Has anyone bought an American Girl doll from the US?

[perceptionreality]

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

[perceptionreality]

I suppose the standing dolls are a good alternative to Barbie.

[KevinFoley]

I think with the export charges that's a lot of money for a doll that's made in China. I agree that it's one of those things like Build a Bear where you ideally need to be near a shop. For less money you could get a lovely German made Kathe Kruse doll with a range of outfits (the newest range are really modern). My London Girl is the UK alternative to American Girl, they have an online store and a shop at Westfield in London.

[perceptionreality]

Someone is selling one on ebay for £130 which is what she said it cost after factoring in the shipping and other charges. So it appears to be about the same as the UK site. I suppose if you were buying the doll in the US it would be about the same as other dolls made in china.

Kathe Kruse are lovely I agree. It is now very hard to find dolls not made in China apparently. KK are about the only ones left.

[ImpYCelyn]

perception - the chouquette ones are babies, the coquette and vanilla are girls, like this one www.petalinadolls.co.uk/dolls/vanilla-brunette.htm But I think they might be a bit smaller.

Corolle do quite a lot of outfits, but they ££s.

The link for the place selling AG dolls has AG clothes as well www.mydollboutique.co.uk/dresses-10-c.asp They look the same as the ones on the AG website.

Eek - My London Girls have chipmunk teeth too!

These look lovely too www.petalinadolls.co.uk/dolls/?brand_0=kidz-n-cats-brand

www.petalinadolls.co.uk/dolls/?brand_0=madame-alexander

That website has lots of different brands, it looks worth a browse, there are several there that I hadn't heard of before. And the stock clothes for them all too.

[FreddoBaggyMac]

I recommend Corolle as a much more realistically priced option than most of those mentioned here. DD2 has this which is lovely and still smells of vanilla even though she's two years old!

I'm also lucky enough to still have my Sasha dolls which I've passed down to DD1, wish they still made them!

[perceptionreality]

I think Corolle dolls are lovely (although too skinny really) but dd has her heart set on this particular AG one that looks like her. As it's for Christmas I think it's ok for the price. I told her that at this stage she may not get it in time for Christmas but she doesn't mind!

[perceptionreality]

Oh, I saw Kidz n Cats - they are beautiful. Petalina is an excellent site.

[Dancergirl]

freddo I've just bought that Corolle doll for my youngest dd! Can't wait to give it to her.

I had a Sasha doll as a child, wonder if my mums still got it....? They're going for fortunes on eBay now...

[Dancergirl]

Also love the look of the Gotz dolls!

[izzyishavingababyAGAIN]

They are all lovely, I am still , I think I am going to go through a steep learning curve with a girl now, the dolls outfits cost more than DDs.

[Dancergirl]

How do the Argos Designa friend dolls compare? They are much cheaper.

[PolkadotCircus]

DD has a Gotz,her friend an Argos one.There is no comparison however said friend loves her Argos doll(soft body whereas the Gotz is hard).

With the Gotz they really do have beautiful faces and the hair is easily brushed into looking as good as new.The Argos frizzes quite easily beyond return.

My dd hose to pool all her money for her Gotz so she had less tat iykwim.Dd likes to do hair iykwim. Hannah will last forever imvho.There are cheaper Gotz(Just like me).

[perceptionreality]

I heard that the Chad Valley ones are very good quality for the money - I don't think the eyes close though?

I assume if you bought a AG doll in the US it would work out about £60? So similar to the price of a Gotz doll if you buy it here. Getting it shipped is what bumps the price up. I found out that AG dolls are not sold in the UK because they haven't been subjected to EU toy safety testing. So apparently anyone selling them in the UK may be in breach of trading standards, unless they pay for their own testing process.

[PolkadotCircus]

I really don't like them.They look lumpy and yes have chipmunk faces.You can see the soft stuffing area through lots of their clothes.Also I think the clothes are a tad American,the Gotz seem more stylish plus you can buy the cheaper clothes on DB(they're not AG but another make I think).Not all clothes fit each other.AG doesn't fit Gotz trousers I think because they have a big waist and diff legs.Gotz Hannah has a little girl's body,tis very realistic.

The jointed Gotz are to compete with the Kids dolls I think but I prefer Hannah's face.We also have a Happy Kidz Gotz doll(they don't make anymore and she has a lovely face.

Ebay often sells Gotz dolls.

[PolkadotCircus]

AG not Chad Valley.I actually prefer the Chad ones to look at.

[perceptionreality]

Yes, you can see the cloth body under most of the clothes, it's true. I actually like that they are a bit chunkier and not with perfect faces though.

I looked at the London Girl Outfits, only to find they are a lot more expensive than AG ones - £30 each!

[Merrylegs]

OK - I can answer this EXACTLY because DD got an AG from the UK website mentioned up thread just last month (birthday). You won't get one shipped significantly cheaper from the US unless you know someone who will bring one back for you on the plane.

Basically an AG from the States is $105 but add tax to that. So say $120. Then to ship it over here is $50-$60. So $180. Then you have to add import and customs duties - takes it up to about $200. I know all this because I emailed the AG company to find out.


The one from the UK site came the next day. Also, the clothes are v lovely and v reasonable.

I was a bit about it all - I thought they were quite ugly as dolls go. BUT actually, in real true life it's a very sweet doll. Satisfyingly chunky. Very well made. Lovely hair for brushing.

Look on ebay. The resale value is phemomenal, so it will certainly retain its value.

DD is 11 (yes, 11!) and she has two friends who also have AGs and the play they are getting out of them is just fab. They make scrapbooks for their dolls and take loads of photos and make little films. Tis v sweet.

[PolkadotCircus]

You could try Gotz Precious Day,they have the stuffed body.Gotz used to make AG first,think Precious Day are their successor.

[perceptionreality]

Merrylegs - thanks for your helpful post. Yes AG when I emailed them said the cost to ship a AG doll by itself is $60-65 and it's an extra $5 per pound added in weight after that. Do you think it would be worth buying a couple of outfits as well given that's the case? The outfits are $28 each but I don't know how much they weigh with packaging.

The only reason I need to get the doll from the US is that doll boutique doesn't sell the My American Girl dd2 wants.

[VolumeOfACone]

Gotz Hannah dolls were for sale at TK Maxx last time I was in there. I picked one up and almost bought one. I didn't realise they were usually so expensive!

[Merrylegs]

Ah. well yes, if you are going to ship it from the States I would say deffo put a couple of outfits in there too. (Have a look on ebay to see how much these sell for over here! For eg an outfit that was listed as on sale for $7 on the AG website sold for £34 on ebay a couple of days ago.)

I do feel your pain. It's really all about the brand for DD. She loves the idea that the dolls have stories - (you can watch the films on youtube! Just google AG doll of the year. DD is particularly taken with McKenna's movie )

She isn't interested in any other doll (including my lovely vintage Sasha doll!) It's all about AG. They are definitely a 'hobby' doll for older girls.

She has conceded that the outfits are extortionate though and is not expecting any branded clothes for Xmas but does really like the ones on the UK website which are masses cheaper (but not official AGs) and just as cute.

But to satisfy the AG desire I have found some AG branded books on Amazon UK - these are craft books and scrapbooks for your dolls with little stickers and things to make. They are really v sweet - I got DD the school set I think.

[Dancergirl]

Gotz Hannah is beautiful! Is she the same size as Gotz precious day?

[swanthingafteranother]

It is for older children. I bought one (Kit) for dd who isn't interested in dolls, and yet she plays with it and her friends play with it! I think the detail on the clothes is the point, and the hair, and the history bit. She is 10 now.
I remember at a younger age having a Sasha doll which even in 70's was incredibly expensive, and I played with it nonstop for about 6 years. So I suppose compared to a computer game or Nintendo Ds it was good value, and that's the point of American Girl. And handdown value in families..

[swanthingafteranother]

oh, cross post Merrylegs, how I wish dd had been interested in my Sasha. I can still remember the equisite pleasure of being given a bathrobe and towelling slippers for my Sasha doll, aged 7. And those little white leather sandals...

[perceptionreality]

Thanks for replies - my dd's interest in these dolls came from the AG books as she has some and they have a leaflet about the dolls in the back.