August News

... Beanie Babies Current List
2:45 pm EDT ... The latest Beanie Babies (from the Atlanta Show) ... as well as the Zodiac Beanies, are now noted on the Current Beanie List on Ty's site.
Visit Ty Beanie Babies

... September Info Beanie
Update: 1:15 EDT ...
Per the Ty website:

Thursday August 31, 2000 12:02 p.m.

Woo Hoo! Rufus is the September Info Beanie! I can't wait to see his reaction when I tell him! I'll talk to you later. Bye!

Click here to read the Diary

... Info Beanie
12:15 pm ... India has announced in the Info Beanie Diary ... on Ty's site (German edition) ... that Rufus is September's Info Beanie. It states:
(German:)
Rufus ist so glücklich, dass er das Info Beanie für September ist!
(English translation:)
Rufus is so lucky that he is the Info Beanie for September!
www.ty.com

(Look for the "English" announcement this afternoon)

... Ty Newsflash
9:10 am ... Ty has introduced 8 Attic Treasures this morning: Max, Basil, Greyson, Birch, Alfalfa, Merwyn, North, and Klause .... and 9 Classics: Flecks, Penny, Skootch, Jeeves, Pearl, Blossom, Rags, Flopper, and Max. You can check them all out at the following link:
http://www.ty.com/announcements/prod_intro0831.html

... Greyson, the Attic Treasure
As you probably know, there have been many reports about Greyson, the Attic Treasure. Ms. Janie has posted a picture, along with tags. If you are interested in viewing it, click here.

... Zodiac Beanies are Arriving
A reader has reported to MBBBW that UPS made a surprise delivery of Zodiac Beanies to a Ty retailer in Frankfurt, Illinois. The special shipment included 12 each of the Pig, Dragon, Rat, Horse, Tiger and Dog ... one per customer was allowed. Might want to be on the lookout for some to show up in your area soon!

... Ty Newsflash
11:20 am ... Steg the Beanie Buddy has retired. (21 Buddies were introduced at the Dallas Gift Show 8/24/-27 ... and officially announced on Ty's website July 10th. This is the first Buddy from that group to retire!) Click on the following link to view the announcement:
http://www.ty.com/announcements/steg_ret_0830.html

... Ty Trade News
The "Ty Trade News" on tytrade.com now reads "Coming Soon" ... it previously read "Coming in August 2000". Guess we'll just keep waiting!

... Ariel Auction on eBay
Remember the Harrison Ford/Ty Warner autographed Ariel on Ty Trade? (The closing bid was $1,060. and all proceeds were donated to the Elizabeth Glaser PedAIDS Foundation.) Cajun Connection has reported to us that this Beanie is now up for auction on eBay, complete with the Certificate of Authenticity. To view the auction, click here.

... Ariel Auctions
4:50 pm EDT ... An Andre Agassi autographed Ariel has been added to the auction list on Ty Trade.

Note: The Dustin Hoffman autographed Ariel auction on Ty Trade closed today at 12:00 CDT. It appears there was another gliche in the system, as it read a closing price of $100,000,010. (I would asuume that it probably closed at around $1,000.)
View the closed bid here

... Ty Trade Ariel Auction
2:00 pm EDT ... Although quite obviously a typo / error on the Tom Cruise autographed Ariel auction on Ty Trade, the current bid (with 17 bids) is $103,000,010. Now THAT'S an expensive Beanie!!! Visit www.tytrade.com to view!
Update: 3:15 pm ... The error has been correctly! (Decimal points make a big difference, but it was funny and rather eye-catching!) It now reads that the Tom Cruise Ariel auction is currently at $1,030 and Nicole Kidman's is at $1,020

... Bid4beans - New Auction Site
11:00 am EDT ... A new online Bean Bag Auction site, bid4beans.com, is now officially open for Bean Bag collectors! AND ... it's FREE to use, whether you're buying or selling. Might want to check it out soon.

... Clubby III Beanie and Buddy Set
Smart Collecting is reporting that Platinum and Gold members of the Beanie Babies Official Club will be receiving a newsletter from the club in the mail which will provide ordering information for a Clubby III Beanie and Buddy set. Clubby III is brown in color with spots of blue. He sports a blue ribbon trimmed in silver and a BBOC pin on his chest. Click here for link to Smart Collecting for more information.
Note: Ms. Janie also refers to a message on the Ty Talk Cyberboard regarding a Clubby III offer. Click here for the message.

... Beanie Spotlight
12:30 am ... Roary, the Lion, is in the 'Beanie Spotlight' on pbbags. Roary is a special Beanie because "he is the only Beanie Baby to have made a guest appearance on NBC's Today Show". To read all about him, click here.

... Ty Update
Where are they? The last 4 Beanie kids (Princess, Cookie, Calypso, and Buzz) introduced by Ty are nowhere to be found on the website. Neither are the last Beanie Babies (from the Atlanta Show). The Zodiac Beanie Newsflash will probably be removed soon ... perhaps they will all be added to the 'current' list at that time.

There are just three days left to vote for the Info Beanie for September. Currently, Rufus is still leading by a narrow margin (16.6%) vs Ariel (15.1%). If you haven't voted yet, you can do so by clicking here.

The Ty Trade News section on the site still says "Coming in August 2000" ... there's not much time left!

And the Dustin Hoffman Autographed Ariel Auction ends tomorrow, 8/29, at 12:00 CDT. The current winning bid is $1,340.

... Earth Bears
Retail stores and e-commerce sites are using Earth Bears plush collectible bear line by donating bears and proceeds from sales to wildlife and environmental non-profit organizations. We have received an email from Earth Bears which you may find quite interesting. Click here for more information.

... Who are Klause, North, Merwyn and Alfalfa?
Are there new Ty Attic Treasures on the horizon? At a Trade Fair ("Tendence") in Frankfurt, Germany (8/25-29) ... these Attics were reportedly seen. Visit the link below for more information about the Show.
http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/details/frankfort.html

... The New Gang
Speaking of Beanie Kids, Beanie Mom has a cute group photo of the four newest Kids ... Cookie, Princess, Calypso, and Buzz. Click here to view the pic.

... Beanie Kids With Their New Ty Gear
In September, you should be able to dress up your Beanie Kids in new fashions. You'll have a choice of a witch, a ballerina, firefighter, ballbase or soccer outfit, and more. If you want to take a peek at what they look like, BBW has some pics for you to check out ... visit here.

... The Primitive Collector
As you probably know, Ms. Janie is a very talented writer. Her articles are always quite interesting and informative. "The Primitive Collector", her most recent article, will guide you through the art of collecting, how we evolved and what to look for when you spot your prey. She has also included some wise tips about online auctions. You can read the article by clicking here.

... News from the Ty Retailer Page
This was posted on the Ty retailer's site:
Sales results indicate that consumers respond more positively to Beanie Kids when they have a good hair day! Because Beanie Kids have "human qualities," it's important to style and groom the hair....just like we all do! Most of us don't slick our hair straight back (okay maybe a few of us do...) or wear our hair standing straight up...(okay Don King does)...for the most part...we wear bangs, or we part our hair...at the very least we style it. Want to sell more Beanie Kids? Make sure they're having a good hair day!

... Thanks to Ms. Janie for sending the above info!

... Do You Have Extra Speckles?
I have received many emails, and seen on the Ty Cyberboard, of collectors who accidentally ordered multiple Speckles through Ty Trade. Some thought their order did not go through correctly and reordered. Now they have quite a few extras. Ty Trade has posted a note ... if you wish to return any extra Speckles, click here to see what you can do!

... Zodiac Beanie Pics
4:45 pm ... Allan and Stephanie have shared with us their link showing all the Zodiac Beanies on one page.
Click here to view

... Additional Charity Auctions - Ty Trade
3:25 pm - Ty Trade has added Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman autographed Ariel Beanie Babies to the site this afternoon ... both auctions end September 3rd.

... Ty Trade Charity Auctions
1:02 pm EDT ... The auctions have ended for the following autographed Ariel Beanie Babies on Ty Trade:
Richard Gere ... $2,810 (16 bids)
Winona Ryder .. $1,030 (10 bids)

Note: A summary of all the Charitable Auctions can be found at the bottom of this page.

... Ty Warner Acquires San Ysidro Ranch
Although the sale of the San Ysidro Ranch was rumored to be in the works in May, the acquisition was officially announced yesterday. The historic hotel resort (500 acres with ocean view) has been sold to Ty warner for an undisclosed amount of money.
Click here for additional information

... Source: Beanieholics

... Ty Newsflash ... Zodiac Beanies!
6:10 pm ... Ty has announced the Zodiac Beanie Babies in a Newflash this afternoon. All 12 of the newest Beanies can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.ty.com/announcements/zodiac_intro.html

Thanks to all of you who sent in the news! (A personal 'emergency' caused a slight delay in posting the information.) Now the decision, which to buy ... I bet you can't buy 'just one'!!! :)

Note: The "Beanie Quest" Newsflash (annoucing the 'Atlanta' Beanies) has been removed. I anticipate that group will shortly be added to the current list on Ty's site.

... Ty Newslash Removed
The Ty Newsflash, announcing the retirement of Attic Treasure Berkley, has been removed ... he has now been added to the retired Attic Treasures' list. (The "Beanie Quest" announcement is still there, showing the 13 newest Beanie Babies from Atlanta.) Perhaps another retirement soon? What shall we 'expect' next?

... Ty Trade Update
10:00 am ... The Richard Gere and Winona Ryder auctions for Charity end tomorrow at 12:00 CDT on Ty Trade. (A summary of all the auctions and their closing bids can be found at the bottom of this page.)

Also, "Ty Trade News" on the Ty Trade site still says "Coming in August 2000" ... guess we should "expect" that soon!?

... September Info Beanie
You only have a few days left to vote for next month's Info Beanie, if you haven't done so already. Currently, Rufus is in the lead (with 17.1%), Ariel is second (15.0%), and Cheezer is third (8.7%).
Vote for September Info Beanie here

... Celebrity Bears - Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus
On November 1st - Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are coming to town, via Celebrity Bears. What a cute pair! Both are complete with their little red suit, hat, black boots, and mittens. Pictures are posted on the Celebrity Bears website ... (I do have a few of these collectibles; these are two I will definitely look for!)
Click here for Mrs. Claus
Click here for Santa
Is there a Celebrity Bear Retailer in your area? Click here

... Thanks to Beanieholics for sharing this information

... Survey Results - Part 2
Ms. Janie has posted the second part of her collector's survey. You can view the results by clicking here.

... BBOC Update
"Want to know what's next? Here's a clue" ... is stated on Ty's BBOC site. If you want to play, go to http://www.beaniebabyofficialclub.com/.

If you haven't figured it out, and want 'clues', click here.

...Thanks, Ms Janie

... Ty Newsflash
2:30 pm ... Ty has retired Attic Treasure Berkley today. You can view the announcement by clicking here.

... Ty Trade
Update: 2:30 pm ... Ty Trade is back up and running. If it shuts back down, it's probably only temporary ... just keep trying!

1:15 pm ... When you click on tytrade.com, the following message appears:

We're sorry.
Our site is temporarily unavailable due to extraordinary volume at this time.
We will be back momentarily. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Ty Trade

... Beanie Kids
For the first time, I saw LOTS of Beanie Kids available for retail at a local Mall, even Curly and Chipper who retired earlier this month. (None of the newest four were available yet.) My inclination is that perhaps more will retire soon! (Wonder when the last 4 that were introduced will appear on Ty's current list? The Newflash was posted, they're showing up at retailers, but not listed on Ty's site!)

Also, there are quite a few listings on Ty's site with "photo coming soon", such as the Germania Buddy. What is "soon"?

... Lurkey
Well, you've seen the pictures on Ty's site of the newest Beanie Babies introduced. "Frankie" has sent a link for one on an eBay auction, if you want to take a peek.
Cick here to view the auction

... New Beanies - on one page
Allan and Stephanie has always done a great job posting pictures of the newest releases by Ty. They have sent an email informing us that the page has been updated with the new 'Atlanta' Beanies. It's a great way to view all of them on one page!
Click here to view the page

... Charity Auction - Ariel
1:05 EDT ... The autographed Hillary Clinton / Ty Ariel Beanie Baby has closed. The winning bid was $3,510 (with 7 bids placed).
To view the auction, go to Hillary Clinton Autographed Ariel

... Two More Tyras With Pom-Poms Found in Canada
The Canadian Connection reports that two Tyras with pom-poms have been found in Barre Ontario Canada. This brings the official count of Tyras with pom-poms to 28 so far!

... Dustin Hoffman Signed Ariel
A Dustin Hoffman autographed Ariel was added last night to the celebrity auctions on Ty Trade. (It ends August 29th.) ... The Hillary Clinton signed auction is scheduled to end today at 12:00 CDT (the bid currently is at $3,510.
Click here to view all the current celebrity auctions

... Fake Pokemon Items
Italian tax police have seized 335,000 fake Pokemon items, ranging from toys to beach towels. Some 24 Italians, including several factory owners, were charged (most accused of falsification). Click here to read the full story!

Source: http://www.heatherlea.com (The Daily Bean)

... Ty Newsflash!
5:15 pm - Ty announces the "Atlanta" Beanie Babies in a Newflash this afternoon! ... Seek and find the 13 new Beanies at 'Beanie Quest' - http://www.ty.com/announcements/aug_prod_beanies_intro.html

or view the individual pictures - (just click on the name):

... What's next?
The last few days were quite busy in the "Beanie" world ... with the the hunt for Billboards on the 15th, the debut of Zodiac Beanies at the NY Show, the appearance of the newest "Atlanta" Beanies in several retail stores (as well as the latest Beanie Kids), and the anticipation of announcements of Ty's site. So what's next? ... An official announcement on Ty's site of the latest additions? (13 Beanies from Atlanta, 12 Zodiac Beanies), a retirement? Stay tuned ... there's lots to come!

... Pic of Calypso Beanie Kid
"Frankie" sends in an auction link, where a picture of the Beanie Kid - Calypso can be seen.
Click here for pic of Calypso on eBay auction

... Chinese Horoscope
Ms. Janie has posted information on her Chinese horoscope ... and claims -- "Kind of scary, it fits me to a tee!" You can read it here. (She has posted a few links, where you can enter your date of birth and find out how your 'sign' fits YOU.) ... Interestingly enough, I earlier thought I was the "snake", but it now says I'm a "dragon" ... yep, fits me to a tee as well!

... Survey results
A couple of weeks ago, Ms Janie posted a survey about Ty, Ty Trade, and other various questions. Part One of Two can be found at the following link: (It's quite interesting to read what others had to say!)
Click here to read the survey results

... Pics of Zodiac Beanies
12:10 am ... MBBBW has posted pictures of 10 of the 12 Zodiac Beanies, displayed at the NY Gift Show today. Click on the above (or go here) for further information.

... The rest of the gang
1:15 am ... As you know, on Friday I posted pictures of 3 of the new Beanie Kids, and 6 of the newest Beanie Babies ... Whiskers, Pellet, Slayer, Oats, Bananas, and Howl. Thanks to Ms Janie and Beanieholics, it has been pointed out that Tricks, Huggy, Prince, Aruba, and China are up for auction on eBay with pics. Seems that Buzzy and Lurkie are the only ones missing now!
Update: Beanie Mom has posted pictures of additional Beanies, including Buzzy ... seems Lurkie is the only one missing!

For all the latest information, to to "Atlanta" Beanies for all the pictures and links!

... Zodiac Beanies
4:30 pm - For all the latest Zodiac Beanie info, please click on the above. (Mary Beth is at the NY Gift Show and has a report of these newest Beanies, as well as a desciption of each. (Yep, gotta have that Rooster!!! even though that isn't my 'sign'! :)

http://www.beanbagworld.net/new/news/details/nyczshow.html

... NY Gift Show
As you know, the NY Gift Show starts today and runs through August 23rd. Retailers will be able to see (and order?) the Zodiac Beanies that will be on display. As soon as any information is available, we'll let you know! So stay tuned.

... New Collecticritters Releases
If you are a Collecticritter lover, you will definitely want to check out the latest Special Releases - Halloween (limited to 500 sets), Election Bears 2000 (only 500 of each), and Holiday Set 2000 - Christmas theme (limited to 2000 sets). They ARE cute!
Click here to visit Collecticritters website

... "Atlanta" Beanies and Kids
We have received the scan from AVCAJ, who earlier today wrote of finding some of the newest Beanie Babies and Beanie Kids. Six of the Beanies and three of the Kids are pictured. Too Cute!!!! (These were purchased in Eagan, Minnesota.) Click here to view the pictures.

... Our personal thank you - from many collectors ... who have patiently waited for the appearance of this latest release.
(Perhaps Ty will post a "newsflash' soon.)

... "Atlanta" Beanies
The latest release of Beanie Babies, first seen at the Atlanta Show last month, are starting to appear in retail stores in the U.S. Maybe a Newsflash on the Ty site soon? (... I expect a scan of them shortly - for you to view!)

... New York Gift Show
The New York Gift Show starts tomorrow; retailers will be able to see the Zodiac Beanies on display. (The Show runs through August 23rd.) It will be interesting to see what is reported ... we'll let you know as soon as it becomes available.

... Woman Sues Ty Inc.
Beanieholics directs us to a story about an Angleton, Texas woman who filed a lawsuit last week against Ty Inc. The lawsuit essentially states that Ty Inc. engaged in deceptive business practices by announcing that certain stuffed animals would be "retired," supposedly ending their production, but then continued manufacturing the "retired" animals, thus jeopardizing their profit potential.
Click here to read the story.

... Canadian Report
Lulu from The Canadian Connection gives a report on Ty in Canada - facts, history, and a few tips are offered. If you're interested in what she has to say, click here. It's quite informative.

... Zodiac Beanies
A new page has been added to the site, to help summarize information on the Zodiac Beanies. (A new picture of the Minneapolis Billboard was received and posted this evening.) Just click on the above "Zodiac" banner for news, pictures, and history.

... New Charity Auction Additions
Ty has added Winona Ryder and Richard Gere to the Charity Auctions.
www.tytrade.com

... Minneapolis Billboard
From the Ty Talk Cyberboard:

Rad (10:54 am. Aug 17, 2000 )
Message Id: 685275

I saw the Ty billboard in Minneapolis this morning. It is located off Hwy 62 and 34th Ave very close to the Airport and Fort Snelling. If you take the 34th St. exit, it is located on the south side off a frontage road. You are actually located right underneath it.(except for a fence) ...
http://web1-3.ty.com/cyberboard/news/msg685275.html

... NYC Billboard
From the Ty Talk Cyberboard:

NYC Billboard on Van Wyck Expressway
sinteeuh (08:22 am. Aug 17, 2000 )
Message Id: 684863

Hi -
Just saw it. Its the snake. Looks cool.
For those of you in the area, the billboard is on the Van Wyck Expressway going towards the White Stone Bridge. Its located right by Shea Stadium (home of the NY Miracle Mets!!!). Its on the right side in between the Northern Boulevard and Linden Place exit in Flushing.

http://web1-3.ty.com/cyberboard/news/msg684863.html

... Speckles Added To Ty Beanie List
Speckles is now listed in the current Beanie Babies section on the Ty website. Click here to view.

... News source: Beanieholics

Note: Speckles is also listed in the Ty Folio as well!

... When?
With the addition of Speckles to the current list, I wonder if the Germania Buddy picture will soon show up. The Germania Buddy was finally listed (on the current Buddy list) on July 26th ... although never officially announced on the Ty site. You can click here to check it out.

... and just where are the four latest Beanie Kids Ty introduced - Princess, Calypso, Buzz, and Cookie? They aren't on the current list yet, but should hopefully show up at retailers soon (supposedly in September).

... Info Beanie
Don't forget ... you can now vote for Ty's September Info Beanie ... by clicking here. Currently Ariel is in the lead (with 16.2%), followed by Rufus (12.3%) and Cheezer (8.2%).

... Ty Newsflash removed
Yesterday's Newflash on the Ty website has been removed. What's next? Will there be another retirement soon? Did you know only five Beanie Babies have retired this year? Perhaps we can expect another one soon ... Tyme will tell.

... Find-A-Beanie.com
Jason from Find-A-Beanie.com has informed us of a rare bear ... a Find-A-Beanie.com promo bear called Bugga. It is limited to 100 pieces, 30 have already been reserved. Anyone can reserve up to two of these bears, but supplies are limited. The selling price is $15 per bear. The promo bear can be seen at http://www.find-a-beanie.com/promo.html.

... U.K. Speckles Auction
Another Speckles auction is up for bidding in the U.K. (£55, thats about $82)... and the reserve has not been met. Click here to view.

... Clarification
What did Ty mean by "beware"? An interpretation can be read below, under the billboard picture.

... More Billboard pics
MBBBW has a picture of the Denver / Chicago billboards, which can be viewed by clicking here.

Ms Janie has also supplied us with a link to a picture of the Chicago billboard, which can be viewed here.

... Ty Newsflash!
8:50 am ... The Zodiac Beanies will be at the NY Gift Show this weekend, August 19-23.

NEWSFLASH

Have you seen them?

Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Harrisburg, PA
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Memphis, TN
Minneapolis, MN
Union City, NJ
New York, NY
Orlando, FL
Washington DC

Retailers can see them in person at the New York Gift Show
August 19^th – 23^rd

... Zodiac Beanies Babies! EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM DOODLE!!!!
Yesterday was a long day, waiting to see what was going to evolve in 14 cities across the U.S. Ty Warner (via the Ty Talk Cyberboard) dropped "hints" of this 'event' Monday evening.

2000 is The Year of the Dragon - the Chinese Zodiac is comprised of 12 different animals - a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig/boar. (As you can see, two of the signs are comprised of two animals - perhaps how the idea evolved for a total of 14 cities (a different one displayed in each city)! A very special thanks to Kristina and Max for sending in a great picture of the billboard in Harrisburg, PA.

Note (Clarification): The Chinese calendar is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year represents a different animal, as noted above. "Beware" ... as stated in Ty's Newsflash ... can perhaps be interpreted as follows. (Each animal in the Chinese Zodiac has one other animal that they have to 'beware' of):

The Rat has to beware of the Horse. The Ox has to beware of the Goat. The Tiger has to beware of the Monkey. The Rabbit has to beware of the Rooster. The Dragon has to beware of the Dog. The Snake has to beware of the Pig. The Horse has to beware of the Monkey. The Goat has to beware of the Ox. The Monkey has to beware of the Tiger.(It is on the billboard) The Rooster has to beware of the Rabbit. The Dog has to beware of the Dragon. And The Pig has to beware of the Snake.

If you want more information on the Chinese Zodiac, and see what your sign is, click here. For a more detailed breakdown, with the individual animals and their personalities, go to Chinese-zodiac.com. (Thanks for the links, Norma!)

.. A special thanks to Derek, Norma, and "Toynut" for sharing the Zodiac info!

... Ty News!
5:25 pm ... Maybe the earlier post of someone on the Cyberboard spotting a billboard IS true. Ms Janie informs us of the following:

Folks I do believe we have a winner. Randy from Beanieholics shares the following. http://www.randyandtheresa.com. Randy is not at home at this time but was kind enough to call and share the news.

Hi! I live outside the Harrisburg, PA area and called a few stores that carry Ty this afternoon to see if anyone had the surprise. The second store I called said that they knew what the surprise was. They said that there was a green billboard on Interstate 83 between exits 13 and 16 that said Beanie Zodiac. I don't know if the billboard is on I83 South or I83 North. The lady on the phone wasn't sure either. Unfortunately I don't live south of Harrisburg so I don't know if this information is correct or not. Just thought I'd pass this information on.

Doodle's Note: Could this be the beginning of Zodiac Beanies? Actually, it fits in with Ty Warner's notes on the Cyberboard last night!

... Speculations abound!
There are a lot of speculations about today's unveiling. Here are a couple of interesting concepts (just something to think about!):

... Info Beanie News
India informs us ... the polls are now open for voting for September's Info Beanie. ... But no clues were given to what's 'happening' today.

Tuesday August 15, 2000 8:33 a.m.

Can you believe it's the 15th already! You know what that means! The polls are open! Woo hoo! I'm so excited! I wonder who is going to be the next Info Beanie? Gosh, it could be anyone! I'm going to have to stay extra busy for the next couple of weeks so I'm not checking the polls all of the time. Wow! I just thought of something! There's something big that's supposed to happen today! I don't know what it is though. I'm going to see if our friends at Ty will tell me anything. I'll talk to you later. Bye!

http://web1-3.ty.com/infobeanie/lastpage/

... 11:45 am and nothing yet!
Noted on the http://web1Ty Talk Cyberboard: -3.ty.com

"JOIN TODAY" Ty Ballons spotted in NYC...
jortex (10:28 am. Aug 15, 2000 )
Message Id: 680336

jortex writes:
Hi Everyone, I don't know what this means but I got up bright and early this morning and headed out to my local 6 Ty Beanie Club Stores and only found something new in one of them. They had 2 new ballons flying and they were from Ty and they said "JOIN TODAY", so I was thinking that maybe it's a Clubby III Bear. They weren't really sure what they were for and had just gotten them in yesterday. I'm checking back with them as the day goes on and I'll be sure and let you all know if it turns up anything. I'm surprised no one has spotted something new or whatever this surprise is. It's already 11:30 am here in New York City!

... Today is THE Day!
Today is the day for the "unexpected" in 14 cities listed in the Ty Newsflash. Many collectors will sit glued in front of their computers, waiting to see what is "happening". If you know of any information you would like to share, please email me at news@doodlespage.com ... we anxiously sit with a lapful of patience. ... I'll keep you posted throughout the day !!!

... Ty Warner responds!
After noticing earlier today of a few posts from Ty Warner on the Cyberboard, I checked again this evening ... it appears he's having fun and causing a few chuckles with some responses. Only his "hairdresser knows for sure" ... so he says. There are too many posts to mention ... go to the www.ty.com website and check the Cyberboard under Daily Tymes! ... Just look for "Ty Warner" responses - and YES, it is him!

... Who's in the "Beanie Spotlight"?
Most of you probably know who one of my fave Beanie Babies is! And guess who's in pbbags.com Beanie spotlight this month? DOODLE! You can read all the information behind this adorable :) Beanie (history, tag generations, tag error and oddities) by clicking here!

... Was it Ty Warner?
There have been several guesses posted on the Cyberboard as to what tomorrow may bring, in regards to Ty's recent Newsflash ... Something special will happen in 14 cities across the country. We do know that much. Reportedly, displays are being set up in the selected stores, but noone knows 'what will happen'.

Posted on the Ty Talk Cyberboard this afternoon (too funny!):

********
I Know What TY Is Gonna Do Tomorrow!!!
kittykatgirl33 (02:28 pm. Aug 14, 2000 )
Message Id: 678365

He's gonna fly huge airplanes full of beanies over these cities and just dump the beanies down on us. Hey that sounds like fun, I better break out with the nets to catch them with.
P.S. Please stop taunting us TY and tell us!!!!!!!! ...

The response:

********
You do?
Ty Warner (02:46 pm. Aug 14, 2000 )
Message Id: 678407

Ty Warner writes:
Sorry, but that's not it either!

... Ty Trade Auctions - Update
George Clooney Auction Closed
The Ty Trade charity auction for a signed Ariel bear by George Clooney and Ty Warner closed at noon today. The top bid entered was $4,010. (There were #9 bids on this auction.)

Hillary Clinton Auction Listed
Ty Trade has also just listed the next Charity Auction ... an Ariel signed by Hillary Clinton (and Ty Warner). Now this should be an interesting one to watch!!!

View the Ty Trade Auctions here

(Note: A summary of all the Ariel Charity auctions can be seen below !)

... More Info on Chinook
12:15 pm ... The Canadian Connection reports the following:

NEW CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE!
Ty Canada announces the arrival of Chinook the Beanie Baby bear. The president of Ty Canada, Elizabeth Caruth was at the CGTA show and I had a chance to speak with her. She told me " Today is the official release date" of Chinook the Beanie bear. They just unpacked the very first batch at the trade show in Toronto Ontario. It was just as new to her as it was to everyone else. I held it and checked it out thoroughly. Chinook is a Beanie Bear like Maple decorated with red Maple leaves approximately 1/2 inch in diameter. The leaves are randomly placed and are similar to the stars on Glory Bear. The bear has a red ribbon around the neck and NO flag on it's chest. It's the first release of a country exclusive Beanie bear with no emblem on the chest. Ty reps say the bears are going to be shipped to stores in September in batches of 12.

Here is the poem.

Birthday - May 24, 2000

From this great land I'll never roam
Beloved Canada is my home
Her Maple leaf I'll proudly wear
To show the world how much I care

... Did you know?
Did you know that Maple Buddy is the only Buddy left to retire that wasn't released this year? With the talk of a new Canadian Exclusive Beanie, perhaps this Buddy is next on the retirement list. (I wish Britannia Buddy had been more available ... never even saw that one!)

... Ariel Charity Ty Trade Auction
The George Clooney Auction on Ty Trade ends at noon CDT today. The high bid on the autographed Ariel is currently at $4,010 with 9 bids.

... Speckles Auction in the U.K.
11:15 am ... It's interesting to note that the in-hand Speckles auction in the U.K. (mentioned Saturday) is now closed with no bids. Perhaps everyone is waiting for it's availability there, when they will hopefully be able to buy on line!

... Happy Birthday - Ms Janie
Ms Janie is a very talented writer, a Beanie expert, and a very warm person. (If you're a Beanie collector, you surely know her!) A little birdie is spreading the word that today is her birthday! If you get a chance, stop by her site by clicking here and wish her a special day! :) We wish her the best!

... Beanie Kids Birthday Bash Contest
Do you feel like being creative with your Beanie Kids? Well, now's your chance. Beanie Mom has a contest going, with a chance to win one of many prizes - including a complete set of the four new Beanie Kids - Cookie, Calypso, Buzz and Princess.
Click here for all the contest details

... "Beware ... They're Coming ... 8/15/00"
Tomorrow is the day when "they" arrive in various cities across the U.S. Maybe we'll start seeing the debut of the four new Beanie Kids? Can we expect a Ty Newsflash today with additional information? Wait and see!

... Canadian Exclusive
Kris from The Cajun Connection reports of receiving information on a Canadian Exclusive Beanie:

"Our source who informed us last night that a Canadian exclusive would be unveiled at today's Gift Show in Toronto informs us that indeed a new Canadian Exclusive was introduced named CHINOOK! It was white with maple leafs around her body & red ribbon. Also they
did not have the Employee Buddy on display or mention of the Runner with the "bad" version poem on the hangtag. I suppose that now we must wait on the official word from Ty on this one!"

Kris also later followed up with the following:
"Here is more info on Chinook from one of our mailing list members who claims to be a Ty retailer who attended the show: Today at the CGTA Trade Show I saw Chinook the new Canadian exclusive. It is white with specks, small red maple leaves on it and a red neck
ribbon. They will be added to the September orders but only 12 for now. I do not know what the monthly limit will be later on. There has been no word of Employee buddy ever coming to Canada...as always, we seem to be left in the dark about things, but I am glad to have a Canadian exclusive."

Doodle's Note: Remember ... This information has not been officially released by Ty. We shall wait and see what progresses now. (But another Canadian Exclusive would be nice!)

... Speckles in the U.K. !!!
When you consider that the Speckles e-Beanie is only available to USA residents, it didn't take long for it to cross the water & appear on a U.K. auction.
The bear is listed as in hand and the starting bid is approx $75...
I wonder if anyone will pay that sort of money for something they will (hopefully) be able to buy from the Ty Trade site for $5.

Click Here to view the Speckles auction.

... Ty Newsflash - Beanie Kid Retires
Ty has announced the retirement of a Beanie Kid this morning ... Chipper. This is now the second one to be retired since they were first introduced in February. View the Newsflash by clicking here

... Ty Cyberboard Message:
The following note has been posted on the Ty Cyberboard regarding problems they have been experiencing with e-mail deliveries.

To all of our Ty Trade Users:

I know many of you are having difficulty receiving confirmation e-mails for your Speckles orders.

We are currently experiencing problems with several ISP (Internet Service Providers) not delivering e-mails correctly.

So, to help out all of our users, we have decided to increase our delivery speed to get Speckles to you faster! If you have successfully ordered Speckles, you should receive your order by the end of next week.

Click Here to view message.

Ms. Janie has published a follow up note that has been left on the Ty Cyberboard regarding the above message, stating that it is a genuine message from Ty Trade.
Click Here to view the message on Ms. Janie's news page.

... Ty Trade Auctions
2:30 pm ... When previous auctions have closed, as with the Tiger Woods Ariel, they have immediately been removed from the list. Now, Ty Trade lists that particular auction as "Sold" and has it posted on the featured auction on the main page of Ty Trade.

... Best Sellers
1:55 pm ... Ms Janie writes:
"In the August 2000 issues of Playthings Magazine (a trade magazine for the toy industry) the monthly listing of "Specialty Stores' Best-Selling Toys" list the following:

# 1. Beanie Babies
# 2. Beanie Buddies
# 3. Beanie Kids

A separate article in the magazine noted that "Ty's Beanie Kids were jumping, even outperforming the 2000 Beanies."

... Update:
1:00 pm ... Well, that was quick! I noticed Ty has already placed Curly in the retirement list on the Beanie Kids page.
Ty Website - Beanie Kids

... Ty Newsflash - Beanie Kid Retires
9:25 am ... Ty has announced the retirement of a Beanie Kid this morning ... Curly. This is the first retirement of a "Kid" since they were first introduced in February. View the Newsflash by clicking here

... 'Real' Beanie Kids
12:10 am ... Lisa from Planetbeans.com shares with us pictures of 'real' kids dressed like Beanie Kids. To view, go to http://www.planetbeans.com/LookALikes.htm

... Info Beanie "News"
As you may be aware, India has been writing in the diary for a few days of an upcoming "all night" party. In the diary tonight, he writes:

Wednesday August 9, 2000 9:08 p.m.
".... Our friends at Ty told us that they had some surprises for us for our party, too, but they wouldn't tell us what the surprises are. They said that if they told us what the surprises are then they wouldn't be surprises. I wonder what the surprises could be. I love to try and guess what surprises are, don't you? .... "

It could be anything, as you well know from the past. It's anyone's guess! But thought it was worth a mention :)

Click here to read the Info Beanie Diary

... Two New Ty Trade Charity Auctions
Ty Trade has added two additional charity auctions for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation - an Ariel bear signed by Cindy Crawford and one signed by Kevin Bacon. You can view these auctions at www.tytrade.com.

... Tiger Woods Signed Ariel Auction Closes
The Tiger Woods autographed Ariel (also signed by Ty Warner) has closed today, as of 12:00 CDT, at $50,505. (The closed auction list on Ty Trade lists it at $50,500.) While it is still possible that the bid(s) could be retracted, this is the highest price ever paid for a Beanie Baby.
Click here to view the closed auction.

Also closed at noon today, a Gwyneth Paltrow signed Ariel ... for $1,050. This brings the total amount for closed charity auctions on Ty Trade to $60,510. (A summary can be found at the bottom of this page!)

... Tylux!
Beanieholics has posted scans of a new tush tag found on an Allioop Ty Classic. It looks like the Beanie Buddy tush tag, except it says "Shell 100% Tylux".
Click here to view front of tag
Click here to view back of tag

... Update: Tiger Woods Ariel
11:00 pm ... Wow! The Tiger Woods Ariel on Ty Trade has now reached $50,505 (with 125 bids). Should we anticipate a higher bid before the auction closes at 12:00 CDT tomorrow?

...
Many people are happy with the recent results of being able to order Speckles; some have encompassed problems, from receiving one Speckles when they ordered two, to no email confirmations, etc. When you visit the Ty Cyberboard, that is the basic overall topic. A "cyber-Beanie" only being accessible through the Ty site has called overwhelming demands that I'm sure Ty will succeed in fulfilling. Just be patient ... it usually pays off! :)

... Speckles "Abroad"
Several readers from the UK and Canada have written in recently, wondering if they will be able to order Speckles e-Beanie soon. A message was posted by Ty Trade on the Ty Cyberboard (through Grins & Gripes ... see below). In addition, (through Daily Tymes) Ty Trade has responded to Canadian ordering of Speckles, as follows:

Ty Trade writes:
To all of our Canadian Users. I know it is difficult, but if you are patient, your chance to order Speckles will soon be upon you...
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

TY TRADE

http://web4.ty.com/cyberboard/news/msg670813.html

... Ty Trade Updates! ... Speckles in Foreign Countries Soon!
2:15 pm ... There have been various updates lately from Ty Trade on the Ty Talk Cyberboard (on Daily Tymes and Grin & Gripes message boards).

From Daily Tymes:
Please be patient. If you received a confirmation number from us, you should receive your Speckles withing 6-8 weeks, but between you and me, you should receive it much sooner than that! Soon you will be able to go onto our site and check the status of your order. Sometime soon, simply attempt to order again through our Exclusive Offer section and you will be able to use our status button to see the status of your order. I'm sure that all of you are eager to receive Speckles, and soon you shall!
http://web1-3.ty.com/cyberboard/news/msg670158.html

From Grins & Gripes:
Please be patient. We know that you are frustrated, but ordering for foreign countries will be coming soon!
http://web1-3.ty.com/cyberboard/grins/msg334234.html

... An Explanation!
9:40 am - Update: Ty Trade has posted some information on the Ty Talk Cyberboard (Daily Tymes) again. The posting refers to the auctions which are taking place on Ty Trade, particularly the Charity Auctions for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It reads as follows:

TY TRADE AUCTIONS
Ty Trade (07:58 am. Aug 08, 2000 )
Message Id: 670180

Ty Trade writes:

With all the excitement surrounding the Tiger Woods and other celbrity auctions for charity, I wanted to ask for your cooperation and support of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

All bids to these items shall be considered valid acceptance of legal offer. If you are found bidding on this site fraudulently, we will revoke your privileges at TyTrade.com and immediately suspend your participation on our site. The auction will then revert back to the last authentic bid and continue until the closing date.

It is sad to think that there are individuals out there that would attempt to undermine such a worthy cause, but we do want you all to know that we are watching such activity closely!

Thanks again for your support of Ty Trade and the Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

TY TRADE

Click here to view link to Ty Trade note

... It's gone
9:20 am ... The Ty Newsflash ... "They're Coming" ... has been removed this morning.

... Ty Trade High Bid Changed
9:20 am ... I have been following the Tiger Woods Ariel auction closely, and was amazed yesterday when the bid reached $31,010 last night (with 110 bids). However, I have noticed this morning that the high bid is now at $21,005 (with 120 bids). There is no explanation, of course, as to what happened. My feeling is that either it was a typo (and should have perhaps been $13,010), or the $31,010 was invalid and the bid was retracted. For whatever reason, it will be interesting to see what the auction closes at 12:00 CDT tomorrow. (Note: The auction has moved out another day again today, closing on August 9th now!)
To view the auction, click here

A summary of all the Ariel Charity Auctions on Ty Trade can be seen at the bottom of this page.)

... Beanie Survey
What is your opinion of the Dallas Show releases? When you view a Beanie or Collectible website, what are you looking for? Ms Janie has posted these and several other questions in a survey and would appreciate your taking time to participate. Click here for the survey!

... Wow!
Update: 9:45 pm ... The Tiger Woods/Ty Warner autographed Ariel has now reached $31,010. There has never been a Beanie Baby to reach the magnitude of this level - a rarity indeed! The auction still states as ending tomorrow at 12:00 CDT.

12:25 EDT ... With one day left, the Ariel Beanie Baby (signed by Tiger Woods on the inside of the hang tag ... and Ty Warner on the back side) is currently at $15,605 with 102 bids. The auction now states ending tomorrow, August 8th, at 12:00 CDT. (It was previously stated to end today.)

Go to Tytrade.com to view.

... Ty Newsflash
8:45 am ... Ty posts a Newflash this morning, listing the 14 cities again (see below ... August 3rd), with the added statement:

Ty Trade writes:
First, please notice the redesign to the registration process. It is short, easy and simple to complete. Second, if you are waiting for an e-mail response from us to confirm your registration, you should receive these within 72 hours. If you have not heard from us within 72 hours/3 days, you can contact us immediately at registration@tytrade.com for further assistance. Finally, we did experience some problems with our registration process during the volume overload suffered shortly after we first went up over the Internet. Therefore, some of you may experience problems with your original passwords and login User IDs. If this is the case, please contact us and allow us to resolve this issue for you.

We want to offer EVERYONE a chance to purchase an exclusive Ty product at the price it was meant to be. I trust you will support our cause.

Thanks for your continued support

TY TRADE

... Another Autographed Ariel
Another Autographed Ariel, by George Clooney (and Ty Warner) has been added to the celebrity auction list on Tytrade.com. The auction started today at 12:00 CDT and ends on August 14th at 12:00 CDT. Currently, the price is $2,020 with 5 bids.

... Not a whole lot of Beanie news today ... perhaps a time to enjoy being with family and/or friends. Have a super Sunday!

... Autographed Ariel
Update: The Tiger Woods autographed Ariel on Tytrade.com is currently at $10,760, with 96 bids so far. Wow! The auction ends on August 7th, at 12:00 pm CDT.

The Faith Hill autographed Ariel is currently at $2,515, with 29 bids. The auction ends on August 7th, at 12:00 pm CDT.

The Gwyneth Paltrow Ariel is currently at $1,010, with 30 bids. The auction ends on August 9th, at 12:00 pm CDT.

... Autographed Ariel
The Tiger Woods autographed Ariel on Tytrade.com is currently at $9,830. The auction ends on August 7th, at 12:00 pm CDT.

... Kirby Puckett Autographed Card
A Kirby Puckett limited edition autographed collectors card has been added to the caritable auctions today on Tytrade.com. During his 12-year career, Kirby's batting average was .318, with 207 homers, 1,085 RBI and 1,071 runs scored, all with the Twins. He led the league in hits four times, won a batting title in 1989 and appeared in 10 straight All-Star Games. He helped lead Minnesota to two World Series titles, in 1987 and 1991. All proceeds from this auction will be donated to charity. The auction ends August 12th at 12:00 CDT.

... Beanie Donation
A local paper wrote an article on the recent donation made by Planet Beans in memory of Mabel Scott. Several items were given, to comfort children at Sumner Regional Medical Center, including 100 Puffkins by Swibco and over 200 Beanie Babies. Click here to read the article.

... Counterfeit Sakura
Sly the Beanie Guy has provided Ms Janie with a picture of a fake Sakura. These have been showing up on auction sites and on the secondary market. Please be careful and Buyer beware! To view a counterfeit Sakura, click here.

... It's gone now
The Ty Newflash was removed earlier this morning. Perhaps a retirement today!

...
My apologies for a delay in reporting the news. A dear, sweet Aunt passed away yesterday from an extended illness. Thanks to all who of you who have extended your sympathies.

... Ty Newsflash!
Ty has posted a Newflash today, listing 14 U.S. cities (noted below) ... stating "Beware ... They're coming ! ... 8/15/00". My guess would be either the fall 2000 Beanie Babies in the listed cities, the debut of the four new Beanie Kids, or special 'not yet' introduced Beanies ... perhaps Halloween/holiday ones? Guess we'll find out soon!

NEWSFLASH
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Harrisburg, PA
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Memphis, TN
Minneapolis, MN
Union City, NJ
New York, NY
Orlando, FL
Washington, DC

Beware . . . They’re coming ! . . . 8/15/00

... What will happen today?
Not much exciting has been happening lately on the Ty front ... nothing has retired, nothing has been announced. At least this is giving me some extra time to work on something new and exciting for you! :) So keep watching!!!

... Celebrity Autographed Ariels
A Gwyneth Paltrow autographed Ariel has just been added on the Ty charitable auctions on Ty Trade.

Other Auctions Include:
Mel Gibson Ariel closed at $2,810 (auction ended today at 12:00 CDT)
David Wells Perfect Game Valentino closed at $510 (auction ended today at 12:00 CDT)
Tiger Woods Ariel is currently at $5,020 (auction ends 8/4 at 12:00 CDT)
Faith Hill Ariel is currently at $1,110 (auction ends 8/7 at 12:00 CDT)

... A great find ...
From my email ... (You never know what you might find!)
Hi again,
I had to write this in. I went into a Ty retailer and guess what I found? The End, Wallace, Groovy, Millennium, Glory, Valentino, and Ty2k. Apparently they were in the back with the Christmas things and discovered them while pulling stuff out. What a find!!!! And regards to Speckles, Ty's email system is not working properly at all. I can only cross my fingers since it was taken out of my cc.
See ya later, Michele

... Ty - webtv users
Several webtv users have written in stating that there is no link (currently) to order Speckles, and the auction posts are not viewable. Perhaps Ty is working on correcting this.

... Are you a Puffkins fan?
It was reported earlier that there will be four new Christmas Puffkins available (in October). At the time it was reported, the images were not viewable. They are now available for you to check out at the following links:
Click here to view Chilly the Penguin
Click here to view Jolly the Smiley Face
Click here to view Nutmeg the Mouse
Click here to view Peppermint the white Bear

For more information, visit The Puffkin Press

... Ty Site Update
Ty has not placed Speckles on the current Beanie Baby list, or the Ty Folio yet. I imagine, though, that he will eventually show up on both lists. Also, Germania Buddy was reported last week to have finally made it on the current Buddy list, but still no picture is showing up. And just where are the four new Beanie Kids? There is still no mention of them on the list as well. On a positive note, Ty Trade seems to be running much smoother now ... most are reporting being able to order Speckles with no problems. :)

... I predict a retirement very soon. Keep watching!

... Peace Addict
Have you ever wondered what a Peace symbol made from 40 Peace Bears would look like? If you would like to take a look, click here for a picture.

... Thanks to Lisa of Planetbeans.com for the pic

... August Order Limits
Ty order limitations are the same as for last month. Orders may be entered starting on August 1st at 7 am CDT.

Beanie Babies 2000 - 36 pcs. per design per location
Beanie Buddies - 6 pcs. per design per location
(Flitter & Batty are available in packs of 12 only)
Jumbo & X-Large styles - 1 piece per design per location
Large styles - 2 pcs. per design per location
Attic Treasures - 24 pcs. per design per location
Baby Ty - 4 pcs. per design per location
Ty Classics - 12 pcs. per design per location
Beanie Kids - 12 pcs. per design per location

All orders will be cancelled except for any orders placed for product to deliver in the fall. Any show orders placed in July will remain open for processing, based on product availability.

... Source: Ms Janie

... It's gone!
The Ty Newsflash announcing "Ty Trade is Back!" has been quickly removed. It wasn't really a "Newsflash" anyway, was it? .... Next? Perhaps another retirement soon! Keep watching.

Aruba	Oats
Bananas	Pellet
Buzzy	Prince
China	Slayer
Howl	Tricks
Huggy	Whiskers
Lurkey

We're sorry. Our site is temporarily unavailable due to extraordinary volume at this time. We will be back momentarily. We apologize for this inconvenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We're sorry.
Our site is temporarily unavailable due to extraordinary volume at this time.
We will be back momentarily. We apologize for this inconvenience.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.