the Costco Connoisseur: American Girl

Showing posts with label American Girl. Show all posts

Friday, November 18, 2016

Costco Holiday 2016: AmericanGirl Dolls, Books and Accessories are back!

The holiday toys have already been in Costco Warehouses for weeks, but now that we are just one week away from Thanksgiving I feel like I can finally talk about toys without cringing.

Instead of trying to cover ALL of the amazing deals on toys that a Costco has, I've decided to compartmentalize them into subcategories and have several shorter posts instead of one massively long post. The first up in this series of 2016 Holiday Toys are AmericanGirl dolls, books, accessories, play sets, and crafting kits that are available at Costco Warehouses and Costco.com.

If you are not familiar with AmericanGirl Dolls see my post from last year and then explore AmericanGirl.com. Then read on to see the AmericanGirl items Costco is carrying this year at incredible savings.

The AmericanGirl 18" Samantha Parkington Doll Set, from the historical BeForever collection, comes with 1 book, 1 pink polkadot dress, 1 red party dress and 1 white fancy coat. Purchasing these items separately on AmericanGirl.com will set you back approximately $183, but this special set available at Costco costs 34% LESS!

The AmericanGirl Bitty Baby Set is available in several different skin, eye and hair color combinations and is made up of 12-pieces including the doll. This Costco bundle costs 38% LESS than if you were to purchase a Bitty Baby Doll and the similar "Bringing Home Bitty Collection" of accessories from AmericanGirl.com for $160.

The AmericanGirl Horse & Saddle Set, which includes the horse, saddle, bridle, and blanket, is priced 33% LESS at Costco, PLUS you get three bonus accessories: an apple, a brush and carrots!

The AmericanGirl Sleepover Set (for 18" AmericanGirl Dolls) includes a pajama top & shorts outfit, slippers, sleeping bag and matching pillow, popcorn bowl, 2 faux drinks, mini magazine, mini book and min board game. To buy similar items from AmericanGirl.com you would pay over $80, but this special Costco bundle costs 50% LESS!

Each AmericanGirl BeForever Mini Doll and Book Set includes 3 books, 1 mini doll with stand and 1 exclusive bookmark. This special Costco bundle costs 40% LESS than the retail price of purchasing the mini doll, books and stand separately from AmericanGirl.com. Each BeForever AmericanGirl is from a specific historical time period.

Melody is a talented singer growing up in a musical family in 1964.

Rebecca is a confident and inspiring Jewish girl growing up in 1914.

Josephina is a caring and hopeful Mexican girl growing up in 1824.

Kit is a resourceful tomboy growing up in 1934.

Maryellen is an inventive and ambitious girl growing up in 1954.

Julie is a spiritied and athletic girl growing up in 1974.

Samantha is a bight and compassionate girl being raised by her grandmother in 1904.

The AmericanGirl Activity Book and Plush Pet Sets each include 1 plush pet, 1 book, 1 pet-house craft, 1 pet toy, 2 treat bowls, 1 placemat and stickers. This Costco bundle costs 44% LESS than the retail cost!

The AmericanGirl Isabelle's Ballet Recital Set by Mega Bloks costs 28% LESS at Costco!

This item is also available on costco.com.

The AmericanGirl 8-in-1 Fashion Accessory Super Activity Set costs approximately 65% LESS at Costco compared to what it would cost to purchase each of these craft sets individually. This item is also available on costco.com.

Costco also carries an assortment of AmericanGirl craft kits, each $24.99.

The Doll Pets Kit lets you create and display your own pet spa.

The Doll Boutique Kit lets you create and display your own doll boutique.

The Doll School Kit lets you create school crafts for your AmericanGirl Doll.

The Lea Clark 2016 Girl of the Year Kit lets you make crafts inspired by travel adventures.

The AmericanGirl Ultimate Visual Guide expanded edition is 40% LESS than the cover price at Costco! This hardback book all about the AmericanGirl story is also available on costco.com for $19.99.

The AmericanGirl Ultimate Sticker Collection is 38% LESS than the cover price at Costco!

And last but not least, if you can't chose, or if you want to let the gift receipiant chose, you can always pick up AmericanGirl Gift Cards at Costco. Save 20% and get TWO $50 gift cards, or FOUR $25 gift cards for only $79.99! Check the gift card area or toy section of your Costco Warehouse.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more 2016 Costco Holiday Toy Highlights featuring Lego, Star Wars, Super Heroes and more!

Until next time,

the Costco Connoisseur

#GoingToAllTheCostcos

P.S. - Selections and prices listed above will vary from different Costco locations.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Save on American Girl at Costco!

American Girl dolls were created by former educator and reporter Pleasant Rowland, and were first released in 1986 under the the company she founded, Pleasant Company. Inspired by her love of history the original doll characters were each designed in a specific time period and included their own series of books, outfits & accessories and even doll furniture that aimed to teach girls about American history through the perspective of each doll. Kirsten - a Swedish immigrant living in 1854 America, Samantha - an orphan growing up in 1904 New York, and Molly - a girl growing up during World War II in 1944, made up the original three dolls. Over the years additional historical dolls were added including a Native American girl (Kaya from 1764), a Mexican girl (Josefina from 1824), and two African American girls (Addy from 1864, and Cecile from 1854). In 1995 Pleasant Company expanded the doll line to include more contemporary dolls, including the Girl of Today line (now called Truly Me) that consists of dozens of different dolls with different combinations of hair color & texture, different eye colors, and different skin tones so girls can choose a doll that looks most similar to themselves. In 1998 Pleasant Company was sold and became a subsidiary of Mattel. American Girl dolls are marketed for girls aged 8-12 while the Bitty Baby line of infant baby dolls are designed for younger children (age 3 and up). Bitty Baby dolls are slightly smaller and cost less than the pricer American Girl Dolls.

The much beloved and acclaimed American Girl dolls have been enchanting young girls* for nearly 3 decades, but they have often been criticized for being too expensive with a single doll now costing $115+ and additional doll outfits costing a staggering $24-$42 each. But now, through Costco you can scoop up a historical doll (now dubbed BeForever dolls), gift cards and various American Girl play sets for 20%-30% OFF the retail price!

*including me! As a young girl my grandmother bestowed upon me Samantha, Molly & Kirsten, their book sets, and of course outfits that matched my dolls clothes that I adored. My dolls and their books still reside in my room at my parents house, (albeit apparently all in need of a good dusting and Kirsten in need of some assistance standing up , lol).

Anyway, at Costco, for only $99.99, you get the 18" BeForever American Girl Caroline Abbott doll from 1812 (item #1011441). Caroline comes dressed in her classic pink empire-waist dress with matching shoes. Also included is her Captain of the Ship paperback book AND as a bonus you get Carolines ice-blue party gown with matching accessories! The Costco price represents approximately a 30% savings off the retail price of the doll with her book and an extra outfit.

For younger girls, the American Girl Bitty Baby Doll set (item #945090) comes with a 15" Bitty Baby, several mix & match outfits, a toy baby bottle, a toy rattle and the included satin suitcase keeps everything together. At just $99.99 the Costco price represents an approximate savings off more than 30% off the retail price for the doll and multiple outfits & accessories.

Avid readers will love the American Girl BeForever Mini Doll & Book Set (item #915614). Each set includes a 6" mini historical doll with stand, 3 full length books and an exclusive bookmark. Choose from Josefina (1824), Addy (1864), Samantha (1904), Rebecca (1914), Kit (1934) or Julie (1974). Each set is just $39.99.

Costco also carries a selection of American Girl craft and activity kits! The American Girl Pet-House Sets (item #915596) each come with a plush posable pet, a friends forever mini book, a build-a-pet-house craft, and pet accessories! Choose from Terrier, Pomeranian, Cocker Spaniel and Sheepdog. Each set is only $29.99.

The American Girl Read & Create craft kits (item #1008804) include a 30+ page idea book and accessories. Choose from Doll Pets to create a pet spa, Art Studio to create mini art work, Grace's Baking kit, and Doll Boutique. Each kit is $24.99.

You can also choose from three different American Girl activity kits: Doll Tees Felt Fashion, Doll Hair Salon, and Doll School. Each kit is only $9.49.

And of course Costco saves you 20% off the retail price with 4-packs of $25 American Girl gift cards (item # 995166, for a total value $100) for only $79.99!

Remember, selections vary by warehouse! If you don't see an item you want at your local warehouse ask an employee to look up the item number for you and you may be able to find what you are looking for at another nearby Costco warehouse.