Recasts aren’t the answer
With the rise of tensions of what’s happening with Luo, this feels relevant and time to debunk the “good” of buying a recast and as to why supporting the artists is important and more than just a few talking points
Here’s the most common ones I’ve seen in my 6 ½ years of being in this hobby and of my own experience of being in this position of why people defend for getting a recast or being pro recast. I will give responses why they are not best reasons and I will do one better without saying or insinuating people who are pro-recast are “thieves”, “entitled”, or “fakebabies”:
The community is full of elitists and rich people, I don’t make a lot of money and this hobby is expensive, the community doesn’t understand
Just like the 1 percent in the world, they are the 1 percent in the community as well. Not everyone in this luxery hobby are rich or have high paying jobs. Almost everyone in community are regular people with minimum wage jobs that’s saves, budget, sell stuff to get their dolls, and take layaways to afford the dolls they want. So don’t feel ashamed, you won’t be judged if you can’t get every doll you want or is expensive. The community will understand are very likely going through the same thing
The community only cares if I buy from an expensive doll and doesn’t like cheaper companies, they’ll bully me if I don’t have an expensive doll
Like every hobby, not everyone is perfect. There are people here and there who only go based off what dolls you buy to judge you as a person and may not be too favorable of cheaper companies, but just just like the other communities, they don’t define the the community and aren’t as common as you think, pretty rare actually. A huge majority of the community will accept your dolls no matter what company it was bought from or how much it was. Having a legit doll that you love is all you need, no requirements for dropping a stack and having expensive customization at all.
Doll companies are rich people, recasts won’t effect them
Doll artists may charge a lot for their dolls, but that doesn’t mean they are swimming in money. I may not be able to speak for all artists, but they are just like any small time business owner, they have expenses for their business and a life outside their job and rely on the sales of what they sell. The money they get from dolls goes towards the creation of future dolls and for preorders as well as being able to live comfortably. They’re not large corporations, almost all companies are usually a small team or can be one person that runs their business from their home. And unlike larger companies or corporations, if their business doesn’t work out due to declining sales of knockoffs, they may not be able to bounce back from this financially or emotionally from being stolen from to be able to continue being an artist and make the dolls that give life to the hobby
Company X is expensive and I wasn’t going to give them my money anyway so that’s why it’s no harm in buying a recast of that company’s dolls
It still does. The money you could have paid the artist and will contribute to the future of the hobby went to someone who won’t contribute and continue to steal from the artists of the companies you say you “love”. From the companies perspective, it’s not a good feeling to see that someone would rather pay someone who steals from you and while saying they love your work. If you don’t want a certain doll because it’s too expensive, it’s understandable and you are not alone on the way you think, however, there are other options you can do to still save money or look into cheaper companies
I’m not the one stealing the dolls, it’s the recasters that needs to be held responsible, not me. It’s not illegal to buy/own a recast.
While it is not illegal to own a counterfeit in every country, buying one doesn’t fully take away that you are expanding their business. Buying from a recaster means you’re giving them support to continue steal from artists, including more recently Luo buying trademarks form the companies and having the money to fake boxes, papers, and headplates. If they didn’t get as much money from what they do, they wouldn’t continue recasting and gotten to the point where we are now.
The recaster bought the doll so the artist was already paid for it. It’s not “stolen”
While it is true they bought the doll, it is still stolen. If the artist didn’t give permission for the recaster to make their own copies, then it is illegally made, ergo they are stolen. That’s why the recasters can face legal action towards them for making and are unauthorized copies and is why they are considered illegal.
Buying secondhand doesn’t help the artists and no different than buying recasts
True, the money from secondhand hand doesn’t give back directly to the artists themselves, but it CAN go back to the same artists of the person decides to go to company directly and it still shows support towards the company even if they don’t always get the money from the secondhand sale. And besides, artists do not mind if they’re doll is sold secondhand (some pay attention more than others and will signal boost when they’re dolls are being sold secondhand), all that matters is seeing what people will customize with their dolls and being happy with their creation, that’s what drives them to create more.
I don’t want to buy secondhand, I don’t know what that person did to that doll and/or pay for a used doll
It is valid to not want to buy from the secondhand market due to being unsure of the origins and handling, however buying a recast is still not the answer. There is feedback on so many people in the marketplace and there can also be great deals in the market to get that doll you want and can be better than buying directly from the company. If you want a unused doll, but from someone who got the doll recently and you still have the option to buy directly from the company, there is nothing more “unused” than a brand new doll
The artists made X sculpt I like and never released it again and I don’t want to pay secondhand price. The secondhand market is full of scalpers
It can be like that at times, especially with limited releases, but it isn’t the entire market. However, if you’re wanting to buy a very rare limited doll, there is a reason why it has a high price due to value of it going up. Its normal in hobby such as this one and just like anyone else, you have to save up or you’ll have to wait to show up in the market, and if it’s really out of reach for you, you simply have to accept that you won’t be able to get that doll, it’s not the best feeling, but everyone in this hobby go through that’s at least one point in time in the hobby. People go years before they find that doll they’ve been looking for, so you’re definitely not the only one
The artist didn’t make the doll I wanted in the resin color I wanted for a character of mine
While it is disappointing, there can be many reasons why dolls aren’t made in a certain resin color. Many times is due to certain colors are not very easy to accomplish (especially if the artist does their own casting), or that artists isn’t the kind to release a doll in specific color, specifically if it’s a fantasy color as not all doll makers are fond of it. The good thing is that over the years there are more companies making dolls in other resin colors other just then normal, white, or tan skin so maybe the color you want isn’t available yet but it could be, and there is dying as an option as well. It does take practice, but once it’s perfected, you can get the color you want for that sculpt you wanted
Recasts help companies see what dolls people want in their dolls, so that way they can improve on what they can do to be better to improve and compete with recasts
It may seem that way, but it does the opposite. Artists do not feel happy at people buying illegal copies from someone who is piggybacking on their hard earned work or see it as a way to “research” what they can do better. It does discourage them to them point where it does effect their work and what dolls they release. It may not be that artists are closing up shop left and right, but the effects of recasts don’t “motivate” companies on how to work harder to be better, it’s only caused them to work harder to prevent further and future theft.
Recasts give people who are poor and opportunity to get dolls, legit dolls are expensive
It may seem that’s way, and that’s ok to feel that this hobby is expensive but there is another way. As stated before, you can save money on the side or have a doll fund for your expenses for the hobby. If you want a cheaper doll, there are MANY companies, other than Resinsoul, Hujoo, or Mirodoll, that offer great dolls at great prices and can be as much as a recast or lower. If that doll you want is available from a dealer, doing a layaway (ones that don’t last years) is a great help get the doll you want without dropping so much money at once. Many companies more than ever do offer layaway as well to make their dolls more accessible to its buyers.
Knock offs have been around for years which is why it’s not a big deal
They have, but many companies fight for knock offs of their work to be removed, so it’s definitely not very well accepted, especially in art based markets. Knock offs have destroyed many markets over time and is the reason why they are not accepted in this community as our hobby which isn’t a large one and the results can be faster or more harmful than of ones that have a larger market. That’s where the concern comes with our community and why we want to prevent it from progressing from the increase of knockoffs.
Buying a recast is like buying from a cheaper clothes store vs a high end fashion line
Buying from cheaper fashion stores is not like buying a recast. When you go to stores like forever21, you don’t find exact copies right down to the seams from high end fashion companies such as Gucci as if they bought them and reproduced them. While they may have look alikes and inspired looks, they are not direct copies of the said fashion they’re inspired by. When you buy a recast, you’re buying a direct (and illegally made) counterfeit of the doll that was recast, that’s why it’s considered that recasts are taking away sales. If you want to get a cheaper doll (and correctly use that analogy), there are a lot of doll companies that make affordable dolls that can be chosen from and save money.
There are other hobby communities that accept knock offs so why not this one
Not every community is the same And while there are some communities that “tolerate” them, but that doesn’t mean they are accepted. Blythes, Figure collectors, garage kit makers, Lolita, etc. are hobby’s that are alike to bjds (communities that have an artistic aspect to them) and also have a lot of knock offs in their hobby, but they still have awareness and ways for people to point out fakes from real to support the companies. While knock offs having shut down those hobbies or ours, the effect of them still has left negative mark on the community as well as the artists.
The economy is declining and isn’t like how it used to be which is why recasts were made to make bjds more accessible to everyone and a valid option for getting a bjd
Its true that the economy is failing in many parts of the world and the population not being able to spend money like they used to. It is a very serious problem even in the most developed countries. However, just yourself and others in the community who may also be facing financial hardships, the artists also feel the weight of this as well, if not more. Unlike corporations, small business get the short end of the stick of a failing economy as they are more prone to shut down due to declining sales and increased costs for business. That is why it’s more important than ever to support the companies because just as you, they also want to survive this economic decline and still have a job.
The community will not accept me if I go legit and only go by my past
If you go legit, the community will most definitely accept you. Your past does not define you if you’re making this change to be a better individual. It is true there are people who do not let go of the past, but your time and participation in the hobby is not to impress anyone and you’re in this hobby for yourself and no one else. The fact you decided the change is great and that’s all that matters.
I felt there may be more, but these are the general ones I’ve seen pop up anytime there has been an debate about recasts.
I can understand why you feel you have to get a recast from a personal level and my own experience. Not having a lot of money, feeling pier pressured to have the best dolls, what you see in the community, etc., but when you buy a recast, your actions affect everyone in the community, this includes the artists that make the dolls that you love and bought a recast of. They cause real consequences on the community and have only gotten worse over time. Before we only had to be careful if someone was selling an recast as a legitimate doll and only had to spot bad casting and missing papers, now we have to worry even more since they can make near perfect copies, fake headplates, papers, boxes, as well as now one of the most notorious recaster are now taking their trademarks. That wouldn’t have been possible if they didn’t have constant support of their business
Being pro-artist isn’t about people showing off how expensive their dolls are, or thinking that we are only doing this because we want to feel special or this is a kind of rich kid club. Being pro-artist is doing what is right andsupporting the artists who make this hobby possible and not those who actively steal from them.
The artists behind the companies that make the dolls of the hobby that I know what brought you in, let’s show them support so that we all can continue to enjoy this hobby.
janainaart
izzy806
pixelskylines
kianamaiart
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
ellievsbear
turnnoffyourmind
