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QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
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What is the Sebastianworld Collectors Guild and when did it start?
The
Sebastianworld Collectors Guild is an organization dedicated to
assisting Sebastian Miniatures collectors everywhere by providing
information and a variety of services and opportunities, formed January 1, 2002.
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Who runs the Guild?
The
Guild is managed by Sebastianworld, Incorporated under the direct
supervision of its Board of Directors with guidance from the Advisory
Board. Guild members are encouraged to offer advice and
recommendations at any time.
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How do I join?
Complete
a simple application and survey form, send the appropriate fee to
Sebastianworld, Inc. and you are a member. Application forms are
available in the Sebastianworld News, on this web site (click
here)
or by request from Sebastianworld, Inc., P.O. Box 339, Wayland, MA
01778-0339.
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What does it cost and how much are my dues?
The
current annual fee for membership is $20. There is no separate enrollment fee.
All memberships expire on December 31. Members joining at any time
during the year receive all issues of the Sebastianworld News
issued during that year.
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What benefits do I get if I join?
You
receive
the Sebastianworld News published three times a year. You
also receive a variety of other benefits including, for example, a Membership Card, discounts
on Sebastianworld publications, a free classified listing in the
Sebastianworld News or on this web site, and the opportunity to purchase "members
only" figurines when issued. Click here
to see a full list of benefits.
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When
is my membership effective?
All
memberships are effective for one year, beginning on January 1st.
Members may join anytime during the calendar year but all membership
expire on December 31st each year.
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I
am a Sebastian dealer. Can I still join?
Memberships
are available to individuals, couples and families as well as businesses and other
organizations including dealers who receive the same
benefits and privileges as anyone else Dealers may take out
advertisements in the Sebastianworld News up to a full page.
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How do I get notified when my renewal dues are payable?
A
notification is included with the Fall (September) issue of the
Sebastianworld News. Multi-year memberships are not available at the present time.
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I am signing
up late in the year. Do I save any money?
No.
All memberships are for one full year. If you join later in the year you
will receive all back issues of the Sebastianworld News for that year as
well as all other membership benefits.
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How much time
do I have to renew before I lose my membership?
If renewal dues are not received by the end of the
calendar year, your membership is considered as lapsed. However,
you may rejoin at any time.
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Do I need to
purchase any figurines when I am a member?
No.
Our philosophy is that you should not be required to purchase any item
that you may not want. Special members-only figurines and other
items may be offered to Guild members from time to time, but never with
an obligation to purchase.
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Are there any 'members only' figurines produced.
Yes.
Watch for details on this website and in the Sebastianworld News.
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Do I get any
discounts on my purchases of items sold by Sebastianworld or by the
Guild?
Yes,
on many items. The minimum discount is 10 percent and may be higher on
selected items. Also, from time to time we have seasonal and other
special offers.
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Can't I
get everything that a member gets simply by going to the web site?
No.
While there is a much information on this web site including many of the
articles that appear in the Sebastianworld News, other
information is not provided. If you join you
also receive a package of benefits that includes access to the Guild
Members only area of the website. This section of the website often
provides advance information on new releases and occasionally special
offers that are may not be available to the general public.
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Can I put
an advertisement in the Sebastianworld News or on the web site?
Any
individual or business may advertise in the Sebastianworld News
or on this web site at standard rates which are available on request
from Sebastianworld. Ads may run up to one full page in
length. Members of the Guild may place one free classified
listing a year - up to 25 words in addition to contact information in
either the Sebastianworld News or on the web site.
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I have Sebastians that I want to sell / exchange. How can the
Guild help me?
Neither
the Guild nor Sebastianworld purchases Sebastian Miniatures from
collectors wanting to sell items or entire collections.
We can best assist by placing an a listing or advertisement in the Sebastianworld
News or on this web site. (See previous question.)
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How do I find
out about special events?
The
two principal annual events are the Sebastian Festival and the Midwest
Fair generally held in June and October respectively. Other events
include appearances by the artist, Woody Baston, throughout the year,
usually at an event that features the introduction of a new piece.
The Festival, Fair, artist appearances and occasionally other events
will be posted on this web site and announced in the Sebastianworld
News wherever practical.
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I used to
belong to the SMCS or Sebastian Exchange. What happened to
them?
Both
of these collectors organizations have been discontinued. The SMCS
had been sponsored by the Lance Corporation, the company manufacturing
Sebastians from about 1975 to 1995. Both Lance and the SMCS went
out of existence in 1997, the Sebastian Exchange (originally formed in
1982) assuming its role. The Sebastian Exchange, in turn, discontinued all operations in June, 2000. Certain
activities of the Exchange are being continued by Sebastianworld,
Inc. However, Sebastianworld did not legally assume any
obligations or responsibilities of these former organizations.
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Do you plan
to issue the missing items to complete my Sebastian Exchange set?
The
only incomplete set is the one featuring Anna. A companion piece
called Jakob, was issued in 2002 and is now available only in the
secondary market.
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I need to
find a dealer in my area. Does either the Guild or Sebastianworld
have a list of dealers?
Following
the dissolution of the Lance Corporation, the large network of Sebastian dealers
discontinued their Sebastian line as well - although many of them may
have items remaining in their stock. A few dealers have
continued to carry primary market (new and recently issued) Sebastians. We hope
to reactivate a number of former dealers and solicit new dealer outlets to carry the Sebastian line in the future. To see the
current list of currently active dealers, click
here.
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How can I get
an appraisal from a Guild-certified appraiser?
We
publish a list of Guild-certified Sebastian Appraisers on this web site
and also expect to list them in each issue of the Sebastianworld News.
You will need to directly contact an appraiser in your area.
Click here to
see current list.
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I need
to have a Sebastian restored. Can I get this done by a
Guild-certified restorer?
There
are currently few restorers that Sebastianworld is confident in
recommending to you and are therefore 'Guild-certified." You
will need to contact one of them directly to work out
arrangements. To see this list,
click
here.
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I have moved
and all my mail is being forwarded to me, except I have not received the
Sebastianworld News. Why?
Normally
the Sebastianworld News is sent out by Third Class ("Bulk")
mail to help us keep costs within reason. Unfortunately, this does
not provide for automatic mail forwarding. If you do not receive
an issue that you expected and may be because you have moved, please
send your corrected address to Sebastianworld, Inc., P.O. Box 339,
Wayland, MA 01778-0339. We'll make the correction in our
records and send you the copy you missed.
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Can I obtain
back issues of the Sebastianworld News?
Back
issues of the Sebastianworld News may be purchased provided they are still available. The
Guild members web site has a complete list of past issues available.
Certain issues are no longer available although
photocopies may be requested for a nominal charge to cover costs.
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I have a great
idea for a Sebastian figurine. How can I give you my suggestion?
We
would love to have your suggestions about what you think would make good
subjects for future Sebastians. To be accepted, a figurine should
have sufficient appeal that a minimum of two or three hundred can be
produced and sold. We will consider figurines that may represent
persons, structures or events of local interest and are particularly
interested in items with an historical interest as these have proved the
most popular over the many years that Sebastians have been
produced. Click
here to go directly to a form that will allow you to submit your
suggestions for figurines. To submit other ideas, click
the [Contact Us] button anywhere that it appears.
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Do you have
any local Sebastianworld Collectors Guild groups in my area?
At
the present time there are no local Sebastian collectors groups in existence
that have come to our attention. Please check the answers to the
next two questions.
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How can I find
other Guild members or Sebastian collectors living in my area.
For
reasons of privacy and security, we do not publish a list of
members. For example, many members have large and valuable
collections in their homes. If there is sufficient interest, we
may look at options for providing such information to Guild
members. We would anticipate that permission will requested from
members before such information would be shared.
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There
are quite a few collectors living in my area. If we want to form a club,
can you help us?
Refer
to the prior two questions. Unfortunately, Sebastianworld does not
have the personnel, resources or time
to handle additional paperwork or travel to remote locations to assist
you. We do encourage members to get together formally or
informally to share and promote their collecting interest. The
Sebastian Festival and the Midwest Fair are excellent ways of meeting
and establishing contacts with other collectors and we encourage you to
attend if circumstances allow.
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I still have a
question you haven't answered. Where can I get my answer?
You
may submit a question directly to Sebastianworld via e-mail. (Be
sure you have checked out other possibilities on this extensive web site
first.) You can find answers to many general type questions by clicking
here. Also, our site map is a good place to find things - click
here.
Finally, you can send a
general question directly to
Sebastianworld and get a response via e-mail - click
here.
If
you have a very specific question about the Guild, including your
membership status, click
here instead.
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