What makes a doll popular?

I mean, there are ones that I completely can see why they're popular, Alna and Beatrice being examples. But then there are ones like Neris who seem solidly designed and the price doesn't keep up with the other released at the same time.

 

Does it actually have mostly to do with how divergent the head mold is from a ddh model?

Well, I can name a few things specifically for Neris (and Airy) that could be part of the reason their value has stayed low:

1. She's released on a DD2 body with no special features (Beato had shapely L-bust, WC Alna was the only WS DDy, etc)

2. She's released after Volks has announced DDS and the DD3 upgrade

3. She's based on a PSP game only released in Japan

4. Overproduction on Volks part (uncertain since they never release production numbers)

5. Large numbers of dolls purchased by resellers have flooded the market and kept prices low (also uncertain)

 

However, it's always possible that values will change over time. After all, even pre-order DDs like Yoko and the White Album girls have become as expensive as limited release DDs.

Hm, I hadn't thought about how likeness to an existing option head may affect a limited doll's appeal. There may be a bit of truth to it, but it's definitely not the whole picture. For instance, Mari has no strong resemblance to any of the option heads, but her demand is nowhere near that of the more coveted ones like Tamaki or Yuki Morikawa. In some cases, popularity of the licensed character may have an effect, e.g. Saber's various editions.

 

But really, I'm often flabbergasted by who ends up highly coveted and who gets only a moderate appreciation in price. Tamaki versus Airy, let's say. They have some similarities in sculpt. Airy's price has gone up a bit, especially as more owners post pictures of her with different eyes in. But it's nothing like Tamaki. Tamaki easily goes for quadruple her retail, and frankly I don't get it. ^^; Sure, I enjoy looking at pictures of her, and I think she's pretty, but personally she doesn't make my heart skip a beat enough to pay anywhere near as much as she goes for.

 

I do have to wonder if maybe there's a bit of a bubble mentality going on. Maybe not quite as much Stateside or outside Japan, but it seems possible looking at YJA, which seems the main place that dictates the price of an aftermarket DD. There are definitely scalpers on there, and by extension probably more than a few people who look at collectibles as an investment rather than a hobby. For whatever weird reason, I guess some DDs just catch their attention as a better investment. Pile that up with collectors who really do want the doll for itself and are willing to pay through the nose to get it, and you get a few DDs who almost randomly appreciate.

*nod* I guess I used Neris as an example not just because I got her head but because Airy had similar production situation and seems to be more sought after now.

 

Since I don't have DOA access all I've had to go on have been the prices as an abstract measurement of popularity. And I thought about it last night because of the thread on the Kyoto 9 models and people's reactions to the dolls.

 

On Mari though... I've heard people say they don't like the character in the anime itself. I don't know if it's her personality, or that she wasn't in the tv version, but it is there.

I have to agree that the initial base character popularity has something to do with the value, but also just how pretty some of the dolls turn out.

 

For instance varying values. Haruhi Suzumiya DD*s used to go for some premiums when the first season of the series was in its best stride. But recently values have come down a bit if Yahoo auctions is anything to go by.

 

With some patience you might see one going for just retail value, as used though.

 

Another example is the Fortune arterial models, Kiriha, and Erika. I think Volks had trouble selling all of the Erika's they had made initially, atleast I remember atleast one being for sale on their site for the longest of times.

 

There was a minor spike in Erika's price on yahoo, when the anime adaption of the game came along, but I guess the price has now come back down (there's one currently being auctioned, so will have to see that for a current day value).

 

Kiriha however, is just generally a very pretty looking doll, and has always had some kind of premium attached.

 

General rarity is also one thing I suppose.

 

For instance when I got my Shinos there was quite a lot of them on sale, and the prices were relatively low for the ones with some bits missing. Now you rarely see any being auctioned, and when one comes up, it usually would go over retail.

 

One thing to keep in mind about Yahoo prices is not take too much stock in the direct from dollpa mayhem days, when dolls that have just been sold at the actual event come for auction. These prices are usually blown way out of proportions.

 

Generally the after event day one's tend to set the overall value when the most impatient people have gotten their ladies.

In Mari's case, her glasses being defective might play a part in keeping her price low. Not that everyone is even going to use the glasses, but I can see why someone wouldn't want to pay $700 for a defective item. (not sure what the going rate is for Mari, but that's what I paid for mine.)

Danny Choo

Danny Choo

LMAO XD

but Aoi is not that popular, Miu and Reimu arent that popular either.

Character popularity, and obviously sculpt.

 

There are insane bubbles on Yahoo for certain dollfies as well.

Danny Choo

 

 

Actually, I disagree. Danny doesn't make them popular. He makes them EXPENSIVE.

 

 

Billy

Danny Choo

 

 

Actually, I disagree. Danny doesn't make them popular. He makes them EXPENSIVE.

 

 

Billy

 

 

AMEN!!

I think its a combination of the looks particularly the head-sculpt, the character they are based on and the popularity of the series, and then like everything else just random trends, right place right time.

 

When a doll ticks all the boxes, they seem to become extremely popular.

 

Rin for example is one of the prettier and more balanced head-scuplts, difficult to dislike and she is also one of the stronger characters from a very popular media franchise. Saber it is a similar thing.

 

Then you get characters who tick one of the boxes, and they tend to be moderately popular. Haruhi suzumiya for example is from a very popular series, but she is not breathtakingly popular, because many people must not be blown away by her design.

 

Unsurprisingly, when it is possible to get the same head-sculpt in another model or even as an option head the price is generally lower as the buyer is paying for far less exclusive parts.

 

Sirius for example despite having unique clothing, doesn't seem to fetch that much on the used market, as she shares head-sculpts with both Kyoko and Yumi.

 

This can also be seen if you observe bother versions of Rei. The maid version of Rei has a unique headscuplt and fetches a lot of money. The other version has an option head and is not as popular.

This can also be seen if you observe bother versions of Rei. The maid version of Rei has a unique headscuplt and fetches a lot of money. The other version has an option head and is not as popular.

 

 

Maybe because she is an old DDI girl? Everyone changes her body for an DD2...

This can also be seen if you observe bother versions of Rei. The maid version of Rei has a unique headscuplt and fetches a lot of money. The other version has an option head and is not as popular.

 

 

Maybe because she is an old DDI girl? Everyone changes her body for an DD2...

 

 

Since I own an original Rei, I just wanted to interject here. When I purchased my Rei in a Mandarake store in Osaka, I noticed her body looked a little different from the DDdy I had at home but I didn't know she was strung. I tried to make her work for me but the DDI body finally drove me nuts! So Rei got upgraded and I really fell for her after that. So I totally understand why people upgrade her body.

 

As far as pricing goes for the Rei's, the lower prices on Rei V1 are lower because of the DDI body. So you're basically paying for the head, clothing and eyes. The Rei V2 has the upgraded body and cool maid clothes and she was more limited so I think that's why her prices are higher.

 

Personally, I prefer the V1 of Rei to the newer V2. The newer one just doesn't have the right "feel" of Rei, to me anyway. But that's just my opinion.

 

 

Billy

The more people show her, the more people like her; the more people buy her, the more popular that DD is and the more expensive she is

I believe its all bout facial beauty. If its not pretty, its not going to sell. Different body types are great and all but if her face isn't up to par than the doll crumbles.