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OF THE PLACES TO GO! FREE CLASSIFIEDS
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OF THE PLACES TO GO! FREE CLASSIFIEDS
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 "We Deal In Quality And Trust!" A Comprehensive Site For Boyds Bear BearstonesTMReference / Value Guide & Secondary Market Resource
In My Bear OpinionArticles & Editorial CommentsOctober 2001The Intelligent CollectorPart V "A Case Study" This is the last of this series of articles concerning the "Intelligent Collector." We introduced you to the Intelligent Collector and talked about the uninformed collector. We discussed the casual collector and the serious collector. And we looked at Bearstones as Assets. In the Addendum of this article we have summarized certain aspects of all of these articles for your reference. You will want to review these. This last article is a fun one, because our case study is a study of ourselves as collectors. We're sure that you will see some of yourself in this story. It was early in the morning. The air was crisp and cold on this February day. We climbed into the car, bringing our half asleep daughter along. The sun had barely risen and the cold misty fog swirled. Crossing through, what are called the "Sandhills" of Nebraska, the car climbed and dipped in and out of the hollows. In the hollows the fog density made the day seem like night. A now awakening daughter piped from the back seat, "Where are we going?" Spouse joyfully announced, "We're on a Bear Hunt!" "Oh," the quiet voice answered. As the day brightened a little more, the haziness of the fog began burning off. Our daughter stared out the window intently. We were headed for our first stop on the day's itinerary. This stop was a small town nestled in the sandhills, about 75 miles NE of home. The silence of the ride was broken by our daughter's voice. "I don't see any bears. Are you sure there are bears around here?" The car erupted in laughter and guffaws! Through the streaming tears of laughter spouse turned to an obviously confused little girl, "Not real bears. We're going to a store where they have Boyds Bears!" Our early years of collecting (pre-internet) was pretty much like the confusion of our daughter. Yes, these were fun times. We took a series of journeys to small "out of the way" towns in the Central USA. We journeyed to Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Kansas and throughout our home state of Nebraska. Each new town an adventure. Each little shop, a place that may hold "the" Bearstone. But what we didn't know was hurting our searches. You see, we were somewhere between uninformed and really uninformed collectors. Oh, we had a value guide, but we were woefully devoid of good, definitive information. We misunderstood the values in the guide. We thought the values were the prices of these older, retired Bearstones. We bought extra stones to resell to support our "bearmania." Our cache of extra Bearstones grew. Our knowledge did not. We thought we had a store of really valuable, highly sought after stones. In reality we had many Bearstones that were worth barely more than what we had paid. If we added in the cost of travel we had a losing proposition. We did not know about issues other than regular releases. We did not know about RS. We had not even heard many of the terms used to describe Bearstones. The Understamp defied explanation. Our efforts to sell these extra Bearstones was paltry. We had no source. We found the internet by an off comment made by someone we cannot remember. Searching the internet we found bits and pieces of obscure information. Questions arose. We could not find the answers. What we did learn was that our cache was not worth our previous assessment. We learned this by looking at actual selling prices. This revelation led to depression. We had lost the lustre of the hunt. What were we to do? First, we needed to find out how we could have made such a mistake. Amidst a room of opened Bearstone boxes, the little ones sitting all around, an opened value guide, and some notes from the internet information we began to see our error. We were totally uninformed. The value guide did not provide pertinent information. We could not determine "real" value from this source. This was a book of pictures and very general information, which alone, led us astray. What we needed was solid information about the Understamp, issues other than regular open ones, the meaning of RS and other terms--just to begin! Where would we find this information? We really had no idea. But, we did start by calling "clearing houses" for Bearstones. We asked questions. These, from whom we asked information, most often, could not provide what we sought. However, their "opinions" spurred us along various lines of thought. It became apparent that we were pretty much on our own. And, we were still uninformed and felt "taken" by the information in the value guide. We were determined to get to the bottom of "real" value. We made a complete inventory assessment by recording everything about each of our stones. We recorded style #, style name, edition, copyright dates, boxes, cards, packing and further details from the Understamp. We correlated the issue dates and retirement dates to all of this information. We continued to ask questions. We had a giant jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces. It is now some thousand Bearstones or so and years later from those days. The puzzle? Well, we have the whole picture, but not every one of the pieces. Those will come. They are somewhat non-critical pieces. Remember what we have said in this series, "Collecting is a process...." Our own story, this case study, represents a classic line of progression from the uninformed collector to the present day. Somewhere from the beginning to now you will find where you are as a collector of Bearstones. And this is the point of this last article. For you to find what kind of collector you are now and then to decide what kind of collector you want to be. We believe all of you need to be the most informed and knowledgeable collector possible. Some of you have already decided to do this. Some of you aren't sure. Some of you just don't think you need it. Quite a number of years ago there was a professor who lecturing on a bit of historical background for the subject of his class. It was a bit disconcerting, since this lecture did not seem to be of any real consequence to the class. In questioning the professor about the connection, he said this, "All learning is a process. You learn some rudimentary facts. You try to apply those facts. From this you have questions and learn some more. But you cannot truly enjoy or share what you have learned until you understamd where these facts have come from. To experience the joy of what you have learned is a purpose of learning." This concept is especially applicable to collecting. We can tell you that the joy of collecting Bearstones is that much greater with knowledge. Not only can you collect because they are cute and have meaning to you, but you can collect with that deeper understanding and appreciation of knowing all there is to know about a Bearstone. The lustre of our adventure is brighter today. Now, you can do as we did. Buy all of those Bearstones and do your own study. We don't suggest it. It is a monumental task. One we are not sure we would have taken had we known the time and effort. So, are you uninformed? Misinformed? Do you have questions? The Website, The Bear Collector.com is designed to inform, clear up misunderstanding and to answer questions. You can begin with the Bearstone Basics. You may think that this information is of general knowledge to all. This is not necessarily so. It is true that through the years of our own study much more information and general knowledge has been propagated to all collectors who frequent the internet. However, this basic information is no where compiled to the extent it is in the Bearstone Basics - A Learning Center. This is your source for the rudimentary facts. You can continue your journey of learning with our exclusive The Collector's Handbook. There is no way to describe fully the depth and breadth of information that is contained in this area. And, you will not find this information anywhere else. In some form or another all that is included in The Collector's Handbook is our copyrighted material. It is here that you will begin to truly find the joy of collecting Bearstones. ADDENDUM Here are some points and definitions from all of the "Intelligent Collector" Articles. Intelligent Collector - A collector informed enough about a collectible to make an intelligent assessment of the collectible's value versus its cost. Point of being an Intelligent Collector - One needs to be informed to the level of competency at which they are collecting. Casual Collector - In need of basic information to make informed decisions about purchases. (If you have a Bearstone that is retired you are already beyond being a casual collector.) Basic Information - Includes Editions, Understamps, RS, Exclusives, Variations & General Defintions. Serious Collector - In need of basic information, the inter- relationship of the basic information, the principles of the total package assessment and detailed information on individual Bearstones. Principles of Assessment- Guidelines derived from a thorough understanding of all aspects of the Bearstones, including paw prints, copyrights, boxes, cards, packing, etc. Bearstones As Assets - As collectibles, properly insured, Bearstones are "real" assets. To realize their value, it is indisputable that you must be able to assess them completely. Point of Assets- Lack of knowledge depreciates the value of your assets. Knowledge protects your assets. We would be remiss if we did not tell you the following: If you purchase from The Bear Collector.com you are automatically an Intelligent Collector without any work on your part. We Guarantee that you will receive a Mint stone with the original box, card and packing. This is a total value package that cannot be matched by anyone, anywhere. 
Visit Bearstone Basics - A Learning CenterThe "Casual Collector" should be able to get most of the information they need to begin in this section of the site. Detailed information about Bearstones can be found in the Reference Guide under the individual Bearstone links. You may visit the Reference Guide HERE The "Casual Collector" and "Serious Collector" will find information here to be very useful. 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 What Are "Bearstone Basics"? Bearstone Basics is a series of informative articles concerned with the essential information a collector of Boyds Bearstones should have at their ready disposal. The subject matter pertains to basic things, such as Editions, Understamps, General Definitions and many others. Whether you are a "New" or "Old" collector the review of these subjects will provide you with an informed view of Bearstones and the necessary tools to be an informed collector and wise purchaser. CHOOSE A TOPIC (Just Click On Your Choice)
EDITIONS collecting Boyds Bearstones! 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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