do you think AG will ever....

[felicityprincess04]

The thing is...they are targeted at girls, not collectors. The girls wont care if something is made out of plastic vs. wood,they dont care about quality. All they care about is having the item and being happy with it. [img]graemlins/whatever.gif[/img]

[Skittl1321]

I still think American Girl is doing a good job of it's original mission, even if it is doing it a little differently.

They are now not just an educational brand, but a lifestyle brand. And in the day of Bratz (sorry for those who like them, but I do not like those for children) I think they are doing a good job of remaining wholesome without being preachy. I especially this American Girl Publications (or is it still PC Pub) is doing a wonderful job. Their non-fiction series fill an amazing gap in the market and help girls develop into well rounded people.

I would like to see the pasttimes, cookbooks, and other historical focused things return, but I don't think they have lost sight of the mission yet.

[vew-tori]

Well said! As the mom of an 8 year old I appreciate what AG has to offer!

[auri]

I think AG will always be a high-end doll company. And remember, as much as they have to appeal to girls, they also have to click with the parents and grandparents who are paying the tab. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Momof2agfans]

I agree with everything that's been said.

Auri--You hit the nail on the head! If it's cheesey, and a piece of junk, I'M the one that has the last say if the girls get it or not. I don't care how much they may want something, they won't get it!

I was HORRIFIED when oldest first saw a catalogue and wanted one. I figured, oh good, this is just another phase. WRONG!! She began taking the books out of the library, and actually learned many new things. She'd have conversations with my Dad about the Depression. Youngest started reading them in Kindergarten. The "core" of AG, (the books), can never be turned into a cheesey marketing ploy IMO. Yes, they can change the bookcovers, change dolls to be more marketable, but they can't change the books themselves.

I will always be grateful to AG for kickstarting my girls reading. Isn't that what Pleasant Rowland had in mind to begin with? It worked here!

[Pat B]

AG has continued its focus on the Historical dolls- and that means research . If AG wanted to be just another toy company they would jist copy contemporary clothing and fads.
The issue of plastic vs wood is complex as there are many grades of plastic and of wood. Not all plastic is the easy to break into sharp edges of the 1950s toys. If an item was often damaged in shipping how could it hold up to play. It is only logical for AG to use sturdy materials to avoid the cost of replacing items.

[Dancin'4'AG]

Become just anouther cheapo doll product brand like all the rest? Since everything seems to be aimed torward just making lots of $$$$$$$$$$ instead of educating and enriching girls. Personally I think it will-someday-becuase I think AG has learned they have made a name for themselves and they can play off that name while cheapening their products and still get away with it because when people hear the name American Girl they automatically think QUALITY! Someday this game their playing will come back to haunt them when people relize(and they will) that AG is no longer a "quality company" ,just anouthe cheap, greedy toy company