American Girl

I was not luck to be a child when American Girl dolls came out.  I was just getting into Barbie collecting.  A couple years after they were out I see my first American Girl.  She was Samantha, I wanted her.  She was not to come to me for many years.  I was to get a Kit doll first.   I now have Samantha as while.  I have been luck in getting American Girl items up at estate sales and garage

I was not luck to be a child when American Girl dolls came out.  I was just getting into Barbie collecting.  A couple years after they were out I see my first American Girl.  She was Samantha, I wanted her.  She was not to come to me for many years.  I was to get a Kit doll first.   I now have Samantha as while.  I have been luck in picking up American Girl items at estate sales and garage sales.  Even second hand they are not cheap, some are priced higher they the regular price. 

 
Since American Girl are expensive. And everyone wants to go cheap so they buy Target, Walmart or other 18" doll clothes.  They fit why not.  Here is why.
 
I have brought American Girl at sales and have not removed the clothes, we all do it.  The doll look great and you want the items with so you just buy it.  You then get home and remove clothes and see that she has marks on her.  Ok you try to remove the stains.  You cannot.  So you go to the American Girl site to see what they say.  Now you have a choice send the doll to American Girl for new limbs or keep as is. 
 
Here is a key to know you have to look at the doll closer before you buy. 

Is it wearing American Girl clothes?

Does it come with clothes that you know are American Girl?
Does it come with clothes you do not know?
Is it still being played with or was it stored?

The answer is simple.

  If you know it in American Girl clothes you most likely do not need to look closer.

If you have no idea of the clothes you should look closer.

If there are a lot of unknown clothes you should look closer.

Here is why, American Girl doll should never be storage in anything but American Girl clothes.  If you have handmade or other doll clothes on the doll when it just being storage it can stain the doll.  I learned this learn the hard way.  I bought a doll that I love the outfit on her.  It was not an American outfit.  It stained the doll on the legs and arms.

The hard thing was collecting anything is not every piece is tag.  You have to know what you are looking for.  American Girl is not like Barbie, Mattel only mark on item in a outfit.  American Girl from what I have since has marked all.  This helps out a lot.

So if you want to get home & enjoy your doll, it is best that you look at it.  Then you will not have to send it to the American Girl Hospital.