11 Tips to Save on American Girl Dolls & Accessories
Never pay full price for American Girl!
If you have a little girl in your household who loves playing with dolls, you have probably heard about the American Girl brand – especially the infamous AG dolls. And you have likely seen the price tag and may have cringed a little, too. 😳 While the brand has made a name for itself over the years, it is pretty darned expensive.
The good news? There are ways to save! If you have an American Girl fan in your household and are looking for ways to save on this popular but expensive brand, we’re sharing our money-saving tips to help you save.
1. Consider buying look-alike dolls first.
First off, if you’re not 100% sure if your child will enjoy an American Girl doll (retailing for $115 or more), consider checking out the knock-off brand 18″ dolls on the market first! There are many very similar brands which may work just fine if your child doesn’t insist on American Girl.
For instance, you can purchase a Springfield Collection 18″ poseable dolls at Hobby Lobby for just $13.19 after a 40% off coupon (regularly $21.99), or an Our Generation doll starting at $24.99 (or less when on sale) at Target – and they both look very similar to the pricier American Girl dolls! Talk about big savings!
Hip Tip: If you have a little one who’s not quite ready for a full-size American Girl doll, consider buying a Mini doll set before emptying your wallet. Walmart and Amazon often offer discounts on the 6″ or 6.5″ American Girls Collection Mini Dolls with books for around $15-$20 each (regularly priced at $24.99).
2. Buy a used doll and give her a “makeover.”
If you’re able to find a pre-loved doll (ask a friend or look on Craigslist, ebay, or at a local thrift shop) that only needs a new arm, eye, limb, or just a thorough cleaning, you’ll be able to save a ton instead of buying brand new. That’s because the American Girl Store has a Doll Hospital offering a variety of services to get your doll feeling better and looking like new (as an idea, an eye replacement costs $28, and new limbs or a new torso costs $34).
A team of doll doctors will examine your doll and decide on a treatment to fix her “injuries” – everything from a thorough cleaning, to hair brushing or limb tightening – and even major “surgery.” You can also choose to have additional services done during her stay, such as a wellness visit, ear piercing, or adding a hearing aid.
How to admit your American Girl doll:
- Complete the Doll Hospital Admittance Form (US or Canada).
- Prepare your American Girl doll for a visit to the hospital (detailed instructions are on the form).
- Choose whether you want to have ears pierced (18″ dolls only). For $16, their doll doctors can pierce ears and send home mix-and-match studs and dangle earrings.
- Choose whether you want to add a hearing aid (18″ American Girl dolls only). For $14, their doll doctors will expertly fit a removable, doll-sized hearing aid in one or both ears.
After your doll is discharged, your doll will be on her way home with these items:
- Certificate of Good Health
- Get Well card
- Doll Hospital gown (plus a cap for Bitty Baby and socks for 18″ and WellieWishers dolls)
- Doll Hospital ID bracelet (ID Bracelet not included with Bitty Baby/Twins for safety reasons)
Check out this Doll Hospital review from a Hip2Save sidekick:
“We are third generation owners of an American Girl doll. We recently sent my daughter’s doll to the Doll Hospital (it was missing a leg and had drawings on the back). We opted to do the full body replacement since it was nearly the same price as the leg. Our grand total was $55.20 ($44 for body, $7.95 shipping and processing, $3.25 tax)! -Stacy
3. Sign up for AG Rewards.
If you shop for American Girl items often, it’s definitely worth joining the free AG Rewards Program. You’ll earn one point for every $1 you spend and will receive a $10 rewards certificate via email for every 200 points earned! You can earn up to a maximum of $50 in rewards certificates per month and $500 in rewards certificates per membership anniversary year. The points definitely add up!
You’ll earn points for ALL regular, sale, and clearance merchandise purchased online, by phone or in American Girl retail stores, AND even on purchases made at the American Girl Bistro. Plus, members can earn reward points for leaving product reviews (five points for every review, with a maximum of up to 30 points per year).
Other benefits include:
- Birthday wishes and a special gift!
- First to Know: Early updates about new products, ideas, and more.
- Moments That Matter: Special experiences created for AG Rewards members.
- Early Sales Alerts: Be the first to learn about new offers.
- Bonus Benefits: New ideas and stories to inspire girls.
Rewards program tiers:
Silver (spend $0-$349/year):
- $1 = 1 point
- 200 points = $10 Reward
- Birthday gift your girl (i.e. free bracelet)
- Moments that Matter
Gold (spend $350-$699/year):
- $1 = 1.25 points
- 200 points = $10 Reward
- Birthday gift your girl (i.e. free bracelet)
- Moments that Matter
- First to Know
- Early Sales Alerts
Berry (spend $700+/year):
- $1 = 1.5 points
- 200 points = $10 Reward
- Birthday gift your girl (i.e. free bracelet)
- Moments that Matter
- First to Know
- Early Sales Alerts
- Bonus Benefits
- VIP Surprise
- Free Tiara with any Doll Hair Salon purchase ($5 value)
4. Subscribe to American Girl emails.
Want to be the first to know about the latest AG in-store sales and online promotions? Be sure to sign up for the American Girl email newsletter! As an email subscriber, you’ll get special access to promotions and premium content, as well as early notification of new products – right to your inbox!
Also, the American Girl brand is heavily active across all social media platforms, so be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest and greatest news. Plus, they often have giveaways and sweepstakes opportunities where you can enter to win fun prizes just for commenting on their page.
5. Request a free American Girl catalog for coupons.
Be sure to sign up to receive a free American Girl catalog in the mail as they are filled with fun items that any American Girl fan would enjoy browsing through. Occasionally, you may even find coupons attached to the catalog, such as 20% off a qualifying purchase or possibly a special deal on dolls. You can also request a free catalog by calling 1-800-845-0005 or by sending a letter to:
American Girl
P.O. Box 620497
Middleton, WI 53562-0497
6. Shop the AG store sales (and online).
You can often score nice savings on accessories, furniture, clothing, and occasionally dolls whenever you shop during a sale, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. Plus, they often offer online promo codes or sales to save on shipping – or deals where you can add discounted outfits with a qualifying purchase.
Also, in years past, the American Girl Store and online hosts a Black Friday Sale and Cyber Monday Sale where you can save up to 60% off American Girl books, accessories, clothing, and more! This would be a great time to stock up on various items and accessories for your doll at a deep discount.
HAPPY NOTE – American Girl wants YOU to be happy. 😊 SO, if for ANY reason you aren’t happy with your American Girl purchase, they’ll try to find a way to make it right by offering either an exchange, merchandise credit, or refund within TWO years of purchase. Note that shipping and processing fees are non-refundable.
7. In the military? Get 15% off at retail stores.
If you’re in the military, you may be happy to know that American Girl provides a 15% discount for all U.S. active duty military, retirees, veterans, military spouses, and dependents. This discount is exclusively available at all American Girl retail locations and can be applied to a broad assortment of AG products.*
*Excludes the following: online and catalog purchases, gift cards, employee purchases, Doll Hospital services, hearing aid and ear-piercing services, American Girl magazine subscriptions, in-store parties, dining, and food purchases, Doll Hair Salon and Create Your Own experiences, special event tickets, gift wrapping, shipping and processing, and sales tax.
Also, American Girl has a relationship with the Navy Exchange (NEX), which sells a curated assortment of their products at approximately 13 NEX locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. Plus, you can find WellieWisher products through select Army and Airforce Exchange Service (AAFES) and Marine Corp Exchange (MCX) locations.
8. Buy AG items at Kohl’s and earn Kohl’s Cash.
If you have a Kohl’s nearby, you can grab select American Girl dolls and accessories, available in-store only. Note that you cannot use promo codes or coupons on these dolls, but you can use and earn Kohl’s Cash during an earning period to get back Kohl’s Cash to buy other American Girl items!
The selection and prices of the dolls at Kohl’s will vary, BUT if you are looking to spend any earned Kohl’s Cash and earn Kohl’s Cash for your purchase, be sure to head there first before paying full-price! Plus, Kohl’s also carries American Girl Wellie Wisher dolls in-store only.
Hip Tip – Check out these money-saving tips before shopping at Kohl’s!
9. Watch for sales on American Girl at Costco.
Also, if you’re a Costco shopper, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for deals on various American Girl Doll Sets that include a doll, outfits, and a book at a huge discount (note that these savings may be seasonal; prices will vary). You can also usually find great deals on other American Girl craft sets, baby doll sets, and more.
Hip Tip: Don’t have a Costco membership? Check out these 8 ways you can shop at Costco or Sam’s Club without a membership!
10. Save on clothing for your 18″ dolls.
If you’re looking for new accessories or clothing, consider buying any brand clothing for 18″ dolls and it will cost less and should fit any American Girl doll. In fact, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joann’s Craft Stores sell 18″ doll clothes and shoes, so you can buy during a sale and/or with a coupon to score big savings on doll clothing and accessories.
Also, Zulily, an online shopping site, occasionally offers up to 70% off select Dollie & Me Outfits. These doll outfits fit American Girl 18″ dolls perfectly and they’re friendlier on your wallet, too.
And, if you’re able to get your hands on preemie baby clothing, rumor has it that those items will fit 18″ American Girl dolls perfectly, allowing for big savings! Time to hit the garage sales or thrift shops!
Check out how Hip2Save sidekick Jami saved on doll clothing:
“Above is my daughter’s American girl doll in a Hobby Lobby Marigold Market outfit – with an Our Generation horse and barn. 😂 The dress was a tiny bit snug in the back, but the vest covered it up. I paid $7.79 for the outfit after using a 40% off coupon (regularly $12.99) and only $1.99 for the hat.” -Jami
11. Book hotel packages for a free doll bed.
Making a special trip to attend an American Girl event or visit a store? Whenever you book an American Girl package and stay at a partner hotel, your doll will get VIP treatment and an exclusive American Girl doll bed where she can sleep – and your girl will be able to take the bed home with her for free, too! Call the hotel directly to ask about special packages and rates for American Girl visitors.
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your American Girl fan but don’t want to travel far, consider signing up for various classes and events at your local American Girl store. In addition to an hour of fun with your doll, events may include a goody bag or sweet treats. Prices will vary and most events require reservations.
Hip Tip: Williams Sonoma has also partnered with American Girl to offer fun events and cooking classes for a small fee, usually several times a year. They even sell exclusive American Girl bakeware items!
Thanks! We purchased a Target Our Generation doll for our 5 year old last Christmas. She loves it and plays with it often. They also have cute outfits
Awesome! Glad to hear that! 🙂
Thanks and Gig ‘Em, Mary! XOXO from Aggieland
Hi and Gig ‘Em to you too, Ali! 👍🏻 😊
Yard sales and thrift shops to find the dolls! My daughter is still too young for the big dolls, but I got one for $5 at a yard sale for when she is older! And my kids have 4 bitty babies- one for $2 and another for $1 at yard sales. $3 for one at a thrift shop, and the other one was like $25 on eBay! I’ve been sewing clothes for them.
Wow!! That’s amazing! My 10 year old want an American Girl but they cost too much for me and I haven’t found used yet! She’s had the Walmart, Target, and Hobby Lobby brands and loves them but want the American Girl now. My 2 year old wants a bitty baby! They, too, cost too much. So, I’d love to find deals like you did!
Amber, could you message me. My girls have 16 AG dolls. I may be able to help you out. Tsharae@gmail.com
Wow, that’s awesome!
My daughter is 10 years old and just out grew AG. We just listed a lot of items for sale on our neighborhood FB page. We are keeping the dolls, though…there used to be a warehouse sale in Wilmot, WI but they just closed their warehouse. These are great ideas to save!
If you live in the Midwest this sale is amazing. I used to shop for my nieces that love American Girl. Steepest discounts you can find on select American Girl dolls. Yes you have to buy a ticket but I found it was totally worth the cost!
We love visiting the outlet store in OshKosh Wisconsin. We hve found amazing deals there. We also find a lot at garage sales. My daughter also loves to buy newborn clothes cheaply and dress her bitty baby. She has had her bitty baby for over 9 years and it is still her favorite toy. If you are on the fence, I would rather spend the price on one or two American Girl items than buy multiple smaller priced gifts. And even with playing with it from age 1-9.5, it is still in immaculate condition!
They closed the outlet store in Oshkosh about 2 years ago 🙁
Costco by me also sells AG gift cards – $100 value for $80. Combine that with AG sales/coupons, and it’s a pretty decent deal.
I buy AG’s quite often at thrift stores. I’ve never paid more than $3-$4 for them and have even purchased som for 49 cents a doll! I watched a few YouTube videos and did some trial and error myself and learned how to fix skin discoloration, hair, and other issues. I’ve given maybe 50 away as gifts, but sometimes I just buy them, repair them, dress them , and donate again so some little girl can have a near mint doll for a couple of dollars. I occasionally buy off brands, but usually just AG.
Pinterest has TONS of DIY ideas. If you have a sewing machine, there are lots of patterns.
I have made several AG doll sleeping bags, bean bag chairs and tents. The sleeping bags and bb chairs were really easy.
I also saw a cat tent at 5Below that would work as a AG doll tent.
For those of you whom may like a summer road trip, every year the Madison (Wisconsin) Children’s Museum holds the American Girl Benefit Sale. It is usually in July – you can find more information on their web site madisonchildrensmuseum.org. They receive American Girl products, including dolls, book, clothing, and accessories that are overflow, returns, and retired merchandise. They benefit as the proceeds from the sale help the museum and of course we benefit to get great prices on American Girl items. Their Truly Me dolls usually sell for $50-60 and their historic dolls and GOTY go for $80-$100. On Sunday, they mark things down even more. You do need tickets to enter the sale, and the ticket sales begin April 1. It is really a great time. They have TONS of merchandise in the warehouse! Hope that helps others who are looking for AG items at a reasonable cost!
My library allows patrons to check out these dolls with the corresponding book. Perhaps this is available at other libraries as well.
American Girl dolls are only popular because of cliche that their name carries. My daughters have 7 American Girl dolls and I’d say that Gotz dolls are higher quality, more realistic looking, and don’t cost any more than AG dolls. We even prefer cheaper Journey dolls and Newberry dolls over American Girl dolls.
To be specific, Gotz Hannah is hands down the best doll around. Gotz Happy Kidz have movable limbs (hard to make them stand due to balance but fun to play with) and are nice dolls too. My daughters have both.
I have ordered all of my daughters doll accessories on Wish for no more than $3 a piece (usually $1 an item with $2 shipping). The quality is pretty good but you do have to wait for the order to come in. I was able to get some really cute outfits, some including shoes, and she has a blast changing her dolls outfits to match the weather outside.
My 8 year old played with ag dolls maybe 2 years so she lost interests recently since LoL dolls. They are really good quality dolls compared to other brands. I wasnt sure before but when you actually hold it, it feels quite nice. I loved getting doll accessories at target unless there was sale at american girl website. All clothes from joann or hobby lobby ripped really easily. American girl brand and target brand clothing and accessories are definitely better quality.
How do i know if my American girl hair is ruined and she needs a head replacement and are the American girl dolls supposed to be able on their own?
stand
Love looking at every different doll in sifferent settings. I would like telephone number. I am 90 and have a doll I believe is AG. I need leg arttached and she speaks and need battery and really straighten her out. My Great Granddaughter absolutely loves her and I want to fix it so I can give it to her asap I would be happy to send you a picture and send her to be fixed. Your ads seem reasonable and perhaps you can fix her up.
I DON’T GET ANYTHING!!!! … probably because I am just a kid
I really want a American girl doll.