How to discourage careless handling by those who are not in the hobby?

It happened yesterday again that you cannot assume people would be careful when they don't know about the value of your dolls. My daughter had a friend over, and when she showed her Banji doll to her, the friend's thumb somehow landed on Banji's face. She had clean hands and wasn't pressing, so no further damage, but I gently explained to her that this doll is much more expensive/delicate than, for example, a Monster High doll. Lesson learned: Next time, tell them BEFORE mistakes would happen.

 

I haven't encountered this problem yet, but I can see how frustrating it could be. I also think she should get her own dolls. Meanwhile I would keep your dolls out of her reach. If you don't want to say anything directly, just tell her you have packed them away or that you just don't want to bring them along when you and your friend are doing stuff together.

 

By the way, it's great dose of adrenaline, then you carry box with bjd in a tube and suddenly man stumble and grab your box before falling. I had such experience, there is no safety of situation like this.

 

I usually simply say... "Play as you like, just mind the face." those dolls are very durable so there's not much harm that can come to them so I don't worry. If its a big or otherwise heavy doll I also warn about their weight just so the person doesn't accidentally drop them. To this day I've never had any events where they were mishandled, by older people and even really young kids!

 

I've had many people near my dolls. I've had people that were too nervous or scared to hold my dolls because they were afraid to break them, people who pick them up without asking, people that touch their faces even though I tell them right when I pull them out, and I've had reckless children around them.

Most of my friends like to look at my dolls. They think the dolls are pretty and will just keep their distance from them. My family on the other hand like to pick them up without even asking me. When I get a new doll my sister will go up to him and lift him up improperly. Fortunately, I've been there to catch him if she ever drops one of them. My sister is actually thirteen years older than me and she's terrified of my dolls but she still picks them up and it makes me completely nervous.

I've had a few people touch my doll's faces even though I've told them not to touch the face right before I bring a doll out of the bag I'm carrying them in. In one instance, my aunt put the palm of her hand right on my first doll's cheek and I nearly had a heart attack there.

Also on the holidays, my family comes over to my house and they bring their children. The kids always come into my room because I have all the video game systems in my room. They also like to roughhouse in my room and when that happens I have to tell them to stop. If they don't stop, I will tell them to get out of my room. Sometimes I have to push them out and close the door. My sister also likes to bring her boyfriend's niece every so often. I don't mind her looking at them, but she can't touch them. She's very rough with her own toys and she did grab one of my boys by his leg so I have to keep an eye on her when she's around.

Even with all these things happening, none of my dolls have gotten damaged and their faceups are still in perfect condition.

Sorry for the long rambling. I think I'll stop here.

 

Most people just want to look at them and get nervous of holding them and doing something wrong, but I hardly interact with small kids. I always comment before hand that their face cannot be touched even if they don't want to touch them and say they are expenssive, this already make people wary enough lol the other who did holded them were super careful and didn't holded them for long.

 

She doesn't care about your feelings, why would you?
Just tell her the truth and get her a doll of her own. If she treat it like this she'll learn alone the hell she's doing.