How far will your US$35 go?

I got everything from the above photo for a total of less than US$35 -- one doll and 2 fashion sets. Mattel is selling the 45th Anniversary Black Barbie for the same price. That's one doll with less articulation and a fashion set. 

With high inflation rates all over the world, I wonder how Mattel will survive with Chinese brands as competition. Not by short-changing their customers, I hope. Wait until you learn how much the executives and  the CEO from Mattel get.

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Please note that while I patronize the Chinese brand, because it's a more economical option, I am against the Chinese government in invading our territories.

I'm not really a fan of the Xianxian doll heads. All, but one, of my Xianxian dolls have been body donors. Even if I am liking them so far, I have enough of the current skin tones. If there will be new skin tones available, a tan or a darker one, I'd buy those in an instant. I'm not gonna rebody all of my dolls. I still like some body diversity. 

 

Terryist

 

The New Clone on the Block

Xianxian Princess dolls may not be cloning Barbie, but they do appeal to the adult Barbie collectors. Considered as an IT doll clone, they offer the FR vibe (minus the fashion sense), but come at playline Barbie  prices. (Note: Prices may have gone up since I first ordered but there are still other sellers/apps offering at lower prices.)

The 1st doll I got (above) including the two fashion sets shown (sold separately; the hat came with the swimsuit set but the wedge shoes are from my collection) costs less than the discounted Barbie Looks dolls (the ones with the pastel 90s looks)! The Barbie Looks doll came with just one meh look.

The Xianxian Princess dolls only come in two skin tones and I won't be expecting more. There's another clone doll (Mengf) that offers more skin tones but I haven't tried them. I tried another unknown clone doll body and I had a problem color-matching it with Barbie heads. That failure kept me from trying Mengf specially since Mengf doll bodies cost at least twice as much as Xianxian dolls and even that unknown doll body. At least, Xianxian comes with its own head, in case none of the Barbies match.