NYC Lovey Repair
New York · New York
A mother-and-daughter stuffed animal repair service in New York, whose six-year-old president once said the business would run until she was a grown-up. Their work is lovely and their last post is from February 2013, announcing a brief hiatus until spring.
Getting hold of them
They work from their own form, so start there.
If your case is urgent, say so in the first sentence. They make exceptions and they will not think to ask.
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 mail yourself for the full amount, both ways.
Nobody has told us who covers the outward leg. Ask, because that is the half people forget.
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
- Memory bears from clothing
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.
- Doesn't say whether you can bring it in person
Getting it there
- Takes work by mail
- Doesn’t say whether you can bring it in
- Comes back standard
Money
- Fixed menu of prices, so you know before you send it
Anything else they say
- Their Secret Cholly job, building a new lovey around the remains of the old one, is the most thoughtful answer to an unrepairable toy anywhere in this dataset.