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Denise's Doll Collecting Blog

By Denise Van Patten, About.com Guide to Doll Collecting since 1999

American Girl Samantha To Be Retired!

Monday October 13, 2008
I was just notified that Samantha, the popular American Girl doll, is being retired. The doll, plus all her accessories and clothing (all from the Victorian era) as well as Nellie, will no longer be available for purchase. The books about Samantha will continue in publication. The final date of availability on Samantha is not yet set. Samantha has been in production since 1986. For more information, and to share your stories of Samantha, you can visit American Girl Stories.

Comments

October 16, 2008 at 2:32 pm
(1) Nicole says:

This is sad news! I loved my Samantha doll growing up.
I guess now it will be a collectors item!

October 17, 2008 at 5:18 pm
(2) dollnana says:

I have been afraid Mattel would go this route since they purchased Pleasant Co.
I know their ‘updated’ outfits (rock star,etc.) and accessories di not go over well with some of the AG collectors I know. I was going to sell my granddaughter’s Samantha and Molly but I think now I will keep them since they were made before Mattel took over.
Sad,sad ,sad
Bonnie

October 22, 2008 at 9:17 pm
(3) Vera says:

I never had a American doll Samantha but I hope i will before it retires. the Samantha doll is so cute i love her brown hair and brown eyes. I have brown hair and brown eyes too and i think she can be my twin doll but she cant because there are probably people that look like Samantha more then me. She looks so peace full that if she was a real person she can make friends easily. I f any one finds a American girl Samantha doll less then $105 please e-mail me.
Sincerely, :(
Vera Bzhilyanskaya

October 23, 2008 at 5:51 pm
(4) Laura says:

This is pathetic. I just bought a Samantha doll. I had planned on buying the clothes gradually over time. There’s no way I can afford to buy even half of them by Christmas. I feel like I just wasted $100.

October 23, 2008 at 9:25 pm
(5) Vera says:

Your right. No one will be able to get the WHOLE Samantha doll Collection before it retires.:0. Shes like the cutest doll and Suddenly “POOF” just like that I see a message saying: The American girl doll Samantha, Is being retired.=0.
Sincerely,
Vera Bzhilyanskaya

November 10, 2008 at 7:23 pm
(6) Meg says:

I just found out.:( I agree with dollnana, what is Mattel thinking?! All of the dolls are wonderful; besides, Samantha has been around since the beginning, and she’s always been a big seller. What gives? I wish they’d change their minds and keep ALL the dolls around forever. I won’t be paying $600 for them on E-Bay. Thanks for letting me rant.

November 19, 2008 at 9:06 pm
(7) KayKay says:

I think Samantha was GREAT! I got her for Christmas one year and I LOVED her. She’s was a REALLY greaat doll. I hope they could keep her. :}

November 21, 2008 at 7:01 pm
(8) Lauren says:

Why would the retire a doll they’ve made a movie on?

She was one of the best ones! I can’t believe they aren’t making money off of her anymore!

She will always be near and dear to my heart as she was my first AG doll at age 8.

November 21, 2008 at 10:36 pm
(9) Samantha says:

Samantha is only being”achvied”. That means Samantha may come back another year as a limitied edition doll for one year. You know how the old Disney movies are taken away but then are showed again in tha limated edition? That is the same thing with Samantha.

November 30, 2008 at 8:35 am
(10) Emily says:

Bastards. That’s all i can say.

December 2, 2008 at 1:40 am
(11) Ashley says:

That’s so sad! I have all of the original American Girl dolls and Samantha was always my favorite. We were both “born” in 1986, haha. At least I have her already ^^…I used to read her books over and over.

December 11, 2008 at 12:36 am
(12) Mike says:

I know prices are on the rise for Samantha, but I found some good deals on Samantha dolls and accessories at http://www.american-girl.myauctionlinks.com/

January 17, 2009 at 2:06 pm
(13) Suzannah says:

Im so sad!I’ve had her since i was about 8!I loved her movie and everything she had!Which one will be next?

February 1, 2009 at 12:39 pm
(14) Caitlin says:

I’ve read all of your books.I am reading Changes For Samantha.I really like it poor Nellie.And Jenny and Bridget.Please don’t go!

March 7, 2009 at 12:26 pm
(15) Hailey says:

I will miss her soooooooo much. She is my favorite doll i read all of her books and i am getting her. my parents bought her for me for christmas but she is on back order till may. they ordered her in october.

March 13, 2009 at 12:14 pm
(16) Jessie says:

I just bought Samanatha for my granddaughter and now I can’t buy any clothes for her. My 7 granddaghter is very upset about. This is her first AG doll so she was very happy when she received now she can not clothes for her doll.

March 13, 2009 at 4:53 pm
(17) carmina says:

I was so upset and in shock to find out about discontinuing Samantha. She was my first Pleasant doll and was planning to purchase more of her clothes for my personal collection.
I wonder if this was public notice, I work in a mall were there is a store I never saw any notice. This is sad.

April 16, 2009 at 5:54 pm
(18) Dana Mattera says:

I’m so sad she is my favorite.

May 19, 2009 at 6:22 pm
(19) allie says:

i love my samantha doll!(im only 11) i really wish they wouldnt retire her .

May 22, 2009 at 5:02 pm
(20) Samantha says:

Awww, im only 11 and i got her 3 years ago

July 4, 2009 at 11:10 pm
(21) karahbug2000 says:

help!!!!!!!!!!! i have this american girl doll
and i dont know what she is

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