Frequently Asked Questions
Does Department 56 offer any replacement parts for Village products? *UPDATED*
Yes, Department 56 stocks a wide variety of replacement parts for many of our current Village pieces. Items like hanging signs, flags and little add-on pieces that normally come packaged separately in the carton can get lost or damaged. In addition, we also carry some specialized bulbs and some unique replacement adapters (the kind that come packaged with the building). We do not stock any replacement parts for giftware, Snowbabies, Possible Dreams or Ebony Visions. To find out if we stock a part you may need, please call Department 56 Consumer Services at 1/800 LIT-TOWN (548-8696). There is a small charge for each part plus a nominal shipping and handling fee. We accept MasterCard and VISA for payment.
Want to contact us by mail?
Sometimes a letter works the best, so to contact Department 56 Consumer Services by mail, please use this address:
Department 56 Consumer Services
PO Box 44456
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Can’t Find A Retailer nearby and want to shop online?
While Department 56 does not sell online through this site, Department 56 brand products can be found through many retail stores. To shop online slick on "Shop Online" and select one of our Department 56 authorized online retailers. For additional assistance in finding specific items that you cannot find online, call our LIT TOWN telephone line, 1(800) 548-8696.
Can I order directly from Department 56,
Inc.?
As a wholesale manufacturer, we do not sell directly to consumers. We
have a network of authorized dealers located across the United States
and Canada that showcase the Villages and carry our product year round.
Consequently, we also do not currently sell online.
How do I find a dealer for Department 56 products in my area?
Use our dealer locator under "Where to Buy" on our web-site
or call 1-800-LIT-TOWN (548-8696) to find where a specific product might
be sold. For information on products in our "general" line (i.e.,
non-collectible), 1-800-LIT-TOWN is your best bet.
What's the best way to clean Department 56 Village items?
We recommend using a soft brush or feather duster to remove surface dust.
Collectors have shared with us that using a hair dryer on a low, cool
setting, or using canned air (used to clean computer components) is also
effective to remove dust. Do not use a liquid spay, water or a soapy water
solution to clean your buildings or accessories as this may damage the
finish.
What's the best way to clean Snowbabies™ figurines?
We recommend using a soft feather duster to remove surface dust from the
figurines. Collectors have shared with us that using a hair dryer on a
low, cool setting, or using canned air (used to clean computer components)
is also effective to remove dust. Please do not submerge them in water
or a soapy water solution. This may clog the porous material, and cause
your collection to become dirtier in the future.
Should we keep the packaging materials that the Village items came
with?
Yes, the packaging that accompanies your Village collectible is designed
for protection and storage.
Can I get a replacement box for my Village piece?
Unfortunately, we have never had extra boxes available. As the buildings
are produced, an appropriate number of boxes are made and each building
is packaged before it leaves the factory. If your original box has become
lost or damaged, we recommend storing your piece in a clean, sturdy cardboard
box with adequate packaging material.
My store is not stocking a particular piece I am trying to find. Can
you help me find a store that does carry it?
If you have the name or item number of the piece, use the contact
us form on the web site. Using your zip code, we should be able to
provide some stores near you that have carried that particular product.
You may also contact Consumer Services by calling us at 1-800-LIT-TOWN
(548-8696). We are only able to assist with locating current products.
You can also use our store
locator to find a dealer near you that may carry the product you are
looking for. Retired and limited edition pieces are often difficult to
find. We suggest checking your local authorized dealers. You may find
a dealer in your area by accessing WHERE
TO BUY on the top of each page of the web site. You may also wish
to check the secondary market for more information. One good source for
secondary market information is the Collector's
Information Bureau at 800-352-8039.
Do you have a brochure available for your Village items?
The current Village and Snowbabies Brochures are available at your
local qualifying retail store (find
one here), or you may order one through our LIT TOWN line at 1-800-LIT-TOWN
(548-8696). There is a nominal charge for shipping and handling.
We would like to add a train to our Village display. Which model train
scale works best with your Villages?
There is not a definite scale to our Villages so the scale of train is
your personal preference. However, collectors have told us The Original
Snow Village is closest to "O" scale and the Heritage
Village Collection, Dickens', Christmas In The City, North Pole, Alpine
Village, New England Village is closest to "HO" scale.
How often are new introductions for the Villages announced?
New introductions are typically announced twice each year. The main introduction
is in December, with those products becoming available in stores by the
following summer. A smaller, mid-year introduction is made in May, those
items are typically available for purchase by the holiday season.
How can I learn about the new items being introduced?
The list is posted on our Web site once the announcement is made. You
may also have a notice of the announcement sent to your Email address
through our monthly Email newsletter program. Subscribe
today!
Are Village items ever retired?
Yes, each year selected designs are discontinued, or retired, to make
room in production for new products. The Village retirement announcement
is announced on the first Friday in November and will be posted on the
web site in the collecting section.
How can I find out which items will be retired?
The retirement announcement for the Villages is posted on our website
on retirement day. Click on COLLECTING on the top navigation area of each page of our site. You may also receive
a notice of the announcement by registering
for our monthly Email newsletter.
How can I register for your monthly Email newsletter?
You can register by completing a short on-line information form. To access
the form, click here.
How should I choose which Village to collect?
The nicest part of collecting is selecting items that you like. Many collectors
choose buildings and accessories that evoke fond memories of holidays
past, or remind them of a favorite place to visit.
What are the different series within the Heritage Village Collection?
We currently offer the following collections:
- The Dickens' Village Series - the holidays during Victorian
England
- The New England Village Series - historic small town America
in the 1800s
- The Alpine Village Series - a cozy European mountain hamlet
- Christmas in the City - a look back at the hustle and bustle
of downtown
- The North Pole Series - Inspired by the enduring legend of
Santa Claus
For a tour of our product lines, visit our PRODUCTS
page.
What is the main difference between The Original Snow Village and the Heritage Village Collections?
The Original Snow Village is crafted from ceramic, is slightly
larger, and has a shiny, glazed finish. The Heritage Village Collection
pieces are made from porcelain, are slightly smaller in scale and have
a matte finish.
Why are the accessories' figures not in the same scale as the lighted
buildings?
Since the pieces are made of porcelain or ceramic, they shrink when they
are fired, usually about 5% to 15%. If we made the accessories any smaller,
the tiny details would be lost, such as the petals on a flower or the
folds in a woman's shawl.
I have a store and am interested in selling Department 56 products.
Who should I contact?
Thank you for your interest in Department 56, Inc. and our products. Please
fill out this
form and you will be contacted by the appropriate parties.
What would be the best adhesive to use to make minor repairs to Village pieces and Snowbabies figurines?
We recommend Super Glue gel formula as a repair agent. Please be sure to remove all other adhesives before repairing. (Old adhesives can be safely removed by using a hairdryer to soften the old glue).
How do I remove a light cord that has slipped into the building? *NEW*
To remove a light that has become lodged in a piece, we would suggest using a needle nose pliers to grasp the metal butterfly clips. Another idea would be to thread a twist-tie (used to seal a plastic bag) or thin piece of wire through the butterfly clip of the light, twist the ends together, and carefully remove through the opening of the piece. As a last resort, you may wish to cut the cord, and work the clip out of the opening, bulb first. You would then replace it with a new light cord. Department 56 Consumers Services stocks many different product specific light cord/ adapter units. Your favorite retail will sell the standard light with switched cords (56.99028) and light cords with auxiliary clips (56.53039).
Do you offer repair services? *NEW*
We do not have a list of certified repair services to offer. We can recommend contacting the Collectors' Information Bureau, a company that deals in contact information for a wide variety of collectibles. They can recommend services providers that do repairs for most collectible problems. They may reached by calling 1(800) 352-8039. Other sources collectors have suggested to us are local hobby shops that deal with model trains and model airplanes.
What if I have received defective giftware? *NEW*
If you discover that giftware you have purchased if defective, please contact the retail store where the item was purchased immediately to arrange for an exchange or refund.
Will any village piece work with the Display Anywhere Lighting/ Battery Operated Lighting? *NEW*
The Retrofit lighting units (56.53501) are designed to be used with most Department 56 buildings, both old and new, converting them to cordless. This light unit will allow you to use your Village pieces in places where cords would detract from the beauty of they display. Four AAA batteries will give you approximately 75 hours of light before the batteries need to be replaced.
Didn't get your question answered in any of the above questions? Want to contact us directly?
The Department 56 Consumer Services Department is available to take telephone calls from consumers and collectors weekdays, 11 AM – 2 PM (CST). Our toll free telephone number is 1/800 LIT OWN (548-8696).
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