These conditions apply when you use villagebears.com or place an order with us. By using the site or ordering, you agree to them. If anything here is unclear, call us at 941.366.2667 or send us a message.
Who we are
Village Bears is a family-owned shop for collector bears in Sarasota, Florida.
Our pieces
We describe and photograph every piece as accurately as we can, including the maker, size, materials and, for limited editions, the edition size. Many pieces are made by hand, so each one can differ a little from its photo, and colors can look different from one screen to another. Retired, final-edition and pre-owned pieces are sold as described. If a detail matters to you, please ask before you buy.
Prices and availability
Prices are in U.S. dollars, and sales tax is added where the law requires it. Many pieces are one of a kind or the last of their edition, so a piece can sell in the shop before your online order reaches us. If that happens, or if a price or description was listed in error, we'll contact you and refund any payment in full.
Orders and payment
Your order is accepted when we confirm it by email. We accept PayPal and checks or money orders. An order paid by check or money order is held for you until the payment arrives and clears.
Pre-orders
A pre-order shows the date the maker expects to deliver, and makers sometimes change those dates. We'll keep you posted on any change. You may cancel a pre-order at any time before it ships, and we'll refund any deposit you've paid. This doesn't apply to special orders.
Shipping
Every order ships as soon as your payment clears, packed by hand and fully insured. Our Shipping & Returns page covers rates, international orders, and customs fees.
Returns, cancellations and damaged pieces
Our Return Policy on the Shipping & Returns page applies to every order. In short:
- Returns must be approved in advance, with a Return Authorization number requested within 3 days of delivery.
- Sale pieces, layaway pieces and special orders can't be returned.
- Approved returns are credited as store credit.
- If a piece arrives damaged, tell us within 3 days and keep all the packing materials.
Layaway
Layaway is available on orders of $100 or more. It is governed by the terms you accept in your cart and by our Layaway page. Layaways are final sales. If a payment is more than two months late, the layaway ends as described on that page.
Reward points and store credit
Reward points and store credit have no cash value and can't be exchanged for cash. Reward points can't be used on a layaway order. Reward points and store credit don't expire. We may change the reward program; points already earned stay in your account.
Your account
Please keep your password private. You're responsible for activity in your account, so tell us right away if you think someone else has used it. We may close an account that is used for fraud.
Names, photos and text
Steiff, Disney, Downton Abbey and other names belong to their owners. Village Bears is an independent shop and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by those companies unless we say so. The photos and text on this site belong to Village Bears or are used with permission; please ask before you copy them.
Limits on our responsibility
We work to keep the site accurate and available, but it is provided as it is. As far as the law allows, our responsibility for any order is limited to the amount you paid for it. Nothing here takes away rights the law gives you.
Governing law
These conditions are governed by Florida law, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of Sarasota County, Florida.
Changes
We may update these conditions. The version on the site when you place an order is the one that applies to it.
Last updated: October 29, 2026