unsinkable Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Just got a letter from AG. Kirsten Larson is going to "archives." My opinion of AG is plummeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Oh :( That was my dd's first one! I'm sad. . . . . My dd17 is disgusted. She thinks the company has totally changed their focus. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Disgusted seems rather strong. Im sad but I can see that after all these years its nice to introduce some new dolls. I think Rebecca is a lovely addition to the collection even tho I am a little afraid her books will supplant my favorite All of a Kind Family books. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Disgusted seems rather strong. That's my dd! Pretty strong opinions, her. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patchfire Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 How sad. :( I guess Molly's next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Oh no! And we don't have her. She would have been my fave if I got these dolls when younger. Thanks for letting us know. AG is certainly a different company since Mattel showed up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertDweller Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 How sad. :( I guess Molly's next? It does make it appear to be a trend. I hope it's not. We don't have all of the dolls, and because dd is older now, we probably won't be buying any more. We do have the craft books, trading cards, and a few other things. I'm saving them to give to a possible granddaughter some day. It would be nice to think the dolls might still be available too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I'm sorry to hear this! I come from a Scandinavian background, so Kirsten is pretty neat, IMO! I'll check out their website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 How sad. :( I guess Molly's next? Well, this way they'll have more room in the store for dolls that make a more dramatic political statement (like the homeless doll?). (and please forgive me if this idea offends...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smrtmama Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Well, this way they'll have more room in the store for dolls that make a more dramatic political statement (like the homeless doll?). (and please forgive me if this idea offends...) How does the homeless doll make a "political statement?" She's a minor character in another character's book, which is about bullying. Children make up a significant portion of the homeless population. I think AG's choice to include a homeless child in their books is touching and appropriate, because that's a struggle many real American children face. I would like to see proceed from that doll going to help homeless children, rather than as a profit-making item, but that doesn't make the doll political. Several dolls in the AG line (Addy, for instance) have tragic backgrounds. Addy escaped from slavery, leaving part of her family behind. Rebecca, the new Russian Jewish character, is from an immigrant family who is struggling with integrating into American society. Are these political statements? No, they're stories of how girls can overcome adversity and still be positive, educated, and productive people. How is this a political statement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 My dd will be very devastated, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Oh! :( Kirsten was my doll too! We still have her, battled-damaged as she has become... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I guess they're basing this on what sells and what doesn't. I got the Kirsten books at a library sale and they looked good, although my dd isn't old enough to read them herself yet. I doubt I would have bought a Kirsten doll. Since the dolls are so expensive, I think people tend to buy a doll that either looks like them, shares their background or has really awesome clothes and accessories. I don't think Kirsten qualifies one points one and three and fewer people live in the towns their pioneer ancestors founded, so the sales from point 2 are probably slipping. I'm hoping that this is the reasoning and that Josefina is safe until dd is old enough to get an expensive doll. Keeping my fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainbowSprinkles Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 It's funny how this always seems to happen right before Christmas!:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I guess they're basing this on what sells and what doesn't. I got the Kirsten books at a library sale and they looked good, although my dd isn't old enough to read them herself yet. I doubt I would have bought a Kirsten doll. Since the dolls are so expensive, I think people tend to buy a doll that either looks like them, shares their background or has really awesome clothes and accessories. I don't think Kirsten qualifies one points one and three and fewer people live in the towns their pioneer ancestors founded, so the sales from point 2 are probably slipping. I'm hoping that this is the reasoning and that Josefina is safe until dd is old enough to get an expensive doll. Keeping my fingers crossed. LOL, in the picture of my dd and Kirsten when she first got her, they look like twins! I have often thought that if they made a movie of Kirsten, my dd could play her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyWifeandMommy Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 does this mean that we wont be able to buy the books of these girls anymore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 It's funny how this always seems to happen right before Christmas!:) funny like a fox.;):lol: Its smart marketting to retire dolls and prodce new ones and its brilliant to do it before christmas. That's how my dd got Nellie last year even though she is only 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Given what happened with Samantha, my guess is that they want to introduce a new doll from a similar time period, as they did with Rebecca. Maybe whoever wanted a German immigrant doll will now have a chance to get one if the company chooses to go that route?;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 here is what they wrote to me a couple hours after I wrote to them (my email follows): Dear American Girl Customer, Thank you for taking time to express your feelings about our decision to move Kirsten® to the American Girl Archives?. We are very sorry for the disappointment this has caused you. While Kirsten has been a popular character since her introduction in 1986, we felt the timing was right to preserve her place in American Girl's history, making it possible to introduce new characters and time periods for our customers to enjoy. Girls will still be able to see Kirsten and learn about her stories at the American Girl Archives on our website. Her stories will live on through her timeless book series and mini doll, which will continue to be available and sold through retail locations and through americangirl.com. We are complimented by your request to add other dolls to our product line. We appreciate your thoughtful suggestions; however, our internal design team creates all of our products, including our dolls, their stories and accessories. Although we are not able to comply with your requests, we appreciate the time you have taken to share it with us. Your comments and insights help us determine if we are meeting the needs and interests of the girls we serve. Again, thank you for writing to us. We value your opinion and welcome your comments. Sincerely, American Girl® Customer Service Phone: 1-800-845-0005 or 608-831-5210 Fax: 608-828-4790 Available Monday - Sunday 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Central Time Original Message Follows: ------------------------ Why would a company making historical dolls get rid of one that covers our pioneer heritage? I can see replacing Samantha with Rebecca...but getting rid of Kirsten? Hello? Why not make a film with her in it to promote sales? PS - how about a Vietnamese refugee doll? (60/70s?) Or a 1950's doll - could be a black girl, living in a northern city like Detroit. Add dolls, do not retire them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainbowSprinkles Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 funny like a fox.;):lol: Its smart marketting to retire dolls and prodce new ones and its brilliant to do it before christmas. That's how my dd got Nellie last year even though she is only 4. Yes, I was thinking of getting another one for dd this Christmas. Guess now I know which one to get :) I wanted to get Kirsten anyway though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarleneW Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Guess I better go ahead and get her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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