American Girl -- Samantha

rosesandpetals · September 2014

Does anyone know how long Samantha is back for? She was my favorite and I so, so, so beyond excited that she's out of retirement or whatever so I can get her for DD. I couldn't find a date anywhere, will she go back around Christmas time? The end of the year? Will she be back for awhile?

Just trying to figure out when I need to order the set. And yes, I know those dolls are for like 8 year olds. I'll put it up until then because I am a psycho like that.

rosesandpetals · September 2014

nowababy said:

I never had one but I loved the books. Interesting piece: https://m.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/american-girls-arent-radical-anymore/275199/

They do have Samantha's original books for sale. I loved them, I remember staying up until my eyes hurt trying to read "just a little more." But I agree that the dolls of the year are lame and superficial... But I don't know if you can blame for being white and upper-class... Samantha was one of the original 3 and she was very wealthy "old money" and white. But I do get what they're saying, they're moving away from the important things and getting into stupid bake sale territory.

Samantha has a matching human-sized dress but it doesn't look like the dress she's wearing. I suspect they think period-clothing doesn't sell as well. I think the time travel book sounds stupid.

I've also heard the quality of the dolls has decreased. Like their hair falls out easily and stuff.

But nonetheless, I am getting the doll and am so excited that DD will have it. I'll get the original books for her, too. Probably not the new ones.

Cheekers2010 · September 2014

courtdizzle said:

nowababy said:

I never had one but I loved the books. Interesting piece: https://m.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/american-girls-arent-radical-anymore/275199/

Thanks for posting this! I too have the original Samantha and am excited to share her with dd. But I have always felt something was "off" with the new American Girls. Now I know why. Please tell me that the original books are still available!

This is really interesting and makes me feel sad. I'm from Madison, Wisconsin and babysat for one of the founding employees at Pleasant Company who worked directly for Pleasant Rowland. I remember going to American Girl's sales in her garage (OMG...can you imagine now). Needless to say, this was a big part of my growing up. Not to mention I am a huge history buff and I LOVED this aspect of the dolls. I was looking forward to getting one for the little girl I'm pregnant with. But, this makes me feel pretty deflated.

eaglesfan700 · September 2014

My mom has an old Samantha that belonged to my niece. She is in perfect condition and she is saving it for my DD (whose name is Samantha). She isn't ready for it yet, but I am glad she will have it. I might pick up some of the books for her

magentawarped · September 2014

I have my original Samantha and she's in great condition. Their new stuff makes me sad, honestly.

orangegoggles · September 2014

That is so sad about the current dolls! I had no idea that all of the history and the connection to the stories are basically gone. We could never afford the dolls as a child but my mom did buy me a lot of the books and I LOVED THEM. As a young girl they really did teach in kid friendly language important historical events (well enough to spark my interest so I was willing to learn more about them!).

outnumbered · September 2014

The article fails to mention that they still produce dolls paired with a historical series. The latest was Caroline released in 2012. I think Marie and Cecile came out in 2011. They seem to come out with a new historical character every 2 to 3 years. It probably takes longer to develop them.

MesmrEwe · September 2014

Cheekers2010 said:

courtdizzle said:

nowababy said:

I never had one but I loved the books. Interesting piece: https://m.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/american-girls-arent-radical-anymore/275199/

Thanks for posting this! I too have the original Samantha and am excited to share her with dd. But I have always felt something was "off" with the new American Girls. Now I know why. Please tell me that the original books are still available!

This is really interesting and makes me feel sad. I'm from Madison, Wisconsin and babysat for one of the founding employees at Pleasant Company who worked directly for Pleasant Rowland. I remember going to American Girl's sales in her garage (OMG...can you imagine now). Needless to say, this was a big part of my growing up. Not to mention I am a huge history buff and I LOVED this aspect of the dolls. I was looking forward to getting one for the little girl I'm pregnant with. But, this makes me feel pretty deflated.

It's a small world after all... I grew up a couple hours north of there - when there was only the original three (Kirsten, Molly, & Samantha!)... The doll quality is SO different now than when it was Pleasant Company - they had such high quality with everything such that the price point was appropriate for the workmanship! I remember reading the books cover to cover (and I HATED reading when I was a kid!), and the dolls of today stories are NOTHING like the originals. I would also like to see the whininess of the dolls of today removed!

Right now I'm trying to convince DD to read the books to get her "AR" points. The only problem is she's not as careful when it comes to caring for books so don't really want her reading my original set!

magentawarped · September 2014

LongLiveTheEvilQueen said:
****Lurker. I don't belong here*****

I couldn't help but click on this thread and comment because I grew up with the American Girl books. My favorites were Samantha and Molly. I've looked online like Amazon and Ebay and the dolls are very expensive like $450. The direct website to the dolls list the price for the doll and box set as $135. Why the huge price difference? PP have mentioned the quality of the dolls have gone down?

Original Pleasant Company dolls are expensive. Pleasant Company was taken over by Mattel a decade or so ago, and the quality suffered a lot. Plus they changed a lot of the outfits and accessories, so you couldn't get the original outfits anymore. I wouldn't pay $450, but a lot of people are Pleasant Company purists.

hayleydeee · September 2014

Wow, I have an original Pleasant Company Samantha in perfect condition... I had no idea it could be worth that much.

It's so sad what has happened to that line of dolls. It was started with such good intentions, and now I feel like it's not that far of from being a line of watered down barbies.

Cheekers2010 · September 2014

MesmrEwe said:

Cheekers2010 said:

courtdizzle said:

nowababy said:

I never had one but I loved the books. Interesting piece: https://m.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/american-girls-arent-radical-anymore/275199/

Thanks for posting this! I too have the original Samantha and am excited to share her with dd. But I have always felt something was "off" with the new American Girls. Now I know why. Please tell me that the original books are still available!

This is really interesting and makes me feel sad. I'm from Madison, Wisconsin and babysat for one of the founding employees at Pleasant Company who worked directly for Pleasant Rowland. I remember going to American Girl's sales in her garage (OMG...can you imagine now). Needless to say, this was a big part of my growing up. Not to mention I am a huge history buff and I LOVED this aspect of the dolls. I was looking forward to getting one for the little girl I'm pregnant with. But, this makes me feel pretty deflated.

It's a small world after all... I grew up a couple hours north of there - when there was only the original three (Kirsten, Molly, & Samantha!)... The doll quality is SO different now than when it was Pleasant Company - they had such high quality with everything such that the price point was appropriate for the workmanship! I remember reading the books cover to cover (and I HATED reading when I was a kid!), and the dolls of today stories are NOTHING like the originals. I would also like to see the whininess of the dolls of today removed!
Right now I'm trying to convince DD to read the books to get her "AR" points. The only problem is she's not as careful when it comes to caring for books so don't really want her reading my original set!

it is a small world! I looked up how much my doll was worth a couple years ago and was shocked.

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