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Toolkit for Collectors
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www.beanwatcher.com
Bean Watcher
News and Reports for Beanbag Collectors
This site exists for your enjoyment. My goal is to make your beanbag collecting experience more enjoyable. I focus on Ty products
-- Beanie Babies, Beanie Buddies, Beanie Boppers, and more. I do not receive any financial compensations whatsoever --
I prepare it because of the joy that it brings to me and others. I hope you'll enjoy the news, photographs, and articles that you see.
So grab a beverage, sit back, and enjoy the read! ~ Bean Watcher
Worldwide News and Reports
Friday Edition
Happy Collecting!
Bean Watcher
Latest Ask Ty Response Posted
Illinois, USA
May 9, 2008
 Ty has posted his response to this week's winning Ask Ty question. Here is the question and his response:
Q: What's the silliest question anyone has ever asked you? (submitted by whataworld)
A: Hmmm . . . maybe "What's you're favorite kind of breakfast cereal?"
The Latest Videos Posted on Ty.com
Illinois, USA
May 9, 2008
 Ty has posted four new videos on Ty.com. As before, the videos feature Beanie Babies, Beanie Babies 2.0s, and/or Ty Girlz. The titles of the videos follow:
Picture Day -- New Cat -- Attack of the Killer Bees -- Sleepover -- tygirls fun
To view the videos, click here.
In-Hand Pictures of Heartland
Canada
May 8, 2008
 A reader from Canada shares her in-hand pictures of Heartland the bear.  Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing your pictures with us!
From the Email Bag: More About the Churchill Downs' Derby 134
California, USA
May 8, 2008
 Dan from California shares his personal experience when attempting to order the Churchill Downs' version of Derby 134 the horse. He writes (slightly edited):
I called the phone number you had listed as soon as the store opened this morning. I explained to the person that I would like some of the (Churchill Downs' Derby 134) horses. They said that they had about 20 of them left with the hologram. I asked if they had the ones with the green Churchill Downs hologram tag. They said, "no," they had the ones with the regular hologram hang tag.
I explained the situation to the person who answered the phone. She said there was nothing special about the tag. Someone just placed them on the horses as a courtesy for the buyer. She said she just sold 10 to a pervious caller and would put the green tag on them.
At this point I don't k now what is going to happen. I am waiting for a call back. I probably won't be getting them, as they will all be gone. My own thoughts are that they are not special -- they are just a way for secondary sellers to hype it up to make some money.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for your email. Based on my own experiences, I find that many order takers have no clue what collectors are talking about. Quite often, you will receive different responses from different individuals to the same question. It's best to call at least two or three times -- to see if you will receive the same -- or different -- responses.
The Churchill Downs' Derby 134 Beanie Babies
Kentucky and Indiana, USA
May 7, 2008
 Rhona from Indiana shares her pictures of Derby 134 the horse with an extra Churchill Downs (versus Kentucky Derby) hang tag. She writes:
The Kentucky Derby Museum’s gift shop “finishline” and “The Churchill Downs Gift shop” have received a limited number of Derby 134 horses. All these horses have the extra Churchill downs hang tag. (Click here to see the back side of the tag). Because of the limited number available at this time they can only be purchased at the gift shops themselves and not thru the web site. I was told the gift shops are accepting phone orders. The phone number I use is 502-637-1111 extension 231.
The style number for the Churchill Downs' Derby 134 is 40730 -- the same as the retail version.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing your report and pictures with us !
The Hunt for Gimmy
California, USA
May 6, 2008
 A reader from California shares his report of his hunt for and pictures of the "Sweden exclusive," Gimmy. He writes (slightly edited):
After searching since its introduction on March 30, 2007, I finally found the elusive Sweden exclusive Boblins named Gimmy! I was almost ready to write this one off as being nonexistent! As luck would have it, I found and was able to buy two of these Gimmy's from a store in the UK that I found on-line. They both arrived today in MWMT Condition. I am attaching some photo's for you to share with your readers. As you will see, Gimmy sports the UK Style hang tag as well as an additional UK Tag similar to those you would find on Canadian Beanies. The style number is 40608, the same style number that is on Gully, the non-Swedish version of this Boblins Beanie.
To see the inner right side of Gimmy's hang tag, click here. To see the inner left side, click here. To see the tush tag, click here.
Bean Watcher comments: (1) Thank you for sharing your report and pictures with us ! (2) Part of the fun of collecting beanies is searching for something that is hard-to-find...!
The Latest Videos Posted on Ty.com
Illinois, USA
May 6, 2008
Ty has posted five new videos on Ty.com. As before, the videos feature Beanie Babies, Beanie Babies 2.0s, and/or Ty Girlz. The titles of the videos follow:
Vines Being Cool -- Ty Girls Baby!!! -- Bungie Jumping -- Beanie Picnic -- BB 2.0 Sizzle
To view the videos, click here.
In-Hand Pictures of the Game Exclusive Dora
Louisiana, USA
May 5, 2008
 Joyce from Louisiana shares her in-hand pictures of the Chicago Cubs game-exclusive version of Dora the Explorer. Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing your pictures with us !
Ty Girlz Twice the Fun Event
USA and Canada
May 5, 2008
 Your Friends at Ty have sent an email, informing subscribers about the Buy One, Get One Free! offer at participating Ty retailers.
Report on Walmart's Exclusive Golden Compass DVD Gift Pack
Illinois and California, USA
May 3 - 4, 2008
 In my April 9, 2008 column, I posted a report from Xavier in Illinois, who shared the news that Walmart is offering an exclusive Golden Compass DVD Gift Pack. Here is the main portion of the report:
Since I posted the article, the gift pack has arrived and a few collectors have them in hand. One reader in California shares the following report:
I got the new Wal-Mart Golden Compass DVD... with the Siberia Beanie Baby. All of the DVD's, both Full and Wide Screen, had the same version of Siberia. The Style # is the same as before, 40662. The only difference is that the left inside panel of the Hang Tag, under The Beanie Babies Collection, has the Golden Compass name and art work on it. I was a little surprised as I thought this Siberia would have a different Style number like the Wilbur and Gussy Wal-Mart DVD versions did.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing your report with us. If style number differences are important to you, please pay close attention to the reader's report above.
The Latest Videos Posted on Ty.com
Illinois, USA
May 3 - 4, 2008
Ty has posted five new videos on Ty.com. As before, the videos feature Beanie Babies, Beanie Babies 2.0s, and/or Ty Girlz. The titles of the videos follow:
Rockstar -- Quackly's Big Adventure -- Bigfoot -- Singing Contest -- Singing with Duchess
To view the videos, click here.
From the Email Bag: Retirement of J. J. Yeley #18
Maryland, USA
May 3 - 4, 2008
A reader from Maryland asked when the Beanie Baby, J. J. Yeley #18 had retired from Ty Store. Not knowing the exact date, I wrote to Ty Store's Customer Service staff and received the following response:
J.J. Yeley #18 Beanie Baby retired on 02/21/2008.
So there you have it, straight from Ty, Inc. itself.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for writing!
Latest Ask Ty Response Posted
Illinois, USA
May 2, 2008
Ty has posted his response to this week's winning Ask Ty question. Survivor? American Idol? or Beanie News? Just ask Ty!
Q: What's one TV show that you always watch? (submitted by mukluk04)
A: I'm usually too busy to watch TV, but I try to catch the nightly news !
Announcing the May 2008 Introductions
Illinois, USA
May 1, 2008
 Today, Ty officially announces the May 2008 introductions. Here they are:
Heartland Officially Introduced
Illinois, USA
May 1, 2008
 Today, Ty officially announces the introduction of Heartland the bear. This Beanie Baby 2.0 style is clearly has a US Independence Day theme: its birthday is July 4, 2008. To see the official introduction and place your order for this Ty Store item, click here.
Patriotic to be Introduced
USA
May 1, 2008
 A source shares the news that a new Ty Classic called Patriotic will be a May 2008 introduction.
From the Email Bag: Not a Breast Cancer Dora, but Dora del Tenis
USA
May 1, 2008
A reader from California shares the following email about yesterday's article about a breast cancer Dora. He writes:
I saw your article yesterday regarding the Breast Cancer Dora that was listed on eBay. I'm pretty sure that this was just a "regular" Dora Del Tenis being sold to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. What was thought to be a new Hang Tag poem:
To those we've lost and those we love
Our promise is to rise above
We know we'll beat this, that's for sure
Support the cause, help find a cure !
seems to be a slogan of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation as this same poem is listed in all of this sellers auctions for various Beanie Babies. I checked it out pretty good last night, and I'm pretty sure this isn't a "new" Beanie release.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing your observation. I guess we will know for sure in the months ahead if this beanie is really an unannounced style or if it is the same beanie as Dora del Tenis....
An Unannounced Breast Cancer Dora ?
California, USA
April 30, 2008
 Marlene from Canada shares news of what appears to be an unannounced Dora Beanie Baby.
To those we've lost and those we love
Our promise is to rise above
We know we'll beat this, that's for sure
Support the cause, help find a cure !
Bean Watcher comments: (1) Thank you for sharing the news with us! (2) Of particular interest is the hang tag attached to Dora. The tag has the word Beanies (not Beanie Babies) printed on it. Such tags are characteristic of Ty, UK beanies.
Heartland is Silently Introduced
Illinois, USA
April 30, 2008
 Brendan from Massachusetts, webmaster of Sloth it Up!, shares news of a silently introduced Beanie Baby 2.0 (BB 2.0) bear.
With all my heart it's plain to see
I love this land where I am free
And no matter where I roam
The USA will be my home.
To see a picture of this bear, click here.
Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing the news with us!
Lefty and Righty are Officially Introduced
Illinois, USA
April 30, 2008
 Ty has officially introduced Lefty the donkey and Righty the elephant on the Beanie Babies 2.0 website. Along with Heartland, graphics, poems, and birthdays of both political-themed styles can be found. To see the graphic of Lefty, click here. To see the graphic of Righty, click here.
Japan's Golden Week Begins
Japan
April 29, 2008
 Today (April 29, 2008) begins one of the longest holiday periods in Japan.
April 29: Sho-wa Day (honors the birthday of Emperor Hirohito)
May 3: Constitution Memorial Day (celebrates the promulgation of the 1947 Constitution in Japan)
May 4: Greenery Day (a day to commune with nature, be thankful for blessings, and foster an abundant spirit).
May 5: Children's Day also known as Boys' Day
For more information about Golden Week, click here.
The Latest Japanese Beanie Baby Promotions
Tokyo, Japan
April 29, 2008
 Sakurako from Japan, webmaster of Bottega Beanies shares news of the latest promotional Beanie Babies from her country. Bean Watcher comment: Thank you for sharing the news with us!
The Latest Videos Posted on Ty.com
Illinois, USA
April 29, 2008
Ty has posted four new videos on Ty.com. As before, the videos feature Beanie Babies, Beanie Babies 2.0s, and/or Ty Girlz. The titles of the videos follow:
Ty Dance! -- Dreams -- Vanilla Party -- frankn monkey
To view the videos, click here.
Lefty and Righty - Cracker Barrel Exclusives?
USA
April 28, 2008
 I have been asked by a few collectors if Lefty and Righty are Cracker Barrel Old Country Store exclusives. Based on their style numbers, they likely are not.
Since Lefty and Righty have style numbers that begin with 42, it appears that they are intended to be sold as non-exclusive BB 2.0s. Hopefully, we'll know for sure in the days ahead....!
Hang Tag Information for Lefty and Righty
Massachusetts, USA
April 28, 2008
 Brendan from Massachusetts, webmaster of Sloth it Up, has posted the hang tag information and dates of birth for the unannounced Beanie Babies 2.0s styles, Lefty the donkey and Righty the elephant. Here they are....
Bean Watcher update: Please note that the official names of the two beanies above (Lefty and Righty) is in contrast to the initial report I received from the Cracker Barrel in St. Louis, MO (Lefty 2008 and Righty 2008). Bean Watcher comments:
Beanies Have Changed...
USA
April 26 - 27, 2008
 At the beginning of the year, I had great hopes for the new beanies. But instead of generating more excitement, interest appears to have waned. At times, it has been a struggle to maintain a daily (or nearly daily) column.
I had planned to permanently retire this site because of time commitments. But it seems that when I am away from the hobby I love, I miss it. So I have decided (at least for the time being) to update this site on an as-needed basis. There will be times when you will see daily updates, and times when you may not see any updates for days.
Things have certainly changed this year. Let's hope that the cha |
