Thursday, September 26, 2013

Texas A&M Ken, Finally!

Texas A&M Ken Yell Team Ken

After the sellout at BarbieCollector.com several months ago, I missed this guy at Walmart.com when first offered there, too.  Their stock was recently replenished and I immediately ordered Texas A&M Ken.  His initial photo is shown above.  In the next photo, someone attempts to expedite his freedom.

Model 17 (Floyd) tries to assist Texas A&M Ken to freedom.


I will eventually debox him and discard the box.  Before that happens, I took a photo of the back of the box which illustrates the Texas A&M War Hymn.


Obviously cut from the same mold, these guys have very subtle differences.  Floyd's hair is lighter.  Ken's lips appear a little fuller.  The outline of his eyes is darker than Floyd's and Ken's complexion has more red undertones.


The biggest difference between these two obvious closely related dolls is Ken's several points of articulation on his pivotal Harley Ken body.   I look forward to seeing how well he moves.  Floyd will probably be filled with envy because his MaleMuse body severely restricts his movement. 

The doll world needs more articulated males with deep complexions in a variety of head sculpts.  Mattel, are you listening?
 
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17 comments:

  1. Just got mine too. Missed him the first time just like you will probably regret not ordering two. Will have to enjoy the one I got as soon as I figure out who he is. and let him out the box.

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  2. Congratulations on getting yours, Mustiwait. I probably will regret not getting two since they are now sold out again at Walmart.com. Trying to curtail my doll spending prevented me from ordering more than one for myself.

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  3. Congratulations on this newest and poseable member of your collection! I love the reddish tones ... looks warmer ;-)

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  4. I absolutely love your blog and your dolls. Thank goodness you exist!!!!

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    1. You are too sweet, April_n_Paris! Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoy my blog!

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  5. Debbie, That Is SO Cool,My Friend!
    We finally get this awesome boy almost at the same time!!
    Mine arrived today!(I made a posting on DOLL PASSION!)
    I'm very happy that I had the lucky to find him by a brazilian seller exactly from the city I live SΓ£o Paulo(Brasil).Well now you and I will have lots of fun deboxing and shooting him among our dolls.
    Congrats Friend!! See You Around!!
    Hugs And Best Wishes Of a Nice Weekend!!

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    1. Thank you for the congrats, Jorge! Congrats to you as well. Yes, we will certainly enjoy deboxing and photographing our new guys. I am so glad you were able to get one, too.

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  6. "I like the way you move, I like the way you move". I may have to go dancing tonight. Congrats on getting him. Nice that the two sculpts are a little different. They can be twins.

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  7. I'm so happy that you've got your doll! Thanks for the side-by-side comparisons and for pointing out the difference between the 2. I have not compared my 2 yet. My doll is still in his box for now, and I kind of wish that I had ordered 2, also. I like Floyd's shirt and his belt.

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    1. Thanks, Roxanne. Floyd's shirt and belt are from the Barbie Basics Look No. 04 Collection 002 as shown here.

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  8. Whuuuut?! I didn't know these were available at Walmart on line. I hope they get him in the stores.

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    1. Yes, Ken made a brief return to Walmart.com, Muff. By the time I posted this (a little over week after I received my doll) they had sold out again.

      I heard that quantities were supposed to be available in Target stores in September. This is the last day of and unless he arrived last week, my Target store has not had any.

      Walmart.com might replenish their supply a third time. They do offer free Site to Store shipping in available areas, which is what I used for my order that totaled $27.03 with tax.

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  9. I removed my first post because I realized it should be a NEW comment rather than a reply on another comment so here goes:

    Oh Debbie - I have a horror story with this doll! I bought one on eBay from a reputable seller & paid way too much but less than what most of these ripoff sellers are charging. Anyway, I took him out of the box yesterday and realized that the seams of his lower arms are all uneven which wasn't a terrible thing BUT the HORROR is that his flocked hair started flaking off!! I've opened a case on eBay and will pursue return/refund whether the seller is amenable of not!! I had a feeling about this particular doll - he was SOLD OUT via Mattel almost before he was available for sale!! I called Mattel to complain because I was thinking maybe this was one of their ways of driving their popularity & pricing up sky-high. However, soon after Mattel had run out, multiple sellers had loads of this doll to sell at rocket-high prices. I'm probably going to have to fight this one out with the seller but I know eBay will stand behind me based on my volume of purchases over many years with a very low percentage of problems. It is my humble opinion that because of the shortage when Mr. Handsome was first introduced, Mattel may have decided to box up and sell even those dolls that wouldn't have passed quality control inspections!! How could a brand-new doll fresh out of the box have flaking hair which has already created a 1/4" bald spot? I try not to be too picky otherwise I'd reject 99% of all new Mattel items but for the price this guy was originally listed at, I would definitely expect better quality.

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    1. I am so sorry you received a lemon of a doll Fiery Dragon Lady. I have heard of one other person who received a Texas A&M Ken from Barbiecollector.com with a split arm seam. She returned it to them for an exchange, but by the time they received it, the doll had sold out at Barbiecollector.com. They eventually replaced her doll, so either quantities were not truly sold out or they replenished stock for vendors like Walmart.com and issued her one of those.

      I certainly hope you get a refund from the eBay seller. It may take a while for the entire process to get resolved due to eBay's dispute and claim procedure, but things should work out in your favor. Please let me know what happens and thanks for sharing. This lets me know the other collector's damaged doll was not an isolated occurrence. I think everyone who still has their dolls boxed, me included, should remove them immediately for a thorough examination.

      This is so disappointing.

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