Wee Forest Folk Web Page FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Wee Forest Folk Web Page FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Brought to you by Nu Insight

This Web page is intended to help collectors of Wee Forest Folk navigate the Internet and the World Wide Web more effectively. It is NOT about Wee Forest Folk per se.

Topics

Do I really need to be on the Internet?

Yes! Definitely yes! A world of information about WFF is available to you on the Internet, but without a connection to the 'Net, you are isolated from late-breaking information about new releases, new colors, retirements, store specials, and events. This is especially true now that the Wee Forest Folk Factory has its own Web page, Facebook page, and Twitter page, News appears on the 'Net days, sometimes weeks or months, before it shows up in a printed form like newsletters. You will find it very cumbersome to contact other collectors across the country who share your interest in WFF without email, bulletin boards, or chat groups. Furthermore, you will not have current information about pieces on the secondary market, nor will you have current pricing information about retired pieces. Sure, you can always call your local WFF dealer for the information (assuming your dealer has any knowledge of secondary prices), but you can get the same information sooner on the Internet (sometimes sooner than your dealer!), and you can get it 24 hours a day.

But, you say, "I don't have a computer, and they're expensive!" That used to be true, but you don't even need a computer if all you need is email and Web access because you can get all that with a tablet. Tablets are available for less than $100 new, some are much less.

As for Internet access, you no longer have to pay: A free connection is available at the nearest McDonalds or Starbucks. Or visit your local library or senior center; you might find both computers and Internet for free. Yes, it might be a bit inconvenient, but, hey, it's free!

Otherwise, see about getting access through your phone company, cable company, or neighbor's unsecured wireless network (Oops!).

Why does it take so long for a Web page to appear on my screen?

Usually, that can mean one or more of several things:

You need a newer or faster computer, or
You need a faster Internet connection, or
The destination Web server is overloaded, or
The Web page has a lot of little images or one (or more) BIG image(s) (If this is a major problem, consider turning off image loading in your browser), or
The Web page has a long table or menu, or
The Web page is loading some Java or JavaScript or ActiveX program which might very well be gratuitous special effects (or worse yet, advertising!). Some effects are so cool, the can kill your browser and sometimes your machine, forcing you to reboot :-( Gee, thanks.

Why would I want to turn off images?

Have you ever waited and waited and waited for a Web page to download, then after having given up, you hit the Stop button, only to have the page finally show up, mostly intact except for some boxes where images are supposed to be? That's why: You've were waiting all that time for images to appear!

A lot of the Web design software makes extensive use of tables for precise placement of text and images, and they also make it very easy, very tempting, to sprinkle a lot of images around a Web page. Both extensive use of images and extensive use of tables will slow the loading and display of a Web page. And some Web designers still think it's cool to use images all over their Web pages INSTEAD of text. They don't realize that it takes a lot longer to download a page with a lot of images.

Worse yet, some designers use animated images. Boy, is THAT distracting! You might be able to turn off animations in your browser. If I can't/don't want to bother doing that (why can't I turn animations off permanently?), I try to scroll any animation out of my window. If I can't do that, I drag out the Post-Its!

Worst of all, most advertising shows up as animated images. That alone is a good enough reason to turn off the auto-loading of images!

Even if you turn off the auto-loading of images, you're bound to see a LOT of bad (even abusive) Web pages out there. For example, I keep wishing for a browser that will allow me to turn off audio (Just wait until you find the WFF page with the chirping birds. Please spare me!); until then, I just turn my speakers off completely until I really need them.
Other bad designs:

A home page whose only link says, "Enter here..." (A completely superfluous home page!)
Pale-colored text against a light background
Dark colors against a black background
Blinking (now THAT was a bad Web page feature!)
Web pages that will ONLY show up if you have Java or JavaScript enabled

If you come across a poorly-designed Web page, send email to the shop owners and tell them to STOP IT! Thank you.

By the way, if you're turned off the auto-loading of images and you're still curious about what the images are, you can either load all the images by hitting the Images button (not recommended), or click on the broken box representing the image you want to see. If you do the latter, only the image you've clicked will appear. Just hope the one you chose wasn't the advertisement.

You might also search the Web for plug-ins to your browser that will block ads for you automatically unless you specifically allow them. I use Adblock Plus with Firefox.

Why does it take so long for my computer to do anything? It wasn't always like this!

Hmmm...assuming your computer hardware hasn't changed lately (you haven't dropped your laptop, have you?), it's possible you have adware, spyware, or malware running on you computer.

There are books and books written about securing your personal computer, and there is no way I could begin to address the subject adequately here, but here are some of the highlights:

Your visiting Web pages can result in adware or spyware being placed on your computer, which not only tracks where you go after visiting the offending page, but can also slow your computer as it reports your actions back to the tracking site. Use something like Ad-Aware and/or Spybot Search & Destroy (they're free!) to clean out unwanted tracking baggage. If you've never run these programs on your PC, you'll be amazed/appalled at the amount of stuff they discover. I wouldn't be surprised if your PC runs faster after a single cleaning!
However, if your PC is still running slowly, you probably need to take it in to a shop and have it cleaned by professionals. Sorry.
If you're using Internet Explorer as your browser on your PC, stop it right now! I'm serious: IE is continually exploited by hackers to get into PCs. Only use IE for your periodic Windows updates; instead of IE, try Firefox.
Heck, as long as I'm on the subject, I'll be clear about my bias: Use a Mac instead of a PC. Sure, PCs are cheaper, but how much is your time and peace of mind worth to you? New Intel-based Macs can now run Mac programs AND PC programs, so there's no excuse now for not using a Mac. Granted, if you're the kind of person who likes to tinker with things (e.g., my neighbor loved to work on his English sports car; it was always in the garage in pieces), then a PC might be your preference. But if you think a computer should be like an appliance and just work right without having to fuss with it, consider a Mac. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to use.
If you have a DSL or cable connection to the 'Net, your computer at home is safe and secure behind a wired router, right? If you don't know what I'm talking about, talk to someone who does or get a book on the subject (see reference below), but try to avoid connecting directly to the 'Net--it's just too dangerous without protection. The router will allow you to connect multiple computers simultaneously.
If you're using a wireless router already, consider switching to a wired one if you don't know how to secure your wireless. If you simply buy a wireless router and connected your computer to it without securing the router, it like inviting strangers into your home for a look, only worse because a hacker can enter your wireless network from the street! They don't even have to be inside your home to hack in.
One other caveat about wireless routers: They might be susceptible to an early sudden death if you have a power outage.
If you dial-up your connection, run a firewall on your computer. You can get one for free if you search around a bit on the Web. Also use a firewall if you use a wireless modem outside your home. And don't simply do a search for the nearest available wireless connection; you might get a hacker who is mimicking the local wireless network. Be sure to ask the clerk for the specific connection information.
If you're still on a PC, disable your shared folders. Yes, I know you like to share and it would make a huge impact on your social life if you couldn't share, but a shared folder on a PC is the number one way hackers to get into your computer, and it can take only seconds to do so. Find how to do this from a book on security; I recommend Computer Security for the Home and Small Office by Thomas C. Greene (Apress)

Why can't I see the latest News page on the WFF Factory site?

Wait, let me guess: You're on AOL, right? You see, AOL doesn't tell you that one of their "features" is that they cache popular Web pages. What does that mean? It means that when their Web server notices a lot of requests for the same Web page (e.g., the WFF News page), it saves a copy of that page. Then the next time a request for that same page comes in, the AOL server sends the COPY, not the requested page. While that saves the AOL server some work, it leaves the AOL user with an outdated Web page, and there's nothing the user can do about it (except complain to AOL) until the AOL server gets around to getting a fresh copy for its cache. Of course, by that time non-AOL users have taken pity on the AOL users and have emailed them the news.

The Nu Insight WFF Portal now keeps a cached copy of the new page, and as long as it doesn't see regular use by AOL users (i.e., it's only used after a new page appears), it should provide AOL users with the news they are seeking.

How can I turn off those annoying popup windows?

Try turning off Java and JavaScript on your browser. This may not be easy to do because it can be hard to find where this can be done. In Netscape I found it by pulling down on View, then selecting Preferences, then selecting Advanced and unchecking the Java and JavaScript boxes. Gee, that was obvious (NOT!).

In Internet Explorer pull down on Tools, then select Internet Options..., then select Security, then select Internet and click on Custom Level.... You'll get a long list of options, and the ones to set to Disable or Prompt (depending on whether you want fewer or more interruptions) will mention "ActiveX controls" or "Java" or "scripting". Believe it or not, that was even LESS obvious than for Netscape! (Took me WAY too long to find those settings!)

In Firefox Preferences, select Content and uncheck the JavaScript and Java boxes.

Keep in mind, however, that by turning them off you may lose some of the nifty features in some of your favorite Web pages. (I've noticed that I can no longer use the latest Yahoo! mail program with Java/JavaScript turned off. Not a good trend...) You'll have to decide if the trade-off is worthwhile.

How can I talk to other WFF collectors on the Internet?

Other than using email directly to other collectors you know, there used to be a chat group on AOL. I've heard its time and place has changed, so you might ask around.

For non-AOL users, the WFFCC Message Board or the Wee Forest Folk Collectors Club on Facebook now are best places to post questions and find answers on WFF-related topics.

Where can I find shops that sell WFF?

The Wee Forest Folk factory Web site has a shop locator at the bottom right of its main page, but some of the information may be out of date and some shops may not be listed.

You can also do a Web search on "Wee Forest Folk".

Nu Insight's WFF Shops page is a collection of shop information submitted by collectors across the country. It's organized by state and has a Search capability. I rely on reports from collectors to keep this shop information current, so please send me updates if you have any. You'll be helping the entire collecting community.

Where can I view pictures of WFF?

You can search the Web for "Wee Forest Folk". You can also link to WFF dealers listed in the Nu Insight WFF shops page. You'll find that most of the Web pages offer little in the way of images of WFF. Most just barely mention Wee Forest Folk. A few others will display images straight out of the Wee Forest Folk catalog. The best places to find images are

Wee Forest Folk Collectors Club Master List
The new Concord Mousetrap for images of current pieces, including different angles and some close-ups
Creative Hands Mouseum for some retired pieces and Creative Hands store specials. The catalog page is a good place to determine what WFF was available when.
When the Cat's Away for color variations of current pieces
Marie-Claire Gifts for some retired pieces and some interesting text for some pieces

Where can I buy or sell secondary market WFF?

The WFFCC For Sale board is a popular place to find WFF for sale. You may post Want Ads there, too!

However, most secondary market action happens on eBay. Search for "Wee Forest Folk" or "wff".

What is eBay?

eBay, the main auction site for WFF, is a great place for bargains. Of course, before you decide to bid at any auction, you better know the value of the pieces you're bidding on. The Wee Forest Folk Collectors Club Master List or the Nu Insight Pricing Service can help here.

eBay auctions tend to fall into two categories:

Rarities
Bargains

For the occasional WFF rarity, bids can go into the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars. Most of the other auctions should be bargains. I say 'should' because eBay bidders have been known to get so carried away with an auction that they will pay more for a current item at auction than they would have paid for the same piece at retail. And we're not just talking a buck or two; we're talking tens of dollars more. Plus shipping!

Before you bid, make sure the item isn't already available for less someplace else. Check the originating store if the item is a store special; it may still be available. It may even be a current piece, so check with your local dealer. Check the WFFCC For Sale board to make sure it isn't currently offered for less someplace. Some WFF shops list pieces for sale on their Web sites; you can find the URL to those Web sites on the Nu Insight Shops page.

Also keep in mind that the big ticket WFF in the current line are sometimes available through dealers at half their normal retail price through various incentive programs. So be wary of bidding any of the big ticket current WFF beyond 1/2 retail.

Only after you've determined you cannot find the same item somewhere else for less should you consider bidding on eBay. And then, the only way to win (or, at least not lose) is by sniping the auction.

What is sniping?

Sniping is a method of bidding on eBay in which the bidder places a bid during the last minute of an auction. Since eBay auctions end at a specified time, bidding during the last few seconds of an auction is a way of ensuring no other bidder will have time to place a higher bid.

In general, sniping requires two windows on the auction: One that displays the auction status, and one that requires only a click to make the final bid submission. The status window is reloaded frequently during the last few minutes of an auction to synchronize the bidder's clock to eBay's clock, enabling the bidder to place a bid during the final seconds of the auction.
(Timing tip: eBay synchronizes their clock to the atomic clock, so by opening a third window to that clock you can time your bid to within 5 seconds of auction's end. That way, it's practically impossible for another bidder to respond to your bid.)

Sniping a single auction is exciting enough; it becomes even more exciting if you want to bid on several auctions separated by only a few minutes.

I might also add, as a warning, that a programmer with knowledge of Unix and Web client programming can refine the art of sniping to such a degree as to be able to consistently, and with minimal personal interaction beyond setup, place a bid within 1 or 2 seconds of the end of an auction. I can think of no defense against this kind of sniping except to set your maximum to overbid.

Where can I find pricing information about retired WFF?

Wee Forest Folk Collectors Club Master List is a great on-line reference, listing retirement dates, color and style variations. Most of the listings have images, too. A hardcopy version is available. The WFFCC also publishes a newsletter, FOLKTALES for its members. Contact Lorraine Buerkel or Nancy Buerkel-Rothfuss for membership/subscription details. (Be sure to replace "AT" and "DOT" in those addresses with "@" and ".")

Leslie Wilhelm used to publish the hardcopy Wee Forest Folk Reference Guide every year or so for $25. It's a great reference containing background information, retirement dates, estimated values, color and style variations, AND it is very portable. Unfortunately, it is also out of print :-( The last issue was dated 1998.

Barbara Peek also used to sell a very portable guide called The Mouse Collector with lots of color pictures and an ever-expanding list of features. It filled in the space vacated by the WFF Reference Guide. Unfortunately, as of January 2004 it's no longer available either.

Nu Insight provides the most current and comprehensive pricing service anywhere on the Web, detailing minimum and maximum asking prices for pieces going back as far as 1989. Each data set is accompanied by a distribution graph to enable the user to get a better feel for the asking prices on WFF.

First-time subscribers can use the service free for a short time; however, I think you'll want a longer subscription once you see how useful it is. Contact wff_collector@yahoo.com for subscription details. Subscription costs $100 a year. (However, if you're clever, you can figure out a way to get a year's subscription for $10.)

Good pricing information is essential for any one of the following reasons:

Sellers need accurate information in setting selling prices to strike the desired balance between maximum dollar return and minimum time until sale. Asking an excessively high price may mean a long wait before a buyer appears. Setting too low a price may result in a quick sale, but leave the seller with the nagging feeling the return might have been better. Timely pricing information can avoid those problems.
Buyers need detailed pricing information so they can identify bargains and move quickly. On the other hand, buyers can also identify high priced items, allowing them to wait for a better deal, or perhaps to bargain a seller down to a more reasonable level.
Auction bidders need to have a detailed knowledge of prices to prevent them from overbidding at an auction. This is a serious and, unfortunately common, problem at auctions. I've witnessed too many auctions in which the 'winning' bidder could have bought a similar piece elsewhere for less, sometimes MUCH less. Definite proof that ignorance is expensive!
Anyone with WFF valuable enough to insure needs detailed information to present to an insurance agent. The same information is invaluable if, heaven forbid, a person ever needs to make an insurance claim on a WFF collection.

Where can I find reasonable insurance for my WFF?

I have no specific recommendations, but here's a list of references you might try (I'll add to the list as I become aware of more recommendations):

Collectibles Insurance Agency

Of course, you can always do a search for "collectibles insurance" on Google.

Where can I find more information about WFF?

Wee Forest Folk, Inc. debuted their long-awaited Web page in February 2000. It has proven to be a great source for original WFF information, with news, catalogs, and information on the latest releases, retired pieces, repairs, and store locations.
WFFCC Web page, Facebook page, Twitter page, and FOLKTALES newsletter (contact: WFFCC for subscription information)
The WFFCC also hosts its annual club meeting, Folktoberfest, in Michigan. The first meeting, in Mt. Pleasant in October 1999, was a great success and a great way to meet people, swap mice, and tell stories about WFF and WFF collectors! The food was (and still is) pretty good, too. In 2003 FTF moved to Midland, MI, where it remained through 2007. In 2008 FTF was held in Frankenmuth, MI, in the middle part of September. It is now held in Clare, MI, at the Doherty Hotel (www.dohertyhotel.com). Contact: Nancy Buerkel-Rothfuss for specifics.
The Wee Forest Folk Reference Guide by Leslie Wilhelm (out of print)
The Mouse Collector by Barbara Peek (out of print)
Concord MouseTrap Monthly Squeak Web page
Creative Hands lists old WFF catalogs on its Web page
When the Cat's Away...Newsletter e-newsletter (contact: ILuvWFF@aol.com)
When the Cat's Away hosts the Mouse Expo in San Luis Obispo the first weekend in May, but check the Web site to be sure. It's a great way to meet all those faces behind the email, see some great mice, and generally get your fill of WFF! This has been THE big gathering of WFF collectors since 1994, and is a must-attend for any serious WFF collector! (contact: ILuvWFF@aol.com)

Want to know when a shop's Web page has changed so you can check it out right away? Nu Insight's WFF portal tracks the Web pages of the most active WFF sites and reports any changes every hour. Links to other WFF Web sites are included, and the page refreshes itself every hour. Just open the page first thing in the morning and leave it up all day!

If you have other WFF-related Web pages you think should be included on the WFF portal, send your recommendations to wff_collector@yahoo.com.

Uh-oh. Know a good place to repair a broken mouse?

Here are some from the WFFCC Information board:

Contact the Mouse Doctor from the Factory page. In the past I know that rates have been very reasonable, but you will probably have to wait months to have your repairs done thanks to a regular backlog.
David Ouellette's Pirate Mouse Restoration

Where can I find more information about Web pages?

This is just too cool a Web site to be left unnoticed. In fact, it was 1998's Cool Site of the Year: http://www.howstuffworks.com/ There's even a section on The Internet that explains

It also explains how car engines work, how cell phones work, how CDs work. Check it out!

If you have suggestions for other information about the Web and Wee Forest Folk that you'd like to see on this page, please let me know! I'll see what I can do to accommodate your request!

Thank you for stopping by!

Geoff Lee wff_collector@yahoo.com.