Many may wonder why some webmasters shy away from unofficial news and photos from Ty. This past weekend has brought new surprises of Ty photos, which have not been officially released. These photos have probably been viewed by many including myself. . I have received many notes asking about these photos and wondering if they are real! For this reason I felt it was important to voice my opinion so that collectors understand why I chose not to link or post these photos on my sites.

One example of many is as follows:

I was just on a site that posted pics claiming that they are of clubby 4 and the clubby jingle beanies.
This site links to yours and they claim to be "friends" of yours. They also claim to have a pic of the new Bopper that is leaded to on the BBOC. Are these pics accurate, and do you know of the authenticity of them? Have you seen them? Your thoughts would be appreciated. By the way, you do such a great job with your newsletter everyday, and I just wanted to be added to the list of many that say thanks for your hard work. I consider you an authority and one that can be trusted in this faceless community of the web. Thanks again. Steve
(please feel free to edit and post in news letter)

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First off it's important that the record be set straight! I am not affiliated with Ty nor am I under any agreement signed or otherwise from Ty Inc.

I have chosen to extend a courtesy and understanding between my site and Ty.
Back in November 1999 many webmasters were sent the following note from Annie Nickels. Ms. Nickels is a Ty affiliate and is also a well-known spokesperson for Ty.

Dear Internet Friends,
It's getting close to "that time" again and we're sure that there will be many rumors of new Beanies afloat. As we have in the past, we are asking your cooperation in keeping these rumors under control. Your assistance in rumor control is a vital part of the "surprise" element involving Beanie Baby introductions. We appreciate your cooperation greatly. Many of you have wondered why we at Ty don't want rumored pictures of our new introductions on the Internet until we officially introduce them on our own website. We'd like to explain.

As you know, Ty never ships product before it is announced on our official website. Obviously we must have all of the new Beanie Babies in stock quite some time before the announcement is made so that we can immediately ship them to our stores. We want you, the consumer, to be able to purchase them as soon as possible. To do this, we must make a great number well in advance of the announcement. Therefore, if any Beanies appear on the Internet before our official website announcement, they are either stolen or counterfeit. It really is that simple.

No reputable store or website should want to deal in stolen or counterfeit merchandise. Not surprisingly, attorneys general look very unfavorably at this practice as well. But what's even more important to us at Ty. . . the fun is taken out of the announcement when pictures and poems and tags are shown before they become official. It's exciting for everyone to learn of the new Beanies, visit their favorite authorized Ty retailer, and then begin the hunt! If everyone knows beforehand, then a stolen or fake Beanie has spoiled the anticipation. And isn't the anticipation and the "thrill of the find" what it's all about? We think so.

We hope this clears up any questions you may have regarding this matter. If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. As well, if you receive any information and or pictures regarding new releases, please let me know before posting them.

We like to thank each and every one of you for the support you've shown us this past year. You do a remarkable job keeping the public well informed. We greatly appreciate it! We wish you the happiest of holidays and Beanie filled New Year!

Please feel free to pass this letter on to other Beanie webmasters you may know. Best regards,

Annie Nickels
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Each webmaster owns and operates their site as they see fit. I am not condemning them for doing so but do wish to point out that I strive to offer the positive aspect of this hobby and the fun that can be connected to collecting. Many of these webmasters are friends and I hope they understand the reason for this open statement. I could no longer ignore the situation and continuous flow of e-mail. I had to explain my position so that others understood why I had not addressed the news or photos.

Ty has asked for my cooperation in keeping these rumors under control. My assistance in rumor control is a vital part of the "surprise" element involving Beanie Baby introductions. I do my best to honor these requests. Others may see it differently. This does NOT make me better than anyone else! It's simply a choice I have chosen to respect, honor and abide by!

Although we all enjoy a good rumor from time to time and I have been known for posting a few myself, I always try to clarify that it is a rumor as not to mislead anyone!
This hobby is on the verge of losing its innocence and I will not contribute to it!

Some may question my comments and point to the fact that I have posted unofficial show reports. Please allow me to explain. Although in many cases I did receive photos along with these reports I chose not to share them. All reports should be viewed as information that is unofficial until the news is released from Ty. I do trust my sources and rely on them for news. I am very careful about whom I post news from and try to maintain professionalism in doing so. The bottom line is, photos speak volumes and in my opinion should only be released by Ty.

Our world has been inundated with uncertainties and I must do my part to ensure a positive outlook and influence, even with Beanies!

Please support and respect my decision and continue to enjoy this hobby for what its worth.

Sincerely,
Ms. Janie