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From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Christmas

Has anyone bought an American Girl doll from the US?

86 replies

perceptionreality · 14/11/2012 13:12

I'm just wondering how much it all costs once you've paid taxes etc.

OP posts:

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WillowFae · 24/05/2014 15:46

We had one sent over to us for DD this week. A friend bought it for us and shipped it. There were various clothes with it - outfit for her and the doll, pjs and slippers for her and the doll, a brush, a couple of additional t-shirts for the doll, plus a Felicity book (she already had a mini Felicity doll and the first book which she loved, so this was the second book). The shipping was $55 and we paid £29.14 import duty. Came to £240 in total which is cheaper than if we had bought the doll and the clothes direct from a UK seller (not that I've seen UK sellers selling the girl's versions of the dolls clothes and that is what DD really wanted).

Totally worth every penny (joint birthday present from us and both sets of grandparents). We are seeing our friend in October and will be paying her in cash then as we can get a better exchange rate on cash rather than credit card which is what it would have been if we had ordered it through the AGD website.

Growlithe · 07/10/2013 00:55

The annoying thing is we went to Florida at Easter when she was really desperate for one, and we are going back next year, but they haven't got store there. Wonder if we could get one delivered to the hotel - if they are Baby Annabelle prices could be worth looking into.

Elsiequadrille · 07/10/2013 00:45

I think we were quoted shipping costs of approx £40, not including tax

Elsiequadrille · 07/10/2013 00:31

They're £150 in the (only) UK shop. There isn't much of a saving having one shipped.

perceptionreality · 07/10/2013 00:31

If you live in America an AG doll isn't much more expensive than Baby Annabelle etc.

OP posts:

perceptionreality · 07/10/2013 00:30

London Girl dolls are £79 and American Girl $110, which works out as £68ish but it's when you add shipping and taxes that bumps the price of AG up.

OP posts:

Elsiequadrille · 06/10/2013 18:38

I don't think the London dolls are nearly as nice. Though they're a lot cheaper than AG at £99.

Growlithe · 06/10/2013 18:26

I think DD was put off because the website seems to be driven round getting a doll that looks like you, and the one it suggested for her didn't look like her! She wasn't overstruck on the clothes either.

perceptionreality · 06/10/2013 13:59

Ah yes, just found the website. I don't think they look at good quality as AG but they seem to have the same face mould.

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Growlithe · 06/10/2013 13:52

No they were called My Lookalike and were based in Scotland. We had a look on their website but DD thought the dolls looked a bit 'freaky'.

perceptionreality · 06/10/2013 13:47

There is a brand in the UK called 'My London Girl' and they have I think two boutique shops and make clothes for dolls and their owners but I don't think they are as nice as AG dolls. Was it those people on Dragon's Den?

One thing about AG stuff is that it seems to retain its value very well on ebay.

OP posts:

Growlithe · 05/10/2013 19:58

Thanks for this. I managed to talk her out of it but have read her your comments and she's pondering again now, and so am I because I do think they look really lovely, and DD collects things rather than plays with them IYSWIM.

Did anyone see Dragon's Den with the pair who were trying to get a British version off the ground? I thought they'd missed a trick as they wanted to sell them in other stores, rather than create their own boutique which is how AGs work in the US.

CoolStoryBro · 05/10/2013 15:39

My dd loves her AG doll. She keeps it in the playroom at night tho as it creeps her out when she's going to sleep!

perceptionreality · 05/10/2013 15:33

The thing I discovered about these dolls is that lots of adults collect them quite seriously. Dd2 is nearly 10 and she wants another one this year and my 4 year old dd wants one too (although I think she is too young but she keeps asking!).

OP posts:

Elsiequadrille · 05/10/2013 15:28

Some of the ebay sellers list the shipping and tax costs on their auction listing. I saw it when we were looking to buy one, but we bought ours from the UK shop. I'd imagine there would only be a small saving to be made after shipping and tax. Some sellers were selling new dolls without their box and those sold fairly reasonably.

Agree the quality is really very good, they are worth the cost I think. We managed to buy a horse too which is lovely.

You can buy the mini American dolls quite easily from Amazon UK, those make nice stocking fillers.

perceptionreality · 05/10/2013 15:21

Growlithe, sorry I know this may be too late to help you. My dd loved the doll and I have been very impressed with the quality. They really are beautiful dolls in real life and the hair is unlike any other doll hair I've ever come across. The charges that you pay at the end are about 25% of the total cost of the item plus shipping. Shipping is $65 but you can get a few outfits without that going up any more. HTH

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toffeelolly · 12/08/2013 22:59

I think I will stick to design a friend ( chad valley) have got dd three of these for Christmas along with lots of outfits .

Growlithe · 11/08/2013 09:54

Hi - I know this is an old thread but OP, if you don't mind me asking how much did shipping/taxes end up costing, and were you and your DD happy with the doll? My DD is desperate for one of these dolls and has a birthday coming up.

perceptionreality · 30/11/2012 19:45

Well, I went ahead and ordered the doll with about 5 outfits and the shipping was the same as with one doll. I await the customs charges............hopefully it'll be worth it for dd.

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lolalotta · 20/11/2012 22:09

I haven't read ANY of this thread but I won't into the store in New York, all I can say is OMG!!!!!

izzyishavingababyAGAIN · 20/11/2012 21:18

oh fab thanks so much

CheerfulYank · 20/11/2012 20:09

I can check with my mom. :) She has an etsy shop and is very good at cheap posting. I'll let you know as soon as I get ahold of her.

And you're having a baby?! Congrats!

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izzyishavingababyAGAIN · 20/11/2012 18:25

I couldn't find a link to the sets I have bought - the picture in This link - full single bed throw and 2 shams I what have bought the DCs each - it was only £60 for 2 full sets but it's more than that to post them fro
What my friend can see - I wondered if you had any ideas on cheaper ways.

CheerfulYank · 20/11/2012 18:20

Wait, what? So you don't want the sham? Spell it out like you're talking to a six year old and I'll be able to tell you.

izzyishavingababyAGAIN · 20/11/2012 15:39

cheerful - do you know the best way to get 2 of these here

knight bedding

not the sham the row and 2 shams, (*2), my friend in states has bought them for me, but the cost of postage is HUGE!

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