Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Changes for Felicity

With the holidays coming up, I figured it was the perfect time to stop by the American Girl website so I pretend to be 8 years old again. Well I was expected to see all sights of holiday goodies, something else horrific caught my eye, although it really shouldn't have surprised me.
Samantha

Two years ago American Girl retired Samantha. I had always wanted her and when I found out I bought Samantha as a present to myself. Last year they retiree Kirsten. Another doll I wanted but never had. And while I could have bought her myself again, it seemed silly when all my dolls did was sit on a shelf. But this year they're retiring Felicity!
Meet Felicity
As you can pretty much tell by the hair I've had Felicity forever. She was the first American Girl doll I owned, and my parents bought her for me as a Hannukah present in 2nd grade. It seems silly to me that they're retiring these dolls, because basically it's a complete financial decision by Mattel. I do get that they don't want to have two dolls from the same period. For example, with Samantha gone they were able to bring out a Jewish girl from the turn of the century, and the rumor is with Kirtsen gone they'll have a California Gold Rush doll. But still, what do you replace an American Revolutionary doll with?
Changes for Felicity
I posted on facebook my disappointment and one of my friends pointed out that at least I have a collectors item. Which is true in a way. While I was trying to find out all I could about her retirement the other night I did find out that the small chest above which was originally around $15 now sells for over $100 on ebay. But while it's nice having a collector's item, I still want to have all the of the collection.
Happy Birthday Felicity
A lot of items, like her birthday dress above, are no longer even being sold. There are a few items still for sale I don't have but most are the big ticket items. And the ones that are smaller, don't really make sense to buy without the biggest part. For example, I don't have any of Elizabeth's clothes, but since I don't have Elizabeth it doesn't make sense to buy them. I could also buy her tea set or party treats, but again I don't have her table to put them on. And the big ticket item would be the bed, but with the canopy it would be kind of the hard to store. But even so I can't help but want it all! I guess I might just have to give myself a big present or two again this year.

Anyone else incredibly disappointed that Mattel has started to retiree American Girls? Does it make you feel like a piece of your childhood is disappearing, because in a way it does for me.

~Shoshanah

11 comments:

  1. I LOVED American Girls when I was growing up. I can't believe they are retiring the original girls. I had Kirsten and she was my absolute FAV. I got Kirsten for Christmas when I was 7, and she's still in great shape and I have lots of her clothes, maybe she'll be worth big $,but prob. not since I don't have the original box. But I dont' think I could bear to part with her anyways!

    Maybe Mattle will bring back the classic girls in 5 yrs or something for a limited time like Disney does with their DVDs?

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  2. My mom still gets the catalogs to order things for my nieces and when I saw that Kirsten was being retired (the doll I had growing up) I literally threw the magazine at the wall I was so angry!

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  3. I think it's crazy that they're retiring a lot of them! It makes me feel like my childhood was so long ago!

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  4. OH NO!!!!! I LOVE FELICITY! seriously, this makes me so sad. I only had Felicity and an American Girl of Today doll, that looked like me. I named her Crystal. haha. anyway, I can't believe they are retiring these dolls. I had no idea. I've always wanted my daughter to have an American Girl doll. I guess she still can, by why get rid of a good thing? why get rid of Samantha (not that I really liked her, haha), Kirsten and Felicity? My bestie had Kirsten and another friend had Samantha. Now all our dolls are going to be gone. I am majorly bummed over here! At least I have my Felicity still (she even went to the doll hospital once!), packed away somewhere. Guess my daughter will have to have a hand-me-down.

    well, thanks for letting me know!

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  5. I am SO upset that they are retiring these girls! I have Molly, and I remember the Christmas morning when I got her- it was the best day ever!

    I think it is ridiculous to retire the historical dolls, but have the "girls of today," or whatever they are called! Oh, and the bitsy baby dolls are also not that great, in my opinion!

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  6. OMG! I can't believe they're retiring the dolls! That's bootie! I mean, they are historical dolls. They teach kids flippin history! I got josefina, and planned on getting felicity next cause people called me felicity often. But I just got josefina and her beautiful trunk thing. My mom actually never let me play with her. She just sits in the trunk with her original clothing and everything almost untouched. My mom said its a beautiful expensive doll so I shouldn't touch it because I could ruin it. I think she wants Josefina to be around for my future grandchildren. Idk. I'm just mad they're retiring the historical dolls for some lame "dolls of today". What are they going to have a kesha doll? Or Katy Perry? Sorry that was snarky. But I'm hurt LOL

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  7. No way! How can they retire them? What will little girls of this decade play with! I may really feel old when they retire Molly who was my american girl doll - wow I still like going into the store in NYC and seeing the newest "fashions" for the dolls!

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  8. What! I didn't know they were retiring any of them??? They have that American Girl store in the Galleria in Dallas..are they just going to create more dolls now? I loved those books!

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  9. I don't have any American Girl Dolls but I think they're so cute! It's definitely a marketing strategy to retire the dolls... frustrating!

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  10. I was really sad when Samantha was retired. I also LOVE felicity. In fact, I have her dress in my 6th grade size that I wore for easter that year. I think I have a few of her dresses, but Samantha was my doll. I am not a fan of retiring these dolls but they did not consult me.

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