The announcement that American Girl is archiving their star Samantha doll has caused an outpouring of emotion for doll lovers of all ages. When the announcement first came out, I ordered my Samantha and Nellie dolls because I was unsure of how long they would still be around – I am now glad I did.
According to the American Girl website, Samantha is backordered until December 18. And while I suppose you could still order her – especially if you are not buying it as a Christmas gift, I wonder how many are really coming in at that time. Last week I called the American Girl New York store to order a Bitty Baby for my niece. The one I wanted was on back order according to the web site and I happen to know that that is not tied to the stock in the stores. My personal shopper was able to get me the right Bitty Baby from the New York store stock so I asked her about Samantha, too. She said that they only have a few left in the store and expected to be sold out by the end of the weekend.
So, if you haven’t already got the Samantha and Nellie items you are looking for, what do you do?
- Check the American Girl website – there is free shipping until November 25 anyhow
- Call the individual American Girl stores – ask for someone in personal shopping. If they have it on the store shelves, they will ship it directly to you
- Check eBay. While there are some ridiculously greedy people selling on eBay, there are also many more who are fair and you can still get your doll and her items at a reasonable price. (Here is a custom eBay search page just for American Girl doll items)
UPDATE 12/9/08 – a friend was at the American Girl Place store in New York and reports that the Samantha display is no longer there and Samantha is sold out in the store. Ebay seems to be the best option for gettinig the retired Samantha and Nellie items now.
firstie!!!
see tht was ags plan they needed more money and samatha wasnt selling so they said they are retiring her then ppl start buying her like crazy and shes already sold out most likely they’ll bring her back all new
i agree because they did that t felicity sooo…………….
I agree Asleigh but im not taking any chances!
Great post – I agree completely.
She’s not gone you can still buy her of the website. either with her accessories or nellie and her accessories
The free shipping ends the 29th (just for clarity
)
wow people will REALLY miss her!!!!!!!!!
this is so depressing…
lol!
purpleness-what do you mean they did it to felicity?
im hoping i get ag doll nellie for my birthday from my grandma.(my birthdays on december 2!)
Busytown Caretaker- they had Felicity out for about 13 years. Then all of a sudden, her sales went down sharply and American Girl made the decision to retire her. And guess what?? A year later, Felicity came back out!!! They just gave her a new Meet Outfit and Elizabeth, of course. I guess that could possibly mean a new Samantha… Oh no.
wow. that is about all i can say is wow.
yep.
sometimes i hate christmas because ALL of my family members brag about what they got me and i get mad sometimes.
i ordered mias bed accessories
coolio!
i wanted mias bed accessories but decided to get another doll instead. i really hope i get doll stuff from my grandma or my friends virginia and alison. virginia and alison are sisters and just love dolls. V has kit and Al has kirsten. we are going to have a sleepover for my birthday(just 8 days!) and might have a doll sleepover too.
and purpleness-i am so stealing your word coolio! lol!
I don’t think that Samantha will come back i njust one year. They said they are retireing her to make room for new historicals, perhaps one from around Samantha’s time. They also said that she is the FIRST to move in the ‘American Girl Archives’ – That means more could be added.
Also – IMO – Felicity’s next.
Also, even though Felicity came back – most of her old collection remained retired… so if Samantha does come back (I think it would be years till she does) most of her collection wont.
are u sure busytownpeep you might want to steal my other friend’s word; awesomeness
Hey guys COOLIO was already a word by some hip hop guy.
yea i realized felicity wasnt described in the catalouge- she was probably already retired at the time, thats when i became an ag fan, and then she came back- i knew something was up……
Well, Ellie, the ironic thing about Felicity is that she came back THE VERY NEXT YEAR, so I’m not sure whether or not Samantha will be back in one year, or one hundred years, lol
Either way, my friend’s wanting to get her immediately. How well it worked out, I’m not sure lol 
Hey Everyone!I haven’t been on for like EVER!!!! You probably don’t remeber me…=( i am the person who nobody believed me about requesting an AGP in Lacey,Washington.Anywho my friend wants a Samantha doll for Christmas and Ruthie for Her birthday(her birthday is new years eve).I told her good luck on trying to get samantha.I mean 10 out of 15 outfits are retired!I sooo have to get felicity’s collection and HOPE she is not going to get retired! she better not!TTYL!
-AGFan4ever-
P.S. go to http://www.ourdolls.net or click on my name to see a really cool website. BTW I dont own the website i just really like it and think it is cool!
i meant sold out outfits…he he!
it is really 10:09 here in washington!
well i’m still using coolio.
im sick :p hey wat chat r we chatting on lol
I bought Samantha and Nellie’s winter coats, and Nellie’s pajamas. I also got Kirsten’s winter outfit, but that’s off topic. I already have both dolls and accessories, and a lot of my stuff is pre mattel too because I got Samantha when I was little. My parents are getting me her pink robe and slippers, and my aunt is getting me Nellie’s spring outfit. I already have all her other dresses besides a few I didn’t want, such as her Piney Point outfit or Samantha’s spring party dress. I really wanted her mohair teddy bear but it sold out before I could buy it…I will have to look for it on ebay I suppose. I will miss Sam so much!!! But what character could replace her??
I agree with you 100% Caitlin!What charcter could replace Samantha!?Her things are being sold out left and right actually i am going to check right now to see if anything else has been sold out…..
ill take awesomeness too! lol! im always trying out new words and big words. me and my bff love the word abysmal-and joke about each others abysmal heads!
I can’t believe they are taking Samatha away. Why? She is the most popular AG character.
AgFan4ever’s right: ourdolls.net ROCKS. BTW, on message board if anyone gets on there I’m Abbie, K?
hello, you might be making a mistake because it says right on american girl .com
that samantha is being backordered until january 9 2009 and i really dont think that makes cense well, i want to ask for her for christmas but i cant send in my
letter yet because the santas mailboxes arent up yet! i am even thinkin of buying her myself.
please reply, thank you!
Carly,
AG says that Samantha is Backordered until May 1, 2009 now. AG should not be doing this! It is going to make their business go down and people are going to be very upset!
-AGFan4ever
P.S. Go to http://www.ourdolls.net
no actually it makes buisness go up it was backordered bc so many ppl r buying cause theyre afraid shell be gone they r making millions off one doll
I looked at the AG shop last night, and there was only one way to buy Nellie – and that was the Nellie doll and hardcover book. I almost fell off my seat, since I just got Samantha a few weeks ago and was really hoping to get Nellie for christmas. I stayed up until 4:00 in the morning trying to complete my christmas list so I could give it to my parents in the morning, but I had to go to sleep sadly. I wish I have Nellie in my arms right now – but she is sold out! All because I waited ONE NIGHT. 24 hours later, and she is all sold out. Hopefully I will call the AG place to see if they still have her. But if not, I guess I will just have to try Ebay. I will definitely not give up though!
This is so sad I thought Samantha was going to stay FOREVER!!! Well, I guess they have to make room for more dolls… TTYL
(TALK TO YOU LATER!)
oh, if you want to sign uit the link is my name.
Thanks for signing all who did !
Char……. can I send photos of my American Girl Dolls? I have Molly, Mia, Nellie, Samantha, Emily, Kirsten, and a mini Julie doll. I can take lots of photos of them and have lots. I have lots of pictures of them wearing American Girl Doll clothing…. The 2 in 1 Ballerina Set, The Velveteen Coat Set, Emily’s Tap Dance Costume, & Molly’s Miss Victory Tap Dance Costume. My newest ones are Samantha, Kirsten, & Emily…… I got them all for Christmas 2008. I also got my AG doll clothing….. all of it…….. for Christmas 2008. I wish AG didn’t try to retire Samantha & Nellie!
They rock! 
Sienna-
I signed your petition just now!!!
I luv Ag dolls especcialy Mia. But I miss Samantha really really bad!