Hi Randall and all, I frequently am irritated at high end Barbies. I don't buy very many, and when I do, I feel like they ought to be extra perfect at those prices. I am especially upset with unfinished seems etc, because that is just poor quality control, and in some cases just poor design. I really don't like things that don't fit, or do not go on the doll well. I am sure Mattel thinks that everyone keeps their precious babies still in the box, but when I buy a gift set, I want to play! I only have two of the silkstones. The first Brunette, and the Dusk to Dawn gift set. I also bought the first Lunch at the Club fashion. After that I thought they got rather high priced for what you get, and I really didn't need that many of them. I liked the look of the Continental Holiday set, but after I saw it in person I was over it, and Randall, you made me decide I probably don't need the Model Life gift set either. I liked the fashions in that one, but if they are finished that poorly, I will find something else to buy. Like that would be a problem!!! I am getting spoiled by the quality on the Integrity stuff! The Weekender gift sets were so cool, who needs Babs?

Kathy M.

At 10:12 PM 3/26/2003 EST, you wrote:

If I remember correctly a couple of you collect Silkstones. I just got my A Model Life giftset this morning and I wanted to post some comments to the list.

I started out by just deboxing the doll and immediately found three big

snags

in her hose. I was very put off by this so I called Mattel. Basically I was told that since she is such a high end doll they do not have any replacement parts. She offered to give me a $10 gift certificate that could be used at major chain stores like KMart, Target, etc. Since I try not to buy Barbie dolls from such places I was not happy with this offer. Before getting off the phone and being very upset I asked her if she could offer anything else to try and make amends. She said I could return the doll and they would refund the purchase price. This usually takes quite a while though. I told her I would have to think about it and decide what I wanted to do. Then I discovered that she was missing a setting in her right earring ... then I deboxed the rest of the items and found more problems. The ruffles on the blouse are not even hemmed and they look as though they're on the verge of raveling. There's no way I would attempt to put them through the sleeves of the jacket, I'm sure it would destroy them. Included in this set are several model com cards with a book to put them in. Cute idea but they had tape across the back of all of them so that they would display well in the box.

Of

course, after I removed the tape sticky residue was all over the backs and they stuck together. The belt with this set looks great but is really non-functional. There is a tiny s-hook but it was completely closed and was VERY difficult to open even with needle nose pliers.

The suggested retail for this set is $100. I have been satisfied with all of my other silkstone items but I think that they should have done a much

better

job with this one. I am going to call Mattel again tomorrow and see what I can work out for a replacement.

Oh, and on a similar note I am scared to put Continental Holiday's coat on for feat of breaking her thumb. Have any of you had trouble with this?

Randall

Frivolities Antiques Ft. Collins, CO

I wouldn't waste the time calling them. Put everything back in the box with an itemized list detailing the problems you have with the set and ask for a replacement set or a refund to your credit card. You did pay with credit card, I hope. This is always the easiest way to make amends on purchases like this because the company can immediately give your money back by making a credit to your card. If you sent any other payment, they always get huffy because the accounting nightmare is more trouble to them than it is to you waiting for the money to be returned. That's what I would do. Like you, I would not be at all satisfied with a gift certificate from any of the discount retailers as you will never get a doll that will appease you for this expensive purchase. Regards, Pat Brown ----- Original Message ----- From: Choic4guys@aol.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 10:12 PM Subject: OR: venting about Silkstone Barbie troubles

If I remember correctly a couple of you collect Silkstones. I just got my

A

Model Life giftset this morning and I wanted to post some comments to the list.

I started out by just deboxing the doll and immediately found three big

snags

in her hose. I was very put off by this so I called Mattel. Basically I

was

told that since she is such a high end doll they do not have any

replacement

parts. She offered to give me a $10 gift certificate that could be used at major chain stores like KMart, Target, etc. Since I try not to buy Barbie dolls from such places I was not happy with this offer. Before getting off the phone and being very upset I asked her if she could offer anything

else

to try and make amends. She said I could return the doll and they would refund the purchase price. This usually takes quite a while though. I told her I would have to think about it and decide what I wanted to do. Then I discovered that she was missing a setting in her right earring ... then I deboxed the rest of the items and found more problems. The ruffles on the blouse are not even hemmed and they look as though they're on the verge of raveling. There's no way I would attempt to put them through the sleeves

of

the jacket, I'm sure it would destroy them. Included in this set are

several

model com cards with a book to put them in. Cute idea but they had tape across the back of all of them so that they would display well in the box.

Of

course, after I removed the tape sticky residue was all over the backs and they stuck together. The belt with this set looks great but is really non-functional. There is a tiny s-hook but it was completely closed and

was

VERY difficult to open even with needle nose pliers.

The suggested retail for this set is $100. I have been satisfied with all

of

my other silkstone items but I think that they should have done a much

better

job with this one. I am going to call Mattel again tomorrow and see what I can work out for a replacement.

Oh, and on a similar note I am scared to put Continental Holiday's coat on for feat of breaking her thumb. Have any of you had trouble with this?

Randall