Sometimes you have to say Goodbye before you say Hello!

A few years ago I went Christmas shopping in my lunch hour. Amongst the books in WH Smiths I came across a Warmies microwavable sheep, we looked at each other as I walked on by. Got back to work and could not stop thinking about him! Next day I took an early lunch hour and was so pleased to find him still there! DH says he cannot understand how an inanimate object could have such a personality!

I bought all my grandkids a steiff bear with their year of birth on it. They parents have them in the box and on a shelf Steiff bears get more valuable as they age. I’ve a few myself from when I lived in Germany

4Allweknow, bullfinches are beauties aren't they! I do understand as I had a similar experience with a kestrel about thirty years ago and never forgot it. Thanks for sharing your feelings .

Not leaving a teddy bear but a beautiful male Bullfinch. Found the little soul lying at the bottom of the garden yesterday. Picked it up, so soft, not a mark on it. I wanted to do CPR on it. Took it to the nearby woodland and buried it. I could cry just thinking about it.

I love the title you have given to this thread. If it were on the cover of a book, I'd buy it! Sad you had to leave the little bear on the shelf but it does seem overpriced. There are more reasonably priced Steiff bears you can buy direct from Steiff.com.

There's always one! Or four!

missdeke

I've always thought Steiff stuffed toys were overpriced, but my daughter's very discerning cat will only entertain having a Steiff Rat as his toy of choice, anything else is treated with disdain.

Sounds as if your daughter's cat has pawfect choice.

Riggie

Lol. My DS loved the story of how his bear came along.

DS was born with complex disabilities nd was in and out of hospital. One stay when he was about 6 weeks old turned into 2 months at Birmingham Children's hospital. I decided he needed a bear so on my daily walks I was on the lookout but couldn't find the right one. DH thought I was mad when I said the right bear will choose us. Anyway one day he visited (I was staying at the hospital) and he said he had seen some bears in a shop window. So I went to look. They were a bit "meh", but through the window I could see a display shelf in the shop and there was a little bear with his arm in the air waving to me. He's been with us nearly 25 years now. DS has learning disabilities so the bear is still very much loved!

That is such a lovely story. Thank you for sharing.

Lol. My DS loved the story of how his bear came along.

DS was born with complex disabilities nd was in and out of hospital. One stay when he was about 6 weeks old turned into 2 months at Birmingham Children's hospital. I decided he needed a bear so on my daily walks I was on the lookout but couldn't find the right one. DH thought I was mad when I said the right bear will choose us. Anyway one day he visited (I was staying at the hospital) and he said he had seen some bears in a shop window. So I went to look. They were a bit "meh", but through the window I could see a display shelf in the shop and there was a little bear with his arm in the air waving to me. He's been with us nearly 25 years now. DS has learning disabilities so the bear is still very much loved!

I found a lovely golden brand new Merrythought bear for £2 in a charity shop some years ago. I didn’t need to think twice and Edward came home with me that day.

I've always thought Steiff stuffed toys were overpriced, but my daughter's very discerning cat will only entertain having a Steiff Rat as his toy of choice, anything else is treated with disdain.

Steiff makes a range of bears and other soft toys that are designed for children. These are more modern looking and slightly less expensive than the bears etc. made for adult collectors.

Some toys in the adult range are copies of the famous bears of the past, and I believe the copies of old bears are all still made in the original materials, which also helps to explain the price.

Ive never been attracted to dolls and bears although Americans (my main custmer base) love them

Sometimes I see things in an auction that I would dearly love to buy. Then the bidding goes over the point at which I would make a profit. So sadly I have to leave it there.

Its entirely different if I am buying for myself. I think back to the times when I saw something that was a bit expensive, went away to think about it, and the item was sold when I went back. So whenever I see something I want for myself and it seems expensive for what it is, I ask myself how I would feel if I went back and it was sold!

It depends upon whether I have my business hat on or my collectors one. As a collector I buy with my heart. As a businesswoman it is £££.

Oh I love teddy bears too and have quite a few but I would never pay a fortune for one or expect anyone else to either.
I don't need a stud in their ears just an appealing look on their face!!

Have you seen the Diamond anniversary Dr Who Steiff bear? He popped up, advertised on my Facebook page, but at £350 I don't think I'll be buying him, lovely though he is.

Ha this made smile.
I’ve recently bought one in a Steiff shop. I was thrilled to do so my children certainly didn’t have them.
This was jointed and cute and ££ not £££ or more.

Ravens, did you intend that as an allegory? whether or not you did, it's a good one.

Must say I don’t really care for Steiff teddies - that ‘button in the ear’ thing is (to me) annoying, and I’m sure any child I’ve known - including my former self - would want it Out! As a pp said, IMO they’re more for adult collectors, besides being so expensive.

My dd1 - now in her 40s - still loves her Baby Bear - a little Merrythought one, given by MiL when she was one day old. He’s been all over the world with her - including on a very hairy trip on horseback, in the Altai Republic of Siberia. 🐻

Sometimes you just have to say you are mine! I have a soft spot for a teddy I think it’s because as a child I never had a soft cuddly toy or teddy bear. I bought them for my children but they were never expensive as I couldn’t afford them.
I have two little soft toys on my dressing table one a little teddy one a fox I love them. I want for nothing now at this time of life but I would be back at the shop….

I hadn't had a 'smart' winter coat for some time and then I saw 'the one' in TKMaxx. A nice shade of blue - not navy and not pale - just right - a 'goldilocks' coat! Then I looked at the price and couldn't believe that in TKMaxx it was selling for over £400. Oh well, a bargain will turn up eventually...

CanadianGran I think the UK equivalent of your Winners is probably T. K. Max. Everything in the store is discounted. Some of the clothing, sportswear, handbags, have designer labels. In a village close to Oxford, UK, there's a designer outlet store. They sell the 'big' designer names and the clothes are still on the expensive side. Shame about your coat when it looked so good on you.

I bought a Steiff bear for my first GD, I asked the shop assistant how much it was, she told me it was £40. I asked her to check with the manager or whoever and she came back and said that was the price so I bought it.
I was worried they had missed a 0 off the price ticket but they insisted it was correct.

I don't know if you have Winners shops in Uk, they offer discounts, and sometimes have high end brands.

I once saw a lovely jacket, sort of an all-season fitted coat. I saw it was my size so slipped it on. It fit beautifully, even a passing by shopper remarked how nice it looked... then I saw the price, it was equivalent to 500 GBP... yikes! I had one more twirl around by the mirror, and took it off. It was a fancy designer label that I wasn't that familiar with, but I had a moment of envy for those that can afford really good quality clothing. Ah well, not for the likes of me!

Even at that price somebody will buy it.Always seems to me that Steiff bears are more for adult collectors than for a kid’s plaything.There are loads of teddies out there just as nice as a Steiff if you really want one😄 the golden blonde colour ones were my favourite as a child, and I had two.No idea where they are now tho.