Ah, flaws.
Jun. 12th, 2015 02:14 amSo, we went on a shopping trip tonight looking for Father's Day gifts. Of course, while we were out I wanted to stop in at Wal-Mart again.
I stared at awe at the once-again changed lineup. This is the Wal-Mart where I got Grumpy last week. This week, the other Grumpy is gone (although Harmony is still there) and there was a Good Luck Bear, and also new Bears Love-a-Lot and Best Friend. (So there's both a Best Friend and a Friend? That's ... a little confusing. Their designs are very different, at least.)
I debated over Good Luck, but I found myself really struck by Love-a-Lot. Both had certain flaws: Good Luck had either a nose scratch or ink, not sure which. Love-a-Lot had an eye pushed in. And while we were out, I really wanted to see if Bedtime Bear might have shipped back into the third Wal-Mart. I didn't feel I could really decide until I saw that.
We went over there, and it's really only a five-minute drive by freeway, and there was a Bedtime Bear! I was so excited to see him I actually exclaimed that they had him. I usually don't do that. And I was so aggravated to find a blob of machine grease on him that I actually plucked it right off in determination and disgust. There was only the one and I really didn't want to have to leave him again. Thankfully, I managed to remove all trace of the grease with a combination of my fingers and an antibacterial hand wipe.
I also saw large sizes of Cheer Bear and Love-a-Lot Bear. I adore them both and they're definitely on my list. I also still want the large Share. But Bedtime was the top interest because he's the other blue one.
I only focused on machine grease and loose fur in the flaw department, and it was only after the purchase that I discovered an eye scratch and also misaligned eyes and smile. **headdesk.** What is it with this company not being able to make flawless plushies? I also remember that the first Bedtime I saw had blue dye on the white muzzle. It reminds me of the trouble getting good Funrise Pony plushies. Although I think that's actually easier!
I sort of vaguely wonder if I should return him, with those flaws. But those thoughts aren't as predominant as my "I have him!" thoughts. Had I noticed every flaw, I probably still would have bought him, both because of wanting him so much and because seeing them would have made me realize then, as it has now, that I'll probably always have to decide which flaws bother me more and less, because it seems there is no way to get a completely flawless Bear. Grumpy has a slightly crooked nose.
I could go to earlier designs, but I still honestly prefer the new designs over the old. (And the majority of the '80's fanbase cries "Sacrilege!" Although I was technically part of that fanbase, with my brother's books and Wish Bear figure that I grew up on. And I prefer the new designs for plushies regardless. Actually, in some ways, they look more like the old pictures in the books than the actual '80's plushies do. Plushie-making is so much more of an exact art these days.)
Just like with the Ponies, getting the Bears feels like giving something back to my child self that really wanted Care Bears and couldn't have them. It's really quite a liberating feeling.
I'm also thinking that, unless the Bears are only available in sizes other than large, or if their DVDs are not available on the regularly released DVDs, I will probably focus solely on large Bears. I noticed that Best Friend comes with Grumpy's DVD, so apparently there's only a small number of episodes available and they're repeating the rotation. But medium Wish will come home with me regardless of her episode. I hear she's supposed to come out in September, so perhaps I'll plan on getting her for my birthday the following month, if she's around here by then, and I have little doubt of it! This swift rotation is just amazing! Why can't the Pony merchandise be like this?!
I'm also wondering whether to buy the large Grumpy when he releases around the same time or if my medium Grumpy would feel left out then. **headdesk.** Even though I know he can't feel anything, I might feel bad for him. Especially if I'm going to focus largely on the large size and won't be getting many other medium sizes. Then again, Grumpy does like to be alone. LOL.
I stared at awe at the once-again changed lineup. This is the Wal-Mart where I got Grumpy last week. This week, the other Grumpy is gone (although Harmony is still there) and there was a Good Luck Bear, and also new Bears Love-a-Lot and Best Friend. (So there's both a Best Friend and a Friend? That's ... a little confusing. Their designs are very different, at least.)
I debated over Good Luck, but I found myself really struck by Love-a-Lot. Both had certain flaws: Good Luck had either a nose scratch or ink, not sure which. Love-a-Lot had an eye pushed in. And while we were out, I really wanted to see if Bedtime Bear might have shipped back into the third Wal-Mart. I didn't feel I could really decide until I saw that.
We went over there, and it's really only a five-minute drive by freeway, and there was a Bedtime Bear! I was so excited to see him I actually exclaimed that they had him. I usually don't do that. And I was so aggravated to find a blob of machine grease on him that I actually plucked it right off in determination and disgust. There was only the one and I really didn't want to have to leave him again. Thankfully, I managed to remove all trace of the grease with a combination of my fingers and an antibacterial hand wipe.
I also saw large sizes of Cheer Bear and Love-a-Lot Bear. I adore them both and they're definitely on my list. I also still want the large Share. But Bedtime was the top interest because he's the other blue one.
I only focused on machine grease and loose fur in the flaw department, and it was only after the purchase that I discovered an eye scratch and also misaligned eyes and smile. **headdesk.** What is it with this company not being able to make flawless plushies? I also remember that the first Bedtime I saw had blue dye on the white muzzle. It reminds me of the trouble getting good Funrise Pony plushies. Although I think that's actually easier!
I sort of vaguely wonder if I should return him, with those flaws. But those thoughts aren't as predominant as my "I have him!" thoughts. Had I noticed every flaw, I probably still would have bought him, both because of wanting him so much and because seeing them would have made me realize then, as it has now, that I'll probably always have to decide which flaws bother me more and less, because it seems there is no way to get a completely flawless Bear. Grumpy has a slightly crooked nose.
I could go to earlier designs, but I still honestly prefer the new designs over the old. (And the majority of the '80's fanbase cries "Sacrilege!" Although I was technically part of that fanbase, with my brother's books and Wish Bear figure that I grew up on. And I prefer the new designs for plushies regardless. Actually, in some ways, they look more like the old pictures in the books than the actual '80's plushies do. Plushie-making is so much more of an exact art these days.)
Just like with the Ponies, getting the Bears feels like giving something back to my child self that really wanted Care Bears and couldn't have them. It's really quite a liberating feeling.
I'm also thinking that, unless the Bears are only available in sizes other than large, or if their DVDs are not available on the regularly released DVDs, I will probably focus solely on large Bears. I noticed that Best Friend comes with Grumpy's DVD, so apparently there's only a small number of episodes available and they're repeating the rotation. But medium Wish will come home with me regardless of her episode. I hear she's supposed to come out in September, so perhaps I'll plan on getting her for my birthday the following month, if she's around here by then, and I have little doubt of it! This swift rotation is just amazing! Why can't the Pony merchandise be like this?!
I'm also wondering whether to buy the large Grumpy when he releases around the same time or if my medium Grumpy would feel left out then. **headdesk.** Even though I know he can't feel anything, I might feel bad for him. Especially if I'm going to focus largely on the large size and won't be getting many other medium sizes. Then again, Grumpy does like to be alone. LOL.