Beanie Amusement.....

[patgund]

When I worked at The DotCom from Hell WebSideStory, one of the banes of the customer support section was the "Beanie Baby" websites. All of which seemed to have webmasters who were rude, obnoxious, and in dire need of a life.

And all of them seemed to be convinced of the fact that these silly stuffed animals would fund their early retirement or children's college funds. As a former employee of two different toy chains and a toy collector myself, I knew damm well that there wasn't going to be a future market for such, because there would be too many people collecting them and flooding the market as a result.

Which is why the following article in the Los Angeles Times filled me with so much amusement.

Another '90s Bad Dream (Registration may be required)

Now and then, Marks still sees customers who once believed that Beanie Babies would pay for their kids' college educations. When they ask him what to do with their collections, he offers this advice: "They make great insulation if you stick them in the walls."

Comments

[selenesue.livejournal.com]

Well if you run across any "Scoop" Pelican beanies, please let me know. I think we are about out of them to give to new order members.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

There's someone on eBay selling batches of one dozen "Scoops" for a buy it now price of $15.00 for the dozen.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26385&item=5516556615

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26385&item=5516112795

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26385&item=5515685013

Those three auctions, at a "buy it now", would net the order 36 Scoops for $45. :-)

Average prices seem to be $2-$5 on eBay. A Froogle search also shows them about that range, depending on store. Bulk orders may get a discount though.

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

All I know is that when we were in St. Charles MO, there was one of the kitschy stores that had a tub of Beanie Babies... any for $3, or something like that.

How the mighty have fallen.

[catmcroy.livejournal.com]

Hehe

They are cute and I do have a couple of Beanie Babies, mostly ones that relate to my daughter and me (we have Pierre [the red and white Canadian one] and Kanata and the American one [not America bear but the other one with the flag] and the Irish one) :)

[silkensteel.livejournal.com]

They were gleefully discussing that article on rec.antiques. My favorite was:

"I however made a fortune on the Beanie Baby craze. In the mid to late
nineties I had at least one call a week from (usually a woman, and an
occasional man) wanting to sell the contents of the china cabinet so
that they could make room for the toys which had more value potential
than the current inhabitants of the breakfront."

"More than anything I heard give me $100, $200, $500 for all of it I need
to protect these bean bags, just get it out of here. So I bought, and
bought and sold. Depression glass including one fine haul of Ruba
Rhombic...she knew it was worth more, but only wanted a grand for 25
pieces, because the bags were "worth" more and more worthy of
protection. Weller, Roseville, Flow Blue, Ohme Silesia, Buffalo China
blue willow, Nippon, Loetz, and I turned down many sets of 'Fine China
of Japan.'"