Long Island Doll Hospital
Southold · New York · 33 years
A long-running doll and bear repair shop on Long Island, run by Jan, that also takes stuffed animals and Steiff pieces. They clean, restuff, mend tears and replace eyes, they keep original parts wherever they can, and they do not touch porcelain.
Getting hold of them
- (631) 765-2379
- Their own site
- You can walk in at 45395 Main Road, Southold, 11971
When they are open
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- 12pm to 5pm
- Saturday
- 12pm to 5pm
- Sunday
- 12pm to 5pm
As published by the business on Yelp. Ring before travelling.
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
- Restuffing
- Cleaning on its own
- Eyes and noses
- Joints
- Fire, flood and smoke
- Valuations
Works in leather pads, wool felt, mohair.
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.
- Won't quote from photos. Needs it in hand first
- Won't accept anything by mail until they give you a date to send it
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.
- “SORRY NO PORCELAIN REPAIRS”
Getting it there
- Takes work by mail
- You can bring it in
- Works on site. It does not go away with them.
- Comes back standard
Money
- Will not quote until it is in their hands. Looking at it costs nothing
Anything else they say
- INSURANCE CLAIMS-APPRAISALS-PUFF BACKS-WATER DAMAGE
- All work done on premises.
- Member of the following: Doll Doctors Association Schoenhut Club Steiff Club UFDC
- We also have supplies available in our shop. Stands, wigs, vintage doll clothes, changing inventory of carriages, doll chairs, beds, cradles, tea sets, doll house furniture etc.
- STEIFF ANIMALS AND STUFFED ANIMAL S-Cleaned, restuffed, tears, rips, parts when available