Buying a new BJD

Buying a new BJD is generally a little more expensive than buying one second-hand, but for that money you do have the guarantee of getting what you want, and brand-new of course.

Where do you buy a BJD?
Are you traveling to the country of BJD-origin soon, or know someone who will and who doesn't mind a little detour? Then you can check if the maker of your target-doll has a physical store where dolls can be sold and/or picked up. For example; Volks and Azone International have multiple stores in Japan. You (or your now most-favourite friends/family member) do have to put the doll in their luggage and (depending on the price) possibly pay import-tax at the Customs Checkpoint, but you do avoid shipment costs.

When buying a new BJD online you have three options; you can buy directly from the maker, through an official dealer, or use a Proxy Service.

Buying from the maker
A purchase from the dollmaker themselves is the most direct way, with the shortest handling time, and minimal extra costs. You know for certain that your new purchase is brand-spanking new, and any clothes, accessories, or extra parts you buy along are guaranteed to fit.
On the other hand, most makers are in Asia, and because of that there are a few obstacles you may run into, such as;
- A language barrier
- Unfavourable exchange rates
- Import/Duty costs
- Maker doesn't sell outside of their own country/to the EU

The first three points on this list can be very frustrating, but with a little preparation and maybe some help from the online community they can be dealt with. Especially the first point about the language barrier probably won't give you too much trouble; most dollmakers have caught on to there being a market outside of Asia and have some form of English language-support on their sites.

Point four is where things get tough. Some dollmakers don't sell outside of their own country, for example because the administrative work that goes with it takes up too much time. In such a case you, as an international buyer, can try using an official dealer, or a Proxy Service.

Buying at official dealers
A purchase from an official dealer usually costs a little more, but when they are within the EU zone the import tax will be included in the price, and everything will be paid for in one go. Most dealers also trade with multiple makers, so you can order a doll from Maker A, shoes from Maker B, and a nice dress from Maker C all in one go (do check to make sure it will all fit!). Also, since dealers communicate with the makers directly, if something were to be wrong with your order they can help you sort it out.

You'll find a small selection of official dealers on our links page. Don't know which dealer to go to? Then visit the website of the maker whose doll you want to purchase; often they'll have a page where they mention their official dealers.

BEWARE! Did you find a dealer but the dollmaker makes no mention of them? Then you might have encountered a recaster. Visit our scam-prevention page to learn more about this.

Buying through a Proxy Service
No direct line to the dollmaker and no international dealers either? Then you can try getting your doll through a Proxy Service.
When you use a Proxy someone who does have access to the doll will get to work for you; they visit the store or place an order for the doll, and then send it on to you once they receive it. Proxy Services can be as small as a single person who happens to live near a store, or as large as a complete company, and the costs will vary depending on what you want to buy and which service you're using.
Not entirely sure about a Proxy? See if you can find reviews/user experiences, or ask other hobbyists if they have a Proxy they can recommend. Some dollmakers even have their own service recommendations!

In any case, you can find a couple of Proxy Services on our link page.

Written by Isabel