Frequently Asked Questions
What are Maplelea’s product safety standards?
Maplelea makes products that meet or exceed all relevant Canadian and American standards. Our products are tested in the design stage, as well as during pre-production, production and post production, and then are checked again when they arrive in our warehouse.
Maplelea products are thoughtfully designed for play by children ages 6 years and up. However, we design and test our toys to be safe for ages 3 years and up.
All of our products conform to ASTM certification, the international safety standard for toys, as well as the Canadian Hazardous Products Act. Our products meet the requirements of the Health Canada’s Safety Requirements for Children’s Toys. We also meet or exceed US Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC) Regulations for Toys.
How does the quality of Maplelea compare to other 18” doll manufacturers?
The quality of our dolls and accessories have been overwhelmingly acclaimed by many to be the highest quality available in the 18” doll market.
At Maplelea our products are designed to impeccable standards, and we are confident you will be pleased with the quality of Maplelea products.
In order to achieve this level of quality and value:
- We put considerable detail in our products such as linings, belt loops, real pockets, detailed embellishments, decorative stitching, finished seams, etc.
- We use superior materials and processes in the manufacture of our products
- We have a high degree of Canadian creative and technical content in our products. All designing, illustrating, writing and sculpting is done in Canada.
- We use factories that are highly qualified, reliable and socially responsible.
- We do frequent safety testing of our products.
- Our storylines and packaging designs are distinctively Canadian.
Where are Maplelea products made?
We take great pride in being a Canadian-based company. The development, design, sculpting, writing, illustration, shipping and customer service of Maplelea products is done in Canada. We’ve made arrangements with several Canadian suppliers to manufacture specific pieces for our collection. For example, Inuit craftspeople in Nunavut make Saila’s Pang hat and Amazing Amauti for us, according to their traditional designs. A family business in Ontario grows the trees, harvests the wood, and then uses it to create our doll-size Muskoka Chairs and Wooden Toboggans.
Unfortunately, there are no vinyl doll factories in Canada. Thus, although the products are designed in Canada, the assembly is mainly done at highly qualified, socially responsible factories in China. Our factories are monitored on a regular basis by us personally and by independent monitoring authorities. Each factory has a variety of certifications attesting to their management abilities, quality control, safety and social responsibility.
Are Maplelea products available in stores?
No, Maplelea products are not available in stores. Stores require a significant mark-up in order to cover their expenses. By eliminating the middleman and selling directly to consumers we can keep our prices as low as possible.
Products ordered online can be shipped or picked up at our office/warehouse 619 Steven Ct, Unit 6, Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z3, Canada.
PLEASE check our "Contact Us" Page for Open Hours, as they can change.
(Closed on Statutory Holidays)
Orders can be placed on-line or by calling 1-800-668-4339. We do have occasional pop-up shops where our products are on display and available for sale. Sign up for our email newsletter, watch our blog, or follow us on Facebook to be among the first to know about any upcoming events.
Remember: Authentic Maplelea products are only available directly from Maplelea.
What age are the Maplelea dolls recommended for?
Maplelea dolls, story journals, and accessories were designed for children age 6 to 12+ years. However, they are tested to be safe for children 3 years and up. Because of our exceptional quality and detail, our dolls also appeal to doll enthusiasts of all ages.
Maplelea dolls and their accessories should never be given to children under three due to the choking hazard of small parts.
Our family PJs are safe for all ages and come in sizes to fit 12 months to XXXL Adults.
Does Maplelea come with a product guarantee?
Our products are designed to impeccable standards and we are confident you will be pleased with the quality of Maplelea products. If, however, you are dissatisfied with an item due to a manufacturing defect, we will gladly replace or repair it at no charge. In the unlikely event that you have an issue, please contact customerservice@maplelea.com.
Are the Maplelea story journals bilingual?
Yes. All Maplelea products and accompanying journal pages are completely bilingual, with the exception of Saila. Her journal is tri-lingual; English, French and Inuktitut!
Do Maplelea outfits fit other dolls?
All Maplelea outfits fit all Maplelea dolls.
Maplelea outfits also fit most other 43cm-46cm (17”-18”) hard and soft body play dolls, such as; Our Generation, Journey Girls and American Girl dolls. On the very rare ocassion when they do not fit American Girl dolls, it is noted on the product page.
What is the ethnicity or cultural background of the 7 Maplelea Girl characters?
Brianne’s family is of Ukrainian heritage, having immigrated to Canada over 100 years ago.
Jenna has both Scottish and German heritage in her background.
Léonie describes herself as having "lots of French blood, but also a little Native and some Irish."
Saila is from Nunavut and is proud of her Inuit heritage.
Charlsea's father immigrated from England.
Brianne, Saila, Jenna, Charlsea and Léonie celebrate Christmas, Easter and other similar holidays. For Taryn and Alexi, no ethnic, cultural or religious background or festivities have been mentioned in their story journals, leaving you free to create that part of their story for yourself.
The Maplelea&ME! dolls allow you to create an original character yourself by using the accompanying journal containing questions, prompts and blanks. You can create a story that reflects your family's heritaage, or tell the story of your choice!
How should Maplelea dolls and accessories be cared for?
Can you repair my injured doll?
Even the best loved dolls sometimes have misadventures when living in a busy household with little siblings, puppy dogs and other hazards. If misfortune has befallen your Maplelea doll, we recommend a trip to the Maplelea Spa. Your Maplelea doll will be returned looking and feeling great. She will be wearing a comfy spa gown and matching slippers, accompanied by new pages for her journal. The spa fee is $56. Please note that this is a doll replacement service; we cannot repair your original doll. For further details on the Maplelea Spa,click here.
What do the numbers on the back of my doll’s neck mean?
As with all high quality collectible dolls, there is a backstamp on the doll’s neck giving information about the doll’s history. On all Maplelea dolls there is an embossed numeric code indicating the year that mould was first used. Printed in brown ink is the generation code. The first generation of each doll does not always have the brown ink as the first generation is usually the same as the mould creation date.
Is Maplelea affiliated with Mattel, American Girl, Chapters, Indigo, Journey Girls or Our Generation or any other doll company?
No. Maplelea is a completely independent, Canadian-owned and operated company based in Newmarket, ON. The founder and owner is Kathryn Gallagher Morton.
In addition to its own line of dolls and accessories, Maplelea is also the Canadian distributor for Ruby Red Dolls which are sold through the website, www.rubyreddollscanada.com.
Do you sell to the USA or other countries?
We will ship to most countries around the world. We have economical shipping rates to the USA and Europe available for selection upon check-out.
Do you sell boy dolls?
Boy dolls are available in the Maplelea&ME! collection. As with all Maplelea&ME! dolls, the styles available change each year. We also offer a wide range of gender-neutral outfits and accessories that are suitable for use with 18” boy dolls. This includes such things as karate, hockey, soccer, pets, bedding, tent, and many more outfits and accessories. You can see them here.
Are your prices in Canadian or American dollars?
On our website you have the choice of viewing our prices in Canadian or American dollars. However, all orders will be billed to your credit card in Canadian dollars. If you have an American credit card, your card company will convert the Canadian amount to US$ at the time it bills the order to your card. The exchange rate will be whatever your card company is charging at the time the order goes through.
You may choose to view our prices in American dollars by toggling on the currency icon. The American prices you will view will approximate the exchange rate that will be charged to your American credit card. There is no guarantee that your card will charge you the exchange rate that we are using for the approximation, but it should be close.
The ability to view our prices in US$ is simply provided as a convenience for those more familiar with dealing with American prices.
Should you have additional questions pertaining to Maplelea, please contact us.