The Hunt . . .

[Rhonda]

Last week Nicki and I were talking about collecting. About how great it is when you're looking for that one thing and hey! you find it!

One year (count it again - 1) I purchased my Hallmark ornaments by using the preorder form. It was the WORST year of collecting for me. I hated it. Yes, I got everything on my list, yes, I got them all in one fell swoop. But I discovered that a LARGE part of my collecting enjoyment is . . . the hunt.

I like looking, I like trying to find it when it can't seem to be found anywhere. I like going to 3, 4, 5 or more stores in one day just to see if they MIGHT have it. It's an adventure, it's a quest. Oh and when you find it . . . IF you find it . . . oh now, Now you've got something special. Do you know what lengths I went to in finding this beautiful little ornament? Oh that one, yes, let me tell you the story behind that.

I never filled out a preorder form again.

So what about you . . .
Do you prefer the hunt or do you use the preorder form?

[oldsthallmark]

I only preorder a few of the ones I think will be hot that year from my favorite stores to support them. I try to send it in before they do the store order so they can get a better idea of what we might be really wanting that year.

[Sunflower Mom]

I definitely like the hunt! Pre-ordering is no fun. Did it ONCE myself and that was once too often for me.

A few years back, one of my local stores did the "open for premier day at midnight" thing. Since I'm nocturnal anyway, that was really the way to go Hallmark shopping! I LOVED it!!!! Too bad they didn't do it again.

I also love the "after Christmas search"!!! With 70 stores within a 100-mile radius, it's an all-out race to make several cities in one day. With the husband operating the GPS -- and all waypoints marked ahead of time -- it's something that both of us enjoy immensely.

I'm with you Rhonda -- it's THE HUNT that is so much a part of the art of collecting.

[CarolLiebst]

I have done pre-orders in the past, but I too think it takes away some of the fun. I do use the pre-order sheet to plan my purchases, but I like to acutally pick the ornament off the shelf myself. There are always ornaments that fall short of my expectation from the Dream Book photo, and those that surprise me and come home with me when I did not expect to buy them.

[always4duke]

I'm know I'm hedging here, but I do enjoy annually doing both.

You need to have what you need to have, but... sometimes an ornament tickles you, and you get a kick out of amassing as many as you can post-holiday.

With my post office box hutch, for me, it's fun to have a row of Starships, Corvettes, or Sailing Santas, and with my twelve space dry goods bin, as my other ornament fun storage piece in my loft, filling one of the bins with the red and white striped box Polar Express ornament was the best hunt. Until you open a box, no one knows what's in them. The colors match the decor and bin... to mix it around, they border a bin of 16 cans of Wilson tennis balls. If Pottery Barn only knew what we demented ornamenters do.

[creek83]

Hey all,

Without a doubt the hunt is where it is at. I am pretty lucky and work of a company that has sites all over the midwest and i have fun when i visit them becasue i have to find the hallmark stores.
Within the first hour of visiting these offices the staff usually hands me a map directing me to the local hallmark stores. I love the hunt.

David

[jimmydowden]

I really agree that the hunt is a huge part of the fun. We typically preorder our "A" List ornaments and then start working the rest.

[diana]

I love the hunt, but also preorder quite a bit since my local club offers a discount. So I have my "A" team on preorder, and then my "B" team that I want at 50% off, and then my "C" team for 70% off or more.
Plus I have a list of ornaments from years past that I'm looking for, so there is also something to hunt for!

[msu79gt82]

I never use the pre-order form - I just can't buy sight-unseen. However the offer of a discount for 2008 pre-orders may sway some peoples minds.