Playmates Toys

I absolutly cannot find an African American Amazing Baby. I have seen the doll, both black and white online several times, but it is never available for sale. The doll is however available in stores that i have checked, but is only available in white.

My little girl was very upset and disappionted when I gave her the (white) amazing baby because I had previously showed her the amazing baby (black) online. I had to explain to to my 7 year old that (black) amazing baby was not available. I had looked everywhere for the doll. I am not the only African American mother to have this problem.

I received a Christmas catalog from J.C. Penney showing the "Amazing Ally" doll in Caucasian and African-American. A note indicated to order the doll after 09/10/99.

I placed my order for the doll (African-American) on 09/16/99. Within 2 weeks I received a letter from J.C. Penney stating that the doll was on back order and it would be shipped on or before 10/23/99.

No problem I thought as this is a Christmas present for my 7 year old daughter. Within a week of the 10/23/99 date, I received another notice telling me that the doll would be shipped on or before 11/03/99. Again, no problem.

I was contacted by J.C. Penney yet again on 10/29/99 indicating that the doll will be delivered on or before 11/29/99.

At this point I started searching the Internet. I found the doll on the Internet at Toys R Us and FAO Schwartz. The doll was only offered on the Internet in Caucasian. I contacted FAO Schwartz and inquired if the doll was available for purchase thru retail and was told that the doll was only offered in Caucasian, not African-American.

I then sent an e-mail to Playmates Toys on Friday 10/29/99 and inquired as to why the African-American doll was not yet for sale retail. I received no response from the company, so I sent a second e-mail on Tuesday 11/2/99. I sent a third and final e-mail to Playmates on 11/3/99. I also have filed a complaint with the BBB.

This experience has left a very bad taste in my mouth.

We also wrote to the company but received no response.