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Is Your Doll From Target?? Then it's a fake!

consumerist.com — American Girl (an upscale? doll store) refused to style a little girl's doll because it was from Target.

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  • MissPinkKate, on 10/12/2007, -5/+154What kind of monster could make a 6 year old child cry over something like this? Just disgusting.
    • REBOP, on 10/12/2007, -28/+90What kind? The kind found in corporate America, thats what kind.
    • senorcool, on 10/12/2007, -1/+34There goes my doll collection...dammit
    • cyrix, on 10/12/2007, -1/+102They're not dolls! They're action figures!!!!!
    • walkingdogs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+80I HATE "rich bitches"
    • gafasiesornivek, on 10/12/2007, -8/+31rebop I'm not sure why you were modded down but kudos to you for speaking the truth. It is a cold scary world we are in right now. Synthetic and devoid of emotion. Built on money (read: someone else's back) from the ground up.
    • quomen, on 10/12/2007, -43/+12I'm not saying I side with this or whatnot, but here is a comment on the article:
      "

      Am I the only one who sides with American Doll? Clearly they can't do the hair of any doll that walks in off the street? It's all about branding - the American Doll people are selling an experience surrounding their brand. They could've refused to do the hair in a more discreet fashion but I think the store relies on kids' guardians to understand the risk of bringing in a cheap Target doll to an American Doll store and expecting the same treatment.

      "

      ..oh well.

      On the other hand, I guess the consumerist army is marching loudly and proudly here on digg. How else do they manage to get all of their articles on the front page? ugh.
    • graemee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16She needs a few GI-JOEs with FUNG-FU grip to beat the snot out of her.
    • fishpen0, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36The doll is called "American Girl" yet only the small percentage of wealthy Americans can even own one. This doll is supposedly represents every American girl, yet they mock the majority of American girls. Shame on them and those bitches in line that didn't stand up for her.
    • jonathantneal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29>> What kind of monster could make a 6 year old child cry over something like this?
      The same kind who thinks to open an upscale store that styles the hair of your ****ing dolls. And then the same kind of person who enforces a standard of dollmanship. I'm mean, there's a particular irony in telling someone that they need a 'real' 'doll'.
    • SultanTravi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23She was probably just bitter because her job is cutting a doll's ***** hair.

      Anyway, SEAL Joe is on the way.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -28/+5First off, American Girl dolls aren't THAT expensive. My sister has like 3 that she has collected over the years.

      I side still with American Girl sadly. It was a American Girl salon! Maybe the girl obviously didn't know, and the website should have stated something, but still... it's like going to a Pokemon Competition with fake Pokiman cards. And as stated - it's the image that they are trying to protect!

      So her parents can't afford one? Sucks. I can't afford a plasma TV.
    • jobenly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29I have no idea why you would buy your kid a doll worth more than $30 anyway (or spend $20 on styling doll hair). I had some of my best fun as a kid off of those dirt cheap Matchbox cars (actually, probably cheaper ripoffs). Please don't teach your kids that status symbols are worth something. They'll just end up blowing their money on whatever brand replaces Diesel/Abercrombie/Gucci when they grow up to be teenage jerks. Or maybe they'll buy neon lights and spinners for their ricers when they should be saving for college or a down payment on a house.

      That's right. All those people nowadays who get their McMansions foreclosed on probably just *had* to have actual Cabbage Patch Dolls as kids, and their parents didn't have the guts to say no.

      Teach kids lessons that will make them happier in the long run. Teach them to silently condescend to all those people who need status symbols to feel validated. That lesson is free.
    • Arcan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19Remember, the kid saved up to purchase the doll herself.

      Even if it were some kind of company policy - they work in toy store! You'd think they'd be able to find a better way to deal with this situation than ridiculing a 6 year old!

      And no, it's not the responsibility of the parent to understand the services they will or will not provide upon risk of humiliation.


      Side note: I would have ripped those other mothers a new one. I applaud the restraint of the Etta's Mom.
    • samnetwork, on 10/12/2007, -1/+36"One mom just smiled and said "Well, American Girl Dolls aren't for everyone, you know.""
      What a freaking bitch!
    • MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -21/+3jobenley,

      hate to tell you, in a perfect world you would be exactly right - but guess what, in the United States, your status symbol means everything

      Don't expect to dress like ***** and get respect from anyone that matters - and by that I mean networking with jobs and a career so you can get money to put down for a house or college. We're consumerists - and we all do it and are stuck in the system.

      Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't teach your kids values - get there ass out to get a job when they can! Teach them the value of money and what it means to earn it. But also realize that what you wear determines what people think of you - even without actually meeting you.
    • TheKidd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+36Let them know how you feel:

      Start with an email from the website:
      http://www.americangirl.com/emailus/index.html

      Or contact them directly:

      American Girl L.L.C.
      8400 Fairway Place
      Middleton WI 53562-2548
      phone (608)836-4848
      fax (608)836-1999

      Or, feel free to call/email the president of the corporation: (gotta love Google)

      Ellen L. Brothers
      President, American Girl LLC
      8400 Fairway Place
      Middleton, WI 53562
      Tel: 1-800-845-0005
      Fax: 608-828-4790
      E-Mail: ellen.brothers@americangirl.com

      Keep in mind this company is owned by Mattel. And after reading some of the Annual Report, American Girl is making the a boatload of money.
    • heffae, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@MaxPayne3476
      Sure we live in a shallow and materialistic world but the kid was 6!!! 6 year olds shouldn't know about status symbols!!!
      Yes to make it the world it helps to know how to dress and look but thats what the soul crushing experience of junior high is for.
    • jobenly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@MaxPayne3476

      Generally, there's a threshold of appearance level you need to meet to let the rest of you be judged on its merits. For almost all careers, you can meet that threshold with reasonably priced clothes/houses/cars/jewelry/etc. Shower. Use deodorant. Wash your clothes. Iron. Buy overpriced stuff when it's on sale. Make sure your clothes match. Find friend who'll tell you when your clothes are fugly. You can "network" with jerks who think $150 jeans make you more worthwhile all you want, but I'll concentrate on impressing people whose opinions are worth listening to. Honestly, wise people notice status symbols and find them to be some sort of compensation.

      "...in the United States, your status symbol means everything."
      You'd be surprised how much better your life gets when you stop catering to ignorant jerks and concentrate on connecting to people who have their acts together. At any rate, it seems that your piece of the American experience has been pretty narrow. I would recommend moving to a smallish town in the American heartland (I know, eeewww.... dirty people that drive dirty late model cars). People who drive shiny Land Rovers or low-riders stick out like the knuckleheads they are.

      If all else fails and your kid is really that fashion retarded, the kid can always be an engineer or kindergarten teacher.

      Do you know what I had at my birthday? An Acura cake. It was delicious.
    • Y2JCrisis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5quomen, MaxPayne,

      I understand the point you are making, they are a business and it is not their job to think about people's feelings, their job is to make money. That said, what a sad point of view, and what sad people you are for not holding them to higher standards as consumers. In a capitalist society, it is the consumer's job to MAKE companies care, by using their greed against them. Companies that do not treat people well should receive a hit to their pocketbook from the conscientious consumer who will no longer spend their money with that company. You don't make excuses for companies like this, you take your money to a company who will act in a way that is deserving of your money.

      I hope that making that little girl cry in the name of business is worth the bad PR. I will no longer be buying my daughter anything from American Girl, unless of course the company does the right thing and cans this ***** who does dolls' hair for a living and has an attitude about it.
    • acdcfanbill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12wtf, go outside and play, why do kids have to get specific toys and goto certain 'cool' places to have fun anymore.
    • Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5I'm sure I'm going to be dugg down for this, but here goes. The "salon" experience is part of an experience that Mattel is selling along with the doll itself. I'm sure there's a policy in place that doesn't even allow these "stylists" to work on off-brand dolls.

      You can't drive a Ford into a Lexus dealer and expect to get service, either. Sure it sucks that this happened to a kid, but the onus here was on the mother to do a little research.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@jobenly
      "Do you know what I had at my birthday? An Acura cake. It was delicious."

      Was that a SouthPark reference? Excellent!
      (The Hallowe'en ep of the 10th season).
    • TheKidd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Took my own advice and emailed the pres. of this company:

      Dear Ms. Brothers,

      I am the father of a three year old girl who just loves dolls. So when I read how one of your American Girl shops treated a six year for bringing her NON American Girl doll in to have her hair done, I was furious. I won't bother with the details, but you can read all about it at the consumerist.com (link included). Oh, and in case your wondering how this story got legs, it was Dugg. (link included) As I type this letter on a Friday night at 9pm, this story is on the front page of a website where literally millions of people get their news. And it's only been there 1 hour and 46 minutes. I should also mention that I placed your name, phone number and email address among the 123 (at the time of this memo) very angry comments.

      It is heartbreaking when a six year old saves her own money and spends it on a doll, only to be told "This isn't a real doll!" by your store employee. Even after bringing the girl to tears, she still refused to do the dolls hair. And to hear what some of the mothers of the other little girls said just infuriates me. I commend the mother of this little girl for not beating the snot out of your store employee and your patrons. The question is, how do you fix this? I, and many of the Digg community, would like to know.

      Most Sincerely,

      **********
      (TheKidd)
    • drshane, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16I don't feel that it's the company but the NY location that should be contacted again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and againand again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and againand again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
      1-877-247-5223
    • TheCount, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13I work for a company that designs and produces modern paper gifts, like note cards, note books, etc. We constantly have problems with Target ripping off our ideas and selling it in their stores, as have other companies in our industry, so I can kind of understand why some people would be fed up about it.

      That being said, it's hardly this girls fault, it's idiotic to take it out on her.
    • wolfkeeper, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4'What kind of monster...'

      Presumably the same kind of monster that gets a kickback from the doll manufacturer for every doll of theirs that they style the hair of.

      The idea presumably is that this would drum up more trade for the 'real' fake plastic person.
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@chompy

      I understand your point, but I'm not going to drive my Touareg in to the local Yugo dealer because they're not going to have the parts or (probably) training to fix it. However we're talking about doll hair here.

      How much of a loser stylist do you have to be to be styling doll hair? The manager, or even the stylist, should have said something along the lines of "We're really not supposed to do X if you bring in Y but I'll do it for you this once." I mean we're talking a 6 year old kid here.

      The saddest part of this whole story is going to come out when the mother tries to sue the salon for the emotional distress to her daughter.

      Her daughter did learn a valuable lesson: There are people in the world who are just assholes. Shame she had to learn it so soon.
    • Muchocoffee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0What the *****?
    • registration11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's amazing to me that a hysterical 6 year old's recollections are being treated as a sworn deposition. Was the Mom even there? I think she's exaggerating. Fishing for freebies?
      This harpy would've bitched if they had styled the fake dolls hair and it fell out.
      Don't buy some cheap knockoff and expect to get what you get with the real thing.
  • Gadren, on 10/12/2007, -3/+62Sickening -- I swear, my faith in humanity is being eroded every day.
    • GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -13/+8Yeah, why throw $20 away over something as trivial as if the doll is real ;).
    • Kurisuku, on 10/12/2007, -4/+36I concur.

      When you goto NYC regularly, the upper areas, you get used to this type of behavior. They won't serve you coffee at some cafe's based on your clothes, or the way you order, for instance.

      But when it's a little girl that has no clue, with parents who obviously have no clue about the elitism in this area of NYC, then it's just ridiculous. Disgusting even. What a rip off. Those 'real' dolls cost over 100 dollars, and the one from target is probably better made ANYWAYS.

      Disgusting and heartbreaking. But... Yeah, that's America. Ugh.
    • oxdeltaxo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+27"When you goto NYC regularly, the upper areas, you get used to this type of behavior. They won't serve you coffee at some cafe's based on your clothes, or the way you order, for instance."

      Yeah, but then again I'd tell the melvin behind the counter at starbucks to go ***** themselves and get my large coffee, ***** that grande *****.
    • offspring06, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I have already lost faith in humanity before reading this.
    • GeneralKickass, on 10/12/2007, -10/+1"Sickening -- I swear, my faith in humanity is being eroded every day"

      I dont see why the ***** people refer to humanity in the third person. WE ARE HUMANITY. If a few sick people doing nasty things erodes your faith in US, then you're either too naieve or just plain stupid.
    • heffae, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6These kind of things make me glad to live in Phoenix, AZ. Sure we have some Scottsdales snobs but nothing compared to New York. Hell even in Scottsdale Jeans and a Polo shirt are considered Business Casual.
    • Y0tsuya, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8The story wasn't just about the employee, but the other customers in the store who ganged up on the little girl. That, I believe, is what made the story an interesting read into the psyche of the nouveau rich. The newly rich often feel a need to differentiate themselves from their more humble beginnings, and overdoing it. The result is some pretty sad behavior, and a bitter lesson for a young child to learn.

      However, I'd wager that at least half of the mothers in the store could only afford the dolls because they borrowed against their homes for spending dollars. When the housing market collapses you'll see most of them disappear back into the ghettos, and in debt up to their eyeballs.
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@y0tsuya

      Rest assured in about 5 years, the bitches in line will probably be traded in on the new models. Let's see who's moaning then shall we?
    • buryme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Nice...an ad for American Girl dolls right next to the article.
  • fober, on 10/12/2007, -45/+16Who the ***** takes a doll to get its hair done?
    • vexter, on 10/12/2007, -20/+11You mean retarded freaking parents who spoil their kids. I call them Felon Factories. I grew up in a bad part of town. Most of my friends have made it out. The only ones in prison were the spoiled kids. BTW, you do not need to be rich to spoil your kids. When you dont tell them NO, when they need to hear it, you are spoiling them.
    • Angostura, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4Someone with more money that sense, presumably. I'm sorry but the point of dolls is that the litt;e girl gets to style the hair. You want to spend some bigger bucks, treat the kid by taking her to the stylist.

    • mabba18, on 10/12/2007, -11/+5Why are all these comments being dugg down?

      Seriously, why the hell should anybody feel sorry for a person(or their parent) who wanted to spend $20 to style the hair on A ***** DOLL!

      She want to act like a rich person, and she got a good lesson in how rich people act.
    • iduno871, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10If you dumb ***** would RTFA you would see that the 6 year old girl saved her own money to pay for the dolls hair. Her mom wasn't getting it for her.
  • futureisours, on 10/12/2007, -3/+70if you ever are lucky enough to have a beautiful daughter, see how you will feel if someone does this to her. it's all relative, for her, getting the doll's hair done is no more silly than the importance you place at say leveling your World of Warcraft character to 70.
    • Shawnosaurus, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4"...say leveling your World of Warcraft character to 70." Haha bad example because that seems like a huge waste of time too =)

      I get your point, I just wanted to toss wow players and doll makeover people into the same group for fun.
    • Kyle660, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2I know this sounds really insane, but follow me here...some people, normal people, actually make a choice to not have kids. These same people don't appreciate the 'holier than *****' attitude people who do choose to have kids have toward them. I think what some people are trying to say is that maybe a crying child isn't the most important thing to ever happen in history. I personally could give a *****. This is by far the single stupidest ***** story I've ever laid eyes on, digg or otherwise.
    • greven, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Kyle660, it doesn't matter if you've chosen not yo have kids. You were a kid once, yes? And presumably you liked stupid things just the same(lawn darts, maybe? Pogs? yu-gi-oh? GI-joe? depends on your age of course). If you had been 6 and been told that you couldn't participate because of the kind you used, and rudely so, would you have not been hurt? Even if you don't have kids, you were once a kid.
  • Itazura, on 10/12/2007, -3/+66The real bright side to this story is that this cold hearted ***** styles little girls dolls for a living, now that is a pathetic job.
    • Cam_86, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Yeah, whats up with people having attitude in those kinds of jobs? The most pretentious, arrogant people i have EVER met in life, are the ones who work at trendy stores. Even if Starbucks is a billion dollar company, that does not mean they are worth more then the kid who's working down the street at McDonald's. Yet somehow i get a sarcastic, eye-rolling response when i order a plain coffee. Makes it a lot easier to not tip them.
    • psyon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Why are you going to starbucks for plain coffee? Then again, why are you going to starbucks at all?
    • BrainDance, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7@psyon

      Their coffee has a ridiculous amount of caffeine in it, somewhere around half a gram. Thats why I sometimes pick up a Starbucks coffee.
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It really means her acting/modeling career hasn't taken off yet.
  • Legato, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3i read the headline as "Is Your DELL From Target??..."

    oh well - that would have been really funny if target was selling fake dell computers
    • freehunter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I read it as Dole, as in Dole bananas... yeah, I'm hungry.
    • Rocketbird, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1@freehunter

      Or English.
  • nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -18/+4anyone else find this "article" impossible to follow?
    • Toon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Really? You couldn't understand an article about dolls? Too much subtext? Your Internet is a fake!
    • freehunter, on 10/12/2007, -0/+37A woman took her kid to the store. The kid bought a doll. The mom took her to a doll hairstylist. The stylist refused to style the doll's hair because it wasn't their brand of doll. The other people in line mocked the girl. It's over. Everyone looks pissed.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Dugg up for the family guy reference!
  • Supertrout, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9As long as they don't sell fake blow up sex dolls I'll be fine.
    • GeneralKickass, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Yeah you'll be the first person to contract AIDS from a fake doll. :-P
    • WildBil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Thats It - OK mass Protest to have them Clearly state on the site that it has to be the brand they sell.
      All you Digg People in NY get your sex doll and show up there tomorrow and make them Style its hair.
      Insist on service and don't take no as a answer.
  • Philodox, on 10/12/2007, -4/+33I hope the moms that made fun of the six year old girl get punched in the face.
    • Comatose51, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12Hopefully punched so badly that they can never inject Botox in those hollow husks that resemble human beings.
    • GeneralKickass, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13You know what? Jokes aside, these kind of people are just unhappy and discontent with their lives. They go around making other people feel bad just to derive pleasure out of it. I really feel sorry for them. Stupid ignorant dumb *****.
    • kschoice94, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I just sent the article to friends and family to show how much of a disgusting company this is. But everyone sits pretty far to the right while I am sitting allll the way to the left. So we'll see who actually reads it. I'm hoping my cousin will because she is the one who buys her daughter these horrible products that create a state of mind that is not fit for a four year old. All she cares about is "who is better" or if she's "fashionable"
  • OutThisLife, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12What a cruel bitch.
  • karamba_kid, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Take it to Larry David for a haircut and a fresh new style.
    • fatejudger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Best episode ever.
    • svartgotik, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Mommy! That man that cut Judy's hair is in the bathroom, and he has something hard in his pants!"
  • crywolf, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I hope that whoever that hair stylist is burns in hell. But really...why not go for a barbie or something...
    • Kurisuku, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16These people claim that American Girl dolls promote healthy representations of what a girl should aspire to.

      While Barbie's are unrealistic and bad for a girl's confidence.

      That is basically the whole gimmick behind why these ***** sell.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11American Girl dolls and Barbie dolls are in two different leagues. I only know this cause of my sister (I swear *nervously looks*) but a Barbie would be something you play with like an action figure. An American Girl doll is a collectible that you really can't do much with except dress and carry with you.
    • mewho, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0American Girl was once Pleasant Company. Now it's owned by Mattel; makers of Barbie. It's the same, and now they stand for the same thing.
  • sarahes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10i remember wanting one of those dolls when i was younger..at that time i thought the american girl dolls were awesome. they came with all kinds of accessories that every little girl would want in her collection... i also remember not being able to get one, its so heart breaking. i can relate to a point.
    poor girl.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Sounds like the same kind of scam that another pig corporation tried to run on all the kids and stupid parents, with their pokemon things.

      'Gotta get 'em ALL'...so we can get ALL your money, suckas!

      Chinpokomon!
  • waysa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+31You don't even want to know what they do if you bring a doll from Wal-Mart in there...
    • gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9almost spilled the martini on that one!!! lol
  • bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -3/+43If I ever have a daughter and someone breaks her heart like that, tells her that her doll was fake, then makes her feel like she didn't belong, you can be sure I'll throw the "don't punch a woman" rule out the window.
    • gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I would cover my kids ears and tear that bitch a new *****. Then again, I would have had to clue my little girl in on the fact that these people aren't normal, they're ...they're assholes.
    • praisethelard, on 06/06/2008, -1/+9Punch them right in the ovary!
  • Toon, on 10/12/2007, -13/+5Buried as Inaccurate. Please repost in the "Dollies" section.
  • ion1, on 10/12/2007, -16/+2This is completely obsurd on so many levels.... I't makes me want to get an American Girl(tm) and request take it for a styling a mohawk, nose and eyebrow ring.... this makes me sick.
    • Lyph4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28I'm so offended, I'll go buy their product and services!
  • Smeed, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7... I cant ***** believe that. Seriously, your getting paid, why does it matter what brand the doll is? That woman is a bitch and doesnt realize she can make more money if her business is open to every(doll)one
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5Most people look at it and think "it's just a doll". But it's just like taking a beater car to a car show. It's just not the place to take it unless you fit in with what it was organized for.

      It's not just a doll. It's a whole elitist attitude that comes with it.

      Like going to an Intel/AMD processor show off meeting and sporting a Cyrix. If you goto that kind of place, you have to fit in or cry while you leave.
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11"That woman is a bitch and doesnt realize she can make more money if her business is open to every(doll)one"

      Thing is, the kind of people who blow upwards of $100 on a doll, and pay $20 to get its hair styled, are the kind of people who get off on the exclusivity afforded by such high prices, and see it as a status symbol.

      If they let the dirty poor people in the doll salon, the rich snobs will leave.
    • TheGilmanator, on 10/12/2007, -5/+5What about my getting paid?

      Your = possessive
      You're = you are
    • BrainDance, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@thegilmanator

      Yet, we still all seem to have understood what he was saying (except you apparently)

      Funny how the English language works huh? Where we don't all have to be pedantic jack-asses.
  • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -22/+7Inaccurate. This has nothing to do with Target. It was just a doll, not an "American Girl" doll, but just some doll. Has nothing to do with Target.
    • OutThisLife, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Did you even read it?
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2Yes I did. Not once did the "stylist" mention Target.
    • jobias, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13"Silly Etta, she chose to spend her own money (a mere $29.99!) a few weeks before Christmas last year, on an 18-inch doll at Target."

      The title of this article is "Is your Doll From Target....etc". Whether or not the stylist mentioned the word "Target", it still seems to be accurate to me.
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -11/+4I'm with clikwir -- the description here on digg seems to imply that target is selling knockoff American Girl dolls. The consumerist article mentions no such thing.

      A quick search of target.com seems to confirm:
      http://www.target.com/gp/search.html?field-keywords=american+girl

      Target does not sell anything marked as an "American Girl" doll. As such, the statement "Is Your Doll From Target?? Then it's a fake!" is false. There's nothing "fake" about the dolls they sell. The dolls they sell don't pretend to be anything they're not.
    • skifreak107, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Buried for not reading the article and focusing on the important things.
  • hematochezia, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2829 comments about how mean and cruel the woman was, and not a single comment about how utterly ridiculous a HAIR SALON FOR DOLLS is.

    Come on, guys. Get with it. Let's not lose our perspective here.
    • OutThisLife, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25As boys, we used to collect pokemon cards/play games/etc. Girls like to style their dolls.

      So what? It doesn't effect you.
    • bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21Ladies and gentlemen - pogs. People used to spend money on them. They were idiotic.
      If people enjoy something enough, theres money to be made. Especially when it comes to rich families' money spent on their spoiled children.
    • gomezfreak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0I do have to admit, it is pretty ***** silly.
    • emiles, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5It's just for fun, geez.
    • praisethelard, on 06/06/2008, -0/+6I had a 3 foot tube filled with pogs!
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Ladies and Gentlemen - marbles. Some kids used to collect them.
    • TapeMan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1No no no no. The title merely means that if the product is not bought from American Girl website or any of its retailers, its "fake"
    • SpoonMachine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Haha, back in the day my dad blew $20 on a pog making machine. It's one of those things, that even though you're 5 years old at the time you still know it's a little stupid.
  • Lyph4, on 10/12/2007, -10/+4Simple solution, don't go to American Doll Bandstand Headquarters, or whatever.

    Like I said in the comments to another consumerist post, it's just whining about tiny *****.

    If you don't like the company policy, don't go. But don't expect anyone else to care.
  • pineandpalm, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Is there anymore information on this story? I know that I would not have left that store until I took over half of the people waiting in line with me. The other half (who would have been the ones snobby enough to make comments) can stay there and be embarrassed with the rest of the employees.

    Is there something somewhere that states they will only 'work' on American Dolls for the price? I was under the impression you could simply bring a doll in with you and have the work done. Of course they cram American Doll propaganda down your throat to make a sale, but I thought you had the right to bring in the doll of your choice. Is this wrong?

    If I'm right, aren't we looking at some sort of discrimination here? The fact that this employee had the audacity to make comments is a big problem--but to walk away from an easy $20 sale for the store is ridiculous. Who does that?

    As gadren put it, even my own faith in humanity is being eroded. I for one, would have made sure that whatever scene I caused would have not only made my daughter feel better (and proud) but make it SO uncomfortable that any employee that even considered acting this way again would hesitate for fear of a similar repercussion. Unfortunately, there aren't enough repercussions for actions like this--which is why they feel free to act this way. It's despicable and unnecessary and angers me every time I see it.
    • Lyph4, on 10/12/2007, -14/+2You don't have a right to be serviced by a company. If I open a store, I can turn you away for any reason, as long as it's not for skin color or beliefs (thank stupid laws for those).

      This is more a story about successfully showing how property rights work and how most people are mistaken in assuming that a building open to the public is public property.
    • pineandpalm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7That my friend, is the problem with society. You can look at it as black and white as you want, but the reality here is this is morally and ethically wrong--and was handled entirely improperly. You may not have the right to walk into a public business and demand to be waited on--but the second you are denied that service without good reason, there should be a cost for that action.

      The problem is, if this girl's mom stood outside on the public sidewalk and talked about what happened in there (just openly, not directed to anyone in particular), and people chose to not enter the building as a result, I'm willing to bet the store would call the cops and hit her with some sort of slander suit. Our country is run by corporations. Having good customer service and respect is something we should openly demand and require to do business with a company. If a company chooses to not provide this service--they should be punished in the form of lost sales. You can hide behind what the law says you can or can't do--or you can stand up for what is morally and ethically correct to make this world a better place. I remember a time where businesses worked hard for your respect and money. Now it's just assumed they don't have to give it to you since they the law says they can do what they want. It's really too bad businesses find this response acceptable. It's worse when people like you side with them and say it's ok that they do it because they're 'allowed to' according to the law. It's wrong--plain and simple. The entire situation was handled incorrectly and it's a shame that nothing can really be done about it at this point.
    • watermelongunn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Pineandpalm:

      You said "The problem is, if this girl's mom stood outside on the public sidewalk and talked about what happened in there (just openly, not directed to anyone in particular), and people chose to not enter the building as a result, I'm willing to bet the store would call the cops and hit her with some sort of slander suit."

      But in a sense she did just that by posting about it on her blog and bringing all of our attention to the situation. She will not be sued, and I dare say the company will lose money over the bad publicity. The system works fine without the additional legislation you implied it needs, and your cynicism is unwarranted. You are absolutely correct in saying that the situation was handled poorly; but that's life, and no amount of government intervention will stop people from hurting each other's feelings.
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"If I'm right, aren't we looking at some sort of discrimination here?"

      Discrimination based on "merit" is the only legal kind. A merchant can have you removed from their premises if you're not dressed right, just aren't cool enough, or don't have the right doll.
    • decorker2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11much as pineandpaim thought, the girl was turned away because the hair stylists are taught in training to only style american girl dolls. the dolls from target and the american girl dolls have totally different plastics for their hair. styling the american girl dolls is a lot different than the dolls from target. HOWEVER, this does not make up for the actions the stylist took. what is suppose to happen is the hair stylist pull the mother aside, explain to her that the doll is a "fake," and that they do not usually style her hair. she then goes on to say that, if she does style the hair, because it is not made out of the same material, it could get destroyed. if the mother decides to go ahead and pay the (outrageous) $20 to style it with the chances of it being ruined, then fine. if she decides to explain it to her daughter, that works too.

      basically, the hair stylist in that store should be fired. the action she decided to take was horrible. the fact that the other stylists did not add their two cents is bad, as well. how a manager did not get involved in this obviously loud scene, with the little girl crying and customers addings their disgusting words, is beyond me.

      the only way i know all this is because i know someone who used to work at the american girl place store in chicago. she used to tell me all sorts of stories about that hair salon.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2why digg down decorker, he really did just demystify it. Don't expect to bring your Mac to a PC repair shop and have them take the liability of repairing it if they don't know what they're doing.
    • pineandpalm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"no amount of government intervention will stop people from hurting each others feelings"

      You are exactly correct. I'm not expecting the government to step in and fix this problem. This is something we (as a society) need to step up to the plate and deal with ourselves. Much like we can't expect the law enforcement to always readily police our children (and as parents we should be teaching them right from wrong), we shouldn't wait for the government to step in and fix the fact that customer service in this country just plain sucks. As a society, we should be constantly demanding better treatment and better customer service. If I forgot to add fries to my order, let me add them without any attitude. No one should have to deal with poor treatment in a place of business--unless their actions warrant it. My cynicism is completely warranted--but I was implying that we as 'the people' need to make the change. It's the only way it will count.

      As for using the blog to get her point across--yes that works. But you typically don't see law enforcement come knocking on your door while you blog away. But, if you start up a storm on the sidewalk outside the building, it feels more 'real'--especially when you can see the direct results when people turn away. So it's kind of hard to compare the two.

      decorker...thanks for the explanation. Although it's a shame, I can understand more of where this stylist came from. Clearly she handled the situation incorrectly, but at least there is a little bit of justification for the denial of service. As much as a lot of you want to stand back and say 'they don't have to give you customer service', I find that excuse is not good enough and it does help to hear there is some sort of concrete reason why something like this would have started in the first place.

      In case you haven't noticed, bad customer service is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I'm as frustrated with consumers that accept it, as I am with the businesses that dish it out. Thank goodness for things like the Consumerist that bring episodes like this to light. Every little bit has got to help (I hope!)
    • noamsml, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Don't expect to bring your Mac to a PC repair shop and have them take the liability of repairing it if they don't know what they're doing."

      Well, would you expect to go with your mac to a PC shop and be told that it was a "fake" computer, and after that be derided by all the customers?
  • mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Wow snot nosed stylists and their hairdos... Are some people really that bad to insult a 6 year old girl and their dolly?
    I didnt even know dollies have stylists. My own haircut costs only 11$... I bet there is going to be a follow through on this story. A lot of people will come up to that stylist and tell her off.
    • clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Blame the American public for buying into the elitist attitude that comes with products. They think it makes them better to buy something that is sold as better than something else.
  • mannymix03, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/static/contactUs.jsf

    everyone should send them a nice email....
  • RedHerringHack, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Screw American Girl. Lets see the bitches fight someone their own size. You like to pick on little girls like this? My sweet little daughter has a 6'-3" 290lb DADDY that will kick your ass three different ways. I wish I had been there. I am getting sick and tired of the arrogance of your average moron on the street, and it's about time that they learned that stupidity hurts. (fuming).
    • Lyph4, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9"Hey, you have rights to refuse service to anyone you choose? I'll respond with violence!"

      Your right to swing your arm stops the instant it gets near my body.

      You have no right to be serviced by a store.
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8There's no problem that can't be solved with assault and battery.

      Except for being arrested and charged with assault and battery.
    • RedHerringHack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Some things are worth a night or two in jail.

      But I prefer to verbally abuse the cows.
    • celotil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@RedHerringHack

      Your bulk and size is an advantage, but what I find really confuses people and eventually gets their blood boiling while you feel as cool as a cucumber is polite, almost subservient, potty mouth.

      For example, when leaving a cafe where the coffee sucked, the staff were rude, and the decor filthy, why not say in a polite and cheerful manner while paying the bill (if you pay), "Thank you for that atrocious mug of tar black steaming *****, Sir, ***** you very much.", and smile and wink and laugh a little as you leave.

      The word ***** is one I would use at somewhere like the salon mentioned in the article. Perhaps saying something along the lines of, "Oh, well, I guess my little girl has to style her doll's hair herself." then covering said child's ears, "I hope you lovely ***** have a wonderful ***** up day, *charmed*."

      Anger is a reactant. Many people will respond with anger, or beat you at the game with polite force. Create confusion and outflank their verbal retaliation by hitting them with politely-toned, happy insults of the most disgusting textual base. :)
  • Shipley, on 10/12/2007, -17/+9American Girl dolls are upscale dolls, and their stores only work on American Girl dolls.

    This outrage in the comments is kind of dumb. Its like taking a toyota to a cadillac dealer in hopes they'll make your toyota look like a cadillac. Different dolls, different parts.
    • Vicille, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9Now I'm not a doll expert or anything, but I have a hunch that doll hair does not vary so much that the stylist couldn't do anything with it.
    • mandarin, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Its a doll and thats a 6 year old girl. You dont shame a 6 year old girl because her doll isnt a Cadillac dummy.

    • ninephoenixes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I agree with you on most of your points, but the ridiculous chiding that this little girl and her mother endured are well worth the outrage exhibited here. On top of that, it would not have been hard for the hairstylist to improvise.
    • Philodox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13I have no problem with a store refusing service based on products. What I do have issue with is bringing a six year old girl to tears with snobbish behaviour and other parents joining in and making fun of the girl for being "poor". I'm sure it takes a great deal of courage to make fun of a small child.
    • prockcore, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6It's like the Apple of dolls!
    • offspring06, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I think you missed the point about how rude the stylists was to a 6 year old girl.
    • Switchfoot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@shipley:

      I don't think the outrage is because it was a non-American Girl doll, but rather the absolutely horrible and elitist way a 6 year-old girl was treated by the store and _other_ mothers. Heaven knows that the girl should know there is actually a difference between her doll and that doll the other girls are holding!

      I mean, I believe it probably wasn't the best idea to take a non-American Girl doll to their store, but come on. The girl's friend invited her. What are you going to say to _your_ daughter if she asked?

      "No, honey. Your doll isn't the same as little Susie's and they won't take you."
  • diktator279, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Where's an arsonist when you need one...
  • mannymix03, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12also wtf, that hairstylist thinks they can say that *****?

    you ***** are a doll hair stylist, get the ***** over yourself
  • Sneakernets, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Poor little girl.
    Come to my city where we don't refuse business. it's not just southern tradition- it's the law.
  • shaej, on 10/12/2007, -12/+3Can we stop posting and digging up every single story from The Consumerist?
    • Sneakernets, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11because maybe I like to know who/what company employs assholes?
    • bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Okay, I'll do as you ask. I'll also ignore Lew Rockwell postings, PS3 postings, Wii postings, Apple postings, and everything else that people bitch about. Just for you. Are you happy?
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If you don't like 'em, then why the hell do you read 'em?
  • johnstar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Aren't real dolls like 3000$? I wish I had one I'd get its hair cut!

    www.realdoll.com
    • merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That'd be a kickass prank.

      Take a realdoll into a supercuts. Bonus points if you can get 'em to trim the pubes. Video tape. Post on youtube. Profit.
  • mr.hostility, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3Waaaaahhhhh....waaaaaaahhhhh. Why is the Internet everyone's universal crying ground?(I mean the mother, not the child) Life sucks, better to learn that when you are young.
  • Fogdelune, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I guess the hairstylist couldn't get a job doing REAL hair, so she had to pump herself up by saying she did REAL doll hair.
  • marinist, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4I'm not so surprised by someone being a bitch in NYC--but actually paying for a "makeover" for a kid's doll? W.T.F Wasn't that the point of dolls for kids--they get to do it themselves?
    I can't believe the BS stuff parents pay for.
    • eggo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Next up; pre-assembled LEGOs! All the fun without that tedious building, imagination or activity.
    • qber, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6And I suppose paying hundreds of dollars on a trading card whose ink and the paper it's printed on are worth maybe 1 cent... or paying a monthly fee for the privilege of wasting hours and hours of your life away on a virtual world... that makes complete sense, right?
    • marinist, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@qber

      Whatever. I don't see the correlation with rare baseball cards or surfing the net.
      When I read the article, it was like you're paying adults to play with a kid's doll.
      But so what? It was really a rant about parents buying ridiculous crap for kids
      Like my neighbors who buy motorized cars for their kids, or build their kid a special room w/hot tub, grand piano, etc. Spoiled Hilfiger brat stuff.
  • john2kx, on 10/12/2007, -7/+4I'm disgusted not by the fact that they refused to style this girl's doll's hair, but by the fact that a business actually exists and sustains itself on STYLING DOLLS' HAIR..
    This earns a large WTF.
    • ropers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4To each his own. I'd rather tolerate doll hair salons than live a joyless existence in a uniformly bland world.
  • slickwilly007, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3if it's a "fake doll," does that make it a "real person?"
  • JonnyTrombone, on 10/12/2007, -8/+5Thank you, Digg. Without these constant articles from The Consumerist, I'd never know how one isolated incident means that a whole company is full of bastards who would refuse to charge a six year old autodidact $20 to pretty up her doll's hair.
  • darkwolfbc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5That article said nothing about Target selling fake or knockoff dolls. The title of this is very misleading. I feel bad for the girl. Its sad that we have such heartless people in this world.
  • chesskid3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Well, I certainly won't be getting my cousin any american girl acessories for her birthday now.
  • ropers, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Arrogant, mean, stuck-up. I'm at a loss for appropriate words for "American Girl" and the hubris of the other customers there.
    Are they in the business of making young girls cry? Yes, I agree, it's not the end of the world and nobody died*, but this kind of condescension is still beneath contempt.


    --
    * extra bonus points for the first posters to bring up Iraq and/or Hitler, if that hasn't happened already :-/
    (this footnote doesn't qualify of course)
  • bherring, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Lets let the American Girl company know about this. Maybe if enough of us send them the link to the story, they will bend over backwards to make this up to the kid.

    God, the snobbery in this story makes me want to puke.
  • Leo55, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I guess it would be 'fair' if the hair styling thing was provided free for everyone who purchases the real thing but they make 20 bucks off it!
    The least they could do is it help the little girl and make her happy.
    • Pthalio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Exactly. I could see them turning her away if this was a free service provided to people who bought their dolls. The fact that they charge $20 bucks for it seems they could have accommodated her somehow.
      And regardless of the company's policies, to treat a child like that is horrible. Even if they wanted to refuse to style the dolls hair it could have been handled with way more tact. What makes it all the worse is the other mothers.. I can't believe one person could be so mean to a kid but then to have the other mothers as well... If it had been my kid i'd have lost it.

      Also $100 bucks for a doll is unbelievable.
  • vanguardanon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6My daughter is 7 and she has an American Girl doll. She actually has a few high end dolls and a bunch of less expensive dolls. Some were presents from her grandparents. The real difference between them, aside from the material in the clothes, is the hair. Most doll's hair turns into a rat's nest and it's almost impossible to get it looking decent again. When you brush the hair actually pulls out of the doll's skull. Better dolls have better hair and it's more manageable to style. American girl dolls spend particular attention to their hair. They also sell DVDs that teach you how to style it. (Side note: My daughter made me watch it and now I can do my daughter's her before school.)

    The article made it seem like the only reason her low end doll wasn't taken care of is that it she wasn't a member of some stupid club. The truth is that she brought in something that's just a whole lot harder to work with. Now when she started crying I would have helped her out, just like the stylist should have. I'm just trying to explain that the stylist was looking at a job that was three times harder because it wasn't made from the same materials.
  • omyard, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It's a doll. Aren't all dolls fake? I never knew some dolls were better then others.

    What a bitch.
  • hiikeeba, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3Remind me the next time I buy a laptop with Windows to call Apple's tech support. I'm sure they'd be happy to help me. And maybe I can join the class action suit against Menu Foods for poisoning my pet even though I don't buy their brands.
    • PopcornDave, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Only if your grandparents eat pet food.
  • mikejonas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5This brought back sad memories of when I brought my Go-Bot to the Transformers store for a tune-up. :(
  • Nadsofed, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3The mother shouldn't know better. American Doll store is a store that sells American Doll(TM) Dolls and accessories. It has a restaurant and doll hair salon and doll hospital that caters to American Dolls and their owners. It's a very cute store. The mother convinced the kid that her doll was the same thing. Anybody with half a brain could tell you would need a real American Doll and bringing in something close only looks like your trying to be clever and cheap.

    Granted the girl bought it with her own money (says the Mom) but how much you want to bet it was cause she wanted a n American Girl Doll and the mom said this is the same thing.
  • WaterDragon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Does anyone else find it terribly wrong that there even IS a 'salon' for dolls? ...and then they go and charge little kids $20.

    And the greedy bastards who run that 'salon' scam even offer a facial scrub....for a friggin' doll!
    Why does a non-living, miniature plastic replica of a person need a facial scrub?
    And those who buy it, or allow their kids to buy and pay for oit are just as idiotic. It is because of these asinine, spoiled rotten consumers, that sleazy corporations can get away with such scams!
    People ought to be teaching their kids to avoid getting scammed like that!

    What is next? Perhaps a movie theater for pet goldfish! For $20, you can leave the fish bowl on this table, and we'll show your fish a movie. F**king idiots!

    What a sick, pathetic, out-of-control materialistic culture we have here.
    I guess the (spoiled rotten) kids are all 'in training', to better participate in the fully fascistic culture (as in 'government and everything else controlled by the corporations') that is emerging in America!



    • sulf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Unfortunately you will be dugg down, although I agree with you. I think the same way every time I see some stupid dog clothes or similar stuff in those gift catalogs.
    • supersly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1As our economy becomes more and more service based you'll see even more of this *****. We can't make essential goods cheaply anymore so we have to think of more and more ridiculous ways to employ people, ways that require little training or skill, and that can be marked way up.

      Here's an idea. Make a doll for your kid out of some old tee shirts or pillow cases. And don't feel like you need to go buy a sewing machine to do it. Needle and thread, baby! That's it! They'll remember and probably keep it for the rest of their lives and someday when you're gone they'll hold it and think of you. Meanwhile "American Doll" or whatever it's called will be sitting in a festering ooze of consumer waste...

      Resist the temptation to buy at every chance you get...get out of debt...and save as much as you can. And if you have a void in your life make a conscious effort to fill it with something that doesn't cost you much -- if anything. Remember that corporate America tries to sell us other people's successes every day, successes that won't be replicated by maxing out a credit card and buying the latest multimedia gadget - creative or otherwise.
  • dralezero, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2http://www.realdoll.com/ (nsfw)
    Do these qualify for haircuts then? They are almost alive they are so real.
  • Xert, on 10/12/2007, -0/+71. American Girl employees are assholes.
    2. Any mother that teaches her daughter that it's a good thing to go pay twenty bucks so someone else can play with your doll's hair for you is teaching her a materialistic, image-conscious perspective far more damaging.
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