powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 01:43:32 AM new
I have to admit that I am truly dumbfounded by the amount of money some people are still pouring into beanie babies!!! Talk about almost instant depreciation.
And just when you thought TY Inc. would maybe fade away--thrilled with the pet-rock-like killing they've made selling bean bags--they instead come back bigger and bolder than ever with these Billionaire Bears.
The bears in and of themselves are no different than all the other bears---except for a "$" on their chest. There are 3 in the series and they are going for thousands!!!!
What is the thrill? Do these buyers just get a rush out of knowing in their mind that they "own" such an expensive (at the moment) item, even though it was created JUST to be expensive?
Think about that: It was created just to be expensive--so the beanie collectors would buy it and thrill to the fact that they own this expensive bear!!! The Billionaire Bear!!!!! Give me a break. So sad.
These buyers are literally pouring their money down the toilet, meanwhile thinking they're making an ivestment--ROTFL!!!!
I'm going to start marketing $1,000 rolls of toilet paper. If people are going to flush their money, they might as well get some real USEE out of it!!
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 09:25:45 AM new
P.S. At least the pet rock was kind of funny!!
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Shoshanah
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posted on January 28, 2001 09:35:07 AM new
Maybe they plan to retire and plant the beans in their back yard, in case of famine? 
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
Old And Sold
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dman3
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posted on January 28, 2001 09:38:37 AM new
Actually beanie sales are up all over on all auction sites even the new ones I have seen some beanie with well over $75 bids.
I see some retired beanies with price of $500 and $800 a pair being bought at fleamarket and malls the market is comeing back.
the Investment many seem silly at frist glace and the market did slow for a while But the return seems to be very good seems if you bought some of these retired beanies 2 or 3 year back your return on them today can be from 15% to 300% Your not going to get this kind of return holding your Dollars in your bank account today or even in a CD or money market account.
I know if I was into beanies back when and Invested $3 to $5 in some of these little bears and was getting from $50 to $800 return like many today I would be jumping for joy Most didnt make this kind of return in the stock market.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
[ edited by dman3 on Jan 28, 2001 09:46 AM ]
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tsunamii
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posted on January 28, 2001 09:45:37 AM new
I'm glad the beanie craze hit ! I bought those stuffed toys to decorate my sons room when I was pregnant. It was an animal theme that kept growing. I had no idea that some of these $4.99 toys I bought (and never removed the tags on) would sell 4 years later for $2000-4000 each. I sold them right before Christmas 1999 and now my son has one of the best gifts a parent could give....a college education if he chooses. Sad thing is that most of the rare beanies being sold on ebay now are fake and a lot of people are getting scammed.
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Shoshanah
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posted on January 28, 2001 09:51:17 AM new
Hey! dman is back...Where have you been? Hope you were OK?
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
Old And Sold
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dman3
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posted on January 28, 2001 10:10:58 AM new
I never left I just been going crazy with selling and listing between my selling on ebay and haveing to move 100s of listing from yahoo because I cant afford to pay there listing on 100s of auction all at once I havent had time to chat much.
I my main problem was Trying to keep up with packing and shipping Items. December & January for me was one of them times a little seller dreams of so many bids wins you really can keep up.
I think I am now caught up bidding has slowed im hopeing its just because of the superbowl comeing up and all.
Anyhow thats all I been up to 
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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nobs
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posted on January 28, 2001 10:13:19 AM new
What's really sad is the Chinese girls working 18 hr. days for 20 cents a day (approximately 2.00 a week) cranking out these contrived and market manipulated collectibles.
If you really want to collect, there are many safe, enjoyable areas of collecting that really have value. These folks think they are getting something special - and there are warehouses full of them - and they are easily faked and counterfeited. The Beanie babie market is totally - 100% manipulated and contrived. It survives on the gullibilty of the folks who are into it. Some made money early on but that money (and college education) was made on a craze that was sprung on the buying public as soon as adults got into the action.
I see closets full of wothless bags of beans in the future. There are closets full now with other manipulated markets where the value is pennies on the dollar. I can buy 50 dollar "collector plates for 2.00 but I don't want them - the future is not there for any collectible made in such great (vast) quantity and kept pristine by large numbers of people.
Never underestimate the American buying public.
Those sinking $$$ into Beanie Babies, I will see you in 5 years and we will talk about this again
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 10:53:33 AM new
nobs:
I couldn't agree more.
I have always said, anything created to be a collectable will never really end up being worth much. Why? Because, a major element in what makes something valuable is it's rarity. When something is created to BE a collectable, rest assured it's manufactured in such quantities as to prevent the item from ever being worth much.
Also, when something starts out as collectable, you do see it kept in much better condition---which also detracts from the item's worth---since if there are more "mint" items, the market price will be less.
If the beanie market has heated up, it is only temporary.
I saw a woman pay (in cash) $250 for the Princess Di bear about 3 years ago. You can find literally dozens and dozens of this item in mint condition for between $6.00 and $15.00. Some investment! Yeah, don't waste your time putting money in the bank---buy BEANIES!!
Ever hear of junk bonds?
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dman3
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posted on January 28, 2001 10:56:37 AM new
Nobs:
Actually the more time that goes by The more collectable these older beanie toy will become and harder to find.
There value may well level off as with all collectable for a period.
But like the toy of the 50s-70s right now and even some earily 80s toy They many of these will be come Rarer finds.
Just like with cabbagepatch kids I thought these were the dummest things yet today some 20 year latter original coleco cabbage patch dolls are still collectable and tradeing for very good prices.
Barbie another one most of these are not even hard to find but look at the prices even the near new one are bringing.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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quickdraw29
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:31:55 AM new
You're forgetting many people don't collect beanies for investment. I collect certain beanies because of their realistic attributes. I've loved animals since watching "Animal Kingdom" with Anthony Perkins and the Mutual Of Omaha. The new generation beanies are better quality and more realistic (except the new fadish tye-dyed and exotic color sheme beanies).
The word from family and friends who collected beanies gave up because the beanies were taking over their homes. A couple years back, collectors got bored waiting for the new releases, so Ty started coming out with them more often. That backfired on Ty.
I've never understood the concept that unwanted toys become collectible, and the toys designed to become collectible become unwanted. It's based on rarity, but I wouldn't want a piece of junk in my home no matter how rare.
The trend will turn eventually turn, and the kids of today when they are older will want to collect beanies again. The more rarer beanies will gain in value again.
Don't compare beanies to "Pet Rocks." It's more like baseball cards, or coins. Half the fun of collecting is the chase, and finding the hard to find items on your list. That is priceless.
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ahwahneeliz
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:32:07 AM new
my 11 year old daughter loves beanies. She isn't into the "collectable" aspect, and it's been a big disappointment for her to not be able to get them at a reasonable price. Not all beanie buyers think of beanies as an appreciable collectable.
`·. >(((º>`·.¸.¸>
ahwahneeliz
>(((º>¸¸.·.>((º>··.¸><((((ºcJ
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quickdraw29
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:39:39 AM new
nobs, many Chinese are happy to have those jobs. They leave the country to the city to make some money and bring it back to the family. Remember, an unskilled worker doesn't have many options so this really benefits them that a company gives them a chance to work. America could learn some lessons from this. Many unskilled workers in America aren't hired for minimum wage because those workers couldn't produce the output required to compensate the company, so therefore the companies can't hire thse people, and those unskilled workers are left unemployed, selling drugs.
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december3
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:50:08 AM new
My mom collects then because she likes the little critters. She's 79 and it gives her something to do. I like it because it's easy to buy a present for her. She has enough jewelry, perfume and clothes already. If they make her happy, it's fine with me.
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:53:10 AM new
quickdraw29:
It's not fair to compare beanies to coins and baseball cards.
Coins (and I don't mean the JFK Jr. Liberian $10 coin) and baseball cards have shown quite a bit of appreciation and consistancy in the marketplace. Beanies, at best, are like a dotcom stock. Here today, gone tomorrow. Maybe it'll rebound, but it's less likelly than not.
If you bought all of your beanies for $6.00 then sold them all many many years from now, you may indeed make a profit. But remember: I am not talking about the people who buy them for $6.00. I'm talking about those people who buy them for lots more. Also remember there are already A LOT of these out there and in very good condiiton.
Anybody who knows anything about the value of collectables knows that this does not bode well for the future value of a beanie.
[ edited by powderblue on Jan 28, 2001 11:55 AM ]
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:58:51 AM new
Please keep in mind:
If you get them at that basic retail price and collect them or give them as gifts---that's no big waste. I am really talking about people who are paying a lot more than $6.00 and who do so under the guise of making an "investment" ROTFL!!!
[ edited by powderblue on Jan 28, 2001 10:53 PM ]
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quickdraw29
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posted on January 28, 2001 12:02:02 PM new
It's perfectly fair to compare beanies to cards and coins because people do collect beanies. I don't remember anyone collecting pet rocks.
The higher priced baeanies are valued so high because before beanies became a craze, they were relatively unknown, and lots of people tore off the tags. People also didn't hoard them. So they have just as much potential as the first Barbie doll over 40 years ago.
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heartsong
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posted on January 28, 2001 12:09:43 PM new
My experience with beanies has been rather interesting, as I've done a complete 180 marketing-wise.
2 and 3 years ago I made a profit buying beanies locally at retail stores in my area and selling them on eBay. In general I made a minimum of double, but more often 3 and 4 times what I paid for them. (The most I ever sold one for was $350 .. I paid $5.50 off the shelf).
Then the number of listings for beanies on eBay soared and prices dropped. Today common beanies on eBay routinely sell for less than suggested retail, and often less than wholesale!
I have found a lucrative business in buying fairly common beanies on eBay and selling them directly to the non online public through a retail storefront in a rented mall space.
I buy beanies on eBay, and sell them for at least double, and usually for 3 to 4 times what I paid for them.
Go figure!
I guess what goes around DOES come around
http://www.auctionusers.org
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abacaxi
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posted on January 28, 2001 03:10:53 PM new
Well, I looked up Cabbage Patch dolls ... at the height of the craze I had custody of SIX of the little blighters, bought at retail price from a store owner who was AFRAID to put them out. I sold a couple and donated the others to a crisis nursery for the kids Christmas presents.
Fewer than 5 of the transactions completed on eBay were higher than what I got for the two I sold in 1985 ... anyone who bought for street price at the peak of the fad and is trying to sell them now lost money.
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figmente
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posted on January 28, 2001 06:46:36 PM new
Hard to tell.
Comparing them to Stamps & Coins - I don't think so.
Comparing them to collector's plates, could be valid.
Comparing them to pet rocks - I don't think so.
To Cabbage Patch dolls - I have no idea.
To Barbies - also could to be valid.
Baseball cards & other sports memorabilia ?
The 98 - 99 fad was ridiculous, all the ones produced then are unlikely to have a future.
The scarcer ones? Will interest continue to fade all the way to nothing or will they continue to mature as a niche collectible? Answering that takes a crystal ball. I agree that the trend is still strongly down so even if they mature well it will be at prices lower than today's, they do appear to be foolish as investment. Most of the antiquers who totally disparage them have no problem accepting Steif as worthy.
I like 2 more obscure lines of beanies much better than Ty's.
The Grateful Dead Bean Bears - so far they seem to be doing fairly well.
The Hush Puppies - market miniscule and mixed.
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 06:59:03 PM new
To truly understand how ridiculous this whole beanie scam is, consider what I stated earlier:
The latest attempt to hoodwink the public comes in the form of the Billionaire Bears. It is a 3-bear series that cost nothing more to make and was created for the sole purpose of being expensive.
If I was a beanie collector I would feel especially insulted by this--but beanie collectors (who can afford them) gobble them right up!!!
Some braintrust.
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figmente
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posted on January 28, 2001 07:37:39 PM new
Actually the latest is not the Billionaire bear but the Issy bear - only sold 1 per room / night to people staying at the Four Seasons hotels Ty owns (rates starting around $400. per night).
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lotsafuzz
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posted on January 28, 2001 07:44:21 PM new
powderblue: If you are wondering why the Billionaire bear is 'special' (by that I mean getting a higher price than say the Princess bear) it is because those bears are not found on any retail shelves. They are given to certian Ty employees (i.e., harder to find, less out there on the market).
As for your unhappyness about how other people spend their own money....well, I can't help you on that one.
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Crystalline_Sliver
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posted on January 28, 2001 08:34:15 PM new
I guess Pokemon is not wanted here...
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
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powderblue
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posted on January 28, 2001 10:52:47 PM new
lotsafuzz:
I'm not unhappy with the way people spend their money, I'm just marveling at their colossal waste of it while (often) intending to invest it.
I am actually entertained by this foolhardy behavior.
TY has proven that there is a sucker born every minute.
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debbielennon
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:07:41 PM new
quickdraw29: "I've loved animals since watching "Animal Kingdom" with Anthony Perkins and the Mutual Of Omaha."
I think you may have meant Marlin Perkins. Anthony Perkins=Norman Bates, stuffer of birds and people. 
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overworked
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posted on January 28, 2001 11:50:26 PM new
debbielennon, rofl! Same kind of market manipulation happens with a number of "collectibles" Royal Doulton figurines being a prime example. I think they had the idea of discontinuing and retiring certain numbers first. Try and get "book" or close to it for some of them these days.
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Brooklynguy-07
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posted on January 29, 2001 08:21:04 AM new
"Book Value" has always been the biggest scam in every area of collectibles. It is a direct conflict of interest (I consider it fraud) for companies whose existance depends on the prices staying high to set the "Book Value". These companies need people to keep collecting so they can sell their guides and magazines.
It's like those guys you see on TV late at night on one of the shopping networks selling sports collectibles. Every other word out of their mouth is "RARE" and "BOOK VALUE IS TEN TIMES WHAT WE'RE SELLING THEM FOR". If it's so rare than how come you have thousands of them to sell? If they're worth ten times what you're selling them for, why not sell them yourself and make ten times the profit? Barnum probably never knew what a visionary he would be.
[ edited by BROOKLYNGUY on Jan 29, 2001 08:22 AM ]
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katiyana
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posted on January 29, 2001 09:31:21 AM new
Go Pokemon!!!
I'm THRILLED when I get people bidding up on my Pokemon collectibles. They are 95% of the items I"m selling still (although I'm working to diversify). I often end up with some items going 2-3-4X what I paid for them, and that just makes me happy!!!
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BlondeSense
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posted on January 29, 2001 10:55:13 AM new
Part of what makes some items desirable or collectible is nostalgia. People think "Man, I remember playing with those when I was a kid", or "I gotta have this, Grandma used to have one of those in her kitchen". While I realize some beanies are purchased for children at retail prices, I think the market seems to be aimed at the adult collector and this may hurt the long term values.
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