Buying

[elize]

Is it safe to buy antiques Teddy Bears on Ebay?

[pongos bears]

Well... That is the Six Million dollar(Pound) question .....
The best way to buy is only to buy what you are ABSOLUTELY 100% certain about !!!! If you are not certain about some of the features or shape of a new bear for your hug, then don't purchase it. I have seen some very dodgy looking characters when browsing auction sites, some just don't quite tick all the boxes, where as if you purchase from a reputable dealer, that offers a "no quibble" full refund policy, then you can be sure that they are not going to sell you a ringer.

Hope this helps.

[elize]

Hi, thanks for the advice, buying from reputable dealers is much safer.

[DebbieD]

Years and years ago I had a gem of a find on Ebay. The seller didn't know much about the bear, only a few sketchy details of what she'd been told, and I took a gamble on it because it was real fur, and I was just drooling over the condition of the fur. It turned out to be a MINT condition R & D drinking bear. !!!! PRISTINE, and the bear was such a character! I adored him and the condition of him was beyond belief.

Happily I managed to find him the perfect home with a serious collector before I was due to move cross country. I was terrified what might happen to him in transit.

I think the most sage advice is simply to purchase any bear for the sheer fact you love it. There are some unscrupulous sellers out there, so don't believe someone's selling a 'just found this Red Steiff Bear (looks like Alfonzo) but I haven't a clue what its worth'... :rolleye: Please! Especially if the same seller is offering a similar 'gee I don't know what this is worth', but pulls out a black Titanic Steiff bear from the same time frame. C'mon, what are the odds of that??

There are a few artists out there fully capable of producing a vintage style bear complete with antiquing methods, but if you're looking for something that will be an investment for the future, look very hard and long at the bear, scour the details, ask the seller some questions and follow your gut instincts. :)

[bobbybaer]

Do you really think buying bears for investment does worth it?
Ok - there are definitively bears that are made for beeing exposed and it's better to be very careful with handling - maybe because of their dresses or fabric or anything else.........
but, many bears, even sometimes a bit expensives ones, just want to be hugged.
Having only bears to expose behind a glass front:rolleye:?
I love the customers who tell me that the bears, they adopted from me,
share their life .When they are cuddled and "used" ...
For my personal collection - well:)- I love to have bears from bear makers I like for their personality.....more I like the bear maker, more I like the bear.....
I really think bear collecting is very personal;)

[elize]

In South-Africa we do not have a lot of dealers selling vintage bears. We have to use the internet and Ebay.
I also buy a bear if I like him, or if he looks at me with big eyes as if to say: "please take me home":) The pleasure for me in collecting is seeing that one spesific bear and I know I have to take him home. It is like treasure hunting.;) If you buy at an auction it is purely for investment and that takes the joy out of collecting - for me.

[Blondheart]

Buying anything on ebay is dependent upon the person selling it. I bought a Steiff some years ago on ebay and despite the fabulous pics she had of it, it arrived in pretty poor condition and reeking of mildew. She must have photo shopped out the holes in the feet and other flaws. She refused to give me a refund too.

On the flip side I got a miniature Steiff for $15 that looked pretty rough in the picture and when it arrived it was in perfect condition.

A lot of times people will list something as being this brand or that, and it turns out not to be what they are advertising. So unless you really know your old bears, you need to be cautious about that as well.

So you just never know. You have to go with your gut. I rarely buy anything from ebay anymore. Nor do I sell through them anymore. I had a situation with a buyer who was harassing me and they didn't do anything about it despite the fact that she had been doing it to other people as well and there was tons of proof.

I have switched over to Etsy.

[oldbearsandfriends]

Hi All, I agree selling & buying online can be a risky business for both parties but I must say for me it has been wonderful fun, I have sold some lovely teddies for good money and bought others for a bargain , I have only bought one "dud" and I must admit I had a strong feeling I wasn’t getting what it looked like in the ad but I loved him anyhow.

Online trading for me has opened up the whole world, I am now an international trader from my humble little house in dear old Adelaide, I love it and love having my own site and trading on eBay (albeit getting frustrating and costly)

I think if you only stick to what your heart tells you and pay what you are willing to, as the buyer predicts the price, you cant go wrong and also ask heaps of questions and get more pics, if the seller cant do this for you I would hit the back button and go buy off someone more willing to help you. Oh and ask one of the people on here, this is a fantastic resource, I am more then willing to give my humble advice / opinion