A Second Look at Seconds
Food For Thought About American Girl Benefit Sale Dolls
Once a year in July the Madison Children’s Museum puts on their largest fundraiser, the American Girl Doll Benefit Sale. Several thousand shoppers come to buy AG products at deep discounts out of a local warehouse. Most items are about 50% off. My American Girl Dolls were as low as $40 and Bitty Babies as low as $25. Undeniably great deals, but you have to factor in the costs of tickets, transportation, hotel, and an entire day of standing in line with no guarantee that any particular item you want will be available. If you do it right, it is worth it. Otherwise, it might just be an “experience” thing.
The dolls and items are store returns, factory seconds which have minor flaws, refurbished dolls, and overstocks. The dolls are sold as-is, and there are no returns or exchanges. Theoretically, every doll sold is looked over by a volunteer to make sure they are in good shape. The dolls are dressed but they are usually missing accessories like bands and fasteners to hold the dolls in place, hair nets, books, charms, activity games, etc. Dolls are marked with an “X” on their butt to differentiate them from full retail dolls. The X may be light or thick and dark, but is usually about the same size shown below.
