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Layaway
Collecting teddy bears, especially antique bears, can be a relatively expensive hobby.
You may like to use your new credit card which provides interest free credit on new purchases - that way you get to hug your teddy bear immediately.
Another way of raising funds is to use a "layaway" facility which enables you to spread the cost over an agreed period, usually between two and four months, but you may be able to negotiate a longer period if the bear is particularly expensive. Generally dealers will ask for an initial deposit/first instalment and then regular monthly payments until you have paid the full purchase price. Many dealers will accept post dated cheques, this has mutual benefits i.e. they don't need to send reminders and it reduces your postage costs and number of trips to a mail box. Effectively layaway gives you interest free credit on your purchase.
The disadvantage is that you will need to wait until all the payments are complete - and any cheques have cleared - before you receive your teddy bear.
Some layaway transactions do not complete e.g. the buyer finds another bear which they prefer. In this event it is possible the dealer may not refund your initial deposit as he/she needs to take into account the extra administration (bank charges, book-keeping), the possible need to re-name, take and edit more photos and re-advertise a bear which they thought they had sold. However, dealers are sympathetic if you cannot complete the transaction due to sickness or unemployment.
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