In a previous report from last June, LADL mentioned the discontinuation of the GOTY line. AG Facebook is denying this, however if you make note of the info on her slides from the AG website...it makes one wonder.
If a GOTY is from Jan.1 - Dec. 31 of the same year, WHY does it say 2017 and BEYOND? I believe Gabriela is part of the contemporary doll series.
While I love her clothing and collection, albeit small, it seems it was an opportunity to squash out two "needs" all at once:
First GOTY DOC and 1980's theme.
What are your thoughts about this?
I adore the doll she is very pretty, and I love that we finally have a GOTY that is not white. And I like many aspects of her story though I havent read it yet. And while I do like a few items in her collection, I'm not overly happy with the whole concept of her and I think this may be the first GOTY doll I dont order on January 1st. I really feel kinda let down on Gabriela. And I kinda have been wondering if she is a contemporary doll as well. I'm just not as excited with her as I have been with the others.
ReplyDeleteI agree! There does not appear to be a mini doll or a movie. Her collection seems small. I already have #46 so I'll just be buying her collection ��
ReplyDeleteThe mini doll has been announced for May.
DeleteToo many changes at once, I don't feel like I know the new American Girl at all. I can not trust anything the representatives tell me. I have also felt like I can't trust the quality for the price. I'm scared to buy anything from them lately. The boxes, doing away with the Girl of the year, selling in box stores, retiring and reintroducing be forever dolls, changing the stories, taking the outfits that correspond with the stories out of the collections. It just doesn't feel special anymore, it certainly doesn't feel educational and I am no longer convinced Mattel is offering the quality products American Girl once did. I will keep and treasure my older collection and try not to cry as Mattel sinks the ship.
ReplyDeleteJennvay, Bravo!!!! Very well said!!!
DeleteI had decided that I am not buying any more AG dolls. The only thing that I will buy from this collection is the tap shoes. They still look like the quality of the older ones. Sharon
Special! You've hit the problem right on. The box changes and merging into other stores removes the flagship characteristics that once held the brand higher than all the others. Like you mentioned, I've always had the same plan as you, keeping hold of all the old stuff and just watch everything go downhill.
DeleteSame here, not feeling so special anymore. Sad and hard to watch.
Delete-Raining Cats and Dolls' Mom
AGREE! AGREE! AGREE! With every thing stated here.
DeleteI agree 100%! I hope AG reads this and realizes all the business they're losing from people like us.
DeleteI think she is beautiful and I like most of her collection...buy the cardboard studio? The black leotard that is from the just newly retired ballet outfit? The boxes are definitely so cheap looking. Sad. I read on AG facebook that they will be building on her collection with more being introduced this summer and her collection will be available into 2018 to give girls a longer chance to collect it
ReplyDeleteBut it takes away from the whole GOTY concept. You have just 1 year to collect. I don't know. I love her, but definitely disappointed too.
I actually didn't like the "only one year" concept...I got interested in Grace just one year too late and am having to make most of her collection because most EBay sellers think they can charge extremely high prices for her things, just because she was retired a bit more than a year ago. What I'm hoping is that they'll release a new character for 2018 and overlap, so the 2018 character is still available when the 2019 character comes out, and so on.
DeleteFirst, The boxes in photos from AG LOOK WAAAY better than that unboxing video where it was all plastic. Guess that's a TRU packaging in the cheap ugly plastic. I think TENNEY WAS GOTY17, Gabby was gonna be a CC, they switched last minute and her collection just wasn't finished yet or was always going to be on the smaller side. I'm wondering if she won't be in this TENNEY movie that we saw the photos from back in the summer.
ReplyDeleteInteresting....
DeleteI am just really confused by AG. This is not uncommon for me to be a bit disappointed in their company. I am still hanging in there hoping that the new CEO can turn it around. I like that they are trying new things for the younger generation, but I feel that they should still keep older customers happy by focusing on their company's history and traditions. Most successful companies know how to balance this concept...Lego, Madame Alexander, Coach etc. When it comes to AG I am reluctant to buy at times due to all these changes, but I am steadfast on buying Gabby and her collection. I am not sure how I will feel about Tenney. It feels as if they spent more time on her collection than Gabby and are trying to convince the public that this has nothing to do with racial biasness. I don't know if I like this message that they are sending our youth. This feeling will probably show up again at Tenney's debut when subconsciously I will begin processing the quality and quantity of the products in her line vs Gabby their GOTY DOLL. NOT SURE IF I LIKE THIS NEW DIRECTION OR HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS. Only time will tell in February.
ReplyDeleteAgree!
DeleteI "think" AG is "trying" or will be trying to appeal to older collectors/customers with the return of Felicity. HERE is what will be a true test for me personally. The clothing, the accessories and furniture (if any) have GOT TO BE ON POINT - or they'll lose me - forever.