Collection Indecision

I just had this experience. There was a doll I DESPERATELY wanted, searched the market for nonstop and finally got it. When it arrived I loved it, but I wasn’t crazy about the doll’s head, and had been planning a MNF hybrid. The hybrid head came in, I put it on her, and…did not feel the instant love I had expected. I tried different wigs, clothes, posing etc but there was always something bugging me about her. Even though I did appreciate her beauty sometimes! In theory I should’ve loved her because I loved her face sculpt and her body sculpt, but something just didn’t sit right and it really affected my enjoyment of the doll. Eventually I sat myself down and asked myself: If I could trade her for x y z doll, would I? And the answer was yes. So I knew it was time to pass her along!

For me the thing that was hard to get over was the personal embarrassment I felt about being so excited, searching so hard, and then being like “yeah I don’t dig this.” I was kind of ashamed about my purchasing decisions.

I was also trying to force myself to like something different because I felt dumb for liking a very similar doll type across my collection. I kind of felt societal pressure to diversify, almost? But you like what you like and shouldn’t be ashamed of what you like in dolls. If you have a doll type, you do. Who cares! Now I’m trading for two dolls I really adore that fit squarely in my “type” xD

So maybe have an honest talk with yourself and see if that’s affecting you at all too!

 

I don't buy a doll 's until I have an entire character and outfit planned out for them or how they'll fit in with the rest of the group

 

I think that's a really good idea to just pack them up and put them away for awhile. Walk by the empty spaces frequently and see how it makes you feel.
If it's really distressing to you, then hang onto them for awhile longer. Sooner or later you will be able to make the right decision.
Best of luck to you!

 

I'm like that now with one of my dolls. The biggest problem is that the dealer that I ordered her legs from, I think never ordered them. And, the legs are already been paid for long ago and I know that I'll never order a doll that color again (even if they could color match it).
So, don't know if I try selling her now, or wait to sell her, or try to work with her.

Spoiler: Derailing

The problem with working with her, is that she doesn't strike me like her promo images (in person, she's not that girl). And, the story I made up for her, while waiting for her vanished. By vanished, I mean my brain gave me an image of what to make her into and I have no desire to make her into that and that I'd be disappointed with the result. I don't care to try, just for her, but she's almost always the first doll I pick up. If I don't like her, it's okay. But, at the same time my brain is making up that "there's no other doll like her", (edit: because that isn't true). So, should I sell??
I have no imagination to give her the make over that she needs to fit the new image. (And, I'm nor sure if that image is interesting to me.) My brain doesn't say "I like you" when I pick her up. I want her to move me and not be "just okay".

 

I've had this dilemma as well, especially with the doll sizing and LE items that are now discontinued.

I like the idea of 1/4 dolls for easier handling, but most sculpts lean towards the cuter side, whereas the 1/3+ dolls take up more space and can be a pain to handle at times. The 75cm dolls are half my height….but I love how mature they look and that really draws me in towards them. Which made me question on if I should let go of some dolls, to which I did end up letting go of a few 1/4 sculpts with no regrets.

One current issue is, I have a LE 1/4 doll head that's been discontinued. He's still new and nude, so I've considered selling him off a couple of times, but then I would see photos of him w/ full face-up from other collectors and artists and it'd make me question myself if I should really let him go. Would I come to regret selling him because he's no longer being made? So I'm still debating myself on this.

 

I really need to go through my collection some time soon, sort the floating heads and boxed dolls, and… put them all to one side again. I don’t know why I do it; I get too attached to ideas, and there must be some subconscious notion of ‘I’ll do something with you, eventually’. It’s that ‘eventually’ that I can’t get over, like I’m waiting for the *perfect* character for them. Plus, I think I’m worried they’ll sit on the market for ages, too, so I might as well hold on to them a while longer. Just until the economy allows more people to make such luxury purchases again.

But, one day, I will thin out my collection. Or get creative with all of them.

 

I finally managed to sell a rolling head I had. I loved it as soon as I saw it and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm a compulsive shopper. If at a specific moment I like something, I get a rush and buy it without thinking, I'm dealing with it so it doesn't happen, but the one I sold was the result of that rush. I'm glad to know that even though it didn't fit in my family, it's now in the home of someone who will treasure it and give it life.

 

I mean, the lowest cost strategy is just set up multiple dolls and switch wigs and clothes around and feel the vibe.

I had a resin soul I was about ready to sell (I'm not a big fan to start with, but he taught me a lot of bjd lessons) I slapped a head on I was not vibing with that came with a abody I traded for. Voila, I now have a doll I actually really like now in his cute little outfit. From two bits I did not care for separated.

So for floating heads? Do a face up, just mess around and see if you get some inspiration. On the one hand, you got practice, on the other, you can see if you got something hiding within the doll. Kind of like Michaelangelo talking about finding his statues in the blocks of marble, he just had to let them out, lol. So long as you seal it right, you can always just wipe it, but if you did. Have decent job, you might help convince someone to buy it if you a vision so to speak.

Another way is to consider mods. I've goofed around with heads that I was very meh about and suddenly I am very excited to do a face up and make a wig and get them dressed cause now it's a new guy. Some thing simple like elf ears, demon horns, vampire teeth, y'know bjd basics. It kind harms the selling potential, ngl, but if it's something that really gets you going, you did buy the doll originally for your pleasure.

I've also gotten dolls with proportions I didn't like once I got it. Ive shaved stuff down, cut stuff down, or added just so that it's more pleasing to me and makes me want to keep it. There was something I liked, so with a few adjustments and elbow grease, I can make it my personal ideal doll

Consider trades! Ive been trying to stick to SD's so I've been open to trading msd's. I only trade with a goal on mind and a bunch of people are open to it if you offer to pay the difference if they have the more expensive doll. Or you be willing to take a little cash if you get a doll you want that's maybe worth less value then the one you have.

There are so many ways to get back Into the doll. But if you look at the doll and you just hate the idea of trying new things with it, you gotta let it go.

 

I’ve only ever sold a full doll once. Loved her, but circumstances surrounding her arrival spoiled her for me. I don’t regret that.

Where I have had indecision is with floating heads. There’s one I badly regret selling. Another I won’t sell because it’s a practice head, but I like the sculpt and go back and forth between wanting a body for her or not. Though I’d need another practice head if I did that lol.

Yet another head, the Summer 2009 event head from Luts — I tried to unload this thing for years but no one bought it. It’s grown on me now though and I definitely don’t want to sell it anymore. Still, I am not sure if I want to invest in a body for him either, so for now his head is floating alone on a shelf.