OUR generation dolls

[happygirl]

I'm thinking about getting my little girl one of this for Christmas, they are a lot like AG dolls but cheapers.

 

[princessmom29]

They are similar, but the quality is nowhere near AG. The hair on the OG dolls is AWFUL. It becomes a matted mess rather quickly and there is no way to fix it. We have a lot of OG accessories, but with the dolls, you truly get wahat you pay for and the difference between OG and AG is pretty obvious. If you were getting it for a small child as a starter doll I would say go for it, but not as an AG subistitute. A girl that has seen or played with AG anywher else owuld know the difference.

 

[Jey12]

If that's what is in your budget then I say go for it!

If an AG doll is in your budget I'd suggest that. The OG dolls are cheaper and in this case you really do get what you pay for. I know a few people who bought the OG dolls for their little girls so they could see if they liked them and would play with them. What happened is the girls didn't play with them for very long because the hair matted, the legs wouldn't support the doll to stand on their own, etc....this did not stop the girls from asking for or wanting an AG doll. When they finally decided to get the little ones the AG dolls they played with them nonstop. A few years later and they are still playing with them, and the hair and limbs are just as sturdy as the day they came out of the box. Well the hair not completely but it's not a mess, it's just been combed and played with. They have plenty of outfits and furniture from the OG dolls and other cheaper versions and yes the quality of those is less, but they do hold up to the play unlike the cheaper end dolls. Really all they ended up doing was spending $40 more on everything by getting the cheaper doll.

Now if that's all that is in your budget, that's all that is in your budget. Just be aware there is a difference and in the end you probably won't be saving that much money.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Madame Alexander dolls are cuter IMO and have better hair *not as good as AG but better than OG* they can be found at Walmart, Target *I think* K Mart, Sears Amazon
Journey Girls at Toys R Us are nice too.

 

[Zhoen]

I'm going to be the devil's advocate (surprise, surprise)

Last year I was in the same boat. I bought my daughters a couple of OG dolls, using the "buy a deluxe set, get an outfit free" coupon that Target is running again this year (and don't forget to look on the back of the toy catalogue for a "$5 GC if you spend $50" coupon, too...

I can confirm that one of the dolls now has "horribly matted hair"... as someone else mentioned... but considering what the doll has been through, I'm neither suprised, nor upset. That doll belongs to the 4 year old, who was three when she got it from Santa. We solved the problem by putting her hair in a big, thick rasta braid and life goes on. I could replace that doll 3 times for what one AG doll would cost... literally. Of course the AG dolls can be sent in for repairs, but the OG doll can be replaced, so it's a personal choice at that point.

My girls love to play with their OG dolls. The older could read last christmas and didn't care that package didnt' say "American Girl" on it. She has never complained or asked for an AG doll instead. They have a TON of the clothes and accessories from Target, Michael's (use the 40% coupons!), craft shows, Build-A-Bear finds we got at yard sales, etc. My niece was a bit sad that she didn't have a doll like theirs, so we went to Target and let her pick one out, too... they all play with them, interchanging clothes and accessories, sitting them in the baby doll furniture we already had.

So in the end, I spent about the same for all three of those dolls as I spent for my stepdaughter's AG Samantha 10 years ago. Samantha, I'm told, is still pristine... but that is more because she never got played with than because she was better to start with (which, for the price, I would certainly hope for)

In the end, I am content with all the purchases, OG dolls weren't available 10 years ago, and DSD wouldn't have been happy with anyone except Samantha... not even a different AG doll.

I'd say it depends on the child. If all their friends have AG-branded dolls, then yes, they may be unhappy with a less expensive brand... this seems to be common with older girls. But you could always try this experiment. Show your girls an OG-deluxe doll in Target, and ask her, would she rather have the AG doll, or would she rather have the Target OG doll with accessories, the extra free outfit, and half the cash you'll save by buying the OG doll (you keep the other half)... If she REALLY wants the AG doll, then go with that. If she plays with it once and abandons it, you can always put it on Ebay...

 

[kidshop]

We have an OG doll from last Christmas and the hair is a rat's nest! However, you can improve it by doing the downy dunk and keeping it in ponytails or braids. Dd loves her doll (she is 5), so I think I am going to re-wig her! We have the OG, a Jakks Pacific Fancy Nancy (I love her!) and the soft 18 inch doll from Pottery Barn. They can all wear the same clothes. Og dolls are perfectly lovable, it's just the hair that is so awful. And if I can buy a nice quality wig for $15, couldn't they just put one on to begin with!? It can't be that difficult. I bought the mermaid OG Evelyn last week, mostly for the costume. I guess I'll get some hair for her too!

 

[Zhoen]

We have an OG doll from last Christmas and the hair is a rat's nest! However, you can improve it by doing the downy dunk and keeping it in ponytails or braids. Dd loves her doll (she is 5), so I think I am going to re-wig her! We have the OG, a Jakks Pacific Fancy Nancy (I love her!) and the soft 18 inch doll from Pottery Barn. They can all wear the same clothes. Og dolls are perfectly lovable, it's just the hair that is so awful. And if I can buy a nice quality wig for $15, couldn't they just put one on to begin with!? It can't be that difficult. I bought the mermaid OG Evelyn last week, mostly for the costume. I guess I'll get some hair for her too!

Where can you get replacement hair? That's brilliant!

 

[foltzy]

Madame Alexander dolls are cuter IMO and have better hair *not as good as AG but better than OG* they can be found at Walmart, Target *I think* K Mart, Sears Amazon
Journey Girls at Toys R Us are nice too.

I have to agree. The Madame Alexander dolls are just much better. We have 2 of those and 1 Our Generation girls. My daughter (6) plays with all 3 pretty hard. Daisy and Sunflower (MA) have held up great. Their hair still looks good. Tin (OG) is another story. I can not fix her hair. I've gone online and her hair is just bad. I've tried washing it, brushing it and everything I could find and it's just a big ball of fluff on the top of her head.

Saying that I do like the OG accessories. I also like the MA accessories and I think I'd buy them for her for her AG doll. She's getting one for Christmas because it's the thing she's been bugging me for the most this year and since she still plays with her other dolls I'm giving in and buying an AG doll or rather her grandparents are.

 

[kidshop]

Where can you get replacement hair? That's brilliant!

Ebay, of course! I've been reading how people re-wig AG dolls, so why not? For 18 inch dolls the recommended size is 10-11 and it should be a modacrylic wig for playability. Monique and Kemper are good brands; the highest quality is Ruby Red Galleria which is pretty pricey, but incredible. You basically just cut off rooted hair and glue on the new wig. I can do that!

Dd wants her doll to have the same hair color and style so that is a little tricky.

 

[happygirl]

thanks everyone We are going to try to get one of those dolls for Christmas, i'm not to worried about the hair. I can put it in a braid or in pig tails

 

[TnTWalter]

if the 3 year old great, if 8 year old, I'd wait or check craigslist for good condition ag.

 

[sleepymomof4]

Before my DD's had AG we also had Our generation dolls, but at 5&6 they were perfect for them. Now they have a few AG dolls, but know the value and take much better care of them. My 5 year old niece asked for one, SIL said no. Iam buying her a Journey Girls doll from Toys R Us as an alternitive, SO cute! Cannot comment on the hair, but sure wish I would have seen these before the Our Generation. Right now you buy one for 29.99 & get a free outfit(14.99) free shipping also right now! (My 7year old who has 3 AG dolls thinks these dolls are really cute)

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We got a Madame Alexander doll from Wal-Mart for DD and she loves her. The other mommies in my area have all commented on her hair - it's stayed beautiful and soft unlike other kids OG dolls.

I don't have any direct experience with AG dolls so I can't compare but I have trouble imagining an AG doll is better than the MA doll we have.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Don't get the OG- horrible horrible hair. Yes you can replace doll/hair/whatever, but it's really frustrating for little ones who want to brush it.

Keep an eye out for Gotz dolls at TJ Maxx/Tuesday Morning/etc. They are the original makers of the AG dolls and can be sometimes found at above places for about same price as OG.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Where can you get replacement hair? That's brilliant!

Here's my youtube video showing what I did - this doll was purchased at Michael's for $12 *with a coupon. I got the wig from www.rubyredgalleria.com