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"Downsizing" the hobby -- c/would you?

Jan 11, 2013

    1. I don't think I could ever downsize (unless I was moving out of the country and had some crazy amount of huge dolls) and I really don't feel the need to since I only have one doll right now and don't really think I'll have more than 5 anyway.

      unless I was in danger of losing my home and/or going hungry (or I end up not liking the doll/dolls) I don't think I should feel the need to downsize and because neither of those things has happened to me as a result of this hobby so I don't feel the need to downsize and won't.
       
    2. I form... VERY strong bonds with inanimate objects, sometimes. I have 'purged' my stuffed animal 'collection' from when I was younger many times, and it's always really hard to say goodbye to whoever I'm letting go, even if I haven't played with them for years and I don't even SEE them most of the time because they're buried under other stuffed animals... When I got my second doll, I realized how little I'd bonded with my first doll, and I thought about selling her over and over, but even though I didn't (still don't) know who she was, I thought she was just so beautiful, and I couldn't' do it.

      Most of my 'downsizing' happens in the wishlist stage. I'll realize I have a crazy amount of dolls that I want, and that I really will not have the space or time that each of them deserve. I've often thought about trying to just have ONE (or maybe two, tops) doll(s) but I love all my dolls in different ways. I think I know who I'd keep if my life depended on keeping only one of my dolls, but I get the feeling he'd be kind of... boring? on his own... I truly hope I never have to sell a lot of dolls. I do my very best to keep my collection to a minimum of characters who DEMANDED to be dolls, so for that reason it's very difficult to decide who I'd sell, since I bond with them SO DAMN MUCH.

      Augh!
       
    3. I am currently in the process of downsizing because frankly I should. The two dolls I'm selling are of awkward size for what I do with my dolls (65 cm, which it's difficult to find/make clothing for) and I bought them on impulse rather than for my projects. I could really use the money they will bring in.

      I don't particularly want to downsize as I still have a fair amount of affection for both of them, but it's a matter of advisability at this point. It will make room for dolls I will actually play with, and prove to the significant people in my life that this is a hobby and not an obsession/compulsion, which has been problematic for me.

      I will be keeping the dolls I love the most and play with the most, which is the important thing.

      I don't think I could downsize any further than what I am doing, though.
       
    4. I've already run out of room, to the point where one or two of my dolls is sitting in a closet. My biggest problem is lack of stands, but slowly I'll fix that. And I'd be more willing to get rid of other things to make room for dolls than the other way around. I bought each of my dolls because I genuinely love them. If I were disappointed I'd know right away and sell, but I wouldn't downsize because I needed room or for falling out of love with one of them.
       
    5. I thought of downsizing before and I'm certain that, sooner or later, I will.
      I have not only BJDs but also other kinds of dolls, and I always thought three was the perfect maximum amount to own, for each kind. More than that is just too much... So I usually get only one doll or find myself with three. But in some cases I surpassed that amount =_=
      Anyway, I've never had much space, so at some point, my dolls all ended inside my closet... :(( I plan on having a cabinet for them after I move, because I hate having to hide them like that. And when I do, I will certainly own less dolls than I do now.
      I'm not sure if I could keep only one bjd, though; so much money, time, and effort were invested in them. I never buy bjds on impulse, I always think so carefully before purchasing them.
      In the end, they just become special and dear to me, partly for being few.
       
    6. I've downsized several times in the past, I think I topped out around 20 BJD at some point, but I also have a habit of impulse buying after I sell so sometimes it is tough to stay committed. It isn't happening as much now because I am finding less and less new dolls I need to have. I'd like to get to 8 or 9 someday and stay there. I know who those dolls are, and I'd likely keep them regardless of my involvement in the hobby. That said, I do have other dolls I'd like to get rid of first, but sometimes they're harder to move out the door to interested parties.
       
    7. I really dont trust people with the horror stories I have read in the marketplace feed back threads, and ebay. I try to be picky about the dolls I buy because I dont plan on selling them.
       
    8. I will have four dolls shortly and I already feel like downsizing. I didn't quite get attached or "bond" with my first doll very well, which left me stuck in the "searching for the right doll" stage. My second doll was bought because I fell in-love with how someone had styled their own version on the mold, but I'm not feeling mine. My third doll was the first one I felt like I really bonded with, and I have hopes for my fourth. I am a little hesitant to sell the first two, however, because I have never sold anything before, but I would really like to.
       
    9. There are a few dolls I think I could part with if I absolutely needed to, but I'd want to get new ones to keep the characters! I don't think I could really downsize permanently. I've had some of my dolls for too long; anywhere I lived would feel empty without them. That said, I think I'd probably downsize on non-doll things first.
       
    10. I've downsized before, but I feel like I may need to again. I never thought that I would have so many dolls at one time.. I honestly felt the most comfortable when I had three. Now I'm too attached to the molds that I do have - it would be difficult to get rid of any of them. I'm happy with my doll family, but at the same time, I feel overwhelmed by the numbers. orz'
       
    11. Because of the money and the space I have to downsize sometimes.....unfortunately.
      But bevore a few days I have sold my fairyland Lishe and I really repent it. If I could I would take her back......
       
    12. I pretty much eliminated my Yosd and Msd dolls with all their stuff and clothes, too.
      When I downsized two rolling SD heads I also sold their wigs. I kept the eyes, tho.
      To be honest, I just felt relieved.

      Now a whole lot later I'm getting another MSD and new stuff and it just feels like a new beginning.
      I don't regret anything at all. Neither selling them nor getting them. ^^
       
    13. Sure, why not. Downsizing is a part of every hobby's evolution, as you try various things to find out what you do and don't like. Once you've identified an aspect that isn't working for you any more, it's time to let items related to it go. Less physical stuff around is usually a good thing. It allows you to focus most on the things that are important to you.
       
    14. I've been downsizing for several years now, not only my BJDs but other dolls & entire collections of a variety of stuff. Some of it I miss but some of it I don't & I always need the money whether to buy another doll or just to supplement my income. I'm just about at the point though where I'm down to my very favorite dolls. There is still quite a herd of them that I can't bear to let go of yet. But I knew when I got into BJDs that there would be some turnover as I've been collecting dolls in general for 27 years now. (I know some of you weren't even born yet & I was in my early thirties when I started.) I'm really into it for the long haul though. I mean after all these years my love of dolls still hasn't faded & I find BJDs to be my favorites of them all. So even though I regularly downsize, I can't imagine not having any dolls at all.
       
    15. To acquire more is one thing but once they all get their place and take on a character of their own, it would be like disowning family to an extent. True, technically they're "just inanimate objects" so there's also monetary value if need be but that doesn't mean it would always be easy.
       
    16. That's a tough question...but eventually years (many many years) down the road from now I will/might have to, as I often being told I've way too many and not enough space. I love my dolls, I did lots of research before purchase them just to make sure it's what I wanted, all of them are second hands, so they are rather hard to replace as some of the are either, old, discontinued or company is no longer in business.
      I've never downsize before, I wouldn't even know when to begin as I love each and everyone of my dolls.
       
    17. Yes, I tried downsizing my collection - the result: I now have more dolls than I did when I began said downsizing!!! :?
      Apparently I replaced my large dolls with tinies, which were easier to get a hold of financially.
       
    18. A few pages ago I said I was trying to downsize, to just focus on spoiling a few special dolls.
      Welp, that's totally blown up in my face!
      I managed to get rid of 1 and a floating head, and replaced that with another of equal size and one larger. Whoops. So I guess my collection has gotten larger.
      There are still two who may possibly move on (or rather, one and a head, to solve my issue of having more heads than bodies) but I have to finish faceups. Then I need to put them all together and see who doesn't mesh well with the group.
      It's mostly become a... trying to make my group a bit more cohesive thing, than it is about only wanting a few dolls. Something inside has snapped, and where before I wanted no more than 5 total, I'm suddenly ok with a larger group. I may even go for more sooner than later XD
       
    19. Even though I've been in the hobby for so long, I'm not particularly active outside of my own activities (eg.I rarely post or go to meetups..) and I buy my dolls very slowly/well spaced apart... So I don't think there is a need to downsize.

      As for whether or not I'd ever do so in the future? I can't say for sure... But I'm a very sentimental person, it's difficult for me to let things go so I doubt it..?? =O Plus I've had Haneul since I was a kid/teenager basically... Even Miyuki I got when I was a teenager too... So they both hold a lot of my memories~ I think of them as friends, so I think they are with me for keeps. ^^
       
    20. I agree with you. I personally only plan to have 5 total because I believe it diminishes their value, plus I feel like I could keep up with 5.:sweat