Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

I can't totally remember, but I think that last time I bought from the UK, I paid in pounds. I looked at Paypal's question/help section, and from what I gathered, the cost for the seller to convert it themselves is quite a bit more than if the buyer does it.

Unfortunately, I have to feel like it is a bear I can't live without to pay some of the prices for UK bears since it doubles the price for me (I live in the US). That is really when I prefer the BIN, so I KNOW what I will end up paying. Another thing too, last time I bought a bear, was that from the time I "bought" the item when the auction ended and when it was actually billed to my credit card, the amount had gone up because of the currency value difference so I ended up paying more than when I had won the auction.

If someone doesn't have the conversion rate listed on their auction, I just use my internet provider's currency conversion chart.

Melissa, what shop sells your bears? I live in Tennessee, and my sister lives right outside of Chattanooga.

This auction for an artist bear says pick up only, but the bear is in Australia! Is there any chance that someone has messed with this auction. It just struck me as odd for an artist to do this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/OOAK-CHARLIE-NEEDLE … dZViewItem

Since it would be using other people's art work and possibly their logos, I believe to do this myself would be a form of copyright infringement. I don't see myself as being able to claim a stuffed bear as my grandchild. I am sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way, it was just a question.

I have seen the t-shirts that just have the logo on them, but would it be a possibility at some point to be able to order t-shirts with individual artist's logos on them, like the artists' avatars or a collage of all of the member artists' bears on it? I think that would be really cool.

As a collector, I will usually read the feedback and research the artist before buying a bear from them. If I see a bear I like, but am just not 100% certain about bidding on it (especially a large amount), I will look at closed auctions for that artist's work and Google the artist to find websites, shops that sell their work, and perhaps online discussions concerning the artist's work. I will look at the auction over and over and think about it. Usually one of the main deciding factors for me is whether or not I can get THAT bear out of my mind.

As far as buyer's remorse and new collectors go, when I first started buying bears I bought manufactured ones that were not expensive. In my opinion, by the time you are willing to pay several hundred dollars for a bear, you are more sure about what you are looking for and your taste has become more sophisticated. I still see some cute manufactured bears, but they just don't do it enough for me to spend my money on.

I have seen some collectibles sellers state that the buyer must contact them in 48 or 72 hours with the intent to return. I don't know if this really has any more benefits than a 7 day return policy, but I think it would give them less time after deciding they didn't want it to let their baby slobber on it, or their dog use it as a bed buddy before returning it.

I am just a collector, but there are several artists whose work I am just not drawn to, but other people love.  I have been a doll collector for years, but I honestly couldn't tell you who one member of NIADA is. When I am thinking about what to buy, I am looking for what I am drawn to and something that I personally think is beautiful. I don't pay attention to what groups people are affiliated with. I know that winning awards etc., is a huge honor, but I would have missed some great pieces from new or up and coming artists that are now a treasured part of my collection if I thought about that. The same with the bears. I know that all collectors are not the same, but I pay more attention to the actual artistry than what titles people have. Again, this is just my thoughts.

I can tell you how I feel as a collector, if it helps at all. Most of the time, I am much more likely to buy a bear (especially a very expensive one) if I can get a layaway plan. Sometimes if I see more than one bear that I simply must have, a layaway helps immensely and it also generates more sales for the seller. Overall, it makes it easier for me to overlook the whole cost when I don't have to pay for it all at one time. However, I do understand the other side of the issue, and know that some artists have gotten burned on unpaid layaways. Personally, I take a layaway payment as seriously as any other bill I have. Unfortunately, people that don't follow through on their commitments ruin it for everyone else.

I belong to some doll collecting forums. Occasionally I will sell some of my collection to other collectors, and take payments. I have learned from downsizing my collection, that a very structured payment plan with time limits is best. When I have sold pieces out of my collection, I am always very specific about when I expect money and make sure that I mention that payments on defaulted transactions are nonrefundable. The idea of paying out money and getting nothing for it because of default usually weeds out most of the irresponsible people.

These are just my thoughts.

I am so excited to have won two of the three bears that I bid on! :dance:  They were both by artists I don't have in my collection yet, and I am so excited to be getting them!

I hope you do good at your show. I LOVE the bunny in your avatar!

I am sorry to hear about your puppies.

Okay, another question I have is this: If they ruin a perfectly good bear, will they reimburse the amount, or am I just out the money? It would be just my luck that MY bear would be that random victim!

I remember seeing a post about U.S. Customs doing bad things to bears. I bought a Jodi Moisan bear off of ebay from a girl in the U.K. selling part of her collection. Will it probably be safe, or should I ask her to include a note to customs? I don't but too many things from overseas, so I don't really think a whole lot about how Customs affects me personally.

This is Mr Tips and Robin. Mr Tips is a Siamese and Robin is a tabby.

Thanks for the compliments on my collection. Shelli, right now, I have MANY more dolls than bears. I still have quite a number of mass produced bears, but only have 15-20 artist hand made bears so far. I have somewhere around 300 dolls. When we bought our house, we converted the den into a doll room for me. My husband built shelving all the way around the room and I also have a small cabinet and a shelving unit in the middle of the room. It is just myself, my husband and my 7 year old son in the house so I am able to keep that door closed when I am not in there. I also have two cats, and keeping the door closed keeps them from going in that room and shedding. Since I am really the only person that goes in there on a regular basis, there is not a lot of foot traffic, which in turn makes for very little dust. I also have a dehumidifier in that room to help keep it a nice, even temperature all of the time.

The doll in the picture is a Yolanda Bello Originals doll from 1988. Her name is Tai-Ling.

Thanks, Jodi! Yes, I have seen that section.

Shelli,
I was disappointed when visiting your website, that you weren't selling any bears on there. I would absolutely love to have one of your bears.

Sounds like fun. I wish that someone would do something like that around where I live.

I know that a lot of artists sell on both their own site and ebay. How do you decide with a particular bear which one it will be posted to? Most of the time, I prefer to buy directly from an artist's site. I guess I am an instant gratification type person. I like to be able to pay the money and know 100% for sure that the item is mine. I don't like being outbid at the last minute for a doll or bear I really want when the person has only outbid me by 1.00!

That is such a neat way to bring out the artistic side in a child. My seven year old son loves to sing and dance and draw and just create things. It is so important to nurture their interests.

I occasionally visit her website to see if there are new bears. I knew there had been none in a long time, but I was not aware that her husband was ill until I saw what she had posted to her site. I, too hope she will feel up to making bears again sometime.

Thanks, I found this discussion very entertaining! BTW, sorry y'all are having troubles with this woman.

I am so sorry about your friend. Don't ever lose faith or hope. Miracles can happen.

This is Ellsworth