7 Big Influencers in American Girl Community (and how they're kinda toxic) w/ASL interpretation
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- Опубліковано 12 чер 2024
- What are your thoughts on these "iNfLuEnCeRs"? Have they had a positive or negative impact on you? Do you ever just have to tune them out? Are there any important influencers I overlooked? Keep it classy in the comments section ;)
-Kristie (agtakesover@gmail.com and @ag_takesover on IG) - Розваги
I think another toxic influence, that leans more toward new collectors, is feeling like you need to have a big collection right NOW to be "legitimate". It's similar to FOMO, in a way. Watching other collectors, seeing what they have, and feeling like you need to match their collections, even though you just start. This is something I struggle with, and I have to remind myself that people have taken *years* to collect what they have, and also... having one or two dolls does not make me less of a collector than someone who has twenty five.
This is a great one! I hate the idea that someone would watch my videos and feel their own collection is inadequate because it's smaller. To me, size is not what matters. Everyone has different resources (space, money, time, energy) and different GOALS (photography, diversity, detailed backstories and world-building, pretty displays, etc) and no one size or approach is inherently more valid. But I know sometimes ppl DO feel that way. As a collector with a large collection, I try to make it known I don't feel bigger is inherently better or worse. And for ppl with smaller collections, acknowledging that you might want a larger collection but that it can (and probably should) take time to get there...OR acknowledging that you don't want a larger collection could be helpful. Thanks for bringing up this point.
@@agtakesover 👋 Kristie, ur comment is so on point,I swear.Sometimes being completely honest I do feel jealous of AG collector's w/ huge Nycc collection's However I'm sure it takes time to reach that point # 💸 💸 💸 🤣🤣 Lol
My biggest vice with AG collecting is buying a doll without mulling over whether I genuinely want the doll for long enough. The longer I spend pining after a doll, the more gratifying it is to get them and the less likely I am to regret the purchase, but I've made this mistake too many times, buying on a whim and regretting it! Sales, good second hand deals, and the horrible day here and there are ALL drivers for these on a whim decisions, though!
Thank you for sharing your own struggles. I think this discussion is healthy and acknowledging (and repeating) things like "The longer I spend pining after a doll, the more gratifying it is to get them and the less likely I am to regret the purchase" can help. I'm also not opposed to arbitrary waiting periods (ex: if I still want it next month, I'll get it). In *any* collector community, these kinds of influencers can be healthy OR toxic and I hope we can encourage and support each other to keep them from becoming toxic. Too often I see someone acknowledge one of these factors has become toxic and instead of helping everyone laughs it off and says, "same" or "I'm even worse lol" :(
'track your doll spending' me---Oh no I don't want to know😂
For me, this is not only necessary but it also becomes really cool information to have. I can now look at four years of data and see how things have changed. For me the trick is entering any doll expenses almost immediately because it's too easy to forget otherwise.
LOLLL KRISTIEEEE THIS TITLEEEE😅had me like 👀 😗
Omg I loved everything about this. This is something I myself really wanted to touch on. I have recently found myself wanting a #4 and a #48 recently when I never even thought to add them to my collection before, but knowing how many people want her and how rare these dolls are now I have this sudden urge to find these dolls !! And that is being influenced at its finest ! I’m so guilty of the deals on Facebook marketplace. I’m on marketplace and eBay the most I can’t help myself! Sometimes I think “ I’ll delete this app I need to save money “ I think I made it like a week and than just found myself re downloading the app lol. Tracking my doll spending has helped me the most. $5,$10,$50 adds up soooo fast we all don’t even realize. FOMO omg I’m so glad you touched on this. This is something I struggle with most 😭lovedddd this video so relatable
LMAO you know I wouldn't be airing dirty laundry like that. I try to steer well clear of drama. (but if the title got some people to watch who wouldn't have otherwise, I'm not mad lol). Thank you for sharing which of these are struggles for you. I think it's such a healthy discussion and an important one. I'm glad to see a lot of ppl reflecting in the comments without being judgmental. And YES!!! Tracking spending is huge. My brain can rationalize a lot, but the spreadsheet tells no lies :)
Combining the Last Chance Sale with an AG sale or points multiplier was a big one for me. I loved the idea of a double discount. I ended up buying everything I could ever possibly want from the Last Chance Sale, and sold a lot of it on eBay after all because I really didn't want it, and I am done with that. They don't refill the Last Chance Sale often enough anyway. These are all great points, Kristie. Thanks for sharing!!
They definitely do NOT replenish the LCO very often. I feel like the end-of-year sale was really good this last time, but most of the things that went on sale that we wanted were things we already had. I think we picked up a stocking at 75% off. Whoopee lol
@@agtakesover Yes, the end of year sale was outstanding. It felt like they were trying to appease us for not having the benefit sale to look forward to. Congrats on your 75% off stocking. :)
These are all great points and I’ve seen most of them in the doll collecting community.
I’ve been an AG collector for 15 years. I think I’ve been pretty picky about what I add to my collection, but even I’ve run out of room. My joy in dolls is setting up scenes which I don’t to much anymore due to conflict in my house and sewing. Unfortunately, the outcome of my sewing is too many doll clothes. I’d love to sell them, but the business side of selling is off putting. Setting up an Etsy shop in my state requires a tax number and business license right away. Once I found that out I was out.
I also really enjoy scoring a great deal at a thrift store or antique store and I’ve had some great finds. Those mean more to me than some of AGs last chance sales.
The biggest influence that gets me is the bright new shiny toy. Especially on Instagram. It gets hard sometimes to resist but since I buy at the store, I have to wait and that usually dulls the edge by the time I get down there.
Great video! Lots of good points.
It sounds like you have a good strategy (buying in-store) and some obstacles (space and the conflict you mentioned) that keep some of these influences in check. Re: your excess of clothes, have you ever considered doing a "story sale" on your agig account?
So I’m not actually part of the ag doll community but I do collect a different doll and there’s definitely tons of negative influences in that community too. There’s 2 that I personally struggle with a lot and I thought I would share just because why not? 1. ) Is that there’s some kind of elitism going on with how people dress their dolls. In my doll community, if your dolls aren’t in expensive Etsy clothing, they assume you’re either a child or that you don’t value your dolls enough. Dressing my dolls is my favorite thing to do with them so for me, it’s cheaper to buy Barbie clothes or second-hand clothes so I can build up a large wardrobe without having to spend a ton of money. I’ve heard people say that it’s a disservice to the brand to buy an expensive doll and then put them in cheap clothing. And 2.) Is that whenever a new doll is released, people immediately post about if it’s a good or bad release based on their own opinion. It’s fine to do that, I just wish they were nicer about it. Because if 2 or 3 of the popular community members say a doll is ugly then everyone else is hesitant to buy it cause they don’t want to own a doll that was deemed “ugly”. It even has lead to hate comments. If you post a picture of one of these “ugly” dolls on Flickr or Instagram people will comment about how ugly the doll is or leave barfing emojis and stuff.
Such great points! I did have to pause this video to look up the Just Like You dolls mentioned (mark me safe from coveting any of them, lol)
I'm definitely a bargain hunter, so many of my dolls were purchased because they were cheap, and the intention was to clean them up and resell. However, I became so attached to a lot of them and they remain with me. Maybe I'll be able to re-home them in the future?
I wasnot interested in Kavi at first, but then became influenced by YOUR photos of her - and eventually added her to my own collection! 😁 I don't consider that toxic, because I'm glad to have her and truly enjoy her now ❤
YIKES! I might be more blunt sharing my thoughts about a doll with Grace in the privacy of our conversations but I would *never* be unkind and hurtful like that. A barf emoji??? That's really, really unfortunate :(
@dollahlah-54321 it would be toxic if you bought her even though you didn't have the money or space for her or were in a hoarding situation. And that's why each of these influencers can be healthy *or* toxic. We've gotten some that were not on our list just because they were cheap, but we also knew they might be temporary. I can honestly see myself getting to a point where I want NO MORE DOLLS coming in, but I still want to feel the satisfaction of rehabbing a doll, so I would consider using part of my budget to buy cheap TLC ones just to donate after they're restored.
Yep, completionism will getcha. I have MOST of the historical dolls- because when I started collecting as a child that’s all there was, and they’re important and fun and I genuinely like them, but after adding the birthday edition Kit to my collection when she came out, because I had connected with her character after reading her books, I realized I have everyone but Caroline and Cecile. It kind of made me feel like, well, now I HAVE to get them, right? And I do think they’re both very beautiful, but I don’t HAVE to shell out the money they’d cost me to get them in decent condition just to fulfill an arbitrary goal of “completing the collection.”
It sounds like you currently have a pretty healthy outlook about those last two dolls. They're pretty, and I imagine it would be nice to have a complete collection (especially if completing it doesn't require you to buy dolls you don't like) but also, there is no rush and there is NO reason to spend an exorbitant amount of money on them. If/when it makes sense to get them, you can do so, but not out of a compulsion to complete the line. I love that for you.
@@agtakesoverI’m definitely trying to create healthier habits around collecting this year. I’ve definitely fell victim to panic-buying, though, and sometimes it works out in my favor, lol. I bought Makena when she went on sale for $58 and she is in fact a cutie little girly who I’m glad to have 😂
(Definitely had a moment when this was prepped for premiere where I was like "... naming names doesn't feel very on-brand for Kristie..." and so I was relieved that this was not the case!) All of these have gotten me, at least a little, at some point. Sales/double or more points are definitely times when I take out loans on my personal "allowance" in our budget (because we do budget heavily, though I don't specifically track my doll spending - I just have a certain amount of fun money each month, and if I spend more than I have, it comes out of the next month's allowance, so at the end of the year I'm always even). I think rarity is actually one of the ones I've managed to avoid. Because I try to keep my collect mid-sized, I try to be very, very intentional about who I add to my collection, and rarity doesn't tend to sway me much. I don't think rarity sways me much on doll clothes, either. COMPLETIONISM, THOUGH, WHEW! I am a completionist in some of my other hobbies, and I've had to work hard against it in AG because there is TOO MUCH to be completionist. I love the historicals, but I decided I wanted one from each decade that AG has released, rather than all historicals, because some of the dolls just don't send me (sorry Julie, Emily, Elizabeth, Nellie, Ruthie...). I've also decided that Claudie I'm going to be completionist about (except for her dog), so I own her entire current collection. I've done better at slowing down on new releases now that we don't have a store near us. I've also done better at prioritizing the things I want that are older, because they'll retire sooner than the thing that just came out. I only JUST got Julie's school outfit yesterday, even though I adored it, because I decided to wait until my rewards came in. I also had an AG gift card, so I bought a soccer outfit for Maritza - and THAT was my priority, not Julie's school outfit. I don't tend to fall prey to the cheap influence - if I don't want it, it doesn't matter how cheap it is, I don't need it. I keep a pretty extensive wishlist, which helps me prioritize. I get hardcore FOMO, but I think I've largely managed to resist it. Sometimes because my budget is spent for the month, so I can't do anything about it, or because I'm trying to get better about stopping and thinking for a few days before making a purchase so I don't have regrets. These were all so important to name (so I guess you DID name names, it's just that the names were concepts instead!) so that people can more accurately pinpoint aspects of the collecting hobby that can swiftly get us into trouble, whether financial, space-wise, or even just killing our enjoyment of something. Thank you for sharing!
Yeah, definitely not on-brand for me to trash-talk and stir up drama. But it got a lot of ppl to click on what I think is an important video and there's some great discussion happening as a result so I'm okay with it being a little clickbait-y. (it's not a stunt I pull often ;-) I think in your case not tracking your expenses is fine because you do know exactly how much you have to spend on dolls on a monthly basis. It's a different approach but the result - not "accidentally" spending more than you realize - is the same. And I love that you mentioned that when these things become toxic they don't just mess up our finances or the state of our homes, they can kill the enjoyment we get from dolls. That's a huge motivator for me in wanting to keep all these influences in check.
I actually really enjoyed your dolls sipping tea. I’m now hungry for AG cafe treats! 😂
I am a little “ignorance is bliss” when tracking or not tracking my spending, but I do know how to step back when I’ve been spending a lot. I definitely don’t take advantage of every sale AG has. I do like the points multipliers when I have rewards to spend because it really helps boost my generally small purchases. I tend to carefully plan my order weeks before I order it. Even if it’s just one or two small things.
AG sucks when they do the limited drops like the Disney collector dolls or the rereleased outfits because I have less time to decide if I truly want it or can pass.
I am not a completionist. Even though I love most everything of Kit’s, there are a few things I genuinely don’t like enough to own or just don’t have space for.
Those AG cafe lemon bars are GOOD! And yeah, AG knows exactly what they're doing with those limited drops. It does help to stay involved on social media so you're more likely to see any leaks. That helped me know I would most likely want the Shimmering Silver doll before she even released. Then I didn't feel like it was such an impulse purchase. Careful planning of your orders in advance is very, very smart.
Love this video. Like others, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am definitely a “buy something because it’s cheap” person, even if it’s something I didn’t want before. I’ve gotten much better with this. I also have FOMO although I’m much better with this too. FOMO was the reason I bought the FAO Schwarz doll, although I love her and I’m so happy I got her. Fortunately FOMO didn’t get me on the princess dolls, but got me on Barbie. I’m can’t wait for her though! I’m also a little bit of a completionist, but usually draw the line at things I don’t like (except for Kit’s birthday dress). I do have all the historicals and GOTY because I genuinely wanted them and like them. It’s funny because some of the dolls I have, I didn’t want at first, and now I love them and couldn’t imagine getting rid of them. Most of my collection has been purchased second hand.
It's good to be able to identify which of these pertain to you. And there's nothing INHERENTLY toxic about them, just *potentially* so.
As always, another great video! For me a warning to track my doll spending. Right now it's clothes I need but I forget shipping costs more than the clothes.
Yes! I track the shipping and taxes. A doll on Ebay might sound like a steal unless you look at the TOTAL cost. Our tracking isn't sophisticated - just a Google spreadsheet with tabs for Grace for each year and tabs for me for each year.
I always start collecting things I love and then slowly slide into completionism. . . I'm doing better with Monster High though! But yeah, as evidenced on my channel, I lean towards completionism 😅
I did see you're are making progress with Monster High. And if feeling like you are in control of that collection (rather than it being in control of you) maybe that will inspire you to cull a bit with other doll lines (or at least to resist the completionism ;-) Do what works for YOU is the main thing, right?
This video speaks to me so much; I’ve definitely struggled with most of these at one point or another during my 20 (gulp!) years of collecting AG. Thankfully, I’ve grown out of most of them over time, due to things like realizing reselling ✨every little thing I find✨ is a huge hassle that I’d rather not do, and disliking Lea enough at release to realize maybe I didn’t need to complete the GOTYS if I don’t like them all.
My big struggle now is definitely some sort of combo of FOMO paired with the sales. From 2015 until last year, I didn’t get a single doll directly from AG. The ONLY dolls I bought were either secondhand or at the Benefit Sale. I looked forward to the Benefit Sale every year to grow my collection & add “new dolls” I liked a year or 2 late. I’ve noticed that since the last Benefit Sale, I’ve felt a lot of anxiety about the “unknown” of what happens now. I’ve bought a bunch of dolls from the sales because I fear not being able to have an affordable way to get them in the future. There’s definitely a large FOMO component of “if I don’t get this now, what if there’s never another sale this good, and I can never get her!?” paired with “This sale is really good, nearly as low as Benefit Sale prices, I may as well! It’s almost no different than the Benefit Sale anyway, and that’s never going to happen again, so consider this the Benefit Sale purchase I would have made next year! I would have bought these dolls at the Benefit Sale anyway!” I think I’ve bought 7 new dolls via sales & rewards since, & while I genuinely like all of them, I also feel conflicted & almost guilty about it, because that is *not* normal for me. This is definitely an area I’m currently working on finding balance in. I feel like a lot of collectors fall victim to this, especially when retiring dolls are on sale at AG or at TJMaxx.
This whole video is an excellent reminder & wake-up call to some of the things collectors tend to pretend aren’t issues, and instead, we need to be more mindful and aware of how we collect!
"Reselling every little thing I find is a huge hassle that I'd rather not do" is a MOOD. I feel this so deeply. And I can imagine what a huge adjustment it is to not have the benefit sale. I think it's good that you're aware of how it's impacting you and that can be a good step toward making any needed changes. I love that you pointed out these are things collectors tend to pretend aren't issues. I notice that a lot. Someone will share that something (spending, clutter, compulsive shopping, etc) has become problematic and the responses they get seem to be a chorus of ppl joking and saying "welcome to the club". It's not supportive to see someone in an unhealthy situation and say "Lol. Same!!" I know that "healthy" looks different for everyone, but it seems like we *do* need to figure out what that is for us and aim for it so that we can truly enjoy our dolls.
Cheap. Cheap is me. Haha! Your list is spot on 👏👏👏 You are a voice of reason in our wild community 😁
😁 I try not to be prescriptive about ppl's collections - we all get to do what works for us and what brings us joy. But that's just it...sometimes ppl give in to these things too much and it's NOT bringing them any joy. I've actually been spending a lot less (and acquiring a lot less) this year than the past three years and I'm enjoying my dolls just as much. Constant acquisition isn't necessarily bad, but it's also not necessarily...necessary.
Having a store nearby. When our store was still open (I do miss it) it was so easy to drive the 25 minutes and frequently buy tons of stuff. There are many things I still want but it’s much more difficult to get them now that our store has closed since I loathe paying for shipping. The fact that you have to spend $150 after rewards just to get free shipping frustrates me. Especially for a company that keeps closing their local stores and has always really relied on shipping in the first place.
I never would have thought 48 would be considered a rare doll and hard to come by for a reasonable price which is why I put off getting her. I still want one but I refuse to pay the ridiculous going rate.
I have a completionist mindset but I think I’ve gotten better at combating that. There will always be things I want complete but I’ve gotten better at narrowing down what I want to complete. This is good since I collect more than just AG and dolls in general.
Personally, at any given time some of these influences can be toxic since I frequently have impulse and self control issues and I easily get swept up in excitement. I also often have a difficult time making a decision so I will get multiple items instead (this lack of decision making also constantly leads to overpacking). On the other hand, not being able to quickly make a decision has saved me $ since things I’m looking at will sell out while I’m making up my mind.
Thank you for sharing your struggles and some of the things you're trying to do about them. I think that's really important. I don't have any preconceived notions about what ppl's collections SHOULD look like. I don't care if they have small collections or large ones, if they keep them in glass cases or play with them daily, if they only buy certain brand clothing, or only focus on one line of dolls within AG, etc. I *do* care about supporting people making choices that actually work for them. These dolls are meant to bring us joy, not stress, financial ruin, marital problems, or insurmountable clutter. And re: the store closing, I do have to agree - I miss it but the small silver lining is definitely that we're saving money.
Really enjoyed seeing the cute pictures of your dolls enjoying afternoon tea!
I'm so glad! I try to make sure even if it's mostly a talking video that there's still something interesting going on visually :)
I relate to these points Kristie. The completionist influencer usually does not affect me however I have thought that I only have three more dolls to complete my historicals. Maybe I should get the last three! I have held off though because the three missing dolls are not necessarily dolls I love or even want to take up space in my collection. I also agree with your point about influencers that for example call a doll ugly. I think reviewers should talk about dolls like they would other people, with kindness and acceptance and pointing out more positive than negative traits. Some may love and adore the doll that is being criticized and take it personally. We can say bless her heart she is not for me and call it a day instead of creating drama over a doll that has had the misfortune of being put together badly or restored in a way that doesn’t suit you. These dolls deserve to be loved too. 🥰💕
One thing that I love about Grace and I *both* being collectors is I can say what I think about certain dolls in a less careful way without hurting people's feelings. The ability to speak filter-free is nice. And I do like to be honest about my thoughts on different dolls, but my "public-facing honesty" is filtered in hopes of *not* hurting anyone or making them feel badly about the dolls they love.
Yes and I have that with my doll friend Adam. We can joke around and be more candid about how we feel about a doll. We don’t always agree but it can be fun banter between friends. 😄
I dislike #4 I thought she was an off brand doll when I first saw her. Honestly since she was discontinued she wasn’t that popular until she wasn’t available.
She is not my favorite of our dolls. I have seen some that I really like but the one we have, while in excellent condition, is still not my favorite. If I'm honest, keeping her in my collection is way less about Rarity and more about Completionism. I do like having all of the face molds represented, so she stays lol.
Great video! Yes, I know I have fallen into some if these traps at one time or another. It’s so important to know what you like, or don’t and that your tastes will change as time goes on. I also love that you combine ASL into your videos to be more inclusive.
Absolutely!! Most of us have fallen into them. I think it's bound to happen any time you're part of a "collector community". And even those who miraculously don't give in have probably still felt the pull and sway of these influencers and had to exert some effort to resist them. Re: the ASL, I do that once a month. A couple other things I do to try to be more accessible (that don't require knowing another language lol) are: I don't put text on the bottom of the screen (because if someone needs captions , the captions will cover up that text) and whenever I include an image that contains a lot of text (pic of a plaque in a museum, for example) I generally read those aloud in hopes that that's more accessible for blind subscribers. I share that because I know you also have a channel. If there are tips you have for increased accessibility, please share away!
This was such a great video, wow!! I just started actually tracking doll expenses and I’m a bit ashamed at how fast it goes, AG isn’t cheap. I will be rewatching a few times 🥰 thank you!
You can do it! It does add up, which is why it has been so important for my wife and I to track our doll stuff. IDK how you're tracking yours, but if you're interested, this is a video where I talk about my approach: ua-cam.com/video/QklaAUXs5S8/v-deo.htmlsi=DIEque0dAsXooBNx
Thank you I really appreciate this insight. I have always loved dolls but recently discovered hey it's okay as an adult to still love dolls and collect them. However I have found myself going to far lately and have major FOMO! Part of me feels like I'm trying to make up for lost time but I am realizing there is always something new I need as soon as I've finished a purchase. Suddenly I have a credit card balance I can't pay off every month which never used to be the case. I really needed this video!
I'm glad you came across this video! I think you're going through something REALLY common when people first get into (or back into) collecting. I call it the Rapid Acquisition Period. Many ppl go through it and it does cause a lot of problems (money, clutter, stress, friction with family members) and people in the community don't always discuss it in ways that encourage us to reflect, assume some responsibility, and maybe make adjustments. But I guarantee you can enjoy your lovely dolls AND work on resisting FOMO simultaneously. Also, if it might be helpful, I have a separate video where I talk about tracking doll spending and how I personally approach it. Here's the link in case you want to check it out. ua-cam.com/video/QklaAUXs5S8/v-deo.htmlsi=sJbIopmT9-yYeGD0
I’m an ignorant completionist! Thank you so much for calling these out!!
This comment gave me a good laugh. If you're at all interested in how I approach tracking my spending, I made a video about it about a year ago. If I remember correctly, the thumbnail says, "How much do you spend on dolls??" or "Do you know how much you spend on dolls?" or something like that.
Love this and needed this!
I'm so glad. I'd wager *most* of us need this from time to time :)
Oh haha this video was fun! But I feel personally attacked! 😂 lol
I'm so guilty of FOMO it's not even funny and I have stuff in my collection I'm not the fondest of because I feel like I can't get rid of for more FOMO. And then completionist me is hard too because I have a few goals that are important to me but not necessarily I like it all. WHOOPS! Trying to do better
Oh no! No attacks lol. Grace said her biggest ones are Novelty and FOMO and mine is definitely Cheap. But I think she and I are BOTH doing really well this year. I've spent less and acquired less and it hasn't made me enjoy my dolls any less. Ironically we did just place an order last night on the AG website though lmao.
Good points,thank you! And enjoyed the photos! 😊
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It took a while to scroll through all the photos and find ones that fit the theme, but I like the result :)
just discovered your channel! i love the use of ASL! i've been taking classes for 4 years or so, and i also am super interested in ag! this is awesome 🤟
Welcome!! And while not every video is ASL-accessible, my goal is to post one interpreted video each month. You can find the older ones on my channel in a specific playlist. I've been an ASL interpreter for a long time and a Deaf-blind subscriber asked if I would mind incorporating ASL into my videos and I agreed to shoot for one a month. I hope you enjoy them.
For me, I think you are spot on! I have to watch all of above but I have seen those factors influence myself at times and then I have to catch myself before I spend/buy more. I see that in some of my doll friends in the doll club I am a member of. Not necessarily AG dolls but I think what you mentioned can be universal to all collecting. Thank you for sharing.
Yes! I think that's an important thing - acknowledging that these impact us doesn't mean they always win out. If you name the things that tempt you and watch out for them, you can make keep them in check. And we all have different resources (space, money, time, energy) and goals so it will look different for each of us. I just want us all to enjoy this hobby in ways that *work for us*. :)
I absolutely love this! I’m a completionism person for sure! I love what you say about being first!!!!! I bought the new birthday outfit at the event for that reason!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. And thank you for sharing which one is the biggest struggle for you. I think it's a really healthy discussion and it's been nice that the comments have all been productive (no judgment, just some introspection). And I will say the "Novelty" influencer has lost strength now that we are so far away from our nearest store. I really enjoyed being able to go in and SEE and FEEL things early on, but if I'm honest, a tiny silver lining of losing our local store is that I'm less likely to cave to Novelty.
Get out of my head Kristie 🤣♥️ I didn't see anyone say that about 48 and I literally just had this realization that the doll was so pretty and I paid like $515 for one recently... she's minty but dang it stung 😝😭😆
LMAO I bet it did sting!! Could be me, but if you like her and felt she was worth that, that's what matters.
Good points!!! FOMO definitely got me once, when Evette was on sale at the end of last year right before she retired. And then I got her and while she was cute she had wonky eyes and a wig that showed the cap at the front. I wound up waiting too long to return her and eventually just sold her because I couldn't bond with her and I realized I don't think I ever truly wanted an evette that badly in the first place. There are times I wish I had kept her, though, so maybe she will come back to my collection one day.
I'm also definitely irritated that AG sent me a $30 reward this month when there's nothing I really feel like buying 😂 I don't want to spend money on something I don't need, but arguably I could get something by only paying a fraction of the cost. Sigh!
I know AG is banking on FOMO. They encourage it and bank on it. Re: the reward and not wanting to let it go to waste, I get that. We just used a reward to place an order after this video posted last night lol. Actually, we used TWO rewards because a very kind viewer reached out and said, "I have a $10 reward coming. I don't need anything. I don't want to be tempted. Will you use it?" Since there was one item I wanted, I said sure. So, I guess that's an option if you have a reward but don't really want anything - pay it forward to someone and earn some good karma ;-)
The second one; “rarity”, I definitely relate too 😂 especially with the example of 48. To be honest, I never even heard of 48 until recently, and I’ve been collecting for almost 10 years. Now I genuinely do think she’s pretty, I love black hair and green eyes (is it dark brown or black? Either ways, I love her). I’ve always wanted one with that combination. Would I pay $1200 for her? No. Freaking. Way. You see, I do feel like sometimes I take American Girl collecting way too seriously. Sometimes I need to stop myself. If I see a doll like an amber eyed Samantha that’s super “rare” and I know I want her, and I see all these ladies in AG groups with their white bodies, it makes me just a tiny jealous. And when you really think about it, they’re dolls. At the end of the day, they’re just dolls. It’s not that serious. Of course, they make me happy. Of course my doll room is my happy place. But does owning an amber eyed Samantha really make my collection better? Would every thing be better if I had a number 6.1? No. No it wouldn’t.
I feel like you do about 48 (lovely, and if I found her for a steal I would get her, but she's not more lovely than the majority of the beautiful dolls I already have). As for the rest of your comment, I would give it two hearts if I could!!!
I agree, they're also trying to hard to prove themselves.🎉
Who is? I don't think that statement applies to all collectors, but I suppose "Comparing your collection to others" or "wanting an 'impressive' collection by others' standards" would qualify as potentially toxic influencers.
I genuinely thought by influencers you meant people who make content on UA-cam or Instagram, etc., and I was like, would she really make a video like that??? 😋 This video makes more sense and was a great idea! I'm good at most of these, thankfully, but "It's Cheap" tends to almost get me sometimes. I'll be like, wow I should buy this good condition Kirsten with intact meet braids for $50...but wait...do I even want to add a Kirsten to my collection...no, not really...what am I doing! FOMO does get me a little bit too. But I just ask myself, if AG is going to retire this item super early and the price gets jacked up so high on the secondary market that I can't get it, will I be really upset and regret it? If the answer is yes, then I try to buy the item within a reasonable amount of time (less than a year).
I had the same thought when I saw the title if the video. The content makes more sense and is an awesome video!
You sound a lot like me - I recognize which influencers impact me and it doesn't make me immune to them, but it empowers me to keep them in check. I definitely do better now than I did when we were in our "Rapid Acquisition Period" a few years ago. Also...yeah, I would never make a video calling out individuals. But it got several ppl to watch a video on an important topic (ppl who mightn't have otherwise) so the clickbait-y title did its job ;-)
@melangellperry5984 you know I wouldn't do that lol ;-)
👋 Kristie, i alway's track my doll spending 😢, the hard part for me is selling anything😮. I simply cannot sell any of my previous AG Doll's 😭🧸🧘♂️.Was a Great ,Great video Kristie.Actually you hit on so much i really hasen't even thought of before,so thanx😂.Thankyou for sharing as well💗.
Lisa
Ooh, if you have a hard time selling (or donating) items from your collection than it will be even more important that you make sure you really want every item you bring in. Do you have an easier time parting with clothing or accessories?
As an Australian collector I have a very unique relationship to some of these things, I really enjoyed this video, very interesting!
I bet you do. Feel free to piggyback on it and make your own video. You can reference the seven influencers I mentioned and talk about which ones impact you and how. I'd totally watch that!
Love this one! Kaya and I watched it together. A lot of great doll scenes involving tea, one of my favorite things! I've been subject to a lot of these influences at one time or another. Imho a lot depends on what purpose the dolls serve for you and what the surrounding circumstances are. If collecting itself is the fun part, it makes sense to have acquisition goals and take advantage of sales and maybe have a completionist mindset. If creating stories is the goal, maybe a cast of characters gets a bit too big with more than a dozen or two dolls, or maybe not.
I will admit I succumbed to Ariel the first week--my reason being that I'd been wishing for months for a doll with red hair and green eyes, and the chance was too good to pass up.
Did I mention how much I love your creativity in setting up doll scenes? There are some great pics of you and Grace in there too!
Oh, thank you so much! I do try to make sure that even if it's primarily a talking video there is still something nice going on visually :)
Absolutely - space and financial constraints, dynamics in the home, mental health history, reason for being interested in dolls...so many factors to consider when figuring out the approach that works for each of us.
Love your take and thoughtful videos as always!
Just so you know, your audio is duplicated around the 14:08 mark for about 10 seconds
Glad you enjoyed the video and yes, I noticed the audio issue. I know what happened and why, but unfortunately once it's posted the only remedy is to remove the video, fix it, and repost and I just didn't think it was worth it for 10 seconds. I'm just glad it was so short :)
For me... it's the people who feel like you have so many dolls to consider it a "collection". For me... I have 6 historical dolls (and one GOTY) because I like their story or their era or their era of style... I want their clothes and some small items to enjoy (not display perfect, but not trashed), so I'd rather keep my doll numbers low and go on adventures (especially if the location matches the timeline of of my historicals or I can take one to a doll tea with my daughter or have a doll sleepover or movie night together with her) with my dolls and make memories with my fewer dolls. I consider my number of dolls complete unless they release a historical one that speaks to me.... and that is okay! It's supported by most of my doll friends, but it's not always in this AG community as a whole. It feels like a rarity actually!!!
Someone else brought this up. If I may ask an honest question...do you feel like this is something folks with larger collections feel, do you think it's something folks with smaller collections project, or maybe a bit of both? For example, my collection is large and I love it but it's what works for us and what I want. I *never* think I'm superior or that my collection is somehow more valid or better than a small collection. So I am not intentionally perpetuating that, but it's possible that someone might watch my channel and still walk away feeling like their collection isn't as good/valid/etc. I'd love to know what you think.
@@agtakesover I've gotten more from larger collectors sometimes they arent rude, but surprised I only have 7 dolls until I tell them why... like both you and Grace... you two have both talked to me and we've talked about the historical reasons... but in some groups I think some people with one or two dolls always feel they don't wanna post because someone has more dolls or clothes, so I always post my adventures with my seven girls... there's room for us all!!! It's just nice to have friends who know the difference between a Historical and a GOTY girl or a TM. And some people like the crafting side of AG collecting... I don't... so I hope I can make some smaller collectors feel all our collections are valid if we can afford them and we're happy. That's the awesomeness of AG collecting... we can take different avenues... clothing making, hair styling, crafting, videos, or just enjoy our dolls and still have a common ground.
@@jessnawoods Yes - I love how collections come in all sizes and everyone has their own focus.
Thanks for the video I see myself in cheap and looking at what other people has not sure what category that is. I recently left a comment with another you tuber about my purchasing the Rebecca Sabbath set because I saw your Rebecca collection. I have Rebecca some of her outfits and I was looking out for her phonograph. Suddenly after seeing the collection I wanted to work on my Rebecca collection. Fortunately, I work mainly with a budget so I stopped with the sabbath set and refocused on the two items I really want the lace dress and the phonograph. I am getting better and really enjoy your videos because you offer a perspective that makes me think why am I buying this do I want or need it (often wants are disguised as needs). I still plan to look at my entire collection over the summer and make some hard choices. You are not preachy just honest.
I'm glad it didn't come across as preachy. Goodness knows we have ALL struggled with at least one of these, so there's no reason to judge each other when we could be supportive instead. I'm also REALLY glad that my videos aren't encouraging indiscriminate consumerism - if they help you to be more mindful in your collecting then that's a total win. But yeah...the "sway of social media" (not sure what else to call it when we keep adding to our wish list because others' collections make us aware of things we didn't even know existed or didn't appreciate before) is a strong one. The reminder that "I can't have everything I like, but I should like everything I have" is help for me with that one.
@@agtakesover I am not big on social media but I am glad I found some really positive people to share this hobby with. Keep making these videos.
This was a good video and not preachy at all. I view it as insightful and taking a time out to reflect and ponder. I can definitely relate to buying when things are cheap. I also like getting certain new releases right away, but I have a budget (not technically a budget, but let’s just say money I make from my side hustles to fund my hobby) and it is nice to know that it’s there if /when I want to use it.
I watched a few other of your recent videos on my TV and need to go back and comment.
@@AGTV4Life Yes, I have a budget, but any money from videos, any gift cards, and any doll-related sales all go into that budget as "free money" and the budget focuses on not spending over a certain amount from my non-doll income (if that makes sense).
@@agtakesover totally makes sense!
Oh my gosh! Where are my steel toes shoes......lol I think I can identify with a few of these, especially in the beginning of my collecting days. I think I have gotten past most but I still can't pass up a project doll at a really good price.
Was that a typo or did I miss something? What are the steel toed shoes for? I do think the good news is a lot of people *do* kind of "outgrow" these, but unfortunately some people do some serious damage in their first days (years) of collecting. I think if ppl who have found ways to resist these influences (keep them in check) share their experiences, mantras, strategies, etc. we could help ppl avoid some serious pain (financial problems, marital problems, overwhelming clutter, burnout with the hobby).
@@agtakesover No typo, just a joke, as in getting my toes stepped on......lol And yes, I have moved on past buying anything and everything AG just because. I am a lot more financially responsible (thanks to lack of space and the fixed income of retirement). I absolutely love your channel.....even with the occasional reality check.
I’ve definitely been guilty of 1, 6, and 7 🙈 Living in a smaller space has stopped my sale spending real quick, lol, and about a year ago I started forcing myself to wait two weeks before purchasing a new release. 99% of the time once that two weeks is up and the newness has worn off, I’m no longer interested. I still don’t track my spending but, I have cut spending in other areas of my life so I figure it averages out, right?? 😂
Thank you for sharing both your struggles and your strategies. I think arbitrary mandatory waiting periods can really help combat the Novelty influencer (and other things like "retail therapy" and impulsivity because we just saw something someone else has and now we "need" it). I'm really appreciating the discussion in the comments. We've all struggled with each of these and it's nice to see acknowledgment that it can be problematic. Even nicer to see that acknowledgment doesn't mean judgment of others...lots of healthy introspection going on in the comments :)
You make a lot of good points in this video. I bought an Evette because of the reasons you mentioned. I can't really connect with her and she has a dark spot (in?) her eye, which is really disappointing.
If the dark spot is a defect, perhaps you can return or exchange her? If not, would it make sense for you to consider parting with her? Or maybe have you tried changing her hairstyle or outfit or doing something special with just her to see if it helps you connect?
@@agtakesover Thanks! I would like to get her fixed. I didn't return her right away though so I don't know if AG would help. I bought her about 5 months ago. I would probably need a good chunk of money to pay shipping costs and doll hospital admission.
Can anyone please tell me what doll is at 5:52? I would appreciate the help!
I'm pretty sure that's TM 107.
Yep, that's my 107 Luca
Yeah cheap speaks to me lol 😆
Right?! And it's definitely not like I have regretted a ton of purchases I made because I was heeding the call of cheap. I still very much like cheap. But I recognize it *can* lead to unhealthy habits, so I try to stay mindful.
Fomo has caused me to buy a lot I have 9 romina dolls 😢
It's a tough one. I know sometimes when FOMO is really causing problems for people they sometimes scale back on social media or stop visiting certain websites. I hate for it to come to that because the social media doll places are great for so many other things (photography ideas, education, connecting with each other, etc) but I guess it's always an option. I prefer to reframe things and institute things like a "mandatory waiting period" lol.
My tip don't discuss your personal Finances and how much you spend on American Girl. I only mention when I got a doll from goodwill and how much of a good deal she was.
Don't discuss them with whom? And why not?