Your source for information, opinions & demographics from the Net Community!

ANNOUNCING: The Internet's finest interactive, totally-automated, immediate survey system. We can take any form and instantly create a dynamic demographic database and show you the results as soon as you complete the survey!

Would you like to add any comments on the beanie baby phenomenon? What do you like and dislike? Predictions on trends or ideas on products or retirements:

• It's incredibly frustrating trying to hunt down beanies, especially for my kids. They would like to be present to pick out which beanie they would like to buy (with their own money), but the people who are so into the secondary market are like vultures and snatch up all the new ones as soon as they are put out--almost always while my kids are in school. I wish we could place orders with the retailers so it's not so much a wild goose chase.
• Dislike Ty Warner sending out only limited amounts of a new beanie such as Princess or Erin. They should be in production and ready to ship before any announcement. Also, shipments should be timed so that all parts of the country receive new releases concurrently. The East Coast and midwest always have the beanies well before the west coast creating an instant secondary market for people on the west coast. If we waited til the beanies were available here we'd most likely never get them at retail price like '97 Teddy and Snowman). I STRONGLY dislike the rudeness, greed and meaness that seems to have grown incrementally with the popularity of the beanie babies which is why I plan to stop collecting and divest myself of all but a few favorite "pets".
• Collecting Beanie Babies has brought me a number of new friends.
• Because of greedy, pushy, aggressive buyers, I' seriouslly considering quitting collecting. My 9 year old and I have been pushed and there are too many people in the for profit secondary market who make it difficult for regular collectors to have a chance to get the good beanies. I wish beanies were more available, especially the new ones, so the fierce and sometimes violent competition would stop.
• I dislike the way ty only sends x number of beanie babies to a store at a time. In a sense they are inflating the price of hard to find new releases such as Princess and Erin.
• Don't like what the adults have done to a $5.00 childrens' toy. Children can no longer pay the prices for the new beanie babies because of the secondary market. I think Ty is somewhat responsible for this because they only send a few beanies to stores, so there are few available for the public. I for one will not continue to collect beanies if this farce continues. I will sell my set, figuring any money I make pays for my aggravation and then start collecting something worthwhile, like Precious Mom nts.
• I think that ty should regulate prices. I went to the store about a week ago to look at the bb and noticed a catalog for ordering them, the price was ten dollars. I didn't have any money with sense I am only 15 so I decided to come back later and get my mom to buy it for me. I came back about a week later and the price had rocketed to 25 dollars, I think that is not fair. I thought that was riduculous and greedy.
• The beanie baby phenomenon is really a lot of fun, however it is completely addictive. One friend asked me how one gets over this "addiction" and I told her "not until you own them all!"
• The ones that I like are Doby, Quackers, and Zip.
• (Item 13 has a range missing.) I appreciate neither nasty or underhanded retailers nor liars. I also find it offensive when people in stores asked me how much I paid for a particular beanie. It's none of their business. I would like Ty Warner to make a
• I don't think it's fair that some beanies are only sold in other countires. Everyone should be able to have a chance to get them.
• I need a Maple for my collection...
• they will go out of the fad sooner or later
• I started out collecting for my daughter and now I'm hooked. I have several duplicates but do not have a complete set .... My goal is to obtain all the currents and retirees from Oct '97 to the present. It would be too optimistic to assume I could afford the first group of retirees. My friends and neighbors swap with each other to finish our sets based on what Beanies we find in our travels. I do not like the standing in lines for hours to get the 'difficult' to find Beanie Babies or the lastest r leases. Otherwise, itad rfindfinfibaht apI yuT
• I can't stand when Ty retailers raise the price of the newest Beanies and the hard-to-gets!!!
• their shold be 1 new beanie per year that is created purely by customer opinion or idea
• I luv Beanie Babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• i think ty should make more and make them faster
• i think ty should make more and make them faster
• I think that soon beanies will not be so popular
• i wish retailers would just sell and stop the auctions
• Some retailers make it difficult for those of us who just enjoy the search. Some are difficult to work with. Some beanie collectors are very rude and unpleasant. I enjoy meeting others, sharing stories and being with friends who enjoy the hobby. It is too bad many are either out to make money or are just rude. Being able to shop on the internet is attractive but the prices are severly high on some sites. I want to enjoy myself!
• Like the size and reasonable cost (if they are sold for no more than $5.99. Like the colors and variety. Believe that trend will continue if prices are kept low and stores receive them frequently. Do not like when beanies are over-priced and unavailable. I believe that Valentino will be retired, along with the bunny trio. Also, am very angry that Princess is not available to the public like the others. People get ahold of them and sell them for outrageous amounts, instead of selling for a reasona le price.
• I am collecting Beanie Babies for each of my Grandchildren. I hope to sell the ones that retire and put the money in an education account for them.
• Just should have more in single shipments, theey are for the kids and it's havrd to find the ones they want to have, due to greedy ADULTS, collecting for the money.
• retailers who sell directly to the 2ndary market should be dropped by ty. Everyone whould as least have a chance to buy (or win) the latest beanies
• I saw s secondary deler who weas selling Rainbow and other new releases for $42 and I think that they shouldn't do that because Beanies were ment for kids to buy with their own money.
• What I enjoy most about the BB's is matching the BB to family or friends and reasons for the matches.
• I saw s secondary deler who weas selling Rainbow and other new releases for $42 and I think that they shouldn't do that because Beanies were ment for kids to buy with their own money.
• I saw s secondary deler who weas selling Rainbow and other new releases for $42 and I think that they shouldn't do that because Beanies were ment for kids to buy with their own money.
• Beanie babies RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I don't like dealers who are keeping the peace bears and any other ones that are har to get, then selling them for a huge profit. I dearly love my beanies and would like a chance to be able to get in on some of the good ones.
• I saw s secondary deler who weas selling Rainbow and other new releases for $42 and I think that they shouldn't do that because Beanies were ment for kids to buy with their own money.
• I don't like authorized dealers that sell them for more than $7.00. The dealers that have restrictions on what you can purchase at one time. I also don't like that dealers chose who they want to sell their beanies to.
• wish I had gotten on board sooner, feel frantic sometimes at how fast prices are going up before I can complete my inventory and scared at the same time that the prices will fall on its face.
• It's fun to see the value go up when you have that particular beanie, but I can never bring myself to sell. Then I find that after holding onto them the value has increased even more. Wow, what's a person supposed to do with them. My kids have about 30 each and I have about 60 tucked away, it's a fun hobby.
• I love beanies and want to be a retailer.
• My daughter was trying to collect the bears, but because of limited stock and greed she nor I can afford a bear that initially cast the retailers $2.50.
• fun and can be inexpensive
• Im really getting tired of the hassle of trying to purchase these (especially the teddies). I think that if TY has to limit a certain teddy to 12 per store then they should just wait until each store can get 36. It has gotten to the point where im going to have to stop collecting the teddies becuse they are too expensive & they are current!
• I hope to one day resale mine
• What I don't like is that there are not enough Princess bears to go around. I refuse to buy one from the secondary market. It's really too bad, because it's the children that are losing out. My daughter would love to have one, but can't afford to pay $150.00 for it (which is the cheapest I've seen it!)
• I wish that there was a way for Ty to stop the secondary market, so that it could be fair for people that have to work and can't call stores everyday. The greedy people just out to make money on beanies are really just discouraging collector who are just getting them for themselves and their children. People who are collecting for themselves and children are going to stop because the secondary market is so high.
• Hi-Have a BB site-http://expage.com/page/eaniebabiesgalore . . . I believe Chocolate, Patti, Pinchers, and Squealer will retire soon because they are all that are left of the nine originals
• I'm not real happy with all the hype about Princess Diana being a Collector's Item. Many people took the bait and paid mega bucks for what may turn out to be otherwise. A friend of mine just purchased Princess Dieana for $5 in a store that sells ALL the Beanie Babies for $5. I think Ty should have come forward with their plans for Princess Diana once they knew about what was happening out here. There were too many retailers selling her for $100 plus. I have no idea where the proceeds went - I can nly guess.
• I wish there was a list of all the authorized (non-secondary) retailers by region.
• N/A
• I think selling princess for outrageous amounts is very sad
• Hoping to find Princess and Erin at retail prices
• Dislike the idea that the beanies are so hard to get. Hate secondary markets, hate fighting for the right to own a beanie with a secondary market trader.
• Would like to see more Princess before she retires - she symbolizes a generosity in people. Even people who don't "Collect" want Princess and I hope Ty will make that possible.
• authorized dealers holding back beanies
• The retail stores have become a secondary market. They often ask outrageous prices for current beanie babies. Also a lot of them refuse to sell to children. I thought this was originally a child's toy. I have two daughters with twins. One set is 17 years old, but the stores that sell one to a family will not sell them each one. I think this is unfair. Another thing is the way the stores play God. They tell you they have Princess but they will not sell to you because they don't consider you a re ular customer. The beanie collectors spend hundreds of dollars in these stores, and visit them more often than any other customer. What are we if not a regular customer.
• I don't like it when they don't make enought for everyone.
• Ty needs to let my plant shop be an authorized dealer
• I would like to volunteer to be a TY detective and research unethical retailers. Also I would like to submit ideas for new beanies.
• I dislike stores charging more for Beanies that they say are "hard to find" or "going to retire sometime soon"
• Too much price gouging on the bears.
• It does bother me that retailers are willing to sell great quantities of their stock to secondary markets so that they can make an even greater profit. I wish that the fun hobby of buying beanies for a personal collection was not made impossible because there are individuals who are only interested in them for there ability to bring in cash.
• Ty needs to control the web and people need to stop paying so much $$$ for them so that we all can have one of each
• the next retirements, might be curly, valentino, patti,gobbles and squealler
• I'm obsessed like everyone else !
• I feel the primary retailers should be limited to what they sell their beanies for. If they start to gouge the consumer this fad may very well cool off prematurely. That would be terrible since I would miss the thrill of the hunt and adding new beanies
• I dislike the fact that some retailers charge more than the retail price for current beanies. I wish Ty would produce more than ample supply of the bears because they are the most popular and hard to find, like Princess -- will we ever see enough for all the beanie collectors.
• I understand the limited amounts of Princess Bears due to the signifigance of Princess Diana's tragic death. I just don't think the Erin bear should be released in such limited quantities,because it creates such a high priced demand for them that children and other collectors who purchase them for fun can't afford them. Also, I feel merchants who force customers to buy other store merchandise in order to buy one beanie should not be allowed to sell beanies.
• Luv them, keep them comming
• I wish I didn,t have to work so hard (driving all over town, calling stores,etc.) just to try to collect all of the BB's for my own and my son's collection. I have spent hours in line at stores waiting to buy BB's and come away empty handed. I wish there was a way to buy BB's directly from Ty. and it's distributors. Then I wouldn't feel so frustrated because I don't have an "in" with a retailor. I won't befriend a salesclerk at Hallmarks or any other store just to buy their merchandise. I think th t the BB's are a fun collectable that I can share with my son. And even my husband has gotten into the BB search at times just to suprise me with a wonderful and a sure gift for special occasions. It really meant a lot to me when he presented me with my first and only Valentino for the 17th anniversary of our first date, which was on Valentine's Day, of course. Thank-you for asking.
• PRINCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! looking for PRINCESS~!!!!!!!!!!!!
• The only thing that I dislike is the fact that because of greedy people out there... Alot of people including myself will never see/purchase beanies like Princess and Erin at a decent price.
• Retailers with contracts with Ty who sell their beanies at secondary markets show have their contracts with Ty CANCELED !!!!
• Come out with too many new ones at a time
• I think people who buy & resell current beanies are unscrupulous tax evaders! This should be a relaxed, fun hobby, not a stressful free-for-all. My 78-year-old grandfather was literally knocked down by a greedy reseller after the beanie he had in his hand!
• I thought that Princess was going to be more readily available and am disappointed that it is not. My boys are often discouraged when we see some of the current (but harder to come by) beanies for so much money. I have a hard time convincing them that we need to wait. One store that I did shop at would take orders. All of their beanies were the same price. Then in December they refunded money (even tho it was against their store policy) and said that they wouldn't do it anymore. The next time I as in there, beanies were between 5-25 dollars and some that they were asking more for weren't even retired.
• I think it is very wrong that retailers sell to secondary dealers, ie. Erin is not even out yet and her price is outrageous! This is a hobby for kids!
• Princess-Prices are ridiculous
• the secondary market is ruining BB's for the children
• I am very unhappy to see the same people that sell the beanies at shows at triple the price standing and waiting to buy the same beanies that I am trying to collect for my 3 yr. old daughter. I really wish there was some way to stop these "dealers" from taking the beanies out of the hands of the kids.
• I HATE the fact that primary TY dealers sell their stock to secondary merchnats without even giving the consumer a chance, It is because of this that I will STOP collecting and am currently liquidating my collection. TY will get no more of my money!
• I hate how people criticzie dealers
• I hope I sell out before the bubble bursts!
• I dislike it when people buy beanies from someone and then sell them for three times as much.
• The ones I said no answer to didn't fit what I would have said, so I did the best I could.
• Hi i am so sick that a host of dealers in this area, have sold the most prized bb,s out the back door,bypassing the retail public and forcing consumers to pay twenty to fourty times list price to get a princess. They also did it with peace. Can,t something be done, or is it all about money.Remember, these were for kids and they dont have that kind of money to complete their sets. thank you
• The search and then the find of a Beanie I don't have.
• I wish Ty would put Princess into major production, so that everyone could have one. This is one Beanie that shouldn't be put out of reach of the common person. If the money is to go to charity, you know the secondaries aren't contributing their profits, so the only way to be sure is to buy from retailers. Unfortunately, retailers aren't receiving enough of her to go around. I refuse to pay $300 on the secondary market to get her!
• I don't like retailers raising their prices from $5 to $20. I won't do business with these retaileres anymore. I do like to watch my grandchildren and nieces & nehphews playing and pretending with the beanie babies. I also like having met some really nice people thru this beanie baby phenomenon.
• I have a day job I have a hard time finding Beanies for my collection when looking after work or on the weekend My three children love our Beanies and like to shop for them wish they were a little easier to find and buy with all of us shopping for Beanies Fun outing with our children PLEASE KEEP THE PRICES DOWN FOR THE CHILDREN THANKS
• Beanie babies are the bomb!!! Couldn't imagine not going on beanie hunts!
• The search and then the find of a Beanie I don't have.
• I don't like the greed associated with the beanies.
• I, of course, love the Beanie Babies not only for my granddaughters, but my Mother is 84 years old and she is the reason I started collecting. She had had a stroke and I sent (she lives in another state) her a Beanie and she was so thrilled she wanted more to to know all about tem. Well, I can't tell you how much this has meant to me because I know learning about Beanies and sending her more has helped her get over the affects of her stroke and has given her a new interest. Now I am an avid collecto . What I do not like is that it is so very hard for me to get Beanies (especially the ones my Mother and Granddaughter want) because I work and cannot seem to find them and then if I do I can't get there in time --- people who do not work and have the time to chase them are able to get them. I dearly wish they were easier to get for the majority of us.
• I don't like retailers raising their prices from $5 to $20. I won't do business with these retaileres anymore. I do like to watch my grandchildren and nieces & nehphews playing and pretending with the beanie babies. I also like having met some really nice people thru this beanie baby phenomenon.
• I don't care for people who grab Beanies out of childrens hands for their own benefit. I don't care for retailers who double and triple the normal prices of Beanies just to add a few extra dollars to their own pocket. I find it unfair when a child goes into a store with their allowance or birthday money to buy a beanie that they really want and the retailer has a $15 to $25 and in some cases a $200+ price tag on it and it isn't even from a secondary person. Children should have certain rights to pur hase these cute little creatures for the same normal price. Set some limits on quantities or something that would give them the same chance as some of the greedy adults. I buy extra's to try to trade with and many times to give the kids that can't find the Beanie they really want.
• I find it frustrating that Ty deliberately makes so few of the popular styles like Peace. It's absurd that people have to camp out overnight to get a chance to buy Princess. If Ty were really serious when they say that Princess should be available for everyone, then they should make enough to meet demand. I realize that restricting availability increases the popularity of the beanies, but I believe Ty is way too restrictive. I also dislike the way the company seems to play with delivery schedules. It was impossible, for instance, to find Nanook or Claude for months--then both suddenly appeared in quantity in several stores. It also seems that some stores will get only certain styles (even though they order all of them), so that I have to visit other stores to find the rest.
• I feel that retail merchants that are TY dealers should sell their Beanie Babies for fair market price and not for the secondary market price. I was in a local, frequently visited gift shop and was unhappy to find their new shipment of BBs sorted by price. The newly retired ones for 20.00 and up and their 12 Princess Bears for 300.00 each! Gift shops should not charge secondary market prices.
• I would like to see the secondary market keep pricing a little more realistic and affordable, it's becoming too expensive for some of us to collect!
• I particularly dislike the way that the second market buys up all the beanies and hurts my children in their efforts (sometimes they pay with quarters they've saved.) Also dislike authorized retailers jacking up prices on hard to finds (bears and new) or using the ones they get in for sale to trade to get old retireds. I like the fact that my oldest daughter - who really enjoys "collecting" things found something that is affordable (sometimes) and fun to collect.
• I purchase the Beanies for my 8-year old daughter, as "good behavior" or "good grade" rewards. I think that the secondary market is worse than a plague! My poor daughter will likely miss out on getting Princess and Erin because of severe price gouging. I know of secondary retailers who purchase bags of beanies from reputable stores (Hallmark) and then resell them for 2 or 3 times the regular retail of $4.99. Actually, I have never even seen a Beanie for $4.99. The lowest price I've seen (in VA) ha been $6.00. So much for it being a kids toy!
• I think its seen it's day, to many people jumping on the bandwagon.
• I am really tired of all the greediness involved in collecting Beanie Babies. I started collecting them because I'm an animal lover and they were just so cute. All the secondary market sellers make it impossible for the "true collector", who is not looking to make a fast buck, to find. Even stores are very dishonest about them. I have encountered one store owner who took all her shipment and sold it for secondary market prices and lied to her customers about receiving a shipment. Episodes like tha really take the fun out of collecting beanies.
• I think authorized retailers are getting away with too much as far as holding beanies back from customers and selling via the internet/or people buying dozens at a time. Also, when they take peoples names down it would be just nice if they would call like the say they are going to when new orders come into the store, otherwise, why take our numbers.
• I like the predictions on retirements
• fun and interesting hobby
• Primary dealers usually do not have any "new" BB's, yet the secondary mkt seem to have no trouble--It seems that the primary may be selling to secondary, because they don't want to be "bothered" with selling BB's
• Ty should be able to ship more of a particular style than they do (more of the few hard to finds as opposed to some of many kinds.) All parts of the country should be getting their share. It seems like the midwest gets the most Beanies! Love the Beanies they're introducing, they get better and better.
• I dislike the bad publicity that trading with Canadians is risky because of customs. I called US and Canadian customs and they are only interested in large shippments and fakes, not small time traders adding to personal collections. I have traded 6 times in the past few weeks with no customs problems but. i do not have maple to trade and he seems to be a problem to ship. I don't know how ty can reep the reward of their sucessful products and then complain about us trading beanies and buying beanies o the secondary market. the secondary feeds the primary. : Don't bite the hand that feeds you" but my pet peeve right now is more Americans have maple than us Canadians. he is no where to be found in this country and believe me , I have friends and relatives in many towns looking to even get me 1. Long enough comment. ?
• it is very frustrating to have been collecting before it was vogue and now have to fight for the new one's.Mr. Warner say's he doesn't want the retailers to sell them for more than $5 but then he adds to the problem when he makes some of them so ahrd to get. EX.: Peace,princess,the(97teddy and snowman to name a few!
• Ty should mass produce Princess so that she is available for all--not just those willing to fork out hundreds of dollars or happen to get lucky in a drawing
• I think the trend is here to stay. At least I hope so. Also, Ty should monitor retailers who sell Beanie Babies. Some are selling hard to find Beanies for outrageous prices. Example- Princess-$150-250. Peace $50 or more. It took me until the first of February to score a Peace Bear for under $10. Those types of retailers should be dropped from the disrtibution lists. Then again there are some who are very fair when selling Beanies. One price no matter what Beanie it is, and on a first come first serve basis. I would like to see more re-issues of the older Beanies like: Humphrey, the Dino's Kiwi etc. Also, I do not want the big chains such as Toys R Us or Target selling them. It would cheapen them in my opinion. If Ty sold to big retailers they wouldn't be special any more and the fun of hunting and finding them gone. Thanks.
• i like survays and thanx for it! 8)
• I do enjoy the BB's but I wish they wouldn't send such limited numbers to the stores. Some of stores are getting way to greedy. If TY sets a price for them then they should make the stores follow their guide lines. It is allful that some stores want you to buy a $35. item plus pay for the BB's. that's all.
• I am sick of people selling Princess and Erin for way to much.these are for kids.
• I think if retailers are ty customers, there should be a limit on what they an sell them for - whether they are retired or not. It is almost impossible to find a beanie baby for $5 - $7 anymore. If a retailer sells Beanies for more than $10 (for example) they should be dropped from Ty's cusomter list to allow for other "honest" retailers to become customers (which Ty is not doing right now)
• I love the tye dye beanies. I would like to see more of them. Also, I am very distressed about the fact that the stores are now charging top dollar for the beanie babies. I beanies are retired you pay the going rate on the secondary market or you don't get them. I have only found two stores in my area that sell all beanie babies for the same price as all the others.
• if ty doesnt get princess and erin out there i think a lot of people are going to lose interest besides getting alot of people pissed! i think ty should flood the market with them and kill the secondary market on them and that way maybe the secondary beanie dealers or should i say baseball card dealers out!
• i think retireds should be remade and sold at the normal price for at least a month.=) SPUNKY RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D =P
• I really think it is very unfair for retailers to withhold their stock from customers and only selling Beanies on the Secondary Market... My daughter was very saddened at Christmas when a retailer said that he had Princess', but he took them home to his family... I'm sure your marketing department will handle this typ of retailer accordingly...As for idea's, how about a blue macaw??? thanks for listening...Muffeee@aol.com
• I think all currents should be in the $5-10 range. This includes Princess and Erin. I am very angry and frustraited at the inflated prices people are charging on the internet. You know many of them paid $5.99 and then try to charge people with small children $hundreds.
• I think all currents should be in the $5-10 range. This includes Princess and Erin. I am very angry and frustraited at the inflated prices people are charging on the internte
• I have an idea for a new teddy - Endimion the Mardi Gras bear. He would be tie dyed purple, green, and gold, with a small string of beads around his neck, and one of those spade type things on his chest.
• the little buggers are getting expensive!!
• I am very dissappointed in TY in the way that they are limiting the availability of certain beanies, such as Princess and the new Erin Bear. I understand if they are having difficulties keeping up with the demand, but then they should not keep introducing new one until they can fullfill all orders!
• I visited an authorized Ty dealer on Feb. 18th and she had all 10 of the new beanie babies for sale at 8.95 each plus tax. Ithink this is excessive and shouldn't be allowed. She also ahd the new bear ERIN and wouldn't put it out for sale, even at 8.95 each because she wanted to wait and see what the secondary market was going to get for them. Her comment to me was "Why should they be able to make all the money, and not me. She is currently selling Princess for $4oo.00 , with all of the profits goin to her, not some local charity or something. Bidding on these bears with the profits going to charity is fine with me, but when an authorized Ty dealer is selling these beanies for such a gross profit should not be allowed. If they want to be a Ty dealer, they should have to sell at suggested retail. (5.00 -7.00 dollars). It is getting harder and harder to find a beanie at the regular price in the area in which I live.
• retailers who save hard to find beanies just because they know they will be worth more money later then a few months later are selling them for more than second market prices in some area or when they make you buy something unrelated to beanie babies just so you can get a regular beanie baby
• I like that there are cheap. But I think the secondary market is too gready. Also Ty should make enough beanies for everyone. This way people wont price them at outrageous prices. Also and authorized dealer selling to secondary market people should be dropped. They made a deal with TY and should not break it just for greed! I dont like that TY doesnt make enough for everyone!
• I like the aspect of value appreciation but the incredible pace since beginning of 1998 ( 10-15% a week! ) is starting to look worrisome. At these prices, the professional dealers, crooks and fake beanies are starting to show up all over the place and the prices place all serious but not super wealthy collectors out of the market.
• I would like there be more control on the retailers in what they charge to their customers.
• I don't like the way the princess and erin bears are being done.
• I think those of us that are collecting for the "fun" of it and to have something in common with our children are being "left out in the cold." The hard to find ones (Peace, Princess, Erin, etc.) that my kids long for will be mostly unattainable, due to Ty not releasing enough of them or due to them being sold for way too much money than we can afford on the secondary market. I don't think this is what Ty had in mind when they were originally intended for the "kids." I am still hoping that Ty will f ood the market with the hard to attain beanies and put the secondary market "out in the cold." The only reason I see for the secondary market is to resell the retired beanies to those who have started collecting since their retirements. I don't see any reason for there to be a secondary market for any of the current beanie babies. Thank you for letting me put in my two cents worth!!
• I'm very concerned about the recent rash of fakes, and what they might do to the value of "real" collections.
• I hate dealers who jack up the price or put the purchase of Beanie connected with having to purchase another product with it. I thought these were suppose to be made available for children to buy. I have seen stores that charge $25 for a new baby out or
• I am abhored by the greed in this market. It really redefines the word. I purchase these for my daughter who takes the tags off and plays with them. I wish the secondary market could see her disappointed face as the people in front buy 100+ beanies at a time! Whatever happened to toys?
• The way TY is monopolizing the market, I am noticing that everyone has lied at one time or another to someone and some people more so. This is just to crazy. Tell TY to please ship the new onesat great quantities or I am certain he could start a war if this keeps up!!
• Ty is a smart man and is sitting on a gold mine. He makes it very frustrating for collectors to acquire the "new" beanies when we haven't even seen "new" beanies from 6 months ago around where I live.
• tighter controls by ty. Tighter reins on reps
• Beanies Babies were a wonderful way to get children intrested in the world of collecting, until the adults came in and took over. Doing this drove the prices up, turning a hobby that once was fun, for the children, into an economic nightmare for the. Adults that are hording and jacking up the prices should be stopped!
• Make beanies more available.
• I think the prices on retired beanies has gotten way out of hand.
• It's making me crazy!!! But I can't seem to stop!
• Prices are driving kids and moderate income collectors out of the market. Availability is slow to the stores. Traders at shows have new beanies at extravagant prices before authorized dealerships.
• I firmly believe that dealers for TY Beanie Babies should not only be allowed, but actually encouraged to enter the secondary markets on consignment bases to assist their customers in completing transactions designed to complete collections. Dealers are a natural center for congregation of collectors, and ensuing swaps and trades, thereby furthering the advancement of the most popular collectible since Hummel.
• MY HALLMARK IN CRYSTAL LAKE DID NOT OFFER THE LADY DI FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN A RAFFLE NOR THE THE EMPLOYEES AND I HAVE BOUGHT THE MOJORITY OF MY BEANIES AT HALLMARKS.. WHERE ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY NOT BEING OFFERED TO CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY COME IN? THIS IS THE PART THAT IS DECEIVING AND MOST DISSAPPOINTING AND WOULD ALMOST MAKE YOU WANT TO STOP PURCHASING DUE TO THIS HOLDING OR WE NEVER RECEIVED THEM. I FOR ONE AM DISSAPONTED THAT ITS HARD TO FIND THE ONE BEANIE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE MONEY FOR T E LADY DI FUND AND HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A SECONDARY MARKET PRIZE. LADY DI WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DISSAPPOINTED TO SEE HER NAME USED AND THEN SOLD OFF FOR PERSONAL PROFIT. THIS IS WHY HER FAMILY IS PROTECTING HER NAME AND SELLING RIGHTS. THIS NEEDS ATTENTION AS IT HAS TURNED ME OFF TO THE BEANIE BUYING FRENZIE.
• Why won't TY make the Princess bears more available? I can't get one and the retailers here sell them for up to $300...it is very upsetting because I cannot afford that much and should not have to, and the Princess Bear should be made available so we all can have a chance to purchase her.
• People tend to be greedy for money with princess & erin whom are very hard to get
• Make A Warthog. Dislike: how most were $5, then they became $7 to $10 for the same thing & how they were an inexpensive child's toy and now they are impossible to find & buy for under $6.
• When Are These Beanies Going To Go Out Of Style?????????????????????
• I just wish TY could supply parents like us with more stock. We are collecting for two daughters, and sometimes the limits make this VERY difficult.
• I think the secondary market prices for some new released BB has gotten way out of hand. eg.Princess, Erin, Peace, Maple, Brittania. I sure can't afford to get them for my girls and they certainly can"t buy them with their allowance.
• Hope it's not too temporary
• Collecting these beanies has been a fun Mother and Daughter hobby for me, but I find it extremely frustrating that you need to have an "in" somewhere to be able to buy beanies. The dealers on the secondary market are really allowing their greed to get away from them! Little six year olds don't understand why it is they can't buy a Princess or a Peace bear (just chosen at randome...any beanie really) and may never get one if TY decides to retire beanies early. That is the unfortunate side to this hob y is that children are learning about "Greed" and "keeping up with the Jones's" very early on. Thanks for listening! Tina in Woodbridge, VA.
• I dislike the way the retailers jack up the prices. They should all have to conform to the same pricing scale.
• It is a fascinating study in supply and demand economics.
• I hope they're around a couple more years anyway!
• It is a fascinating study in supply and demand economics.
• I thoroughly enjoy collecting beanie babies. I do think, however, that the secondary market is too full of rumors and high prices. I believe that the secondary market dictates the higher prices the primary retailers have begun to charge for the beanie babies they receive directly from TY. I have yet to see a store that has sold Princess. They simply do not put them out for the public. They sell them through the "back door" for hundreds of dollars. The same thing is going to happen to Erin when sh starts shipping. I would like to see TY produce more Princess and Erin and make them more accessible to the children who enjoy collecting them. What child under the age of 12 do you know of who can pay $200 to $300 for a toy?!
• I don't like how Ty is starting to limit the quantity of SOME beanie babies they are making, but i must say they have a good marketing team on their side
• I hate that so many people have forgotten that these were toys meant for children and many children were collecting them long before most of the collectors started. What I hate more than secondary dealers is retailers who have jacked their priced up so much that the kids can't even afford them anymore.
• I love collecting Beanies for myself and my family, but I really dislike the secondary market and merchants that "hord" beanies to sell only to their friends. I think ty should find a way to shipped beanies in a steady stream. People like me are never likey to find Peace, Princess, Erin, or anyother "special" beanie. Thank you for your time.
• I hope this goes on for many, many years!
• I believe there should be more safty for good sales over the internet.
• i would like to see all current beanies available for everyone at a reasonable price $7 or under especially the erin & princess bears
• I am tired of being mistreated by clerks and store owners who sell beanies. If selling beanies are getting on their nerves then they should stop selling them.
• I am tired of the retailers playing games and saving the hard to find beanies for their friends. My kids are very dissappointed they can not get Peace or Princess. We call and stop in the shops weekly and daily and they will tell us they sold out the day before. Likely story.
• This is something I can enjoy together with my children!!
• currnetly, Erin is selling for $450. here on secondary market!! People like this make it impossible for us little folks to purchase beanies and contribute to setting a high price for them. not once have I seen a beanie bear available for under $25 at a retailor store. Too many stores are now chargeing higher prices here ( Michigan) .
• I just wish that Beanie Babies would be cheaper and easier to get.
• I am tired of the retailers playing games and saving the hard to find beanies for their friends. My kids are very dissappointed they can not get Peace or Princess. We call and stop in the shops weekly and daily and they will tell us they sold out the day before. Likely story.
• currnetly, Erin is selling for $450. here on secondary market!! People like this make it impossible for us little folks to purchase beanies and contribute to setting a high price for them. not once have I seen a beanie bear available for under $25 at a retailor store. Too many stores are now chargeing higher prices here ( Michigan) .
• I'd like to comment on Ty's distribution practices. I have not understood or liked the fact that Ty seems to set up it's retailers by shipping only limited amounts of certain Beanie Babies. several of the stores in my area have complained profusely about Ty and some have threatened or currenlty have plans to reduce the shipment numbers they recieve or simply stop selling Beanie Babies. Why doesn't ty simply make the product available for everyone.
• no one knows which one will be next to be retired it's just a not so educated guess.
• I think it's outrageous for TY to produce such small quantities of the new beanies, particularly Princess and Erin. My kids are completely discouraged, frustrated, and often angry that they have no chance to get these beautiful bears. It's especially annoying when you see someone on the internet selling a dozen at $200 or more each. Also, what is the purpose of having bears like Maple and Brittania as exclusives in other countries when TY knows that the primary market is in the states, and the secon ary market will be insane on these? What started out as a fun, family activity is no longer fun. I predict that the upcoming retireds will have very little secondary market value, because everyone has them as currents (unless they retire HTFs like Peace, Maple, etc) and that the market for newer ones will be strong. I believe TY will retire many in the next batch, especially unpopular ones such as Crunch, Gracie, Inch, Ringo, Sly, Rover. Thanks for letting me vent!
• I thought Pouch was in a lawsuit and was being pulled from the market...can you update?
• I appreciate retailers who limit BB purchases to discourage secondary marketers from buying up a whole shipment!
• Beanie Babies are GREAT!
• Half of the fun in collecting is the "search-and-find". If all the stores are flooded with beanies and they become easily accessible, the excitement in collecting will be lost ! Hey, remember Tickle Me Elmo, he's everywhere now ...collecting dust on merchant shelves.
• I think Ty is going to make two Jewish Beanie Babies, Judah the macabee and Daniel the lion.
• I wish I could find a Princess bear for less than $100!
• princess should be readily available to the common shopper.
• I would like to see more new ones available sooner
• My daughter and I have really enjoyed collecting the beanie babies together as a joint hobby. I think Ty is doing a good job managing under the difficult circumstances of the explosive popularity of beanies, holiday demands, and strikes, and price gougers. The biggest problems that we have encountered are Ty retailers who immediately put their stock out at $20 and up price tags, one store demands a $500 purchase of other merchandise in order to have the priviledge of buying a Princess beanie at the nflated price of $10, and the retailers who sell them out the back door to the black market (when they have never been sold at retail, it is not secondary market) and we never have a chance to purchase the Beanie Babies at retail prices. Ty's retailers should have to sell at Ty's prices, which Ty should be able to set. I also don't care for Ty's retailers carring secondary market Beanie Babies at the same time that they have an active account, too many of them put their current Ty shipments in there. Ty is doing great with product ideas and their retirement choices. Ty's taste and style is what makes the charm of Beanie Babies. The only thing I don't like is the exclusive Beanie Babies (Maple, and Britannia) which are not available in this country at retail. Almost our entire collection has been searched for at retail prices, the only exceptions are a few newer retired babies that fit our price range.
• secondary market is disgusting!
• hate that some people have many rare ones!
• I feel like this phenomenon will end soon. Consumers can only go on for so long 'chasing a craze'.
• I do not like how hard it is to find the new beanie babies at distributors. No one ever has any or knows when they will get them and by the time you get there all that they do have are gone to people that suck them ALL up for themselves.
• why are the stores saying they don't have any beanie babys,and then you go to a beanie baby show and their they are,selling them at a higher price. this should be stop.it' not fair to the kids who work hard for there money to have to pay alot to get one.these so call adults are just to much,and all they are doing is making the prices higher so no one can get.
• There will be another retirement sometime this year with many if not all of the remaining unretired original nine
• why are the stores saying they don't have any beanie babys,and then you go to a beanie baby show and their they are,selling them at a higher price. this should be stop.it' not fair to the kids who work hard for there money to have to pay alot to get one.these so call adults are just to much,and all they are doing is making the prices higher so no one can get.
• I Love Beanie Babies , I dislike bad retailers
• I would like to see some of the secondary markets get thrown on their tush. Our kids can no longer use their allowance to buy beanie babies. I like to buy beanies ahead of time and give them to my kids when they bring home a good report card and or when they do a good job in one of their sport activities. Just a small fun reward.
• I would like to see bigger shipments of the bears, they seem to be the most difficult to find. I would like to see all new, current beanies sell for the normal retail price of about $6.00, these inflated prices are awful. I am a trader myself simply because I cannot afford the outrageous prices. It would be nice if TY had a secret supply of retired beanies that they make them available, then maybe the prices would come down. I think sometimes they retire beanies much too early (Libearty, Lefty & Ri hty to be specific). All in all my daughter (who got me started) and I have had a wonderful time collecting Beanie Babies. I also collect Barbies. I have even started trading Beanies for Barbies! You have to be creative these days when the prices are so high! We love beanies! Beanies Rule in our House!
• In studying retirements I have found that Beanies that have been redesigned more than once like nip are good ones to look for that are still current. I plan to pick up as many zip as possible. I feel this is a real good one to be retired next especially with the introduction of the 2 new cats
• I think collecting the beanies is a cheap and fun way to spend time with my children
• WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET THE NEW ONES?STORES ARE ASKING YOU TO BYE SOMETHING BEFORE YOU CAN GET A BEANIE BABY,OR THEY ARE NOT VERY NICE TO YOU.WHY DO THESE STORES SELL THEM IF THEY ARE LIKE THIS.
• I'm a new collector, but it's become an obsession far more quickly than I'd like to admit. I think for adult collectors, it is intriguing because of the economic aspects, but you soon find yourself succumbing to the urge to buy them just because they're cute. Mybe for kid collectors, it's the other way around. My five-year old sister already has an awareness that her retired beanies are somehow more special than the rest. My complaints to Ty Warner (if he's listening) are: why so many of the same a imal? There are still so many he hasn't touched, and to go and release ten new beanies and have four of them be cats and dogs? Come on! Also, there seems to be a shift toward more realistic eyes. I much prefer the little black beady eyes. They'e charming. I hope the secondary market holds out until my current and recently retired beanies are worth something, but I tend to think that there aren't any "Teddy" phenomena still to be releaseed. I think with the acception of the bears and special collector beanies (like Princess), Ty's best work (as far as secondary market value, at least) is behind him.
• I love to collect Beanies with my son. I really dislike the fact that people are ripping other people off with high prices and hoarding so that the little collectors are cut short! I would like to see children day only previews of Beanies...tag their li
• WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET THE NEW ONES?STORES ARE ASKING YOU TO BYE SOMETHING BEFORE YOU CAN GET A BEANIE BABY,OR THEY ARE NOT VERY NICE TO YOU.WHY DO THESE STORES SELL THEM IF THEY ARE LIKE THIS.
• The thing that is the hardest about collecting beanies is that people hord all the bears, such as Garcia, Peace. Princess and Erin will be the same way and most people will not be able to find them. Maybe one per person. I've heard of businesses selling all of their shipment on hard to find ones to one secondary market person. Some store are real nice and others are ticked off if you call or stop and ask if they have any beanies.
• many of us hate retailers selling for $50.00++and say their selling on consignment (yea right) keep the prices reasonable, please!!
• I feel that authorized dealers should not be selling retired beanie babies at inflated prices. They should be selling them at the same price as all the rest. Some dealers hold on to beanies just before the next group of retirees are to be announced so that they can sell them at inflated prices, this just drives the prices up and some children that are collecting the beanies never have a chance to get some of these beanies. Now if the dealers want to sell on the secondary market than they should only be buying from and selling to the secondary market. I collect beanies for my mother who is 73 years old and doesn't drive so my sister and I go on beanie baby hunts and when either one of us is out-of-town we call each other and give beanie baby updates so that we don't get duplicates. We have gotten a few duplicates that we have traded for beanies that we didn't have so that has worked fine for trying to complete my mom's collection. I really think that Seaweed will be in the next group to retire along with Valentino.
• I cannot purchase Princess because of the price. I would really like to buy her, but the nearest store is 20 minutes away from me and if I call and they say they have her, by the time I get there they are sold out
• I predict this phenomenon hits a brick wall in the next year or so. Stores are beginning to have very large quantities of the common current beanie babies. It can't last forever.
• This Beanie Baby Phenomenon is getting so exciting--my daughter gets out of college in a year and she told me that she was going to sell a few of my Beanies to pay off her student loans starting in 1999!
• Being first on a list at a retail store and still not being able to buy the hard to finds!!
• I think too many small dealers are being cut as Ty customers. Why cut the small business people - Ty was once small if he remembers.
• I think that retailers should let people purchase the princess bear. I think its wrong to not allow people to purchase her at the same price of other beanie babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I wish it weren't so hard to aquire some (expensive) like Princess. My daughter would love to have it but I can't afford $200-300.00 for a current beanie. We have had alot of fun collecting as a family. My kids love them.
• I started buying Beanies to give as gifts to my day care class. Now I buy them for myself as well. It is hard not to sell when someone offers you lots of money for a retired Beanie.
• Ty shouldn't limit the amount of Princess and Erins available to a retailer. The new releases should be available to everyone at regular prices!
• It's one of the nicest things that have happened to me. I don't know why but I love it and I am 51 years old. Can't explain it.
• I don't believe in ripping people off or not letting kids have access to these little critters.I think they are like any other collectible that you choose to collect and I think they will be aroung a long time just like all the other collectible lines.
• I hate the greedy secondary market
• This can't go on forever, but as a retailer, I think it would be great if it did. And I wish TY would stop producing beanies which they ship only in gruops of 12s!!
• Love the teenies. Don't understand the different color tags....black vs. red
• it is sad and dissappointing to see retailers charging $20.00+ for current beanies and being rude to kids
• Merchants are untruthful on their stock on hand and hold certain beanies for special cutomers, are rude on the phone, and lie on what they actually have(I went to a store at opening and asked for a certain beanie not there same day four hours later on a Sunday it was there!)
• People are getting too greedy about what is just a child's toy. It has started to not be fun to collect anymore with all the rabid "fans" around.
• It really upsets me when retailers mark up Beanies just because they are retired. They pay the same price for a retired as they do for a new one!
• I love collecting beanie babies for my daughter. Sometimes I go out and find nothing new. at those times I just figure what the heck...and just pick another one up...I'm betting on retirements. You hear so much lately that Jeez, there are only cureents....give them a home...or buy one and donate it to the battered women shelter or whereever...the gossip and rumors really make me angry at times...the ears are straight up on a hippity...is it worth anything...people need to grow up and use some common s nse...it's called sewing....just bend them over.. all in all Beanie Babie collecting has been and will continue to be a joyful experience for me and my family...and I am sure....nextyear we will be onto something else. Crazihouse@aol.com
• I like buying from the secondary market, I myself sell my extras to pay for our collection. But I get them the hard way, standing in line, etc., Not out the backdoor. I think any retailer caught selling at inflated prices should have their accounts dropped! I also think that any retailer caught selling over the internet (bags full, not a beanie or two) or the whole lot so they "don't have to mess with people" should also have their accounts dropped. The stores here have a limit of two beanies (of each ind) and that's a great way to help everyone get their share. I don't like it when no limit has been placed and one person is allowed to buy. I personally have stopped shopping completely at two stores because I have caught them selling to a certain few people or because you never know what the prices are going to be on their beanies, they change everyday to meet the demand market. I have written a five page complaint letter to Ty on this very subject. The secondary market is for people that have aquired t eir wares the hard way, not by backdoor buying. I can usually tell if this is how they were aquired and I will not buy from these secondary places. I do love the beanies, attics, and plush lines though!
• i really liked the idea that Mr. Warner had for children to have an affordable collectible. I find it distasteful that parents got so overly involved that it has become 'who has the best beanie hunter mom'. I give my kids one only on special occassions, good report cards, end of soccer season, etc. They love them and I do too.
• SOME ARE TO HARD TO FIND.
• I like buying from the secondary market, I myself sell my extra
• The fact that so many people are into "collecting" seems to signify some sort of desire to preserve the present and and prepare for the future. A most interesting phenomenon!!
• I enjoy the hunt, it has become an outlet and a hobby. However , I am very upset that the so called "selected" stores that carry the TY Beanies are allowed to "jack" the price up at will. All the retired beanies are taken out of the shipments and sold for a higher price. Also, the bears and any that the Stores care to call "hard to find" . They are also selling the bears for $20 @ and attaching them to store merchandise so you have to pay $35-$50 to get the beanie you need. I am very upset that th Princess Bear has been changed. This goes against everything that I read and thought TY was against. As far as I am concerned TY Warner has used Princess Di to gain profits for his business. He has encouraged the stores and the secondary market to make "big bucks" on her also.
• Too hard to get new bears & to expensive

Return to the Home Page.

Copyright ©1994-2000, /InterCommerce Corporation,
All rights reserved worldwide
Send comments to Webmaster@Survey.net