The Internet provides Collectors an opportunity to buy, sell and trade. The World Wide Web is allowing people to communicate with each other all over the world. Unfortunately, many people are not computer literate. Another toy manufacturer is selling a snake named SLITHERS. Of course, the quality and design is obviously not the same as Ty's Beanie Baby. Regardless, there has been some confusion because of the similar size, name, and the red tongue. Most of us are very aware of the red heart Ty tags and the Ty sewn in tags, but some newcomers are just confused because of the name!! The Ty Beanie Baby SLITHER is retired and the price in November, 1997 is $900.00-$1,200.00!!!

Once again the Beanie rumors are flying around in Beanie Land. Mystic the Unicorn is at the top of the list for discussion. Some of us old timers in Beanie Collecting remember last years rumor about the iridescent horn on Mystic. Well, in August, 1997, three had surfaced again!! A very nice lady called me last August because she had just made a trade with someone in California. She had traded a Peace and Tabasco for this unique iridescent horn Mystic. Well, the ending is happy because she was wise enough to wait before she sent her Peace and Tabasco. Instead, she is sending back this re designed (and not from the Ty Company) Mystic!! She was uncomfortable with the design and quality of this iridescent horn.

We will all have to wait and see if Ty does in fact redesign Mystic. If he does, there will be many out there to buy!! If you really want to speculate, then buy the original Mystic now!!

In the past and present, I always caution Collectors before they trade or buy, to look at the Beanie and ask themselves "Could this thread be easily removed?" as in the case of Inky without the mouth; Spooky without the black thread or minus the red felt mouth; Lucky missing the black glued-on felt spots. Often times, these little additions just fall off or come loose. This does not warrant any higher prices and/or is not an unusual design change.

All of the retired New Face Teddy Bears, Curly, Peace, Garcia and Teddy Brown have a small thread under their chins. If this little thread comes loose, it does not pull down his little nose and changes the look of the Teddy. He then resembles the retired old face bears. However, the eyes are not placed properly on his face either! This is not a Ty redesign or style change. This Beanie should not demand a higher price. He just needs a good plastic surgeon for a face lift!!

Beanie Lovers, please just ask yourself the magical question. Could someone add this or that? If there is a manufacturing error or style change, there will be hundreds and thousands of the Beanies!! Some very nice people are making mistakes and buying altered merchandise for higher prices when they should not!! Then they get stuck and try to resell and they are then being accused of altering the Beanie!! Be sure and ask the seller where they bought the Beanie. If they start stuttering a little and have lapse of memory ... well .... Buyer Beware!!

Many Maple the Canadian Bear has the Special Olympic tag added by the Special Olympic Organization and not by the Ty of Canada Inc. The price should be the same price of Maple/Maple which currently is selling for $100.00-$150.00. There are many enthusiastic collectors who are being tricked into buying copied "Special Olympic" tagged Beanies! This Beanie's tag is not copyrighted so out comes the crooks and they are duplicating and adding the tags to Maple/Maple and charging tremendous amounts of money for something that is only worth the price of the Ty Maple/Maple Bear!!!!! Be careful when spending your money and BEWARE of the price fixers in BeanieLand!!! This is an old trick in the collectable market and is unethical!!!

Garcia says "Click on one of us beanies to E-mail Beanie Phenomenon!" We welcome your comments , although regretfully, we cannot answer all Questions sent in.