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Sorry for not posting a true Hair Thursday. Things have been INSANE this week and I'm going to change my schedule a little. Tuesday and Thursday will be tutorial days, with Thursday being more hair oriented more often when it's not my off day. Friday still is Fun Friday with crafts plus my dolls and I doing 'fun' things. I'm working on a big multi-part tutorial for those who have little miniatures that you want to make things for! So stay tuned.


I know using an old blog could be cheating you out of old content. I wrote this open letter to Mattel on my other, non-updated, non-doll related blog. This was at the height of the permapanty debacle when Mattel tried to sell us on sewed on underwear on our $100+ dolls when you can buy a $20 doll without permapanties and a chest plate (basically a vinyl chest). There are still issues with the way Mattel is handling this, but the permapanties announcement DID drive sales down to the point that they took it back after only having one or two dolls with it (plus a free body replacement for those of us who were unlucky enough to get one of those... abominations). Still don't know WHAT drove AG/Mattel to do this, other than perhaps price lowering, but that doesn't make sense because they make $14 a pop on tankini and undie sets... And as I said before, even the competition isn't doing stuff like that... Thanks to us speaking LOUD and CLEAR about this, we got Mattel to reverse this AWFUL decision.

Dear American Girl and Mattel,

I have been a fan of your brand since I got Samantha Parkington as a 7 – 8 year old. I remember the moment I got her – the purple box (this was back when Pleasant Company owned American Girl), the awful gingham dress, the buck teeth, the cute face. I don't remember why my grandmother bought her, but I am thankful for it none the less.

But I have to ask as a grown woman who constantly walks the thin line between buying another doll of yours or giving up on your brand together. Yes, you read that right. I have a love-hate relationship with your brand now. Along with several other collectors who has the same emotions as I.

This is why I feel the urge to write this long letter to you, explaining every detail of every complaint, and compliment, I can give to you as a whole.

You may remember me as that woman who posted comments on Facebook that was in reply to a disgruntled costumer. I had suggested (nay, urging them) to buy a cheaper knock-off brand of 18 inch dolls called My Life As. It did not have to be My Life As, but that's the 'knock-off' that I currently own
which is now my only weapon of comparison.

American Girl dolls all share the same with minor changes that don't get noticed by anyone but the most detail-savvy. The same buck-toothed grin. The same weird eyelashes which seem like just a hunk of plastic over the upper eyelid. Only one doll, in all of American Doll's 30 years has a REALLY big change. (Pleasant Company released the first 3 historical dolls back in 1986.) That's the Native American girl doll, Kaya. She has – big shocker – a closed mouth. She's the only Native American girl doll on the line without getting into the topic of diversity in which we will cover later. This aesthetic can be pleasing to some girls and collectors, but others find it unappealing to say the least. I have become one of them.

I will admit the eyes are beautiful, and the teeth allow for the braces accessories.

My Life As Dolls do not have the buck teeth. They are not in that frozen state with the smiling, per-pubscent, and teeth-falling out grin. Their teeth never show. Their eyelashes are curled upwards, like a teenaged beauty queen. Their faces are all around bigger, rounder and much more doll-like.

Another feature I admire about the My Life As Dolls is their look is more mature than the American Girl Dolls, .

My Life As Dolls was bought from Wal-Mart and the price was only about $30 (with taxes included). The one on the right is the American Girl doll, which you will most likely have to have shipped to you because there are only 20 stores nation-wide. The prices of the dolls continue to increase on the American Girl dolls.

(Note: I know that there are certain AG products in Toys-R-Us stores. In the state of South Carolina, there are only two Toys-R-Us stores. However, the toy store only sell American Girl's Truly Me products. Alabama's Toy R Us sells both American Girl's products, Truly Me and BeForever.)

I created a special graph just to illustrate my case on the increasing prices of AG's dolls. These prices are for Historical Characters or BeForever, with only the paperback book and no accessories. The prices do not include shipping.

Over the years, the price has gradually increased especially after Mattel took over in 1999.

“Oh, but, inflation! That's why the prices have gone up.” Fear not, intelligent commenter. I have another graph, made just for you, but with the prices actually inflated.
This proves that American Girl is NOT adjusting for inflation. I believe that if they were, that the inflated price line would remain the same through out the years.


Let's think about why the prices increased. Since 1986, when the first American Girl dolls were created, not much has changed. The only big exception to that statement is when in 1991, to coincide to Felicity's release, the bodies became flesh-toned instead of pure white. Pre-Mattel dolls do tend to have 'chubbier' faces, limbs, feet and body. They also have less 'makeup' on. During the transition of companies, 2001 – 2002, the 'chubbier' parts of the doll remain, but the dolls are also shorter and can have frizzier hair. Some dolls were unlucky enough green or gray-tinted skin during that time! To fix the skin problem, you would have to send it into the doll hospital (which is NOT free, by the way) for a limb replacement, you would get it replaced with the intended vinyl. The vinyl, even in my personal experience, stains easily and it is hard to clean without damaging the vinyl itself. Sigh. Apparently, some 'dark clothes' from American Girl themselves can stain the vinyl, but Mattel will fix it for free. Thankfully, unlike My Life As, the vinyl only exists on the limbs, neck, and head. American Girl dolls have always have been made from Kanekalon fibers. Which requires good care: no plastic combs or brushes, dampening the hair before brushing, and even washing with wig shampoo. Kanekalon can be used for human hair extensions or wigs and has been for years. For a hair extension of this brand (NOT a wig, but just a swatch of the Kanekalon fibers) that measures 48 inches, it costs $2.69. Now, understandably, it could take even over 200 inches total (this is just pure approximation) to wig the entirety of a doll's head. And yes, the 'higher quality' of the hair can account for a big price increase. But it's been the same hair (different colors, though) since 1986. Also, the neckties have changed – from the cloth strings accessible at any time to plastic zip ties. Starting with Lea (Girl of the Year 2016), there was a plastic zip tie underneath the actual cloth. This may not seem like a problem now, but it will be discussed later. [Sources: http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/Doll , http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/Transition_Dolls, http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/Pre-Mattel_Dolls , http://www.kanekalon.com , http://www.sallybeauty.com/kanekalon-jumbo-braid/SBS-347029,default,pd.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SHO&cm_mmc=google-_-SHO-_-cpc-_-keyword&gclid=CLyZ6rLVkNICFU09gQodaAwHEg ].

And those graphs above? As I earlier mentioned, that does NOT include accessories or other outfits. Oh yes, the other outfits. Consumers (children and/or collectors, maybe even parents) will want MORE outfits for their dolls. Any child will reasonably want 1 extra outfit for their doll and some PJs as well as maybe a fancy dress. And then, there is the furniture. Any child will love to have a bed for their doll.

Causal clothing (for Truly Me, not 'BeForever' or 'Girl of the Year') can cost anywhere from $28 (for 'Shimmer Doodle Outfit') all the way up to $36 (for 'Enchanting Winter Outfit'). No, I'm not including the mix and match stuff because you have to buy shoes as well for them to be complete, not am I including the 'Cute & Comfy Lounge Set' because it too has no shoes. Also note I'm not including the 'Coral' outfit because it can't be bought through American Girl's site at the time of this letter. But the average cost for casual 'Truly Me' (the modern line of American Girl's) clothes is about $30.86. For 'BeForever' outfits, the costs range from $28 to $34 (not including meet outfits in this calculation). The average for these 'historically accurate' (sorry Mattel, I can't trust you with history after seeing how you pink-ified Samantha's meet outfit and gave her the just getting popular at the time of 1904 Mary Janes) outfits is about $30.44.

As for pajamas, there are only 3 options for 'Truly Me' dolls. The 'Cute & Comfy Lounge Set' costs $20 and is listed under 'causal' but it looks more like Pjs to me. The 'Dream' set and 'Pomeranian' set are both $24. So, depending on which outfit you (or your child) wants, you'll have to shell out over $20 on it. As for 'BeForever', everyone's pajamas costs a flat rate of $24 (from the top and shorts sets of Melody and Maryellen all the way up to Josefina's and Samantha's nightgown).

Special occasion outfits for 'Truly Me' range from a simple pretty dress with hearts and ruffles ($28) to a 'Bride of Frankenstein' Halloween outfit ($34). The average cost is $32.50. The 'Beforever' special occasion outfits are almost exclusively dresses and range from $28 ('Kit's Reporter Outfit' or Addy's 'Sunday Best' or 'Christmas' dresses) up to $42 (the Pow-Wow dress of today that is modeled by Kaya). The average cost (for these admittedly pretty outfits) is about $33.37.
But what if your girl has a hobby? Well, there's outfits for that too. With these outfits, your doll can be ready for swimming, cheering, being a gymnast, skiing, basketball, soccer, ballet, tennis, riding a horse, and skating. Those are your only options, ranging in prices from $14 (for a two-piece swimsuit) all the way up to $42 (for a pretty and pink riding outfit that totally doesn't have a helmet included. If you want safety, you'll have to shell out an extra $24 for a helmet plus a 'country' hat). The average price for the hobby outfits is about $32.33 (note that these dolls often include some accessories and even one is a mix and match outfit).

Now let's move onto furniture, mainly beds. The cheapest bed is a sleeping bag (which costs only $28). The most expensive is either Maryellen's 1950s sofa bed or Samantha's 1904 bed (either one costs $150). The average price is about $103.80.

So, imagine you live in a state other than Illinois, New York, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Florida, Tennessee, or Arizona, you will most likely be ordering online. And just to add salt to the injury your wallet will sustain, shipping. The more money you spend, the higher your shipping costs. You read that right. When you buy a doll from their website, on top of the $115 you're going to spend on the product itself, you'll be spending an extra $13 on shipping. If you want it in two days, add $15 on top of it. Want it in the next day? Add $20.

Maybe ordering from the Toys-R-Us store will ease the amount of money spent on shipping. Out of all the stores, only 10 stores carry both the Truly Me and Beforever lines. And most of them inhabit the same state. So only Alabama, Idaho, Kentucky and New Jersey can be added to the list of states to get AG in. But Truly Me gets carried in otherwise American Girl dry states: Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. So you'll look for American
Girl dolls on the Toys-R-Us website, you'll discover that they can't be shipped. Oh yes. No getting around American Girl's expensive shipping.

But American Girl dolls are worth it. They're 'heirloom quality'. Well, if your child happens to play with the doll, or even play with its hair often enough, you may need a replacement.

That's where the American Girl Hospital comes in. If you send in a form alongside your doll and money (of course), your doll will be fixed. If you want new hair for her, you have to buy a brand new head. That costs $44. You can't buy a new wig for your doll, you need to have the whole head replaced. Need a new body and limbs? $44. Need to reattach limbs or a head? $32. Need new eyes for your doll? $28. Any one of those purchases includes an $18 'wellness visit' where they clean your doll, brush her hair and give her a hospital gown. If you try to just use the 'wellness visit' to rid yourself of stains, it probably won't work (according to American Girl's own form!). And I quote: “Wellness Visit skin-cleaning will remove most surface dirt from your doll’s vinyl, but is not likely to remove ink or dye stains. Wellness Visit hair-brushing will improve the appearance of the doll’s hair, but will not make a well-played-with doll’s hair look brand-new.”. You can't get eye colors changed, hair color changed or anything. Going to the store and having them ship it is the same as shipping it from home. (Source: https://www.americangirl.com/wcsstore/Tridion/AGStore/Images/doll_hospital_usa924-207766.pdf).

The idea is novel, but it comes off as another money-grabbing technique from Mattel. The customer has already paid (unless they buy a used doll) over $100 for your product.

Customers, if you bought a brand-new phone costing over $100, you'd expect (or demand) at least a one year warranty. Maybe even for your appliances or other electronics. Or at least a handcrafted feel. American Girls aren't even made in America. They were made in Germany until all the factories went to China. You read that right.

There's another major problem Mattel and American Girl have faced especially during the past few years. Diversity.

It is true, that yes, today a boy doll for American Girl was released. (Even though My Life As did it earlier). His name is Logan. And he has no extra outfits and only a drum kit accessory at this time, compared to Tenney Grant (of the same line), who has pajamas, 2 extra outfits, and several accessory sets. I know a great many people were so excited for Logan, but he isn't getting enough attention.

This year, in all 10+ years of Girl of the Year, marks the first time that the doll was African American. Yes, you read that right.

Most of the characters partake in hobbies such as sports, sewing, music, art, or dancing. Only a handful of the characters take part in academic hobbies such as reading, science, and math.

And alongside this lack of diversity is this new-found knowledge that the quality is going to go further down by having underwear (either a tee shirt and panties or just panties) sewn onto the dolls. If it was just the briefs, everything would be fine. I understand most kids have a hard time dressing their dolls. But that white tee shirt bothers me. I don't see how that is going to be hidden underneath swimsuits or tank tops. Especially the fact that this is what has been called a 'cost-cutting measure' angers me.

We, the consumers, are paying for a $110+ doll. We expect quality. Are you telling me that the $30 knock-off I can get at a Wal-Mart near me has a body expensive than American Girl? How does this save costs? I don't see it. American Girl, Mattel, you can make MORE money by making MORE underwear sets. Especially since you charge $12 for underwear sets. Yeah. You read that right.

And that's where I am going to end this letter. But before I sign this, I want to show some comments coming from the community (unedited in any of its grammatically incorrect, spelling mistake-filled glory).

“I cannot fathom the reason for AG doing this. I am simply at a loss. It makes their dolls seem even cheaper than they already are. Here I was SO excited that I have gift cards and money saved up to go to the CC release and buy Logan, and probably Tenney and possibly Felicity, but now, I don’t know what to do.” - https://jackylina2013.wordpress.com/2017/02/06/what-is-ag-doing/

“Let me just say as an antique doll collector and doll restorer of 30 years, that the AGD is a major rip off. $120 for cheap plastic, cheap stuffing and cheap fabric is a waste of money. You’re not teaching your kid the value of anything. This is also not doll collecting of any kind either. There are many more collectible dolls in the world (Jumean, Bru, Handwerk, Kestner, Simon & Halbig, Classic, Armand Marseilles) than this one that are worth more and made of much better materials than the AGD. The accessories are better as well. I liken the AGD craze to that of Beanie Babies back in 1990s – You pay top dollar for them in 1990 and then 20+ years later, you can’t give a garbage bag full them away at a yard sale.
You want a real American doll? Then go buy an early Madame Alexander, Horsman or Effandbee doll. Sink $120 there. At least these dolls hold their value.” - Sybil Smith on http://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2013/12/11/thanks-nothing-american-girls-hate-american-girl-dolls/
“My Isabelle Dolls Head is falling off, I am 12 years old I am very careful with my dolls and I didn’t do anything to cause this. She is not a super old doll. Why should I pay for something that never should have happened. My parents paid a lot of money for all my American Girl doll stuff, when things break or come off, American girl doll should pay.” - Riley onhttp://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2013/12/11/thanks-nothing-american-girls-hate-american-girl-dolls/
“I agree the company behind these dolls are outrageous. It is not about my Daughter wanting a doll, it’s about this company taking advantage of a child’s wants and pushing their parents to spend a ridiculous amount on a doll let alone all the way over priced accessories. If these dolls were handmade in america instead of a factory in china, maybe there is value here but all I see is profit for the company. I would even consider buying one if it came with a carriage, 4 sets of clothing, a couple of books, but just a doll and 1 piece of clothing that is generic to all of them, nope! I have a hard time letting my daughter get build a bear stuffies at less than half of an American Girl Doll. I too will be buying a doll from another vendor for my daughter (qaulity is the same and price is way less)” - WOW on http://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2013/12/11/thanks-nothing-american-girls-hate-american-girl-dolls/
Mattel, American Girl, please. Please stop with the insane prices. Please stop with the lack of diversity. I know, there's doll wheel chairs and hearing aids. But there are no characters that are either mentally or physically disabled at this moment. There are no dolls with a Middle-Eastern background. There hasn't been an Asian character since Ivy Ling was retired in 2014.

Please listen to your customers, collectors and large fan base. You need us more than you think.

Sincerely,
Scarlett
(P.S. Sorry for the extremely long letter.)
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