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Original poster

American Girl Doll - any cheaper versions?

20 replies

RainyAfternoon · 03/10/2015 14:21

My 8 year old DD would love to have an American Girl Doll, but I think they are crazy prices! I wondered if anyone knew of a similar type of doll - ie quite big (not Barbie size) but a girl rather than a baby? Any ideas? Many thanks!!

OP posts:
laundryelf · 03/10/2015 15:52

Try Gotz dolls on www.petalinadolls.co.uk. They look similar and are much cheaper.

ChipsandGuac · 03/10/2015 16:00

Do Target deliver to the UK? They do AG style dolls for around $35.

JustRosieHere · 03/10/2015 16:01

I thought 'Our Generation' dolls where American girl dolls for other countries. We got one in Smyths for £20

Datschi · 03/10/2015 17:32

Toys R Us do one called Journey Girls, which I think is also similar.
Think they were £30.

Original poster
RainyAfternoon · 03/10/2015 21:16

Oh brilliant. Thanks so much for the leads. I didn't even know American dolls existed until just recently! Thank you!

OP posts:
Buttercupsandaisies · 04/10/2015 15:14

Our generation are the UK version, they come with books just like AG. My dds love AG. The dolls cost around £150 here by time you add tax and Import costs.

Our generation are great as are design a friend though our generation have more play sets. Mine mix and match as the clothes fit all. My dds have all the dad sign friend dolls now....even when they release a new doll, it's the same doll with different name!!

Last year I bought the AG dvd, school play set and a book from Amazon UK to go with it

bodenbiscuit · 19/10/2015 00:40

My dds have some AG dolls and they are lovely, but there are some equally lovely dolls available on My Doll Boutique, some of which are not made in China. There is an ever expanding selection available these days.

bodenbiscuit · 19/10/2015 00:40

And also at Petalina

Buttercupsandaisies · 19/10/2015 13:07

Done a bit of research recently and you can order a doll direct from AG for $120 for doll, minimum of $60 shipping and £25 import/tax costs so about £140 total,,,,,less if ordering more as shipping on two is only $80 which is what I need. That's actually cheaper than the UK stockists and eBay I've found.

Still very £££££ though!

bodenbiscuit · 19/10/2015 14:35

The one good thing about AG dolls though is that if you sell them on eBay, they retain their value very well indeed. Or you may get even more for the doll than you paid if it was a limited addition doll.

clux73 · 19/10/2015 17:38

The argos Designafriend dolls are surprisingly nice

Buttercupsandaisies · 20/10/2015 10:21

We have every DaF and several our generation dolls but the problem is when a child wants AG then the others can be a waste of money sadly as they get passed aside which is a shame. I've decided to get an AG because after 3 years of substituting my dds are still into AG so I will have to bite the bullet!

Agree though they are all lovely dolls with little between

Buttercupsandaisies · 07/11/2015 16:42

Just for info....total cost I've just paid for an American girl doll (shipped from US and price inc all import costs and taxes) = £125 total with delivery exactly two weeks to the day.

Leahygirl · 29/06/2017 09:32

I know this is mighty late but Argos do Design a Friend dolls for under £20.

imip · 29/06/2017 09:38

We have an Our Generation doll. ASD dd, who is really in to AG, is satisfied with her.

In case you don't know, the AG brand does loads of movies and books, great books on puberty, that I really recommend. I have 4 dds and the puberty books are much better than the Usboure ones. The movies are on Amazon Prime. Massively cheesy, but if your dc are into it, they are very tame.

MrsSkeffington · 29/06/2017 09:55

Tesco do one and it's currently reduced to £14 and it fits the American girl clothes (and the cheap eBay equivalent)

Nearlyadoctor · 03/07/2017 13:51

We had this dilemma last year, Dd had a couple of friends with AG dolls but actually when we looked at them all she far preferred the Our Generation dolls as she thought the AG teeth made them look creepy! Win win from a ££ point of view, we bought her Holiday Hope and 3 outfits all in Smyths on promotion for less than £50 and the doll is lovely.

SlatternIsTrying · 24/07/2017 19:41

My DD wanted one of these last Christmas, which was fine until I realised the price. Instead I got her a Journey Girl from Smyths.

On Christmas morning there was an initial disappointment that she wasn't an American girl doll - at which point I was kicking myself I hadn't taken the doll out of the box as it was the name on the packaging she noticed. However by later in the day she had forgotten all about the fact she wasn't an American girl doll and played merrily away.

She is still one of DD's favourite toys.

SlatternIsTrying · 24/07/2017 19:43

Sorry, just realised as I am in NI I'm not sure if England has a Smyths toys.

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