lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I just saw they are discontinuing a couple more. I wondered why...aren't these the backbone of AG? Or are the more modern ones more popular these days? Just curious. Trying to decide if I should buy one for my daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Which ones are they retiring now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Oh no!! What are they discontinuing now? I LOVE the historical dolls. It makes me sad to see them go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Elizabeth and Felicity. They are so cute, I can't see why they would nix them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 My daughter has Josefina. I hadn't wanted to add another, but with them retiring those, I am considering it. Maybe that is why they do it, they get folks like me to spend what they weren't planning to spend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 What?! Nooooooo! I wanted them to be around when/if I have a daughter! Those are the best for AMERICAN history! They have some of the best dresses and accessories! :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hisglory Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 The really sad part is that all of the beautiful clothes for both dolls are sold out and already way overpriced elsewhere. We were just considering buying either Felicity or Elizabeth but did not know they were retiring them. Our other favorite,Samantha, is already gone too. I wish they would keep the historical dolls and retire the modern ones although I'm sure that would be unpopular with some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 I don't see the appeal of the modern ones at all. But that is just me. How long do your girls play with these? My dd is 8.5. Worth buying another, or no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwickimom Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 UGH! Lucky for my DD my sieter passed down her samantha and all her clothes and accessories. I dont even like the modern dolls. The whole point of American girl is the historical dolls of all eras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Wasn't American Girl (owned by Pleasant Company) bought out/sold to Mattel or something like that? We have the older Angelina Ballerina dolls and when they changed them they aren't nearly as nice.... they are sold at Target now. The older ones are smaller and jointed and just beautiful.... the new ones... not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom4him Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I don't see the appeal of the modern ones at all. But that is just me. How long do your girls play with these? My dd is 8.5. Worth buying another, or no? My dd turned 11 in Nov. and that was the ONLY thing she wanted for Christmas. She now owns 3 and plays with them several times a wk.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Elizabeth and Felicity. They are so cute, I can't see why they would nix them! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Yep, I have the older Angelina dolls, too. I love them! My daughter outgrew them years ago, but I will never give them up! Saving them for grandchildren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Yep, I have the older Angelina dolls, too. I love them! My daughter outgrew them years ago, but I will never give them up! Saving them for grandchildren. :D Mee too! My girls wanted to sell their Angelina stuff as well as their dolls, etc......... I said, "No way!" The funny thing is that I was never one to play with dolls when I was a girl (my brothers would have teased me unmercifully if thye saw me with dolls).... but now I love them. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 :D Mee too! My girls wanted to sell their Angelina stuff as well as their dolls, etc......... I said, "No way!" The funny thing is that I was never one to play with dolls when I was a girl (my brothers would have teased me unmercifully if thye saw me with dolls).... but now I love them. :lol: I AM EXACTLY THE SAME...I was not into dolls at all. But since having a daughter, I have collected the My Friend Mandy dolls, Angelina Ballerinas, Madeline...etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Here is a quote from one site that I could find... the year was 2000 when The Pleasant Company sold to Mattel........ Pleasant Company Founder To Retire: Pleasant Rowland, the founder of the Pleasant Company, originator of the American Girls, is retiring in July. Former educator Pleasant Rowland started the Middleton, Wis.-based company in 1985 with the vision of making dolls that provided an alternative to Barbie and Cabbage Patch Kids--this was done with the very popular American Girls line of dolls. The company was bought in 1998 for $700 million by Mattel, the world's biggest toy maker. It continues to operate as an independent subsidiary based in Wisconsin. Rowland said she will retire on July 7 as president of Pleasant Company and vice chairwoman of Mattel. http://collectdolls.about.com/library/blast53.htm I think the emphasis has obviously changed.... bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Elizabeth and Felicity. They are so cute, I can't see why they would nix them! This is actually rather old news. They announced this retirement back in August and the dolls were supposed to be gone by December 31, 2010. They must have had some stuff left that they are still selling. I know because my daughter really wanted Felicity so she got it for her birthday before they went away. My email to AG at the time this retirement was announced said that since these dolls had been in the historical line from the beginning they were making room for new historical dolls. For instance, Rebecca is a newer doll in the historical line. I don't think they intend to do away with the historical dolls altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I just saw they are discontinuing a couple more. I wondered why...aren't these the backbone of AG? Or are the more modern ones more popular these days? Just curious. Trying to decide if I should buy one for my daughter. Because they are owned by Mattel and completely lost the vision of Pleasant Rowland, the creator. Yes, they are the backbone, the essence and very life of the collection. The beauty is gone and has been replaced by pretty things, cuteness, and commercialism. I fell in love with the dolls by 1990, when there were only Kirsten, Molly, and Samantha. The catalog is very fun to look through, still. I'm thinking about taking my daughter to the American Girl Place in Atlanta for her birthday in April. But in spite of the fun that there is today, there is a magic that's missing. And they continue to lose it, piece by piece. I still love the dolls, though:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 I read this tonight in my daughter's catalog from September. Just looking at it now. So yes, definitely old news....realized it was old. But they still have them in stock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMamaBird Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They do have new outfits for some of the historical dolls. Cynically, it's just another way to make more money. But positively, if they're producing and marketing more accessories for these dolls, maybe it means they'll be around for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 When I saw your post, I just thought they announced another retirement and thought I would be in for more tears and melodrama if it was a doll not already in our home. I can't take any more breakdowns so soon. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They retired Felicity once before and brought her back...with Elizabeth and lots more (and different from the original) accessories. Don't be surprised to see both her and Samantha back again in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Basic supply and demand. The demand for these dolls dropped below a certain level...so they create a demand by retiring them. Once the supply is depleted totally, people don't just walk away, they buy something else. Followers of AG will likely spend the same money but on another doll....and that means new accessories, clothes etc. If they ever want to, they can bring the doll back as a special edition. This is also a way to drive up the demand for a doll since it becomes a collectors item, and a new market is opened up for people who are interested solely for the collectibles factor. If they never retired, they wouldn't be as collectible. It is a good marketing ploy to have your product with an expiration date. That way people think "hmmmm, my little Amy likes Samantha, so if I don't buy it today, I may not be able to buy her tomorrow. I better buy Samantha and every little thing I can get my hands on NOW." People will buy things that they never would have considered, just because they are retiring. Think back to Beanie Babies or Webkins. The limited time each is on the market is what drives the market and creates the frenzies with little kid collectors and adult collectors alike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara in AZ Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They retired Felicity once before and brought her back...with Elizabeth and lots more (and different from the original) accessories. Don't be surprised to see both her and Samantha back again in the future. :iagree: Yep, like that Disney vault. I bet this is what they're doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda in FL Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Yep, I have the older Angelina dolls, too. I love them! My daughter outgrew them years ago, but I will never give them up! Saving them for grandchildren. Saving Angelina Ballerina here, too. We have the beautiful stage and accessories when they were closed out - never giving them up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I understand that retiring the doll makes it more valuable and such. I just wish that they would add new historical dolls at the same rate they are retiring old ones. And maybe it's not that bad but my brain has a hard time wrapping around the '70's doll. C'mon...I was born in the 70's. How historical can it be. :001_smile: But I am partial to Rebecca. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My eldest is fed up with AG. She hates the emphasis on the AG Today dolls - and has pretty much decided she's done with them. Her younger sisters, on the other hand? Let's just say we've got a long stretch of dolls ahead of us.:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deacongirl Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My 10-yr old dd plays with hers (Samantha and Kit) every day. She loves to teach them school (they have a desk and accessories) and fix their hair. So sweet to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margo out of lurking Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They retired Felicity once before and brought her back... Thank you for this! Reading this thread, I kept thinking that Felicity was retired years ago! Hmm, the marketing ploy worked, because I bought dd one that year for Christmas. She has 4-6 dolls in a box in the basement. Maybe she should sell them and increase her car fund . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I was very sad when dd grew out of AG. It was such a fun time in our lives! She still has her dolls, carefully packed away and waiting in the hopes she will have a daughter someday. Her first was Josephina. We loved the stories, the clothing, etc. Next came Samantha, then Kit, and finally Kaya. I've been disappointed with the emphasis on the modern dolls and the cheapening of the quality of the Angelina Ballerina doll was also disheartening. We had wanted to collect these for our Pastor's little girl and dh is very unhappy about the lack of quality. Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 They retired Felicity once before and brought her back...with Elizabeth and lots more (and different from the original) accessories. Don't be surprised to see both her and Samantha back again in the future. I personally think they do it to drive people into a panic and make more money on a line that was dwindling in popularity. My daughter really wanted Felicity and Elizabeth, but I didn't want to get them since we couldn't collect accessories over time. They were some of our favorites. My daughter got Rebecca for Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 I was looking at their website and they seem focused on what girls are today and what they can be tomorrow. I guess they no longer focus on where girls came from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My daughter reads doll news websites to try to sift through rumors about upcoming American Girl dolls. She has read there's a new historical doll coming out later this year. It's supposedly a Western-themed doll. The rumors on the doll sites don't always come true, but I hope this one does! It sounds cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My daughter reads doll news websites to try to sift through rumors about upcoming American Girl dolls. She has read there's a new historical doll coming out later this year. It's supposedly a Western-themed doll. The rumors on the doll sites don't always come true, but I hope this one does! It sounds cute! Do you have a link? It does sound cute. I am pretty sure Rebecca/the idea of Rebecca was being talked about before she was released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 My daughter has Felicity, I think they should always have a Revolution era doll in the line. :glare: Sheesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 She read it in http://www.dolldiaries.com. It's basically a rumor site, but very often the rumors are based on pieces of truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 She read it in http://www.dolldiaries.com. It's basically a rumor site, but very often the rumors are based on pieces of truth. Thanks! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piraterose Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Actually this is good news for me, we couldn't afford the Elizabeth doll for our Elisabeth at Christmas when I heard about the retiring, and I thought after Dec 31 it would not be a possibility. But maybe I could order one now for her birthday in April. Thanks for letting us know F & E were still in the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaissezFaire Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 It really upsets me how quickly they are retiring dolls now. It seems as if each year they retire too more historical dolls. We have a Kirsten doll from back when AG was owned by Pleasant Company. The quality is so superb in comparison to our other three (Kit, Samantha and Felicity). Even still, we love the historical collection and I feel like by retiring them so quickly they are making it so that the average person can't afford to buy pieces for their dolls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 They've been retiring a doll or a pair of dolls now for several years. That's how I decide what DD gets for Xmas!! :D DD has requested Rebecca fore her birthday in May. I am thinking about it because it would be fun to get more accessories. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I understand that retiring the doll makes it more valuable and such. I just wish that they would add new historical dolls at the same rate they are retiring old ones. And maybe it's not that bad but my brain has a hard time wrapping around the '70's doll. C'mon...I was born in the 70's. How historical can it be. :001_smile: But I am partial to Rebecca. ;) :iagree: Rebecca was DD's first AG doll & the first doll she ever took an interest in. They're both Russian Jewish girls :) They are coming out with a new historical doll. They're announcing it on the AG cruise in November. I wish they would introduce a new doll as they retire an old one. It would take some of the bitterness away. I wish they would spend less time developing the newer dolls and spend more time on the historical dolls. It's great that they came out with new outfits for the historicals, but there is no back-story to any of them and no new accessories :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.