How do you get deals on AG stuff?

[Eeyoreloverforever]

My girls like AG stuff, but it is so expensive. Where do find deals on it?

 

[Ava]

eBay & craigslist

AG also has a Sale section on their website, and sometimes does different daily/weekly deals. Sometimes they put out codes for free shipping, or a discount. They've also recently started selling through QVC; the last one was a couple months ago, and they'll probably do another one in the fall.

 

[Dancemom03]

The sale pages on the AG website combined with discount codes offered a couple of times a year are wonderful. With the last sale/$10 off $30 code combo I was able to get some awesome buys. My favorite included Kaya's foal, the rolling haircare ceter (impossible to resist - if you ordered this you got free shipping too), and one of the blue "JLY meet" outfits currently on sale for $7 - all for under $30 total! My daughter also got Molly's retired stage on sale (orig $140?) using a code, making the total price shipped just over $25 if I remember correctly.

Ebay and craigslist are also terrific resources for good deals. Often listings for new dolls will say they have an "x" on their butt b/c they were purchased at the mcm sale. These are usually factory overstock/seconds/returns which have been carefully inspected by doll hospital volunteers and refurbished if needed to look brand new. DD8 has several dolls from benefit sales over the years and I've yet to find one with obvious flaws.
The x is to prevent returns to AG but has little impact on the doll itself as it's VERY small and located in the corner right where the seams come together on the backside. In real life, if you weren't looking for it, I doubt you'd even notice the mark on many dolls.

 

[Maren1111]

Once a year in the summer they have the warehouse sale near HQ in Oshkosh, WI. Dolls from there are "new in the box" but have an x on their foot. There have been some reports that these refurbished dolls are looser or have some issues that the brand-new ones don't. Not sure if they're worth the discount & if you're buying NIB on ebay from someone in the WI or Chicago area, it's probably from this sale.

Last year they had a coupon out that was good for $10/30 with reduced shipping costs too. I'd assume that'll come out again this fall.

I've been researching this too this past week. My daughter wants her first one for Xmas this year.

 

[Maren1111]

Ebay and craigslist are also terrific resources for good deals. Often listings for new dolls will say they have an "x" on their butt b/c they were purchased at the mcm sale. These are usually factory overstock/seconds/returns which have been carefully inspected by doll hospital volunteers and refurbished if needed to look brand new. DD8 has several dolls from benefit sales over the years and I've yet to find one with obvious flaws.

I'm really glad to read this - I'd read a negative review on these, but it was only from one person who had actual experience and someone else speculating. We may get a refurbed one after all.

 

[Dancemom03]

Once a year in the summer they have the warehouse sale near HQ in Oshkosh, WI. Dolls from there are "new in the box" but have an x on their foot. -
No, it's a tiny x - about the size of one here on this screen - in what looks like black ink that is placed on the doll's bottom in the corner where the seams meet. It's never been on the foot or anywhere that would disfigure the doll that I know of.

There have been some reports that these refurbished dolls are looser or have some issues that the brand-new ones don't. Not sure if they're worth the discount & if you're buying NIB on ebay from someone in the WI or Chicago area, it's probably from this sale.
With dolls maybe, but it could also be from a collector or from the AG outlet in OshKosh which is different than MCM and usually features overstock/retired items as opposed to returns from what I'm told.

Last year they had a coupon out that was good for $10/30 with reduced shipping costs too. I'd assume that'll come out again this fall.
The coupons/discount code for $10 off $30 has historically coincided with AG movie releases and was found inside dvds but available if you searched online or sometimes when calling AG if you asked about it when placing an order.

I've been researching this too this past week. My daughter wants her first one for Xmas this year.

SEE BOLDED ABOVE and .....

Muwahaha... welcome! ... but be careful - it's an insideous addiction that there's no twelve step program for yet!

 

[Jennia]

If you join the American Girl fan boards, they also have sale sections and many of the members offer things up that are usually much cheaper than their list price or on ebay. There are also some sellers who buy things at the outlet and resell on ebay (and the prices are usually pretty good).

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

I was under the impression dolls weren't available at the warehouse sale by the American Girl Outlet Store in Oshkosh. Their deals on other things, though, I hear are awesome. There's several sellers on ebay who haul truckloads of stuff from there. Must be nice to have that much $$ to hold onto that much overstock.

The doll ladies at MCM are very careful checking over dolls for the Annual Benefit Sale benefiting Madison's Children's Museum. They're only human though so sometimes defects could get overlooked. We have quite a few dolls from the MCM sale & they're very nice. As previous posters have said, you really can't tell unless you specifically check for the x.

I'm waiting for the AG code that's $10 off a $30 order. It works well for me & AG gets money I normally wouldn't spend. QVC also offers good deals but to take advantage of the special pricing you have to order the day the item you want is offered.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Check www.agplaythings.com. Great site with info on current sales, FAW about the outlet and MCM sales, etc.

 

[kittycatalina65]

American Girl items donated to the Madison Children's Museum by Mattel are not intended for resale. If you buy a doll with a red x it is being sold by someone who is breaking the rules outlined by the sale, and also taking money from the charity.
In answer to your question, you can find discounted dolls, books and accessories from Craigslist, ebay, thrift stores and garage sales. I have had luck at all four.
QVC will be doing an AG special soon. They often have a deal with a doll/accessories package. Check out the QVC website for more details.
I would also look for a free shipping code from AG in the upcoming months.
Good luck!

 

[Dancemom03]

The next QVC AG program is scheduled for Sunday, Sept 13 from 3-4 pm ET.

There were better deals that have sold out within the hour-long show both times they've aired AG before but the Chrissa package (2009 Doll of the year) is still showing as available on the QVC site right now... http://www.qvc.com/cgen/render.aspx?qp=class|l506&term=american girl

 

[Dancemom03]

American Girl items donated to the Madison Children's Museum by Mattel are not intended for resale. If you buy a doll with a red x it is being sold by someone who is breaking the rules outlined by the sale, and also taking money from the charity.

I've never seen a red x, always black, but only started collecting AG dolls again for DD8 when she was a toddler. Not only have I been to the sale but I've bought quite a few dolls from ebay sellers over the years. Was the red from many years ago perhaps?

After attending the mcm sale the year before last and seeing one couple fully load a rented u-haul truck assisted by volunteers in the loading zone I questioned how this obvious excess could be allowed. Being me, I actually asked a few people as we waited in the heat for them to move so that I could put a few of the bigger items DD8 wanted into my van. I was told that this man and his wife were ebay power sellers and known by the mcm sale staff but not turned away as they paid for tickets just like everyone else.

The mcm sale receipts had a printed statement that said purchasers agreed not to resell items for profit or something like that but I can't see how that could possibly be legally enforced as, once an item is paid for, it then belongs to you and you can do whatever you choose with your personal belongings. I won't argue the morals involved - to each his/her own - I feel sorry for this couple's ebay buyers when I see their overpriced auctions end with a buy it now but their feedback is very good so I guess bidders don't have an issue with it. BUT... I can tell you that IMO when mcm staff doesn't stop a known power seller who keeps coming back and filling up rented trucks each year, then I can't believe that a mom who buys a few extra dolls - or whose DD outgrows or changes her mind about which doll she really wanted and sells it to another family can be doing anything all that offensive. As my dad was fond of saying "catch the big fish first, then you can worry about those little nibblers instead of telling stories about the one that got away."

I also can't imagine how anyone reselling a doll they paid extra to buy a ticket and waited in line for hours to be allowed to purchase, then paid the full sales price plus tax for, could possibly be "taking money from the charity" in any way. The money from that sale still goes to the charity. Maybe I'm just not getting it but the doll isn't going to bring in any more for the charity than the stated price mcm is charging so how is someone selling a doll months, or even years later, cheating the charity as long as they paid mcm originally for the doll? After all, sales are final and mcm doesn't accept returns, so it's not like it could be exchanged for a different style, especially if it's being re-sold b/c the child has grown up or lost interest and no longer wants it after playing with it for several years.

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

Oh gosh, are you serious??? A U-haul? Now that's excessive IMO.

I've never seen a red x either. Wonder what that's all about? I've only seen black x's on MCM stuff. The x on the doll is very tiny, too, perhaps the size of the x in this post. However, each person working on a doll has a different idea of tiny I suppose.

We often sell things DGD has outgrown & I don't see anything wrong with that. Now she's older she's parting with some of her collection to raise funds for a trip to France with her French class. Since we didn't purchase those things with the idea of making money I don't see anything wrong with that either. As pp said, once you purchase something it's yours to do with what you want.

Keep in mind the QVC prices shown during the show hours are valid for that day or show only. If you wait a few days to order the price most likely will be higher. Chrissa might still be available but price most likely will be higher than it was last month.

We ordered Mia last year; I only ordered her because of the collection QVC offered & the fact it was on their easypay plan. AG doesn't offer monthly payments. I sure hope this year they don't have something I can't resist.

 

[kittycatalina65]

I've seen a red x, maybe it depends on the color of the sharpie they have handy that day
Like you said, the rule is not very enforceable, but it is clearly stated to the buyers. Keep that in mind if you see one on ebay.