Tana was waiting for me when I arrived home today. For those who may not know about this, my beloved Tana (my favorite Himstedt) had a large green dot on her cheek. After much agonizing I sent her back to the factory for a new head.
I eagerly opened the box and..... felt a huge let down! Besides the fact that she was not MY Tana and I missed my real Tana, something was really wrong with this one. It took me a few seconds before I realized her right eye was set wrong!!! It was much higher set than the left eye and you could see the white below. Reminded me of Deb's (Rosedoll Deb) Setina who they sent back for repair.
I couldn't send my Tana back again. I'd been through enough with Claudia getting the green dot repaired (another story, another time). But I couldn't look at her this way without crying.
So..... I fixed her myself.
I took a hairdryer to loosen the glue and carefully removed her wig.
Removed the pate same way.
Heated the inside of her head with the dryer for a few seconds just to loosed the glue, and easily moved the eye to the correct position.
Took a toothpick to put the lashes back in correct place.
Replaced pate and wig. Voila!!! She's still not MY Tana and I still miss my original but she no longer looks odd and she seems to be growing on me. Once I dress her, I hope I'll like her even more. If not....ebay awaits.
First 2 photos shows how she looked on arrival.
2nd photo shows her being repaired.
3rd and 4th photo is the repaired doll, after I fixed her eyes.

I am so sorry, Lori.

I'm afraid that as repairs pile up, the demand for new dolls increases and the factory end draws closer there will be more dolls with flaws like this. And yes, I have had challenges with Claudia myself. I was surprised she offered for me to send the entire Rinike back after insisting I only send in the arm.

I am glad you fixed her yourself, and I think I will do the same with my Rinike. I don't want to send her to the factory. I'm not convinced they will do as good a job as they should.

I hope you come to love your Tana MORE and MORE!

I think the last picture is stunning, Tana is beautiful and I hope you can bond with her again

Hi Lori, I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with Tana. I think you have done an amazing job on her and she looks stunning now. I do hope you bond more and more with her as time goes by. I think you will as things are moving in the right direction.
Love Becky xxx

Oh Lori, what a shame, but you have been so brave to take this on & repair the eye yourself.

I think she looks like a stunning Tana...I adore her

I guess you had become so accustomed to the Tana you have, that you can see the subtle differences between the two?
Hopefully over time you will grow to love this girl just as much

Jen x

Ohhhh how disheartening receiving her back "shoddingly put together" and HUGE congrats girl on your WONDERFUL repair. .thank goodness you were ABLE to do this yourself.

Now just imagine ALL people who cant and then thats really sad!
I do hope that this is not A SIGN of disgruntled workers not bothering to do these properly cos their jobs are going???

You have done a BRILL job and as soon as you start to accept she is a TANA not your ole Tana..you will BOND Im sure..she is soo pretty-Well done!!

HUGS JACK

Hi Lori,
I can only imagine how sad your were to find that your new Tana was not well. I'm sure you will grow to love her even more, since you put in all that time to make her perfect. She is lovely.
Wendy

What a shame she did not arrive perfect. How disappointed you must have been
But I am so happy that you were able to fix he. It gives us all more confidence in what we are capable of if we have to her.
Enjoy her now she looks stunning.
Love Ruth

Oh Lori I'm so sorry for you, to go through this with your sweet Tana,
I almost cry myself here with you.
That's why I do not sent in my Iva for replacement, I'm to scared I won't like her
anymore after.
But you are so clever to fix her eye yourself, very brave, at least she looks good now with her eyes evenly set.

Dear Lori,

How awful to get her back like that!

Great job repairing her yourself though, she looks fab now!!

You just might be able to start up your own Himstedt repair business! It seems like alot of them lately have crooked eyes so there would definitely be a market for it. LOL

Hugs
Donna

I'm looking at your Tana again, and I LOVE her now, Lori. I think she and Lihle will look fabulous together!!!

aww hun i really feel for you when you opened her box but WOW Lori what a transformation you have done a fab job and i am sure you will bond she is beautiful

Thanks so much for everone's nice comments. Shawnah, she really is growning on me! I've fixed up her hair since those photos and I'll dress her today and take more photos. I think she'll be a keeper after all!

I love how she has the pink-tones instead of the previously brown ones, Lori. I know how much you loved your previous Tana, but I have to say I personally prefer the pinker tones. My Tulani was the same way and underwent the same change and now she looks SO much better with other dolls. I can't wait to see your new girl all done up.

Iam sorry you were so disappointed when you opened her box.... it is a heartbreaking experience .... Kudos to you for being pro-active and fixed her yourself !*!**!!*
yaaaaaaaaaay!
I've never had a Himstedt... expecting my first one sometime end of week (hopefully tomorrow).... I probably wouldn't know what to look for ,in terms of defect...

I've also never seen an owner's photo of how they look like nude (their body--how it's made and put together)... I see there is a sort of a screw of some kind attaching their arms to shoulder(?)...... but anyways.... Iam glad to hear that she is all fixed now...

She's beautiful ~**~*~