American Girl Doll...where do I start?!?

[The_Princess's_Mommy]

My 7 year old has recently become obsessed with the idea of an American Girl doll. I told her to ask Santa for one, and she seems to be ok with that. So that gives me a few months to start to figure all of this out.

Are these dolls ever discounted? If so, when and where? If I have to pay $110 for a doll I suppose I could...but I'd much rather not! Ha!

Any tips you can give me would be great!

 

[olwyngdh]

It is very, very rare that the dolls themselves go on sale. I did manage to pick up Cecile on a Today Show sale for half price a couple years ago, but that is the only time I have seen that happen.

 

[SEA333]

My 7 year old has recently become obsessed with the idea of an American Girl doll. I told her to ask Santa for one, and she seems to be ok with that. So that gives me a few months to start to figure all of this out.

Are these dolls ever discounted? If so, when and where? If I have to pay $110 for a doll I suppose I could...but I'd much rather not! Ha!

Any tips you can give me would be great!

We live in the chicago suburbs so we go to the American Girl store downtown frequently. As a short answer, no, they are never discounted. Some may know of a place in Wisconsin that has an annual sale, but I'm fuzzy on the details, so hopefully someone can chime in. Unless you live in the general vicinity or plan to travel to the midwest, though, it might just be better to start planning for the $110.

DD has three dolls....she got the first one for her 7th birthday, and saved up for the other two. We don't pay shipping since we take the metra downtown to the store and buy on the spot. She buys all accessories. Now she is 10 and really would have lost interest for the most part except that 2 of her friends (one was her best friend) have done modeling for AG photo shoots and were selected to be in the AG catalog last winter and the other has her image blown up in a huge picture on one of the walls in the AG stores. Pretty awesome to go down to the store and see your friend's picture there! So that renewed interest for a while for the 4th grade set in our school last year. My point is, however, that keep in mind that, while awesome, AG dolls will at some point be outgrown and then you are pretty much stuck with a really expensive doll and accessories. That could work in your favor now, though...try craigslist or ebay for used clothing items, pets, furniture, etc. I would still fork over the cash for a brand new doll, though.

Good luck!!

 

[DreamIsaWish]

The discount sale in Wisconsin was two weeks ago, so that's not am option for this year. We went up Sunday and there was very little variety left by the time our ticket time came up.

I, too, would love ideas for how to get started. I hear there's an outlet store in Wisconsin for the outfits but I haven't yet figured out the details. Would I better off just ordering from the sale section on the website? I found the benefit sale prices on outfits to be very similar to the website sale prices but website had more choices.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I've never seen them on sale. I bought DD one for her 6th bday, she is now 17. She kept that doll in perfect condition, and handed it down to her sister when she turned 5. So luckily my youngest has been perfectly happy with it and just wants clothes and accessories now. I remember thinking how ridiculous $100 sounded back then for a doll, but now the kids are asking for iPads and ugg boots, iPhones, and i wish they'd ask for $110 dolls

 

[crisi]

When my daughter was into the dolls, it made Christmas and birthdays really easy, since everyone simply bought her a dress or accessory. She was into them (well, her friends were and she was by extension) for four years or so.

One thing is to try and not get a historical doll on the edge of retirement - once they are retired, their stuff disappears.

 

[cristen72]

I have collected quite a few dolls for my daughter by stalking Craigslist and local yard sale pages on Facebook. I have also purchased a few on eBay but I read the descriptions very carefully!

I am also a member of several resale groups on Facebook that are specifically for AG dolls. I've gotten great deals there too.

The key for me is patience and diligence. I look at CL at least 3 times a day as well as all the other sources quite frequently too.

And remember, keep a "good deal" realistic. Yes you might find one at a yard sale for $5. But those are few and far between. With a new doll $110, remember a used doll in excellent condition with clothes for $50 is actually a great deal. They really do hold their resale value better than most toys IMO.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

American Girl does put out coupons from time to time- there's actually a coupon out right now for $10 off a $100 purchase (the code is 180749 and expires 9/30/14). There's also free shipping on $100 orders sometime in the fall, but you can usually only use one coupon code at a time (so either free shipping or $10 off).

The sale section on their website is a great place to get discounted outfits- many of those outfits are being retired. There's also normally great deals on clothes on Cyber Monday.

ETA: If your daughter wants Isabelle and any of her accessories, it's best not to wait until the end of the year. The girl of the year usually sells out. A safe bet would be to buy the doll any accessories your daughter might want by sometime in late October.

 

[dragonfly57005]

You will more than likely pay full price for the doll.

they are worth it though! Very durable. Great hair.

Get the real doll.

My girls like the clothes they get from craft fairs and now my oldest is sewing clothes for her siblings.

 

[100AcreWood]

You will more than likely pay full price for the doll.

they are worth it though! Very durable. Great hair.

Get the real doll.

My girls like the clothes they get from craft fairs and now my oldest is sewing clothes for her siblings.

I agree with all of this. We nearly choked when our first dd got into AG. But she has taken care of the dolls and I don't see her parting with them anytime soon. They are treasured. Worst case, when you resale them later they are worth a lot of money even used.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It is very, very rare that the dolls themselves go on sale. I did manage to pick up Cecile on a Today Show sale for half price a couple years ago, but that is the only time I have seen that happen.

They have had this sale for the past two years, so it might happen again this year. I believe it was around October 2012 and around December (?) in 2013. Do a search of this board; there were threads on both these sales.

 

[olwyngdh]

They have had this sale for the past two years, so it might happen again this year. I believe it was around October 2012 and around December (?) in 2013. Do a search of this board; there were threads on both these sales.

Drats! I missed it last year! I'm going to have to pay more attention to steals and deals this fall!

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

They have had this sale for the past two years, so it might happen again this year. I believe it was around October 2012 and around December (?) in 2013. Do a search of this board; there were threads on both these sales.

Unfortunately, the two dolls they did these sales on are being retired. They might not choose another doll to do it with, especially since they're revamping the historical doll line this month.

 

[sweetdana]

Funny, I was you a year ago! It is dd8. For 3 years no way!!!

Found mg on the today shows special.. (From disboards post)... She now has 4 I love that me dd9 is obsesses end and plays dolls again 0 re Greta!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

eBay has lots of American Girl dolls and clothes and furniture. Santa has brought my daughter several dolls that were "previously loved". They are always posed under the tree since hey seldom come in the box. I can usually find a "like new" doll for around $75.

 

[Burnedout]

A friend just bought me one at the Wisconsin sale. $35. We plan to go together next year.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Does QVC still do a sale on them?

 

[J'aime Paris]

There is an AG outlet in Oshkosh WI. Have gotten many outfits and accessories there over the years. They don't normally stock dolls, but may occasionally if one is being retired.

 

[descovy]

I will tell you each of my dd's have an AG doll. They are 14, 12, and 10 right now. The 10yr old plays with the dolls sometimes with friends. The older girls have outgrown them.

Nonetheless none will get rid of them. They know their AG dolls are special, and they want to keep them. We never went crazy with accessories... A few outfits and maybe a play kit. They want to keep their dolls & cherish them. A lot of things have made it to the goodwill bin but not their AG dolls.

Our dolls are all historic... Molly, Josephina, & Rebecca. So that might be part of it. They got invested in their books in elementary school. My 6th grader even used one of her Josephina books as a resource on a social studies assignment! She was intrigued about New Mexico because of her doll's story.

Ymmv on the "just like me" dolls, but I found the historic dolls a wonderful investment for my girls!

 

[Halle]

A thought if you buy a previously loved AG doll. Don't know if it is still available but a few years ago I took DD's dolls to the AG store and for a very reasonable amount of $ they had their hair (was a tangled mess) redone. They were sent home to us wearing a hospital gown, hospital name tag and had a get well soon balloon. I know I loved it more than DD.