1. I have a stuffed toy that needs some work. Can you tell me how much it will cost?
2. What is the procedure to get an estimate?
3. My child has a "pajama toy" (a stuffed animal with a plush head, hands and feet, but a cloth body, usually a fabric with a child's pajama print) and they have had it since birth. The fabric is wearing out, can you replace it?
4. How do I contact Mar-Ke?
5. After approval, when should I send my toy?
6. How long does a typical repair job take?
7. What are my payment options?
8. What are your normal hours of operation?
9. Can you put new fur into “bald” areas?
10. Can you sell me the items I need to repair my toy?
11. My Steiff toy is missing its button. Can you replace it?
12. I have a toy that is made of real fur. Can you repair it?
13. Can you please tell me who made my toy and when? Can you provide me a value for insurance purposes?
14. How do you….?

I have a stuffed toy that needs some work. Can you tell me how much will it cost and how long will it take?

I get many emails like this every day. Imagine if you had a car that needed work. If you called a repair shop and asked to have your car fixed, they would immediately ask you what the make of your car was, the model, the year, etc. It’s the same with toys! There have been millions of stuffed toys made by many manufacturers over the years, and the styles have varied greatly. This is why it is so important that you send me a picture of your toy so that I can give you informed information.

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What is the procedure to get an estimate?

Depending upon the repairs required, we can give you a “rough” estimate from good, clear, detailed photos. Our preference is digital format, high resolution, so we can enlarge them as necessary for inspection. We must reserve the right to change our quote upon actual inspection of the toy, as it is impossible to determine certain conditions, such as dry rot, or defective joints from a picture. Please include the overall measurements of your toy.

Some repairs are just too complicated to estimate from photos. In these cases, we would schedule a time for you to send the toy to us for a "hands on" estimate. If you send your toys without scheduling there will be a $25 fee if you choose not to have the work done.

Our address is:

Mar-Ke Mohair
14440 Aldengate Rd.
Midlothian, VA 23114

Please contact us to help decide which way is best for your toy.

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My child has a "pajama toy" (a stuffed animal with a plush head, hands and feet, but a cloth body, usually a fabric with a child's pajama print) and they have had it since birth. The fabric is wearing out, can you replace it?

No, I do not work on these toys. You may consider taking the toy to a seamstress and have her made your toy a new body and attaching the exisiting head and limbs.

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How do I contact Mar-Ke?

The best way to contact us is via e-mail. We check e-mail about 30 times a day, and during business hours, usually respond to them very quickly. Since we have customers all over the US, and in a few foreign countries, email is the most effective way to not have to worry about time zones. If you feel we need to speak by phone, we can use email to set up an agreeable time for that call.

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After approval, when should I send my toy?

Please do not send your toy without notification. We always try to minimize the actual time your toy is away, and therefore require that you wait for us to schedule your repair. When you make the decision to have your toy worked on, you will be given a date of when to ship your package. This will enable us to be ready to start repairs when your shipment is received. We do not have the space to store toys we are not actively working on, so we must follow these guidelines.

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How long does a typical repair job take?

After approval of estimate, and receipt of your toy, we will start the repairs. This process is not a defined science, as each repair is different, and all work is hand done. A "typical" repair, consisting of cleaning, replacement of a pawpad or two, and maybe some minor tear repairs normally takes about 2 weeks. Larger, more complex repairs, involving opening a toy to repair or replace a squeaker, or major reconstructive repairs (i.e. a dog chewed toy), can take much longer. If special materials have to be ordered, repairs can take 4 weeks or more.

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What are my payment options?

There are several ways to make payment. Cashier's (bank) checks, PayPal, Money Orders, and even personal checks can be used. We require a 50% deposit before starting the repairs. If you use a personal check, please allow up to 10 days for processing.

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What are your normal hours of operation?

Mar-Ke Mohair is a home based business, and even though we check our email every day, I normally answer emails Monday through Friday, 9am-6pm. This allows me to have time with my family.

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Can you put new fur into "bald" areas?

No; this process is called reweaving, and we do not provide this service. It is very time consuming, and most individuals that do this have a 6-12 month waiting list. The service typically runs about $300 per square inch.

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Can you sell me the items I need to repair my toy?

My business is set up as a "service" business. Therefore, I incorporate the cost of supplies into my repair charges, and cannot sell items.

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My Steiff toy is missing its button. Can you replace it?

Steiff ear buttons, and tags, are trademarks of that company. They do not sell them, or provide any means to replace them.

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I have a toy that is made of real fur, can you repair it?

No, the process for working on leather and fur is very different from working on toys made of fabric. We suggest that you contact a taxidermist or a bear artist that makes bears of old furs for these repairs.

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Can you please tell me who made my toy and when? Can you provide me a value for insurance purposes?

There have been many, many manufacturers of stuffed toys in the last 100+ years. It takes a lot of time and research to properly identify a toy. The same is true for an appraisal. Since my specialty is repair and restoration, I have chose to focus on those areas and do not do evaluations of toys for the purpose of determining their origin or value. If you want to find out detailed information on your toy for insurance, search out a appraisal expert at a bear, doll or toy show that comes to your locality.

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How do you...?

Most customers understand that this is my business, and that I have developed my techniques through years of hard work. But, occasionally, someone still asks me to tell them how to do a particular repair. I have found that every toy is different, and there are no "cut and dry" instructions for repairs. A broken joint on an 80 year old Steiff bear is a completely different repair than a Muffy with broken leg. As for my cleaning, I worked hard to develop a solution that does an awesome job, and I'm very sorry, but I don't share my "trade secret". I hope you understand.

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