People who have sold dolls, how do you do it?

Hello everyone, sorry for the plethora of questions lately. I was wondering for people who have sold dolls, not out of emergency as I definitely understand that, how did you let go?

I am having a difficult time deciding whether or not to sell two of my girls. My Yukino V.2 and my Saber Extra Fullset. At the time they meant so much to me, but as I've grown as a collector my tastes have changed. I have a custom Saber Extra by @Bellatrix coming in, so I don't want two of the same sculpts in my collection. I also just don't love the company face-up for Yukino and I am not sure whether I want to sell her or modify her face-up with freckles etc.

So my question is, how do you let them go? I have an attachment to them and I want them to go to good homes where they'll be loved as much as I loved them, even though I know they are just plastic at the end of the day and don't have feelings etc.

I hope this makes sense and again I am sorry for the frequent questions as of late.

I've sold many dolls since being in the doll hobby. First thing to remember: they are just dolls at the end of the day. Don't feel guilty if you have to or want to sell them. Best case to determine if you are ready to sell is to put them away and out of sight for a few weeks. Did you miss them? If not, it's a good indication that maybe you've moved on.

I totally understand! I'm up in the air with my Sylanna (Meiko). I think I want to try to get her face done differently. A quick fix is definitely a different wig and eye change, but ultimately like I said putting them away and out of sight will help you determine if you would really regret letting them gone. Once I've found myself just not smiling anymore when I look at a doll and constantly doing the back and forth 'do I sell or do I not?', I know it's time to move on.

14 minutes ago, Mandie said:

Once I've found myself just not smiling anymore when I look at a doll and constantly doing the back and forth 'do I sell or do I not?', I know it's time to move on.

This is exactly how I feel, so it's good to know that this may be the time to sell them. They had both been in storage for three years, and I didn't really miss either of them even when I pulled them out again.

It's good to know that there shouldn't be any guilt either. Like it's so hard for me, but I think it's because I get incredibly attached to things. I think I'm going to take the plunge and say goodbye to both of them. They're ready to move on and so am I.

I feel you on this! I've sold many dolls during my time in the hobby, but I'd be lying if I said that some of those sales weren't hard to make. Some of are sentimental, we get attached, we remember how much they meant to us. Some of those sales I've even regretted, but at the end of the day, we can buy those sculpts back if we really want to. I always remind myself that it's better they go on to be appreciated in another home than neglected in mine! 😅

6 hours ago, MagicalRozen said:

It's good to know that there shouldn't be any guilt either. Like it's so hard for me, but I think it's because I get incredibly attached to things. I think I'm going to take the plunge and say goodbye to both of them. They're ready to move on and so am I.

Yes, definitely don't feel guilty! I know it can be hard to do sometimes. Wishing you all the best selling them and hope you find different girls that set your heart ablaze

I've sold MANY dolls, some of which were incredibly special to me and had to be sold out of necessity or because I wanted something else and needed the funds. It can be hard at first; I'll want to cancel the listing a few times or ask for an exorbitant price that doesn't match the market value at all (in the hopes they'll never sell and I get to keep them). But once they're gone, I always feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and feel like I've done something good for myself, and I feel a sense of freedom in that I now have space for something new.

Remember, you're only selling the doll- you get to keep your memories. 

After six years in the hobby, I've finally reached the point where if anything new is going to come in, something should go out. For me, getting my head around the fact that I don't need to keep something just because I've had it a long time, it was a shell for a character I'm fond of, or it was some arbitrary milestone is a game-changer. Marie Kondo is right: if it doesn't spark joy, it can move on.

And as Mizuumi pointed out, the memories will always be there. Characters can be re-shelled, etc.

11 hours ago, Mandie said:

Yes, definitely don't feel guilty! I know it can be hard to do sometimes. Wishing you all the best selling them and hope you find different girls that set your heart ablaze

Awe thank you very much! I truly appreciate it!

10 hours ago, Mizuumi-no-Otome said:

I've sold MANY dolls, some of which were incredibly special to me and had to be sold out of necessity or because I wanted something else and needed the funds. It can be hard at first; I'll want to cancel the listing a few times or ask for an exorbitant price that doesn't match the market value at all (in the hopes they'll never sell and I get to keep them). But once they're gone, I always feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and feel like I've done something good for myself, and I feel a sense of freedom in that I now have space for something new.

Remember, you're only selling the doll- you get to keep your memories. 

Wow this is a fantastic way to look at selling things and letting things go! ❤ Thank you so very much, it truly is appreciated!

7 hours ago, sugarbeta said:

After six years in the hobby, I've finally reached the point where if anything new is going to come in, something should go out. For me, getting my head around the fact that I don't need to keep something just because I've had it a long time, it was a shell for a character I'm fond of, or it was some arbitrary milestone is a game-changer. Marie Kondo is right: if it doesn't spark joy, it can move on.

And as Mizuumi pointed out, the memories will always be there. Characters can be re-shelled, etc.

Yes, this is exactly how I feel! So I just need to let go of these feelings and move on. They do not spark joy anymore, and the memories of when they did will always be with me.

Thank you so much it is so appreciated and everyone has made me feel so much better about letting them go. Thank you!

I've only sold one. This was because I really lacked that connection. I sold my 2B just because of this reason. 

All of the other models I own I'd probably never sell and especially my very first one, my DDH-06. She's too precious to ever separate with. All my trials and tribulations was with Alsty. I went through about 10 different shades of blue eyes to find the current perfect one. Same thing for the wig. I love leeke's blackberry color wig. I actually found the wig seconds hand as a side purchase. I'd never expect it'd be my absolute favorite of like about two dozen wigs. Every single piece of clothing i purchase, it's meant to dress up Alsty. She's the special one. 

If my house was burning down, she'd be the first thing I grab before running out. I'd let my car burn down in the garage first

Edited March 27, 2022 by mayaiincho
Stuff

Dolls that I don’t bond with, I don’t have an attachment to and it makes it easier to sell them, imo.

Like, if I can’t find a wig and eyes combo that works and makes me go “There you are” or “Well hello, You!” Then they won’t work out for me. 

I've only sold two dolls before.
Each, I contacted a friend who I felt would appreciate them before listing to see if they'd like dibs (two different dolls to two different friends, not the same friend).
Both times, luckily, I was right 😅 Both dolls 'look' a lot 'happier' with their new owners and are being given more attention than I'd ever give them myself.
I feel guilty leaving my dolls alone in their boxes for so long at a time, it actually felt BETTER to rehome two of them.

I don't know if I could have sold my dolls to someone I didn't know, though, I think I would be too stressed to go through with it. 😬

Ah... that's such a hard question to answer for me, if only because it makes me feel a little guilty in a way? Since I was last around in the DD hobby (5 years+ ago now) I've let go most of my old collection, including most but 1 of my grails/unicorns. My first DD, my belove Irie (DD Momo) has gone, all three of my idolmasters have gone (Chihaya, Makoto, Iori), even my DDS Mariko has gone, a doll I quested for for years. (funnily, she ended up with my best friend after being sold to another collector first, which I'm eternally happy for).

To this day I sometimes ask myself the same question too. 'How could I?' the crux of the answer I guess lies in 'I outgrew those dolls/ characters' and sometimes I was more in love with the idea of owning the doll than actually having it. It was also due to the fact that I finally got Yui Hirasawa, the one Dollfie Dream I wanted since the beginning but could never get, and she kind of... fulfilled my need for DDs, I didn't really *need* another girl if I had her. So when I needed funds for another hobby purchase, or while simply clearing things out they ended up getting sold. And I find it's not the dolls I miss so much, but their characters instead as it's to them that I was emotionally attached for the most part.

So where does the guilt come from? And well... that's mostly from the memories I shared of them with others in the hobby in a sense? Like, a lot of people cheered me on while I tried to hunt them down, friends were excited with me when I finally made those purchases... And after being gone for too long, I come back with a crew not even half the size of what it was when I left... so I feel like I'm letting them down? Silly I know, but it is what it is!

Ultimately there's no shame in selling a doll. If they have to go, they have to go, that's the natural evolution of any collection. You keep the good memories of having them and make space in your life (and on your shelves) for something new.