>>5245945I love them when I started the hobby in 08, and I was happy when I got my very first outfit from them.
Nowadays I hate their stuff, the fact that they re-use the same fabrics/buttons/looks again and againand sometimes sell cheap Taobao shoes for a lot of money made me stop looking at their shop. I still like some of their old sets (especially the white Christmas ones from yeaaars ago) and some odd bits and pieces I would still like to own but...nah.
If they had a system like Sadol where you can pick single parts from an outfit instead of having to buy the complete one I would maybe still buy from them.
>>5245563My first doll was DIM Achernar, I still own his head but it's in storage and won't be used anymore.
Only kept it because it was a gift from my father.
I liked him a lot in the beginning and did all kinds of silly things with him.
After I got my second doll, a 70cm guy, I already realized that I preferred the bigger, more realistic dolls.
He was a horrible first doll though, he had a weirdly shaped head, bad posing body and painting him was a nightmare.
DIM also didn't sell much clothes/eyes/wigs (still don't) so I had to shop in other stores around too.
DIM ain't bad, you just have to really like their aesthetic.
Else I'm seconding what others said, there are no real "beginner" companies. Just don't be an idiot and your doll will be fine.
If I had to pick one company though I would say LUTS. Big amount of different sizes, male and female dolls, five colors, lots of clothes/wigs/eyes and other things.
Also have been in the hobby for years now, have pretty normal waiting times and quality is good.