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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:

• I wish Beanie Babies were more readily available to working moms who don't have 2 hours to wait M-F for "the" shipment to arrive at the store, if I could figure which store was getting them that day! Since Ty obviously has access to some clothes as indicated on other Ty collectibles, why doesn't he also sell clothes for his "babies"?
• I would LOVE to see TY mass produce the PRINCESS Bear in a different color or tag what ever has to be done .It was such a GREAT cause,so think about it so some of the kids can have a chance to own one !!!!!!!!!! The new ones are great , I have alot of the oldies !!!! Thanks PHerman119@aol.com
• I think the secondary market shouldn't sell any over 40 dollars>
• I am very surpsied how popular they have become. I, like many, have started when the teenies came out.
• I think adults are to greedy and prevent children from getting them. My four children have almost all of them and we cut off the tags because they are just toys (even the retired ones).
• confussion fom ty on princess bear
• I think some of the new beanies should cost lest.
• Would like to be able to purchase Erin & Princess at a reasonabale price for my grandaughter as well as try to get the Olympics Bear and the Britianna Bear. Just seems so unfair that retailers are charging such outladish prices. We evern have some people buying them up at one store and taking them to their private store and charginig 3 times as much as they paid for them. I love the Beanie Babies , my grandaughter just adores them. She is 4 years old and really enjoys them. They are just hand size she takes them to bed with her and is anxious when you go to the store and looks at them all. We did get the tag protectors for them for her. I also feel that you took some were taken off the marked to soon. Like anything else, you have to be in the right place at the right time. Thanks for listening.
• A donkey would be nice for a new one.
• Would like to be able to purchase Erin & Princess at a reasonabale price for my grandaughter as well as try to get the Olympics Bear and the Britianna Bear. Just seems so unfair that retailers are charging such outladish prices. We evern have some people buying them up at one store and taking them to their private store and charginig 3 times as much as they paid for them. I love the Beanie Babies , my grandaughter just adores them. She is 4 years old and really enjoys them. They are just hand size she takes them to bed with her and is anxious when you go to the store and looks at them all. We did get the tag protectors for them for her. I also feel that you took some were taken off the marked to soon. Like anything else, you have to be in the right place at the right time. Thanks for listening.
• I get very angry (and tempted to quit collecting), when I see stores sell these cute little Beanies for $50, $60, $100 and more when they pay less than $10 for them! Children can't possibly buy them anymore, and it feeds the greed of people who scoop them up, re-sell them or keep them off the market til the prices are higher.
• THE PHENOMENON WILL BE GOING FOR A WHILE
• Retailers need to be reported for pulling beanies and selling them at a higher price or making up games to earn big $$$ for the beanies. Then TY not sell to these retailers. Retailers should not be allowed to single out beanies for higher retail prices.
• I think beanie babies are wonderful for kids and parents to collect together. I only wish there weren't such greedy secondary market dealers! This has been a fun way for my 7 year old daughter to sell some of her older beanies in order to purchase more expensive dolls that she collects.
• yes
• The trend will continue. I have actually seen mothers running to the door of a store if they have the new releases. Unbelievable.
• I think that prices have gotton rediculous since these were originally created for kids.
• I think that prices have gotton rediculous since these were originally created for kids.
• I enjoy the "hunt" for HTF Beanie Babies - it gives me something to do with my children. I dislike the fact it is difficult for me to locate sources of collectors value and the Beanie language involved. My children like the bears collection and the common pets collection. There is something for both boys and girls to enjoy!
• I feel that Ty Warner has made a serious mistake in the way he has handled Princess the Bear. He has caused such commotion and desire over a beanie that he claims all proceeds will go to the Diana Memorial Fund. By not making these bears accessible to every collector, he is causing the price to go up because demand is so high. I have stood behind Ty and beanie babies for a long time, but this has angered me, as well as other friends.
• I predict Valentino/Curly to retire next
• Although I do understand that they are very very popular, I do wish it was easier to get certain beanies without paying an arm and a leg for one. That is why I am grateful for the trading boards. I have been trying to get Maple the Bear for almost a year now, I will not pay an outrageous amount for him though.
• My Nana buys the beanies for me and my brother
• My Nana buys the beanies for me and my brother
• I think this will certainly last if Ty continues to retire old Beanies and bring out new ones. I hope Ty gets their act together and somewhat ships orders half-way as promised, esp. for the hard-to-get Beanies that are being used in fund raisers.
• Please do not flood the market and cause people to lose interest. People want what they can not have. Look at Madame Alexander a few years ago and now Mattel with Barbie.
• I truly enjoy meeting BB collectors, even when standing in line for hours, and forming new friendships. However, I do not like stores that are charging extremely high prices when they make a good mark up and have a steady supply of BB's. They claim that Ty charges them more for the retired so they have to charge more. Sorry, but I don't believe that for one minute. One Hallmark charged me $50.00 for a Peace Bear and then another charged $18.99 and still another never marks them up but they don't re eive nearly enough to allow me to purchase one for $5.00. I'd like to see you make more cats and dogs, more purebreds. :)
• I wish I had learned about them sooner so I could have them all. I don't plan on trying to get those older ones that I missed now as I could never afford them but I have enjoyed getting all the ones since I started collecting and I'm glad that Ty has started giving newer collector a kind of remake of the first ones like Spinner for Web, Batty for Radar. We Need another BUTTERFLY. The fast retirement of 97 Teddy and Snowball really made me mad though as we didn't even get a chance to get them at the sto e before they retired and in some cases didn't hit the shelf because they only sent enough for the employees to get one. The limited amount to stores are making a lot of collectors lose interest because they can't get them anymore. I also think that the beanies depicting other countries should still be sold world wide not just in that country. It would be a great learning tool for all beanie kids to see the different flags from different countrys if they could get them but why should we have to pay alot fo that beanie or trade of half of our collection or retireds just to have it in our collection. It's just not fair and it makes me beary angry with Ty and almost hate that country for having a beanie I can't have. I Still LOVE my Beanies I have even though I'm getting less instead of more. I'm beginning to think that they are not for kids anymore. How many kids or adults for that matter can go to the store and buy a current beanie for $100 or more. I sure can't and won't. It is getting rediculous.
• would like to see a ferret. I am not happly with the current shipping delays to retailers in my area.
• Ty is too unpredictable. Most stores have never received Princess and I don't think the average collector or child will ever have a chance to have one. Peace Bear sells $25.00 to $45.00 retail and I don't think merchants that pay $2.50 should charge so much. I don't like to stand in lines and I don't like stores who give everyone a different answer when asked when they will put beanies out for sale.
• Beanie Babie clothing.
• I LOVE BEANIES!!! I LOVE ALL OF THEM!!!
• I love Beanie Babies and truly enjoy meeting other collectors.
• Keep 'em coming!!
• I really dislike it that people are charging so much for Princess and Erin. This is unfair to collectors who just collect becasue they are inexpensive.
• I'm tired of authorized dealers holding or selling to their friends. It doesn't give honest people a chance. To be honest I've met some great and honest secondary dealers that I would work with and pay more for the beanies just because they are honest, fair and not in it to rip you or your kids off.
• i love beanies - almost had chance to buy Priness for $5 this week, really!! four members of my family collect them now. i woukd like to see a peacock made like gobbles but with purple, blue and pink colors.
• i love beanies - almost had chance to buy Priness for $5 this week, really!! four members of my family collect them now. i woukd like to see a peacock made like gobbles but with purple, blue and pink colors.
• I am so Frustrated with the ty corporation, because not only have several stores in my area (Lafayette La) not gotten in any new beanies since Christmas but some of the stores are charging upwards of 30.00 for the current hard to find Beanies like Peace. When I called ty their responce was that the retailers can sell for what ever they think is reasonable. This is not fair to those of us who can not and will not pay that kind of money.
• I think that it is terrible that retailers can ask such high prices for current Beanies! My own cousin asked $100 for Erin yesterday; they should lose the privilege of selling! It is ruining the joy of collecting for all of us! Also, more limits on how many people can buy of each style would be helpful! How can we complain to TY?
• I'm having a problem with the Princess situation. I don't think it's fair for retailers to horde and sell for outrageous prices. Charity auctions are ok but I know this money is going directly into their pockets!!!
• none
• I wish that the old retireds (colored teddies and early animals) were more reasonable so that I could add them to my collection...
• i predict the bunny trio retiring in 1998
• For a small dollar - they make my children happy
• everyone should beable,to buy beanies from the store at a fair pricet
• I don't mind standing in long lines and waiting for hours to get my pick of any desired new beanie or bear. I feel as if I won a prize when I pay 5.50-7.50 for one hot beanie baby. My daughter loves them. She is five. She looks at their tags and reads the poems and the names. She looks in the beanie book and reads all their names. She lines all her beanies up and reads to them. It's glorious to see her have so much fun with them!! We find your page very informative, fun and imaginative. Thank a bunch!! Marie and Erica Leitner
• My only comment is that secondary market people are asking to much for recently retired beanies.
• I do not like how the "authorized dealers" in my area are selling their limited supply beanie babies to the secondary market. For instance, the Erin bear is selling at a secondary store here for $350+ This type of greed scenerio is hard to explain to young children.
• Beanie babies are a toy. Toys are for children. Children should be able to purchase these particular toys easily and at the resonable price that they were intended to be sold at.
• This is a great hobby for Grannies...but I wish the stores would know what and when they are getting their orders....that Ty would have standards on their shipping dates and that retailers be held to a $5-6 dollar selling range so that the children are not so disappointed when they have $6 to spend and a retailer sezs....sorry but I charge $9
• After two years of collecting, I still love it!!!
• I do not believe that when they make hundreds of thousands of theses beanies that they can be worth anything....I consider that collectiables are valable when there are only a few made...as this phenomenon will end...as I believe that Ty plays games on the market and does not send out the numbers that they say they will...
• i think the remaining original nine should retire...(plus others obviously)i love seeing surprise quick runs..like 97 teddy.. like..id LOVE to see them retire..say.. smooochey or spunky quickly..one we didnt expect
• secondary market G R E E D Y 1 1 1
• I am very disapointed that some of these stores get away with selling hard to get beanies at higher prices//
• Beanies are wonderful for children, and I think a great way to raise money through fund-raising. I myself have donated several retired Beanie Baskets(from my own collection) to charites for raffles, and myslef have participated in buying raffle tickets to win Princess! Some people tend to get carried away with the Beanie Craze and therefore make it not so fun for just averahe collectors!
• I thought this was for little kids-not the secondary market.
• I really get irritated at how the vendors are holding their beanies and calling secondary people to buy before kids can get beanies. I don't think it is fair or ethical to do that to kids. Also Princess is being jacked way up at every retailer when it comes in. I'm talking $200.00 or more. For a kid collecting on babysitting money that is way out of their range. It is sad!
• i can't stand the women who actually get MEAN over Beanies...chill out and enjoy them! And we've had women tell us we are stupid when we give some beanies to children----THEY ARE ORIGINALLY FOR KIDS!!!
• This is so crazy...wish they were more readily available in larger amounts so we wouldn't have to search so hard for them.
• I wish Ty would plan ahead and ship more of the new beanies to the stores ahead of time instead of only the 12 each store is allowed.
• Leave some for us kids !!
• I don't like the stores selling out the back door. you can't tell me that they have not all recieved at least one shipment of Princess Bears, but some of them say we haven't seen it. We know that is wrong
• I would just like to add that I'm constantly looking for Beanie Babies and I only have spent up to $35 for one that I really wanted. I would not spend anymore than that and I would not spend that all the time either. It would have to be a special Beanie Baby for me to even consider it. I do want to say that I feel the secondary market is ripping people off and Ty, Inc. should start doing something about that. They should also find out from each retailer they use what prices these stores are chargin for their merchandise and discontinue sending Ty merchandise to them. I'm sure there is a way to check these retailers out. Everyone would love to have a Beanie Baby, especially the rare ones like Princess, Erin, etc. It would be nice to be able to purchase a Princess and Erin and not have to go through all the red tape and cost to get one. I do not sell Beanie Babies nor do I trade them. I like all of mine and only have one of each, except for three of them that I liked so much I bought duplicates. You cannot stop people from selling them, but you can stop the retailers from charging more then they should.
• Beanies are a wonderful distraction from the constant worries of life. Everyone, young or old, loves to talk about them. It is great fun!!!!
• This was started with children in mind, I think it should have stayed that way!
• I love it and it is fun, but some people have gotten to crazy about it.
• I enjoy collecting beanies. Now, I am not your die-hard beanie collector, but my young sons love them. I had the great luck in winning a Princess Beanie in a charity drawing at the local retailer I purchase from. The day I picked her up, a woman was there inquiring about beanies. The store owner saw me and said "There she is! The lucky winner!" This woman promptly came up to me smiled and said "Congrats! My son hates you." and walked off. In most instances I have seen, its not the retailer, but he customers who are the problem. Customers can be rude and pushy, and downright ignorant. I feel sorry for those parents waiting patiently for beanies, and get pushed aside by the Military Moms. My kids PLAY with their beanies!!! Rip the tags off, throw them, cuddle them, sleep with them, love them. Thats why I don't pay more than $7 for beanies. I have a great gentleman who lets ALL of his customers let him know what they want, he tries to get it, then sells them for normal prices. Good luck to all of you in your searches, but just think, if we all would calm down a little, maybe this would get much easier! Get to know your retailer...they are people too! And, I can tell you that they are just as frustrated as the rest of us! Give them a smile and thank them, even! Believe me, they will remember you, and you just might get a little further with a bit of sugar than vinegar for once!
• I don't like stores(Ty dealers) that horde their stock of hard to find beanies(like Princess)just so they can get more money for them. It's really sad.
• The secondary market is ruining the collection of beanies...the prices have been driven to new ridiculios heights, impossible for the everyday person to purchase. The craze over Princess will also drive the prices up on every other release like it, especially the new Erin bear. By withholding release of qualtities of the toy, the price is driven up artificially . Does TY create this mess? As an aside, recently I have encountered the rudest people when trying to complete my collection, ill mannered nd they grab the beanies right out of your hand...it takes all of the fun out of it and turns me off. I don't want them that badly! Of course, there's always one in every crowd like that. Come on, folks, it's a TOY!
• I just wish I could get 1 of each of the new ones being issued like Princess and Erin - It seems as though you have to have "clout" to even stand a chance of purchasing these two, etc.
• Although I am a secondary market trader, I dont like the way some people skyrocket the prices....e.g. Princess, and Erin
• When retailers make you buy an old beanie to purchase a new beanie makes me crazy.
• I am most curious to see how long this craze will last. Being a sort of secondry market, ie; we purshase all our Beanies from Ty in the UK, I hope the bottom won't fall out to very soon. I would also like to mention that, on question 18, which Beanie is next on my acquistion list, you didn't have Brittania Bear or Erin Bear. Those are the two that I would like to aquire next. Good luck with your survey, and if you have need for more info from a Beanie collector, I am STYXX@aol.com.
• The last few beanies have become very difficult to obtain due to the lack of supply from TY and the demand of people who would like to obtain them. Perhaps TY should reconsider making their beanies unattainable to the children who dream to have them. I teach in an elementary school. Most of our children talk constantly about getting new beanies that are hard to get. Many of the teachers go out and buy them to bring back to the students atthe prices we have paid so that they could havethem too. Have tried to obtain an account from TY for this purpose at no success.
• I love to collect beanie babies, I love to play with my beanie babies
• I buy beanies for my 7 and 3 year olds. It's frustrating when Ty only offers 12 of princess or erin. the people that work at the stores get them first so I feel i will never be able to get those for my children and I certainly can't afford the price asked on the secondary market. My daughter wanted Princess for her birthday last week ....I wish Ty would make it available so CHILDREN could get them.
• stores that sell their lots to second hand markets are destroying TY's intent of having affordable toys for KIDS! It is a shame that children are being pushed out of the equation by GREEDY adults.
• do not like it when ty releases a new beanie babies and nobody has seen or heard of it being shipped to a store that is an authorized dealer yet the secondary market dealers do have it .
• My only comment is that a new beanie baby like Erin should be put out like all the rest of the new ones, the way TY is doing it now it seems that it is going to be limited, so what will happen is anyone with a lot of money will be able to buy itI doubt if any store will sell it for $6.00 - $7.00. If this is going to be a one of two time shot and then retired, say so up front. I really thought the whole idea of beanie babies was being able to get a collection together of all the new ones, but if they p t new ones out there that are really only for the seconday market, this really became a business not a collection for all.
• ty should sell by mail order
• This collection has been a great joy to me and my daughter. I have made many new friends through the internet and look forward to each and every new Beanie that comes out!!!
• Don't like: People that "stalk" the retailer and buy up all the beanies at the Ty price and then resell higher because of "limited" availability
• I DISLIKE THE SECONDARY MARKET.
• There are so many retailers that keep an eye on the secondary market that when they do receive their shipment from TY they either (1) Keep the HTF's behind their counters and release only a few at a time or (2) They mark their price up to current market conditions. We have a local retailer that has an idea of how to keep the maniac collector from cleaning out a particular type of Beanie, which is to combine 3,4 or 5 Beanies together (they are only $5.50 a peice) but you have to buy all of the ones in a particular grouping ie; (3) FLIP,ECHO and SEAWEED ~~~ (4) SNOWBALL & 3 Currents ~~ (5) 97 TEDDY & 4 Currents ----- This was to prevent this retailer from having Current Beanies that no one wanted, just sitting on his shelves. They have gotten mixed reviews about this procedure, but it also gives the current collector a chance to get some retireds or new releases. There couldn't be a better way of letting everyone in on the Beanie Craze!!!!
• I primarily buy BB for my children and their friends. I have bought a few for myself that have caught my eye along the way. I have been very dismayed at the attitude of some people who feel that it is their right to buy the BB only for resale profit. This makes them very difficult to find for the kids. My ten year old daughter sleeps with all of her Beanies. She doesn't care if the tags get creased or the BB get a little dirty. She just loves them. For my 14 year old son, they make a great way o opening up a conversation with a girl he likes. I can understand increased prices on retireds. But the amount of these increases is outrageous, mainly due to people buying them up, when they were current, just to hold them for "appreciation" value. What they don't realize is they are putting them out of the reach of the children they were designed for. Already some of my daughter's friends have moved on to something else, because they can never find any Beanies or the stores have priced them so high t at the kids can't afford them. I have a feeling that Ty is going to start changing it's marketing strategy to target the adult collectors by retiring/announcing new Beanies more frequently. Changing the available BB on, say, a quarterly basis while feed the frenzy to acquire the current ones while they are still available. Who knows, they may retire next month! The best thing about Beanie collecting, though, is all the great new friends I have made at BB stores and from the internet. In the long run, ll the hassles in finding BB has been worth it due to the enjoyment my kids get from their BB and the true friendships I've established while obtaining those BB. Thank you Ty Warner for that.
• There are so many retailers that keep an eye on the secondary market that when they do receive their shipment from TY they either (1) Keep the HTF's behind their counters and release only a few at a time or (2) They mark their price up to current market conditions. We have a local retailer that has an idea of how to keep the maniac collector from cleaning out a particular type of Beanie, which is to combine 3,4 or 5 Beanies together (they are only $5.50 a peice) but you have to buy all of the ones in a particular grouping ie; (3) FLIP,ECHO and SEAWEED ~~~ (4) SNOWBALL & 3 Currents ~~ (5) 97 TEDDY & 4 Currents ----- This was to prevent this retailer from having Current Beanies that no one wanted, just sitting on his shelves. They have gotten mixed reviews about this procedure, but it also gives the current collector a chance to get some retireds or new releases. There couldn't be a better way of letting everyone in on the Beanie Craze!!!!
• I resent store owners that keep increasing and increasing prices. One thing that makes beanies so attractive is their low price. Most people can afford to collect and watch their collections grow and grow.
• after all the complaining TY did about people selling Princess for more than the retail price, then why are they trying the same thing with Erin ? Only sending each store 12 of something isn't right. They also shouln't announce any new beanies until they are ready to be shipped. Announcing them and then having to wait 2 weeks or more for the stores to get them in sucks.
• Scalpers suck. They take away the fun of collecting for both adults and children. I am disturbed at the way the Princess and probably Erin have been handled.
• My fiance and I collect them, and I feel that beanie babys are a great party topic and keeps my fiance and I from being bored.
• I'm just tired of finding out a store has a shipment in, then I arrive when they open up and there's a line of people that have been waiting for hours and so by the time I can get through the line, all the new or retireds are gone. I'm also hearing of some retailers saying they didn't get a shipment in and then you hear, yes they did, but they say it got sold out. But I'm hearing they're selling out the back door and this I don't agree with. If they're getting their orders direct from Ty, then it's o us consumers in the front door that should be able to buy them, not mass quantities sold out the back door to a higher payer. I do like the new beanies that came out in January, especially Stretch. He's my favorite of the new ones. But when I saw a picture of Erin online, I said I've got to have him. But is Erin going to be another Princess nightmare trying to find one and for a decent price? I'd like to see Ty Warner make a Cougar, an Octopus, Starfish, an Angel Bear, an Angel Fish, a Humming Bir maybe called Hummer, another Bear in the peach shade called Peaches, a red bear holding a strawberry called Strawberry, a Scorpion called Stinger, a Peacock, a Wolf, a Whale, a Centipede, a Teradactel (spelling??), a Elk, a Reindeer, a Canadian Goose, a Poodle, a Goat, and a Ferret. I feel that Erin the St. Patrick's Day Bear will be out for a very short time. I think Ty will retire it by St. Patrick's Day. I also feel that Ty will retire Spike. He has gotten very hard to find. I also think that Baldy, our nations bird will retired soon to. And Easter will be bring the retirement to the Bunny's, Hippity, Hoppity and Floppity. And I'm not sure how long Ty will keep Peace out or Princess, before he retires them. Thank you for your survey. This has been fun. I just wish it was easier to find beanies at the original prices. Now I'm starting to collect the Plush line.
• They have got to get better equiped to deal with supply and demand.
• The only things that I don't always like, is the fact that at most retailors you can only buy one of each style, and usually a limit of 6. I have 2 kids and myself that I collect for. But I do understand why they do it. I also don't like that it is so hard to get the new ones when they first come out. Other than that, I LOVE beanies!!!
• I love my beanies. I love the hunt. I love the challenge of finding one at the lowest price. I love being on the same wave length with my grandchildren (I'm a "real cool" Beanie grandma). I don't like the greedyness of some of the secondary dealers but I believe the only trend can be up. I hope Mr. Warner does not relinquish his authority - he has done such a spectacular job so far. This is the first collection I have had in my life that I enjoy handling, that actually have beauty and most import ntly, will not be damaged in an earthquake! Obviously, I'm from Southern California. But, I have to add that some of my friends think I've gone a bit dippy in my old age - actually I'm just having fun and hope that the market doesn't get so high that I have to sell my house to get that last Beanie.
• My ideas for new beanie babies: Sniffer the hound dog, Sneakers the persian cat, Church the mouse, Pesky the mosquito, Stinger the bumble-bee
• After reading the comments below, the majority feels their enthusiasm withering due to "acquisition stress syndrome." Is Ty listening : (
• I love all my beanies.Never give up just a month ago I purchased a Rex-$150,Can.Seymour-$30,Sparky/Dotty tag-$20,Garcia-$50,Princess/1st 12-$60,& Maple-$85.NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!!!!!!!
• I Love Beanies but secondaries make it hard for some people to get ahold of those precious Beanies they are missing in their collections.
• After reading your comments below, the majority feels their enthusiasm withering due to "acquisition stress syndrome." Is Ty listening : (
• I am a new collector, having collected antique bears & dolls for 20 years. I'm a K-5 school librarian and the kids got me hooked. I was anticipating the arrival of "Erin" because we are Irish and my daughter is named Erin. But lately, with the "Princess"
• I don't like retailers getting them in and then placing a price of $200-$300 on them, when they are paying $2.50 plus postage. They are supposed to be something kids can afford -and it's getting out of hand and kids aren't going to be able to afford them. Princess and the prices they are asking for the new ones - $15-20 in some TY retailer stores is too much for the children in my family to afford, and too much for me to buy for the 7 children in my family I collect for. I love the collectibility th t these little creatures afford the kids, and they are so affordable, when the distribution is not abused.
• Finding beanies has been hectic but for the most part fun in the short time since I started collecting them. It is very disturbing though to see how many of the authorized dealers sell them at a higher price right when they come out just to make more profit. What's happened with Princess is a disgusting example of the greed. Some dealers sell her only by raffles, but some of these dealers I wouldn't trust to honestly turn the proceeds over to the charity they are saying the money will go to. TY sh uld do something about keeping the prices low so everyone has a chance to purchase these toys. Some of the dealers are getting away with greed on their part. What a shame. (I've seen a few in the secondary market that aren't as greedy as the primary dealers).
• I dislike the fact that authorized dealers are allowed to charge whatever they feel. I do not mind paying a higher price on the secondary market, but it bothers me when our area stores have outrageous prices. The best thing about the beanies babies is the look of excitement on my daughter's face when we purchase a new one.
• I am a new collector, having collected antique bears & dolls for 20 years. I'm a K-5 school librarian and the kids got me hooked. I was anticipating the arrival of "Erin" because we are Irish and my daughter is named Erin. But lately, with the "Princess"
• My friend and I both think that the prices are way too high in most places for new beanies. I went to Colorado and they had the new ones for $15 dollars. When I got to the airport, they were only $5! The price for Princess is way too high (especially f
• I have enjoyed Beanies and hunting for them , but am disturbed at the way some people will behave in trying to acquire them. Remember people these are toys and meant to be fun!
• I dislike the fact that retailers inflate the price of beanies when they were designed for children. Especially for Princess retailers charging $150 dollars claiming it would go to charity and then finding either half the proceeds or just the $2.50 when to charity. What a rip off on what could have been a wonderful thing.
• Princess and Erin prices are ridiculous on secondary market!
• Ty should quit why they are ahead!
• I would like to see Ty accepting more authorized dealers who won't price gouge on the retireds when they get them in. My children really want to each have a complete set of banies but I certainly cant afford $20 on up for the retired Beanies. They have many friends that are in the same situation. Also, there are many retailers in my area that will sell any of the hard to find beanies for as little(HA) as $15 each. We won't even have one complete set for a long time at this rat!!!
• I enjoy the beanies very much, however I would sell them if the need should ever arise. It is extremely frustrating to try to find new ones, and sometimes I spend way too much time doing so. I also try to collect 2 of each, 1 for me and one for my son.
• It's wonderful to see both young & old enjoy the same hobby!
• i personally have heard from reliable source claude will retire and make him an ALL tye-died crab.
• Really enjoy the beanies
• Would like to see more retailers available, princess and erin made available to the public at reasonable prices, able to catch shipments before sell out within 45 min. may-be some kind of announcement so everyone can have a chance.
• I enjoy collecting BB because they are so cute. No matter how many times I get them out to look at, I always want to just cuddle them.
• Collecting beanies is a contagious illness
• I enjoy collecting BB because they are so cute. No matter how many times I get them out to look at, I always want to just cuddle them.
• I think most of the success can be put on the retiring idea. My dislike is ALL in the area of the retailers. They are the GREEDY ones. I think alot of them have become arrogant about their Ty accounts. I'd like to see alot more watchdogging out there and alot more dishonest retailers lose their accounts--and give some others a chance to see if they can do a better job. It's nearly impossible to get lucky enough to even find a Princess--I expect the same thing will happen with Erin. I wish there w ren't so many current all the time. I'd like to see more surprise retirements--not so many 'predictible' retirements.
• I primarily collect for my son Christian. What gets me irritated becoming the last person to know where the next shipment will be. On top of that - the infamous "collectors" with the additional of his WHOLE family take everything! What am I to do?! Name a beanie after my son Christian and his birthdate 04/06/93...make a new teddy with wings - he loves angels! Thanks!
• Please make Beanie Baby bear w/ B - day 10 - 18 - 98, you should sell Beanies in Australia. Thanx!!!
• hate paying so much for the hot ones .
• RETAILERS SHOULD NOT BE SECONDARY MARKET
• I think it's unfair for people to hoard beanies to turn around and sell them for a profit. People like this deprive my daughter of getting the ones she would like. I think this creates most of the shortage problems we all face. I've been on line with them and they make me angry.
• I don't think it's fair to the children to have bears like Princess, Brittania and Erin that start off out of their range - it's a childs' toy and its hard to explain to the kids that adults are greedy and are cutting the kids out. I love my beanies, but I've bought many for my goddaughters to love and play with - this is so much more important than having a Princess in a glass case because she's too expensive to play with. TY will lose the childrens interest is they continue to be out of their reach
• I don't like the market of pre-sales on the new teddy's like Princess and Erin. Erin is already at $200+. Its ridiculous
• I am just scared that they are going to decrease in value in a drastic drop
• I do not like people buying many beanies at one store, and then they turn around and sell them on the secondary market. Most of us don't have all the beanies and we would like just one of say Peace, Princess or Erin!
• I really like looking for beanies, but it bothers me when common ones are sold at high prices. A kid can't use their allowance money to buy a cute one they like. I appriciate people selling beanies for exactly what they each are worth.
• would like more available to current retailers
• extremely tired of the greed and price gouging currently in the market
• chains like Halmark should not be able to jack the price up, there should be set pricing
• I THINK TY PUTS SOMETHING IN THE BEANIES STUFFING( LIKE ADDICTING POWDER)!! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT! ONE BEANIE BABY AND I WAS ADDICTED
• I wish ty would make more bear quantities especially Princess.
• Ty should have customer service reps call their authorized dealers and those that haven't informed their employees that it doesn't take any longer to be polite than to not be polite they should be dropped and a dealer that understands the value of such a phenomenon and how rare something in retail comes along that can pay your monthly bills can be given this opportunity!!!
• That independent dealer/sellers can set whatever price they want. There should be a set price that they can only retail for & everyone has to abide by that or be dropped off of TY's list as a retailer.
• I don't like that places like Aussie Co. buy then sell at a huge make up ie...they were selling Peace for 119.99
• I wish ty would make more bear quantities especially Princess.
• Authorized dealers should not be allowed to place TY beanie babies in "gift baskets" or sold with other products and then sold to the public as a package for a large dollar amount. In order to purchase a new release, some authorized dealers are requiring customers can buy three currents at their regular price in order to be able to purchase a new release for the same price as the currents - otherwise the new releases cost more. The cost of beanie babies are to a point that children can no longer a ford them. The new Erin Bear, Princess Bear and any other new release will be nearly impossible to be purchased by children as intended.
• The word f-r-u-s-t-r-a-t-i-o-n is uppermost in my thoughts when I think of the Babies...right after the warm cuddly feelings I get when thinking of them! I'm a Court Reporter, working 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in a small community. BBs are usually found in our area on Tuesday afternoons...by the time I reach the closest "large city" to make my purchase, the special Princess and Erin Bears have alreay been sold. (Do I dare call in sick every Tuesday?...I realize it would probably be worth it!) I certai ly enjoy collecting, and I truly adore the BBs! Thanks for asking!
• Beanies can be a fun diversion...also collecting them brings out obsessive/compulsive tendencies! Added to that the hours one can then spend on the Internet and it's amazing the degree to which these little critters can take over your life! (Where is my Self Control?!) Anyway, my fascination with Beanies seems to stem from 2 sources: 1.)having always enjoyed fabric and sewing, I appreciate the pieced fabric Beanies, esp., and the quality materials used and the workmanship. 2.)Recently having an "em ty nest" seems to bring out a desire to be searching and hunting for things cute and cuddly to help fill the emptiness... I enjoy sewing little things for some of the Beanies (i.e. tutus, collar/leashes) and soemtimes purchase little knit sweaters or scarves, as well as display "props" (i.e. sled, lawn chair, etc.) In concluding, I think there are a lot of us Baby Boomers who are becoming Beanie Crazed! (P.S. Could you e-mail back my survey, so that I could print off a copy for myself at work? Right ow I do not have a printer at home. Thanks!)
• hope this is not another cabbage patch craze-will become collectable like byer chose-precious moments-annalee-madam alexander-barbie to name the ones that come to mind not necessarily in that order to name a few w
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• Please--let Erin be easier to obtain than Peace or Princess
• I don't care for the limits that Ty puts on the amount of Beanies supplied to one store. I do like the fact that they retire beanies to make collecting them more profitable,
• I am really bothered by Ty retailers who save back "hard to find," and/or retired ones and sell them at a higher price out of just received stock! They should be reprimanded in some fashion. This geos on in a particular store in central Ohio and has been reported and nothing has changed! Also TY could release them on a more consistant schedule. It is very heart breaking to watch a child's face when they are not able to get a beanie that they desire!
• I wish TY would only retire and new release only a few at a time. The ten new releases in Jan98 i still don't ahave all of them and i take care of my 2 yr. old grandaughter so it is hard Monday thru Friday to get the ones i don't have. But all in all i have enjoyed this for a year now and i love my beanies. thanks Nancy
• Retailers way tooooooo greedy. Not fair at all. Secondary market people way tooooooo selfish. If the flea market and secondary market people would leave some on the shelf maybe we could all get at least one of each. This is the ultimate goal for me. Everyone has become way toooooooo greedy with Beanies. It is taking the fun out of it. Too much stress. Retailers are putting a stipulation on being able to buy beanies. One makes you buy an old one to buy a new one. and they're selling for $8 each This is an $80.00 expense that people don't need. ATTENTION ALL COLLECTORS---IF YOU'LL STOP PAYING THE INFLATED PRICE FOR THESE BEANIES THEN MAYBE THERE WON'T BE A SECONDARY MARKET!!! Stop the insanity! It only adds fuel to the fire when you pay more than $5-7 for a beanie. I used to collect Hallmark ornaments but now I don't because they got too expensive and greedy. Oh well, their sales were way off this year. Let's also remember that Beanies are for the kids!!! Keep the prices down and flood the market so we'll all have a chance to buy them. Send lots and lots of Princess and Erin to the stores. Stop feeding into the secondary market ploy. After all these Beanies only cost $2.50. Remember the children!!!
• 'Princess' was created in the memory of Princess Diana of Wales: "The People's Princess." Therefore, I believe "The People's Princess", in honor of Diana, should be available to all people at a resonable price ($5-10) so that everyone can have a small piece of the great legacy Princess Di lived and stood for. The idea of this beanie bear is to let children know that even they can help the less fortunate and enjoy doing it as her royal highness did. I think instead of greedy second market retailers se ling 'Princess' for outrageous prices, who mostly don't give the profit to the "Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund", should stop their wrong doing so that this very special bear is obtainable by the largest amount of people who would like to own her, and that all profits generated by her sale acÿ
• I wish Ty would get there stuff together so we can get our Beanie Babies in a timely matter instead of waiting 1to4 months for the new ones.
• I am fairly new to the collection of beanie babies, but I was a bit upset by an incident yesterday. A local florist had announced that it would have its new shipment of beanies for sale at four o'clock. I got there a few minutes before four, and I was told that I would have to wait in line for a number. I was given number fifty-three. I only waited ten minutes, but I was disheartened by what I heard one of the employees saying to another customer. She said people had begun arriving at 1:30, and wa ted in the rain. By three o'clock, the staff "felt sorry for them" and opened up one hour earlier than they had announced to the regular customers who had inquired about the times. DDW
• I've convinced my neighbors, who are good with wood, to make a variety of ladders and shelves that are condusive to holding beanies. I have also personally experienced a great deal of joy from these little guys. It has been both incredibly frustrating and deliciously fun!!!! If only I'd been wiser and started sooner!!!!!!!!!!
• 'Princess' was created in the memory of Princess Diana of Wales: "The People's Princess." Therefore, I believe "The People's Princess", in honor of Diana, should be available to all people at a resonable price ($5-10) so that everyone can have a small piece of the great legacy Princess Di lived and stood for. The idea of this beanie bear is to let children know that even they can help the less fortunate and enjoy doing it as her royal highness did. I think instead of greedy second market retailers se ling 'Princess' for outrageous prices, who mostly don't give the profit to the "Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund", should stop their wrong doing so that this very special bear is obtainable by the largest amount of people who would like to own her, and that all profits generated by her sale acÿ
• 'Princess' was created in the memory of Princess Diana of Wales: "The People's Princess." Therefore, I believe "The People's Princess", in honor of Diana, should be available to all people at a resonable price ($5-10) so that everyone can have a small piece of the great legacy Princess Di lived and stood for. The idea of this beanie bear is to let children know that even they can help the less fortunate and enjoy doing it as her royal highness did. I think instead of greedy second market retailers se ling 'Princess' for outrageous prices, who mostly don't give the profit to the "Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund", should stop their wrong doing so that this very special bear is obtainable by the largest amount of people who would like to own her, and that all profits generated by her sale actually go to the intended "Diana, Princess of Wales Foundation." I also believe the TY, inc. company should produce much more 'Princess'es, so that this may be possible. Princess Diana led a very special, caring life, and hopefully people all around the world will follow in her gracious footsteps and letting everyone own a piece of her royal kindness by obtaining the most special beanie baby of all:'Princess.' -Michael; 16; Ft.Lauderdale, FL; Gatorsewel@aol.com
• Erin is gonna be very rare and will go quickly
• Who would've ever known that what started out as a "cute" idea for the elementary kid crowd, turned out to be such a big hobby to all ages? God Bless Ty Warner!!
• I dislike how the bears are very hard to find and don't get put out as much as older ones; the retailers always seem to limit bears to 1; and TY does not seem to be doing anything to make the bears as easily accessible as the others.
• great, can I get results?
• As with any market, too often I read letters from people scammed by others when buying/trading off the Internet.
• I Love beanie babies, I am beginning to hate TY. The limited quantities of Princess (and now I hear that Erin will be limited) was uncalled for. The secondary price was outrageous. Why "limited", from what I have seen, beanie babies are already limited.
• I'm having a lot of fun with Beanies. I never collected anything before.
• I love the idea of the Beanie Baby at such a reasonable price for children to be able to afford with allowance money. Unfortunately, adults manage to get to the stores while the kids are in school and buy up all the Beanies so nothing is left for the kids to purchase. Retailers who purchase from TY should not be allowed to sell BB's for more than the suggested retail. A limit should be set on purchasing quantities at retailiers to prevent secondary market sellers who buy only for profit. Hopefully, Princess will be available to all who want her. Would like to see a Ground Hog Beanie for Ground Hog Day. Also would like to see more varieties of dogs available. It would be nice if the TY company were consistent with their shipments to retailers.
• Collecting Beanie Babies is almost like an addiction. I don't like what the retailers are doing. I have bought 50% of my beanies at the same place, when the new ones came in they were locked up in a plastice case and sold at twice the normal price. I think this is wrong!!!!!!!!!!!. If people want to pay high prices in the secondary market that is their choice. However the retailers should stick to normal pricing. I will not purchase another beanie at the store that doubled the price. Too many ot er stores available. I will alo never buy another item in that particular store.
• I think Ty should retire a shit load of beanies, the current ones just sit on the shelves now, everyone has them, they don't sell! He should replace them with all new ones, those are always the ones people are after. Why keeping producing beanies that sit around. The more he makes of one kind, the less it's worth! According to Les and Sue Fox, if Ty made 6 million Stripes the tiger, obviously Stripes will never be worth anything when it does retire! So I feel it would be to Ty's advantage to retire a l t of them, like 30-50 beanies.
• I collect these for and with my 9 year old son and get very upset with retailers who jack up the prices on new and not yet retired beanies. They are supposed to be for the enjoyment of children and it breaks my heart to see the children disappointed by the greed of retailers. One merchant had just gotten a shipment (I was there when it arrived) that included 24 Peace Bears just 2 weeks ago and he immediately was selling them for $35. There is no way I will allow my son to spend that amount of money n a small stuffed animal. I will also not encourage that retailer to continue his practice. Once they are retired I can understand an increase in price, but not while they are still current. I think they are adorable and make great gifts and look forward to new releases always.
• it shouldn't be this hard to find princess
• Do not like to see new series BB showing up on the secondary market before offered to Primary customers...
• The most frustrating thing about Beanie collecting is Ty, Inc.'s disorganization and lack of supervision and communication with dealers.
• i don't like the stores that have gimmicks before you can even purchase a beanie. For example, you must spend 15.00 on their merchandise before you can even buy a beanie baby. To me, they are using Ty's success for their own benefit. I don't think these retailer's should be able to carry these because they are just like the secondary market as far as I am concered.
• I think the combination of beanies and the internet make this a fun hobby for all ages overall as a buyer/seller/trader...
• The only thing I dislike about BB is the snotty retailors I encounter on a weekly basis. You know, the ones who bark "NO" when you ask if they have any BB.
• It sickens me that Ty produces such Beanies as Princess in small numbers as to 'tease' us collectors. It almost encourages the secondary market. There are a lot of collectors out there who collect Beanies for pure enjoyment, but cannot afford to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on ONE beanie. Every beanie should be plentiful and available to every collector.
• I am getting sick of the greedy retailers trying to cash in. Also, the secondary market is way out of control. How do they get all of those beanies anyway. People have dozens and dozens and we can't find them anywhere.
• I am getting sick of the greedy retailers trying to cash in. Also, the secondary market is way out of control. How do they get all of those beanies anyway. People have dozens and dozens and we can't find them anywhere.
• I do not care the retailers who sell the Beaniebabies for $10-$35 dollars. They should stick to $4.99 -$6.00.
• I dislike retailers selling beanies at various prices depending on whether they are retired or hard to find or new when they are paying the same price for all
• I WISH TY WOULD REPLACE BEANIES THAT COME APART FROM THE SEAMS. I ALSO, WISH THEY HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE , THAT WOULD HANDLE CERTAIN PROBLEMS, AFTER ALL SOME OF US COLLECTORS ARE LITTLE KIDS .
• The Beanies are adorable! I started as a lark, but fell in love with with the little sweeties. Bought to finance children's education, but don't know if
• I have enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies. My 5 year old daughter and I collect together. She loves it and is allowed to play with them as she likes although she knows about keeping tags in good shape, etc. She can tell you the names of them all too. She has learned a lot about animals by learning the correct names of the different types of animals and she sorts them by where they live-forest, farm, sea, etc.- and she sorts them by color, by birthdate all kinds of different ways, and plays games with the . I think that the secondary market is good to some extent, but there are some who charge way to much, but as long as people buy them, they can keep doing this. We enjoy collecting beanies. Thanks.
• I wish they would quit changing one style of beanie; just retire it and issue a different kind, i.e. mystic/horn, derbie/star on nose. I don't appreciate having to purchase more than one of the same beanie for a simple change. I'd rather spend my money purchasing a brand new design.
• I feel that any authorized Ty dealer should not be able to set any price they want just because a beanie is hard to find or retired. If they purchased them from Ty at Ty's price, they should sell them to the public at a reasonable retail price.
• I love my beanies. ALL hospital gift shops should carry them. I go to LOTS of different hospital AND check everyone for beanies.They are good for keeping my attention when I am in the hosoital.I take as many as I can there.I don't like when retailers get greedy. They take toys away from kids by over priceing them.I have met a lot of nice people on beanie hunts. I am too adicted to them. I have set out in 90 degress in a very hot back brace waiting for beanies.I think Mystic may retire when the material for magic's wings run out.I would like a Humphrey the camel because my grandmother has a funny song about Humphrey the camel on a tape.It is FUNNY! Bye
• I want Erin and Princess but am willing to wait until they are more readily available.
• I think it is fun to hunt for different beanies. It's also fun to see which gets retired next.
• I would like to be able to ask Ty when new beanies are available and where they can be found. I would like to purchase through a catalogue such as JCPennney or some reliable company .
• Thanks for being interested. I'm having a great time collecting and finding beanies. My mom has become a beanie hunter for me. We both enjoy finding beanies for friends. I do resell but never more than a few dollars more than I pay. I dislike some retaile
• thanks!
• I enjoy the beanie babies and I suppose the thing that I am disappointed with is TYs move to stop Americans and Canadians from trading. I currently have a trade in progress that may have been confiscated at the border. I am really disappointed. I guess the other thing I am disappointed with is the Princess thing. She's a charity bear and people are making way too much money off of her. And as for future retirements, I believe that Chocolate, Patti, Snort, Quacks and Pinky will be retired this year following the trend of past teenie beanies being retired.
• I believe the problems with these are retailers.
• neat
• Hate long lines & greedy people. Maybe joining a beanie baby club may give members easier access to hard to find beanies. Who knows right now, but it would be nice.
• I enjoy 'the hunt' for beanies!! I dislike retailers who require a purchase of $20.00 or more in order to purchase a particular beanie. I think a person should be able to purchase whichever beanie baby they want without being forced to purchase items that aren't wanted or needed. I think limiting the buyer to one or two of the same style and the quantity of beanies purchased is o.k.
• HALLMARK stores should be closely monitored from price gorging..
• I get really annoyed at sellers who charge more than $10.00 for a beanie. They are suppose to be affordable for children yet I find myself at times spending a lot of money on certain ones my children want. TY should put some kind of control on the matter. IE--12 Princess or Erin beanies to a store?? How do you tell a 6 yr old that you can't afford that price when they have their heart set on getting one? For working mothers it's even harder because by the time we get tothe store, the new beanies a e gone and we end up paying more money for the same beanie. With all the manpower TY I'm sure they can think of a better way to handle this situation that has gotten totally out of control. Thank you.
• DON'T LIKE THAT SOME STORE OWNERS SAVE BEST OF SHIPMENT FOR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. I'LL NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO GET PRINCESS OR SOME OF THE OTHER MORE SCARCE ONES.
• ethical retailers ($5 - $8 range for ALL beanies) should be the only retailers allowed to carry the collector's club when it becomes available!!!!
• I dislike bad attitudes by customers and retailers. Those retailers who dislike dealing with BB customers should be dropped. I also dislike those retailers who are taking advantage by selling BBs out the back door.
• I think that the price and limited edition of the Princess Bear is terrible. Ty company is not giving very much to the charities by making it such a limited edition and the stores are making an obscene killing by charging 200 dollars plus. This money is not going to the charities but to dealers. It has hardly even gone to a secondary market. It is the primary stores selling bear so high.
• How about some new Beanies...like a loon, chipmunk, Canadian goose, mallard, collie...etc.
• I frequently think about getting out of the hobby. When I do there are definitely some retailers I will never patronize again.
• More availability for Princess at affordable prices
• I think Princess Bear is way overpriced at this point in time!!!
• don't like secondary marketplace, and think they should all be audited by irs for not reporting earnings
• Fun to collect, within everyones price range, would like to see more consistant delivery to stores.
• retailors are asking too much for bears now
• I would like to see Ty accept ideas for new beanies. If they expressly say that no one submiting will receive compensation for ideas submitted they would be able to avoid legal complications, and I would be compensated just knowing one of my ideas was accepted.
• more beanies sent to the stores
• I think the prices on the Princess bear is outragous!!!!! They should be the same price as all the other beanies available.
• i don't like primary retailers charging secondary prices- i applaud the retailers who price all stock at the reasonable markup of 5-7 dollars and am more willing to return to their shops over the former!!
• I think TY should let teachers buy beanies directly from them (limit 2 per style) because it can get quit expensive for teachers who use them in their classrooms on a daily basis. Also these beanies reach a large number of children at one time.
• The retail stores selling bb are beginning to make me mad, they no longer cater to the kids and I thought that was what it was all about. If my kids end up with princess I will be surprized. But we will keep looking.
• I think it is fun to collect beanie babys and I hope my kids will enjoy it as well.
• Crazy
• I don't like retailers who receive shipments from TY selling HTF at secondary market prices.
• i love the beanies, really dislike retail stores that get to order direct from ty, setting up tables in beanie shows selling them for secondary prices..and the retail stores that charge $30 -50 for a beanies.these stores should be dropped as they have a direct buy, and it is very unfair.
• beanies rule and the secondary market is super greedy
• I think it is a good thing that these toys are collector's items and that I can look forward to selling or trading in the future--primarily for my child's college education. I wish, though, that retired BB's were a bit easier to obtain and while it is nice to see the value increase, I wonder if these rapid increases will someday lead to a BB market crash??
• I think it is a good thing that these toys are collector's items and that I can look forward to selling or trading in the future--primarily for my child's college education. I wish, though, that retired BB's were a bit easier to obtain and while it is nice to see the value increase, I wonder if these rapid increases will someday lead to a BB market crash??
• I think TY should let teachers buy beanies directly from them (limit 2 per style) because it can get quit expensive for teachers who use them in their classrooms on a daily basis. Also these beanies reach a large number of children at one time. It makes
• I've become extremely discouraged with Hallmark distributors who have begun to charge one price for the common currents and a higher price for the newer currents and hard-to-find currents. I would like to see TY control this a little better. It's bad enough that secondary dealers are gouging collectors by charging exhorbitant prices, but when the Hallmark and other authorized dealers do it, it amounts to just plain greed. I am boycotting a Hallmark dealer I've done business with for 8 years - for th simple reason that he has begun this practice "because the other stores are doing it now." After spending $800 to $900 on Beanies in 5 months time, I'm kind of disallusioned right now. Not with Beanies, but with the dealers - both secondary and authorized. I wish I could find some new ones who would appreciate my business.
• Wish they were more readily available.
• I feel that retailers should get more of princess and erin than just 12. They have long lists to fill and alot of customers that aren't on the list waiting to get one and sometimes it's hard to wait for months!!!! I have enjoyed searching and finding retired beanies . Also I wish there were more beanie baby shows in Iowa.
• Will I ever be able to get Princess or Erin??????
• I wish that TY would produce them so that everyone has the opportunity to purchase the beanies.
• I think TY should some how try and eliminate the secondary market. I also think that TY should have list better update information on their website regarding special items, such as Princess bear, Erin bear, Brittian bear and misstaggings.
• I wish it wasn't so hard for kids like me to collect beanies.
• All current beanies should be $5-7!!!
• Retailers are now selling the bears at a higher price than the other beanies that arrive at the same time. I don't think this is ethical.
• Too many friends share the opinion that Beanie Babies are not going to be of any value in the future. The children are totally crazy about them right now, but we can't predict future tastes and trends.
• I think it was a very cute survey. Do you have peace bear? I really want him!
• I love living in a Beanie Baby world, it's the only world I can remember. My cusin was born during the craze!
• love the idea ok the different bears. the princess bear and erin yhe bear. however they are just impossible to find. i wish that when they add neww beanie babies that they had enough to supply the demand.
• The way in which Princess was introduced and shipped was done terribly. The only people that benefited was the retailers and their friends. What about all the people who have been collecting throughout the year? Why should they, the loyal customers of TY have to pay $200 for the princess , if they were lucky enough to find one? I feel it was handled very poorly and if TY changes anything about the princess without a fair amount of princesses out there it would not be right to their loyal customers
• I want Princess and Erin-don't believe in gambling for it. That is the only way most of the places are allowing a person to buy it. I am retired and buy them for our grandchildren and I can't afford to pay high prices for them. Dealers laugh at me when I ask them if they will hold them for me as I know sec. market people are getting them first. I am handicapped and I can't fight crowds. I just want Princess and Erin. Thanks
• The scarcity of Princess, Maple and Erin are things that I don't like. Sometimes I think TY is retiring beanie babies too quickly, and too often. But I'm enjoying every minute of it.
• I think retailers who charge outrageous prices should not be allowed to sell. I also think that Ty should ship enough of them so that everyone has a chance to get them.
• I don't like the idea of Ty coming out with a beanie babie and limiting stores to only 12 (example -Erin), very few of these actually get sold in stores - most end up with store owners family members and good friends. I thought the idea of these beanies were nice inexpensive toys kids could get for themselves or for presents. If Ty is going to keep coming out with new beanies and limiting each store to 12 they will be losing alot of good customers. I can't afford to spend big bucks buying these l mited and hard to find beanies .
• its nut but a lot of fun
• love the idea ok the different bears. the princess bear and erin yhe bear. however they are just impossible to find. i wish that when they add neww beanie babies that they had enough to supply the demand.
• I think they should be cheaper to allow kids like me to be able to afford them and to have fun collecting them.
• I don't like what happened to the Princess market. Makes it very hard for all of us collectors to afford her.
• How can we get the Erin bear? Love her
• Love collecting beanies for my kids, hate greedy store owners who charge $10.00 to $15.00 for new or "rare" beanies.
• Get them while they're hot---they won't last long. Remember pet rocks?????
• Think the marketing of Beanies is ingenuis
• I wish adults would let kids be the collector's. There is no way a child can purchase beanies at secondary market prices. The adults buy up all the HTF's, retireds, and new releases leaving nothing for the children. I also think that Ty auth. dealer's should not charge secondary prices for HTF's, retireds, and Princess.
• I do not like that the retailer have have the price of the new released beanie babies at a higher price than the old current ones. Some retailers have their prices for the new releases higher than some of the retired beanies babies.
• I have one more comment. Everyone should stop blaming the high prices on secondar market sellers. Some of us sell for far less than the so called authorized dealers. I sell in my shop for $7.00. I pay $5.30. Ty won't sell to small retailers and is dropping the ones they have. We should all be sick of Ty Warner and his lousy business practices. I wish everyone would do what I plan to do and that is to BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT any and all products by the Ty Co.
• I dislike retailers who sell their stock on the secondary market. I think the market will level off soon and only the older beanies will truly command high resale prices.
• retailers charging more than sug. retail, and selling out the back door to secondary market people. hope the results of this survey will be on your page. thanks !!!!
• THE HALLMARK STORE THAT I WORK AT DOES NOT RECEIVE THEIR SHIPMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER !!!!!!!!!!
• Go Beanie Power!!!!!
• I have a Tuffy with a Doodle tush tag.
• It was fun to collect beanies when we first started. Now, however, people fight over them and store owners lie about when they will put them out. I still like collecting but I do not like the way people are behaving. The other day a store here had beanies, the new ones, and many people were very nasty because of the way the owner decided to put them out for sale. She was trying to be fair so that more people would have a chance to get them. I guess it doesn't matter what you do you can't please ev ry one. It sure would be nice if things were the way it use to be. It was more fun then.
• I am sick and tired of retailers charging absurb prices on new and retired beanies im not rich, and my daughter allowance won't cover these prices either.....
• I think they are sooo cute, but wish the secondary market never developed. I think they should do a Labrador Retriever in all three colors (black, yellow and chocolate). Can you guess I own a real Black Labrador?? HA!
• I question marketing tactics by Ty , for example the so called sale of Princess for charity , surely Ty can only be donating approximately one dollar , so why not try and raise more money by flooding the market , enabling the children to get them and stomping out the ridiculous secondary prices. Also being English and just spent Christmas with my family I wonder why Ty would sell a bear in a country where there is no interest and retailers are currently offering 2 for the price of one to get rid of th ir original stock !
• I have been a doll and bear collector and maker for decades; I think beanies are great because they are something I can afford to collect all of instead of just an occasional piece. And the hunt for beanies is great fun!! I've made some great new beanie friends.
• I enjoy collecting Beanie Babies for fun and entertainment and enjoy web sites like yours and the TY site.
• I think Ty is making a huge mistake limiting Princess and Erin. He is making people like me who spend my hard earned money on beanies, mad enough to quit buying them altogether. I've considered it many times already. I only want one each of these bears for my collection. I admit to buying extra, but only to trade for the ones I can't find in the stores.
• I hate it when I walk into a store with my little brothers and my brother knows just what he wants and a lady walks out with fifty beanie babies; including all of the kind my brother wanted. My brother cries because he just wants a beanie and a lady that resells them for twenty bucks gets the very last one he wants so he can't have any beanies!
• I did own a bakery and handmade craft shop I tried to buy from Ty as an authorized dealer. They would not consider me because I didn't carry various other lines of plush etc. Had I been authorized, I would have sold them for $5.00. Instead now I buy from another authorized dealer who sells to me in bulk because she doesn't want crazed beanie shoppers in her import store. I have to pay her $5.30 each. I mark them up to $7.00. That's CHEAPER than many of their authorized dealers. Now Ty is drop ing the small retailers that have kept them in business for years. I for one am sick of Ty. I want one more beanie ( seamore) and then I am done with anything the Ty co sells. I think their behavior is shameful and I chose not to put anymore of my money in Ty Warner's wallet. I would love to see retailers drop all Ty products and see the public cool way down on buying beanies. Maybe then the Ty Co. will remember who their customers are and what customer loyalty means. As far as everyone's disdain f r the secondary market, many of them are like me, they hoped that selling beanies would bring in more business for other things. They are not getting rich off of beanies. I certainly have not and once I sell what I have, I won't sell anything the Ty Co has even if they offered to make me an authorized dealer.
• I really love my beanie babies but am getting very weary trying to continue my collection ((plus collections for 4 grandchildren (one hasn't even been conceived)). Between the greedy retailers increasing prices for new releases $10.00 - $15.00 instead of $6.00 - $7.00 (Princess $100.00 - $200.00) and the secondary market folks who mange to swarm into the stores and scoop up the new ones in a matter of minutes it is a lot of work trying to continue our collections!! A lot of the panic in buying the n w ones is not being the "first kid on the block to own one" but trying to get it before TY stops producing them. I would love to see TY Warner himself put out a newsletter on the TY website, not telling which ones are going to retire next, but at least let people know the really special ones are going to be produced in sufficient quantity to supply the demand before retirement--especially Princess and Erin (the really sought after beanies). I would also like to stop the TY Canada and TY Europe exclusive eanies, WHY!!! I think if things continue to go as they are now there are going to be a lot more folks like me who are avid collectors find out it's no longer an enjoyable hobby and just QUIT!!
• get some princess and britannia bears
• I'm having fun, and I think Beanie collecting is a happy,healthy hobby. In addition,I also feel the Beanie is a wonderful educational toy for children. They(the beanies) encourage children to use their imaginations,tell stories, and have a little friend .
• It is just amazing how this phenomenon has spread. The Ty Co. people are geniuses!
• I am extremely disappointed at the increase in prices that have occurred since Dec. '97. I have been told by a reputable dealer that it is do to the price guides by Becky/Becky. They are over inflating prices which will lead to a collapse in the secondary market. I collect for myself and not for resale. If the market collapses and can't say I will be upset because I would like to purchase those retired beanies out of my price range. I am also disappointed that the TY Co. has allowed retailers to c arge secondary market prices. They should take more responsibility in monitoring contracts with their retailers in place of thriving in the profits and free press from articles on overcharging consumers. Shame on TY for putting profits before consumers concerns. I admit adults have spoiled this for the children. I think we can stop it if we place pressure on the company to police their retailers.
• I dislike how Ty releases the beanies immediately prior an event; like the Halloween beanies on the 1st of Oct., and Erin right before St. Pat's. Its hard to explain to my children why people charge so much for these at first, and why we have to wait. I think Ty promotes the 2ndary market by doing this. Just my thoughts....
• dont advertise or promote a beanie until its been shipped to illinois and is ready to be distributed in some quantity.
• I think that retailers should only be allowed to charge a maximum of $5 per beanie as that is double the amount that they pay TY for them.
• I'm having fun, and I think Beanie collecting is a happy,healthy hobby. In addition,I also feel the Beanie is a wonderful educational toy for children. They(the beanies) encourage children to use their imaginations,tell stories, and have a little friend .
• I think Ty should make more beanies so they are not so hard to get and sell them at more stores. I don't think they should allow the prices of the beanies to be set so high that some of us can't afford to get one, as in the case of the Princess bear. I can't afford to pay $100 and up for one, and that is what the STORES are selling them for! It's just not right! Some places, especially those on the net have jacked the prices up to $17 and more for the new beanies. I think TY should take a hard li e with them and not let them have any more of the beanies and only send them to the reputable dealers who are selling them for under $7!
• Can anyone comment on the rumor the Ty is planning on 4 retirements per year instead of three.
• A lot of the retailers are very rude when you call or stop in to check in to see what beanies they have in stock. If that is the attitude they are going to take, they should stop selling beanies and give their business to someone who loves beanies and wants to be a part of the retail business.
• I think people who buy lots of beanies should really look hard for bargains because you shouldn't settle for an extremely high price because there's always a lower price out there!!
• I dislike the Greed! I love the fact that this is something that little girls can collect other then Barbie.
• I don't like the fact that Ty creats such a commoison by onlysending 12 of something like the Erin bear out at one time. Which jacks up prices of some thing that they sell to the stores for$2.50. and since there is such limited amounts it makes the price skyi high. They can send 36 like every
• I think they should run another teenie beanie babie thing at McDonalds
• The most frustrating thing is trying to buy Beanies from the normal channels at normal prices. For example we were in a store when they just received a shipment of Princess Bears. Instead of selling them, the employees "nabbed" them all, and we were not allowed to buy any! - This happend at Boswell's in Pleasant Hill, CA.
• The fact that some Ty dealers are selling current beanies at exorbitant prices especially here in South West Florida.
• They {Ty} - should not have put so many of the same beanie babies out on the market... they lower the price on the beanie babies that should be worth more in price-- like the rare oddities, and hard-to-find ones. It was really bogus of them {Ty Inc.}
• I feel that the secondary market makes it harder for just collectors to get beanies at reasonable prices.
• I think Beanie Babies should be collected for fun, and not for a profit. They were designed for children after all.
• Very upset regarding availability of new beanies
• I think you should fax a copy of these comment results directly to TY Warner. I plan on boycotting until TY gets their act together, for the children.
• I think it's too bad that thoose who once supported NOT selling Princess for profit are now doing so, especially when a kid (like me) has bnarely any chance of getting one because some stores are bogus and only put 3 of their Princess bears out for sale when they got 12, and nobody knows where the others went!!!
• Very upset regarding availability of new beanies
• I love beanie babies and I think that the dealer a bad but in some ways good. If you want the whole set and even old reteried ones you can get them from them if you are willing to pay more and they are bad by saleing the currents for high prices !!!!!
• I do not like the way that Princess and Erin are being produced and marketed. There are too few Princesses and it looks as if this is true of Erin. Ty is manipulating the market with these two bears and it causes the price of them to escalate and it causes one's anxiety to escalate in trying to obtain them. I now have just about every Beanie made except for about 5of the rarest. I just had to have them and began obtaining the oldest and rarest ones in Jan, 1998. I am even planning on flying to Ch cago this weekend for the show in Rosemont, so I am an avid collector who got started by buying for my grandchildren. One thing I do not like at the Beanie shows is how the greedy organizers are only interested in raking in our $5 entry fee and the room is too small to hold all the people and we can't even get near the tables and therefore have to leave. The organizer should get a larger room or control the crowd better. I predict that Beanies are here to stay and that the old rare ones will only becom more valuable (I hope) as will all of them due to the fact that they are retired at some point.
• I wish national toy chains, such as Toys 'R' Us, would sell TY Beanie Babies.
• Peace is my favorite because we share a birthday!!!!
• I am very disappointed that there is less and less retail sales and more and more secondary sales, retailers sell entire shipments to secondary buyers and force us less fortunate lower middle class buyers to afford them! I love beanies but I can no longer afford to buy them.
• I would liket o say that I have a website. Please visit it at http://members.tripod.com/~BeanieB109/index.html
• The beanie craze is good for the economy
• I do not like the way that Princess and Erin are being produced and marketed. There are too few Princesses and it looks as if this is true of Erin. Ty is manipulating the market with these two bears and it causes the price of them to escalate and it causes one's anxiety to escalate in trying to obtain them. I now have just about every Beanie made except for about 5of the rarest. I just had to have them and began obtaining the oldest and rarest ones in Jan, 1998. I am even planning on flying to Ch cago this weekend for the show in Rosemont, so I am an avid collector who got started by buying for my grandchildren. One thing I do not like at the Beanie shows is how the greedy organizers are only interested in raking in our $5 entry fee and the room is too small to hold all the people and we can't even get near the tables and therefore have to leave. The organizer should get a larger room or control the crowd better. I predict that Beanies are here to stay and that the old rare ones will only becom more valuable (I hope) as will all of them due to the fact that they are retired at some point.
• I think they will end in ten years
• I began collecting when I got caught up in the McDonnalds "thing". I had to have two of each, one for my then 5 yr old and one for me. I ate way too many "Happy Meals" to get my complete collection and I am ashamed to say I shorted my daughter Speedy. My sister-in-law re interested me this October, and I am now one who calls the local stores "beanie hot line phone number" every day. I think collecting beanies is fun, cheep (sort of) and something my 6 yr old and I can do together... as long as I g t her one too.
• I would like to see a cockatiel & back yard birds
• Authorized dealers (stores, etc. that buy direct from Ty) should be shut down - no more shipments if they sell beanies for more than $7.00 plus tax; should be a way to turn in on the Ty Network. I love beanies; at first, thought they were adorable & bought them for my collection; now reselling them as you can make a profit - and afterall, it is America..the dream country! However, I think some of the people out there selling on the internet is a little greedy (but you can always say no) as they are se ling Princess for a ridiculous price when she can be found in the stores next month for $7.00 plus tax! I feel it will be the same bear; no color difference etc. & don't see why the change in the TUSH tag would bring up the price to $400.00. Also, I have been ripped off on the guestbook one time (guess I'm lucky); should be harsher rules (he's still on the good traders list); as I was out $$ for Libearty & Lefty; and now three months later, I can't afford to buy them! I hate to predict anything but I fe l that the beanies will continue to be fun, exciting to collect and sell! Ty should have some sort of program to give an award to people who come up with a new beanie/poem, if they make them. Retirements coming up is anyone's guess but I believe Valentino and Peace will retire next. Hope these comments help!! And thanks for all of your hard work on keeping everyone informed on all the great new; I started this beanie craze in August/September 1997, now selling part time on weekends and at beanie shows/ waps, and my husband & I both love it, and we are doing something together that we can share. We need to thank Mr. Ty Warner. P.S. How does the Home Shopping obtain their beanies? If from Ty, how can they sell at the inflated price rate? Thanks again, Sherry Spears .. jdspears@swbell.net
• My sons and I really enjoy the challenge of finding the beanies missing from our collection. It's disappointing to find one only to have it be too expensive because it's listed as a "hard to find", or to see the people in front of you with the last 3-4 Valentino's in the store. But, I guess that's what keeps the interest up.....
• Beanies are a lot of fun! Wish TY would produce more bears...
• I think the fact that people are in auctions saying that they will be $300 for Erin the bear in obscene. It shouldn't have the same significance as Princess. I could at least understand this one a bit more because of the money that was towards projects Princess Diana believed in. But the Erin bear? Some people are making this too crazy and I am glad that I am not so enthusiastically involved as I was even a few months ago. It is turning alot of us off to the whole beanie collecting idea when price for "stuffed" toys are costing $100's.
• MY opinion is that all beanie babies are very cute i buy them all even if i don't care for them all i want to say is that i hope that the money is going tward a good cause.
• I think you should fax a copy of these comment results directly to TY Warner. I plan on boycotting until TY gets their act together, for the children.
• My family and I went to one show and I liked the fact that a seasoned dealer was willing to educate us about tags and prices. We had no idea that it is as big of a deal as it is.
• I purchase beanie babies for my 7 year old granddaughter and find that it was great when we could go shopping and she could pick out the ones she wanted . Now I buy whatever new beanies I find., I feel that I'm just buying and it's nowhere near the good times we had when we could shop together. Hopefully TY will get caught up and we can again shop together.
• I would like to say that I am sick of adults grabbing all the beanies for themselves, not for their kids. At one store I was at, a lady started crying because she couldn't pick which Peace she could get. I think adults should remember the original intention for beanies, toys for children, not some way to get money for adults.
• beanie babies have brought me and my nine year old daughter much closer..we check out the prices, move in for the kill and we enjoy this like nothing we've ever done together before. she loves the hunt as well as i do. in all of my years, i have never spent this much money on any hobby. we like it so much, one day i think we'd like to be a retailer for ty.
• I dislike it when retail stores sell them for internet and secondary market price. They shouldn't do that, since they get Beanies at wholesale prices.
• I am totally fed up with TY and their business tactics and ethics.They are getting GREEDY. And their main course is to feed the secondary market. I thought TY stated that they are for the small business man. Then why are they axing all of the small busine
• I love the bright colors and cute animals!
• i luuuuuuuuuuuuuuv beaniebabies!!
• Don't like authorized dealers who put restrictions on purchases. Don't like to pay more than $7.00 for a Beanie.
• Will Ty consider making more dinosaurs?
• back orders slow the market down considerably.
• very tired of retailers selling the HTFs out the back door or over the internet, people are going to lose interest if they can't get "the good ones" without paying very high secondary or internet prices, I live in a small town with only 3 retailers selling beanies, only one sells all for the same $5.99 price and sells all the beanies she can get rather than selling the common ones in the store and the rest over the internet & "out the back door"
• Peace is my favorite because we share a birthday!!!!
• I am totally fed up with TY and their business tactics and ethics.They are getting GREEDY. And their main course is to feed the secondary market. I thought TY stated that they are for the small business man. Then why are they axing all of the small busine
• I love collecting BB, but I am beginning to become angry at how difficult it is to acquire certain pieces, i.e., Princess, Peace, and probably Erin (I don't know if it has shown up at any retailers yet).
• i think a retailer should not up the price on a retired on just cause its retired and he still payed the retail price.....also i do not agree with the merchants who say you have to buy a certain dollar amount in their store before you can have the PRIVIDLEGE of buying a beanie
• I would like to see a better system in which beanie babies are delivered to retailers. Many of them do not know when their next shipment will be and this is too time consuming for the customer. Because of this tactic, many consumers miss out on many of the new and retired beanies.
• I don't like the stores that sell beanie babies holding them for their friends and family and raising the price on hard to get and new ones.
• I love collecting BB, but I am beginning to become angry at how difficult it is to acquire certain pieces, i.e., Princess, Peace, and probably Erin (I don't know if it has shown up at any retailers yet).
• i think princess bear should be on the market for everyone to purchase not just limited
• Ty should pull all accounts of greedy retailers and give them to more deserving stores!!!!
• I think TY should let the general public know weather or not a certain Beanie (Princess or Erin) will be available for a short period so people would not panic or possibly purchae from the secondary market.
• I really feel it's wrong for stores to sell , retired and currents for more than there supposed to be... One store had Peace for sale for 65.00 - and it's not even retired..
• 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".
• More places should sell beanies
• every day there are more and more collectors? so what is going to happen th prices? I don't know

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