Dear Ms. Janie,
I just love your articles. Thank you very much.
The interview about the Beanie Market in Germany was nice, but
I don't really agree with Petra. Germania is only available at
secondary market prices, even at the large department stores.
In the US I got Osito at a Hallmark store, it wasn't easy, but
you have the chance to get one. On the other side, the other current
and even some retired ones are available for 10 DM, the Bears
for 15 DM. The Buddies (except the
Bears) are shelve sitters. Yesterday I bought a Cranberry Teddy
and Erin Buddies for retail.
At Beanie shows there is a lot of activity, the prices for the
older retired ones are higher than in the US. I don't know in
which region Petra lives, but I am from Duesseldorf and the children
over here are crazy for the Beanies, in some schools they are
only allowed to show one Beanie because they got too distracted
by them. Curiously most of the adult collectors are men!!
In my opinion nobody here believe that the Beanies are ending,
they are expecting another name (like Beane Babies), a new Hangtag
(with a hologram? and Ty Japan) against counterfeits or even Tylon
as the new
fabric for Beanies too.
Thanks for listening and have a very nice day
***************
I was interested in your article about Germania, especially since
we just returned from Germany. Several places in Germany have
not even received Germania yet. We could only find older Beanies.
In the big cities, all Beanies were available, even the May releases.
The price of Germania was as high as 500 DM. We spoke with some
of the smaller shop owners. They told us that they felt that Ty
was a very "political" company to deal with. Germans
aren't used to this. It was very interesting to talk with these
people. I agree with the woman in the article...even in the big
cities, all the bears were usually gone. Frankfurt airport did
have quite a few Kicks.
****************
Hallo,
Thank you for all German collectors for bringing and posting this
interview about the German market, I have some comments so, and
I would like to know you.
I am a collector since March 1999, and not Germania started me
collecting, but a few nice ones that I got on secondary market
in the USA.
----------------------
Here are my opinions:
Has Germania helped spurred on the German market?
Petra - Yes, of course, although you can get Germania
now quite easily for less money as at the beginning.
Comments from Timo > On primary market Germania isn't sill
very impossible to get, if you are not lucky. In secondary market
the price has dropped, still it is around $80 to $100.
What is the overall attitude
of collectors towards Beanies?
Petra - I think the big craze calmed down a bit,
and everybody is more realistic. For Example: You can't sell Beanies
for very high prices any more.
Comments from Timo > You indead can obtain beanies for
realistic prices now, but that is because prices at first were
just too high. People started collecting also the retired ones,
after they all had the currents they wanted. The attitude that
Beanies are toys -and- collectibles becomes more common, you have
to explain less to people what is so special about Beanies.
Does Germany have Beanie Shows?
If so, are the shows successful?
Petra - Yes, there are some most linked with
trading cards and other collectibles. They are getting bigger,
but they are still small. Most of them are close to US. Army-Bases.
There might be around some hundred people visiting these fairs.
Very successful has been the toy fair this Spring - Beanies everywhere...
Comments from Timo-> There were -no- trading cards officially
available so far, so I doubt there is a real market. They are
only on secondary market and only real collectors have them.
How do collectors In Germany
view Ty's marketing techniques?
Petra - They are very difficult from European
ones and lots of collectors just don't understand. But you don't
have a choice...
Comments from Timo-> The collectors understand, especially
those with internet connection who can read US opinions and rumors.
Is she says lots of collectors don't understand I also would say,
Americans don't understand, because nobody can understand this
weird person TY Warner. He is so secretive, this is his secret.
I think he is a genius, but he should be careful that he doesn't
manipulate people to much, or he gets backfired.
American's has several fads currently
invading the country. Pokemon, Harry Potter books, and Star Wars
is BIG news. What types of fads are Germans interested in?
Petra - Star Wars, of course. Although after
the film started in the middle of August it calms down. Pokemon
isn't big over here now, but we are always a little bit later.
Then they are still Trading cards, Teddies, stamps... the usual
things. And merchandising of course of Simpsons, Southpark etc.
Comments from Timo> Don't forget about "ue-eier",
I think this is the most collectible besides Beanies (If you don't
know what this is, please ask back)
Has the secondary market changed
since your last interview? If I recall it was not very active!
Petra - It is bigger now, but like I said before,
the collectors don't pay that much money anymore, so it must be
a hard job.
Comments from Timo-> Yes, it is bigger now, because you
have a wider variation of beanies, also of the retired ones. And
if you have more choices, prices drop, this is normal or? Secondary
market is just on the beginning, there is still a lot of potential
in it.
Have Beanie Babies become a collectible
or they still considered a toy of choice?
Petra - It is a collectible, although it depends
on the people who buy it. I still believe that children play with
them, because they think they are cute little toys. But the McDonald's
campaign influenced the collectors.
Comments from Timo-> I think it is 50:50, collectors and
mother/fathers that buy them for children. May be more collectors
because they buy more. Children just get one or two.
Other than Germania, which Beanies
appear to be more popular in Germany?
Petra - The Teddies, of course. Germans love Teddies.
And then I think the older ones, Quackers etc.
Comments from Timo-> The 98 retired, which are still affordable
(like Quackers, Zero, Waddle and so on, price up to $40) are most
popular. And the teddies of course, this is true, no difference
then in US in my opinion.
Are collectors becoming frustrated
with Ty's latest announcement? How do you view this announcement?
Petra - I think so, I would be very frustrated.
You can never compare the European market with the US one, because
the hype here isn't that big. So maybe this will be the end...
Comments from Timo-> No the hype is not that big, but the
more collectors get addicted to it, the harder it will be to get
good ones. And collecting beanies is still not very old, so just
Tyme will tell, like you said.
Thanks for listening
*********************************
Dear Ms. Janie,
I am constantly amazed at how you strive to continue to keep collectors
informed. You are a credit to this hobby and I appreciate your
knowledge very much.
My family and I visited Germany this summer. While there, of course
we hunted for Germania. It was kind of funny when you think about
it, we traveled clear across country to visit relatives and ended
spending all our time shopping.
We never found Germania but talked with many retailers. They are
very frustrated and do not understand this hobby. They think Beanies
are cute but do not understand why adults collect them. The more
we tried to explain the more confused they got.
One retailer was excited about Beanies and was just getting use
to the Internet. We gave him your website and told him to go there
for all of your information and articles. Get this, it's the BOMB,
he had already heard of you. He said some collectors know Ms.
Janie and already visits her site.
I think once Germans understand the hobby and if the prices ever
get real, Beanies will become popular there.