Fake American Girls At Michael's

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Both of my DD's wanted AG's for Christmas. My 9 yo is very careful with her toys and takes care of them. My 6 yo just tosses everything anywhere. I bought my 9 yo an AG from their website but was putting off buying my other DD one. Them I saw these dolls at Michael's. They are in the doll aisle. They look just like them. Of course there are differances but close enough. There is also clothes and accessories for them. Since both dolls are from Santa...and he makes his own toys..neither will be in a box. The dolls are 15.99 and for anyone that is afraid their DD can't take care of a real AG properly I think this is the way to go.

 

[faith]

Do you mean Michael's the craft store? I think I'll take a look tomorrow for my grandaughter. Thanks!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Yes it was at Michael's Craft Store. They are in a clear plastic zip bag right with the doll making supplies. They have soft bodies w/o clothes but the entire outfits are 9.99 or less.

 

[famofsix]

Both of my DD's wanted AG's for Christmas. My 9 yo is very careful with her toys and takes care of them. My 6 yo just tosses everything anywhere. I bought my 9 yo an AG from their website but was putting off buying my other DD one. Them I saw these dolls at Michael's. They are in the doll aisle. They look just like them. Of course there are differances but close enough. There is also clothes and accessories for them. Since both dolls are from Santa...and he makes his own toys..neither will be in a box. The dolls are 15.99 and for anyone that is afraid their DD can't take care of a real AG properly I think this is the way to go.

The Michaels dolls don't look to be the same quality as the AG dolls. I think you might be better off with the disney AG style doll (disney princess, I think) or the Target our Generation doll. The clothing is alright from Michaels but it is our experience that the Target outfits hold up better than the Michaels clothes. Santa brought my girls AG doll one Christmas that were from "a little girl that grew up". But before that my youngest got the The Target Our Generation doll which usually sells around 20.00 outfitted at Christmas time in the stores.

 

[Madi100]

Just a note about the cheaper dolls. Be sure to put their hair in a braid or something. Their hair is very hard to manage.

 

[mrszrw]

We got our DD5 the disney doll on our last trip. You should see that things hair. It is awful. Last x-mas we gave her an Ag doll Elizabeth and her nice long hair is still as wonderful as they day we took her out of the box. DD5 plays with her every single day, she even tosses her around and The Ag doll has really taken the abuse well. She is getting another AG doll this year. Yes they cost so much more But my feeling is it is so worth it. You get what you pay for.

 

[mrszrw]

sorry double post

 

[bunny213]

If you do decide to do the Michael's doll...wait for the 40% or 50% off coupon, it's usually in the Sunday paper. I think JoAnn's coupons are accepted at M's too. I bought one of the doll's from M's to use as a model when I make my granddaughters AG dolls clothes. I use the coupons too for the shoes and accessories when I make the clothes. Sure has saved me lots of money...and the girls love it - four of them have AG dolls...and the youngest has the one from Target. Lot's of sewing goin' on here in Texas! Barb from Texas

 

[jenr812]

My DD has an AG doll and she also bought herself one from Michael's. The AG doll is still going strong but the one from Michael's was long ago tossed as the arm broke off after a short while. And my DD takes pretty good care of her stuff. Just an FYI... But for the price of the cheaper doll (esp. with a coupon), it's still not a bad deal.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I bought the one at Michael's. You should see how hard my DD is on toys. She could destroy a diamond if I gave it to her. She also get board very quickly so the expensive AG would get tossed around and end up on a shelf. So if the fake one lasts as long as she is interested then, to me, it is worth it. Now my DD9 is geting a real one but the way she takes care of things she will be able to give it to her great granddaughter and it will still look new

 

[ceecee]

We got DD the Disney doll, a TRU knockoff and a My Generation. All of the hair is a mess and we don't have any of them now. We have since gotten 6 AG dolls (my daughter is really into them right now). The hair is much better and you can actually style it. Our Josefina was used and her hair is a tad brittle on the ends, so we soaked it in Downey and it's a little better. I also did that with the Barbies we sold at the garage sale and they looked much better. Some of her older (6-8) Barbies had different hair than the smooth thin hair the new ones have. Maybe that would help the knock offs hair too?

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I have to agree with everyone that the AG dolls' hair holds up soooo much better. Even much better than the My Disney Girl dolls. We took the girls to the AG store in NYC this Spring for lunch, the photo shoot and to get their dolls hair done. What a hoot - well anyway the girl doing the dolls hair said to always make sure to mist the AG doll's hair first and use the AG brush. Really worked for us.

 

[jenr812]

We got DD the Disney doll, a TRU knockoff and a My Generation. All of the hair is a mess and we don't have any of them now. We have since gotten 6 AG dolls (my daughter is really into them right now). The hair is much better and you can actually style it. Our Josefina was used and her hair is a tad brittle on the ends, so we soaked it in Downey and it's a little better. I also did that with the Barbies we sold at the garage sale and they looked much better. Some of her older (6-8) Barbies had different hair than the smooth thin hair the new ones have. Maybe that would help the knock offs hair too?

What is the solution of Downy you used? I am assuming you mixed it with water? Thanks.

 

[pezheadmeg]

I'm going to either age myself or seem like a little kid here.

I have one of the early AG dolls (Felicity, whom I got @ 10 when she first came out!) I remember growing up, being limited with the choice of dolls (Kirsten, Samantha, & Molly, for most of my AG reading tenure and that was it!) Anyway to be honest that doll is still in perfect shape except for tangles in the hair. Plus with the AG dolls, you can have an individual part replaced if neccessary. IMHO, I would buy the outifts from Michael's which should fit the doll and splurge on an AG even for your 6 year old. It's more than worth the money!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I'm going to either age myself or seem like a little kid here.

I have one of the early AG dolls (Felicity, whom I got @ 10 when she first came out!) I remember growing up, being limited with the choice of dolls (Kirsten, Samantha, & Molly, for most of my AG reading tenure and that was it!) Anyway to be honest that doll is still in perfect shape except for tangles in the hair. Plus with the AG dolls, you can have an individual part replaced if neccessary. IMHO, I would buy the outifts from Michael's which should fit the doll and splurge on an AG even for your 6 year old. It's more than worth the money!

Boy I must have a 6 yo like no other. My 6 yo loves dolls but IMO is not mature enough to handle an expensive AG doll. My daughter will draw makeup on her dolls. Now I am not cheap but I will not spend 100 dollars on a doll that will get written on. She will draw makeup on the face and then toss it around.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

and there is nothing wrong with drawing on your dolls when you are 6 years old.

Get her the cheapy and let her go to town with it. There will be plenty of time to buy her a collectible when she's older, I guarantee AG dolls will still be around then and probably even better.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

and there is nothing wrong with drawing on your dolls when you are 6 years old.

Get her the cheapy and let her go to town with it. There will be plenty of time to buy her a collectible when she's older, I guarantee AG dolls will still be around then and probably even better.

Thank you for your post. Some of the posts were having me thing I was a bad mom if I didn't get the real thing. My DD9 who has always been responsible with her toys is getting her first AG this year. I am sure when my DD6 turns 9 she will be able to get her own too.

 

[ErinC]

My older daughters have a couple of AG dolls each (they paid for most of them with their own money). DD3 kept howling that she wanted one. No way was I going to spend that kind of money on a doll for her. I bought her the Michaels doll and she plays with it quite a bit. It was pretty funny though, she promptly got the AG catalog out and asked where this doll was in the book??? So I just turned to the back pages with the AG today dolls and told her that hers was like those. She was okay with that answer, thank goodness. I bought the doll with the coupon and I'd go back every couple of weeks and get an outfit with the coupons when they would come out. That way I didn't have too much tied up in this doll for her. I did braid her hair before I gave it to DD, so it wouldn't get too frizzy looking. Good luck with the michaels doll. I wouldn't spend that kind of money either without being sure she would take care of it!

 

[ceecee]

What is the solution of Downy you used? I am assuming you mixed it with water? Thanks.

Actually, we used straight downey (I got the unscented kind) and poured it in a shallow pan and let her end soak overnight. I used the Downey in the laundry when I was done.

 

[newtowdw1]

Thanks so much for the heads up. My DD 9 is like your 6 year old. Just will not take care of her things. I'll show her these, and if she wants she can save her own money.

I know what you mean about feeling like a bad Mom. I want her to have one so badly. I was in college when the AG dolls came out, and couldn't wait to have a DD to get one for. Well, at some point you just have to draw the line. $100 for a toy that DD9 won't take care of? No. You should see poor Bitty Baby.

If she can play with this one, and really PLAY with it, maybe she could have one later. But I can't justify the money for a careless kid either.