Joy Doll Hospital
Location not stated
A registered charity that restores donated dolls and gifts them to girls in children's homes or removed from their families, and takes paid repair work to fund it. Their doll doctor is the youngest member of the Doll Doctors Association and one of very few specialising in American Girl dolls.
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 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
- Cleaning on its own
- Eyes and noses
- 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.
- Restores to as-new unless you say otherwise
- 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
- A qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit. Paying for a repair here funds a doll for a child awaiting adoption.
- One of very few American Girl specialists outside Mattel's own service.
- Downgraded from stated to inferred by the claim audit. They say beautification, not cleaning.