My new friend Beate shares her views on the Ty Market in Germany.
Ty products are still in high demand, despite
the fact that the prices have gone up by 30%.
Due to this price increase, people only collect what they exactly
want and really don't buy any extra's anymore, just because they
are cute.
There is a lot of "bundling" going on here in Germany,
or the price of a retired or hard to find beanie is simply outrageous.
For example, BF Spangle cost at one location DM DM199 (about $95),
at the next one DM 49.99 ($24) plus you had to purchase 4 older
non bear items which weren't selling at DM 14.95 ($7) each.
You have to be on an ordering list with these dealers, or you
won't even see any of the newly released bears at all until the
3rd or 4th shipment, or ever? This happened with the Sept.99 released
bears. Yes, I'd say the bears are very popular.
Counterfeits are mostly a problem at flea markets, shows and second-hand
dealers. I'd say that highest ranking are Libearty, Garcia, Maple
and Britannia.
I have even gone as far as to report a first-hand dealer displaying
an easy to spot counterfeit Libearty under the "name names
to Ty email", needless to say to no avail :-((.
This toy storeowner approached his Ty rep with the issue, which
in turn just shrugged his shoulders. :-( The Ty rep could've cared
less, much to the dismay of the toy store owner, who is really
fond of the Ty products (has outrageous prices though :-Oh, well.
The buddies and beanies are received very well. Buddy favorites
are the retired Signature2000 and the Ty2K. Among the 20 new released
Beanie Babies, of course the bears are an all time favorite. Sakura
is in high demand, I'd say equally to Germania Buddy. Aurora,
Swoop and Swampy lead the popularity in the non bear category.
In all I'd say that the trading has slowed down just as I hear
it has on the U.S market.
At the shows, the dealers have to sell their Ty products nearly
at retail price, or have no sales at all :-((.
The announcement, that Ty had planned to stop making beanies took
an immense plunge to the interest of collecting his products.
The Ty Baby line has died out, and the Classics are just too expensive.
German collectors, as I'm sure others as well are disappointed
with the feel and look of the Germania Buddy, which to this date
Ty has not even felt he should officially, announce. They feel
that Germania Buddy is only a different version of Fuzz Buddy,
which was not a favorite among German collectors.
Needless to say, it is still our elusive country buddy and "bundling"
is hotter than ever over him, or you pay $100 right out to purchase
him, if you can find him displayed.
With the American exchanges here in Germany, raffles are in. You
have to buy a Ty product and then in addition pay another $1 to
enter the raffle for any of the new 20 releases. When your name
is drawn, you get to buy the Ty product at very varying prices,
ranging anywhere from $10-50, depending on the style. I always
felt very bad for the American families stationed over here, when
I saw those dealers. They are set up in the military shopping
centers. You have to win the right to buy!!!!!!!! :-((((
Many of them pass by, knowing they have to wait months before
the new releases become common and they can find them elsewhere,
like downtown, at a reasonable price.
News today are that the dealers who attended the toy fair in Nuernberg
in Feb., were told that the Beanie Kids are on back order again
:-(. So, besides these 12 stores, which Ty has picked for the
"German premiere of the Beanie Kids", the rest will
probably not receive them until the late summer.
I hope to have shed some light on the German Ty product market
for you Ms. Janie and wish you the best. Feel free to contact
me anytime :-))
Thank you, Beate :-)