Collectors have voiced their frustrations, their opinions on the manipulation of this market and their eagerness to collect items without being persuaded or influenced incorrectly.
I would like to take this opportunity to clear the air! My articles are written to serve a purpose. I write to educate collectors and share the opinions of others. My articles are not written to offend, humiliate or discredit any individual or business.
I am not paid or controlled by ANYONE to say or do anything in regards to information posted on my website. I will always remain honest and professional to the best of my ability. My honesty has offended some, which I apologize for but I do not apology for reporting the truth.
I would like to commend many of Ty's retailers. These retailers have finally realized that they are better off serving their customer's needs by stocking their shelves with products collectors wish to purchase.
Although I do not believe
in reporting rumors, I will acknowledge that rumors are a big
part of this industry. Collectors thirst for knowledge and information
far exceeds anything Ty is willing to share.
Ty's philosophy has worked well thus far and I would imagine they
will continue to stay true to form!
I posted a survey that allowed viewers to make choices on the following questions. Collectors were also allowed to voice their opinions on two separate questions asked.
1. Out of the following
bean bag lines, which interest you the most? Please choose up
to four of your favorites.
Beanie Babies, Bammers, Limited Treasures, Coco Cola, Sally Winey,
Warner Brothers, Bamm Beanos, Titanic Bean Bags, Planet Plush,
Disney, Y2K Bears, Puffkins, Rugrats, Celebrity Bear, and Gund.
According to the survey results, the following four products were
the most collected.
A. Beanie Babies
B. Disney
C. Bamm Beanos
D. Warner Brothers
2. In your opinion,
what makes a bean bag product more desirable to collect? Please
choose up to three categories.
Limited Quantities, Availability, Variety, Marketing Spokesperson,
Company Profile and Reputation, Quality, Trademark Name and History.
A. Quality
B. Availability
C. Limited Quantities
3. Besides bean bag
collectibles, which of the following interest you? Please make
a selection of five of your favorites.
Fenton Glass, Precious Moments, Dreamsickles, Department 56, Snowbabies,
Harbor Lights, Lladro, Hummels, Seraphim Angels, Barbie, Action
Figures, Die Cast Models, PEZ, Sports Memorabilia, Antiques, Coins
and Stamps.
A. Precious Moments
B. Barbie
C. Antiques
D. Coins
E. Snowbabies
4. What price range
do you normally spend on EACH one of your collectibles? Please
keep in mind that this includes retired pieces from various lines.
Please choose two categories that are best suited for your price
range.
* $5.00 to $15.00 * $20.00 to $40.00 * $50.00 to $75.00 * $100.00
to $150.00 * over 100.00 each
A. $5.00 to $15.00
B. $20.00 to $40.00
The following questions
were asked and answered by collectors.
A. If you had the opportunity to correct errors in Today's Collectible
Industry, what would you do and why?
B. What is your overall opinion of the collectibles market? This
opinion should be based on your questions answered in this survey.
I would have representatives
from my company travel around checking on our products to make
sure that the company we are dealing with is giving their customers
a fair price on their collectibles, and that they are not being
hoarded by the store and their employees.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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: Cannot find any new releases on ty beanie babies or buddies.
very frustrating for a working person who can't "hound"
dealers to death. May stop me from collecting altogether.
Opinion: with beanies, I'm very frustrated at not being able to
get new releases. For other collectibles such as antiques, they
have always held my interest. I don't have to act like a fool
to find them.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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With Ty collectibles, it is unfortunate that the stores are so
unfair about who gets the new ones. I wish that all of the stores
had the new ones at a certain time and date. This way, the people
who run from one store to another and hoard and gloat couldn't
do this. With other collectibles, the necessity is not there to
act so quickly because people aren't collecting more than one
in most cases.
Opinion: The fact that collectibles retire, makes the collectible
so desireable. Whether it be a $5.00 beanie or a $200 Lladro,
you see what you want and scramble to get it before it retires.
Thank goodness there are secondary markets to pick up what you
miss and need to have.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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: Make enough of them available for everyone for a period of time
and then stop making them.
Opinion: I think we all get "caught up" in the cuteness
and over do and never recoup our investment......it is our own
addictive behavior.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: Very volatile, but I think Beanies will come through
with flying colors.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would like people to be nicer to each other. A lot of
stores won't hold any beanies even if you live 45 minutes away.
People push and shove to get new beanies and that is wrong.
Opinion: It is the bomb, and fun!!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Allow enough availability so the current collectors have
a chance to buy at normal retail.
Opinion: Manufacturers restrict production too much. They should
have more consideration for their collectors / customers.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would totally wipe out all of those people that try
to overprice collectibles! One of the reasons why I started buying
beanies was they were conveniently priced. Now, the prices are
kind of ridiculous. I'd also scratch all of those beanie related
magazines. Most of them manipulate consumers with their overpowering
lies about how great one product is. Hello! Wake up and smell
the money! They are paid to butter up those companies! I also
think Ty needs to start warning people who unnecessarily slander
his name. If he lets them go on, he's going to find himself buried
ten feet under in the minds and hearts of collectors and peers
alike.
Opinion: I think that it's great to have a collectable. It gives
you something to search for; get your hopes up for. The only problem
is when greedy people take over, it gets quite annoying. I know
many of my friends have stopped buying bean bag animals because
the only places that they can find them are places where people
are taking advantage of our love for them by over pricing. I've
tried to hang on, hoping owners, such as Ty, would try to rectify
the problem, but I'm not sure how much longer I can put up with
these nasty, greedy people.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: There are too many people collecting.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: 1) Make Ltds. truely Limited!
2) Create a special club for faithful followers and give them
special opportunities with special purchases JUST for them. No
other offer to the open public to dilute the Ltd. nature of the
item.
3) Keep new introductions to a level that is obtainable by the
die-hard fan. Sending 24 new product into the marketplace at one
time is ridiculous. Flooding the market with currents is stupid
too!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: The collectible market is created because of an abundance
of "extra dollars" available for spending. Because there
are so many collectibles, the market is becoming diluted. To ensure
a long standing run in the open market, collectibles companies
need to work harder producing products that will withstand the
test of time. Watching the secondary market is a good measure
of the success of a product. Most collectible companies are not
interested in the secondary market. They need to watch it carefully,
however. It is a good barometer of their success!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would try my best to stop all the controlling. To many
publications and books lie and try to get us to buy product that
they get paid to advertise. All collectors need to wise up and
fight back. Only buy what you like and don't listen to all the
misleading info.
Opinion: I love this market but I hate that it's become a business
instead of a hobby. To much control, to many lies, not enough
ty beanies.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I wouldn't
because it make the piece more collectable and valuable
Opinion: it's gone crazy. beanies which are suppose to be for
children and costing hundreds of dollars which no real child can
afford
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: pay less~get more
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: There is so much out there that is neat that it is hard
to stick with just what you can afford.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Make more Beanie Buddies available. Each store only gets
6 and if you are not there when they come in you are out of luck.
Also not let the secondary market up the prices out of reach.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: Basically the collectible market is pretty good. I enjoy
the hunt but get frustrated when some places put them in gift
baskets or you have to buy 6 old beanies to get a new one or you
have to spend $25 in non beanie stuff to get a new one a $19.95.
I have no trouble with PM or Dicken's Village. I usually can find
anything in that line that I want at reasonable prices. It is
the beanies that frustrate me.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I think that ty should make more of each beanie.
Opinion: I think it rocks!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Secondary market should be limited to retired collectibles
only. This could only be enforced by honor.
Opinion: Has been favorable. My daughter is a new collector and
I have been helping her as best I can. Competition keeps
retired prices low and on rare pieces the prices seem fixed
across the board. Collectors seem to fall into two categories:
paranoid and obsessed. Sellers: paranoid. I find this interesting
and frustrating. Not much challenge, who has the money has a pretty
good selection to choose from. What ever happened to let' make
a deal? Oh oogley boogey stop my sniveling, snivle......ok
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would find a way for TY to follow through and really
shut down retailers who sell "out the back door" or
highly overprice the newest releases and/or bears. I have two
children, ages 5 and 10 who love Beanies. It makes me sad when
I'd like to get them "a little something" for something
nice they've done or "just because" and I can't find
TY's newest Beanies at all or fairly priced.
Opinion: It's generally a " heartache hunt" for the
things my kids like, like Beanie Babies, but a "joy"
for me when I can find the things I really like, like old pewter
pieces for reasonable prices.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Ty needs to put a stop to all of this madness before he
loses customers. Too many people control this market.
Opinion: Ms. Janie, I love your new site and appreciate your honesty.
You have always been fair. I hope you continue to do so. One of
the reasons I have continually collected is because you always
gave me the strength to carry one. I always knew I could count
on you for truth, honesty and being straight. This is just what
this market needs. I'm sick of what has become of this industry
and hope Ty can do something about it soon.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I think that ty has done a serious injustice to the serious
beanie collector. By retiring so many and so many new releases
I feel sure will lower the value of collections substantially.
Has he forgotten the secondary market is what keeps the interest
in his product going. Now longtime collectors are just giving
up.
Opinion: I think we have a good range of collections we may wish
to start and more and more are showing up everyday.
I just wish I could afford to start collecting everything I wanted
to. I love the limited treasure and collectacritters.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I know the industry don't have control over the secondary
market, but these people don't give working people a chance when
it comes to buying beanies at retail before they scoop them up
and sell them at these very high prices. By the time working people
get off, the secondary market has already purchased the goods
and set their prices a lot higher than I'm willing to pay for
them. I don't know how we can correct this.
Opinion: I think collecting is fun. I enjoy it very much when
I can find the goods I'm looking for at the price I'm willing
to pay.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Make the prices more uniform from storm to store.
Opinion: The Beanie Baby market has sparked interest in all of
the Ty lines.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I really think when it come to collecting the beanie and
the buddies that the product should be out there. It's pretty
bad when you get to the store and there are hundreds of people
waiting in line, pushing and shouting at others
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would make more efforts to catch counterfeiters both
here and abroad, and I would ensure web sites were correctly pricing
and selling my product.
Opinion: I believe it will continue to grow, but smart consumers
will know what to buy and what not to buy.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Eliminate the secondary market! If selling a ticket at
a football game for a higher price is considered scalping (which
is illegal), then why is selling Beanie Babies or other collectibles
for outrageous prices okay?
Opinion: I think the market has gone crazy! There is not enough
production to meet the demand, therefore, the secondary market
swoops down and makes a killing off the backs of consumers!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: In reference to Beanie Babies...they shouldn't stay on
the market so long...there should be more that are retired quickly...thus
making them more rare and much more sought after...that's what's
so exciting...finding that very elusive one.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would find more animals to make beanies, not just common
ones like most of them are. I would also make beanies current
longer.
Opinion: I think that they retire some beanies to soon, like Zero
the penguin. He was retired soon after getting on the market.
They should let people have more of a chance to buy Beanies while
they're current before they retire them.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: The collectable market is very fun and can also be educational
when used properly. I enjoy collecting beanie babies.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: #1- I would like to see a change in the way that Beanie
babies are being sold. Why & how are all the flea market vendors
able to get all the beanie babies that they want? They sell them
for such high prices. All the stores that we travel around to
say they have trouble getting beanies, WHY??? Ty puts a limit
on the stores, then lets the jerks make a bundle .Is this fare???
Sales people in the stores have us right under their thumb, and
some of them can be very nasty. Why can't we put more sales reps.
out there to have more control over the problem. Storeowners lie
and hold back merchandize for friends .I have met a lot of nice
people standing in line waiting for that special beanie. All we
want is fairness out there .Let me be a roving reporter out in
some of these stores, I'll interview everybody that will talk
to me. Ready to give up the beanie collecting in Pa. I am free
to give a lot of time to this project if need be. Thank you .
Pat
Opinion: IT'S A RATRACE & A DOG EAT DOG WORLD
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: I'm a Beanie Babies collector nut. I like the price ranges
in the market, they make it reasonable for almost everyone. The
people that you meet are always great to talk to. I would like
to thank Ty. I think he is wonderful.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Eliminate the secondary market as being primary source
for purchase when they are first introduced.
Opinion: It is exciting and fun. I have made a lot of new friends
in my quest to find what I am looking for. And I might also add,
I have discovered some really cute stores in places I might never
have visited if I wasn't hunting for something.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: errors??? well I think like in TYs case, the limited amounts
of products plus retirements are what have made him a success.
If everyone could get everything that comes out, would there be
such a demand?? Nope I think TY plans it that way, for sure. My
mom sells beanies, the only thing I wish to change, is to work
on PR with TY retailers, like my mom.
Opinion: antiques are always your best investment, they alone
retain their value. Collectibles are very unstable, like Cabbage
patch, Elmos, baseball cards, ect. Out of all the beanies I feel
only the beanie bears (plus the early rare beanies) will retain
any value. Overall, buyer beware, don't spend a fortune on a beanie.
Invest in antiques, its a sure thing!!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would give it more time to circulate than retiring Beanies
to soon.
Opinion: This is my first time and to me its a game.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would have the prices stabilized so that the everyday
consumer can afford to buy the retireds and currents.
Opinion: I am a collector of a few things and I find I am spending
way to much on retireds and they are to scarce to keep running
after them and waiting on lines. I have an easy time buying Puffkins
and they are not high priced and scarce like the beanie babies
I also collect.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would make some of the collectibles more available so
more people could enjoy them at lower prices.
Opinion: I think the collectible market is a big market that does
quite well. The only problem is the prices.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: LET PEOPLE PRE-ORDER SO THEY CAN BE ASSURED OF GETTING
ALL OF THE NEW SETS THAT COME OUT
Opinion: SECONDARY PRICESN ARE TOO HIGH FOR THE AVERAGE INTERESTED
COLLECTOR
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: make the current *hot* items more accessible and not make
searching for all of a collection such a frantic frenzy
Opinion: I think there are a large number of great collectibles
around today
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would make sure that there was no reason to counterfeit
toys by making them more available.
Opinion: I think it's brutal, but I get happy every time I get
a new beanie baby and I think that's what counts.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I wish I could make Beanies available to the children.
It is hard for them because of the secondary dealers. thanks
Opinion: I think it goes up and down, all those peaks and valleys.
But will level out again soon. I HOPE
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would stop retailers from selling current collectibles
to or on the secondary markets for at least the first six months
of availability.
Opinion: It is generally fairly good out here in western Kansas.
We are usually able to get what we want if we are patient. Collectibles
are great in social settings. Everyone seems to have an interest
and/or opinion.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: I think it is here to stay, but I am tired of the way
some
regular dealers are "back dooring" so much of their
good
stock to secondary market sources, just for that high dollar
quick profit.
In the Ty beanie field it is good to see that most of the
dedicated regular dealers are doing good, and that most of
the bad ones are being restricted or sanctioned by Ty's new
crack downs
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Ty Beanie Babies
come on the market at low quantities which rises the price. After
a while they are worth so much less. Ty should announce how many
of each it will produce.
Opinion: With Internet access it got easier to get pieces one
is interested in. At the same time I see stores use Internet to
price their merchandise. This I find unfair.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I would suggest that the Industry work to increase the
overall interest in their respective products by increasing the
advertising in the most often read publications. Such as Time,
Newsweek, People, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping
etc.
A greater interest will create a greater demand and the greater
demand will increase the overall value of the purchased item after
its initial purchase. Thus creating an even greater interest.
Opinion: There is definitely "Something for everyone"
in today's market.
Today's collectors do think in terms of eventual value later on
and that has guided many people's decisions with regard of what
to collect.
The focus is constantly changing and it will be very interesting
to see where the emphasis will be in five to ten years from now.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Correcting? Errors? Well, communication between retailer
and company might be improved. When I shop for anything it seems
that the "rep" has told the store one thing and something
else happens. Or a shipment of a particular item is promised and
something else comes. In the meantime the store has told the customer
they are getting a particular item and consequently they don't
get it.
Opinion: I enjoy collecting. I've collected dolls since l992 and
recently more on Barbie. I started collecting Beanies in 1997.
I like the "hunt." I like to look for older pieces whether
it be vintage Barbies or retired beanies.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: TRY TO LIMIT
SCALPERS. ITS JUST NOT AS FUN TO SEE THEM TAKEN BY THESE PEOPLE
AND THEN HAVING TO PAY SO MUCH MORE FOR THEM.
Opinion: THE TY BEANIES WE COLLECT IS A FAMILY THING. MY HUSBAND,
TWO BOYS AND I . WE ARE AVERAGE PEOPLE AND CANT AFFORD TOO PAY
THE BIG BUCKS. BUT THE OTHER THING IVE NOTICED IS HOW RUDE SOME
OF THE SALES PEOPLE ARE. THEY HATE BEANIE PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND
SOME PEOPLE ARE RUDE, BUT FOR MOST OF THE TIME MOST OF THE BEANIE
COLLECTORS ARE VERY NICE PEOPLE.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: I think there are too many "copycat" bears out
there trying to capitalize on the success of the Ty beanie bears.
For example, I have been disappointed by the lack of variation
in the Bammers line, it is the same bear design over and over
with different colors and names. I also think Ty and Disney have
really hurt the market by overproducing their beanbag lines.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: In the Beanie Baby market I would like to see some way
to "reign-in" secondary marketers. They generally have
a larger source of capital to work with, and they buy up Beanie
Babies from "authorized" dealers before children and/or
the casual collector even has a chance. Ty may complain about
secondary market prices, but he has created the problem in the
way he distributes Beanie Babies to his authorized dealers. That's
why we see $5.00 bears selling for upwards of $100 - $200, and
some people are desperate or ignorant enough to pay that kind
of money! I'm not sure how limits could be established, but if
I were an authorized dealer I would be suspicious of people wanting
to buy up everything that comes in at one time.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Since I choose to collect, any of the errors would have
to be my own for doing so. As it is, if collecting something becomes
erratic, I will focus on something else. How can you correct something
that is making some "mega bucks" without opting out
of the game?
Opinion: I enjoy collecting. In regard to Beanie Babies, there
is frustration over the "Bear Power" by some dealers.
I find a tendency to start losing interest when the game gets
too commercial, personalities enter in and so, you start collecting
something else. Games grow old!
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Stop products from being copied, only allowing the company
that first made the product be able to sell them. This would cut
out fraud and people being taken advantaged of when purchasing
the wrong item.
Opinion: Overall the collectible market is good. The prices may
sometime get out outrageous but they do go down.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Depending on the collectible, I would see to it that production
of the pieces is well underway before I announce a new product.
This does not just affect bean bag collectibles, but other areas
as well. I would also make sure that limited editions and special
market pieces are noted as such. I would also expand communications
and offers for collector club members. For example, Seraphim angels
may only put out one special edition piece a year, generally around
Christmas time. The pieces are limited and often expensive. As
many people are shopping for the holidays, it is often difficult
to get the pieces due to budgetary constraints. However, if the
edition were issued in the spring or fall, many collectors would
have better opportunity to receive the piece.
Opinion: Again, depends on the collectible. Secondary market for
some items can be outrageous, but if the market will bear it,
then it will continue to be so. Some collectibles have no real
secondary market, mainly, I believe, because of the expense to
acquire on the primary market (such as Lladro and Armani pieces).
Like anything else, the market will fluctuate regardless of the
collectible. A savvy collector will know "when to hold 'em,
know when to fold 'em"
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: I think it is getting too crowded. Not everything we
collect today is going to have value in the future.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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errors: Part of the appeal of a collectible is actually being
able to find and collect them. If a collectible is scarce on the
retail level, but widely available on the secondary market, the
industry may be turning product over, but not to the benefit of
the collector, who pays secondary prices. If product was more
readily available - not flooded - on the retail level, the secondary
dealers wouldn't have the cash cow they have now.
Opinion: Collectibles should be generally available to those people
who are interested in purchasing them. Special/limited editions
are great, but the unavailability (i.e., beanie babies) makes
most people I know and collect with very frustrated. I don't have
18 hrs a day to drive around the city looking for beanies. I much
more enjoy hunting for and anticipating the announced arrival
of D56 houses - - - especially since I know no one will knock
me down or snatch something out of my hand trying to buy it.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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Opinion: Out of hand--everything
is now classified as a collectible.
submit: Send it to Ms Janie!
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