Due to increasing rumors and Ty's policies I conducted an on-line survey. This survey would serve several purposes. It would allow collectors to voice an opinion and be heard. The survey would also help indicate the status of the current Beanie market.
Over the past two years I have conducted many surveys, all which have been answered with approx. 250 to 500 responses. This survey would prove to be VERY challenging. The survey generated over 7,300 responses. I had to forward mail to five different computers in order to obtain results. My family and trusted friends participated in tallying the final results. The original survey questions are as follows along with the response percentages.
Results as follows:
Have rumors affected or influenced your desire to purchase Beanies?
61% of collectors answered - YES
39% of collectors answered - NO
How has Ty's marketing policies effected you as a collector?
17% of collectors answered - GOOD
41% of collectors answered - BAD
42% of all collectors answered - INDIFFERENT
Do you agree with Ty's marketing and shipping policies?
57% of all collectors answered - YES
43% of all collectors answered - NO
Many collectors view Ty's policies as a company trying to gain control and support their customers. Do you view Ty's polices in favor or against collectors?
28% of all collectors answered - FAVORABLE
21% of all collectors answered - AGAINST
51% of all collectors answered - NOT SURE OR NO OPINION.
How do you feel Ty's relationship with Cyrk has effected Beanies or your ability to collect?
49% of all collectors answered - GOOD
40% of all collectors answered - BAD
11% of all collectors answered - INDIFFERENT
Do you plan on purchasing Ty's new line of Beanie Buddies?
55% of all collectors answered - YES
25% of collectors answered - NO
20% of collectors answered - NOT SURE
Will Ty's tag protectors, cases, and calendars etc. be purchased by you as a collector?
33% of all collectors answered - YES
38% of all collectors answered - NO
29% of all collectors answered - NOT SURE
Have Ty's Beanie Baby Club kits been popular?
68% of all collectors answered - YES
32% of all collectors answered - NO
Do you believe the secondary market has helped promote Beanies?
85% of all collectors answered - YES
15% of all collectors answered - NO
Does the secondary market offend you?
36% of all collectors answered - YES
62% of all collectors answered - NO
2% of all collectors answered - NOT SURE
What is your view of the secondary market?
40% of all collectors answered - GOOD
35% of all collectors answered - BAD
25% of all collectors answered - INDIFFERENT
How important is it for Ty to produce a sixth generation tag to help with the counterfeits.
76% of all collectors answered - VERY IMPORTANT
18% of all collectors answered - NOT IMPORTANT
6% of all collectors answered - DO NOT CARE
If retailers are not allowed to sell Beanies off the Internet, will this dramatically affect your purchasing abilities?
38% of all collectors answered - YES
28% of all collectors answered - NO
34% of all collectors answered - NOT AFFECTED
I believe Ty should allow vendors to sell via the Internet. If
Ty wants to set up Internet vendor guidelines and enforce them I would be
supportive of that, but there are a lot of good vendors who follow Ty's
policy that sell on the internet.
I think the secondary market is necessary to keep interest in beanies, but I
personally don't use it. People who work during the day really need the
secondary market and internet to get the HTFs. Ty's policies are trying to
help consumers but they are making retailers miserable in the process. They
need to find a way to reward good retailers and punish the bad *without*
making beanies harder to get for the consumer! One thing I don't understand
about them is why they don't make larger quantities of the new releases
while cutting back production of the commons! And the fact that they make
the stores order more of these commons that are already gathering dust is
appalling! They should be able to order just what they need!
I feel that Ty and some retailers need to listen more to us. Everyone wants to make a buck, and they don't want others to make that buck that "should" belong to them. If stores would offer what comes in at $5.00 (or there abouts) for ALL currents, alot of the secondary market for currents would diminish. Also, if Ty would ship with invoices and some regularity, this might end this. I feel secondary markets should ONLY be for retired beanies. I am looking for several myself (in fact, more than several) but I will have to go to the secondary market for these. I can shop around and find the best price for the ones I need. But if my children want a princess, or whatever, I feel I should not have to race all over looking for it. I love the beanies, but one can only run at Mach 9 for so long and I feel others are agreeing with me on this. The FIND is fun, but the CHASE is getting old. JMHO
Diana
I wish beanie collecting could be more simplified with out the fear of
counterfeits. It takes the fun out of it. Also that the prices could
remain affordable . It makes me upset when I see people trying to sell
the new releases for big bucks just because they are the first to get
them.. Beanie Babies should be fun and not all this trying to make big
bucks on them..
I'm beginning to get real concerned about the state of BB collecting. I believe Ty is flooding the market with BB and if this continues this will be a short lived craze. Just look at the price of bears. Would like to see him retire more often at least four times a year with a few surprise retirements. I agree with his cracking down on his direct retailers who sell out the back door or sell beanies for above his suggested price. He should check out ebay and see all the beanies being sold by the dozens and try to track down the culprits! I do think $5 is too low just because of all the hassle. $6 is more reasonable. Wish he would set up a consumer committee. A group of individuals made up of secondary market dealers, adult and children buyers, retailers and a well know web site owner like yourself who could get together and talk about these issues and seek some resolution. Personally I'm less excited about the hobby and buy fewer beanies than I did several months ago.
Things get so blown out of proportion and misstated on the Internet and it
spreads like wildfire! It is a wonderful way to obtain information but also
has great potential for misinformation.
I started helping my niece collect beanies in April of 1997--bought a few
"cute" ones for myself and got "hooked". I'm VERY FORTUNATE that my boss
is great and allows me to take my lunch break whenever I need to make a
"beanie run". It is unfortunate that the ones everyone wants is the ones Ty
seems to produce the least of and therefore creates the secondary market
because people are always looking to make a dollar. Since these beanies are
in such limited supply, the stores only allow us to buy one of each -- to be
fair -- but when you have little ones to buy for, it makes it VERY
difficult.
I guess my parents went through similar crazes when I was little and I know
my sister has gone through many with my niece, but this one is lasting so
long and has so many of us hooked.
I hate the madness, but at the same time, I love it when I strike it BIG!
Debbie Ü
I find the rumors about Beanies to be fun, and that's all. They kinda
bring back the enjoyment to the collecting experience. I have only been
collecting since May this year. I collect basically one of each type of
Beanie (two of the bears) for my daughter. We use them as an incentive
to behave, do chores, and excel in school. Unfortunately, the new
Beanies, and especially all of the bears, are next to impossible to find
for about six months after they are announced because of the secondary
market. The bears are impossible to find at a fair price (Ty's desired
$5-6) due to the secondary market. I have seen so much greed, hatred
and violence as a result of the high Beanie prices caused by this
market. Vandalism, theft, extreme anger. If my daughter's behavior
wasn't improving so much because of the babies, I would have sold off
all my Beanies and quit a long time ago.
I am a secondary market dealer and alot of the local newspapers have had negative stories about the beanie baby market in our area in the last month and people are definitely getting scared. I also feel without the secondary market the beanie baby phenomenom will be over. However I am keeping in mind that last year at this exact time beanies were also very slow and then in January we had the pent up explosion which was corrected over the next couple of months. Last but definitely the most important if they do not retire some of the bears especially Glory, Princess and Wise I do feel the market will be over. Because TY does make so many of most of the beanies they need to have some that will be a good investment. We have not seen any of these since October of 97. Since December of 97 he has been shipping retiree's long after they retire keeping their values down example 97 teddy and snowball.
Sincerely, Debbie R
I don't understand WHY Ty doesn't want BB sold on Internet.
However, I must say that when retailers enter into an agreement with TY, don't they know what the restrictions are? I think if you agree to sell Ty products, aren't' you also agreeing to abide by their policies? Sure, maybe some of the policies stink,
but that is not the point. I do understand the Internet sales are a "new" restriction, so if retailers don't like it --
THEY SHOULD GIVE UP THEIR ACCOUNT WITH TY AND LET SOMEBODY
ELSE HAVE IT !
Many of the local shops would love to get just a little of the profit from BB sales, but can't because TY won't open any new accounts. Why don't the complainers give up their account and let somebody else share in the "misery."
I am sick and tired of being price-gouged when trying to buy BB. Many of the local retailers have some scheme, like buy 3 current to buy 1 new, or buy $75.00 in store merchandise to buy 1 Glory. Also, some stores offer "club memberships"
that restrict you to buying merchandise in their store, and when you have purchased $200.00 worth of goods, you get the "right" to buy 1 Princess. In my opinion, most of the retailers have just gotten greedy, greedy, greedy, because they see the secondary market prices and feel like they are "losing out" on profit. I'm interested in seeing why TY does next and I would like to know if TY approves of these kind of selling tactics.
Beanie Babies will probably remain as collectable as Hot Wheels but I
feel that the craze is fizzling out. I believe TY has left too many beanies on the market for too long and now everyone who was a potential collector has many of the less valuable ones making them upset that their values have not risen.
I have been able to get many of the older retired BBs over the Internet and
have many, many wonderful people to talk with re BBs. I have never been
cheated, mislead nor has anyone not shipped what I ordered.
I think what Ty is trying to do is keep BBs in the stores (Hallmarks, etc.)
so that when we walk in, we probably will have more of a chance to purchase
a few of them. I have only been able to get a few of the last releases
directly from stores. I have to rely on friends getting them for me or via
the Internet.
There's a store in Frederick that sold BBs and you had to call in from a
certain time. Well, believe me, I tried to call for 2 hours and never got
thru. I don't like this situation at all. I'd rather take my chance to
purchase from stores; if not able, then I'll get online and try to get them
from those advertising via ty.com guestbook. This is where I have done most
of my shopping. Thanks
As far as the BBOC Clubby fiasco, Ty would do better to send Clubby out to
members rather than depending on another company to do this for him. I
ordered mine in July and now they say they only have one membership ID in
the computer for me; never received my order, etc. Now I have to start all
over again. What a mess!
I am from the San Francisco Baby Area, I know of only one store that shows a lot of compassion to the kids and gets them out to them. They charge a little more than they should but I understand that to be self-employed in these days is really rough. They are trying to make it while its good.
I am now very discouraged and am tired of fighting to get the beanie babies. Everyone who has been collecting them is aware of the marketing. They are very expensive when they first come out and six months later, the prices go down, down.
I really wish it were easier for me to obtain newly-released and rare
Beanies. In my area, there are basically two ways to get them at normal retail price: Get lucky in a raffle or wait for several hours (even overnight) at stores that make their new shipments available on certain days. As a person that works weekdays, it's very hard to beat the housewives and dealers to the stores to buy new Beanies
that are put out on the shelves during the day. They're long gone by the time I get there. I would really love it if Ty would make more product available so that we wouldn't have to go to such great lengths to complete our collections. One last thought: How is it that secondary market dealers seem to have no problem getting their hands on Maple and Britannia, when these bears never seem to make it into the stores for sale to collectors at normal retail price? It's so
frustrating!
I think Ty's polices are ok so far, but the shipping practices are a different
story. But Ty can have all the policies they want,,,but at least in my area
retailers do not follow them. Items are witheld, bears are never sold for reg
price etc. A little greater supply wouldn't hurt. I truly hope that retailers can
continue selling on the internet!
Good luck with the survey.
Ty needs to figure out a way to involve the consumer in the policing of its pricing and availability policies. They don't have enough people (obviously) to even read the surveys we filled out, let alone act on them (do you think they could afford a bigger staff to deal with this?).
The consumers know which stores don't put the hard-to-finds on the shelves
and we know which stores charge outrageous prices for new and hard to finds
(and I don't mean $7-$10). Many of us would be willing to walk into a store
with a camera to obtain proof of the $30 to $150 price tags on the bears
behind the counter or videotape the clerks as they tell us the prices--it
would be so satisfying to see these stores shipments cut off and diverted to
other stores that sell at reasonable prices.
Comment # 2: I hate reading articles such as the one that was recently in
the Wall St Journal which predict the imminent demise of the beanie market.
These so-called experts don't have a clue unless they themselves are
involved in the frenzy. They liken beanies to such things as "Tickle me
Elmo" which was one toy--not a series of toys. They don't realize that the
demand for the new releases is as strong as it ever was. They point out
that declines in the market values of beanies such as Princess or Peace are
a precursor to Armageddon. They don't realize that the beanie situation is
different from any in history as it has the widespread involvement of both
children and parents (and more children grow into the beanie age each
year)--no other collectible has ever had this level of interest from such a
widespread base. Most collectors realize that (similar to baseball cards)
beanies which are currently being made will never have the type of
appreciation the older beanies (retired before the craze fully hit) enjoyed.
But there will be some appreciation as long as Ty continues to retire
beanies (to make the speculative nature more appealing, Ty should retire an
occaisional piece very quickly)- Princess' price was initially very high
due to the 12 per store only rumor, but has come down as there has been no
retirement. Similar declines by other new release bears does not signal the
end of the craze, it simply reflects supply and demand--and there are enough
fanatics out there to always drive the prices of the new release bears up
initially. I believe beanies will be very popular for a long time as they
are relatively inexpensive, cute and simply fun to collect for children and
their parents (which is a nice thing to do together).
I feel that the secondary market has a big effect on Beanies. I always look at
the prices on the secondary market and I shows me how poplar beanies still
are. (If the price for a beanie goes up, it shows are that there still is a
demand for beanies, which is good!) I'm really looking forward to get the
beanie buddies, exceptly the retired ones. I'm not sure if I'll buy cases and
tag-protectors from TY because I already have all my beanies tag-protected. I
feel the TY is coming out the these items to late! Well Thank you, Michelle
I would like to personally thank everyone who participated in this survey.
I have to believe that Ty does read all material posted and hope that this one gets the message across.
I'm sure this survey will be an eye opener in more ways than one. There is NO way 7,300 collectors can be wrong!
I agree with many comments made and would like to make a few of my own.
Although the Beanie market appears to be unstable, I can assure you that Ty's recent policy change will make a difference. I have spoken with many retails who have not seen a Ty rep. In MANY months and out of the blue they are suddenly appearing everywhere. Many of these same retailers claim that Ty reps. are striving to push the kid friendly theme and offering guidelines. It would appear that Ty is trying to tighten the reins and regain control. Now lets' hope and pray he can produce significant results and more product.
Ty might consider looking at his own house and making a few changes as well. If he is going to clean house, then lets clean the WHOLE HOUSE!
This article was written By:
Janie E. Daniels
Commonly known as Ms. Janie
November 1998
