Wednesday, August 31, 2016

*Discussion* AG Branching Out....

Ok, ALREADY mixed reactions on social media to the news AG is branching out into TRU and Kohl's.

AG previously branched out - QVC, Jill's Steals and Deals, Costco, B&N, Target, Michael's, Zulily and most recently TRU (Mega Bloks).

Let's open the discussion....what are YOUR thoughts about WellieWishers becoming available as early as this Sunday at TRU? 

What do you think about TM and GOTY becoming more "accessible" outside the AG boutique?

In your opinion, is this a good or bad marketing decision?

33 comments:

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    1. I agree with you. If they couldn't sell Truly Me to their target customers at the $28 plus price for an outfit, how does it improve at Toys r Us? Hopefully, we can get 50 percent off coupons.I'd get the $225 new kitchen then. Bottom line for me, I expect prices to be significantly lower. Toys r Us has good sales. Madelon

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    2. It's can be not good but at the same time some people live very far away from an AG place and never go at all some people are very lucky to live by an AG place this might not be very good but for people who live very far away from an AG store this is very exciting

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  2. Selling the Wellie Wishers at Toys R Us doesn't bother me as much as they are not the traditional doll. Of the approximately 865 Toys 'r Us, only 100 stores will offer TM. Do we know which locations will sell them? Madelon

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  3. I'm actually kind of glad at this news, and here's why. The nearest AGP to me is Boston, which is about 2 hours away. There is not a Toys R Us in my city either, but there are some nearer me than Boston is. If AG products could be offered in nearby NH stores (I live in western New Hampshire), then I could buy them without having to pay shipping (if I order online) OR sales tax (if I buy at AGP Boston). That means that the price listed is the price I'd pay, no more.
    Rosie

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  4. I don't like this idea at all. I feel like this will take away from the experience of going to the American Girl store. I understand that this will be helpful for people that do not have a store close to them. The closest store for me is about 4 hours away, but we make a trip out of it and we enjoy it so much. American Girl won't be the same :(

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    1. But you can still shop exclusively at the American Girl store and have the same experience as before, it's not like they are closing these down. And not all products will be offered at TRU.

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  5. Our Toys R Us got the Wellies Wishers Saturday. As of yet, they don't have the 18 inch dolls. You cannot use your American Girl gift cards at TRU. I have mixed feelings about the dolls being available at Tru. It would be convenient, but you would not feel the wonderment that going to an actual American Girl Store brings!

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  6. I personally think if you want the experience go to the real store but if you have to go last minute birthday shopping then this could come in handy.
    I REALLY hope they branch out!!!

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  7. I like the idea. Simply because it means that for someone like me in Alaska, where there are no AG stores, I have the chance to go to a store and get a doll or an AG item if I want to go that route. It also makes the products more accessible.

    I am worried just a little about this meaning a drop in product quality. American Girl has always produced very high end quality products. And I worry that if they start selling the items in stores like Toys R Us and Target, that the price and quality will drop becoming more like my life or Our Generation. Though Our Generation has stepped up on their quality recently.

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  8. Not everyone has a ag store near by. I get to go to New York about once or twice a year. And if I'm in the area I'll go to the store. I have bought both of my dolls at that store (not at the same time, about 1 to 2 years apart). Both times it was heavy to carry them around the city, to go back to where I was meeting the group to take the bus (at Macy's). If they sold the dolls at the Toys r us/ Kohl's, and if they have a doll I want, I would like better to get the dolls there. It would be shorter for me to walk with the doll, and it would be cheaper (I wouldn't have to buy the bus ticket to New York, or pay shipping online). I like better to buy the doll in person, you don't have to worry about someone stealing your package, and it's more fun to pick the doll in person. I would still go to the store. The store is fun, and I would still shop at the store. After you buy the doll does it really matter where you bought it from.

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  9. i think it will be just fine. The AG store still has the hair salon and ear piercing, the restaurant, way more selection to choose from, bitty baby, design your own items, tons of things that won't be available at toys r us. A shop within a shop is a small area. They will have limited items to choose from. I doubt any coupons will be applicable, I really hope I'm wrong, cause I'd love a half price kitchen too!

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  10. I like the idea for those of us who don't live near a store, but I am worried about what this will mean for AG quality, & whether or not items will continue to be available for a good length of time. Like for example, I want the new pomeranian pajamas, but if they are being sold in additional stores could they be sold out by March? We'd have no way of knowing what to buy now & what can wait for later. The entire concept of collecting would be out the window. And will ebay sellers take advantage of this, & empty the shelves that will now be easily within their reach?...

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  11. I am a loyal American Girl Brand Doll customer with 50 A/G Doll's in 4 years of being a Customer and I am applaud at the news and greatly disappointed. Feels like The Eron Oil Company Executive Moves and fueled by Greed from the top. Once all the people who were envious but too unexcited to buy at the Prices most of Us paid to have something,get their 1 or 2 items with the Brand name on it, then it will all be over and they will be back to begging their Original Customer Base to please be interested again, but it will be too late. I feel after Christmas the Brand will be destroyed as we knew it 2 years or more ago. This just my opinion upon hearing such disappointing news. It is like see a Louis Vuitton Handbags at Marshalls, TJMaxx or Ross.

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    1. I feel the same way about the books now under Scholastic. I really love the older books, except that I wish Marie-Grace and Cecile had their own separate storybooks. Each girl should have had their separate story. I would love to hear Cecile's story, in the same format as the other older historical dolls. The books were well written, just that it was hard to follow the story, when each book was told from the other girls perspective. Sad that AG chose that path. I don't blame the author, for that. My daughters loved Cecile and wished that they could have bought her, so it is nice that Melody has the same face mold.

      Maybe Rowland will buy the brand back at a deep discount. :)

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  12. I think the majority of people could more easily get to a TRU or Kohl's than an AGP. I don't think it's feasible for AG to have as many retail stores as these "big box stores". I think most people would prefer the opportunity to see a product before purchasing it. There is so much variation even among the same doll/product, I understand people's interest in being able to see and pick out one that is just right for them. Branching out to TRU and Kohl's enables people to do just that.

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  17. I wish Mrs Roland could buy the Brand back or a Group of Woman with Crowd Funding.

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    1. She won't be able to afford it now.

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  18. I honestly, think this is a great decision and a not so great decision for the company. It's great because more people are going to learn about American Girl and be able to purchase the items, increasing profits. However if AG ties themselves to too many companies, then when those companies go down, if ever, AG goes down with them. Still, since the historical dolls won't be sold in other stores, I'm fine with it.

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  19. Yes this is really great because I live like 9 hours from my "local " AG store :(
    But I do live 10 minutes from toys are us!!

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  20. I believe that this is a mistake. Sharon

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  21. The article I read mentioned the high profit margin in AG dolls and accessories. I'm of the opinion it's because of the cheap materials being used. For instance my historical doll furniture is metal and wood. The $200 kitchen that just came out is made entirely of molded plastic. or the styling chair it was mostly weighted plastic before but it had a plush vinyl seat. The new one is made entirely of hard molded plastic. I am just wondering how much further down the road we have to get before we all just accept that Mattel has turned ag into overpriced Barbie XL. It's not just the store change its so many others as well. I expected quality innovative products that were miniature versions of real existing items. I just can't find these items anymore... Last year I bought my daughter the ag Clydesdale horse. I had to exchange it 4 times before I got one that wasn't missewn covered in glue at the hooves one even had a hole in it. If it's not the high quality luxury brand the price makes me expect. They will need to lower prices to match our generation dolls before I buy from them.

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  22. I purchased melodys Studio Saturday, I have already had to have it exchanged. 250 for a toy worth $99.99. The replacementis not perfect either. I love how realistic is looks. So, I will keep it, but I would love if it work perfectly and without issues for this price point. The weight and Quality of materials is nice the chair is very heavy.

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  23. Good. I don't give a crap about the "experience" I want the merchandise. I have figured out how to get in and out of the Grove in under an hour, so I don't have to spend $250 to get free parking or pay for parking. I'm usually doing something else in the area, so I'm not driving 45 minutes in traffic just for doll stuff. Unfortunately for me, I only collect historical/BeForever so this will do me no good. When free shipping hits, I put in multi-month orders (strict monthly spending limit) so I can stay out of L.A.

    Personally, the elitism and classism is really upsetting me about the complaints. At the end of the day, these are toys. As Woody says it so perfectly: a child's plaything. Not a Prada purse, but a doll meant to be played with and the companion of a lucky person. The way people seem to be acting like they are a status symbol is making me physically ill and really disliking the collecting community currently.

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    1. I totally agree with you! People are forgetting that these are toys, mass produced in China. To be upset that more people will have access to them is ridiculous!

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  24. I've hated every way that AG has branched out with their products. I even hated when they built too many stores (before they even did the pop-up or Canadian stores)

    The reason: product quality.

    Forget PC Vs. Mattel, compare Mattel 2007-2011 dolls Vs. Mattel 2014-2016 dolls and you see the drop in quality, especially in the JLY/MyAG/TM dolls.

    I'd gladly pay $200+ for a doll of a higher quality than to have the $115 dolls we have now.

    I won't even get into outfits and accessories. (Holiday outfits officially no longer come with tights!)

    While I'm sure there are many factors at play I do think one of them is being stuck with a glut of products from over manufacturing products in order to fill all these stores and making decisions to lessen the quality of items because of the bigger quantities that they are manufacturing (along with greed.)

    I still love the company but I don't think I'll be buying anything until possibly Beforever Felicity or Nanea.

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  25. I love your comment. I notice that my Kanani is a better quality then later Doll's, I got her used, she was and still is perfect. Meaning when She is played with or accidentally falls over, her vinyl is far more durable and does scratch or sfuff up, but starting with Saige, black noises and Fingers just from regularl play is a constant issue, it is dirty just by touching them,and I have continued to have that issue with new Dolls, the quality of the vinyl is not at the level it needs to be, to really enjoy the Dolls. Thanks for sharing. I love the Company Concept. I wish they could hold on to the way it was atleast in 2012, things started to change it seems in 2013, with a lesser quality vinyl on Saige.

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