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I became aware of the healing properties of sex dolls very early on in the business when one of our first customers got his first girlfriend in his late 30's. That was a pivotal moment for me and I realised this was more than just a business, it was a force for good in helping heal the many many men out there who need it. I regularly talk with guys who've got one problem or another and following a discussion about male and female power dynamics in a relationship, I got an email from a gentleman suffering with a complex PTSD. I'm not sure why and I didn't pry but he told me how he believed his sex doll had saved his marriage.

As a result of the PTSD, he had developed an increased desire to have sex. Rather than cheat on his wife and risk an STD, he chose to get a doll. Now this didn't go down too well and instead of his wife congratulating his ingenuity he ended up getting thrown out for a couple of weeks. This was a sad time for him and he was desperate for her to understand that it wasn't so taboo and he didn't want to replace her, he simply needed to find a way to cope with what was going on with him.

What he then found was that he was once again able to communicate with his wife as the "power play over sex was trumped by an awesome healing machine" and his flashbacks have now stopped. Now, in order to move back he had to get rid of the doll, so there's still the outstanding issue of what he's going to do about the mismatch in sex drives. He's hoping that he can explain it to her but if it doesn't work he thinks that ultimately he may need to leave.

I think this is a sad story and I've heard many cases of men having more sex or masturbating more frequently in order to cope with trauma. Doing this can calm a man down but, too much, reduces his vital life energy which could be put into his general life or into specifically improving his situation. When we compare sex and masturbation there are pros and cons. Sex is preferable as you also get that emotional and social connection which are healing for our brains. However, if you're not in a mental place to have sex with another person or if you're in a relationship and don't want to cheat, then masturbation might be preferable. That might work for some men, in the same way that drinking alcohol each night takes the edge off. However, for others it's just not enough and this is where a sex doll would be of benefit. It covers the situation where the man isn't ready/able to have sex with a woman and to a certain extent covers the situation where the man is in a relationship. I say to a certain extent, because it solves the issue of not cheating with another woman but it doesn't actually seem to cover the cheating issue in womens minds and, from experience, it seems that women do still view it as cheating - although not as bad as with a woman.

I do see this as a very legitimate way for men to overcome trauma or cope with excessive stress. So if you're single I'd say it's a no brainer. If you're not then you're going to have to think carefully, how you can conceal a doll or how you can explain it to your wife. If you try this, bear in mind that she will unlikely listen to all of the logical arguments you will put forward. You will need to appeal to her emotional side.

There have been a lot of developments over the years but not all of them are a good idea. A recent development, that we're actually not going to offer, is implanted hair. Although it looks good, there are a few downsides. One the head itself has to be made out of much firmer TPE, almost like a silicone, in order to hold the hair in place. Now this defeats the object of getting a TPE head as people go for this material because it's so soft. Second, there's the problem of what happens if some of the hair falls out?

Now, we've been told that the hair shouldn't fall out easily and should only really do so, if a hefty amount of pulling or some kind of accident occurs. However, as this feature has only been available for a month or so, there's no way to tell how durable this really is and I, personally, find it hard to believe that it's going to stay in for years to come.

The problem then arises of what to do if some comes out. Because then you're left with a bald patch which you're either going to have to try some kind of repair on (that's if you can get extra matching hair strands) or you're going to have to remove the hair so that you can replace with a wig. You could then pull the rest out or, more practically, give her a hair cut - but this latter option may leave problems as a soft hairy down on the scalp my make a wig slip and slide.

So with this in mind and experience of other, not so successful, ideas (eg heating and moaning functions)we're going to give this one a miss and hope you agree with out assessment.

First, not all sex dolls are made in China. Some are made in America, with a few smaller projects around Europe and Russia. However, the vast majority of them are made in the Far East. The Americans create high end dolls on a much smaller scale that the Chinese. The market in America is so large that if done well these are likely to survive but it seems near impossible to compete at the mid range or with any real numbers. Many American companies have gone out of business over the years, or licensed their production to the Chinese whereas the number of Chinese ones seems to increase each year.

The main reasons for this, are the same reasons why so many other products are manufactured there. The low living costs, abundance of workers (high population) and lower expectations of Chinese people means that they can be paid lower wages and be treated less fairly than their Western counterparts. The systems within China have evolved to such an extent that the practices and cooperations between companies make it easier for manufacturers to do business. Chinese exporters pay low, if any, tax and with a low valued currency they get more bang for their buck.

So, it's unlikely we'll see a solid European or British sex doll factory any time soon. Even if technology or manufacturing processes change, the Chinese will simply adapt, e.g. 3D printing may have levelled the playing field but the Chinese have already grabbed hold of this technology and seem the leaders in this new, but fast growing, industry. I also think that the Americans will have a hard time soon as the Chinese factories are already starting to understand the importance of Westernised facial features and body shapes. Once this is more commonly combined with the higher end dolls and the American technology is copied, they might well be squeezed out or, at the very least, kept constantly on their toes.

Some may argue that Chinese manufacturing is not up to scratch or as good as their American or European counterparts but that is an old argument. The Chinese are aware that Westerners require a higher standard product and work diligently to improve in a similar way to what the Japanese used to do, i.e. constant small improvements until the cumulative effect becomes larger than any single innovation made by Europeans and Americans.

So what place is left for UK, European and American companies? Well, we are the sellers, the designers, the pushers and the interactors. We make the connections and provide the service that the Chinese simply cannot do. We provide the reliability and the relationships and we sell the products. We must offer something that the Chinese cannot, like fast shipment, complete handling of affairs and taxes with local border force, rearranging deliveries, after care, support and guidance. After all, if we do not, then in time, the customer will simply bypass us and deal direct.

Yes, you can actually customise this part of your doll. Wether you like a big bush or a freshly shaved landing pad, your rubber lover can oblige. Currently about 99% of dolls going out are bald down there. There are a number of reasons for this, in that it's a bit more fashionable for a lady to be a bit tidier down there and in porn, at least, it's certainly more common to be fully shaven. If these dolls had come out in the 60's then maybe we'd be the other way and a bush extending right round the back of the arse might be the way.

There's also the disappointing chore of keeping a doll to consider, i.e. the cleaning process. If you get a bit sloppy down there then it's a lot easier to wipe a smooth surface than it is to wash and dry a load of hair. Finally there's sustainability as, when we first started supplying dolls, the only option was to have the hair inserted into the skin of the doll. This was achieved by the workers in the factory, putting small incisions in the pubic area, inserting a hair and then gluing it in place. This wasn't too bad to look at and gave a genuine feel, however over time the hair can start to drop out and then she's left bald but with a few little incision scars. These aren't too noticeable but you'd probably rather not have them.

Recently (around 2018) we started to see the emergence of stick on pubic hair. This has been slow to take off but it does seem like the better idea. It can be mass produced and therefore the level of creativity, consistency and detail can be better. There's also a larger surface area that it's stuck onto so it can't fall out hair by hair. If over a period of years it started to peel at the edges you'd simply glue it a little back down. So right now if you like fur this is probably the best option.

For the first couple of years we did have one. We had a lot of dolls set up and available for anyone to come and view. However, nobody came to see them. OK, we had a couple of people a month and out of those the odd one would actually go on to buy a doll but the time and cost involved in maintaining a showroom and the fact that it didn't seem to be a big part of the buying decision process for people meant it wasn't really worth it. It seemed that, at this point in the industry, people simply weren't that bothered about a physical inspection. In the future it may be different and I always envisaged a store in each city, kind of like an Apple store, where robots were on display and people would inspect, interact with and purchase them. This will happen once dolls become advanced, i.e. robotic, and when they become socially acceptable. Because at that time they will be sold with a prime purpose of being household/ family robots - though I also still envisage the salesman giving the father a cheeky nudge or a wink and hinting that they can do many other tasks around the house.

So what do you do if you feel the need to see one before making a purchase? First, you could go to a local sex shop and hope they have some decent ones in (see our buyers guide if you're going down this route). Second, you could accept that this is possibly just a barrier you're placing in the way to stop yourself from getting what you want. This is a very common human trait! We often find a multitude of reasons not to try something new. Our brains tell us that change is bad, it's risky - even if you're life isn't great right now you at least know how to deal with it. If you add change or improve your life, you'll have to develop whole new strategies of coping with them - that's a lot of work.

Along this same line (creating barriers) you can also consider the fact that you can actually see them on our website. You can see stock pictures that have been taken by professional photographers. These are done with often fabulous outfits at incredible locations, with flawless makeup and perfect lighting. So the dolls are looking at their damn best. Next you can compare them to the factory pics of dolls rolling of the production line (bear in mind these pictures are taken by low skilled workers using low quality phones). You can search these pics by head number or body models to work out which combination works for you.

You might say that without seeing them, that you can't trust that you'll get the dolls in the pictures. There are two answers to this, first read out Trustpilot reviews as this is an independent site which prevents people simply writing a load of reviews themselves and as some of ours are actually negative you can be fairly convinced we're not doing this. The other thing you can do is read this article to see why people sometimes don't get, or don't think they get the dolls in the pictures.

The reality is that 99% of our customers purchase without ever even asking to see a doll in advance and, as this is a particularly sensitive subject right now, that makes sense. They're using their investigative skills and powers of reasoning to make the decision.

In the early sex doll days, the best you could hope for was a plastic inflatable in the vague shape of a woman with some kind of indentation in which your todger could run the sharpest of gauntlets. As men and, especially, young men our pervasive sex drives really weren't prepared to accept such a poor substitute and so pioneers all over the world began putting their creative genius to the truest male task of all - recreating the female form for the single purpose of satisfactory sexual gratification... and yes! before you ask, I'm going to credit the modern sex doll to the creative genius of all men!!!

So we started to find materials that were softer and more realistic when lubricated and penetrated. I'm not talking about those of you who used to bonk fruit like melons or made the most extravagant creations out of rubber gloves or other household objects. I'm talking here about soft plastic materials such as silicone and then the more modern elastic rubbers.

A few years later we realised that if the honeypots felt good being made out of soft materials, then why not make the whole doll out of them and thus were born the modern silicone and TPE sex dolls. You'd think at this point we'd step back, marvel at our creations and rejoice as only a wrongly imprisoned convict could. We didn't though did we? We sat back for a few more years and asked everyone if it was alright for us to actually use them. We asked for the opinion and permission of fellow men and women. Well, as we should all know by now, it's better to ask forgiveness than permission because any time you ask (or in this case beg) for permission you'll get a resolute NO!

As men, we can be pretty judgemental of not only other mens sex drives but of our own. This really isn't surprising considering we've been shamed from the day of our first wanks, with mothers or sisters hinting (or in the worst cases outright proclaiming) that we were dirty little bastards and, because it's such a sensitive issue for us, we believed them.

Then, a few of us, a few brave men began to stand up. We set up shops, communities and safe havens for men to grow in confidence. We began to appear on TV, radio and in newspapers. We accepted the initial ridicule until a few more of us started to accept and realise that it wasn't such a bad idea and soon enough the general message started to pervade our psyches: Do not be ashamed! Be proud of your sexuality, your sex dolls, your masturbators, your penises and parade them before the world.

So here we are, it has happened, the most important revolution of mans history - we have began to accept our sexuality. We've began to shake things up and really put the cat amongst the pigeons. We've recreated the female form so that we can use it how and when we want. We are no longer slaves to the whims, mind games and control of those who would harness our drives for their own. We can finally live as we want.

We're now at a crossroads and where we go from here is up to you. We can abandon women entirely and shack up with our dolls or we can simply accept that men are not powerless in todays society. We can now replace women at the drop of a hat and before anyone says, what about the love, what about the emotion what about the interaction, let me tell you a little more about sex dolls because what started out as simple place to dip our wicks has become so much more.

Many men our now having fully fledged relationships with their dolls. No, they're not crazy and talking to their inanimate partners. They're simply creating a mental and emotional relationship with the feminine part of their brain. They're feeling genuine affection for something/someone who doesn't constantly nag them, who doesn't cause daily problems and who doesn't cheat on them. Someone who is always there and allows them to be both strong and vulnerable. Quite simply someone who doesn't try to control and manipulate them with every fibre of their being.

This psyche they create around their dolls brings in the other great and positive attributes of women, their ability to nurture and love. Their kindness and lack of judgement that we all felt momentarily as small boys but that was cast to the wind once we began to mature. It's that almost back in the womb feeling of being incubated by love that we all crave.

Sex dolls and sex robots can give us that. They can give those of us who need it, the time, the care and the freedom that we need to grow and flourish in this life. There's no doubt they're growing in popularity and if you have an aggressive counterpart, who is neglectful and only out for themselves then this is a very real, affordable and practical alternative.

There are a few things you need to consider when buying a sex doll. First of all, you need to consider if you really should buy one. For the purposes of this article I'm going to assume you've already considered this and have decided it's the right thing for you (if you haven't, then read this article first). Next you need to consider the following things:

• The doll material
• The material quality
• How much you can afford / how much are willing to pay
• Where you're going to buy it
• How you're going to buy it
• What you want it to do

Originally dolls came only in the blow up variety. These were like flat packed human shaped beach balls that you blew up into a rough approximation of a woman. Some creative guys began to want a little more substance and started to over-clock store mannequins and add rubber vaginas to them. Then at some point after that some clever guys got the idea of making dolls out of silicone and so the doll industry was truly born. Since then there have been a large number of innovations and a large number of materials in which you can buy your plastic partner :)

So you now have the choice of:

• blow up
• foam
• fabric
• tpe
• silicone

Each of these have their advantages and disadvantages.

Blowup dolls are very cheap and easy to store. However the physical reality is proportionate to the price. Put simply you know you're banging a blow up. You can however close your eyes and go through the physical motions (grinding) of sex and it is indeed more fulfilling that masturbation or a sex toy. There are also certain upgrades available to inflatables, such as the/silicone heads, hands, feet and vaginas that increase the pleasure.

Foam dolls are a relatively new technology which allow the doll to be incredibly light and also look very realistic. A company called CandyEighteen were the first to really do this but they closed their doors a few years back. Probably due to the fact that the owners weren't as dedicated to the cause as they could have been, rather than for lack of demand. DS dolls announced their ex lite range shortly after that and have been moderately successful with them. They have a core following of customers who value a lightweight solution over other features. There's a definite lack of realism to foam dolls as their lack of weight creates a lack of reality, however if you're a photographer then they can be the perfect solution.

Fabric dolls are another relatively new addition to the doll world. They're effectively giant sex teddy bears in the shape of ladies. There are a few companies making these in China and USA. They range from cartoonish, weird looking things to very realistic looking. Again the advantage of these is that they are lightweight and, with some of them at least, they look great. In a sense they also combine the aspect of cuddling a teddy, with the companionship and sexual ability of a woman. Again, these are a bit more niche than the rest of the market but they seem to have a core following.

TPE dolls followed directly on the heals of silicone dolls when Chinese companies sought to reproduce expensive silicone dolls with a cheaper material. These are by far the most popular types of dolls available on the market today and probably outsell silicone dolls 50 to 1. The advantage of them is that they are ultra realistic in both appearance and feel. The softness of the TPE material compared to silicone makes them better suited to the task of sex, because they feel softer and nicer to touch and hold. The downside is that they can not quite hold the level of detail that a silicone doll can and they're not as hard wearing, i.e. they're a little easier to damage.

Silicone dolls would be classed by many as the pinnacle of the industry, however for the reasons mentioned above they actually don't sell that well. They're harder than the TPE dolls but can actually look a lot better with the level of detail they're able to hold. The thing is though that TPE dolls hold such a level of realism that the extra gains in silicone are seen by many to not be worth the extra hardness and price tag. Yes, in general they're more expensive than their TPE counterparts. This is because silicone as a material is more expensive than TPE.

The Material Quality

Ok, so we have many types of material and you may have easily decided upon one by reading the above. However, I'm about to complicate it a little more (sorry). Within each type of material you also have a range of quality to those materials. This will often be down to the density or thickness (amount) of the material used. To explain this I'll talk about blow up dolls and, quite crudely, the lilos you used to have when on holiday as a kid (you probably have to be over the age of 25 to remember these). When this phenomenon first started we all bought those cheap lilos down at the beach and paid a couple hundred pesatas (old Spanish currency) but even on a two week holiday they'd burst and the edges were sometimes so sharp that you'd pick up random cuts on your body. Then, if you were really lucky, at some point your parents paid a little more and bought the luxury version - ooh this one seemed much more solid, thicker and the surface was like velvet. Now maybe this wasn't everyones childhood memory but hopefully it gives you the idea of what I'm talking about.

So within each material you will generally see a large divergence in the price range and this, generally, relates directly to the quality of that material. This will impact both how it feels to the touch and how long it will last. Another factor is also how much easier the more expensive ones to fix are.

How Much You Can Afford / Are You Willing To Pay

The next thing you'll want to consider is your budget. For this, you'll be in one of two camps - you'll either have a certain amount of money available to spend or you'll have sufficient funds but will need to decide how much you want to spend.

The most practical approach to this would be to make some initial small purchases. For example you could buy a blow up sex doll to see if the concept would work for you or you could buy a sex doll vagina to see if you like the TPE experience.

If you've already decided on the material you want then you'll need to decide if you want a lower end or higher end version of that product.

Where Are You Going To Buy It

When we were the first company to set up in the UK, choice was a little limited. However there are now around 20 online UK retailers of sex dolls as well as a growing number of sex shops where you can buy them. Some of these have consciously positioned themselves at a certain point in the market and are growing reputable retailers, others have simply hoped there was an opportunity to grab a slice of the pie with mee too copy cat actions.

The former type have really helped to open up the market and make the industry more socially acceptable and available. The latter type do not really offer a contribution to the industry and instead feed off it, however they do have their place and can be beneficial to the customer, in that they'll come in at a cheaper price point or be willing to negotiate a better price to secure any business they can.

The other thing you need to consider is whether you want an ongoing relationship with your supplier or if it's just a one off thing and you don't care about that. Some of the more established companies will likely have additional products, services and be able to support you more than others.

Finally I don't want to be the guy who tries to scare you into not buying elsewhere but there are a few scam sites out there who will send you a counterfeit doll or even an entirely different one than that which you ordered. Probably the best way to avoid this is just make some basic checks like do they have a physical presence, like an actual UK address and phone number and some kind of independent review system like Trustpilot (otherwise the reviews are likely made up). Note that if their prices are half that of trusted vendors, you probably haven't stumble upon a lucky bargain.

Now, I'm guessing you might have some final questions you want answered at this stage so the best thing you can do right now is...

For us this isn't something that comes up too often. However, after speaking with a customer today who was unhappy with the skin tone of the doll I thought it would be a good idea to share some thoughts and information with you guys.

The Difference Between Stock Photos And Factory Photos

First, to explain the difference between stock pics and factory pics. Stock pics are the ones we have in our pre-configured dolls section. These pictures are taken by professional photographers, who may purchase a random wig and outfit and take the doll to a location just to take photos. They will use professional lighting and may recolour the image in a professional photography program. This makes the dolls look the best they can for each photo.

Contrast this with the factory pics. These are the exact same dolls but they are generally naked, not professionally posed, with regular factory lighting and photographed using one of the workers phones. They're generally sat on tables with the legs up and out in front, rather than with the legs dropping over the side of the table to give a more natural look. With them sitting as well, the hips may appear bigger than if she was standing - this is the case, of course for women too - for example a woman may look to have a nice tidy ass but if she's bent over and you see it from behind it may appear to double in size. So the dolls won't look quite as professional as the other pics and may look different in general but take these factors into consideration and you should feel fine about it.

Here's the thing though, although the factory pics probably look only 90% as good as the stock pics, when you receive the doll, you'll generally think that it looks better than the stock pics. The reason for this is that pictures are 2D and a doll is 3D - real so to speak. Imagine looking at a picture of a model - pretty exciting right? Now imagine, that same model walked in front of you. Will she look like her studio pics? Not quite but which will excite you more? The model in person! Also, as you get to touch and have sex with this model, you'll soon find that it's infinitely better.

> Should I Buy A Sex Doll?

What If I Receive A Different Doll Altogether

Ok, now with us, this is practically impossible because we confirm the order with you before sending to the factory and then we show you pics prior to shipping. Our process is automated so there's no way for a mix up.

However, if you've ordered elsewhere and your doll looks different to the pictures there can be a few reasons for this

• Counterfeits - the company maybe using our pics, or someone elses pics and then sending you their own copy/conterfeit version of the doll. Counterfeits are starting to look pretty good, so if you're not experienced in the industry, you may not even realise that's what you've got. The problem with counterfeits is that the skin material and internal skeleton are generally a much lower standard. This affects your enjoyment of the doll as well as reducing it's lifespan - it will pick up damage more easily (skin tears more easily and bones, especially the back, can often snap).
• Bait and switch - this was a lot more common a few years ago but does still goes on. This is when a company sells you a doll based upon a set of pictures but then sends you a completely different doll. They do this because they generally cut corners, have little revenue and therefore can't afford to take good pictures of their dolls. They're also being deliberately fraudulent in an attempt to make some quick money. The problem with these companies is that they cannot build a brand so are never successful longterm. That doesn't stop lots of them springing up and shutting down.

Now I don't want to be one of those companies, who tells you everyone is rubbish and that you should avoid them or be ripped off because that is obviously not the case. However, the best advice to avoid either of these is to ensure your seller has a good brand, big presence and a good reputation. Finding a doll for half the price on an unknown website is generally never as good as it sounds.

Now that Sex Dolls and robots are common place, many different types of people own them for many different reasons. Some people live alone, some with friends and some with family. Some friends are understanding and some are not and the same goes for family. Sometimes, wives are perfectly happy with their husbands new hobby, sometimes they tolerate it and sometimes you'll end up getting divorced if she found you'd even thought about a sex doll. So we need to consider a couple of things, how to store and where to store.

How To Store - if you own a TPE doll then the ideal way how to store your lover is to have her arms, legs, back and neck straight. Arms down by the side and legs closed (or fairly close together). You can do this with the doll stood up or with the doll laid down on the bed (as long as the bed is soft so the bum isn't flattened). Having your doll in other positions for prolonged periods of time (more than a few hours) puts stress on the TPE and over a long time can lead to stretching and eventually tearing. This can happen a lot faster if the doll is overheated for long periods, e.g. direct sunlight.

Note on the whole if you take it easy with your doll this won't happen.

Discretion - So some people need to keep them out of site and some don't. Below, we'll discuss the various options available for you and if you think of any others, please let us know:

• laying your doll on the bed - this is how most people store their dolls if they don't have to worry about other people in the house, or in their room. It's a great way to do things as dolls are currently, pretty heavy and moving them around can require a bit of effort (which you should be spending on other tasks ;) ). You can leave her under the covers so she remains pretty warm for those intimate moments and it's just pretty great to fall asleep next to someone and wake up to someone so beautiful.
• stand them in the closet - as Sex Dolls can now come with standing feet, it's simple to put them in a cupboard and close the door. This covers tidiness and hides her away from prying eyes. If you're doing this be sure to lean her slightly against the wall as you don't want her falling over when you're not around. It's also a good idea to have clothes on her or put a piece of fabric in between the doll and the wall, as the oil from the TPE can leak into and stain your wall
• hang them in the closet - you can buy hanging hooks that screw into the neck of your doll and then suspend it from a sturdy rail in your closet. This is particularly handy if you don't have the standing feet option
• hide them in their box or storage trunk - many people leave them in their boxes, sometimes under their beds. Or, similarly many people purchase lockable storage cases (flight cases they're often called - like what musicians carry instruments around in)
• store them in an ottoman bed - a similar method to that above is to buy a bed that lifts up to reveal a storage compartment underneath - if you're due a new bed this is often a good way to kill two birds with one stone

> Are Sex Dolls Legal?

> Everything About Sex Dolls

We also hear a number of other suggestions that we don't necessarily recommend:

• not in the loft or on top of the cupboard - many people think they'll be able to hide them away somewhere high but as dolls are currently around 25kg plus this is very impractical and (in the case of the loft at least) would take so long to get out and put away that you may be surprised by a visitor before you can get her back up - not to mention how back breaking such a task is
• in the shed or garage - again we wouldn't recommend this unless it's super warm with central heating (but then is it really a garage) - the reason for this is that the doll will then be extremely cold when you come to use it. This will mean that it will be fairly unpleasant touching the skin, or that it will take a long time warming her back up again. You also have the issue, that if you don't clean her very thoroughly and leave her in there for a long time, that mould can develop in the cavities.

So you've ordered a doll and feel pretty good about yourself. She's been made at the factory and has shipped out. So far, life is great and then Customs gets involved and dammit! everything grinds to a halt or is suddenly not so straight forward. Well, thankfully, this doesn't happen too often and if you're dealing with a legitimate company, then parcels will likely sail through the process or be delayed by just a few days

What is customs though?

Each country has a Border Force that is responsible for checking two things: 1) that parcels entering into the country fall within the laws of that country and 2) that the appropriate tax or tariffs are paid on them. Many people try to illegally import all kinds of items, from drugs to guns, and also try to pay less tax than they should - so Border Force is given a lot of power to deal with this. They are, in effect, the law on parcel importation.

> Are Sex Dolls Legal?

That said, the UK Border Force does not have a problem with sex dolls, as long as they are considered adult and the correct amount of tax is being paid. This is why it's always best to purchase from a reputable dealer who is, ideally, located in your country - as they are best placed to abide by local laws. Note that even if your doll is an adult doll, customs may still want to take a look and may hold on to it for a few days. This is simply a matter of logistics, as they pull some out at random and then need to coordinate an officer to look at a few at the same time. Once they've checked them, they will be cleared or denied, depending on the features. So if you've bought from a good company, relax and just wait for the update that your parcel has cleared customs.

So you've taken the plunge and bought a doll. You may have seen a documentary, gone online and placed the order in a short space of time, or you may have been lurking around dolls for years until you've finally had the funds or courage to do it. First thing I'd say is congratulations. You're on your way to either an increased sexual freedom or a better level of emotional intimacy, or hopefully both.

Right now you're probably both nervous and excited and, if you've been thinking about it for a long time, there's probably a huge feeling of relief that you've finally gone ahead. Hopefully you'll be receiving some progress updates and some information on how to care for your doll, so that will keep you company a little at least.

This period is also a good time to get used to the mental and physical adjustment that you'll need to make when your doll arrives. There's the logistics of where you're going to keep her, whether you need to store or conceal her at times and how you're going to clean her. There's also the mental adjustment you'll need to make, especially if you've been alone for a little while. Having a new person, or in this case doll, in your life can be quite an adjustment. Even though this lady won't be making any demands about her own knicker draw or some nice cushions around the house, the introduction of this female energy and the resultant activation, or resignation, of femininity within you can come as quite a surprise.

So prepare yourself for this and know that everything is as it should be as you embark upon this journey. For some people it's smooth sailing and everything develops nicely and your life is gradually enriched more each day. For others, there can be a disappointed absence of the feelings you hoped for but these can come over time, with patience and without demand. Simply learn to take care of your doll each day and a fondness will start to ignite in your heart.

> Sex Dolls: Everything You Need To Know

Note that for some people, a fear or revulsion can actually arise and you may want to get rid of your doll as soon as possible. This is rare but it does happen so be prepared for this if you are a particularly fearful person or think you have a lot of emotional issues. What we generally advise people to do in this case is to just relax and try to take your time, don't expect to much and see if things change - sometime they do and sometimes they don't. If you do go on to get rid of the doll, I always say that you can take something away from the experience. You've tried it and it didn't work, so you can stop thinking about it and move on to something else or at least forget about it for now and try again later.

That said, most people, have an incredible experience and the freedom and growth that this will bring you should continue to enrich your life, for the rest of your life. Good luck and take it easy :)

Generally speaking you wouldn't let someone borrow your girlfriend and by that, I mean let someone else have sex with her. Now, I accept that there are some people out there who are into that kind of thing and that swinging and dogging are probably on the rise. However, there are too many complications with running a spousal timeshare - like emotional fallout, health implications and simple logistics - who's bed do they use, do you get to watch and that kind of thing.

Now I know a sex doll isn't a real person but a lot of people form deep attachments with them, so the above questions would be relevant if someone asked to borrow your rubber lover. There are also some extra issues to consider with a doll, like the fact they presently can't walk around, so someone has to carry her to your pals flat, either that or let them use your bed (by you are a generous guy aren't you). Another other issue is that of clean up. If you're new to the sex doll world you may not be aware that you have to clean your jizz out of your doll each time you use it. You see, your girlfriend does that for you each time, whereas a doll can't - so who cleans it? You'd guess the other guy but what if he doesn't do a good job or what if he's got some kind of STD - you know you'd catch it right? Because sex dolls don't cure STD's.

So, this is where the sex robot comes in. As they become more advanced they will become increasingly expensive and, like cars, some people will have a Renault and some will have a Mercedes (the odd person will have a Lamborghini). The basic sex robot will be able to bump around your one bedroomed flat, make you some burnt toast for supper and then flop over the kitchen counter for you to administer some no frills action. Whereas the high end ones can run down to McDonalds, get you a Big Mac and then give you a BJ whilst you eat it. The very top of the range ones can, of course, carry you to bed and sing you to sleep with a gentle lullaby.

> Celebrity Sex Robots

> Everything You Need To Know About Sex Dolls

So maybe you have a Mercedes and your pal has the Renault. "Come on" he says, "Open Your Wallet" you say and true friendship blooms. Your robot walks herself over to his flat, makes him happier than his crappy robot, makes you some money, cleans and sterilises herself and then holds you and tells you you're not a bad person. You know, the future really does look great!