Our Generation Doll Vs. American Girl?

[Cellthing]

My daughter really wants an American Girl doll for xmas but it is killing me to pay that much for a doll I know she will get tired of. Is the Our Generation Doll much different than the American Girl dolls? Are they just as durable? The one she wants isn't a specific doll just the Just Like Me (I think that is what they are called) doll which a blonde hair, blue eyed doll should be fairly easy to find from Target. I could just get so many more accessories by buying that one instead of the AG one.

 

[nursetink]

Hello neighbor! I also live in Maumelle. I personally think the American Girl is the best quality doll that we have purchased to date. Most of the Our Generation things are very cute, but they just do not hold up like the AG things. This is our experience.

My girls love AG in fact I just ordered a another one for DD 7 birthday.

 

[dizagain]

I would go for the AG if possible. There is a huge quality difference - especially in the hair. Our oldest AG doll is now 7 years old and still played with on a regular basis by my 12-year-old. The accessories and clothes are wonderful items as well and I just cannot say enough good things about AG!!

 

[VictoriaT]

I agree with getting the American Girl Doll. My DD, 9, has two and wants another one. When she was small she did not play with dolls. Once she received her first one, she was hooked. The quality is amazing. My DSs play with them, and obviously not the same way my DD does, and they hold up well.

 

[mytwotinks]

I feel your pain! I just placed my order for BOTH of my girls and it hurt. Unfortunately there really is a huge difference so it just depends on what you are looking for. You will never find a doll as well made as an AG doll. The clothes and accesories are beautifully made and really do stand up to lots of play. If they don't, AG is great about making it right.

There is a free shipping code for orders over $100 that is good till the 21st: 153239. I just used it this morning and it worked.

I think that I am going to buy the white trunk that Target has for $49. My older dd is getting Kit and she has a trunk that goes with her, but there isn't really anything for the Just like you dolls. It looks really well made I thought. I also bought the salon chair at Target. It isn't as cute or well made as the AG version, but it wasn't one of the pieces that I thought would get as much use so I am going to try it out. They used to have a bunch more and I was dissapointed that they had gotten rid of so much. I was going to look through the accesories like the bed and furniture and see what looked nice and maybe save some money. They must be getting out of it.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Another vote for AG. We have a few.The quality is much better than the OG doll and I feel they are prettier too. We had 1 OG doll that I bought just to see if dd would even be interested in an 18" doll. In comparison, her hair was terrible and the wig did not fully cover the back of her head. Her expression seemed so "blank" to me and overall I was not impressed. Let's just say she doesn't live here anymore.

I bought a beautiful Samantha from ebay for $50. She has the white cloth body (torso) which only the first made AGs have. AG came out around 1986 and this Samantha is still in great shape! I think it's awonderful investment. You don't have to buy AG clothes/accessories. There are other places that sell them that are cheaper just ask us here. Just be aware that not all non-AG 18" doll clothes fit them properly because their bodies are a little chubbier than other dolls. The OG brand clothes does fit although sometimes snugly.

 

[Cellthing]

Guess I will probably bite the bullet and get her what she wants. Might go to Target this afternoon and just check out the OG stuff and see what DD7 seems interested in from there. I just hate for it to be a phase like every other doll she has (which has now been passed down to DD3) and it only be played with for 6 months at the price.

 

[Iluvthemouse]

We are on our third OG girl. But that is a good thing. My DD (almost 8yo) likes to cut their hair, paint their nails, put glitter makeup on them-you name it. I would have cried if she did that to an AG doll.

I will not spend that much on a doll for her to play with (and the whole point is for her to play with it). I do buy all the AG accessories though and spend the money on the books, clothes, pets, etc.

I would start with an OG doll and if she likes it, takes care of it then buy the AG doll.

 

[nursetink]

My girls have Nellie, Felecity, Elizabeth, and Marisol. I just ordered Jess. We also have 2 Bitty Baby's. My oldest daughter is having the American Girl spa party for her friends and their dolls in 2 weeks. I think they are great, but really do not want to think about the amount I have invested in this thus far.

 

[mytwotinks]

Guess I will probably bite the bullet and get her what she wants. Might go to Target this afternoon and just check out the OG stuff and see what DD7 seems interested in from there. I just hate for it to be a phase like every other doll she has (which has now been passed down to DD3) and it only be played with for 6 months at the price.

I wouldn't worry about her losing interest. If your dd's friends are like most of the girls in the U.S. AG will be kind of a big deal for the next couple of years with her friends. It's right up there with Limitted Too. They love it!

 

[debbi801]

I wouldn't worry about her losing interest. If your dd's friends are like most of the girls in the U.S. AG will be kind of a big deal for the next couple of years with her friends. It's right up there with Limitted Too. They love it!

Absolutely. My DD got Molly when she was 6. She is 11 and still plays with her. Now that she is older, she designs clothes for her too.

The AG dolls are much sturdier.

Some advice--I have found that unless the OG clothes are loose fitting, they do not fit on the AG dolls. The OG shoes do not fit the AG dolls at all. But, every accessory we have (tent, horse, scooter, chair, bed, trunck, etc.) has come from Target and they've held up great.

 

[Hedy]

I'm 22, and Felicity is still around.

 

[famofsix]

Absolutely. My DD got Molly when she was 6. She is 11 and still plays with her. Now that she is older, she designs clothes for her too.

The AG dolls are much sturdier.

Some advice--I have found that unless the OG clothes are loose fitting, they do not fit on the AG dolls. The OG shoes do not fit the AG dolls at all. But, every accessory we have (tent, horse, scooter, chair, bed, trunck, etc.) has come from Target and they've held up great.

I agree the quality of the AG is better but if you're apprehensive you could try the OG one and then do an AG later We did that with our younger one. But the OG doll while nice is just not the same quality.

When our oldest wanted one at age 6 or 7, we said AG doll = 10 presents.....DD didn't care that year so she got Kit from Americangirl.com and was thrilled. We bought Bitty baby for the younger one at the same time from AG. You might consider Bitty baby she's very cute for your younger one.

We have bought them from people who "outgrew" them and ebay. Santa wrote a note of adoption for the AG's new "mommy". Ebay is hard tho because they often go for much more than buying them new. I also got one bitty baby off ebay and it was not as described. I liked getting them used because then I didn't have to feel guilty if they really played with them and slept with them.
My girls never cut hair or put polish on them tho'

BTW acne cream takes out pen on the arms legs or face area! I don't know why but it works.

One time I won an ebay auction for Samantha and it was guaranteed to arrive by Christmas. Well, Christmas eve came and no AG from UPS! My husband went out in a snowstorm and borrowed one from a friend to put under the tree. Then a few days later I switched them. Funny thing is the ebay Samantha was nicer looking but DD didn't know. The things you do for love!
AG is a great keepsake!

 

[disneymom3]

I would suggest just biting the bullet and getting the AG doll. I bought two dolls for DD figuring I would do the trying out thing. Didn't work. She didn't play with them at all. Once their hair got all tangled and gross she dumped them in her closet. Then we found a box of dolls I had when I was little--Chatty Kathy, Mandy and a few others. She started to play with them a lot. So, for Christmas last year I got her the AG doll she had been wanting for two years. She plays with her all the time! Jenna(the doll) has gone on two vacations with us, always sleeps over at grandma and grandpas, got a gift from me after I was out of town for a weekend (hey, it was the American Girl garage sale and gave me an excuse to buy a darling outfit for her) and will be getting a present for Christmas too.

Be warned though. It's addictive! I can't decide to give DD Emily, one of the new Girl of Today dolls or a Felicity I got off of ebay. I am already planning what I want to get at the garage sale next year!

 

[java]

AG dolls are very very well made - you are getting what you pay for. Their hair is so sweet. And if anything ever happens they have the AG hospital you can send them to and they can replace heads, arms, get marker off, ect... for a price....
What I do is buy the dolls from AG then fill out the stuff with OG extras like the tent and sleeping bag. The clothes do not even compare in quality. But for a young girl I would go with the cheaper og clothes for now. And I will third of fifth or whatever the fact that my dd is now 9 and this is still the most played with item in our house- although the angelina ballerina stuff they used to sell is a close second- there is a tea party going on as we speak with angelina, my dd and her 2 little brothers.......worth every penny!

 

[ceecee]

Don't waste your money on the Our generation doll, it's hair is awful! Their faces are weird too IMO. The American Girl dolls are nice and they have the history stories which are also a plus. DD is 11 and still collecting.

 

[mjantz]

My DD does not have an AG 'big girl' doll but she does have a Bitty Baby & that doll has lasted through everything. Its been drug all over the house, left in the car, stepped on, 'fed' & dressed, undressed & redressed & it still looks good. I expect I'll be able to keep it for her children to play with.
We're not quite to AG yet, but I figure that will be what she asks for for either her next birthday (summer) or Christmas next year.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Don't waste you $ on the OG doll. They really just can't compare (but the accessories can be good.) We have one and DD never plays with it. She does like the AG dolls though.

The quality of AG is so good, along with the service and even packaging. Be careful, you will get hooked yourself.

Besides if you DD losses interest and no longer wants it, the dolls have great resale value.

Get her a coconut dog too, it is cute and the girls love it.

 

[patsal]

DD is 11 and she and her firends still bring the dolls for sleep overs and play, they still enjoy styling the hair and dressing them up. A totally worthwhile investment. Besides, if for some reason your DD loses interest and it goes to your next DD and then she loses interest you certainly could sell it for a fair price on ebay.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Get the American Girl doll. My daughters each got one at age 8 and the younger (now 12) is still into AG things. My kids were born 5 days (plus 5 years!) apart and we've had several combo birthday luncheons at AG in Chicago. It's a neat experience!



edited: My girls are such AG fans, they named our own westie (see avatar!) Coconut!

(hey, no one ever called my kids original )