I would not blame you for quitting. That sounds like such a frustrating experience. I live in the US, so obviously I can’t say I’ve experienced the same, but I can understand how experiences like that can cause negative feelings about something you love. I hope things stay resolved with your account and you are able to continue collecting. Even if you switched to Maplelea full time, or even another doll brand, I will definitely still be watching your channel. I enjoy your stories and insights and all the characters you create for your dolls!
@@settheworldonfire94 oh I was reallllly worried for a couple months there! But now that it’s been good for a couple months, I guess the time felt right to share. I love my dolls, so of course I was willing to fight the situation to keep me feeling good about them 🥰
Hi Blaine, I am glad you talked about this. As a Canadian I find it so expensive to buy AG dolls from the store. That’s why I mostly have thrifted dolls. Once in a while I will order from American girl but I do wish we still had our Indigo stores with the American Girl doll section of the store. I understand your draw to MapleLea Canadian Girl dolls. They are so cute and have great clothes. I feel for international customers that are unable to access American Girl. Congrats on 2000 subscribers! Your dolls look so cozy and cute. Have a great weekend. 😄
@@CherishedDollFriends yeah part of the pain is we had easy access to them for 10 years, so we’re still adjusting, and deciding if we want to continue. You’re SO SMART to stick to thrifted dolls. And the older dolls tend to be better quality anyway. Maplelea aren’t just cute and great quality, they’re Canadian and therefore more affordable to us 🫣
Yes it’s true the MapleLea dolls are more affordable for us and no shipping issues or border tariffs to worry about. It is nice to have brand new dolls too. The thrifted ones have so much personality. I have cleaned up my new Felicity and she has been my new comfort doll. She is so sweet and cuddly. ❤
Thank you for opening this conversation on the AG Berry rewards. I am in the US and have been fighting the SAME battle basically for almost 3 years and like you have come to peace with not collecting AG any more. My purchases have tailored back and I do find myself looking at other dolls and just enjoying the dolls I have more and collecting on the 2nd hand market more. While it sucks that American Girl cares so little for their "valued" customers it's nice to know that we are not alone in the suck.
@@instantlywithisa what??? You too? That’s even more… suspicious? I’m not sure what exactly, but it’s strange you’re going through in the US. They have an excuse with me. But yes, I’ve resolved to not collecting if they revoke my berry rewards again, just because it feels unfair in a way.
@@DisBlaine It's insane that half the time I do not get the Berry Emails, the catalog and when I call in they say they will investigate and yet...NOTHING is resolved. I am missing so many points that I truly stopped counting. That isn't even counting the YEAR that I was locked out of my account and they couldn't seem to figure it out. Shockingly...the issue with my email is STILL UNRESOLVED. I am at a place and space where I have resigned myself to just not care any more.
I now feel very lucky to live in the US and not have the out-of-country issues. I am there with you, I would've considered quitting too. I almost quit AG back in 2017-2019 when the quality went down (the permapanties and the bad eyes), that is when I found A Girl for All Time (only have 2). I walked away from anything new until the end of 2019 because Blaire was a doll that I didn't want to pass up. I'm glad you didn't quit making videos, because I love your storylines. And I am voting for another dollhouse tour (guessing you've updated since the first one). Spent last weekend moving to my new apartment or I would've known you had a Q&A community post planned.
@@DarcysNova626 turns out American collectors have had berry rewards issues too! So I’m glad you’ve been luckier. I’ve never come across a perma panties doll, but I’m kind of curious to see one in real life. In pics they look like they have flat butts 🤣 I’m glad they fixed the issue but I don’t think I would’ve stopped making videos. The content just would’ve changed a bit
Hi Disblaune👋. Thank you for another super entertaining video filled with beautiful dolls❤. I live in the US, in Miami, and I’ve had the same experience with AG customer service. They are the worse! I’ve had rewards taken away from me as well. I remember the first time I just my rewards I only used a fraction of what I had and they took everything else away to 0 balance. When I called them they said that once you use something from the reward regardless of how much, the rest gets taken away. 😮 I couldn’t believe my ears. Such a big company to be so cheap with their customers. I’ve heard other collectors experiences that are just as bad with customer service. Also, here in the US, if there is a doll for a cheaper price from most stores on line,places like Target will honor that price and you can purchase it in person from them. American Girl won’t honor even their online sales at the stores. They rather the customer walk out of the store without buying anything. Believe me, it’s happen to me twice. Plus more bad experiences. Too many. I love the dolls and the ideas behind them, so I keep buying, but that’s the only reason. Much love to you ! ❤❤❤
@@rosyp71 I’m astonished how many people have commented their negative experiences with berry rewards - all Americans too! I really thought my struggles were because of my 2 addresses, but everyone has had a unique bad experience with points wiped out. I had no idea!
The white outfit and the red parka are my favorites. Sorry for the challenges you have had. I like your channel, whether it is AG, Maplelea, or your other collections.
Thanks for having this much needed conversation. I’ve alway’s recognized non American’s go through a lot to collect American items regardless where their made 👀 lol… Truth be told America’s relationship with the rest of the world is about to become extremely complicated, and as an American it’s not lost on me that merchandise we’re used to having is about to become more complicated getting at affordable prices , and many are still delusional about that, but a clue is coming for all .. I’m hoping moving forward thing’s won’t become as horrible as many of us in America think they will be.. Keep collecting, and loving it , it’s a human right . 💜💜💜💜
AG with their recent price increase has me cutting down my spending although I have almost every doll I want and almost all outfits I want already. Can't imagine what will happen when Jan 20th rolls around if tariffs go into effect. All I can say is that it's a good thing AG is making almost everything pink, sparkly and from mesh fabric. Quality has fallen. I'm not a fan of sequins, glitter or metallic fabric. Don't like flashy prefer country like Maplelea outdoors outfits. I have most of the Maplelea outfits that Blaine shows (including that red parka - recent purchase - and two pair of those boots). I love the quality of Maplelea outfits but I'm worried if a tariff put in place will affect the cost (cheaper due to currency rates - a BIG plus in buying them) or cause problems with shipping. I'm going to place a big order soon (currently added bonus for each $100 spent so I'd like to take advantage of that) just in case things get screwy after Jan 20th. Maplelea competes with AG because they have sales or bonus $$ during US holidays, too.
@@onlyalisaawilliams I didn’t want to dive too deep into the doom and gloom of what’s to come (potentially) but it was impossible to avoid it completely. We have to be prepared for the worst… which is what, I don’t even know yet! But I’ll be holed up with my dolls whatever comes 🥴
@@djg5950 I bought a big order for bonus money too! I wish Maplelea had even more outfits so I could buy them all-for the same reason you said. They have clothes that aren’t sparkly and plastic.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with their point system!! I think this topic was very interesting! Moana not being shipped to Canada should be a crime 😅💓 Also- congrats on 2k!!! Your content is amazing and honest, you totally deserve it!! I’ll have to think of a question to ask! 🫶🏻💓
@@americangirlfilms I’m glad it got resolved and hope it answered some questions other Canadians had about the berry rewards. I always get asked how I have them in the comments, and I’m like welllll ☠️ I’m so thrilled people like my dolls this much! It’s really nice they keep tuning in to see them (I mean obviously I love them too lol)
Blaine, I'm really glad you brought up this subject. I am in the US, and I have the same issues! I am a Berry level collector, too, and I have had my rewards disappear and suddenly partially come back for whatever reason? Most reward points I receive add up to strange amounts, too! I have had so much trouble that I feel like I don't even understand the system anymore, and I feel AG likes it that way! For several weeks, AG kept emailing me with a $10 reward, so I made a purchase and tried to use it. Well, it didn't work, so I emailed them with the problem. They came back with, "You used it already." What?😮 I have really, really cut back on spending my money at AG because I feel like it is just not worth the hassle! They also keep messing with my address, so it takes about three weeks to get to me! That being said, if it is worse living outside the US, I SO sympathize with you guys! I mean, it is supposed to be the thing that helps you escape from the negativity in the world!😢 I would really hate to see you leave the AG community and RUclips because I have been watching you since day one, but I would totally understand if you feel you have to!😒 Thank you for your honesty.
@@paulettepalmer4860 oh! That’s a way stranger situation than mine. I wonder why you had all that spooky stuff go on! If my situation hadn’t been fixed, I think I would’ve started collecting only the older stuff and skip the new releases but then I would’ve eventually started feeling left out and move on from even the older stuff - especially if new Claudie dolls or additions to her actual collection came out
I'm from argentina! I got into AG by watching other doll collectors show their dolls. Most of my dolls are used ones from people who went on vacations to USA or very wealthy people. I have a TM 122 and I'm getting 124 for Christmas, they cost me $275 - $285 each, I can't really afford to get new stuff so I try to get my hands on everything used popping on facebook marketplace, also started learning how to sew my own doll clothes. I love your long videos, they are a great company while sewing.
@@seth1393 Argentina!!! I’m glad you could fine some used ones, because $280 is too much to do every time. Seeing your own clothes is also smart. But I’m not crafty that way 🥹 I can’t believe how many videos I have! When I started here, I thought 10 minutes was too long 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm an American that collects Maplelea. I also collect AG, but not so often anymore. Maplelea makes it so wonderful to purchase from in America. Another reason to love Maplelea!! I appreciate your channel so much! I love your collection and enjoy hearing from you!!
@@puddintame296 oh wow, I didn’t realize there’d be Americans who prefer ML over AG. Do you collect the dolls too? I’m so happy to hear you like them. Is that patriotism?? 🤪
Dude, that is just bs. It’s frustrating to spend hard earned money and have to deal with crap like that. Good for you for saying you had already made peace with walking away. I love watching your channel because you always seem to have a positive spin on crummy situations 😊
@@jeaninevarvaro8599 yeah I my biggest worry about it not getting fixed wasn’t the points stealing, it was knowing it would make me resent my collection and eventually sell it off-so hopefully that doesn’t happen 🤪 And I think my positive spin on everything is to make sure I keep enjoying this hobby I spend so much time and money on lol
Hey Blaine!👋🏻 I'm so sorry that has happened to you! I'm also glad you got it figured out and that you are still collecting American girl!🤗 That happened to me before too! I wonder why it happens? Your dolls all look so warm and snuggly in their outfits! Great video! Take care and stay safe!😃❤️
@@robinkrueger5977 hey Robin! Yes I’m really glad it got sorted. I was really worried the experience would tarnish my feelings about all my babies lol. But my collection shall rage on 🥳🤣
Thank you for bringing up this subject. In Brazil it’s so much easier to buy second hand from people who have traveled to the US bc we can’t (or couldn’t at least last time I checked) buy from AG unless we called the store on the phone, which is incredibly expensive as it’s an international call and it takes looooong for them to understand the code of every item with my broken English. I ordered twice and it took 6+ months to get here and both times it got taxed. Plus you can’t even sign in with your phone number to receive news if you aren’t in the US or Canada, and we don’t get rewards in Brazil either. We are American too!
I was going to say Canadians are Americans, too. America is North, Central and South America. I am a US citizen and have heard comments about us calling ourselves Americans. It's because we call ourselves United States of America that we shortened it to Americans.
@@eberleven 6 months??? Oh no that’s no good. I don’t think I could be interested in dolls that are so hard to access. I didn’t realize you couldn’t even subscribe to their newsletter! I’m so sorry it’s that difficult 💔
@@djg5950 Everyone uses that term. Around the world. Noone is ever confused OR insulted. It isn't wrong. It is just one of those things that happen when language evolves. Don't worry about it. I, for one, am proud to be called Canadian. I am sure the same goes for the woman from Brazil. She is most likely proud to be Brazilian.
Oh Blaine, I am so sorry you had to have this negative experience. I will not even begin to express how I feel about you feeling discouraged or considering no longer collecting AG, but I am heart-broken for that and I think it would be unfair to pour it all out, as my feelings are not your liability. You have such wonderful, warm, kind videos, just like people have already said, I would watch whatever you post anyway as your attitude gives this beautiful sense of belonging :) And having this experience, the experience of your channel, is a huge part of my motivation to collect. I think I better round it off here and send you a message on Instagram.
@@DollsAllGrown-Up awwww I hope I was clear that the issue has been resolved! I’ve made several purchases since, so I really think I’m good now. This channel is a wonderful experience for me too-engaging with people who let me gush and act a fool. I won’t give that up anytime soon 😆
I think we’ve had the same women on customer service before! The way you described her saying “well it is American girl” sounded exactly like the women I’ve talked to before!! I just had a few questions about the doll hospital and she gave a very slight attitude back as well so I totally get what you went through 😭
@@agjelly15 I actually hope it was the same person but chances are there’s more than 1 agent with that attitude. BUT! Everyone I speak to is honestly usually lovely and extremely helpful. And everyone has a bad day-especially if they’re dealing with customers whose points have been stolen!
@ pretty sure her name was Julia or something like that, I was just asking about the updated doll hospital face molds and my points too🥲 but your so right! We all do have bad days and hopefully today she’s in a brighter mood! But I will forever wonder what she did when she went on hold after your reply cause the company does review and go over calls!
I enjoyed your Maplelea videos! They have great clothes. I’m so sorry that AG has been difficult for you as a non US collector. I’ve heard many Canadians express their frustration over the rewards program. These kinds of things create division and hurt feelings. Everyone should be treated equally as a customer.
@@melangellperry5984 yeah as much difficulty as I’ve had, I know other Canadians have it so much worse than I have, and people outside North America have it EVEN worse. But you’re right, everyone should have equal access to these dolls.
This is off topic but- I’d love to see how you organize the clothes/l and shoes for your dolls! That works be a great video. This was a very interesting video. I’m sorry it’s so hard for you, very frustrating. I hope you continue your channel, it’s always so fun!
@@ledstoke oh haha my tv stand had a large drawer and cupboard. The drawer is full of clothes and the cupboard is full of shoes. Whenever I look for a particular outfit, I realize they aren’t exactly organized 😆🫣
That does sound incredibly frustrating. I live in the US, and they always mess up my rewards, which causes me to never get the appropriate rewards certificate. Whenever I’ve gone to customer service, it has not resulted in a resolution. I had never heard of Maplelea before finding your channel. I just placed my second order, and I love the company so far! I have Saila and just bought #51, so she hasn’t arrived yet. The dolls are growing on me, but I adore the clothing!
@@ThoughtsArrive whoa you even ordered a couple of the Maplelea dolls! You started with 2 of the best, so hopefully you like them. It’s been surprising hearing everyone’s horror stories about their rewards issues. I thought it was just my specific situation. 💔
I wanted to see you put on that ice hockey outfit. I have 4 sets (actually 8 sets - I'll explain later) for my boy dolls and recently purchased 4 sets of the Maplelea set that is available. Maplelea no longer makes the complete set (still sells the skates and socks separately) that included the helmets. I had to buy 4 more sets made by AG to get the helmets (luckily they are red), pants, skates, and guards. Just adding the Maplelea red shirt and socks completes my Canadian team. Been a long time (3 years) that I've tried to get two teams. I noticed how hard it was for you to get that pink fur coat over the doll's hand (right hands are spread a little wider than left ones). I checked Maplelea website and they do mention with that specific outfit that the sleeves are tighter and may not fit AG dolls.
@@djg5950 that hockey uniform was way too complicated for me to put on while I talked 🤣🤣 Even after I stopped recording it took an effort. I must’ve followed instructions the first time I dressed him… Maplelea used to have full uniforms? Too bad they stopped. That would be so cute: Canada vs America. Yeah the pink coat was a little tricky, but easier than the first time I put it on, so it must’ve stretched. There’s no give on the fabric, so it’s tight.
I am so disappointed to hear about your customer no service! I thought something was up with all your Maplelea hauls, still can’t see your love of their faces but I have purchased a few outfits and shoes (again, you are an influencer). You need to plan a visit to the US and we can do a tour! We can visit Williamsburg and a few AG stores. I am sure that there are some fans that would love to meet you, so we can plan a meet up! I can say we are all thankful that you decided to stay with us. Looking forward to your q&a! Thanks for the storytelling.
@@carolreardon528 yyyyeah I was dipping a toe into Maplelea JUST IN CASE. I like the ones I have, but it could be a Canadian bias. What’s in Williamsburg? A few AG stores?? Does NY have more than one? lol I feel like I’m missing something.
@ Pleasant Roland visited Colonial Williamsburg and was inspired to create her dolls. Felicity lived in Williamsburg. There are a few RUclips creators that live in North Carolina. Williamsburg is about 3.5 hours from my home. One of the Flagship Stores is in New York. My store is not as large, not a flagship. It is in Charlotte, NC. The other one that is Tyson’s corner, outside of Washington DC. I don’t have a flagship store nearby!
I started collecting American girl in the summer of 2009 when Rebecca was released I bought her directly through the American girl website and from what I can remember, there wasn’t anything that didn’t ship to Canada then. As far as I remember the first instance of something not shipping to Canada was when the be forever version of Josefina was released. they also started making Canadian exclusive catalogs around the same time. this was in 2014. also, when American girl opened the stores in indigo people who didn’t have a store near them had to go into one of the local chapters stores and order through a kiosk. It was a pain. I can elaborate more on that if you want. this was before indigo had American girl on their website. however, there was one year that the biggest indigo stores in my city had holiday pop-ups with American Girl items, but that only ever happened once. Also, when the stores opened in indigo, they had exclusive shirts for dolls with the name of the city that the store was in like for example I have a shirt that says American girl Ottawa which someone got for me as I don’t live there. There were other Canadian store exclusive shirts too. They mostly just said American girl Canada. when the create your own dolls line was first released, they didn’t ship to Canada.; BTW there was also an American girl.ca website at one point too. you mentioned the once a year, one day indigo sale on AG items. At first it used to be that you just needed a regular plum membership which was free to have access to that sale. Only thing that membership did was give you access to that sale. Plum plus didn’t exist then. Lastly occasionally before AG was sold through chapters indigo, AG would even include shipping to Canada in their free shipping offers or deals. Ah those were the good old days. Sorry this comment is so long!! I hope this was interesting to you.
@@MsDancergirl96 you mean Beforever Josefina wouldn’t ship to Canada?? Why not? Such random things don’t ship here sometimes! Haha yes someone was selling the Toronto tshirt, so I drove like 45 minutes to buy it. Tbh I’m surprised the CYO dolls ship here-2day shipping through FedEx! I wouldn’t be surprised if that stops, but I don’t plan to buy any more anyway. Your memory is so good! I have trouble remembering all the plum stuff-so now I have your comment to refer to lol! Of course it was interesting!!
@ thank you yes, I meant be forever. Josefina and I have no idea why she didn’t ship to Canada. I didn’t think to ask. The bitty twin dolls also didn’t ship to Canada yet again no idea why. and I didn’t know that CYO dolls shipped with 2 day FedEx.? thanks I try my best to remember things because I figure somebody might find it interesting. I mean I would at least if it were somebody else telling me the information
I love that winter parka outfit! While my experience with AG customer service wasn't as on-going as your's, it too made me question whether I wanted to continue collecting. I still hesitate in buying directly from AG. I enjoy your videos whether you are showcasing AG or another brand. I very much enjoy seeing and hearing about Maplelea dolls and clothes.
@@charlotteamaro7165 it’s so nice to have that parka outfit on display! I tried it on him when I bought in the summer then put it in storage. I’m glad I talked about this, because I learned we’re not alone with this issue!
Cute winter outfits 💕! I’ve been considering getting an American Girl doll since watching your channel but I am in the UK, so it’s very expensive… 😂 American girl dolls here cost around £150 - £200+ ! That’s equivalent to 250 US dollars! 😮😂 I’m just not sure they’re worth that much and I don’t particularly like Mattel recently 😅.
@@Dollily oh yes it can be a nightmare collecting in the UK! No matter what I’ve collected, I’ve made friends over there who share their horror stories. It’s so $$$!
I hopped on the AG train right when the stores shut down. It’s been tough collecting for American Girl - I’m starting to pivot to Maplelea and Our Generation because they’re so accessible. I love being able to stop by Toys R Us on the way home from work and buy my OG doll a new outfit, or getting that “catalogue” experience from Maplelea.
@@melissazhai146 yeah the accessibility was definitely part of the attraction when I got into AG. I used to collect dolls that were sold online only and came in boxes that obstructed them, so it was nice to pick a doll with a face I liked. Hopefully we can figure out ways to keep enjoying AG… or find something else that brings the same joy they once did.
Canada is in North AMERICA, so technically... How snarky of her to say it IS American Girl. You were right to say what you said about spending your money elsewhere. I'm so glad that you are talking about this. Other collectors probably gave up on buying AG new because of that situation.
@@BrittnyShrub yeah it’s hard to know how she meant it over the phone (no facial cues) so I was taken aback and kind of embarrassed that I spend so much - but I have a feeling someone was listening in and coached her on what she said. We all can make mistakes and learn from them.
We lost our local store so we haven't had the store experience ever. Someday we want to go to the one closest to us which is NYC but maybe another one too.
Hey, im from Québec, it’s true about the bilingual’s boxes. The french doesn’t need to be bigger (as for now) it just need to be there. Also it makes sense for Disney because we never got any store and I had to buy my limited doll online or had to drive to Ottawa to make the line. American girl is already even to this day bilingual on the box so we had them in our indigo. If there’s no French on the box we won’t have it on the shelves but we can buy them online for sure. Thanks for the explain about your berries member. I tbh bought less stuffs because they keep advertising it on the website and us Canadian can’t enjoy all the benefits from it which sucks huge cocks. I love American girl but I need to be strategic when I want something unfortunately.. I love your videos as always btw 👽✌🏻
@@brz2387 ohhhhh thanks for explaining the bilingual packaging - now I’ll stop spreading rumors lol. And I remembered you had questions about berry membership. I don’t go into too much depth in my reply because I knew this video was coming in the near future. It’s complicated!
I'm Canadian but live in South Korea. Yes, yes, yes to the feeling of having points stolen. I had my Berry points canceled during the New Year of 2024 with no notice and when I emailed they just said, "Oh we aren't doing that for Canadians anymore." Why was there no notice about this change in policy? I had finally made it to Berry Tier and I was looking forward to spending those points. So I haven't purchased from them since. Just buying second hand items for now. Currently, the Korean won is about the same as the Canadian dollar, making AG products that much more expensive. I am lucky though that South Korea has American military bases which are considered 'American Territory' and thus don't count as international shipping. So I've had some AG stuff sent to friends married to military guys and then just gone to pick it up from them. Still a hassle though. Otherwise I use a Korean mail forwarding business, including when I buy from second hand sellers who don't want to ship internationally. Though AG and 18" dolls are not popular in Korea, ball jointed dolls are and there are a few physical doll shops around to hand out and lots of online small businesses. There is also a doll market that happens every few months as well that I like to attend. So I'm focusing my money and collecting there for now.
@@fangirl7914 yeah you feel like you’ve been scammed right?? Your situation sounds even more hectic. That was my initial reaction: that I would collect only second hand items. But the truth is I know I would feel left out during new releases and quickly lose interest. I didn’t expect our currency to be on par! I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to collect. Are BJD as expensive to collect there as they are here? I could never get into them because of the prices, not to mention the work of building them.
@DisBlaine I felt very scammed. I had intentionally spent money to push myself over the Berry Tier line. While I don't regret my purchases, I wouldn't have bought as much if I knew it wasn't going to benefit me the same way. Felt very dishonest that there was no communication about it as far as I could see, just my points suddenly disappearing. I'm not very prone to fomo, and there's rarely anything AG related I feel I NEED to have, so I'm ok just stalking the second-hand markets for now. I may also get more into Etsy shopping and support hobby members over Mattel. Yes, BJDs are still very expensive living in Asia. I do get the local benefits though of not having to pay customs, shipping, or exchange rates on Korean products. I can also navigate Taobao well enough that I can buy Chinese products from there and save a bit. English language dealers like Alice's Collections charge in USD, creating a huge upcharge on top of an already expensive product. BJD clothing is not cheap either. I just have to settle for a smaller and slower growing collection is all. At least I'm interested in sewing, so I'm trying to remind myself to focus on making my own things rather than purchasing.
As a Canadian I have a crazy amount of dolls, more than i have room for, and between buying secondhand from facebook groups as well as beginning to sew and knit more for my dolls, i think i shall manage. The odd item will still be a problem. I just had a really great person from the US help me out by forwarding an item. It was Moana and she definitely qualifies as an exception to the rule.. I will be very disciplined from now on. E-bay is also practtcally out for us Canadians. I don't understand their shipping charges. Absolutely outrageous. I think they are RAKING it in. People are intimidated to go to the post office to mail it themselves and eBay takes advantage of it. I am actually not sure what the big deal is about mailing to Canada, or anywhere else for that matter. Pretty straightforward.
@@lisbetsoda4874 oh yeah I didn’t even talk about eBay! Truth is I buy there so seldom it didn’t even occur to me. And mercari also doesn’t allow Canadian IPs, so I forgot about them too. It’s nice that collectors empathize and want to help… but it’s also sad it’s sometimes necessary. I say that as an extremely lucky collector tho. I’m glad you’ve figured out how to manage-or cut back.
It sounds like à contact ending type thing I live in the USA in small town az and don't have an AG store so everything is order though catlog. I think Maplelee will go into the book store to take AG place.
@@tinmanlover1994 yeah that would be a good idea if indigo started carrying Maplelea! I guess ML is too small. It might be expensive to put them in there.
I think a lot of doll collectors are concerned about upcoming changes. Prices and shipping. Im in America but i have purchased international dolls since i started collecting Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls. I hope you have doll friends who can purchase AG things for you.
@@shannonchristie-wickham8453 I’ve always been very lucky to make friends willing to help, but the truth is I enjoy the dolls less when I feel like a burden to others. I know they truly don’t mind, but I can’t help feeling bothersome 🥴 We have to prepare for the worst at this point, but hopefully it’s not necessary.
That was such bad customer service… that they treated you like that. But dont feel bad for us Europeans because we have access to some amazing Spanish and German dolls. All to be seen on the book of faces ❤
@DisBlaine yes they are easy to find. They are from another country but because both countries are in the European union ordering them is easy. The Spanish dolls are a bit harder to find, as local shops only sell the most wanted models. But I can order the more obscure ones at a Spanish webshop, and again open borders, so only the cost of the shipping to consider.
@@DisBlaineand I wanted to add. I do miss the backstories and the accessories that come with that. We do not have dolls with backstories here and can get about half of our generations products. However, that's a huge improvement to a couple of years ago.
Hi Blaine I was wondering if you have a favourite doll outfit (bot counting Tiana, or any Claudie outfits. You have mentioned favourite loll rankings as well as favourite historical that you own. Is there an outfit whether historical or not that is your fav, (no Claudie molds). Im guessing a Courtney outfit, but I could be wrong. ps is there an outfit you do not own your chasing?
@@1964chopper my fave historical outfit is Rebecca’s newest Hanukkah outfit. I did a video sharing my fave outfit from each historical doll a few months back-and one day I’ll do my top 5 outfits of all (once I have the ones I’m missing lol)
I’m very frustrated ordering products from American Girl because of so many delays with their shipping. I’m waiting now for a doll and it’s going on 3 weeks 😳 Now I tend to buy from 3rd party vendors because of several issues with AG.
@@luvlyleo2836 whoa really???? I must admit I’m lucky with shipping from them. I usually have my order in a few days after it ships. That’s wild to hear- I wonder what they’re doing with your stuff!! Do you call to find out? I’m sure you do.
I don’t order from the store anymore. I prefer to save a buy from a doll artist that I like . But yes they want our orders and our money but we can get the berry points that’s not very fair money is money. And then when we buy from a person from theUS we have to hope that they will be kind enough to want to ship it over to us . And I’m in Montreal Ontario I find have more collectors . :(
@@manuelamedeiros7059 ouch Quebec collectors usually have a harder time collecting. Is it still the law that French font needs to be bigger than English font on packaging? That’s how Disney collectors told me it was when we had Disney stores here.
Wow I'm really bummed American Girl did that. You did earn those points if if not more than most Americans because of how much more you have to spend to get the stuff. That's a real bummer. I hope American Girl changes those policies because that's not fair. They are making a lot of money off of people in other countries being fans of their dolls. That's so disappointing to hear. And I'm glad you shared your truth We need to start shining a light on these billionaire companies and what they're doing to the average customer.
And I'm saying this as an American who is hoping American Girl comes across this and does better. I'm already disappointed with Disney I hope Mattel doesn't start to sour my feelings too. It already upset me with the way the etsy community was treated. Yeah maybe it was a bot but they can do better and make their bots do better.
You know and honestly American girl should definitely see y'all as a benefit to their community. If anything the stock photos are not selling the dolls as well as they should. There's been quite a few dolls that we didn't think we liked until we saw them on your channel. You are literally advertising for free for them. Ugh this is just such a bummer. Sorry I keep harping on this. I'm just really sad they did this to you and keep doing this to you. Not only are they stealing your rewards but they're also stealing your time because you have to keep calling them to tell them to treat you better. That's sad.
Also I just want you to know that wasn't Diva behavior. That was you asking to be treated with respect as a collector who advertises for free for them.
OMG I can't believe she said it's an American girl😮😮😮😮😮😮 No matter how nice she sounded when she said it she meant it mean I'm an American I know what she meant. That's like bless your heart type of comment. I'll bet anything that she got afraid that a manager would hear back that call. Holy moly. 😢
My two bits as a fellow Canadian'. I have dropped a lot of money with AG for the last nearly thirty years so i have tried it all. Hiwever, o think i can clarify why AG is so anal about the Berry Points. Their hands are pretty much tied by the IRA if you would believe it. They don't want to be audited and, from what I have heard, with good reason. It is a BIT like the lotteries. So there's that. The second issue is that AG does not sell some of their coveted items in Canada. It started under the Trudeau government, and it is OUR import and duty laws we have to thank for that. Any item that features wood, or feathers, sea shells, wicker,straw etc. are forbidden for us to import. Now a friend can send you an outfit but if they listed one of the above products, customs would refuse them, too. It has to do with agriculture and diseases. It is REALLY farfetched but that's what it is. AG most likely has to submit for inspection a long list of items. So as frustrating as it is AG's hands are tied to some extent. It gets even crazier since everything is originally from China. I have enough reasons to want an election in Canada, but there's another. Lol. Don't get me started. Lastly, i am not sure if AG pulled out of Canada for lack of profits or due to an end of partnership with Indigo. I have NO idea, and i doubt the AG employees do, either. Hope this clarifies a few issues. I do apologize for how long my post is.
@@lisbetsoda4874 awww don’t apologize, the long post was full of valuable info! I don’t remember if I mentioned that some of it is Canadian laws (branching off of how we can’t participate in American sweepstakes for example) but I’m surprised I don’t have issues being a circle rewards member at target but can’t order LE dolls from AG. It’s all so strange!
Not related to the video. Got my Addie and Claudie dolls. Now my son and I are reading Claudie's book. Also mad I didn't buy Addie's birthday outfit when I went to the store. Now it is sold out in store and online.
@@ladero01 oh no! Her birthday outift is sold out in stores too?? That’s terrible. The Kirsten doll was on back order last I looked, so there’s a TINY chance the outfits will replenish? But when these were released, they specifically said it would be limited release (not edition)
I don’t know if you mentioned it in the video - I didn’t watch the whole thing - but I’m wondering, where did you get that surfer outfit that was on your Truly Me 104 before you changed his clothes? I love that surfer outfit it would be great for one of my dolls - I have many boy dolls and I feel like 90 percent of outfits put out by companies are so girly
@@AmericanGirlBigFan it’s on sale right now, so hopefully links work: www.target.com/p/sophia-s-18-doll-surf-shirt-floral-print-swim-trunks-orange/-/A-89677739#lnk=sametab
oh i hope you don’t stop Doll Collecting with American Girl 🫶☪️ i will say everytime i call AG Customer Service .. i always press #1 … i recently had a order & got them today & both of the advent calendars box’s were damaged .. so this time i did # 2 .. & it was a foreign person ..could not understand what they were saying so from now on .. i will always be doing #1 on customer service lol sorry for your struggle .. that is a pain & maybe if enough people complain they will change things i do believe they listen to You Tube Doll Collectors on here
@@stephaniefriend9912 oh! I thought pressing 1 was for an already existing order and 2 was for a new order! I think it was just a coincidence you got dispatched to someone who speaks multiple languages. I made a phone order only once and pressed 2 without that happening. But yes AG resolved my issue, so everything is good… for now 👻
I would not blame you for quitting. That sounds like such a frustrating experience. I live in the US, so obviously I can’t say I’ve experienced the same, but I can understand how experiences like that can cause negative feelings about something you love. I hope things stay resolved with your account and you are able to continue collecting. Even if you switched to Maplelea full time, or even another doll brand, I will definitely still be watching your channel. I enjoy your stories and insights and all the characters you create for your dolls!
@@settheworldonfire94 oh I was reallllly worried for a couple months there! But now that it’s been good for a couple months, I guess the time felt right to share. I love my dolls, so of course I was willing to fight the situation to keep me feeling good about them 🥰
Not only that but Maplelea makes great clothes for the AG girlss we already own.
And Blaine is a great storyteller with so much creativity.
@@lisbetsoda4874 yes the outfits imo are superior to AG, and since I’m more used to the AG dolls, I love seeing them wear the clothes.
Your Sonali mold (forgot her name) is stunning in that outfit. I couldn't take me eyes off her
@@MarieLewis-m1p wasn’t that something?? I love when I envision something beautiful in my head-AND THEN IT LOOKS EVEN BETTER 😵💫🤯
Hi Blaine, I am glad you talked about this. As a Canadian I find it so expensive to buy AG dolls from the store. That’s why I mostly have thrifted dolls. Once in a while I will order from American girl but I do wish we still had our Indigo stores with the American Girl doll section of the store. I understand your draw to MapleLea Canadian Girl dolls. They are so cute and have great clothes. I feel for international customers that are unable to access American Girl. Congrats on 2000 subscribers! Your dolls look so cozy and cute. Have a great weekend. 😄
@@CherishedDollFriends yeah part of the pain is we had easy access to them for 10 years, so we’re still adjusting, and deciding if we want to continue.
You’re SO SMART to stick to thrifted dolls. And the older dolls tend to be better quality anyway. Maplelea aren’t just cute and great quality, they’re Canadian and therefore more affordable to us 🫣
Yes it’s true the MapleLea dolls are more affordable for us and no shipping issues or border tariffs to worry about. It is nice to have brand new dolls too. The thrifted ones have so much personality. I have cleaned up my new Felicity and she has been my new comfort doll. She is so sweet and cuddly. ❤
Thank you for opening this conversation on the AG Berry rewards. I am in the US and have been fighting the SAME battle basically for almost 3 years and like you have come to peace with not collecting AG any more. My purchases have tailored back and I do find myself looking at other dolls and just enjoying the dolls I have more and collecting on the 2nd hand market more. While it sucks that American Girl cares so little for their "valued" customers it's nice to know that we are not alone in the suck.
@@instantlywithisa what??? You too? That’s even more… suspicious? I’m not sure what exactly, but it’s strange you’re going through in the US. They have an excuse with me.
But yes, I’ve resolved to not collecting if they revoke my berry rewards again, just because it feels unfair in a way.
@@DisBlaine It's insane that half the time I do not get the Berry Emails, the catalog and when I call in they say they will investigate and yet...NOTHING is resolved. I am missing so many points that I truly stopped counting. That isn't even counting the YEAR that I was locked out of my account and they couldn't seem to figure it out. Shockingly...the issue with my email is STILL UNRESOLVED. I am at a place and space where I have resigned myself to just not care any more.
@@instantlywithisa awwww that’s so sad to hear. If AG doesn’t work out for you, I hope you find something else you can love equally 💔
I now feel very lucky to live in the US and not have the out-of-country issues. I am there with you, I would've considered quitting too.
I almost quit AG back in 2017-2019 when the quality went down (the permapanties and the bad eyes), that is when I found A Girl for All Time (only have 2). I walked away from anything new until the end of 2019 because Blaire was a doll that I didn't want to pass up.
I'm glad you didn't quit making videos, because I love your storylines. And I am voting for another dollhouse tour (guessing you've updated since the first one). Spent last weekend moving to my new apartment or I would've known you had a Q&A community post planned.
@@DarcysNova626 turns out American collectors have had berry rewards issues too! So I’m glad you’ve been luckier.
I’ve never come across a perma panties doll, but I’m kind of curious to see one in real life. In pics they look like they have flat butts 🤣
I’m glad they fixed the issue but I don’t think I would’ve stopped making videos. The content just would’ve changed a bit
Hi Disblaune👋. Thank you for another super entertaining video filled with beautiful dolls❤. I live in the US, in Miami, and I’ve had the same experience with AG customer service. They are the worse! I’ve had rewards taken away from me as well. I remember the first time I just my rewards I only used a fraction of what I had and they took everything else away to 0 balance. When I called them they said that once you use something from the reward regardless of how much, the rest gets taken away. 😮 I couldn’t believe my ears. Such a big company to be so cheap with their customers. I’ve heard other collectors experiences that are just as bad with customer service. Also, here in the US, if there is a doll for a cheaper price from most stores on line,places like Target will honor that price and you can purchase it in person from them. American Girl won’t honor even their online sales at the stores. They rather the customer walk out of the store without buying anything. Believe me, it’s happen to me twice. Plus more bad experiences. Too many. I love the dolls and the ideas behind them, so I keep buying, but that’s the only reason. Much love to you ! ❤❤❤
@@rosyp71 I’m astonished how many people have commented their negative experiences with berry rewards - all Americans too! I really thought my struggles were because of my 2 addresses, but everyone has had a unique bad experience with points wiped out. I had no idea!
@ Yes, and terrible customer service too.
The white outfit and the red parka are my favorites. Sorry for the challenges you have had. I like your channel, whether it is AG, Maplelea, or your other collections.
@@ladero01 they were definitely the best in this set. I hadn’t dressed anyone in the white outfit yet, so 🤯
Thanks for having this much needed conversation. I’ve alway’s recognized non American’s go through a lot to collect American items regardless where their made 👀 lol… Truth be told America’s relationship with the rest of the world is about to become extremely complicated, and as an American it’s not lost on me that merchandise we’re used to having is about to become more complicated getting at affordable prices , and many are still delusional about that, but a clue is coming for all .. I’m hoping moving forward thing’s won’t become as horrible as many of us in America think they will be.. Keep collecting, and loving it , it’s a human right . 💜💜💜💜
AG with their recent price increase has me cutting down my spending although I have almost every doll I want and almost all outfits I want already. Can't imagine what will happen when Jan 20th rolls around if tariffs go into effect. All I can say is that it's a good thing AG is making almost everything pink, sparkly and from mesh fabric. Quality has fallen. I'm not a fan of sequins, glitter or metallic fabric. Don't like flashy prefer country like Maplelea outdoors outfits. I have most of the Maplelea outfits that Blaine shows (including that red parka - recent purchase - and two pair of those boots). I love the quality of Maplelea outfits but I'm worried if a tariff put in place will affect the cost (cheaper due to currency rates - a BIG plus in buying them) or cause problems with shipping. I'm going to place a big order soon (currently added bonus for each $100 spent so I'd like to take advantage of that) just in case things get screwy after Jan 20th. Maplelea competes with AG because they have sales or bonus $$ during US holidays, too.
@@onlyalisaawilliams I didn’t want to dive too deep into the doom and gloom of what’s to come (potentially) but it was impossible to avoid it completely. We have to be prepared for the worst… which is what, I don’t even know yet!
But I’ll be holed up with my dolls whatever comes 🥴
@@djg5950 I bought a big order for bonus money too! I wish Maplelea had even more outfits so I could buy them all-for the same reason you said. They have clothes that aren’t sparkly and plastic.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with their point system!! I think this topic was very interesting! Moana not being shipped to Canada should be a crime 😅💓
Also- congrats on 2k!!! Your content is amazing and honest, you totally deserve it!! I’ll have to think of a question to ask! 🫶🏻💓
@@americangirlfilms I’m glad it got resolved and hope it answered some questions other Canadians had about the berry rewards. I always get asked how I have them in the comments, and I’m like welllll ☠️
I’m so thrilled people like my dolls this much! It’s really nice they keep tuning in to see them (I mean obviously I love them too lol)
Blaine, I'm really glad you brought up this subject. I am in the US, and I have the same issues! I am a Berry level collector, too, and I have had my rewards disappear and suddenly partially come back for whatever reason? Most reward points I receive add up to strange amounts, too! I have had so much trouble that I feel like I don't even understand the system anymore, and I feel AG likes it that way! For several weeks, AG kept emailing me with a $10 reward, so I made a purchase and tried to use it. Well, it didn't work, so I emailed them with the problem. They came back with, "You used it already." What?😮 I have really, really cut back on spending my money at AG because I feel like it is just not worth the hassle! They also keep messing with my address, so it takes about three weeks to get to me! That being said, if it is worse living outside the US, I SO sympathize with you guys! I mean, it is supposed to be the thing that helps you escape from the negativity in the world!😢 I would really hate to see you leave the AG community and RUclips because I have been watching you since day one, but I would totally understand if you feel you have to!😒 Thank you for your honesty.
@@paulettepalmer4860 oh! That’s a way stranger situation than mine. I wonder why you had all that spooky stuff go on!
If my situation hadn’t been fixed, I think I would’ve started collecting only the older stuff and skip the new releases but then I would’ve eventually started feeling left out and move on from even the older stuff - especially if new Claudie dolls or additions to her actual collection came out
I'm from argentina! I got into AG by watching other doll collectors show their dolls. Most of my dolls are used ones from people who went on vacations to USA or very wealthy people. I have a TM 122 and I'm getting 124 for Christmas, they cost me $275 - $285 each, I can't really afford to get new stuff so I try to get my hands on everything used popping on facebook marketplace, also started learning how to sew my own doll clothes. I love your long videos, they are a great company while sewing.
@@seth1393 Argentina!!! I’m glad you could fine some used ones, because $280 is too much to do every time. Seeing your own clothes is also smart. But I’m not crafty that way 🥹
I can’t believe how many videos I have! When I started here, I thought 10 minutes was too long
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm an American that collects Maplelea. I also collect AG, but not so often anymore. Maplelea makes it so wonderful to purchase from in America. Another reason to love Maplelea!! I appreciate your channel so much! I love your collection and enjoy hearing from you!!
I'm excited to purchase from Maplelea for the first time.
I just ordered from Maplelea too. Even the postage was reasonable.
@@puddintame296 oh wow, I didn’t realize there’d be Americans who prefer ML over AG. Do you collect the dolls too? I’m so happy to hear you like them. Is that patriotism?? 🤪
@@BrittnyShrub you’ll love the clothes for sure. If you get a doll, you may need to adjust to them at first.
@@nanasewdear in Canada it’s $9 if you spend under $150
Dude, that is just bs. It’s frustrating to spend hard earned money and have to deal with crap like that. Good for you for saying you had already made peace with walking away. I love watching your channel because you always seem to have a positive spin on crummy situations 😊
@@jeaninevarvaro8599 yeah I my biggest worry about it not getting fixed wasn’t the points stealing, it was knowing it would make me resent my collection and eventually sell it off-so hopefully that doesn’t happen 🤪
And I think my positive spin on everything is to make sure I keep enjoying this hobby I spend so much time and money on lol
Hey Blaine!👋🏻 I'm so sorry that has happened to you! I'm also glad you got it figured out and that you are still collecting American girl!🤗 That happened to me before too! I wonder why it happens? Your dolls all look so warm and snuggly in their outfits! Great video! Take care and stay safe!😃❤️
@@robinkrueger5977 hey Robin! Yes I’m really glad it got sorted. I was really worried the experience would tarnish my feelings about all my babies lol. But my collection shall rage on 🥳🤣
I'm so glad to hear that!❤️@@DisBlaine
Thank you for bringing up this subject. In Brazil it’s so much easier to buy second hand from people who have traveled to the US bc we can’t (or couldn’t at least last time I checked) buy from AG unless we called the store on the phone, which is incredibly expensive as it’s an international call and it takes looooong for them to understand the code of every item with my broken English. I ordered twice and it took 6+ months to get here and both times it got taxed. Plus you can’t even sign in with your phone number to receive news if you aren’t in the US or Canada, and we don’t get rewards in Brazil either. We are American too!
I was going to say Canadians are Americans, too. America is North, Central and South America. I am a US citizen and have heard comments about us calling ourselves Americans. It's because we call ourselves United States of America that we shortened it to Americans.
@@eberleven 6 months??? Oh no that’s no good. I don’t think I could be interested in dolls that are so hard to access. I didn’t realize you couldn’t even subscribe to their newsletter! I’m so sorry it’s that difficult 💔
@@djg5950
Everyone uses that term. Around the world. Noone is ever confused OR insulted. It isn't wrong. It is just one of those things that happen when language evolves. Don't worry about it. I, for one, am proud to be called Canadian. I am sure the same goes for the woman from Brazil. She is most likely proud to be Brazilian.
Yay 2K!!!
@@BrittnyShrub it’s shocking tbh!
I am glad you stood up and did not let them steal your joy. The dolls look great b Hang in there you you you
@@nailahvenable7989 I’m glad it worked lol. I’ve invested a lot into these dolls, so I need to protect this collection at all costs 🤣
Oh Blaine, I am so sorry you had to have this negative experience. I will not even begin to express how I feel about you feeling discouraged or considering no longer collecting AG, but I am heart-broken for that and I think it would be unfair to pour it all out, as my feelings are not your liability. You have such wonderful, warm, kind videos, just like people have already said, I would watch whatever you post anyway as your attitude gives this beautiful sense of belonging :) And having this experience, the experience of your channel, is a huge part of my motivation to collect. I think I better round it off here and send you a message on Instagram.
@@DollsAllGrown-Up awwww I hope I was clear that the issue has been resolved! I’ve made several purchases since, so I really think I’m good now. This channel is a wonderful experience for me too-engaging with people who let me gush and act a fool. I won’t give that up anytime soon 😆
I think we’ve had the same women on customer service before! The way you described her saying “well it is American girl” sounded exactly like the women I’ve talked to before!! I just had a few questions about the doll hospital and she gave a very slight attitude back as well so I totally get what you went through 😭
@@agjelly15 I actually hope it was the same person but chances are there’s more than 1 agent with that attitude. BUT! Everyone I speak to is honestly usually lovely and extremely helpful. And everyone has a bad day-especially if they’re dealing with customers whose points have been stolen!
@ pretty sure her name was Julia or something like that, I was just asking about the updated doll hospital face molds and my points too🥲 but your so right! We all do have bad days and hopefully today she’s in a brighter mood! But I will forever wonder what she did when she went on hold after your reply cause the company does review and go over calls!
I enjoyed your Maplelea videos! They have great clothes.
I’m so sorry that AG has been difficult for you as a non US collector. I’ve heard many Canadians express their frustration over the rewards program. These kinds of things create division and hurt feelings. Everyone should be treated equally as a customer.
@@melangellperry5984 yeah as much difficulty as I’ve had, I know other Canadians have it so much worse than I have, and people outside North America have it EVEN worse. But you’re right, everyone should have equal access to these dolls.
This is off topic but- I’d love to see how you organize the clothes/l and shoes for your dolls! That works be a great video. This was a very interesting video. I’m sorry it’s so hard for you, very frustrating. I hope you continue your channel, it’s always so fun!
@@ledstoke oh haha my tv stand had a large drawer and cupboard. The drawer is full of clothes and the cupboard is full of shoes. Whenever I look for a particular outfit, I realize they aren’t exactly organized 😆🫣
@@DisBlaine😂
@@DisBlaine that must be a HUGE tv stand, you have so many clothes!😂
@ they’re really crammed in there right now 🫣
Also if you were still wondering the blue underwear are from Courtney😂
@@robinkrueger5977 those are the only blue ones I can think of too, so I must’ve bought them on eBay. So strange the things we can forget!
Imagine living in the UK!!
@@reeset2198 yeah for collecting pretty much any doll line!
That does sound incredibly frustrating. I live in the US, and they always mess up my rewards, which causes me to never get the appropriate rewards certificate. Whenever I’ve gone to customer service, it has not resulted in a resolution. I had never heard of Maplelea before finding your channel. I just placed my second order, and I love the company so far! I have Saila and just bought #51, so she hasn’t arrived yet. The dolls are growing on me, but I adore the clothing!
@@ThoughtsArrive whoa you even ordered a couple of the Maplelea dolls! You started with 2 of the best, so hopefully you like them. It’s been surprising hearing everyone’s horror stories about their rewards issues. I thought it was just my specific situation. 💔
I wanted to see you put on that ice hockey outfit. I have 4 sets (actually 8 sets - I'll explain later) for my boy dolls and recently purchased 4 sets of the Maplelea set that is available. Maplelea no longer makes the complete set (still sells the skates and socks separately) that included the helmets. I had to buy 4 more sets made by AG to get the helmets (luckily they are red), pants, skates, and guards. Just adding the Maplelea red shirt and socks completes my Canadian team. Been a long time (3 years) that I've tried to get two teams.
I noticed how hard it was for you to get that pink fur coat over the doll's hand (right hands are spread a little wider than left ones). I checked Maplelea website and they do mention with that specific outfit that the sleeves are tighter and may not fit AG dolls.
@@djg5950 that hockey uniform was way too complicated for me to put on while I talked 🤣🤣
Even after I stopped recording it took an effort. I must’ve followed instructions the first time I dressed him…
Maplelea used to have full uniforms? Too bad they stopped. That would be so cute: Canada vs America.
Yeah the pink coat was a little tricky, but easier than the first time I put it on, so it must’ve stretched. There’s no give on the fabric, so it’s tight.
I am so disappointed to hear about your customer no service! I thought something was up with all your Maplelea hauls, still can’t see your love of their faces but I have purchased a few outfits and shoes (again, you are an influencer). You need to plan a visit to the US and we can do a tour! We can visit Williamsburg and a few AG stores. I am sure that there are some fans that would love to meet you, so we can plan a meet up! I can say we are all thankful that you decided to stay with us. Looking forward to your q&a! Thanks for the storytelling.
@@carolreardon528 yyyyeah I was dipping a toe into Maplelea JUST IN CASE. I like the ones I have, but it could be a Canadian bias. What’s in Williamsburg? A few AG stores?? Does NY have more than one? lol I feel like I’m missing something.
@@DisBlaineWilliamsburg is a historic town where Felicity hails from.
@ Pleasant Roland visited Colonial Williamsburg and was inspired to create her dolls. Felicity lived in Williamsburg. There are a few RUclips creators that live in North Carolina. Williamsburg is about 3.5 hours from my home. One of the Flagship Stores is in New York. My store is not as large, not a flagship. It is in Charlotte, NC. The other one that is Tyson’s corner, outside of Washington DC. I don’t have a flagship store nearby!
@ okay I have to ask lol (Canadian here) is this a different Williamsburg from the one in Brooklyn? 😬🫣
@@DisBlaine yes, it's different.
I started collecting American girl in the summer of 2009 when Rebecca was released I bought her directly through the American girl website and from what I can remember, there wasn’t anything that didn’t ship to Canada then. As far as I remember the first instance of something not shipping to Canada was when the be forever version of Josefina was released. they also started making Canadian exclusive catalogs around the same time. this was in 2014. also, when American girl opened the stores in indigo people who didn’t have a store near them had to go into one of the local chapters stores and order through a kiosk. It was a pain. I can elaborate more on that if you want. this was before indigo had American girl on their website. however, there was one year that the biggest indigo stores in my city had holiday pop-ups with American Girl items, but that only ever happened once. Also, when the stores opened in indigo, they had exclusive shirts for dolls with the name of the city that the store was in like for example I have a shirt that says American girl Ottawa which someone got for me as I don’t live there. There were other Canadian store exclusive shirts too. They mostly just said American girl Canada. when the create your own dolls line was first released, they didn’t ship to Canada.; BTW there was also an American girl.ca website at one point too. you mentioned the once a year, one day indigo sale on AG items. At first it used to be that you just needed a regular plum membership which was free to have access to that sale. Only thing that membership did was give you access to that sale. Plum plus didn’t exist then. Lastly occasionally before AG was sold through chapters indigo, AG would even include shipping to Canada in their free shipping offers or deals. Ah those were the good old days. Sorry this comment is so long!! I hope this was interesting to you.
@@MsDancergirl96 you mean Beforever Josefina wouldn’t ship to Canada?? Why not? Such random things don’t ship here sometimes!
Haha yes someone was selling the Toronto tshirt, so I drove like 45 minutes to buy it.
Tbh I’m surprised the CYO dolls ship here-2day shipping through FedEx! I wouldn’t be surprised if that stops, but I don’t plan to buy any more anyway.
Your memory is so good! I have trouble remembering all the plum stuff-so now I have your comment to refer to lol! Of course it was interesting!!
@ thank you yes, I meant be forever. Josefina and I have no idea why she didn’t ship to Canada. I didn’t think to ask. The bitty twin dolls also didn’t ship to Canada yet again no idea why. and I didn’t know that CYO dolls shipped with 2 day FedEx.? thanks I try my best to remember things because I figure somebody might find it interesting. I mean I would at least if it were somebody else telling me the information
I love that winter parka outfit! While my experience with AG customer service wasn't as on-going as your's, it too made me question whether I wanted to continue collecting. I still hesitate in buying directly from AG. I enjoy your videos whether you are showcasing AG or another brand. I very much enjoy seeing and hearing about Maplelea dolls and clothes.
@@charlotteamaro7165 it’s so nice to have that parka outfit on display! I tried it on him when I bought in the summer then put it in storage.
I’m glad I talked about this, because I learned we’re not alone with this issue!
Cute winter outfits 💕! I’ve been considering getting an American Girl doll since watching your channel but I am in the UK, so it’s very expensive… 😂 American girl dolls here cost around £150 - £200+ ! That’s equivalent to 250 US dollars! 😮😂 I’m just not sure they’re worth that much and I don’t particularly like Mattel recently 😅.
@@Dollily oh yes it can be a nightmare collecting in the UK! No matter what I’ve collected, I’ve made friends over there who share their horror stories. It’s so $$$!
I hopped on the AG train right when the stores shut down. It’s been tough collecting for American Girl - I’m starting to pivot to Maplelea and Our Generation because they’re so accessible. I love being able to stop by Toys R Us on the way home from work and buy my OG doll a new outfit, or getting that “catalogue” experience from Maplelea.
@@melissazhai146 yeah the accessibility was definitely part of the attraction when I got into AG. I used to collect dolls that were sold online only and came in boxes that obstructed them, so it was nice to pick a doll with a face I liked.
Hopefully we can figure out ways to keep enjoying AG… or find something else that brings the same joy they once did.
Canada is in North AMERICA, so technically... How snarky of her to say it IS American Girl. You were right to say what you said about spending your money elsewhere. I'm so glad that you are talking about this. Other collectors probably gave up on buying AG new because of that situation.
@@BrittnyShrub yeah it’s hard to know how she meant it over the phone (no facial cues) so I was taken aback and kind of embarrassed that I spend so much - but I have a feeling someone was listening in and coached her on what she said. We all can make mistakes and learn from them.
We lost our local store so we haven't had the store experience ever. Someday we want to go to the one closest to us which is NYC but maybe another one too.
@@kerrysmiles I really need to go back to an actual store (not indigo). I only visited the Chicago store during a trip way before I collected.
Hey, im from Québec, it’s true about the bilingual’s boxes. The french doesn’t need to be bigger (as for now) it just need to be there. Also it makes sense for Disney because we never got any store and I had to buy my limited doll online or had to drive to Ottawa to make the line. American girl is already even to this day bilingual on the box so we had them in our indigo. If there’s no French on the box we won’t have it on the shelves but we can buy them online for sure. Thanks for the explain about your berries member. I tbh bought less stuffs because they keep advertising it on the website and us Canadian can’t enjoy all the benefits from it which sucks huge cocks. I love American girl but I need to be strategic when I want something unfortunately.. I love your videos as always btw 👽✌🏻
@@brz2387 ohhhhh thanks for explaining the bilingual packaging - now I’ll stop spreading rumors lol.
And I remembered you had questions about berry membership. I don’t go into too much depth in my reply because I knew this video was coming in the near future. It’s complicated!
I'm Canadian but live in South Korea. Yes, yes, yes to the feeling of having points stolen. I had my Berry points canceled during the New Year of 2024 with no notice and when I emailed they just said, "Oh we aren't doing that for Canadians anymore." Why was there no notice about this change in policy? I had finally made it to Berry Tier and I was looking forward to spending those points. So I haven't purchased from them since. Just buying second hand items for now.
Currently, the Korean won is about the same as the Canadian dollar, making AG products that much more expensive. I am lucky though that South Korea has American military bases which are considered 'American Territory' and thus don't count as international shipping. So I've had some AG stuff sent to friends married to military guys and then just gone to pick it up from them. Still a hassle though. Otherwise I use a Korean mail forwarding business, including when I buy from second hand sellers who don't want to ship internationally.
Though AG and 18" dolls are not popular in Korea, ball jointed dolls are and there are a few physical doll shops around to hand out and lots of online small businesses. There is also a doll market that happens every few months as well that I like to attend. So I'm focusing my money and collecting there for now.
@@fangirl7914 yeah you feel like you’ve been scammed right?? Your situation sounds even more hectic. That was my initial reaction: that I would collect only second hand items. But the truth is I know I would feel left out during new releases and quickly lose interest.
I didn’t expect our currency to be on par! I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to collect. Are BJD as expensive to collect there as they are here? I could never get into them because of the prices, not to mention the work of building them.
@DisBlaine I felt very scammed. I had intentionally spent money to push myself over the Berry Tier line. While I don't regret my purchases, I wouldn't have bought as much if I knew it wasn't going to benefit me the same way. Felt very dishonest that there was no communication about it as far as I could see, just my points suddenly disappearing. I'm not very prone to fomo, and there's rarely anything AG related I feel I NEED to have, so I'm ok just stalking the second-hand markets for now. I may also get more into Etsy shopping and support hobby members over Mattel.
Yes, BJDs are still very expensive living in Asia. I do get the local benefits though of not having to pay customs, shipping, or exchange rates on Korean products. I can also navigate Taobao well enough that I can buy Chinese products from there and save a bit. English language dealers like Alice's Collections charge in USD, creating a huge upcharge on top of an already expensive product. BJD clothing is not cheap either. I just have to settle for a smaller and slower growing collection is all. At least I'm interested in sewing, so I'm trying to remind myself to focus on making my own things rather than purchasing.
As a Canadian I have a crazy amount of dolls, more than i have room for, and between buying secondhand from facebook groups as well as beginning to sew and knit more for my dolls, i think i shall manage. The odd item will still be a problem. I just had a really great person from the US help me out by forwarding an item. It was Moana and she definitely qualifies as an exception to the rule.. I will be very disciplined from now on.
E-bay is also practtcally out for us Canadians. I don't understand their shipping charges. Absolutely outrageous. I think they are RAKING it in. People are intimidated to go to the post office to mail it themselves and eBay takes advantage of it. I am actually not sure what the big deal is about mailing to Canada, or anywhere else for that matter. Pretty straightforward.
@@lisbetsoda4874 oh yeah I didn’t even talk about eBay! Truth is I buy there so seldom it didn’t even occur to me. And mercari also doesn’t allow Canadian IPs, so I forgot about them too.
It’s nice that collectors empathize and want to help… but it’s also sad it’s sometimes necessary. I say that as an extremely lucky collector tho. I’m glad you’ve figured out how to manage-or cut back.
It sounds like à contact ending type thing I live in the USA in small town az and don't have an AG store so everything is order though catlog. I think Maplelee will go into the book store to take AG place.
@@tinmanlover1994 yeah that would be a good idea if indigo started carrying Maplelea! I guess ML is too small. It might be expensive to put them in there.
I think a lot of doll collectors are concerned about upcoming changes. Prices and shipping. Im in America but i have purchased international dolls since i started collecting Ruby Red Fashion Friends dolls. I hope you have doll friends who can purchase AG things for you.
@@shannonchristie-wickham8453 I’ve always been very lucky to make friends willing to help, but the truth is I enjoy the dolls less when I feel like a burden to others. I know they truly don’t mind, but I can’t help feeling bothersome 🥴
We have to prepare for the worst at this point, but hopefully it’s not necessary.
I don't have a question. I just want a shout out to my Mom and I haha😂
My mom told me to tell you her name is Kate
@@kerrysmiles haha okay I’ll make a note of that. Just in case, remind me when I post in my community tab and IG story on Friday if you see it.
That was such bad customer service… that they treated you like that. But dont feel bad for us Europeans because we have access to some amazing Spanish and German dolls. All to be seen on the book of faces ❤
@@brutallyhonestdollreviews that’s true: not everyone needs to collect American dolls. Are the Gotz dolls easier to find over there?
@DisBlaine yes they are easy to find. They are from another country but because both countries are in the European union ordering them is easy. The Spanish dolls are a bit harder to find, as local shops only sell the most wanted models. But I can order the more obscure ones at a Spanish webshop, and again open borders, so only the cost of the shipping to consider.
@@DisBlaineand I wanted to add. I do miss the backstories and the accessories that come with that. We do not have dolls with backstories here and can get about half of our generations products. However, that's a huge improvement to a couple of years ago.
Hi Blaine I was wondering if you have a favourite doll outfit (bot counting Tiana, or any Claudie outfits. You have mentioned favourite loll rankings as well as favourite historical that you own. Is there an outfit whether historical or not that is your fav, (no Claudie molds). Im guessing a Courtney outfit, but I could be wrong. ps is there an outfit you do not own your chasing?
@@1964chopper my fave historical outfit is Rebecca’s newest Hanukkah outfit. I did a video sharing my fave outfit from each historical doll a few months back-and one day I’ll do my top 5 outfits of all (once I have the ones I’m missing lol)
I’m very frustrated ordering products from American Girl because of so many delays with their shipping. I’m waiting now for a doll and it’s going on 3 weeks 😳 Now I tend to buy from 3rd party vendors because of several issues with AG.
@@luvlyleo2836 whoa really???? I must admit I’m lucky with shipping from them. I usually have my order in a few days after it ships. That’s wild to hear- I wonder what they’re doing with your stuff!! Do you call to find out? I’m sure you do.
I don’t order from the store anymore. I prefer to save a buy from a doll artist that I like . But yes they want our orders and our money but we can get the berry points that’s not very fair money is money. And then when we buy from a person from theUS we have to hope that they will be kind enough to want to ship it over to us . And I’m in Montreal Ontario I find have more collectors . :(
@@manuelamedeiros7059 ouch Quebec collectors usually have a harder time collecting. Is it still the law that French font needs to be bigger than English font on packaging? That’s how Disney collectors told me it was when we had Disney stores here.
Wow I'm really bummed American Girl did that. You did earn those points if if not more than most Americans because of how much more you have to spend to get the stuff. That's a real bummer. I hope American Girl changes those policies because that's not fair. They are making a lot of money off of people in other countries being fans of their dolls. That's so disappointing to hear. And I'm glad you shared your truth We need to start shining a light on these billionaire companies and what they're doing to the average customer.
And I'm saying this as an American who is hoping American Girl comes across this and does better. I'm already disappointed with Disney I hope Mattel doesn't start to sour my feelings too. It already upset me with the way the etsy community was treated. Yeah maybe it was a bot but they can do better and make their bots do better.
You know and honestly American girl should definitely see y'all as a benefit to their community. If anything the stock photos are not selling the dolls as well as they should. There's been quite a few dolls that we didn't think we liked until we saw them on your channel. You are literally advertising for free for them. Ugh this is just such a bummer. Sorry I keep harping on this. I'm just really sad they did this to you and keep doing this to you. Not only are they stealing your rewards but they're also stealing your time because you have to keep calling them to tell them to treat you better. That's sad.
Also I just want you to know that wasn't Diva behavior. That was you asking to be treated with respect as a collector who advertises for free for them.
OMG I can't believe she said it's an American girl😮😮😮😮😮😮
No matter how nice she sounded when she said it she meant it mean I'm an American I know what she meant. That's like bless your heart type of comment. I'll bet anything that she got afraid that a manager would hear back that call. Holy moly. 😢
Can you tell I comment throughout your videos while the part happens😂😂😂
Blaine: Technically you ARE in North America and we down south of you is the USA
@@gingerdean1521 truthfully, outside Canada, many people don’t know much about us-even our geographical location lol.
My two bits as a fellow Canadian'. I have dropped a lot of money with AG for the last nearly thirty years so i have tried it all.
Hiwever, o think i can clarify why AG is so anal about the Berry Points. Their hands are pretty much tied by the IRA if you would believe it. They don't want to be audited and, from what I have heard, with good reason.
It is a BIT like the lotteries. So there's that.
The second issue is that AG does not sell some of their coveted items in Canada.
It started under the Trudeau government, and it is OUR import and duty laws we have to thank for that.
Any item that features wood, or feathers, sea shells, wicker,straw etc. are forbidden for us to import. Now a friend can send you an outfit but if they listed one of the above products, customs would refuse them, too. It has to do with agriculture and diseases. It is REALLY farfetched but that's what it is. AG most likely has to submit for inspection a long list of items.
So as frustrating as it is AG's hands are tied to some extent.
It gets even crazier since everything is originally from China. I have enough reasons to want an election in Canada, but there's another. Lol. Don't get me started.
Lastly, i am not sure if AG pulled out of Canada for lack of profits or due to an end of partnership with Indigo. I have NO idea, and i doubt the AG employees do, either.
Hope this clarifies a few issues. I do apologize for how long my post is.
@@lisbetsoda4874 awww don’t apologize, the long post was full of valuable info! I don’t remember if I mentioned that some of it is Canadian laws (branching off of how we can’t participate in American sweepstakes for example) but I’m surprised I don’t have issues being a circle rewards member at target but can’t order LE dolls from AG. It’s all so strange!
Not related to the video. Got my Addie and Claudie dolls. Now my son and I are reading Claudie's book. Also mad I didn't buy Addie's birthday outfit when I went to the store. Now it is sold out in store and online.
@@ladero01 oh no! Her birthday outift is sold out in stores too?? That’s terrible. The Kirsten doll was on back order last I looked, so there’s a TINY chance the outfits will replenish? But when these were released, they specifically said it would be limited release (not edition)
I don’t know if you mentioned it in the video - I didn’t watch the whole thing - but I’m wondering, where did you get that surfer outfit that was on your Truly Me 104 before you changed his clothes? I love that surfer outfit it would be great for one of my dolls - I have many boy dolls and I feel like 90 percent of outfits put out by companies are so girly
@@AmericanGirlBigFan it’s on sale right now, so hopefully links work:
www.target.com/p/sophia-s-18-doll-surf-shirt-floral-print-swim-trunks-orange/-/A-89677739#lnk=sametab
oh i hope you don’t stop Doll Collecting with American Girl 🫶☪️
i will say everytime i call AG Customer Service .. i always press #1 … i recently had a order & got them today & both of the advent calendars box’s were damaged .. so this time i did # 2 .. & it was a foreign person ..could not understand what they were saying
so from now on .. i will always be doing #1 on customer service lol
sorry for your struggle .. that is a pain & maybe if enough people complain they will change things
i do believe they listen to You Tube Doll Collectors on here
@@stephaniefriend9912 oh! I thought pressing 1 was for an already existing order and 2 was for a new order! I think it was just a coincidence you got dispatched to someone who speaks multiple languages. I made a phone order only once and pressed 2 without that happening.
But yes AG resolved my issue, so everything is good… for now 👻