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A Comprehensive Site For Boyds Bear Bearstones^TM

Reference / Value Guide & Secondary Market Resource

The Intelligent Collector

Part I

You might wonder why it seems that The Bear Collector.com stresses
the vast amount of information on the site. You might wonder why
our Newsletters, at times, emphasizes the analysis and application
of information.

Wonder no longer! Here is the answer. The more information a
collector has the easier it is for us to properly direct the
collector to fulfill their needs. And so, we really like the
"Intelligent Collector."

The "Intelligent Collector"? What's this? Simply, it is our
term for a concept that we have found critical for any collector.
The Intelligent Collector is one who is informed enough about a
collectible to make an intelligent assessment of the collectible's
value versus it's cost.

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A short while ago we received an email from a collector who was
concerned whether they had been "ripped off" or not. It seems
the party had ordered the Bearstone "The Collector" (#227707)
from a retailer. When they received this Bearstone it was
apparently defective. Upon notification, the retailer graciously
agreed to replace the stone. The replacement arrived and the
party, upon viewing the stone, became alarmed. It was not the same
as the original stone! The collector was now seeking information
to assess the value of the stone they had received, if it was
in fact a real "Boyds."

We do not decry the collector, but they were not informed before
they purchased. They were not an "Intelligent Collector."

What the collector should have know before they purchased this
Bearstone was that it has three versions: GCC, Original Regular
Edition and RS. The first one they received was an Original Regular
Edition. The second one they received was a GCC Early Intro Issue.
The collector apparently was unaware that there was an Introductory
Issue without edition markings. Had the collector been informed
they would have been elated. The replacement has greater value
than the defective one!

We make one other distinction here as well. The collector appears
to be a "casual" collector (as opposed to a "serious" collector).
Even though they may be a casual collector it was still important
to be informed--to be wise. Regardless of your passion for
collecting (serious or not) being informed is critical to
intelligent purchases.

This principle is applicable to all collecting on all levels.
You must be an "Intelligent Collector."

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ADDENDUM

Perhaps you are interested in how we approached the collector's
apprehensions about being "ripped off." Well, we did inform them
they appeared to be better of than originally. The we directed
them to the Bearstone Reference Guide where we list all three
variations so they could review the information and assess their
current situation.

And, by the way, they did not have a card with the replacement
Bearstone. We were nice and told them which card they should have
and request from the retailer.

The Bear Collector.com is a reference site for Boyds Bearstones.
This means you can find the information you need (and you always
need it) to be an Intelligent Collector of Bearstones.

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Part I of The Intelligent Collector
Part II of The Intelligent Collector
Part III of The Intelligent Collector
Part IV of The Intelligent Collector
Part V of The Intelligent Collector

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