (either for the first time, or for several occasions after that). If you still have questions, feel free to ask! Thank you.
~~Aronzo~~
~~Aronzo~~
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