10 Doll Collecting Difficulties

[CherylAnnRose]

I didn’t think there could be 10 difficulties but you nailed it. I can relate to all that covered. Funny, I had to pause the video because the delivery dropped off a doll package. Tomorrow, if I can wake up early enough going to the flea market to look for….dolls! I didn’t think I’d turn into a collector when I got my first Blythe but 3 years later I probably have a hundred different dolls! Yikes! I’m in a 1200 sq ft condo and need to figure something out. I love your doll room by the way. Oh, and your Tuttle is adorable!

[LouisasKnitKnacks]

My biggest difficulty was realizing that I’d much rather look at dolls than own them! I LOVE looking at your dolls and other peoples’ dolls on social media. I keep lists of dolls that I like, and I browse available dolls CONSTANTLY. When I first got into collecting, I bought a few (I have never been an impulse buyer), but a few months later, I’d realize I had never bonded with the doll, so I’d sell it. I currently have 5 dolls, and that seems to be the perfect number for me. I’m not opposed to having a larger collection if I come across something that I really love and bond with, but most of the enjoyment I get out of my dolls is from making things for them (I knit, sew, and crochet). I can make the same five dolls a billion different outfits and not get bored, so I don’t feel much need to increase the size of my collection. I seriously admire folks with large collections who genuinely love every doll, like you clearly do!

[SaraA]

One of my difficulties is being understood and accepted as a collector of dolls and toys. Sometimes I don't feel completely understood by the people around me. I have no friends in collecting and therefore I don't even have the problem of competition or who comes first ..
The budget I have is very limited as is the space that is finished.
I'm not a completist and I don't even try..
Thanks Allison for this video, I like your top ten videos! 😉💜

[steph]

I can relate to almost all these issues. I have a space problem too. Letting go is hard! Thanks for sharing this thoughtful video.

[JS-nbsr]

Really enjoyed the list. Customs fees make me very angry, but my biggest difficulty is WAITING. Everything takes so long. I'm so impatient! I'm enjoying this hobby, but I'd love to just go into a shop, see what I want and buy it. I did smile when you said about buying things for yourself. I haven't batted an eyelid at some of the prices of the doll clothes I've bought and then I'm in a shop looking at dresses for me thinking 'I'm not paying that much for a dress!'

[bangtan_otaku]

One thing that's hard for me like you said with downsizing is some dolls aren't really worth anything so I can't really sell them but I also don't want to throw them away or send to the thrift so I just end up keeping them. On the other side the more expensive dolls I don't want to sell.

[RochelleWilliamsreads]

Oh my god, the FOMO story you told really hit home for me. As a young college student, I was at the Disney Store the night before the Limited Edition Snow white came out. The very first one. I had mentioned to the lady at the store that I was a doll collector, and she ran to the back and brought one out to show me, and she told me that they'd be for sale in the morning. As I was a college student, I couldn't afford it, so I didn't go back for her. LITTLE DID I KNOW.

[marygreco]

I'm a new doll collector (2yrs) and I can already identify with most of those difficulties. Trying to limit my purchases to dolls I really really want but you know how it goes...I buy one doll and next thing I know I'm in a buying frenzy. I think I need to pace my purchases so I can give myself time to enjoy and bond with each doll before the next one arrives. Thank you as usual for your thoughts, as a newer collector it's nice to know I'm not alone!

[haruhi]

My most difficulty is once you started to collect dolls, from time to time you realize that it becomes difficult to organize everything well in a limited space due to the sizes of the dolls👍💜

[Dollily]

For me one of the biggest doll collecting issues is the customs fees! Lol, just recently I had to pay £160 (around $200) in customs fees for my new Volks SD girl!
Your collection is wonderful and I really admire your dedication to dolls 🥰. Like you, I often find myself buying expensive doll things when I really should be buying things for myself, like new clothes or shoes etc! Lol. I would much rather spend my money on my dolls/doll stuff though 🤣.
I don’t have a space issue as such because I don’t have many dolls anymore, I love a small collection. I’ve noticed that if I don’t redress a doll occasionally or play with it, I cannot just leave it sat on the display. I need to play with them in order for them to stay. At least someone else can give them the best dolly lives that I think they deserve. 🤣🌸💗

[sallymaysimpson]

I agree, no dolls in boxes or put away in storage. They don't do well.

[jeanettedevenbeck]

I love how this doll collector is always changing up her nail polish, so interesting and seems to go naturally with her artistic fervor for dolls. Love her videos

[pambrandon]

Dolls do multiply exponentially and I think they adopt more when I am not looking. I can relate to all of these in some way. I am not such a big artist doll person because I like to adopt play dolls and refurbish them but I definitely enjoy your collecting artist dolls so I get a vicarious fix. Trouble is, the more I see your dolls, the more I think about getting one, just one. Right!

[Nzingathegem]

Great video, I could relate to a lot!

I've lost a doll collector "friend" over a doll. We weren't close friends, friends in the Instagram doll community, we would chat, and had sent each other doll items before. Well, I came across a basic Barbie that had a face sculpt of a collector doll, I think it was a manufacturing error. Anyway, she asked me to be on the lookout for another and get for her. I never have to this day, seen another. Welk, she stopped communicating with me.

As far as artists asking you to purchase their dolls, I think they should donate one to you and then by you reviewing and posting, other collectors might purchase so they wouldn't be really losing money.

[ninaflowers]

I'm definitely, keeping all this in mind as I start my BJD journey. Thanks Allison.

[jodyj]

You're 💯accurate & hit the mark on everything about doll collecting. I can sell clothes, shoes, bags etc.. without any emotional attachment, I could care less about that (as unthinkable & absurd as it is to clothing /shoe/bag lovers or collectors of other items I dont care for), but I'm emotionally bonded with my dolls that I've kept (I do downsize & purge the ones I don't like as much anymore like any normal collector does, we know its a revolving door lol ) & any meaningful jewelry or gifts my friends or grandma has given me I cannot part with bc of the sentimental value, plus I love the stuff. BTW, about housing costs you're right prices are absolutely atrocious. I've moved so much all my life, a gypsy nomad thathas never settled in one place in my 31 years & now more than ever its a shame to not own a home bc homes are by far the most valuable possession that anyone (middle class) can own (aside from wealthy individuals whose net worths exceed their home value), home leasing costs are exorbitantly soaring & out of reach for so many struggling low income individuals & families its awful & renting is not only ridiculously expensive, but wasteful bc you will never recover that money you've spent the way a homeowner is able to make a profit, as we all know homes don't lose value like cars do. Didn't mean to go off topic, but you're right about that too.

[melsmith]

Hi there, I lost everything on my computer awhile back so I have missed your channel for awhile. But, here you are with this great, thought provoking video.
I probably have too many dolls, but I have sold a few and given away SO many.
Of course I can't seem to stop collecting, and I have never known a particular reason that I do...I have also experienced seller's regret.
I also got into the wigs and accessories, especially for my two BJD's. But, as finances remain a challenge for all of us, one has to wait for such things.
Currently, I have wanted to complete my American Girl historicals, the first few that were made. I don't have any white bodies but I will some day.
Thanks for all you do for the doll community, I always enjoy your content.

[Shikaru_]

I love listening to you talk with such passion about your dolls! Your videos are so wonderful! :) Thank you for giving us this great line up of dolly related troubles! <3

[MaxineAndrew]

This was an exhaustive list! I could only imagine 2 things before I clicked play but as you went down the list I found myself agreeing with everything 😂😅 99 problems but the hobby is worth every one 😝

[cm]

Great video! 😊👍 I can relate with most of the things you listed. Limited funds, space, having friends you are competiting against for the same dolls. One other challenge I have is loving so many different types of dolls lol! Because then I want so many and my wish list is a mile long! Sometimes I wish I just wanted or collected one type of doll. It would be so much easier lol