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Monday, January 29, 2018

Luvabella's Malfunction

You might think she's asleep, but she's not; her eyes will no longer open!

Less than two weeks after her box was opened and batteries inserted, Luvabella by Spinmaster malfunctioned! Her eyes now remain permanently closed.

Wanting to know if others had experienced a similar malfunction, I visited YouTube and Amazon to search for videos and to read reviews.  On Youtube, there was a video of another doll whose eyes would not open and the child's parent asking what should be done.  While reading the reviews on Amazon dot com, I was horrified by some of the things parents experienced. When one 5-year-old's doll stopped working, she ran to her mom and exclaimed, "Luvabella died!" She pleaded with her mother to make the doll come back to life. Mom purchased new batteries; the doll worked for a while but unfortunately, "died" again. How terrible!  That child will never forget that.

My experience was not as devastating, but I was as disappointed.  You can hear the disappointment in my voice when I recorded the following video on the evening of January 14, 2018, when the malfunction was discovered.


I called Spinmaster the following day to report the issue.  I was emailed instructions on how to get a replacement.  This included X-ing out the left-hand side of the doll's back, placing my initials in the center of the doll's back, and writing the last three digits of my claim number on the far right of the doll's back.  A permanent marker had to be used for this.  Afterward, I had to photograph the doll's back, "handwrite" the claim number on a piece of paper, and include that in the photo.  A video of the doll's malfunction was also required to be submitted along with photos.  I created a second video of the malfunction (which is not included in this post because it also contains the piece of paper with the entire claim number visible.)  The described photo, along with the first one in this post, and video were emailed to Spinmaster.

I had to use a permanent marker to X out the left-hand side of Luvabella's back, place my initials in the center, and the last three digits of my claim number on the far right.  Instead of handwriting the claim number on a piece of paper, I typed and printed it.

I followed all instructions, except, instead of handwriting the claim number on a piece of paper, I typed it using a large font (this was to ensure legibility -- not that my handwriting is poor because it isn't.  I just prefer typing and printing over using pen and paper.)

After a couple of days passed, I received an email from Spinmaster indicating my claim could not be proven because I did not follow the steps outlined.  In bold text, they explained that I did not "write" the claim number on a piece of paper.

"What?" I thought.  So I called Spinmaster and spoke with a very nice man named, John, who reviewed the photos and video and said, "You're fine."  He explained that they are not "used to people typing the claim number because writing it is easier."  Okay, I thought.  I jokingly told him that my [undiagnosed] OCD took over making me think it would be better to type and print the claim number.  He chuckled and proceeded to initiate the replacement.

The replacement doll arrived directly from Spinmaster in a Spinmaster shipping box inside her own pristine box.  The first doll's box was banged up around the edges, not taped at the opening flaps like this one was, and the first doll had a tiny black mark on one leg, which I ignored thinking it was a manufacturer's flaw.
Luvabella #2, shown above and in the photos and video that follow, arrived in less than two weeks. 

Replacement doll is still secured to her box in more areas than the first doll had been secured.  This doll also had a piece of plastic placed on the back of her head between her head and the headband.  The first doll did not have that.

She's free with all her interactive items and waiting for batteries to be installed.


As illustrated in the video, she works well, even better than the first doll. 

Luvabella #2 now wears the curly Afro wig (size 15) that I used for Luvabella #1.  I think she looks so much better with hair.
Here's hoping there will be no issues with Luvabella #2.


dbg
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16 comments:

  1. My oh My! I'm happy to know that you have managed to get another well-functioning doll. The part about your claim being denied because typed the number and didn't write it down kind of got me. I'm really glad you were able to get hold of a sensible person and got things sorted out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The denial over the typed claim got to me too, Arlette. I was actually steaming after reading that. Thank goodness for John.

      She's asleep now, but still working fine. :-)

      dbg

      Delete
  2. I am so glad to read this. I'm still trying to figure out how a typed information is better than handwritten, anyhoo, so glad she is working I just love to hear her laugh, it is the cutest. I am so glad you were connected to John, boy I can't imagine the steam that was coming out of you head before you go him:). I will make sure to order mine directly from
    Spinmaster and not Amazon. I agree this must of been a returned item and I know your daughter was upset when you had to tell her, so thank goodness everything worked out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm thankful that I was able to speak with John, someone who was able to use his critical thinking skills and realize I provided all the documentation needed to complete the claim.

      Luvabella does have the cutest voice and cutest giggle. She actually makes me laugh.

      dbg

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  3. How do you tell the 2018 version from the 2017 version?

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    Replies
    1. Hi K Hughes. I am not sure how to differentiate the 2017 version from the 2018 version. The stock numbers might differ.

      dbg

      Delete
  4. Our Luvabella's eyes also locked in the closed position. Simply gently push them OPEN together at the same time until you hear a click, and they will start working again.
    WORSE, the GLUE that holds the LEG on to the joint let loose and the leg started falling off.
    I simply called SpinMasters Customer Service number and gave them the number off the back of the doll and they sent us a new doll no hassle. Seems like there are several manufacturing flaws going on with this doll. Many stores are putting them on clearance for as low as $20.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing the procedure you used to unlock your doll's eyes. It will come in handy if this should happen to the replacement I received from the company. So far, she still works well without any problems. I hope I do not have the loose joint that you experienced. It's good to know that your doll, too, was replaced.

      I think Luvabella wasn't taken through the proper quality control tests before being released to the market. These type issues happen unfortunately with mechanical dolls.

      dbg

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  5. My baby's Luvabella doll has a clicking neck when she turns to the left. Is there any help on this issue that anyone found?

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  6. I don't have an answer for the neck clicking. It sounds like it might be out of socket or out of a groove and a part is rubbing against another as it turns. Hopefully someone will read your question and have an answer for you.

    dbg

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have the same problem with my doll any suggestion how to fix it without replacing it
    Thx
    Please reply me on
    dremanramad@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not have repair suggestions. The company replaced my doll.

      dbg

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    2. Did you find an answer to this question

      Delete
    3. The company replaced my doll with a new one.

      Delete
  8. Is there an AA boy doll to this? I see that they have a caucasian boy baby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, an AA boy version, Luvabeau, was made.

      Delete

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