So You Think You're Missing a Jigsaw Piece?

We’re here to help! Since launching WHATAWOODWORK in 2020, we’ve encountered the most common cases of “missing” pieces—and we have solutions!

But first, let’s start by saying that at WAWW Puzzles, we pour our heart and soul into every puzzle we create. Each board is a labor of love, crafted with incredible precision and care. Now, let’s take a peek behind the curtain of our puzzle-making magic!

🔎 The Most Likely Reasons You Think Pieces Are Missing:

⚠️ 1) False Fits & the Illusion of Missing Pieces

Because of the way our puzzles are cut, some pieces may appear to fit where they shouldn’t—this is what we call a false fit. When this happens, it may seem like a piece is missing, but in reality, all the pieces are there—they’re just not in their correct spots.

✅ How to Check for a Proper Fit

🔹 A correctly placed piece should slide in smoothly without effort.
🔹 If you need to force or tap a piece into place, it’s likely in the wrong spot.
🔹 Even if a piece looks like it belongs, a forced fit often reveals it’s incorrect—pieces should fit snugly but easily.

🚨 A Word of Caution: Avoid Forcing Pieces!

Forcing a piece into the wrong place can damage the edges or corners, making it harder to fit correctly later. If a piece doesn’t glide in effortlessly, try:

✔️ Swapping it with a similar-looking piece nearby
✔️ Rotating it slightly—a minor adjustment can make a big difference
✔️ Re-examining surrounding connections—other misplaced pieces might be causing the issue

This is part of the unique nature of our handcrafted puzzles. If you think you’re missing a piece, double-check for false fits before reaching out!

🔍 2) Houdini Has Nothing on Your "Missing" Piece

Before stressing about a missing piece, consider some of the most common hiding spots—our customers have had some hilarious discoveries!

🧐 Check these places first:
🔹 The floor (those sneaky pieces love camouflage!)
🔹 Vacuum bags (oops—almost gone forever!)
🔹 Pet zones (your furry friend might be a puzzle thief 🐶😹)
🔹 Under rugs (classic hide-and-seek move!)
🔹 Couch & chair creases (trust us, they love it there!)

💡 Pro Tip: Take a deep breath and enjoy the hunt! Most “missing” pieces are just playing hide-and-seek.

🧩 3) The Piece Count Doesn’t Match the Website

Alright, you caught us! We allow ourselves a little piece count flexibility. At WAWW Puzzles, our piece counts are more of a creative guideline than a strict rule.

🧩 A 500-piece puzzle might have 510 pieces
🧩 A 1,000-piece puzzle could have 1,004

It’s all part of the handcrafted charm!

💙 Our Commitment to Your Puzzle Experience

While we can’t replace individual missing pieces, we are committed to ensuring your puzzle joy:

✔️ Meticulous Inspection – We carefully check every piece before packaging.
✔️ Careful Packaging – We use special enclosed surfaces to prevent piece loss.
✔️ Pre-Shipping Checks – Before placing the next board and starting a new puzzle, we tilt and verify the cutting surfaces to ensure no pieces are left behind.

✨ The Intricate Journey of a Single Puzzle Board

When we say each puzzle board is special, we mean it. Here’s what goes into creating just one of our unique puzzles:

✔️ Cutting Complexity – Each board is touched approximately 300 times during production.
✔️ Time-Intensive Craftsmanship – A single board takes between 30-55 minutes to cut, with meticulous attention to detail.
✔️ Customized Precision – Every board requires unique stain, paint, and UV printing settings, making each puzzle truly one-of-a-kind.
✔️ Manual Placement – Our laser-cutting process involves manual board placement, meaning each cut can have slight variations.

❌ Why We Can’t Replace Individual Pieces

Due to the intricate nature of our puzzle-making process, replacing a single piece is not feasible. Here’s why:

1️⃣ Unique Production – Each puzzle is made to order with specific settings that can’t be exactly replicated.
2️⃣ Extreme Labor Intensity – Reproducing one piece would require almost the same effort as creating an entire puzzle.
3️⃣ Craftsmanship Integrity – Maintaining our high-quality standards means we can’t simply “swap out” a piece.

🏷️ Our Blank Piece Compromise

We understand how disappointing a missing piece can be! If you report a missing piece within 30 days of purchase, we’ll send you a blank jigsaw piece as a small gesture of goodwill.

📩 How to Request a Blank Piece

To help us identify your puzzle, please email us with:

📏 Order Number (Proof of Purchase): This helps us determine the puzzle size and piece count while verifying the puzzle's origin.
📸 2-3 clear photos showing the missing piece area.

This helps us provide the most appropriate support.

📬 Contact Us

If you genuinely believe you’re missing a piece after a thorough search, please reach out! We’re always happy to provide guidance or investigate further.

💌 Email us at: info@whatawoodwork.com

Puzzling with passion,

The WAWW Puzzles Team