Newbie's Guide to BJD Ordering

I really should not frequent BJD social media forums, because I more often than not end up with anger management problems from reading people whine and complain about the most unbelievable BJD issues. The doll came with eyes they don't like. The doll didn't arrive in 30 days like the website said and now can't "bond" with it anymore, because it took so long. There are those who leave the head donut in between the neck and the head even though it looks crazy and then complain about it. The gift eyes are the wrong colour, even if the website says they'll be random. The skintone is nothing like they expected. The doll is so much bigger and heavier than they thought. "Hey, this is not the sculpt, I thought I ordered, but it's weird that my order page now has this doll there too!!" I swear...

Maybe I'll do a bit of whining and complaining too (it's my party here, so I'll cry if I want to. ROFL!). There seem to be a lot of people about who are incredibly poorly informed about the ways of the BJD business. When I first considered ordering a BJD, I observed. I studied. I learned. All the information is out for the finding. So few things came to me as a surprise then when the doll actually landed in my hands. Well, I've been prompted by sheer frustration to draw up a Newbie's Guide to BJD Ordering.

1. Before you order anything - learn about BJDs! Learn anything online you can on BJDs and how to take care of them. Learn that's it not easy, fast and carefree like buying a Barbie. Consider long and hard whether you're up for the task. Prepare to put some serious effort into making the doll work. Check Den of Angels, check BJD collectasy, read BJD blogs and tutorials, watch youtube videos on BJDs! Study owner pics of dolls (google picture search, Flickr, DoA galleries), so the skintone, face-up styles or proportions don't come as a surprise. Check the measurements, so the size doesn't come as a surprise. Study!!!

2. If you decide to go through with it and you've chosen your company and your doll: study some more! Read the DoA threads for the company you're ordering from: the discussions, the feedback, box opening and waiting room threads. Watch youtube box openings and reviews on your chosen doll. You'll learn some valuable stuff and a lot of bullshit, but you'll be prepared. Be critical about the information you learn. People's views on things are always subjective.

3. Prepare for misunderstandings if you communicate with the BJD company. There are likely going to be language barriers to overcome. Keep your language simple!

4. Before you press the "confirm order" button, make you're ordering the right doll for crying out loud! Consider getting a company face-up, so your first doll will look presentable. Get a cheap practice head to learn doing face-ups. (Or better yet, get paper! That's what I did. Helps a lot to be able to draw on paper well first.)

4. Prepare to wait long and hard. Most companies websites say 30 days of production. It usually means nothing in the BJD world. Consider also, that it's probably 30 working days, which amounts to a minimum of 6 weeks. The BJD company staff most likely have weekends off and holidays and what not just like all working people. The most common waiting time in my experience is 3 months. Check the DoA waiting room lists to get an idea of how fast the production on avarage is.

* If you order through dealers, prepare yourself for yet an extra month of waiting. When you order through a dealer, you're part of a group order. You're not just waiting for your own dolls, but every one else's dolls too who ordered at the same time. That's why I always order direct from the company if I can. The dolls do come faster that way when they're not part of a group order and they come straight to me, not via someone else in between. If I ever happen to order through any dealer for any company's dolls, I settle down for a 3-4 month wait.

* Prepare the pay import taxes and waiting for the customs to release your doll. The waiting times there depends on your country. *If you order during event season and are getting a gift doll or head, or other items with your order, prepare for more waiting. Getting two dolls, instead of one will naturally slow down the production process. Make that 30 working days for each doll.

*If you paid with layaway, don't expect to get the doll immediately when you've paid the last part off. Those who paid in full and ordered at the same time as you, should get their dolls first.

5. When you receive the doll, work at it until you're satisfied - don't just toss it on the market place first thing. Learn the skills: sueding, re-stringing, cleaning, doing face-ups, sanding, photographing... Practice and make the best of your doll. Remember that these are not like Barbies and not necessarily playable straight out of the box. They are art dolls. Treat it with respect, take good care of it and do your very best with it - and the doll will be rewarding for you.