Doll, Teddy & Toy Repair Service
Location not stated
A doll, teddy and toy repair service run by Hilary and Dave that stopped taking repairs in 2009. The site is now left up as a reference of question-and-answer pages about doll and teddy problems, and it points visitors to an Other Hospitals page instead.
Getting hold of them
Email is the way in. They do not take cold calls.
If it gets lost
Not stated
This is a blank on their page, not an answer from them. We have never asked anybody in this trade the question. Of the 185 businesses we have read, 4 have written anything down about losing an item: 2 say it is insured, 2 say the risk is yours. The other 181 are silent, and silence is not a policy either way.
If you would rather not have to phrase it
“Before I send it, can I ask what happens if it gets lost or damaged while it’s with you? I’m not trying to catch you out, it just can’t be replaced. Whatever the answer is, could you put it in an email so I’ve got it in writing?”
“No, we don’t cover it” is a fine answer to get. It tells you to insure the post yourself for the full amount, both ways.
If it is lost or damaged
Their website does not say what happens if your item is lost or damaged while they have it.
Ask before you post anything you could not replace. Only four of the businesses we hold publish an answer to this.
What they take on
- Full restoration and rebuilds
- Mending and seams
- Restuffing
- Cleaning on its own
- Joints
What they won’t do
The part every other directory leaves out. None of this is a criticism. It is how you avoid three wasted weeks.
- Plush only. They don't work on dolls
Their exact words on what they refuse
Quoted from their own pages, unedited, because a paraphrase of a refusal is the kind of thing you find out was wrong three weeks in.
- “We CLOSED the repair service in 2009 and are no longer taking repairs.”
- “Can I get the rooted hair replaced on my old doll? I am afraid that I know of no one willing to take on this task for you.”
- “Replacement of fingers on soft plastic dolls is extremely difficult and often impossible due to the absence of materials which will reliably stick to these types of plastic.”
- “I have a doll that has lost a leg, is there any chance of finding a near match? This is very unlikely.”
- “Limb sockets on all types of dolls apart from rubbery plastic ones and thin waxy ones (example) are repairable.”
Getting it there
- Drop-off only, no post
- Nowhere to bring it. Everything comes by post
Money
- Fixed menu of prices, so you know before you send it
Anything else they say
- Please see the Other Hospitals page to see if there is another hospital who can help
- Some bears were stuffed with foam chips and as time goes by the foam breaks up so that all that is left is a brown sticky powder inside a very flat teddy.
- Current regulations forbid the use of wood shavings in teddies for children and since it is not washable it is not a practical solution.
- Whilst the teddy is empty it is a good time to give him a wash.
- Hard plastic limbs can be repaired (and missing pieces reformed) but usually have to be repainted to disguise the repair and there may be a noticeable, but slight, difference in colour and finish.
- It is possible to replace fingers for hard plastic and composite dolls, but you must be aware that there will need to be some repainting involved.