I guess it's mine turn to put in my 2 cents worth. I like Gene for her 40's image, but like Barbara, there wasn't enough of that particular era & too many dolls & too expensive outfits. I only bought one Gene this year. Can you guess which one? The 1940's Bride. The other outfits I got from last year, I bought on sale... Gene may have run her course. I don't like Madra & I don't like Trent... Not sure about Violet; have only seen one "in person" & wasn't much impressed.
 
Tyler doesn't do it for me either. Her face is nondescript (though I have seen some elegant repaints) & the clothes are too high fashion/modern & expensive!
 
I'm not really impressed with the other 15 1/2" dolls, though I love redressing my Elles. And, basically, I guess I'm more of an 11 1/2" fashion doll fan. Can't wait to see if they ever make the 12" Emme....
Melissa 

I used to buy Gene and especially the outfits.  Two things really stopped my enthusiasm: 1.  To many dolls were being released and too few outfits and 2. The price went up, but the number of and quality of accessories went down.  I also think the outfits in the last year have been uninspiring.  I collect vintage clothes from the 1940s and 1950s and the design team has hardly tapped into the design possibilities from that period.  Its very disappointing.
 
I have never gotten into the Tonner dolls.  Their faces just don't appeal to me.  I like the new Madame Alexander  fashion dolls--Alex and friends.  But I see MA making the same mistake of to many dolls being released a year and not enough outfits. (Can you tell I like to redress my dolls?)  Again these can be pricey, so I tend to limit myself to only buying dolls or outfits that I really, really like.  After all for a $100 MA or Gene, I can buy 4 or 5 new Candi's, Alyssa's, Janay's or Lollipop girls that I really like.
 
Barbara
 
 
I thought I'd make a foray over to ebay to see what the prices are on Genes these days.
Definitely still in the basement, if not through to the root cellar. 
 
There was a time, a couple of years ago that the Premiere Gene was fetching, easily
$500.  I was expecting to see this price to remain steady.  But if I go by the one listing for this doll, the seller was willing to sell the doll for the "Buy It Now" price of $399.  What a drop!  She started the bidding at $49.99 and I guess bidders think they can beat the $399 price because no one took the offer. 
 
Has Ashton-Drake practically killed this doll line with their over-zealous over-production of newer dolls?  Or has Ashton-Drake managed to cheapen the Gene image in ways I can't articulate?  Then again, is it possible that the doll's genre is so limiting that other 15.5" dolls, like the Tonner dolls, relate better to collectors because of their current fashion statements?  I just don't follow the doll trends as closely but from what I read on this List, Tonner's larger dolls do seem to have a greater appeal than the Genes.  Is this correct?
 
What is the perceived state of interest for Gene-line dolls?  Pat Brown