Just wanted to give an update. If you are not a member of HH. Majbrit's Himstedt 2007 Ilvi had a blue line on the leg that she noticed in the spring, and now she has a green dot that was not there before. Looks like the green dot issue is connected to the blue streaks and lines that are showing up on the dolls...Kris

Thanks for posting this, Kris. I will have to look my Sinchi over.

Are the blue lines more likely to appear on the 2007 and 2008 dolls than the 2006 dolls?

Ugh.! Oh no just what we needed to hear.!
Thanks for letting us know. Deb x

Hi, I think any kind of problem can occur. I have a green line on the torso of 2006 Lenani, not a green dot, but a line......

Well, I know the dots are still breaking out on the '07s because I have a friend who just noticed them on hers. She didn't bother to contact Himstedt.

It makes me sad to think people could think their '08s are fine then find out next year that they're breaking out in spots. Can you imagine if it were a widespread breakout? IF I get a new doll it would only be one. Too much to risk. At least for me. I really do hope for the best though.

According to my last contact with Claudia, the company still does not believe they are at all responsible for these problems. She states "it is not their fault". I completly disagree, but now that they are closing it doesn't matter. I worry about how many more dolls will get these problems down the road. And we will have no place to go for repair. I think it's a big worry!

Ajescha..i cannot afford to get her so that is a good thing...i am back to my 2 year waiting period . well the vinyl seems different...want to get couple dolls from 2006 and 2007...i do think the repair problems were part of the down fall of the company they did not worry about what peope said or any complaits...she could always get new costumers. her dolls are that beautiful. more reason, but the dolls that would show up back at the factory for limb head and body replacemnt.l.....2 years of faulty doll preproduction....maybe 3.........lisa

yes, Lisa...I agree. It wasnt so much the complaints as (what you say lori) she basically has said it wasnt their fault....so the complaints obviously dont bother her or the company. BUT the repair of such a widespread problem could and WOULD eventually eat up all of her profits (unless they hike dolls to $1500) so getting out now probably was the right thing to do for her.

BUT what I dont understand.....

If they say "not our fault"......OK, not taking blame is one thing...I get it. BUT if it is not THEIR fault, then whos is it. OURS!!! That is what they keep saying repeatedly. I think that in itself is wrong. As collectors we are smarter than that. We do not expose our dolls to these things and they already said the shipping wasnt an issue. It is NOT our fault. If it was i would be first in line to admit it. I know MANY with dots that do NOT expose to heat in any form.

There is now no recourse as i am sure the repair area is full until the end of the year. We can gripe til the end of time, but it will do no good. So, I will just be letting it go, along with the factory. Sad that it had to end this way, I am sad for all involved.

Hopefully we can love the dolls with dots...as I plan to if mine develop them.

Hugs

Elisabeth

Perhaps it doesn't matter, Lori. But I think this is something many collectors will remember for many years. Yes, the factory is closing, but just as she parted from Mattel a new beginning will emerge for Himstedts. And just as she repaired the Mattel dolls in her factory, will she repair her previous factory dolls in her new doll business? It is possible.

I'm waiting and am curious as to what will develop. It could really go both ways. I really don't think the company is stupid enough to think that many collectors used a lot of "heat". I think they know it was their production methods. I personally feel that the closure of the factory was to get rid of unwanted employees and refocus the business. Annette has always been straight with collectors and is interested in what we have to say. I feel that Annette listens. The customer service staff? Not so much. Actually, I have found Claudia rude on more than one ocassion and really prefer not to deal with her.

But labor laws are very strict in Germany. Here is some information:

I am hoping there will be a turnaround in the company's attitude with collectors when the new business opens. I honestly feel that this vinyl issue resulted in a lack of trust between Annette and her staff just as much as it was an economic decision. But I think economics was an easy way out of a difficult situation to regroup and restructure and to get rid of employee driftwood.

SO, TRUE ABOUT LABOR COST...SHE DID COMPLAIN ABOUT..." 80 " employees.. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT SURVEY , I REQUESTED MORE DOLLS WITH LONG HAIR, TODDLERS, WITHOUT FAT ARMS...I BELIEVED SHE DELEGATED SOMEONE TO HANDLE THE MANUFACTURE PART OF THE BUSINESS, SHE CREATED DESIGN CHOSE MATERIALS APPROVED. THE WAY HER PUBLIC RELATIONS WAS HANDLE WAS TERRIBLE...I STILL BELIEVED IF SHE HAD STATED THEY COULD NO LONGER DO REPAIR FOR FREE...MANY WOULD HAD BEEN UNHAPPY BUT WOULD HAVE LUMPED IT AND HAD LIVED WITH IT TO GET OUR DOLLS REPAIRED....LISA

I just want to start by saying this:

I have 5 dolls here; One is my "dotless" Tikiri and another is my beloved Ilvi.

The only doll checked for spots is Tikiri. Now; should they all develop spots I am not sure that I would be devestated. Sad, yes....but not devestated...mabe more sad if the spots was on the face.

I've thought a little about why I don't worry so much, and I think it might be because I collect antique dolls and have gotten used to having to accept certain flaws (like worn or chipped composition paint on my bisques). With some of the best loved kinds of dolls some flaws HAS to be accepted even though as a collector one strive for the best examples. I think that is what we will find in Himstedts too.

Like with the old chinas; some will have the odd baked in black spot whereas others will be perfect.

Now as to why the factory closed when it did; I have had thoughts on this. And I for one was thinking to myself; yes; I do believe that world economy, rising cost of production as well as fickle customers plays a part. But;...I also think that the resurrecting spots has a lot to do with closing. I think that as collectors, we are only seeing the top of the iceberg and that "spottlemania" has only just began. I have a growing suspicion the the factory is afraid about future repairs/claims that they feel might arise due to dots?

Now, I'm not out to out anyone, nor making things harder for the factory than it already is. I'm saying this while waiting for my beautiful Sinami to come home. Will she have/develop dots? Well, statistically we cannot know, but I'm in fear that the factory knows more than it says and that we can expect more more more spots....now I know I have rambled, I mostly don't (not because I don't have a rambling streak, but because mostly I don't post too much.......), and I porfoundly appologize to those who takes offense. I want to remind that mine is just one opinion among many and is to be takes as such....

But I have made a decision with myself; I love my chilren spots/dots/streaks and will continue to do so (the thought of my beautiful Sinami coming home is already warming my heart....I have to keep her boxed for christmas and THAT will be hard......)


Hugs

Anne

well said anne. thanks for being politically correct while getting across your points.

I too love my dolls for who they are, and a few boo boos wont stop me, but it is the overall concept of blaming others that i have issues with.

I am not out to upset anyone and I try to wrod things as best i can. Just remember that we all share many of the same complaints and joys. And when it is said and done, we will move on and either still collect them or go to something else. Be polite with comments, even if they are negative (we invite ALL comments, just use tact please).

Thanks for a very well thought out post Anne, and others. appreciate that.

hugs

Elisabeth

I agree with this Anne. For me, it's not so much an issue if it is beneath clothing since I don't redress. But on the face? Well, the bad news is that it isn't generally one spot. It is many tiny dots that show under paint. I couldn't live with that, but I'm happy for those who can.

I think, though, that if you haven't seen these dots in person it is difficult to fully understand how much they do detract from these dolls. And it isn't something that can be repaired. I've collected older dolls that were out of production and repaired them myself. There were some dolls, however, beyond help. And vinyl dolls with faces full of green dots fit that category for me.

Although I am planning for the fact that many dolls are flawed or will be affected by the green dots, I prefer to hope for the best. My hope is that the new company will take responsibility for dolls that are affected. My approach will be to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. I would hope Annette wouldn't run away from a problem like this and frankly she simply doesn't seem like the type based on what she has written. But I could be wrong. Only time will tell.

My last email from Claudia before Tana was returned to me said quite clearly that they were NOT at fault in any way for dolls that have developed green dots. In other words, the customer somehow caused it. I found it very INSULTING! But getting my doll back was a priority so I didn't argue with her. I agree with you though that it wouldn't bother me if it were on a limb or torso. It really does detract from the face though. I miss my original Tana, but the green dot really did ruin her for me. However, I do have a Nula with 3 tiny dots on her face that can only be seen with a magnifyer. I will not be sending Nula back. I love her too much and since I can't see the dots without reading glasses, I just won't wear my reading glasses around her.

Claudia can come off this way, unfortunately. I would hope that Annette herself would have more integrity than her employees and would remedy the situation if it were to arise in the future. I would also hope that with a little reflection she would be able to better shape the customer service aspect of her business. I'm not holding my breath, mind you, but it is my hope as silly as it may sound.