Your spending limit for one dream doll.

[celestia]

I've been watching the DoA marketplace as of late and it appears some people are hoarding items they want from a particular doll, and fetching a similar price as the default they bought it at, technically obtaining the item for free and while this is not of anyone's personal concern what anyone else does (since its their own business) while cheaper than many scalping techniques, whether the general consensus was to still purchase a doll no matter the cost, or if they would find an alternate.

Naturally a lot of people will not ever read this, but my questions are only inspired by it, not intended to be directly relevant to the experience. So rather than the question being 'if the doll purchaser was getting something they wanted out of a doll and selling the rest to get it free..yada yada yada' i was wanting to ask this:

1.) If the perfect doll was released, how much would you pay? at the absolute maximum? Include whether you'd include clothing, face up e.t.c in the price or just the basic doll itself. Give ample thought as you would expect to have the time the purchase it in this case.

2.) If you didn't manage to purchase her (so no answers that you would swarm the site and make sure you'd get it), and she was offered in the aftermarket, what is the maximum amount you would pay then? There is no limit to this question- if your budget was then overdone, would you take out a loan, borrow money, let it slide and not purchase it at all.

I'm generally interested in the responses because, well yes, i'd like to see how much diversity we have here since people come from very different backgrounds with hopefully, many more dissimilar perceptions of how much a doll can cost and how much they'd be willing to realise they'd spend given the opportunity. Conversely, I can understand a lot of people who may not want to reply for various reasons or perhaps weary the thread may fire up (i supplied a disclaimer so hopefully that won't happen).

I'm interested to see those numbers haha

For me,
The maximum i could ever attribute to a doll on site, is $1000 as a basic doll, without clothing, face up e.t.c

The maximum i could ever attribute to it on the aftermarket, would also probably be $1500 on the head alone. I would probably not have the heart to go and chase the body down. Naturally it depends on rarity and my answer is consistent with that in acknowledgment.

[Baakay]

That's interesting!

I was prepared to pay approximately $1200 for a limited doll at one point, then saw owner pictures and decided that it was not quite so much a dream doll as I had thought. That would be about my upper limit, I think, given that I'm also trying to feed and clothe a family of 4, yes? :)

If I saw it in the marketplace, and it was still basically new, I would be willing to pay the price of the doll plus the price of shipping from the current owner to me. I don't like the idea of having to reimburse the original buyer for their own shipping from overseas. That was their choice.

Is that what you were wondering?

[Kiyakotari]

Hah hah. I seriously doubt any company is capable of coming out with a massively-expensive-dream-doll that I want in just one go. Almost ALL my dolls are frankendollies. I rarely like the head/body combos that companies release (there are a couple exceptions, but none of those was above $700).

Um. Let's see...my most expensive single doll (not including faceup, eyes, clothes, wigs, etc - we're talking JUST the resin here) was initially $1400, but then I sold his body for $600 and bought him a new one for around $800, so I guess that brings his total up to $1600. My second most expensive clocks in at about $1350, I think. (However, I also have a doll that, because of various problems including a missing piece, I paid only about $50 for. He's an Angel Region boy. I adore him to bits.)

I'm currently in the process of paying off a doll for my best friend (it's an I-owe-you-like-four-years-worth-of-birthday-and-whatnot-presents gift) that's going to cost, after taxes (I'm getting it through a US dealer) a bit over $1300.

Yes, these prices are in USD.

[celestia]

I'd mod the shit out of my own dolls :p and nor would i expect a company even make me fork out that much in one instance either, but to let go of that preposition, i still wondered how much i WOULD pay if it ever DID happen. Most of my dolls will end up hybrids as well, i never usually like bodies (hence, if the doll was offered on the after market, i would ever only consider purchasing the head, even if the body was that awesome.)

And yes, Baakay! Thankyou for your insight X3 would you purchase the doll for more if the owner had wanted more for it? Or would you then give it a pass?

And thankyou Kiyakotari for your contribution. $1400 alone for a whole doll is definitely more than 'd be willing to spend, especially straight off a site/company's stock.

I generally hate talking numbers, but i never seem to be able to stop calculating the cost of my dolls .. for fun ;O;

[Brightfires]

I don't really make much of a distinction between the amount I'd pay buying directly from the company vs. what I'd be willing to spend on the secondary market... so my "upper limit" is the same for both, and it's a pretty unbreakable barrier.

I absolutely can not justify spending over $2000 on a doll, even one that I adore... I just can't do it. $2k is the point where "expensive" turns into "insane" and "irresponsible" for me, on a personal level.

That's priced a couple of sculpts that I'm very fond of (The original Captain Cecile, Yukinojo, and up until the '06 Christmas release, CP's Elf El-) right out of my range, but I've always been willing to accept that in spite of the "Oh, if you REALLY loved them, you'd buy them anyway!"-attitude that seems to be so common in this hobby...

That firm "upper limit" purchase price aside, looking around at my crew and thinking about what I've put into each of them, the average for the collection as a whole is a little under $1000 each. The range is surprisingly wide, though. These guys vary enormously from one to another... Ren (Juri '06 on an FD body, with glass eyes, a Monique wig and a realtively inexpensive wardrobe-) is the least expensive, at around $350 all together. The two most individually expensive dolls here (Kessari, my Breakaway, and Hideo, my Amakusa-) will both top out at around $1500 apiece once their eyes, wigs, outfits and other bits and pieces are all in place. o_O

[Raouken]

I agree with Brightfires, $2000 is my limit. I was able to get my Scarface Cecile for that(including fees and a very nice $400 customs bill), and I didn't bid on any that went higher than that(or that would've been $2000 after fees), just waited till one that was a better price came along. It's not so much the money-if you can save $2000,you can save $4000, it just takes longer-it's just that I wouldn't feel comfortable. Call me young or naieve, but I just can't wrap my mind around how much money-for example-$4000 is. For me, at this point in my life, it seems irresponsible and wrong to spend that much money on a doll.

I'm all for getting your dream dolls and saving hard and long for them, but it has to stay within your personal limits-both money wise and comfort wise. And it's good to set that limit for yourself, to avoid any regret after you got that $5000 Bermann.

[vampireanneke]

I don't really have a limit. But I do tend let fate decide what to get and when.

-Anneke

[byouyuuken]

About $1500 for me, I think...for a basic, complete doll, whether first or second-hand. If it really seriously grabs me and I "must" have him.

That being said, It would take a lot out of me to be willing to pay $1500 for a doll, and I see the possibility being very low even if offered both the money and the opportunity. On the other hand I do spend quite a fair amount towards wardrobing (and, the budget always goes first to wardrobing =_=). The twins here (Moons, standard Luts price) altogether probably have cost me a good 3 or 4K--I guess I just place more importance on spoiling a doll then buying "a dream doll".

[lyrajean]

My limit has been $600 up until recently.

I jumped at the chance to get Masha at NYC dolpha 2, and she was like $875 incl.shipping.

I won't pay heavilly marked up after market prices.

[Wotan]

I'm with Brightfires-- I don't have much of a disctinction between what I'd pay for a new doll and what I'd pay on the secondary market.

My limit would have to be somewhere in the $1500 range for a full doll. That's a bit low, looking at some of the other amounts here, but I can afford to be cheap when I already have my dream doll. :p Besides, the expansion of the BJD market has given me a relative luxury of choices, so I can afford to pass on some of the more expensive molds; Madoka was a mold I instantly fell in love with when I started looking into the hobby, but I've seen enough other, more readily available molds that make it hard for me to justify what I'd pay to get a Madoka head.

[byouyuuken]

Besides, the expansion of the BJD market has given me a relative luxury of choices, so I can afford to pass on some of the more expensive molds; Madoka was a mold I instantly fell in love with when I started looking into the hobby, but I've seen enough other, more readily available molds that make it hard for me to justify what I'd pay to get a Madoka head.

That's the thing that always makes me doubt whether a "dream doll" can really exist--I mean there are so many of them out there, and even prettier ones coming out one after another, it's very easy to put a sculpt aside and go after another one that's more cheaply priced.

And frankly, I find that sometimes people's attention and love span towards a doll can be quite short and fickle...whether a "dream doll" or not.

I can say now that my dream doll is a Moon, I own one, and I love my Moon to pieces...but things would be very different if he's limited. And I started out the hobby being hooked on a Breakaway (but he's limited, that's why I turned to a Moon), and I'm still hooked on a Breakaway now, but I just can't think about owning one or what to do with one even if sometimes I'm tempted to buy one that shows up. So is he really my dream doll? I do not know.

[Sonoshi]

My dream doll was the first BJD I ever saw, a School A named Sadme. I even looked into how much one would cost and nearly fell out of my chair. I'm sorry but I'm a stay at home mom with kids, I couldn't at the time afford what could be anywhere from $400-$600 (depending on faceup) just on a single head. I had to pass on my dream doll then. Which was my mistake.

Since I'd gone through two Shiwoos (BW and NS), an Elfdoll Wu, a Dolkot Hara, and a Breakaway. All of them sold off. Suddenly I found myself with a chance and some money. I poked around a selling thread on DoA and found a School A head. Faceup was kinda meh...but my husband told me to go for it and he'd cover the cost sending the head to my favorite repainter.

It's been rough since then. Trying to get the girl who sold me the head to reply to PMs, and though it's been two weeks since I paid for, she's finally shipped the head Monday(though the tracking number given to me doesn't work O_O), and it's going directly to the repainter to save on shipping. Meanwhile, I'm doing a split with another DoA member for a Senior Delf. I get the body, she gets the head. Korea is blacklisted by Visa, so I had to go to my bank and do a wire transfer (this scares me, as I've never done a wire transfer before). So now I wait, but hopefully everything is going to work out in the end.

Uh, yeah. Anyway...heh... I guess people in this hobby find it strange that I don't have a dream doll that costs in excess of $1200-$2300. I just don't like the dolls that cost that much. Almost swallowed my tounge at the resale value of Bermann. *headshakes*

Does that make me a poor country bumpkin?

[Shankula]

I think about $800 would be my limit, and even then I'd have to do layaway, lol...I am a cheap bastard.

[ravendolls]

I'm not sure what my limit is currently... but I find over time, I'm willing to pay less and less. I see lots of things that I like, but I love my current crew enough that I can't see myself parting with any of them any time soon, and I'm at my upper limit numbers-wise.

I've had dolls that cost as little as 100.00 (my Festivous Wishel), and once spent 1800.00 on an Araki-Painted Unoa. That was too much for me and I sold her straightaway. I've got an FCS SD13 girl coming that will have cost me about 1K when all's said and done. I'd have to say that's my stratospheric limit.

There are some "dream" dolls out there I wouldn't mind having (or having again, lol) but I'm willing to wait 'til their prices are right for me. I've had "dream" dolls arrive that haven't worked out for me, so I don't take the "dream doll" thing too seriously anymore. If it's worth spending big bucks on, it might also be worth waiting for... I hope some of that made sense! XD

Raven

[Taco]

I don't have an exact limit persay. The idea of spending a lot on a doll is not strange to me, and now that I've been in the hobby for awhile, I know that they are well worth it. However, there comes a point when it's extremely unlikely that I would be able to come up with the funds. I would estimate, that if I were really determined, had to have, a certain doll, that my upper limit would be around $1000 for a naked doll. This is all hypothetical, because there are so many dolls I want that are well below that figure, and I also like to make hybrids.

[Malice Librarian]

For the most part, I'm reluctant to spend $1000+ on a doll. The dolls that I have and have planned for are under $600, so I wouldn't readily spend more than that, not even for a limited.

The only exception is the CH Mephistophelesjin, especially one that has the original faceup, clothes, eyes, wig, etc., and no modding. I'm willing to pay up to $1250 for him, or perhaps even more if I can only find one person to buy it from.

[miss sha]

I think I would probably pay about $2000. Between Riley herself, and all of her clothes and accessories, I think I've paid that much for her now. But for a naked, old Volks limited, like a Cecile or Tsukasa... I would pay that too. But $5000 for Volks's Huis Ten Boch (I think that's right) special FCS is kind of... really pushing it. Even if I had the money to blow, I don't think I would pay $5000 just to get a tan skin Anais.

I would however, readily spend $5000 to get a Bermann... if I was rolling in cash and bathing in gold-plated tubs. In my current situation? No freaking way. XD

[Bel]

I think $1200 would be my absolute max, and I'd feel pretty sick about doing it. But I have my ultimate dream dolls and don't expect anything to hit the market that could beat them. *knocks resin*

[kuro]

It really would depend on the doll. If, let's say, my max is around $1000, sure, I could get an FCS, but I'd far rather wait it out patiently and snag an FCS on YJ, whether in parts or whole, and save myself a lot of money. So while my max may be $1000, it doesn't apply to every doll.

[celestia]

I would pay that too. But $5000 for Volks's Huis Ten Boch (I think that's right) special FCS is kind of... really pushing it. Even if I had the money to blow, I don't think I would pay $5000 just to get a tan skin Anais.


Wait, you could custom create a whole doll for $5000 at Volks Huis Ten Bosch? I understood they had rei-tenshi though they had no waist/ball joints and the FCS offered was a 'tenshi no sumika'.

[rattimoth]

2.5k for a yukinojo.. I won't go above that, so he will stay a dream doll :/

Seek peace

Carol

[celestia]

There are some really nice and varied responses here XD
An expenditure doesn't have to account for all dolls you purchase (unless in one or more way those dolls were each given the same scenario and they were all your dream dolls O__O), but for one dream doll, i guess the average is between 1.2k and 2k?

It's also really interesting to find out a dream doll may include an extensive wardrobe XD, i'd probably have difficulty paying extra for a face up and clothing knowing even if they were perfect, i'd strip them down and do it myself again. Now i contemplate whether i'd purchase it on the aftermarket where the price would rocket- and have a lack of face (so to speak) or purchase the doll at store price knowing i'd want it removed anyway. I feel i'm actually wasting more effort for the artist and myself in the latter, even though the price is considered in the markup on the after market.

[KeiCai]

Wait, you could custom create a whole doll for $5000 at Volks Huis Ten Bosch? I understood they had rei-tenshi though they had no waist/ball joints and the FCS offered was a 'tenshi no sumika'.

At Huis Ten Bosch they allowed 5 lucky people (who entered via lottery I believe and were chosen as such) to create their dream FCS: Any headmold EVER released, with any skintone available, any body, hands, eyes, wig, etc. Basically a FCS with all the limited headmolds that you could never get otherwise. (If I ever had that good fortune, I'd get a sunlight Tsukasa. x3)

[celestia]

At Huis Ten Bosch they allowed 5 lucky people (who entered via lottery I believe and were chosen as such) to create their dream FCS: Any headmold EVER released, with any skintone available, any body, hands, eyes, wig, etc. Basically a FCS with all the limited headmolds that you could never get otherwise. (If I ever had that good fortune, I'd get a sunlight Tsukasa. x3)

omg D; I was on my colossal 1 year and 7 month exit (thereabouts) and everything about it. Oh my god .__. If i had come back to hear about it, i probably would have taken the gamble for to get my Volks Sunlight School A boy. Unrealistic because i don't think i'd fork out the money to fly- (despite not entirely worrying about the doll expense itself-lol).

Oh my god. i'd love to know what people would create with that FCS system. haha XD. Is it likely that it would come around again? And if so, was the price of the 2007 tour really the equivalent to $5k?
Instead of dreaming, i think i might incorporate it in my plans in case i ever had the fortune to be met with that option X3. I still have 7 more years to wait, maybe by then something else will have developed over after all.

I suppose in a sense i'm glad the SD16 girl i want is in NS...lol.

I should go amend my limit .__.;;

[Lae]

I haven't decided my limit yet, but I know that I could spend a lot more to get a SA Bermann than I would on any other doll. Or atleast there's no other yet. But if I put the Bermann aside I guess my limit would be around $2000 for the whole doll. Not so sure how much I would pay for just a head... if it would be easy to find a matching body I guess I could pay $1500.

[Sakura]

I think my absolute limit would be about $2000 and it would have to be a doll I truly love and would never let go of. Thankfully I haven't run across any that expensive that I would want so badly that I don't already have and I'm really hoping it stays that way LOL

[Kit]

My limit for either would probably be around $1200, not including the extras.

I like urethane eyes and lots of pairs of shoes/wigs for each doll, so altogether the dolls might equal a good bit more. :oops

[saraquill]

Compared to all of you, my limit is not nearly as accomodating. None of my dream girls cost above the $500 dollar range, and I see no reason to raise the limit any higher. If one came around who cost much more than that, I wouild probably stalk the markets, looking for a discounted one. Failing that, I'd probably just fill a folder on my computer full of pictures of the lovely. :heart

[Jenova]

Interesting topic! XD And for whatever reason, I'm glad to see that some people's limits *aren't* so high. That strikes me as a nice thing, for some reason. :3

I don't really have a "dream doll" at the moment, honestly, so there isn't a doll I'd throw money at anymore. The highest I've ever considered paying for a doll is $2000 -- for a Volks Sato-only mold repainted by a famous artist. Under more normal circumstances, buying a doll as a "default", I'm reluctant to consider more than $1000 for any company other than Volks, both from the maker and secondhand. (Since they're so expensive to begin with, I kinda mentally pad the price... :p)

Several of my dolls are hybrids, and others are non-limiteds straight from the manufacturer... not a lot of high-cost dolls. My most expensive was my F-31, ordered at Sato through an agent. Since I got Tsukasa nude and in two separate parts (body and head), I managed to get him for less than the cost of FCS ;P

Now, all of this is without counting clothes... My most spoiled dolls have ridiculous wardrobes and I shudder to think of how much they've cost over time. ^^;;

[NightWatch]

I don't really have a dream doll...or more like I'm just really happy with my current doll. But I do have a wishlist. The most expensive doll on that wishlist would come at quite a hefty price.

So, my limit for a basic doll without any clothes/faceup on site is USD1200 or so. That's about the price to get that really expensive doll I want.

Aftermarket price, without any clothes and all would be USD1500 for a full body, even though I know that this doll I want can go for USD2000. I just don't believe in paying that much of an inflated price, especially when I believe that it is possible to get it for USD1500 with some patience and perhaps stalking of marketplaces. For just the head, perhaps USD600 is my limit but even that is pushing it.

[Ashrayel]

I just maxed myself out by ordering my dream doll FCS through an agent. That came up to just over $1200 not including faceup or clothes or...yeah. So, to complete him I am thinking it will run me around $1500. And that is more than I ever said I would spend. Before this unexpected happening, my limit was $1000. I think I need to lower it back down to that. Besides, what do you do -after- you get your dream doll? The one you never thought you would own and then expectedly it ends up in your lap? I am trying to figure this out...

Sorry about the tangent there ^_^# $1500 for a whole doll including faceup and clothes. $350 for a head - maybe $400 if the body was going to be easy to replace.

[keepithushhush]

It's hard to tell where limits are. Sometimes they change.

About a year ago I saw a NS Ryu on Ebay. First time I'd ever seen/heard of him and man did he hit me hard. First doll to really scream "take me home now!" What little info I could find on them told me it was a recent release of about 20 heads, the others were sold from the site while this one with faceup was on Ebay. So I put in a bid, the auction ended up going just over $300. I just couldn't do it. Mistake. I anguished over it. Kept looking at the closed auction thinking if only I had put in a little more. Luckily, a week or so later she put up a WS head, the auction ended at the same price and this time I had won. :)

So 300ish for a head has been my personal limit, I couldn't fathom spending much more especially since I already have my dream doll, but... you never know.

Spending limit for a whole doll/fullset? About $1000, apparently. *eyes her incoming Adel order*

[KeiCai]

Oh my god. i'd love to know what people would create with that FCS system. haha XD. Is it likely that it would come around again? And if so, was the price of the 2007 tour really the equivalent to $5k?



I believe they're doing it for this year's HTB as well. I think during 1 Dolpa they also gave out 1 ticket for a Dream FCS as well. ^^

The price of the FCS was \500,000 I believe, so it's closer to $4500. <--- This is what I remember, at least. ^^

[Kim]

I'm not sure if I have a... moral limit? so much as a practical limit. I don't make a lot of money, so I can't pay the huge prices for my dolls without a lot of saving or layaway.

That being said, if I am ever in the position where I have the money for it, I would not hesitate to spend as much as necessary to acquire my dream head - Volks Michele and doubly so if it was painted by my fave customizer, Avvelenato.

You can't take it with you, so may as well enjoy it while you can.

[slrphebos]

On the whole doll I would go no higher than $2000 (this assuming it is a full set) new. After market, honestly I can't see going much higher than that cause I don't see the point in paying 2 or 3 times the amount just so I can have the doll.

Now if I came across a School B head, just the head, I'd gladly pay up $1000 as I recongize it is rare and I really like the head. Bodies are easy enough to buy from any number of sites and unless it's a Volks LE female body (which I hate), it's the head that makes the doll rare.

[Kim]

Now if I came across a School B head, just the head, I'd gladly pay up $1000 as I recongize it is rare and I really like the head.

School B's are really easy to find on the Japanese second hand market, and generally for almost cost. Blank ones tend to go for around $200. So if you're really looking for one, definitely search y!j.

[slrphebos]

Are you serious it that little!? I would go on Yahoo Japan, but my japanese is not nearly as good as I would like it to be and wouldn't I have to pay a shopping service to try and get it for me? I'm like happy and frustrated at the same time cause I been drooling over that head for so long.

[celestia]

slrphebox- Still, with a shopping service, it wouldn't even break $1k (unless it WAS painted exquisitely).

God, I hope that system changes of the years. Despite such a thoughtful concept. Thankyou for the information, KeiCai.

Then again, he's not entirely my dream doll. just a doll i have to have because it's perfect and i'd want him anyway- but definitely not a dream doll- I wonder where i'd draw the line to that.

My spending limit for sculpts (since their prices are usually the ones to jump in the after market) has never been tested because all heads i have purchased from the original makers/company. But for that one dream doll, i think i'd be willing to spend up to $500 to buy her blank, unmodified head all over again in the after market.

[KeiCai]

slrphebos: The fees actually aren't too much. If you'd like, I could help get you one? I use shoppingmalljapan and buy a lot through Y!J, so it wouldn't be too hard.


Now for my actual response to this thread! I have, like Kim, practical limits. There is only so much I can pay at any given time due to being a student who is currently unemployed. It also depends on the doll. For a Bermann, I wouldn't mind spending over $3k for him (if I had the money). But for other dolls that I know aren't always worth that much? I'd probably wait to try and find a decently priced one, or give up on trying to buy said doll.


However, if I won the lottery, I wouldn't have any sort of limit on how much I'd be willing to spend. xD But that's just a pipe dream.

[mizuzu]

I almost bought a doll for $2500, I say ALMOST cause my dog smacked me on the head and reminded me he doesn't want to starve to death the coming months...^___^;;
But yeah I think the limit of the pricetag can change from doll to doll.
Often I try to save up for the ones I want. And to have a dog is a great reminder not to spend too much.

[thesaraghina]

Hmm, well, straight from a company, I couldn't see paying more than $2000, I guess. (If I'd had the funds for the last Bermann release, I might've tried, just because they are addictive dollies.) As for second-hand, really, if a doll just seems perfect to me, and I have the extra money to spare, I'd probably go upwards of at least $2500. But again, it all depends. ^^;

I would've gladly put down the $1450 or whatever it was for a Reisner straight from Volks if I'd had all the money right then and there, but I didn't, and now I expect to pay no less than $1800 on the second hand market, whenever I get a chance to go for one again. I've also bid about $2250 on a doll on Yahoo!Japan, and lost. He was a gorgeous repainted hard-to-obtain Volks limited, but I just didn't have the money (or bid limit) to go higher, but I also didn't really want to bid higher for him. Who knows what would happen if a customizer I really admire put up an absolutely stunning repaint of a headmold I love, though. I used to think it was crazy that someone could spend $1500+ on a head alone, but then I think about what would happen if someone like Robin's Egg put up a Reisner or Cecile, and I realize that I'd do everything I could to make sure I had the bid limit to either win him, or make someone else pay an insane amount for him. :oops

[sgtgeorgecarter]

1.) If the perfect doll was released, how much would you pay? at the absolute maximum? Include whether you'd include clothing, face up e.t.c in the price or just the basic doll itself. Give ample thought as you would expect to have the time the purchase it in this case.


I will not pay more than 1000. I just won't. And it would have to be something else to get me up to that.



2.) If you didn't manage to purchase her (so no answers that you would swarm the site and make sure you'd get it), and she was offered in the aftermarket, what is the maximum amount you would pay then?

The same. I don't pay inflated aftermarket prices. I see no reason to. If I can't get it for the price I want, I don't get it.

I don't really make much of a distinction between the amount I'd pay buying directly from the company vs. what I'd be willing to spend on the secondary market... so my "upper limit" is the same for both, and it's a pretty unbreakable barrier.

I'm glad it's not just me.


I absolutely can not justify spending over $2000 on a doll, even one that I adore... I just can't do it. $2k is the point where "expensive" turns into "insane" and "irresponsible" for me, on a personal level.

Seriously. My limit is lower but the reasoning is the same. The fact that I'd pay more for doll shoes than my own shoes made me step back and re-evaluate a few things in my existence.

That's priced a couple of sculpts that I'm very fond of <snip> right out of my range, but I've always been willing to accept that in spite of the "Oh, if you REALLY loved them, you'd buy them anyway!"-attitude that seems to be so common in this hobby...

YES! anyone who says that to me is likely to get throttled.
I have perspective and priorities and dolls are not #1.

Also several others have expounded on the "Dream Doll" thing better than I could. Although my dream doll is sitting in my home right now and I love him to bits, some people's dream doll changes with the season. Reminds me of a line from the Princess Bride about inconceivable

[silk]

It depends on the mold actually, but I think my limit is around 2000 dollars, including fees and custom bill. I mean, if Raouken can get her Scarface Cecile for that price, I can do it too :XD... I hope...

But first, get me that Williams!

[gayle]

2K is my top price as well, it seems, as it is to many others. I will say that I have yet to have to pay that much, and I am lucky enough to have my dream doll, so it probably isn't an issue for me anymore.

[Kalani]

I'd say my limit right now is $1000....and that is only if the doll is a full set. I dont see the point of trying to aquire limited dolls.....its not worth it to me. I certainly would not pay $5000 for FCS. I also try to limit myself to looking at companies that I can get with Layaway, or get a standard edition...that way I can either handle the higher price or just save because its not going away.

[cloverfirefly]

For me, I haven't really said to myself "I am not spending over $x amount." (X equaling a specific number.) I generally find that certain dolls, no matter how much I want them, reach a certain point where I can't justify the price to myself anymore. I don't need to own every doll that I want and I really don't have room for all of them in my apartment.

[Akkhima]

At my income level, I would never pay more than $600 for a doll including eyes and wig and faceup - though I can do that myself 90% of the time. Even if I were to scrimp and save, I still don't think I could justify higher end prices on a doll. If I had a fantastic income, maybe, but not even one higher than current but still modest.

[lin]

I, too, already have my dream doll. He was about $950. with shipping, although his value now seems to be several times that. I haven't seen any other dolls I wanted as much as him, and my doll wish list is nearly complete, so I doubt that I will pay any more than $1000. for any other dolls and in fact, they will probably be a lot less. I can't say never, though, because I once bought an antique doll for $2800., so I know that I am fully capable of blowing lots of money on a doll that I love.

[purplewiz]

Uh...a lot. It was a doll that was never offered direct from the company to overseas customers and was extremely limited. It took about six months for me to finally win one from Yahoo Japan.

I have never mentioned the exact figure I paid and I have never regretted paying it. You only turn 40 once.

Marcia.

[Merle]

I have a holy grail doll, Yukinojo. I just will not pay that much for a doll. I could have had him at cost several years ago but he's past my personal $$ limit. He love to see photos of this great doll but I have my Senior Delf Abadon and I think he's just as wonderful.

[Amaris]

I have an obsession with a doll I really want, and he is limited of course -.-
As I am a student I do not have unlimited funds, so I have to save to get one. For now, I am not willing to pay more than $700 on a doll. But that is just cause it takes FOREVER to save for the doll. When I get out of college I will have more money to spend then I will not cross my $2000-2500 line. It just is to much money for a doll to spend more than that in my opinion. But I do understand that some people will go to any length to get the doll. For me, a Cecile will do that, but I will have to try to stay under $2500,if I can't, I will think very very hard about it, and probably not buy him, unless it is really the dream doll, all I want. But I have not found that doll yet, not even Cecile, and I doubt I ever will. But never say never right ;)

[harlowe]

It would have to be under $1,000. I've paid as much as $800-$900 for a limited. I try to stay under $600, which is relatively easy to do since I'm trying to stick with just MSD's now.

But I've promised myself and pocketbook that I would never spend $1,000+ on doll.

[eveshka]

My limit was hit (about $1200) for my dream doll, full set Shall. I consider her my holy grail and thus far, she's been it! (whew~)

[DestroymyRemains]

^_^ Well for me sometimes money is no object when it comes to my dream doll. I have a version of my dream doll and he is now at my home and I could not be more happy.

I was in an auction for a fullset HOMME ducan, I paid 1,000.00 for my homme ducan. I was bidding against someone else who *really* wanted him as well so I had to try so hard. ^^ In the end I became the victor as soon as I sent the money the price had not affected me.

It was the short wait it took him to get to me (1 day) haha that I contemplated if the money was worth it. But as soon as I opened his dream of doll box I realized why YES, yes it WAS.

that wasn't even the most I have spent, I have purchased a limited edition latidoll elf aida, for 1100, and once I had a VOLKS AS shirou tachibana that cost 1200$

My true dream doll is an Elf Ducan, and Woosoo who I would GLADLY pay more than 2k for. so i guess money is no object for dream dolls for me. ^^

[derilan85]

Well I almost was going to buy a limited for $1100, but then reality stepped in and not to mention my hubby would have knocked some sense into me if I spent that much for 1 doll. I will stick to $980.00 tops, I just don't like the fact the bill comes later:o

[nakitama]

I don't really have a dream doll, but the doll I'd pay the most for would be a doll from the dream FCS from Volks. Any headmold, any body, any resin color, any faceup artist: WOW. I'd pay the $5000 for that(It would be a whiteskin SwD Lucas on an SD16 girl body :D).

...of course, I don't have the money for that... and won't for many many years... But hey!! A girl can dream, right?!

But any other doll? I'd top out at around $1400. I think I'd start to feel too sick to enjoy the doll after that. But hey, I've been wrong before! ;P

[Creative Torpor]

The perfect doll? Hmm. . .I think $900 would be my limit, shipping and extras included. Why? Because my dream doll (Camine) is costing me over $600 just to get him without any clothes, and I've been putting an insane amount of research into what fabrics his Limited outfit is made of so that I can replicate it, which brings the total cost up to nearly $700 when I'm finished. To have the PERFECT doll with a FULL OUTFIT in my hands soon after it's released would very much be worth $200 more than waiting and buying the regular set.

The second one is hard. . .I think after the perfect doll sold out I'd get desperate, but I don't think that I would be willing to may much more, since I'd immediately see it as a rip off. Then again, I think I'd be desperate enough, assuming I got the fullset and the doll came with EVERYTHING that it would have come with had I bought it from the company site.

As for funds, I'd take whatever I had from saving up for the other doll I wanted, would put that towards the doll and start begging for layaway.

[lyrajean]

I'll have to edit my limit, now as last month I blew 1,100 on my dream doll a Volks limited (this price incl. shipping to Okinawa and paypal nastiness). He cost around $900 originally, and was no longer default but has an awaesome after-market face-up that really sold me on the doll.

[Vega]

For me, strait off from the company for a doll, I think my max. would be around $1000...
Second hand market... depending on the doll, of course, I would probably have to limit myself to 1500 at this point. Unless it was something that I could painstakingly save up for over a long period of time.
It's sort of funny, though. I paid roughly 1300 for my Williams as I bought him in the after-market. It didn't really feel like that, though, because I bought him in pieces - seems to lighten the blow. ^^;
-V

[Honooko]

My limit is very firmly at about $800. It used to be $600, but with Minimee heads, I can justify the $380 for just a head and then save save save for a body! That said, one of my dream dolls is Musedoll Erato who seems to only ever sell for roughly $1100, and that's both fullset and not. :(

[rkold]

I think I turn up on the low side of things but partially because I don't really have a dream doll anymore, I've gotten the two I most wanted. lol I bought a Nagisa after wanting one for a year in 2005 and 2 months ago I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Yo tenshi Yuki after dreaming of one for nearly 2 years. I just currently have a hard time picturing a company making an exact doll that is so much my dream doll I had to have it.

On eBay I once bid 1500 to get a Sahtoko Ohno Heath but fortunately was outbid which was really for the best. At that price, I was pretty much up to a trip to Japan which I would much prefer. I later bought a full set Heath for 1k and was able to get him a gorgeous face-up I love. It's not Sahtoko Ohno, but it's still really nice.

So I guess hmmm at the moment I prob top out at 1k and it would prob be the same on the secondary market but after paying a lot for some dolls that quickly depreciated in value soon afterwards, I won't pay more than 20% higher than original price.

I'm not cheap about buying clothes for my dolls or eyes or wigs, etc. I just have a very preset cast of characters and try to keep in mind how much of a trip to Japan I'm spending. ^^;

[Phoenix]

I think my limit would be $3000 for an absolute dream doll (i.e: a previously owned/ooak doll that I fell in love with), any more than that is way too much in my opinion. These guys are expensive enough as it is, and I'm not even counting their clothes/wigs/eyes/accessories X_X.

[Janne]

I'm not sure how much I'd be willing to pay for a dream doll - I mean, my ultimate dream doll would be a Sunlight Lucas (painted by Satoko Ohno. *laughing* ) Satoko Ohno aside, I'm not sure he'd be my dream doll if I had to pay more than retail for him, say, through an expanded FCS or as an LE.

And I know even if that came about, I couldn't love him more than I love my F-16, Rhunei.

I have bought a couple of dolls at auction in the $1400-$1600 range, and I have to say the guilt at spending that much on a doll got to me and prevented me from enjoying the doll. I eventually sold them.

So, like others here, I think I can say I already have my dream doll, so this is all sort of theoretical for me. (And in theory, I come up on the cheap and happy side.)

For a long while, I thought I would love to have a Bermann, but not at the prices he goes for on the secondary market. Unless I could pay retail, I'm really content to sigh over Christy's Vincent.

[zingor]

I'd have a very hard time justifying more than a grand on any one blank doll, regardless of rarity. To me personally, that's where it becomes unreasonable because I only work part time and I do need to eat. I could easily go over that with wigs, eyes, face-ups and so on, as long as it's all spread out over time.
I've only ever wanted two dolls that came close to, or surpassed my limit--black shall, and Kurumi. Well, I got a black shall and I decided I no longer like Kurumi, lol.
All the other dolls I really want aren't limited or expensive, so I'm all good. :)
Well, except for yo-tenshi Yuki, but there seem to be quite a few of her floating around these days. :)

[Nikittin]

I paid $1,600-$1,800 each for my dream dolls. They were worth every penny :heart So yes, under $2,000 is my "limit."

[Phoenix]

So, like others here, I think I can say I already have my dream doll, so this is all sort of theoretical for me. (And in theory, I come up on the cheap and happy side.)

XD I'm totally on the same boat as you are, Janne! That's why it's kind of hard for me to buy more now, cause the one I want most is already here.

[saranilla]

I will spend up to $1400 on my dream girl. I am saving for her now and when she comes up I will have her. :)

[Hellfrozeover]

I don't so much have a price limit as an inability to save money so yeah that kind of prevents the dream doll from happening anyway.

[MYVxKIRITO]

Realistically I would have to say around $2000-ish and that would have to be for a full set in pristine condition, this is only because I have to save the money up, and it would take me a very long time to raise that much....

However if I didn't have to save the money for the doll then I don't think I would care how much I spent.... But for now that's just a dream :damnit

[lupe]

I think the most I could practically see myself ever spending is one to two grand for one specific doll, even if it was my dream doll. Anything more than that and it'd be just as expensive as my horse back riding hobby. For three grand I could easily get a foal. Then you think about buying clothes and accessories etc for such a doll.... I just can't justify doing that.

[Bandwidth Broad]

I've paid $1400 plus shipping. However, I will not purchase dolls on the secondary market that are being sold at a markup, nor will I ordinarily pay any kind of PayPal fee (which is explicitly disallowed by PayPal rules and which I personally count as the price of doing business).

The only exception to that rule, thus far, has been Gumdrop eyes, but I have to say that it irks the &*$) out of me to pay it.

I have not yet not been able to acquire a doll that I want (the vast majority of mine are limited), but sometimes I have to be patient for a year or two before what I want is available.

Too, I do much of my doll purchasing on Y!Japan. If it was a fullset outfit that I was primarily interested in, I set my sights on tracking the outfit down on Y!Japan. Thus far, I'm batting 100% but, as I said, one has to be very patient.

[ruaki]

Hey, that's a pretty good question...

Like another poster before me, I don't really distinguish between initial purchase and aftermarket when it comes to price markups.

Man, my "dream doll" would be one completely fashioned after one of my favorite original characters... I honestly doubt any companies would ever come out with a mold for him--since he's a dark-skinned character, the mold would have to be just perfect because modding tanned dolls is too risky. But hypothetically, if they managed to snag him just right...

Well, just the basic doll, I'd be willing to spend $3000+.

Hahaha, actually, it's pretty easy to say that in a hypothetical situation, especially knowing full well that my dream doll would never come to be. Considering how I still cringe to see dolls in the thousands for sale, even ones I find to be generally attractive and moderately desirable, I think that if actually confronted with the truth of my dream doll, I probably would only spend $1500 instead. ... fullset.

But then, I paid $500 for my Seimei head; no matter that I said it was to help a friend out in need of money, it's still $500 for a head that I hadn't originally wanted--when I feel horribly guilty for blowing $600 on a full doll.

I don't see an exorbitant price tag on bjds as a sign of class; I often lie to outsiders about how much I pay for my dolls because it's just so embarrassing to me for giving in and spending so much on them.

... so going by that, in actuality, I probably wouldn't spend more than $800 on my dream doll, fullset. (Well, maybe $1000.)

I think it's because, in the end, it's a hobby that waxes and wanes for me; I get really into it one moment and then move onto another interest for a while the next. Knowing that I have a $1500 item sitting pretty on my shelf that I don't actually have a consistent use for makes me twitch...

But I might actually get into the "moment" of seeing my dream doll come to life and just whip out the credit card and sign away my soul before my practical side takes over... ... okay, now I'm really glad that my dream doll is just a dream.

[Ren]

For me, I would be willing to shell out $1000 for my dream doll in the first release and $2000 for the after sale, if it comes with a limited set of clothing, etc. but only if it comes about 3 years from now. That's because I have no dependents and should be working by then. :)

[april]

Luckily, my dream doll was my first doll (my Elf El--with second vampire head), and although he's limited, I bought him directly from the company at retail for around $640.

My most expensive dolls was a Volks One-Off Shiro Tachibana--just under $1,000, but more with taxes! He came with clothes and all--so I figured it was a deal.

I've been considering ordering a FCS now and then, which would be over $1,000, so I guess my top would have to be around there--maybe below, since I haven't brought myself to actually DOING that so far!!!

I don't like paying high prices on the aftermarket, but if the perfect doll came along, perhaps I would. I'm not really sure, since it hasn't happened. It would probably be a similar limit. I'm not too cheap when it comes to dolls, but not into the very high prices, either!

If I won the lottery, I'd probably still have a limit, but it would be VERY high! Sadly, no lottery so far... but I keep hoping! :)

[manaswam]

I am slowly learning values of dolls in the secondary market. I would (and have) paid more than $3,000 - but it must have special artistic elements - face-up, body, costume. Those are rare.

[Carolyn.S]

For me it's around $500. That's why I waited one and a half years for a Unoa preorder instead of buying one for much more at resale.

Carolyn

[Creative Torpor]

I need to update. XD With CH's release of the Earl mold, my max has jumped to around $1200. And it'll only be for a limited that I'm absolutely knocked over by.

[Jun]

Well, I find it kinda insane to spend more than $1000 on a doll. Buying it in parts might soften the financial blow though...
I don't have a hard limit set, I just have little to no income right now, and it's really hard to save up.

When I'm ready again to get another doll (since I'm happy with my 3 right now) I would say whatever a Sato FCS costs. :)

[V chan]

Well, the only doll that's my dream that I've been dreaming about is a Unoa Zero and know she's going to be a pretty penny since the markup for her counterparts is ridiculous. I think she will be the doll I spend the most money on. She has to be under 2000 and even then I can't see myself spending more that 900 without extras.

[Taralphiel]

At the moment my ceiling is $1000.00

I've had the fortune of never being pressed to that limit before. I suppose now I'm branching out into browsing more companies (hopping on the Unoa quest for starters) I'm anticipating that ceiling will slowly start to rise.

For me there is no differene between direct or after-market. I'd pay what is within my limit. I do consider the reasoning behind the pricing difference, but that would still not change my mind. It's a matter of my personal budget, and how I feel about pulling the cash out of my wallet/card/paypal. :P

L

[Echo]

XD I'm totally on the same boat as you are, Janne! That's why it's kind of hard for me to buy more now, cause the one I want most is already here.

This is the same boat I'm in as well. My dream doll was the first one I ever wanted, and the one I decided I would hunt down (which of course, after obtaining her, started up my obsession). :sweat So I would say my limit would be what I paid for her; honestly I cannot imagine any other doll coming out that I would pay more for (though I really did love DOD's Black Ducan :cry).

Also, with my job, it's very difficult to shell out a massive amount of money upfront--so most likely I would need a layaway option--which sometimes presents a problem in obtaining a "dream" doll.

[Kangetsu]

Currently it is around $2000ISH. By ish I mean that the doll would probably cost $2000, but the stages of acquisition could cost more. (Y!J, shipping, commission piled together could get very very pricey)

However, it really depends on the doll and how much money is in my wallet, whether layway is available or not. Since most of the dolls on my list are limiteds, it really varies.

I think that if a doll speaks to me, and that i simply MUST MUST have it, then I'd have to say that $3000 is my maximum limit unless I won the lottery. ha.

[Hobbysue]

Well, I fell in love with the Volks 1st Limited SD17 Reisner, but wasn't able to get him and even then I was wondering if I wanted to pay that much. For me, $1000 is pretty much my ceiling and I'm still thinking I could get almost 2 basic dolls for that much (Elfdoll, I could get 2). If they're unusual, like Dollstown, I feel they're worth paying a little more for. At present I seem to be Hybriding a bit. But I think if I wanted to spend $1500/2000 on a doll, then a few of my current ones would have to go and I really don't want to part with the ones I have at present.

[Redd Heart]

Wow. Tough.

Realistically, though...any doll...dream or no, is a moot point after about 1200. I just can't validate it otherwise, even if it was the most fantastic doll in the universe custom made for me from some impossibly famous vendor or something.

[Sameyu]

$800 would be my limit. I simply can't imagine spending over $1000 for a doll.

[lemonsky]

AUD $950 - that's including shipping and anything else I might have to pay. The reason for that is customs. Anything over $1000 will be charged customs fees over here. ^^; But also, I don't think I could spend more than $1000 on a doll since he would be clothes-less for a long while (since I spent all that money on the doll itself).

[dustlilac]

A while ago I came to the conclusion that I'm a total faceup ho and can love just about any mold with the right faceup. Ok, not any, but the right eyebrows for example exponentially increase the chances of me falling in love with a mold I've never even considered before.

So my dream doll would have to have the perfect faceup and I figure I'd rather have 2 dolls I really love than 4+ that are just meh, even if they are molds I like. I wouldn't pay above the original price for the mold itself but would pay double for a faceup I like.

Or so I thought. I've recently shelled out a stupid amount of money ($1400) I never thought I'd spend on a doll because it seemed like I couldn't go wrong. It was a mold I own already so I know what it looks like, the faceup was professional and fantastic. Well, he gets home and it turns out that the auction photos were pretty off in the color department and what I thought was a boyish beige colored faceup turned out to be pink & red.

So I definitely have to rethink this "pull out all stops if you see a good faceup" strategy :dead

[PawPaw]

Well.. I try not to spend much more than $600 on any doll, but I'd say $700 is my absolute limit. xD I'm very cheap~ And if I found the perfect mold and it was really expensive, I'd just buy the head and get an AoD or Fantasy Doll body! ^^

[MieAga]

I would be seriously pushed to purchase any doll over $2,000. I drive a hard line on the second hand market. I wouldn't buy a doll for much more than it's origional price. If I couldn't get a full doll, then I could be consoled in getting just the head, eyes and outfit and then buying a cheaper body to bring the costs within range. (That is if I had to have the set)

[clowve]

Must get at any cost!! :mad
But yeah, $2k is the limit.
.......maybbee a little more. :cry

[limedragon]

Currently I'm limiting myself to around $AUD 600 :oops I'm only interested in MSD :D If the mould I liked was limited and gone by the time I had enough money, I guess I'll buy another mould that I liked. I like to buy expensive things but I don't want to go overboard..:angry I think I already spend too much money buying Japanese pencilcases :XD

[Rabbit-moon]

I spent $1200 for my dream doll, a Volk FCS F-16. And at the time, I thought it was a lot of money to spend on a doll, but once Volks opened a store here in Socal, I just couldn't think of anything else but getting that darling boy!

But, honestly, I don't think I would ever spend that much on a doll again. There are so many gorgeous sculpts that are reasonably priced, and the quality is every bit as nice as the Volks doll. At this point, I try not spend more than $700, or so, on a doll.

EDIT: Okay, some time has passed, and now I realize if a Dollshe Saint came up for sale, I would gladly pay $1200 for him! I always thought I be able to buy one when the time was right, but then Mr. Dollshe stopped making them! I didn't have any money at the time, or I would have bought one when I had the chance!

[Tereya Chan]

My limit is $1200, but I don't expect to pay that much. It's just the figure where it becomes no longer worth it to me. I tend to look in the $500-$600 for my dolls, some being less, some being a bit more. I'm actually pretty close to feeling content with my crew so I doubt I'll have to worry about spending my limit.

[Em]

Thankfully I have no dream dolls to buy at the moment.

The last of my to-die-for molds (Unoas!) came home recently and were purchased at the preorder price. Granted I'm paying out more to get some fabulous face-ups for them but they're were still waaaaay under the secondary market price!

I'd say my absolute max for a single doll would be $2000 AUD and that would have to include face-up. Any more than that would be hard to justify :sweat

I do hope to order a Sato FCS in the future and they can add up to approx $1200.

[Kalani]

I really want the full set UH-11 from Unidoll one day..and I feel the $900 is worth it....so for now, I'd say my limit would probably come close to $1000.

[captainkyo]

Well i already got my dream boy, and he was 850$

so if there was another doll.. i could not live without..
Id probably put my max at 1000$ including any kind of shopping service fees.

[MosaicWolf]

I have to say that $1000 would pretty much be a hard limit. I have trouble making myself inch much over $600, and the closest I've gotten to a grand was my Corvi with faceup and shipping at like $750.

[Tenshi]

I'm lucky to have my dream doll -- my favorite head mold (Volks Cristal) with a perfect faceup done by one of my favorite artists (Aone). She cost me just under $1000. I didn't think twice about paying it.

It's funny, because two years ago I would never have dreamed of paying so much for a doll. I thought my Magie (who cost a little over $300) was crazy expensive! But between a better-paying job and further immersion into this hobby, my spending limit changes all the time.

But for now, it's at the $990 I paid for Rei. Until I find another doll that holds me as much as her (not likely!), that will stay my limit.

[AminaMithri]

My own limit is at about 1000$. That's how much I paid for my dream doll, and only Bermann would make me spend more. Even then, there's no way I'd pay aftermarket prices for him. 2000$ is ridiculous enough as it is, imo.

[kathrynmary]

my dream doll is a dollstown soph. i know what dollstown charges for a new doll so i wouldnt pay more unless it came with a face-up, clothes, eyes or something that made the doll even more a dream for me.

[Lugi-moo]

hn...My most expensive doll was indeed my dream doll for a number of years, that being my SwD Lucas. I actually could only afford to buy his head at the time, and I paid a little over 900 I think. (keep in mind he also has a custom face-up by the jp artist rosemoon) His body I got via trade for my SD10 boy body which I paid 450 for...so Minta was about 1350 total I think.
As far as buying a doll complete, is he had come with his original face-up and all the goods I'd probably pay about the same, maybe a little higher if I could, though I wouldn't like it. XD I'm still hunting for SwD papers and original box and clothing to "add" to his value. But mainly cause I want him complete.
As far as buying a doll from the company directly I couldn't see paying more than 1300. Second hand for the same doll w/o clothing and stuff I'd prefer not to go over that. I see no point in jacking up the price just cause someone had him first....some cases are a little different than others. But for the most part, I dun wanna go over 1300 for anything. My mom would give me dirty looks...and I'd have to not spend money on anything else, including food. X__x

[chizzie_shark]

Seeing some of the price ranges mentioned here, I have to say it does make me feel a little uncomfortable. My personal limit would be probably $800 for a basic doll, and that's if I REALLY wanted it. For a fullset or limited, probably $1000. I'd like to say $1500, but although that's my mental limit, I know in the end I would never buy a doll that expensive. It's not just the financial issue, it's also that, as some people have said, to me it's irresponsible to spend that much on a doll. Mine is a pretty low limit, but that's my opinion. And that's painful for me to say, because I long desperately for a Volks Amelia. :(

As for the second hand market, I would never buy a doll from someone who sold it for way more than what they paid for it, on principle. I know it's limited and all, but I simply can't justify someone doing that. This doesn't include people selling off the outfit and such - some limited dolls are only sold as full sets, so that's understandable. I think if a limited doll were to be resold at a much higher price, the only acceptable reason would be that it was an auction or offer, not when the "owner" sets the price.

[Sakura]

That's rather harsh to call someone irresponsible if they were willing to pay the price for a doll they wanted. I have paid both retail and second-hand prices for my dolls and I haven't regretted my core collection since. It really depends on each buyer and their preferences to set the standards on themselves rather than criticising another for what they are able to purchase and if they were really willing to buy. Everyone's free to set their own limit.

I personally wouldn't be able to spend anything beyond what I paid on my dolls and even for a dream doll, I don't think I could justify $2000 to myself but I would not begrudge someone who could.

Seeing some of the price ranges mentioned here, I have to say it does make me feel a little uncomfortable. My personal limit would be probably $800 for a basic doll, and that's if I REALLY wanted it. For a fullset or limited, probably $1000. I'd like to say $1500, but although that's my mental limit, I know in the end I would never buy a doll that expensive. It's not just the financial issue, it's also that, as some people have said, to me it's irresponsible to spend that much on a doll. Mine is a pretty low limit, but that's my opinion. And that's painful for me to say, because I long desperately for a Volks Amelia. :(

As for the second hand market, I would never buy a doll from someone who sold it for way more than what they paid for it, on principle. I know it's limited and all, but I simply can't justify someone doing that. This doesn't include people selling off the outfit and such - some limited dolls are only sold as full sets, so that's understandable. I think if a limited doll were to be resold at a much higher price, the only acceptable reason would be that it was an auction or offer, not when the "owner" sets the price.

[Bobster]

It’s an interesting question. Right now after owning 2 since late last year, I think my upper limit would be about $1200. I am drawn to the customization aspect of this hobby. While I have dream dolls 2 in particular, I think I would order a full choice to get a base that is similar to them. I would then customize those with the money I would have spent to buy the original. I also intensely like the 2 off the shelf models I have right now that were under $800. each, new including shipping. I guess I am now a bit practical or a bit restrained. Every time I had to have a particular car, 2 times now, I was not as happy in the end. I don’t want to be let down like that and have to sell him or her after a short bit.

Bobby

[mxiong]

The only way I could have my "dream doll" was to have someone make a one of a kind face mold and body sculpt specifically for me. Then I would be willing to pay an artist up to about $3000 including materials and labor. I would pay up to $300 for a face-up, not including body blushing and manicure, clothes, shoes, or props. I tried to sculpt myself with no real luck. I wasn't born with sculptor's hands :( My most expensive doll was $1500 after face-up and a hefty shipping fee. Even then she isn't my "dream doll".

[mxiong]

2.5k for a yukinojo.. I won't go above that, so he will stay a dream doll :/

Seek peace

Carol

I know, that sucks... I'm just gonna have to find a person with his facial features and have DIM sculpt one for me. Ha, so slick!

[Artemille]

I would probably say $1500 if I had it available and was able to get a layaway plan. I don't really have any "dream doll" and all the molds I want at the moment are pretty readily available, but the most I've spend all together was about $1000 to get my Yo Tenshi the way she is now. Still, that's only $700 for the doll, then the cost of clothes, wig, eyes, wings, and of course a ton of shipping charges out the window. She was pretty high up on my list, but not super important. She was more of an impulse when I saw her for sale.
I still would like to get her a face up, but I really wouldn't go for more than $100 including shipping. I really haven't seen anything so special in the faceups from artist who charge $300+ That's just way too much money for minimal work.

[Aruri]

I would probably pay just about anything for a Re-che head (that is when I have money >.< )

especially since Musedoll keeps making it sound like they are going to make him a standard... but they never do.... TT_TT

[Bern]

My current limit is S$1,000 [approximately US$650?] for the blank doll, be it separately [head + body] or whole. I spent S$500 for Ben's head and close to that for his body, so that's my current limit since I'm still a student. I got my Souldoll Paris on sale, even! <3

One day, however, I will get my tanned Scarface Cecile, and damn if I know how much I'm willing to pay for that. XD Because I want all his stuff, as well as the original Captain Cecile clothes, and all sorts of other stuff for him...........

[ChibiInuTsuzuki]

my dream doll has been the Vampire Elff El and i finally managed to get one. originally i had found one, just the head, and she was askng $1200. That's WAY too much for JUST a head. So i did talk her down to $800 for the head but real life got in the way and i couldn't finish paying him off... a few months later i find a fulldoll forsale for $1020 including shipping. I honestly never really wanted to spend $1000 on a doll, but he's become the holy grail of my collection so that limit wasn't quite as unreasonable as i had thought ^-^; So i guess to me my limit on a dream doll really does depend on the type of doll and how hard it is to find.

[mrscollins]

What an interesting question. I'm not sure where I stand on this but perhaps $1000. At least that is my feeling today.

[rosen_mystica]

I've Wanted volks Kurumi for a very very long time but she's so darn expensive now :cry Everytime i go Y!J she goes up by like 200 bucks i think she around 2700 now :cry she way past my limit

[Rosebud]

So far I don't have a doll that I can't live without. I would suspect that my top would be about a thousand. I've bought several around the 5-6 hundred mark and balked at spend over a thousand for a SD size. I like Swan Lake Freezia (not sure of spelling) by Ipplehouse but decided that was a little too steep. I also could live with out her. I also decided that she was a little large for me to collect. Where would I ever put her in my small house.

[Pixel]

The doll I would absolutely love to have is a Volks FCS Sunlight Yori doll, and after shopping services' fees she'd around $1,000. I'd say that's about the highest I'd go only because she'd be a one-of-a-kind doll (or close to) and she'd be the doll of an original character I have that is my all time favourite that I've ever created. I have no idea if or when I'd be able to get her because of her cost, but maybe someday. :D

[Alayna]

I think my absolute maximum would be $1200 for doll and faceup. I just don't think I could justify spending too much more during this stage of my life (poor college student). :|

On the secondary market I don't know. I'm somewhat impulsive when I know I won稚 get a second chance, so it might get ugly. I would hope I wouldn't spend too much more than my original $1200, but if it was my dream doll -ugh, I don't know.

I've actually come pretty close to my limit already. *_* $1100 is what I'll end up spending on my Swan Lake Cocori with faceup and clothes. She will be my dream doll of a few years now, though, so I was willing to pay it because I figured it would be a one time expense and I was willing to give up/postpone other dolls to get her. Uh, heheh, yeah, at least that was how I talked myself into buying her.:p

[Kogepan]

$600 for doll head alone and $1200 for full doll, secondary market (assuming it's a limited); $1000, direct from manufacturer. No wig, eyes, clothes, etc; I'll just end up changing them all anyway.

I'm waiting on my first doll, a Javi hybrid, and am quite safe for my limit: $140 head, $188 (temporary?) body for total of $328; if things work out it'll ultimately be $140 head, $400-500 body for total of $540-640.

But my second doll, F16 hybrid, is going to brush the limit: $350 head, $600 (??) body (I want Dollstown 15boy body) for total of $950.

And... I'm not going to think seriously about Dolpa19's Maki yet. I refuse. I'm holding back until after my excitement dies down, because just today he jumped to the top of my wishlist, and I'm worried that this is just frivolous infatuation. As of right now, I want to say that I'd go the full $1200 and maybe even more for him (just the doll, no clothing/etc), but who knows if that's a lasting sentiment?

[nena]

I think at the most would be $1500 and that would be a stretch. I could possibly see myself putting in more during the heat of a bid war though!

[bullyrabbit]

My maximum is $1200. That's for a complete Limited Edition bought direct or through the secondary market. That amount is inclusive of shipping and any taxes or additional fees. To make things even more complicated, I also won't pay a markup of more than $200 of the original retail price.

I want a complete Volks Hewitt v2 badly but I've resigned myself to the fact that it's not going to happen. Sure I can find one for less than my $1200 maximum, but the going price is too much above retail. I can't justify it. I want do but just can't do it.

[whitebread]

I really resisted spending over $1,000 for a doll for the first couple of years in the hobby. Even though my Black Lahoo ended up costing me $950, I kept telling myself that I didn't really break that holy $1,000 mark 9__9

Sadly (sadly?) I've broken the grand mark last month for a Sweet Dreams Lucas, and I'll break it again after paying for taxes and shipping on an Irvin if I win him at the NY Dolpa this year.

SwD Lucas was pretty much the upper limit for me. Unless Volks comes out with a tan School A or something, I don't think I'll pay more than $1300 for a dolll again.

[hakai]

I really try to stay away from anything upwards of $1000. my dream doll, Yo-Tenshi Yuki that I bought 2nd hand prior to all the re-releases costed more then I would pay these days. but I've since pushed the price from my mind because I'm very happy with him. but I doubt I'd ever pay that much again on a tiny XD
I don't see anything wrong with spending a lot on a doll, especially a dream doll! but I just can't personally justify that to be within my budget at this time. If others can, then that's really good for them! ^__^

[flpinkboxsociety]

i would say i top out at around 1200, but i dont begrudge others who can afford more i am glad they can and love it when they share them with me via pics etc etc..
as for me.. well. I just figure any more than that should probably go into the baby's college fund. Of course i say that now, but then when faced with a doll i am in love with, i may change my mind heehee...

[bugland]

as i don't expect to be able to buy any more dolls for a very long time, if ever, the imaginary sky's the limit ;) if circumstances were different, i might be willing to shell out $2000 for a limited edition fullset. it would have to be a heckuva fullset, though! otherwise $400, max, seems reasonable for a basic doll.

[Creative Torpor]

Fwagh. I've recently become enamoured with Rozen Maiden, Suigintou in particular, and I just discovered that Volks made a doll of her. ._.

So I need to update again - my limit is now around $3000 [If I could find her for less I would die happy].

[Sailor Moon]

Well let's see.. what I would be willing to pay for a LE doll? $1200. That is of course straight from the company.. and that would have to be for the doll, clothing, face up.. everything. I would have to just fall madly in love with it all. Otherwise, I could see paying $1000 for just the doll alone. That all being the MAX I would pay of course.

For an after market doll? Well, much like Creative Torpor, I'm madly in love with Suigintou.. and would LOVE to have her in my dolly family. Unfortunately, I can't see spending $3000 on her.. Maybe $2000.

Though I've fallen head over heals for some dolls, I just cannot see paying more than $2000 for one that I truly love. Ideally, I'd like to see her go for $1500. But that's just wishful thinking. heh.

[clem_and_mikas]

My max is pretty close to what some others have posted. (around $1200)
Though I would not want to pay that much for a nude, eyeless/faceless doll..

[bishieprince]

My budget is quite low as I don't earn much(considering I have other hobbies like cosplay other than BJD that are quite costly as well)..So right now it's 1k max..but u never know..with increase pay = more spending power..the budget may increase..

[seoff]

I have to say that $1100 is my cap as that is what I paid for my Volks Olivia. I don't intend to do that for again for quite a while. I am more comfortable in the $500 to $600 range. I have recently started to hybridize so I am hoping that will help make this hobby more affordable if there is such a thing.

[keii_chan]

It depends i think because i currently still study and dont pay anything (sure the usual clothes food and whatnots, but it's not like I have bills to pay etc like real adult working people) so my vision is clouded xD
for a second hand doll I would probably not pay more than the original price.
my limit is about 1000 for a doll. a f16 maybe,some day. but I dont think so. life gets in the way I always think.

[jwegger]

The highest prices I've paid for dolls (not BJD) is $1500 and $800. They were dolls I wanted and they came along at a decent price, when I had money to get them.

[KasaMadhuri777]

I think I'd probably cap my limit at $1000. Mainly because there's no way I'd ever like a fullset enough to pay more than $150 for it... and would never buy a complete doll with blushing et al if the blank option was offered. And also because $1000 is almost two months rent for me, and I am a student-slash-starving artist. The two absolute WORST things to be at the same time if you ever want to have two spare cents to rub together. *L*

I would pay that much for a blank Sard with all his body parts. Without a moment's hestitation. Well, maybe a moment's begging the seller for layaway. *L*

But not for anything else in the aftermarket. I am not a big limiteds-lover on the whole, and most non-limited aftermarket dolls go for the same price as new, slightly less, or slightly more. Knowing that, I am not sure I could throw more money at a doll than necessary.

[haku23]

My limit would probably be around 2500$ on the secondary market. Not that I would EVER have that kind of money to throw around on dolls. In that price I'd like to include clothes, wig and eyes but that's not usually how it goes. Only around 1,700$ for a LE from a company brand new. I would never pay 4000$ for one doll like I've seen some Bermanns go for on the secondary market. That's just crazy imho.

[Aisuhime]

Depends on the money that I have then methinks.If I have say,$2k and the doll was VERY limited and I loved her very much...Why not? :kisses

[red rosin]

When I was saving for my first doll, I thought I'd never make it to $600. At the time I couldn't imagine spending almost $1000+ on a doll. Then I fell in love with Bermann... and a year later, I almost won an eBay-ed Bermann for 3k... but at the last minute I realized what an insane amount of money that was. I kept thinking about all the other dolls I could buy with that same amount. The most I have ever spent on a doll was $1100 on my fullset Volks Cristal from Yahoo!Japan. But that price was about what she would have cost me from Volks anyway. Anything in the $1000-2000 range has to be a fullset dream doll for me.

That was until I found a doll as insanely obsessesive as me... and bought him in the secondary market (a fullset Scarface Reisner). There is no justification for it. However, my reasoning has changed. I thought about all the other dolls this money would have gone too and I realized that I would still want Reisner more. Here's hoping I still feel the same when he arrives later in the month. :sweat

For the record, yes, I now consider myself officially insane. :dance

[pithetaphish]

The most I've paid thus far for a naked doll was $1,550 - that was for my Tsukasa Konoe, and I still consider it a bargain since the average price for him at the time was around $2,000. I knew that and had been steadily saving for over a year when I finally got the chance to bring him home. He was and still is my ultimate dream doll, I love him dearly, but the thought of paying more than $2.5K for him at the time sent apprehensive chills down my spine.

For fullsets, I've been very lucky thus far and have been able to get all my LEs at retail price. Scarface Reisner cost me the most, 198,000 yen with travelling and hotel expenses included. Now that I've seen him in the flesh (resin?), I know there'll never be a more perfect mould for his character, but if I hadn't won a spot on the cruise, I doubt I would have tried for him secondhand. This hobby may have skewed forever my concept of what's expensive, but when a doll's price tag starts pushing $3K, even for a fullset, I back away quietly.

[AnnaMayBelle]

I can't see myself ever spending over $1000, even on a dream-doll... For one thing, my "dream dolls" are things I assemble and do my own faceups on. I imagine someday I might put together a doll that winds up costing more than $1000 all-total, but it will be a little easier to swallow since I'll probably pick up my 'dream pieces' over time... The perfect body here, the perfect head here, the perfect wig and the perfect eyes there... Of course sewing the clothes and painting the face myself because I'm a control-freak. ^^

[Agnes]

I think it's about 1K. I just know, when I see a doll and see what the price tag is, if I'm willing to pay it or not. For me what usually gets in the way of paying huge $$$ is that either
a) the doll is nude/no wig/no eyes or it's just a head and I don't think it's worth it
b) it comes with a fullset or other extras which help justify the price but that I don't really want

I don't think I've ever seen a doll for which I wanted to keep everything in the original full-set. Same with faceups, even if it's a well-known artist; I prefer having it customized.

I think if the original doll was under 1K and all the accessories bought later brought it up a few hundred dollars, it wouldn't feel like cheating because I got to put it all together how I like. ^^ I'm more about the customization than the collecting part.

[Astrid]

So far my limit is 1200 which is really suprising to me the way it keeps creeping up....I am scared of the limit that does not adhere to my rules or the word"budget"

[Aussie grrrl]

When I first started collecting bjd's I would never have considered ever spending anywhere near $1000 on a doll, you would have to be insane and It just isn't going to happen thankyou very much!
I now own an f16 that cost me precisely that, naked and eyeball and wigless! My limit now would be depending on the doll, not the cost so to speak. I would some day love to buy Jun and Shiro Tachibana. I would want full set, with as many extras possible and only in original condition (original eyes, wig and faceup) so to be so picky then I have to expect to pay top dollar.
Gotta win lotto....;)

[Resin Angels]

I guess I have just hit my limit with buying Kurumi, she was just under $3k but she was worth every penny :)

[Missie L]

...I would say $1,000, but it would be a very long way off until I could spend that kind of money on just one doll. But I'm sure I will do it eventually.

[Rosella]

Well, the way I've factored my spending is based on how much I can put away each week towards my doll fund. At the moment, I'm buying non limited dolls and I wouldn't want to pay more than ~800 for an SD size. But since my budget is based more on time than anything else, I can theoretically save and have more at my disposal. I would very happily pay up to 1200 for a limited full set (hopefully with a lay-a-way if it was a time/number limited release and I hadn't saved beforehand) if I really loved him/her and I can see myself one day investing in Volks Liz and I imagine that will cost a bit, but I will save and hopefully can get her for less than 2000. I think if possible, I'd buy the body and head separate to avoid customs fees (anything under 1000 here is fair game).

[ToysRGood]

Boy, I was initially going to say $500! But I've seen some absolutely beautiful dolls in the $800 neighborhood, so I'm gonna say $900, and then only for a fullset. Same goes for aftermarket; if I spent $1000 on a doll, I think I'd just feel too guilty!

[InkyBear]

It's really hard to say @_@ Right now, I'm absolutely in love with and pining after a Little Monica Kliff who is $700 with the shipping included, but that's without any eyes wig or clothes. In the past when I've answered this question I always said $700 was my little ( you know, while I'm still a college student scrounging for a part-time job to pay for rent and worrying about classes ), but now that I've actually found that $700 doll, it's all a little daunting. Even thinking about spending that much on him sort of makes my conscious ache, but I know that from all my searching and how hard I fell for him, that no other doll could take his place. It makes me wonder, if I had these same types of feelings for an even more expensive doll, would I suck it up and save for it? I really don't know, but for now, I'm happy he's the priciest I've ever truly considered >.<

[miyako]

The furthest I could spend on a dream SD would be around USD$1200 for a full set.. for doll only I guess $1k?

But that would be in the future when I can earn more money.. currently I'm getting dolls at a rate of 1 doll per year, considering the other commitments I have for my hobbies not just dolls.

[Youkai]

For a doll...I figure I could probably push out about 1500$, depending on the time. o__O

As for maximum on the aftermarket...the same, 1500$. Maybe a little bit more, as long as it was in pieces...Like buying the body, then the head, then all the extras. If it's anything like that I'll spend whatever I can get.

[wjsdpwl]

i cannot spend too much for one doll right now because im in college, but after few years i think i can spend upto $1200 for my dream doll.

[angeliclizard]

I payed $622 for my Tatiana with outfit, face-up, and trapese, i thought that was pretty decent. I think the most I'd pay (at least right now) for just a doll would be $1500, $2500 for a fullset. But nothing has struck me as that likeable yet...

[ImpmonsTrueTamer101]

Hmmm. It depends on the doll and my current financial situation. As it stands now, if I happened to see a doll I really liked, I'd say about $600-$700 for a naked doll. While in college *in the near future, fingers crossed* I'd say no higher than $500 unless it was a Dollshe Husky. Then I'd probably gladly drop about $1000 for him. Er, if I was able to do so comfortably.

In the future, if I'm working at the job and grossing the income I hope to, it would change to about $2000 for a naked doll, unless it was a Bermann. In that case...I'd be willing to pay, about $5000 for him. @_@ Or higher, if they'd let me make monthly/yearly payments and I could, again, do it comfortably.

Of course, this is if everything goes as planned. It never usually dose though, so you can't really depend on the future figures. XD;;;

[Chiffa]

it's a VERY interesting topic. but honestly I don't know. It depends on a doll - and I don't mean size, rarity or other technical qualities. I mean only how much I'm addicted to it. I mean, I can look on one doll and think 'well, 600$? Are they kidding? pretty, but not worth it", and look on another doll, click "buy it" and only THEN notice it costs 800-1000$ and not mind it.
So...
1) I don't know. As much as I can afford without risking our family's lifestyle, apparently (no doll is worth THAT) - and this figure is changing monthly.
2) Anything. Absolutely. Well, it again depends - I think going up several thousands $$$ for a Dollshe doll is a bit overdoing it, but I don't like Dollshe for a bit. That said, right now I'm ready to hunt for a (certain) limited doll I really can't buy otherwise on secondhand market - and last time it was seen there, it was priced 2000+$. Another limited doll I missed I'm not ready to buy for much more than it was priced originally (around 700$, if I remember right) - that mean I'm almost for sure won't get it, but... so be it.

So... for me it really depends.

[rosen_mystica]

Hmmm originally was 1000 but then i broke it ages ago @_@
because my recent dolls head cost 1200 alone.
But she was my dream doll so i am satisfied.
And i dont have many molds im intrested in XD i always had just
a few favorites.

[DanceCat]

I completely agree with Baakay, I always request photos of dolls when I THINK I've fallen in love because they are glorified on the websites just like anythink else in the world that's being marketed for income / sales. I was totally in love with Soom's Spinel and Souldoll's Killian but after seeing some photos of what people really get I'm considering other dolls. Then I've seen dolls that are gorgeous no matter what kind of faceup.
Of course, this has also led to my decision to do my own faceups.

Celestia, you're braver than me, that's for sure. I feel that anything over $500 is too much althought most of the dolls I want average more than $600. I am also somewhat taken aback by the fact that the better dolls not only cost more but then don't even come with eyes, hair or outfits. It's what keeps me in line when "shopping." I've been an Heirloom collector for many years and feel that they are good quality at good prices. BJDs don't make me feel anything other than ripped off.
I have my see-saw feelings about them. But honestly, I'd spend so much more if the prices were realistic.

By the way, I completely agree with you about DOA's MP. For some reason they want sometimes double the price for a used doll or for dolls with missing parts. I don't understand it at all.

and that's my blab

*_*

[animemadness]

my dream dollfie is the redemption moon from luts at $660,i realy want him,but i would be happy with the standard the moon bjd,without the outfit,but i would pay extra for the faceup,in fact im gonna try and get him next month if i can save up enough,but thats gonna cost me $500 in total which is about my limit for 1 doll,as shipping its self is quite expensive and then i might get customs charge too

[CreamPop]

I don't really have a "dream doll" per se, so right now my limit is approximately $350 US for the doll, an outfit, shoes and a wig.

[Saash]

1.) I used to say that I'd never spend more than $600 for a single basic doll, until Soom started coming out with their limiteds. >_> Now, I'd say I really don't see me going very much over $1000 for a doll, and that would have to include face up and clothing. I couldn't see me spending $1000 for a blank doll, that's for sure.

2.) If I didn't manage to purchase, I'd keep a lookout on the marketplace for a good deal. I couldn't see me going much over $1500 on the secondary market.

There's no way that I would take out a loan, borrow money or do without for a doll. I might put it on credit if I think I could pay it off easily, but otherwise, if I can't find one within the price range I can afford, I'd do without.

[Kirika]

I think I can't say a certain maximum. I guess it's whatever sum I can dig up fast enough that the dream doll wouldn't become a burden while waiting for the money to sum up (fast enough meaning I'm all jumpy and couldn't wait a year or two:P)
The first doll I saw wasn't ABJD, it was ball jointed alright but not Asian, actually porcelain not resin. The cost was roughly 1800. I would still try to get it if I wasn't completely smitten by the idea of two Naraes. So that plan comes first. I still adore that porcelain one but I guess I'm not fancy enough. I like funky girls, those are way too pretty to be dressed up quirky. Maybe someday though. Well in any case, it's definitely a matter of personal taste and ideal doll is worth a lot.

[Rayne]

I'm one of those people who would pay a little more money to get the thing I want rather then settling for something else, The problem with buying dolls for me at the moment is the australia dollar, the doll I want costs about 500 with faceup but the dollar exchange from the usd to aud makes it around 700 so ill be saving for a little longer yet.
I recently bought some clothes and shoes so I could get sizing so i can make some myself and didnt realise the dollar was so bad. ended up spending 250 on 1 pair of jeans 1 hoodie 1 jacket and 4 pairs of shoes(which were the cheapest items)
I could have put all that money into my doll oops.

[Hunajasieni]

I would pay 1000€ at maximum. I know I couldn't pay more than that. I have Amber who will propably almost reach it, she costs me over 700€ and customs will add over 200€ so she will be really close... $____$

Price is same, was it new or aftermarket, it is my limit. .____. Well good I have one. :D I am not comfortable right now to pay more. Maybe if I get proper everyday job it would be different, but right now I feel like this.

[HighPriestessIce]

I always said my limit would be $1000. Though while chatting with someone about selling a Sard I was ready to drop the $1800 on him >< $2000 I can't imagine doing, but then again if I was tempted enough....

[ODSTAdrianFii]

I think for me, $2500 is my limit on a dollfie in total, both in new release and aftermarket and including face ups and what not.
More than that I can't do.

[Tsukidoll]

LOL, This topic is funny because me and my friend talk about this all the time. If we won the lottery there would be not limit price wise. In reality the most I have paid was 1200.00 Which is a lot of money. My limit in my head is $1000 anything more is just lame to me. I think the doll is worth it but I am not wealthy enough to justify myself spending that much plus I have two kids to put through braces and College lol. I am buying my dolls now before I cannot anymore. Plus I have stupidly fallen for Volks dolls although I said I never would. It was that darn four sisters mold. *shakes fist to the sky*

[Leenah]

My limit would be the cost of an SD sized doll, fullset and only if I absolutely ADORED the set.

For instance, should Iplehouse ever come out with an SD female doll that is a tightrope walker as a part of their Noctarcana Circus collection, AND if I really liked the sculpt, I'd get it. I'm guessing this would cost around $700-$800.

[Spring]

Since I feel content with the fairly large doll "family" that I have I would have to say $1200 maybe. If I had known when I started gathering this tribe to my home what i know now the amount would be higher.

[Gachapon]

As far as I have been addicted to BJD, I haven't been really attracted to limited and rare dolls, so most of my dream dolls are just available as 'standard'

But if I found a sculpt that I really like, regardless if limited or not, I would be willing to pay for around $1000 for the doll itself, face-up, several wigs, several outfits, shoes, eyes.

This doll will be spoiled. Rotten.

[Missie L]

Well, very soon I will be spending the most I've ever spent on a doll in one go.

$1,000... *Dies*

[Raesha]

I'm poor. :P I don't think I could convince myself to spend more than $500 on a doll--including wig, eyes, faceup, etc. She'd have to be perfect too...

[verbatim]

The most I've EVER spent on a doll was $700 and I never want to spend that much again.

A $1000 price tag would instantly kill any love I had for a doll, no matter how amazing and in love with it I was. It'd be like falling for a really great guy and then finding out he's married with eight kids. (Kind of a strange analogy-- I had a better one but I wasn't sure if I'd get reprimanded for mentioning sex crimes.)

Anyway, if I were to ever spend $700 bucks straight on just the doll ever again, he'd have to come with some phenomenal extras.

[studio-BJD]

I don't have a specific doll as my "dream"

I'm hoping to find a face that speaks to me, preferably male, and under $600 Australian.

Would like that price to include a wig, eyes and face-up

I LOVE DollZone Ying and Yuu, but I'll keep looking.

my funds are very limited, and I want my first BJD to be one I love, not one I only love for now

I can always buy new eyes, wigs and clothes, but I want to be attached to my FIRST!!

[asuka17]

Hmm... I guess my limit would be $450-$500 for a basic doll with wig. If I wanted a fullset, I'd buy one that costs as much as the Volks SDC's. :D

[wednesday1372]

The most I'd be willing to ever spend on my dream doll *with eyes* would be $500 plus shipping (I prefer blank dolls!). I'd never spend $1,000+ on a single doll, regardless of how much I love them.

*Then again, if I was ever given $1,000+ and was told that I had to spend it on one doll I'd willingly spend it lol*

[AnimeCandy]

I would save my butt off and get the doll no matter what the cost is. I would pay whatever it takes in the aftermarket to obtain the doll i desire.

[Trisana]

Well, it's clearly below $1200, since there's no way I'm paying that for a Volks limited Irvin fullset. The $800 mark is more questionable, since Souldoll Chiron's in that range with clothes, but he's not got elf ears, and I'm considering saving for him anyways.

[Buff]

For me, its $1200. To date, I haven't actually spent that on a single doll, but I've come close, and I just know that if they ever release one of those SOOM monthlies that I can't resist having the absolute full set, it prices out to about that much with all the extras.

[rianne]

$700 is my limit, period. I'm lucky though as my dream doll is already home and will cost about $400 with his body. I'm another one that tends toward the frankendollie route, all but 2 of my dolls (the two girls ironically enough) will be hybrids since I'm ridiculously picky about sculpt and proportion.

[PrincePadriac]

Well I am a soon to be poor college student... so funds are kept hold of...

but if I could spare a few bucks my limit would probably be 1000$. Any more than that and it would feel wrong... unless I had money flowin' like sweat.

[Bobster]

Originally I did have a limit of sorts. Now I don’t have a pre-set limit. I know several people who have spent the better part of $70,000 on a car. I know lots of people who have spent $40,000 on a truck or SUV. Then they spend $2000 on tires and wheels. So now I think spending $2000 on something I would love is ok if I have the money.

Bobby

[VelvetBat]

I really want to buy a soom beryl, but all I see it Beryls of $2000 and above. My spending limit for her is $1500. If I can't get her for that price, I might buy her head and hooves seperate. Or sculpt hooves myself.

[shelley]

My limit would be up to 1000$ including shipping. It's not just the doll's price counted in - each time when buying a doll, I buy a few small items too, so I guess I couldn't buy a very expensive doll, even if it looked like the doll of my biggest dreams...

[numage]

My maximum on dolls is... $700 I think, It was every expensive for me
even if it was a limited doll...

[Maxwell]

maximum for me is $1,000... I spent that on a doll once (Dolpa 20 Kurumi) and was kind of '...ouch... my wallet' after wards... and decided what my maximum will always be when facing dolls... :/

[yunnrila]

For me, maximum would be around $1500, but for me it's really hard to say. I haven't spent more than $1000 on a doll so far. :sweat

[Izayoi]

the most I've spent for a doll was $1500 but she's worth every penny

[bathophobia]

I would never spend more than $1000 on a doll. It just seems weird to me, paying that much for a doll, no matter how gorgeous.

[cifr]

To me, it's up to my that-time budget. If I have strong enough budget, I think my limit for dolls (no more than this) would be around $2000-2500, but that's a dream anyway. :sweat I mean if I have a huge million budget.
But for now, *pat my wallet*, I cannot offer more than $1000. :cry

[ChibiInuTsuzuki]

I've spent $1300 on a doll... and my Vamp Elf El's head alone cost me $850 X.x

[RavenStorm]

I would only spend $300 for a doll. Most of the doll are the same price as my rent o.O

[reesescups]

it depends on how much i want the doll. i wouldn't go over $2000 though. $1000 at the most, some people pay alot more for dolls so i'd consider myself lucky.

[rainydaylovers]

I would rather not spend more than $1000 on a basic doll but really it all depends on the doll. For example I'd really looove a Soom MD Vesuvia, but it's unlikely I'll find one for under 1000. Especially since I'm willing to buy her in various pieces since I don't want full set. The market place on DoA will always be inflated though so sometimes you have no choice.

But I'd NEVER pay more than $800 on just a face-up-less head! Even one with a face-up, god, it's just ridiculous. x___x

[Tsukasa]

My dream doll is a long-time-gone-limited-series one with a price of approximately $790 for the basic set (body and head) and $1300 for the full set including everything. :nosebleed

That’s the limit set for now… until maybe one day I come across a new dream doll.

[dragonlovesdolls]

I keep telling myself that $1000 is the most I would spend... but now that there are some very special LARGE dolls coming out... well I am not sure anymore. I know I have spent a ton on everyone and all the wigs and clothes. ARGH!

[Leenah]

My dream doll is Volks Suiseiseki. I've seen a fullset for less that $1400 (not including shipping costs, and other fees), the highest, over $1800, but even on the lesser end, it still seems like a lot of money to spend on something like a doll.

I have the money and I am sort of willing to spend it, but I usually feel as though I have to reach a really good goal in order to let myself spend that, such as getting excellent grades this semester.

I'm just a student right now, and that amount I mentioned is probably the limit that I would spend on a doll. I presume that the amount would go up if I had a steady job, worked full time, and had a decent salary.

EDIT: Since posting this, I got my dream girl. ^.^ She was $1350 for the full set (including shipping and what not). The doll was in perfect condition, but the wig and box were slightly messed up, which is okay. I have to say, this is my limit for now, haha.

[blue_night87]

I would try to match the price the seller paid for the doll to be fair but if i'm involved in a bidding i would definitely pay more for the doll.

[Paladia]

$1,000 seems like a good benchmark, but it really depends on many factors.
For something that was just PERFECT and would require no work on my part I'd go as high as $1,500... maybe $2,000... if it was PERFECT...

[ellynor]

potentially $1,000 for a nude without eyes, wig, clothing, face-up or body blushing. I would probably commission to complete the project and bring the doll to life.

[Michu]

Since I'm considering at least $1000 already for a doll but that includes the outfit, wig, etc..that I picked out for her, I would have to say probably no more than $2000 for the absolutely perfect doll but it would have to include EVERYTHING.

I don't think I would make a distinction between the second hand market and store direct. Unless of course, there were defects involved.

[Karie Chaos]

For an absolutely pristine second-hand dream doll with all its bits and bobs included.... Probably no more than 1000, maybe 1500. To find it from a company with all the bits and bobs.... Whatever they charge, I'll pay. >> Second hand, unless it was severely limited I'd probably expect a few little dings and smudges, even if it was advertised as being in mint condition.

[toshirodragon]

I honestly can't imagine me personally, paying more than a thousannd on a doll.

I spent 800 on my MIB fullset Lati Aida and I felt that was a good deal as it included the shipping of two boxes from Canada.

[Karie Chaos]

Well, considering the 'dream' doll I want was limited and sold out just after I found that I could FINALLY afford a BJD at long last, I'd probably pay out the nose for it. XD But hey, if you're desperate, you're desperate.

[Mu Shu]

The most I've paid for a new doll is $800 and I felt guilty about that (until she arrived home!). For second-hand I've paid around $600. My current "dream doll" however is one of Dollmore's Lusion dolls, but I have not been able to convince myself to spend $1800!

[kurisuteru]

Considering Chaz is my most expensive doll at around $500 I don't think I'd go any higher, ever. I just can't condone such an amount of spending for myself.

[pbrennan42]

I am not a rich man at all. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

So I will limit myself to about $700 until my circumstances change.

When things are better, I might go up to $1,500 tops, but I doubt it.

Phil.

[sistinas]

I hope to never go over $2,000

[djsiberia]

i don't know, the most i've spent was recently on 2 mnf's, all the extra hands and a pair of shoes. i figure if i want it, i'll just save for it. i can't imagine spending $800 on 1 doll...or even $3000...it was hard enough to click the buy it now button for the mnf's.

[majikatt]

Well, it used to be $800...but for me now, what with wanting an Unoss (gah!) I am thinking of around $1500...lucky for me I already got her head haha!! Time to stalk YJ for a body :(

[juniormints]

i think more than 500 is too much fo rme but maybe that will change some once i finally have the money to get my boy a body right now he is just a head :(

[shirahime]

I can't really spend more than $AUS350.00 on a doll, maybe $AUS370 but budget constraints are harsh at the moment. My first doll I got recently was only $US320 including face up and that was with 15% off the original price (a christmas special event). That translates as more after currency conversion.

[lolkat]

It's really hard for me to guess how much I'd go up to!
Not only because my dream doll hasn't been made yet, but also a doll isnt complete for me until I've got all the right extras, accessories and the perfect wig etc. Buying all thses little bits off ebay really mounts up but I tend not to keep as close a check on that kind of spending as I ought to. >_>;;

1.)This is immaterial as I'm unemployed and struggling to pay the bills as it is but: £700 ($1080 USD) is probably as much as I could spend without hating myself. I've never even spent that much on a computer and I could always use the money for something more 'worthy'. And that would be on just the doll as I'm never impressed enough by fullsets and company faceups to pay the extra for them. I like to customize my dolls myself, anyway.

2.) If I was desperate, I still probably wouldn't spend more.

I'm one of those who assumes another sculpt I love will come along eventually, even though I don't fall for most of the dolls I see.

[AmyAngel]

I can't imagine going much over $1000. And it would have to be something super-spectacular for me to even consider that much. So far the most I've spent on one was $400, and that was really more than I should have spent! This is really just hypothetical, since I couldn't even consider spending $1000 on a doll right now. I have ALMOST enough saved to buy my next doll, and that's all the doll money available at the moment. Anything over $250 I can't even look at right now, and that money is reserved for the next one in the wishlist.

[toshirodragon]

Tedros, oh yeah he is special! Mrrrroowwww

Thought it WAS shipping that pushed it over...

[AmyAngel]

Oh yeah, if I could do it without being in serious financial trouble? Tedros would be ordered! But I'm being very good and saving up for Samuel. And his clothes, because he'd have just pajamas if I bought him today.

[Luxuria]

If there's a doll I want badly enough, I'll pay what the market price is (after saving etc). It's the financial sacrifice that comes with wanting certain kinds of dolls. Unoa Zero, Madoka, and a SD-13 FCS won't come for a small price. :(

[Ennui]

At the moment I'm having an internal war with myself whether or not I should spend about $1500 US for the doll I want. lol And it will be my first doll too. I keep debating and trying to reason with myself. :)

[Luxuria]

Ennui, if it (the doll) is what you really want, go for it. There isn't much point in getting something for a luxury hobby that isn't exactly what you want, imo.

[AmyAngel]

If it's the doll you really want, and you can spend that or save up for that without putting yourself in financial trouble, then I agree to go for it. That's why I went for the $400 one - he was exactly what I wanted, and I don't regret buying him at all.

[toshirodragon]

Absolutely, get the one you want. Because settling for another won't bring you the emotional fulfillment that the first will.

[jessipluto]

Hmmm... I think I have spent anywhere from 200 to 650 for a doll. It really depends on what doll it is and how much I really want it. The ones I have paid the most for were limiteds. There are still at least a few more I would get if opportunity presented it self that I would purchase no matter the price.

[aernath]

I used to think I'd never go over $1,000.
Now, I'm holding back from $2,000. Want Ryoya so bad, but... gotta pay the bills first. :(
Maybe next year.

[pbrennan42]

$2000? That's about £1600 in my money. No way I can ever stretch to that without a lottery win first...

Phil.

[Rheshard]

$2000 is far too rich for my blood.

Currently, my top price would be around $500 for a full-set of someone, but since I can make my own clothes, getting a nude doll for that amount works as well.

[Ennui]

Yeah the money isn't so much the problem at the moment, but I really would like a versatile doll. :) I was actually dead set on an expensive doll company as my first, just so I could jump head first into my newest obsession. lol But after looking around some more, I've actually decided to go with a cheaper company. Not because of price, but because of the face sculpt. The body and the hands are not my favorite, but I adore her face and I haven't seen anything like it in other companies. So I'm actually saving money as the doll is about $400 versus the $1500 I was expecting to spend. :)

[Chibi_Fluffy]

If I could do a layaway for many months... I'd say 1,500... but that would only be for a doll worth that (SOOM Super Gem MD Fullset).
Other then that 1000 is a big big max for me, and they better come with a lot of things....
For a nude doll 600ish is a max.

[Roulette]

I think I've spent the max I'm gonna ever spend on a doll which was Chiron by Souldoll. With shipping and default face up, which I recognize I may immediately wipe, he weighed in at about USD$750.00. Though given the opportuntity for the perfect doll to fit Ka'leth, I think I'd spend up to $1000.00 for the blank doll. I can't imagine spending more than that for a doll.

[gloombox]

My limit is $2000 per doll. I think I broke this by about $100 when I purchased my Shizu, but I needed her. Dream doll and all.

The only thing I would ever consider breaking $2000 for is a Dream FCS Madoka in snowskin white, with a faceup by K.Mayura, and a small bust SD13 body with Yugiri hands. ... *drools a little*

[Bobster]

The only thing I would ever consider breaking $2000 for is a Dream FCS Madoka in snowskin white, with a faceup by K.Mayura, and a small bust SD13 body with Yugiri hands. ... *drools a little*

I was surprised at how reasonable the one off dolls were on the 3ed Floor at Sato for the upcoming Dolpa. I don't think you would have to spend that much to get it. I asked about something odd a last week and after checking with management, they just wanted the payment up front for it and were very open to producing it.

Bobby

[Tygati]

I got my fullset Soom Euclase secondhand, and that right there is my limit. x_x I can't see doing that again.

[draw-my-heart-on]

i skip to second question because its 99% i'd buy it on the market
1)because i'm always broke when a limited edition is released xD
2)because i probably wont want to have it fullset with faceup

the maximum... 2000$? yes thats alot. but i was ready to pay 1400$ for soom euclase,(but i could'nt buy him TT^TT) and that was his price during summer, its probably higher now. so i'd be ready to go up to 2000$ :) if he has his bird feet xD
also, a woosoo head is almost 1000$ @_@ then a body can be up to 500$
so yah, 2000 seems decent (well sorta xD)

[aernath]

Too funny! I got my Euclase second hand too, and couldn't belieeeeeve I spent that much on one doll!
But... I do adore the bugger.
A little too much though. He just sits there in his crouch, his head just so, looking at me with that smirk...
I need to haul his grey butt outdoors and get some more camera time with him.

And these days? Yes, so many dolls out there are brushing close to $2000, it's not just Volks anymore, commanding those prices.

Oy. I think we're sunk!

[warmkitten]

Well I loved the Volks SDGrB Minoru Kamimura he would come with a face up and, Wig, Non-Commissioned Naval Officer's Cap, Naval Ensign Cadet's Military Jacket, Stand-up Collar Shirt, Military Pants, White Leather Gloves, Underwear, Socks, Black Leather Shoes, Naval Officer's Cloak. He was $1,210.00 I would totally pay that for him. Maybe one day....