I don't agree. I feel Claudia's instructions came directly from Annette.

A dealer I spoke with in the late 1990's said Annette was very tough to deal with and was not nice at all to her dealers.

I recall hearing similar stories, to be honest, but I think how she treats her dealers and customers is different. I do think she has tried in recent years to empathize with collectors and has shown improvement with that. The Open Days are a sign of that.

I think it is not realistic to expect every direction and little instruction is filtered through Annette. I think that at the end of the day she has really little to do with repairs unless a problem is escalated so I honestly don't understand your strong dislike for her, Joyce. I don't think she is the easiest person to deal with, however, I do feel as a person her heart is in the right place as evidenced by her public appearances and interactions with collectors over recent years.

I HAVE MET MS. HIMSTEDT TWICE...AT DOLL SIGNINGS...I TAKE HER AS A PERSON WHO LIKES TO BE IN CONTROL BUT VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THE CUSTOMERS WANTS.....SHE WAS NICE...FRIENDLY.....LANGUAGE BARRIER IS KEY FACTOR HERE ALSO...AND CULTRUAL....I ADMIRE PEOLPE WHO CAN SPEAK TWO LANUAGES....BUT UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T KNOW ALL THE TOUCHY FEELY THINGS ...I HAD A CORRESPONDANCE WITH DANIEL....HE VOICED THEY NEVER KNOW THE DECISION SHE WILL MAKE.....2006 MANY BAD THINGS HAPPEN..ANRGY THAT HER HIGH PRICED DOLLS BEING SOLD ON EBAY....COLLECTORS DID NOT LIKE THE GOLD DUST..SO LAID THE BRICKS OF ANGER, WHICH IS THE WEAKEST FOUNDATION FOR ANYONE...LISA
I BLAME EBAY........LOL

LISA...this is VERY interesting to hear.

It is something that i think all of us questioned and assumed was the start of the breakdown for AH company.....but were never told that in so many words. It is interesting to hear that in fact 2006 was the start and root of her issues as a company.

Too many dolls, a collection that the majority of collectors could not "sink their teeth into", and being stuck with all the dolls on her shelf and dealer shelf STILL! She pulled out of toy fair after that year, she dropped 90% of her dealers that year, the ebay thing was widespread and INCLUDED many dealers dumping them. The fact that she refused to let dealers "pick and choose" which dolls to buy (as they knew what their customer base was ordering) and forcing them to buy so many of one doll, just to get the coveted ones. I think all of these things were a HUGE factor in the issues that bagan to arise. (NOW we know that year is also the root of the green dot issue).

Perhaps too grand a vision, too rushed a schedule, and wanting too much control, was her demise in the end. sort of the ripple effect I assumed, but it is nice to hear that they are acknowledging this. It truly is a shame as 2005-2006 is when the majority of her collectors found her dolls (from what i see and hear on many forums). I hate to see ANYone be forced out of business. i think the economy was the final blow.

Thanks for this info lisa......very interesting in deed.

Hugs

Elisabeth

I have to be honest in saying that I'd probably be angry if I were Annette in 2006 as well.

First, the whole gold versus no gold thing. Collectors FREAKED that year. I'm not talking mild discussions about the whole thing. I'm talking FREAKED OUT. Now, in hindsight a lot of those people went back on their decision and bought gold dolls. Some didn't. Personally, I bought one of each. And everyone who has the gold remarks on how subtle it is. But, at the time, people were angry and upset and sad and emailing and talking and complaining and, well, I think it would have hurt my feelings, too, if I had been standing in Annette's shoes. BUT, to her credit, she adjusted her vision to better appeal to the collectors. So, control issues, yes. But not when it comes to her collectors. There, she is willing to compromise.

I do think, however, her attitude towards collectors is VERY different than that with employees and dealers. Many dealers depended on Annette's dolls for MANY years. She knew she could push them and get away with it, and I daresay that few on this forum would have acted any differently. What we put up with and do at work can sometimes be very different from what we put up with and do in our personal lives. And, I'm as guilty as anyone about knowing which people I can push a little to make my life easier in my professional life.

And then, there is the whole "touchy feely" thing. I'm not all warm and fuzzy and I think people who act this way are totally fake. Except Elisabeth. She IS warm and fuzzy with strawberries and whipped cream on top. But, that aside, I definitely feel Annette is not the warm and fuzzy type. Her father died when she was young and she blacked out the years after his death. Why? Well, duh. Traumatic childhood experience. And this tells me she can distance herself from herself so it is very likely she would distance herself from other people. And, to be even more honest, I don't think she is fun to work with. But, brilliant people are generally not "people people". They are so much in their own heads and in their own work that they don't really know how to relate with people or to relate to people beyond their own frame of reference and experiences.

As for the "control freak", well, if I invested my life and millions of dollars into a factory, believe me, I'd be a control freak. But, I wouldn't read every email that came into the company, because I wouldn't understand it. It would need to be translated and for that an element of freedom would need to be given to the employees. Saying that, however, I personally received a letter from Annette apologizing for Wanipanda. I knew she wrote it because there were grammar mistakes and she signed it. I am 110% positive that she was completely unaware of the first time Wanipanda was sent back. But she was made aware only the second time after I complained and after Ulrike talked to her about it. To be honest, I received the impression that the staff don't talk to Annette about much at all unless they absolutely must. This was when Ulrike indicated that she had a "good relationship" with Annette because she had worked there a long time. This means that some employees don't and it is very likely they tell her nothing.

The factory closure - that was Annette's decision. The green dot issue and how it was dealt with? I think that was most likely a bit more complex. It was too messy to be highly controlled (which is more Annette's style) and I don't think it was as simple as Annette telling the repair department what to do. I think the repair department flew solo wth that for awhile. And they bungled it up. And the results, although not released publicly, likely proved that employees bungled up the vinyl pouring just as they bungled up porcelain production in 2005.

I think the factory shut down has to do with control. She couldn't control the out of control quality issues. When employees can't do their jobs and create hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair costs, well, there really isn't any point to having the business in that form. Something has to change.

But only my view. To each his/her own.

I LIKE YOUR VIEW SHAWNAH......MS. HIMSTEDT IS A GOOD PERSON....THOSE OR THESE BEAUTIFUL DOLLS COULD NOT BE CREATED ...FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN A BEAUTIFUL HEART.....MY DEEPEST FELT OPINION..... LISA

Yes, I now have a green dot on a doll (Ilvi) and there's no such thing as long excessive heat in Denmark. Our two last Summers have been restricted to a single weekend in June and since they say it can't happen during the short shipment time, it shouldn't happen during our Danish "Summers" either.

I'm sure that the fact that the blue streak and the green dot came on the same limb shows something, whereas the rest of the doll is fine. And I don't split my dolls to put some limbs in the sun and others not. But like Lori says, it really doesn't matter now, the factory is soon history.

I'm just lucky I live close by the factory and won't be that much bothered by shipping costs as the rest of you. But even I can feel the costs of sending a few dolls to repair (Nuala has a blue streak, too and Milina came brand new with a rub from the ties).

Ok..deep breath-I wasnt going to pop anything in here as it sort of goes round and round and I JUST want now to LOVE my Himmies.


But..Ive just sold MILLI 2004 AND on re-dressing her ..found on ONE LEG (TOP)three small marks bluey green..now horror of horrors cos Ive booked her for collection to her new owner-moved the money from Paypal (for safety) and here I am looking at a 2004 with marks! ..so I emailed the buyer told her exactly what is what..offered her a couple of free outfits and a £20 discount via cheque for the marks. I am NOT a dishonest person and I HAD to tell her-I held my breath WAITING for her reply and she came back..all was fine she was happy and THANKED ME for my honesty and the kind offers.
So Im feeling MUCH BETTER...someone still LOVES the doll-and appreciated honesty.

There Ive said it now.

HUGS JACK

That's great, Jackie!

A few marks at the top of the leg wouldn't bother me too much either. It's the face and hands and feet that would bother me since I like my dolls barefoot.

Again, though, we all need to move forward however we need to do that. If it's talking around and around, then that's alright, I feel. Talking around in circles trying to make sense of something, well, I think it helps people move forward. I don't know about anyone else, but even though I love my dolls that love has changed a bit. I can't put my finger on it quite yet as to how and why, because it is more than "green dots", but when I do I will be able to stop posting about this topic. Until then, though, I need to explore it even if I do come back to the same idea again and again and again...

Maj.....I am sorry about Ilvi....but i would LOVE to give her a good home here in the states!!!! hmmmmm think about it, if it bothers you hon!

Hugs

Elisabeth