American Girl Doll Defects to Watch Out For: a Picky Shopper's Guide (w/ASL)

[@irishseadollies]

we spend moneyyy on these dolls so it’s completely okay to be picky. i’ve never gotten to pick out a doll so i’m very lucky to have gotten none with defects.my younger sister has a luciana with bad eyes and bangs so i can’t deal with her!

[@agtakesover]

Yeah, in a lot of ways I'd prefer to buy used where I can see the specific doll than new if I have to buy it online sight unseen.

[@bethbacarella]

@@agtakesover That's exactly why I buy customs instead of CYO's, so that I can see exactly what I'm getting before they come. And they cost less than CYO's, so that's a huge bonus. :)

[@karacoconutag]

The quality control issues are out of control! I know when I got my Melody doll in the Chicago store last December, I was fully sitting on the floor opening box after box of Melody's and pretty much all of them looked like they cut their own bangs! Finally found my gal, but I was shocked at just how many were out of whack.

[@agtakesover]

100%! I think with Melody the biggest challenge is the bangs. It's interesting how different dolls have different common issues. Crooked bangs. Some wider and some narrower. Some longer and some shorter. I love ours, but I agree you gotta keep an eye on the bangs.

[@katherinejohnson4184]

Great info about what to look for. I'm not super picky and normally bond with dolls pretty quickly. But It's great to know what to look for.

[@agtakesover]

Glad it was helpful!

[@agswiftie16]

i was in dc and i saw every single one of these defects. it’s insane how bad it is!! literally every kavi doll in the store had a defect, so i just decided to get a different doll instead.

[@agtakesover]

I'm trying to buy a Kavi for someone and we're running into the same issue. Can't find one that doesn't have issues with either the eyelashes, lip paint, or both.

[@agswiftie16]

@@agtakesover yes it was extremely annoying. i don’t know why it’s so bad with kavi compared to the other dolls.

[@Divadoll9000]

Wow your video is truely insightful in regards to all the defects these dolls can encounter. I am extremely OCD when it comes to doll eyes, eyelashes and eyebrows. I just joined this community by purchasing a Corinne doll after Christmas who is currently in transit. I am so nervous now as being new to the American girl doll franchise, I didn't know to look out for all of these little annoyances.

[@agtakesover]

I hope she is perfect. The most common issue with Corinne is scant lip paint, but I can't remember if it's more likely to be her bottom or top lip affected.

[@Divadoll9000]

@@agtakesover Thank you for all the advice. I love your videos and learning about these lovely ladies. Unfortunately, I think I will be just just watching from the side lines as Mattel seem to have lost my package. I have been looking forward to Corinne for 5 weeks. I am devastated as to me she was going to be my first doll and I thought she was the most gorgeous doll I had ever laid eyes on. Please note I collect many different doll lines, so that is saying something. Anyway, watching you and loving your content. I hope to live through you and share in your joy for all things AG. BIG virtual hugs to you and your partner from Sydney Australia

[@agtakesover]

Oh no!! I hope they'll resend it if you don't get the original package!

[@gycle]

I bought Grace Thomas on eBay and they didn’t post any no clothes pics but she was listed as “great condition” so I just trusted. Got here and she had a huge rip in her belly. Thankfully the seller was quick to respond and I was able to return and get a refund but it was cutting it close because it was Christmas for my daughter.

[@agtakesover]

Oh wow! I'm glad it worked out in time, but whew - I can't imagine listing a doll and not disclosing that!

[@Flanuora]

I pretty much only order online. My Corinne came with her top lip almost missing it was stamped way too low. They were great about exchanging her. My Makena came with her eye lashes / shadow very uneven and they exchanged her without issue as well. So if you’re ordering online know that you can get an exchange if there is a glaring defect. 😅phew! Great video! This will be very helpful to people.

[@agtakesover]

Yeah, we've ordered some of our dolls online (when it made more sense to do so) and have had to return a few of them. Both through AG and Amazon, the process was pretty smooth.

[@agdollies4ever]

Kristie you are so good when it comes to picking out a doll. I think from here on out any doll I decide to purchase I need to send you a photo so you can determine if I've picked out the best one 😅i'm over here looking at my dolls like uh oh she's a little wonky, oh no you 2 😂I guess after so many dolls its hard to find them all in perfect condition especially when buying second hand. You have a great eye for noticing even subtle mistakes and I applaud you for that because you're right they are a lot of money so yeah perfect or at least near perfect is what we want. No wonder your entire collection looks so perfect the doll expert inspects them all before taking them home 🕵🏻‍♀🔎😂

[@agtakesover]

Yeah, I buy more of my dolls second-hand than new and they're definitely not all perfect, but the main thing I'm thinking about is, "Is it something I can fix?" Messed up hair, stains, loose limbs, not a problem? Eyes need to be replaced? Has to be a doll I really want and a great price because I do NOT enjoy doing eye swaps lol. But at the end of the day, what really matters is that each person is happy with their own collection. There are things I let slide that others note and sometimes I feel a little defensive, especially if I really like the doll. So I would never point out anything negative about someone's doll. And genuinely, I think your collection is LOVELY.

[@tinmanlover1994]

I've been collecting American Girl dolls for a very long time and theirs some defects I can see and Alot of them I can't see. I went to the AG place Scottsdale store once. All my dolls are site unseen until I open them. I've never returned any of my dolls cause I'm out in the country and it would take a long time to send a doll back and getting a replacement doll. I manly can't see a lot of the defects that an American Girl dolls have. So for me I love my dolls as they are and I don't ever notice any issues a Doll has

[@agtakesover]

That's great, and I love that for people. If someone is happy with their dolls, that's all that matters.

[@allysonvickers6065]

My Lila's left eyebrow is a little closer to her nose than the right, but her eyelashes are perfect and the eyes were both looking in the same direction (something I look for especially in the Josefina mold). Her hair is gorgeous and I just decided that all of the other qualities outweighed her one eyebrow being a little off.

[@agtakesover]

Having looked at so many Lila dolls I lost count before we settled on ours, I *wholeheartedly* agree that a minor eyebrow issue is small potatoes if the eyes and lashes are good!

[@greenbviar]

i ordered lila online and had no clue there were so many different things to look for! i’m an extremely picky person so i got lucky because my lila is nearly perfect!

[@agtakesover]

You really did luck out!! I feel that way about our Evette that we got online. I'd definitely prefer to see the doll first (especially with Josefina molds and their eyes) but sometimes that's not an option and we cross our fingers and hope for the best ;-)

[@greenbviar]

during my childhood, there was a store about 3 hours away from me! i'm so sad it closed down recently before i ever got the chance to go@@agtakesover

[@Latinart]

Another great ASL/reg video!!! I bought a Kanani doll the torso had a color marker heart painted on the chest. Hair was a bit of reck. Loose limbs I paid $50. This one needs to go to the doll hospital for a full overhaul then I can say I got a great deal on Kamari. Maybe.

[@djg5950]

I know a head replacement is $50 but how much for head and body ? If replacing both maybe the added cost isn't such a good deal ? I have a Courtney whose hair is a hot mess and has had her bangs and some hair on her left side cut but since her cost was $0 I will get a new head for $50 and basically a new doll.

[@lavenderbees13]

@@djg5950I believe a full body/head replacement is $88! Not a bad price for basically a new doll, especially for a doll that was a low price secondhand.

[@agtakesover]

Kanani hair was a wreck? What?!? That poor girl. If she's belonged to a kid for more than five minutes, it'd be a bigger shock if her hair *wasn't* a wreck lol. Sounds like a hospital (or doll care center, as it's now called) visit is in order. :-)

[@Latinart]

Thanks for the advice on the doll hospital pricing, I have not done it as $ 50 head is not cheap. Then the added body and part, that’s extra money out the door. I’m a hairstylist and have saved the majority of my used dolls hair by doing it myself. I have reset all hair texture , curls and waves and even bad hair cuts I been able to recut restyle and recover. I rather spend the money on new dolls and new items for my collection for now.

[@lavenderbees13]

@@Latinart sounds great!! I’ve also been fixing up dolls for years, and try to do it whenever I can! I’ve only used the hospital once for a Kanani whose hair had been cut. It’s so pricey, so I try to avoid it. Worth it when the situation is dire, but definitely save your money for new dolls and do the rehabbing at home :)

[@teenprincess1119]

Thanks for this video, I would have been happy just to buy a doll for the first time, now I know what to look for lol. Since its been a childhood dream, I want to take my daughter to the store in NYC.

[@agtakesover]

I don't think everyone NEEDS to scrutinize for all of these things. There's a whole spectrum of picky and that's okay. I hope you get to take your daughter to that store. I haven't been there, but I went one of the other larger stores (Chicago) and it's really something else!!

[@eliseelliot]

When I tell you that I used to just go into the store and grab the first box for the doll I wanted... I am CERTAIN that most of my dolls probably have most of these defects, lol. I appreciate the examples you showed, as it does help me actually understand what they actually look like and how to tell what they are. When I start having to use a personal shopper, maybe I'll just send them a link to this video. 😉

[@agtakesover]

That's a great idea, actually! And really, if you're happy with the dolls in your collection that is ALL that matters. I don't care if they have Visual written across their bums. I don't prefer permapanties but I also don't really care if a doll has them. Everyone has different varieties of "picky" and the only standards that matter when you get a doll are your own.

[@prbambi9934]

Very thorough. Another great job! I was one of those viewers you mentioned in the beginning of the video that was shaking their head in agreement.

[@agtakesover]

Of course you were. Why do you think I had you help me look through dolls yesterday? ;-)

[@AGTV4Life]

Another great video! As a collector I’m VERY particular about the types of defects that I’m willing to live with and quite frankly that list is very short. One thing that people need to ask about if they’re purchasing dolls second hand is if the doll has perma panties. A collector will be able to notice that if nude pictures are provided, but an average person may not know. I personally think that’s one of the most stupid things AG ever did along with the “bad eyes.”

[@agtakesover]

I know you're very particular, which is why I would trust you as my personal shopper!

[@tinmanlover1994]

I've gotten a few dolls from Goodwill and need to be sent into the doll hospital. A pair of bitty twins got chewed fingers and then I think a Samantha doll with a haircut and one of her legs are hanging on by the elastic showing. I need to send the dolls in to be fixed. Haven't gotten around to it but I'm wanting to send the Samantha doll in this year. I've never sent any of my own dolls into the hospital to be fixed so I'm excited to send a doll into the doll hospital.

[@agtakesover]

Other than the one time we were assured they had #4 heads in stock and they were wrong and sent our doll back with the same head and an apology, our experiences with the hospital (recently renamed the Doll Care Center) have been positive.

[@sew4dolls]

This is such a detailed video with great visuals. I watched wondering if there was anything you were looking for on new dolls that I missed. I look for all of the things that you have listed. Isn't it sad that we have to check for all of those things? I also look for wig placement and where it is glued down. Sometimes the wigs are glued too low on the forehead or too high. I had one wig come with the part off center. I didn't think it would be an issue until I took her out of the box and saw the length of her hair was lower on one side and higher on the other! That was a problem for me. Some people suggested I just cut the hair, but I am not trained in that. I like to open my dolls in the store when possible. My daughter's Nicki had a frayed fabric neckline we saw once we removed the strap at her neck. I had freckles not stamped evenly on another doll. I do a touch test on the wig to check if the wig has bubbles on the head. I don't like that on my dolls either. My problems buying AG dolls started back in 1996 on my very first one!

[@agtakesover]

Ooh, yes. Wigs being lopsided, too high up or too far down is definitely something I look for and I didn't mention it. I never feel for gaps but I should (or rather I should ask my personal shopper to when I have to start using one. I still say eyes, eyelashes, and lip paint are my biggest three by far. And yes, it IS sad we have to check for so many potential defects and that so many dolls have at least one (if not several) of these.

[@AllThingsAG2023]

This video is so informative and helpful!

[@agtakesover]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@viktoryarozetassi8745]

I LOVE THESE VIDEOS as a deafie, i thank you for being inclusive!

[@agtakesover]

YAY! My goal is to not miss a single month this year, and they're always in the ASL playlist on the channel. I'm so glad you enjoy them!

[@viktoryarozetassi8745]

Are you the one signing?

[@agtakesover]

@@viktoryarozetassi8745 yes

[@viktoryarozetassi8745]

Cool! How long have you been signing for?

[@agtakesover]

@@viktoryarozetassi8745 25ish years

[@americangirlfilms]

I loved this video!! Definitely a lot to consider, I also read the sellers reviews!! ❤️

[@agtakesover]

Yes! Seller reviews are super helpful. BTW, we went to the AG store again today and it looks soooo much more bare. It makes me so sad. But the manager (who was not there the day of the meetup) said she heard nothing but good things about it from the other employees :-)

[@oswaldovillavicencio9471]

excellent video. learned a lot today.

[@agtakesover]

Glad it was helpful! I don't want to encourage people to fault-find with their dolls. If they're happy with them, that's all that matters (goodness knows I have a few "imperfect" dolls I LOVE), but some people don't know to look for these things and they will notice them after it's too late and be unhappy with a rather pricey purchase. If I can help someone avoid that experience, great!

[@DanielleA1855]

Thanks for this. I have had an eye issue with Evette, still waiting for my new one. And I bought a used doll who came smelling so badly of smoke. I won’t make that mistake again either. I was wondering what doll that is at 13:05. She’s adorable 😍

[@agtakesover]

I hope your replacement Evette is pure perfection! And the doll at 13:05 is Joss - the best Joss mold doll there is IMHO :-)

[@SimperingSimpleton]

This is super helpful, thank you! I thought I knew all of the possible issues a new doll might have, but I never pay attention to the eyebrows. A reoccurring issue I've noticed, that wasn't mentioned, is the torso being very slanted. It can be hard to check in store. I have two dolls that are slanted and the head is not centered. It's also unfortunately not uncommon for new dolls to come with loose limbs. I started collecting in 2014 and back then you could order a doll online and expect your doll to arrive in perfect condition. So many of these issues are new and with all the stores closing, I'm worried American Girl will go out of business. Nothing is going to stop me from getting Kaya before they do.

[@agtakesover]

I don't think they're going out of business any time soon, but if the company's leadership cares about its longevity and profitability, they ought to invest in improving quality control. The loose limbs and slanted torso aren't things I mentioned for exactly the reasons you pointed out: the former is not commonplace and neither are things you can see when a doll is in box. Of course, you can find out about limb tightness before you decide to buy a used doll, but "tight as new" doesn't mean what it used to lol.

[@bcn_0629]

This is a very helpful video, Kristie! Thank you

[@agtakesover]

I'm so glad! Hopefully we'll be able to get you a Kavi that "passes inspection".

[@bcn_0629]

Yep, me too. Thank you@@agtakesover

[@lindaf382]

I never heard any more about the Columbus Meet and Greet. Was it cancelled? I was thinking you said Jan. 14. Will miss your tour of the store. It helped me decide if I really wanted something or skip it. Thanks for those helpful tips.

[@agtakesover]

These meet-up was today. Turn out was fantastic and it was a lot of fun. I'll make a video recap sometime soon.

[@Kari-G]

Thank you so much for this ‘defect’ info! Any chance you could explain briefly what the characteristics were of “The bad eyes” that AG once produced (and don’t produce anymore)? It was hard in the picture for me to tell that anything was wrong with them.

[@agtakesover]

I'm just copy/pasting an explanation I found on Reddit, because it's a good one :) - The "bad" eyes were produced from 2018-2019. It is possible for ANY dolls manufactured at the time to have them. These eyes tend to make the doll's gaze look down (or on a Josefina mold doll, also in two different directions). They look a bit soulless. The white part of the eye is very bright white and is especially noticeable on dark skin dolls. I've also heard of them referred to as "white back" eyes because the pegs on the eyes are now white instead of clear. The edges of the eye sockets are a bit more visible as well. All of these features make the dolls harder to photograph. Overall, it was an attempt from AG to cheapen the cost of making the dolls, but it only cheapened the brand and lessened the quality, and with much complaint from the community, the old eyes were reinstated.

[@Kari-G]

@@agtakesover Thank you so much! I’m just getting back into AG collecting since my 9 year old self. Super helpful to know what yrs it was. I was suddenly worried for future EBay shopping I might do.😅

[@MandiWho]

These are great tips and very helpful for shopping on eBay. ❤

[@agtakesover]

Glad it was helpful! I don't always follow my own advice (got a CYO so cheap recently I didn't even care if she was in bad shape. I had to do quite a bit of work to restore her but there were not *defects* per se, just wear and tear. :-)

[@Americanamaya]

15:03

[@agtakesover]

Are these time stamps for you or for me?

[@Americanamaya]

@@agtakesover me I was watching this with some dolls of mine all snuggled in my bed on my ipad but it was low. Battery so I put that there to Watch from where I left off :D

[@parisLuvsdolls]

I have noticed so many at the nyc store that had those same defects that you are showing. My Lila has an eye issue but I think it’s too late to change her because I got the ears pierced at the store when I perched 😢 thanks for this video….

[@agtakesover]

Oh, that stinks. If you like her, that's all that matters. And if you truly don't, maybe it's something you could fix yourself or pay someone else to fix. Also, I don't your age, mobility, or comfort level with a drill, but I have a tutorial on how to pierce AG dolls ears for AG earrings - it's in the tutorial playlist on my channel if you're interested.

[@djg5950]

My only hope is that AG/Mattel is paying attention to videos like this but I doubt they do. All these problems should be corrected. I've never scrutinized my dolls that closely. The one question I have is for how long did the "wonky eye" problem last ? Most of my dolls are used but I got them for a good price (under $40) from locals on FB Marketplace. I know at least one has the different eyes but knowing when most were made (most are Truly Me dolls or later named dolls) would help when I check them. Can you explain more about that problem so I'll know what exactly to look for ? I don't mean just off center but the material used or design of the eyeball. I have a couple with Permapanties (my first TM 19b and Tenney - I think) but that doesn't bother me. Good video, full of info. Thanks for posting.

[@agtakesover]

I don't know what years the "bad eyes" were produced. It feels like significantly longer than the permapanties were around, but maybe someone else can comment to give you more details. Most TM80s I've ever seen have the bad eyes, though. I swapped mine after I got her and I'm much happier with her now.

[@susanstater4695]

Thank you for this information

[@agtakesover]

My pleasure!

[@andreab5356]

I wonder what they do with the more egregious of these "imperfect" dolls after the stock has been picked over.

[@agtakesover]

Good question - I know they donate a lot of dolls. In the past a lot has been donated to the Madison Children's Museum, of course, but I've also heard Ronald McDonald House and other charities.

[@Americanamaya]

4:53

[@agtakesover]

Are these time stamps for you or for me?

[@josepinheiro6064]

❤

[@agtakesover]

:)

[@strangelyliteral]

For the most part I have been really lucky ordering online, but I am also lucky that I’m not too particular about some of these things. Super off center teeth definitely bother me, but even so my 64’s teeth are off center and I still think she’s one of the cutest dolls I have. The only one that really bothers me is my Claudie. I think in person she’s cute but I feel like pictures really accentuate that her lip paint doesn’t go up as far enough on her top lip as it should. But I have started zooming in on basically every Claudie I see on agig and in general I think that’s just how her lips are (though obviously there’s always so,e variation.) So is mine fine and I’m just crazy? Still remains to be seen, lol.

[@agtakesover]

We looked through a LOT of Claudie dolls to find ones with good lips, both at the store when she was released and at the benefit sale when we bought a duplicate. I feel like lips and eyes/eyelashes are their biggest quality issues these days.

[@rhondalong152]

What is Silver Eye ?

[@agtakesover]

Good explanation here - americangirl.fandom.com/wiki/Silver_Eye

[@rhondalong152]

​@@agtakesoverThank you

[@fatimaazam6108]

When does this start? Interested Big time😊.

[@agtakesover]

3pm ET

[@bethbacarella]

I am not going to look closely at any of my dolls until I completely forget everything you just said in this video. :) No, really, I knew most of this already, but now I am afraid to look at them. :) That's my fault for watching the video. Really good tips, though! :)

[@agtakesover]

Oh no! lol. As long as someone is happy with their dolls, that's all that matters. There are things about mine that would make them acceptable to others and that won't bother me one bit. I know you are very happy with your dolls and I expect it'll stay that way in spite of watching this ;)

[@bethbacarella]

@@agtakesover Yep, you are right. I'm very happy with them. And it isn't like I haven't stared at them already and know what they look like. :) You are absolutely right that something that bothers one person can be totally endearing to someone else. I love my Nanea's head tilt. She's looking at me right now and she's so stinking adorable.

[@Katya1086]

I wish AG cared more about quality, but they seem to be defensive stating that the dolls are meant to look asymmetrical like real humans, disregarding the fact that real humans express emotions and all the face “imperfections” are masked by facial expressions and personality, while doll’s face is “frozen in time” and all little things and offs on her face are highly visible. I’ve only handpicked one doll in the store and it was Kavi, I went through probably 10 plus before:”omg, this is her!”moment, and not just because of imperfections, but because they all look somewhat different to me. Mine has very delicate, shorter lower eyelashes and huge eyes which makes her face so sweet and innocent. Being able to personally choose the doll is definitely ideal! I very much enjoy your videos, thank you for the info and sharing!

[@strangelyliteral]

I think in the beginning this was true, when their quality across the board was really exceptional. Yes, the face molds were made to be ever so slightly asymmetrical but it was SO slight you didn’t notice. Now that there are all these problems with lashes and brows and teeth that just didn’t happen in the 80s and 90s it’s still the line they’re sticking to. Late stage capitalist gaslighting, lol.

[@agtakesover]

End stage capitalist gaslighting indeed. It's everywhere.

[@agtakesover]

Sometimes doll enthusiasts will criticize more discerning collectors using the refrain that the dolls are imperfect, just like humans. I love your point that human faces are animated and the dolls' faces are frozen in time and that makes a big difference.

[@Katya1086]

@@agtakesover Many because for other then collectors, these imperfections don’t mean as much as the AG main target audience are children and they don’t really notice asymmetry, nor poor paint job. I’m thinking, I actually love the fact that they all are a bit different, even within same doll line there are variations and there are no two truly alike, sets them apart from Barbies in a way 😀. Only when the proportions are significantly off they look wired, and I did have to send three dolls lately back for replacement due to eyes issues.

[@Katya1086]

@@strangelyliteral I agree. All my dolls from late 80s to late 90s, even early 2000s, are perfect or nearly perfect in every way.

[@donotresuscitatetrampstamp]

ohhhh okay now i get why dolls made post 2013 look so weird. the lip paint looks terrible especially since they started giving them lipstick? they should have stuck with the light wash of color they started out with because it looks ridiculous especially what theyve done with the darker and tan skinned dolls

[@agtakesover]

I don't think of all the new dolls as having "lipstick". Some definitely seem to, but others just appear to have more pigmented lips than the older dolls. But the lip paint stamp...whoo, that is frequently off and I suppose with more saturated colors it makes any defects that much more noticeable.