American Girl advice

[TLuvsD]

check your local Michael's Craft store for accessories, socks, shoes and furniture. They can be a great deal, especially if you use a coupon. When D was little I bought a lot of doll stuff at Michael's and some local craft shows. The "holiday boutique" type craft shows had beautiful clothes at great prices.

 

[KristenCarll]

My DD (8) just bought her own doll and we are waiting for her to arrive. We probably won't buy much clothes from AG, but from target like other posters said. I still have my dolls and clothes from my Magic Attic Club dolls so they will fit her AG. She got Saige. :] we can't wait for her to arrive. I am looking forward to the quality.

 

[poohfriend77]

While it's true the dolls don't generally go on sale, AG usually offers free shipping (I want to say early November? Can anyone confirm?). Their shipping is pretty expensive, so that ends up being a good deal.

It's also good that you're starting to think about it now. If you have any interest in Saige (Girl of the Year) or Molly (retiring), order them sooner, rather than later. Girl of the Year stuff tends to sell out or be on back order in December. The dolls themselves might be available, but accessories and the "extras" are often very hard to find.

 

[Ladcassidy]

Actually that's not quite true. AG doesn't normally promote sales on dolls but last year, around christmas, I got a heads-up on AGPT about an offer on the Today Show for 2 dolls plus their accessories for $50 each. I bought them with a special link to the AG site. This deal was very unusual but it was the second time these particular dolls were discounted (-25% offer previously).

Again, AG dolls are not usually discounted, true, but it does happen.

I bought on this deal, too.

 

[SEA333]

My little girl has finally learned of AG and all it's extras! Any advice on what you should or should not get? I am checking craigslist for used things, anywhere else I should check for good AG deals? Thanks!

We live in the Chicago suburbs, so we can hop on the train to the AG downtown store whenever we want. We used to live in Michigan, where girls knew about AG, but there wasn't the same sort of hype/expectation around the brand like there is here where it is easily and readily accessible. My DD even had her 8th birthday there 18 months ago.

My rule for her is that she needs to save her money and buy dolls/furniture/big ticket items herself. She currently has two dolls, and the dog sled. We bought the look-alike doll for her 8th birthday (actually she was 71/2 - it was actually a "1/2" birthday for various reasons), along with a outfit combo. She bought Saige this year, the dog sled and a couple of animals, accessories, and outfits with her own money. She is VERY careful with her money, so she only buys exactly what she has her heart set on.

Whenever we have family come in and go to AG, I talk to DD ahead of time and set the expectation for her - she knows I will spend up to $10-20 on a small item like a book, accessory (last time, she needed a new doll hairbrush, for example, so we got that). That way she doesn't left out while her cousins are getting things because it's such a novelty to them, but it's not breaking my bank since we are at that store upwards of 10 times a year.

 

[SEA333]

Sales on actual dolls are rare - Cecille and Grace seem to be the exception as they have been on sale twice that I remember. However, there is usually a free ship code that can save some money - I want to say that it usually happens around November, but ends before the cyber Monday sale starts.

Cyber Monday and other sales can be a great way to pick up authentic AG outfits for fairly low prices (I have purchased many outfits in the $12-14 range). The selection is totally random and you have to buy immediately b/c things sell out.

I think, if my girls were just starting out, I would buy them a doll with straight hair (easier to care for - curly & wavy haired dolls are gorgeous, but the hair can be hard to maintain).

Yes!!! My DD takes very good care of her dolls, and had a 18" doll from Target that she got when she was about 3 years old and it still looks brand new, so when she was 7 1/2, we got her her first AG doll. She wanted a look alike, and she has long straight hair, so the doll had long straight hair. It still looks beautiful. She bought Saige in May, and Saige has wavy har, which has been a lot harder to take care of. We usually keep Saige's hair in a ponytail when DD isn't playing with her, which helps, but I have also shown DD how to brush out sections at a time. A regular comb worked on the straight hair doll, but we made sure last time we we at the AG store to buy the wire doll brush for Saige's hair. I highly suggest the wire brush if getting any type of textured/curly/wavy hair-ed doll.

 

[cobright]

My little girl has finally learned of AG and all it's extras! Any advice on what you should or should not get? I am checking craigslist for used things, anywhere else I should check for good AG deals? Thanks!

There's a guy on Etsy that makes some wicked Steampunk artwork including brass goggles for AG dolls.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/96696084/steampunk-goggles-for-your-american-girl?

 

[darnheather]

Wanted to add, that we also buy Target clothing, accessories and furniture...it is great! Just not the dolls

Came here to say this. Also Michael's sells shoes that are adorable and fit great for just a few bucks. They also have hangers and some other small items. I make all the clothes for Izzy's dolls and it is so much fun!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

A regular comb worked on the straight hair doll, but we made sure last time we we at the AG store to buy the wire doll brush for Saige's hair. I highly suggest the wire brush if getting any type of textured/curly/wavy hair-ed doll.

A wire brush should be used on any type of AG hair, stick straight should still only have a wire brush used on it, eventually you'll regret using other types of brushes.
You can get wig *wire* brushes at Sally's.
I also highly recommend AGplaythings.com

 

[glamfish500]

I agree with the wire brush or wig brush comments. I've actually had my first doll for 15+ years, her hair is still great and I've only used a wire brush. You can check eBay, Craigslist, or craft shows for clothes, especially if she doesn't mind clothes that are the exact ones from the catalog. I have some craft show clothes but now that I'm an adult I will only dress them in the 'official' outfits an they stay on a shelf out of the reach of the dogs.

 

[owensamo]

Once or twice a year, either QVC or HSN typically does a sale with doll + clothes + accessories for a pretty good price. I've taken advantage of it at least twice, and been pleased with the experience. I think they're usually sept-oct timeframe. I found out about it online - I want to say here, but I might have been browsing AG boards as well at the time.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Once or twice a year, either QVC or HSN typically does a sale with doll + clothes + accessories for a pretty good price. I've taken advantage of it at least twice, and been pleased with the experience. I think they're usually sept-oct timeframe. I found out about it online - I want to say here, but I might have been browsing AG boards as well at the time.

That'd be QVC and there was no AG show/products last year - some speculate that AG/QVC are a done deal.

 

[Gorechick]

If you are looking to get a doll for the holidays this year, keep an eye out for the free shipping code that should come out Oct/Nov and Cyber Monday for clothing and accessories. Those will be your best bet right now if you want to order direct from AG.

 

[iheartdisney]

And make sure you use a spray bottle of water when you brush it! I swear, the hair is the worst part of these dolls!
both of my girls wanted long, wavy haired dolls. I keep them in braids as much as i can.

 

[drinkme]

The best part about getting an American Girl doll is going to the store and picking it out yourself. I would recommend anyone who is able to take their dd to an AG store to pick it out should do that.

 

[reginaastralis]

We like a lot of dresses and accessories on etsy as well. DD was very excited to get a Girl Scout outfit for her doll. And pinterest has a lot of ideas on how to make your own furniture and such. We do it as a team, but it's part of the fun.

DD wants to learn how to sew so she can make her own comforters and clothes now ... who would have thought an obsession with a doll would end up with learning to sew and make furniture?! She's asking for Kit this year, and now is into journalism and learning about the Great Depression. I wouldn't trade it, though my purse might want me to. lol

 

[shan136]

And make sure you use a spray bottle of water when you brush it! I swear, the hair is the worst part of these dolls!
both of my girls wanted long, wavy haired dolls. I keep them in braids as much as i can.

LOL, I spent hours today brushing out and styling my daughter's AG dolls' hair. One of distinguishing features of the AG dolls are the quality of their wigs and I get a little crazy when I see the dolls face down and naked with tangled hair. Today was a quiet one for us so my DD and I dressed them and cleaned them up a little.

I agree with the wavy haired dolls, so pretty but so much maintenance. Kit has the easiest to maintain hair, she always looks good no matter what my DD does to her.

As a side note, AG is very good about fixing flaws that may be a manufacturing flaw. My niece had gotten a doll for her birthday and there was a small string from the wig cap that became unraveled. We brought her to AG place and they replaced the doll no questions asked.

 

[kandazak]

I finally got approved for the message forum recommended here. Boy, I had no idea there was so much to learn!! Almost overwhelming. What I can't figure out yet, it seems most people only use "Julie outfits" on Julie. I like some of the other stuff, but feel like you shouldn't mix and match? Thanks for all the advice here, we are looking forward to this new obsession ~wink~

 

[Gorechick]

Your collection can be whatever you want it to be. We have Girls of the year, My American Girls, and Historical characters. They all share clothes and time travel. Some collectors prefer to keep all their characters separate and in their time periods. It's all up to you.

 

[livsmom04]

My daughter got a AG doll of the year 3 years ago, Chrissa and then two years ago got Felicity. Last year we didn't get her any because she really didn't play with them last year. She likes to take them out when we're at Disney World or on Vacation but that's about it. I got a small sale on her first doll but had to purchase Felicity off eBay for just under $100. Was in very good shape and came with several extras which worked well for us. I have gotten many things on sale from AG online during Black Friday and Cyber Monday but not sure if I will get her anything this year or not. We shall see. Target has good clothing for the dolls too. We've gotten several outfits from there for her two dolls.