Questions & Answers About the Book

Here I will endeavor to list all frequently asked questions I receive pertaining to the Third Edition Ty Beanies Tracker Book. I will list the latest Questions and Answers first.

Q. Why can't I find Beginning Bear and Baron Van Pyre in the book?

A. Beginning Bear is actually called "The Beginning", so is listed under the T's on Page 208/6. That is how Ty lists it too, with the T's. I try to follow Ty's lead, so it is not confusing to collectors by listing it differently. Baron Van Pyre, as with the other 2007 Halloween beanies, Harrod's bears, Hamley's bears, Christmas beanies, etc, came out after July 19th, 2007, when the book ended. Their details and photographs can be found in the Complete Updates.

Q. Bronty, Chilly, Humphrey, Peanut (royal blue), Rex and Steg all have birthdays in the book, but the third generation hang tags don't give birthdays - where did the dates come from?

A. On the packaging of the Ty/McDonald 2000 Teenie Beanie Babies promotion, birthdays were finally given for these beanie babies.

Q. There are 2 Maple Teenie Beanies listed. What is the difference between them?

A. The USA packaging had a Winter Scene on the package with people playing ice hockey on the lake. The Canadian packaging had a Summer Scene with no people on the lake.

Q. Will there be a Fourth Edition to include all the releases and retirements through December 2007?

A. Bangzoom has no current plans to publish another book. It is one reason I bought the software program and took classes, to be able to keep collectors up-to-date, particularly with all the activity over the past 7 months. I strongly suggest you get the book while you can, and possibly order an extra, so you have one to 'use' and one to keep 'as is' for memorabilia. A relatively small number were printed.

Q. How were the values determined in the book?

A. I personally do not do values, instead I ask those qualified to do so. A lot of effort was put into establishing values that collectors can use as a guide when buying or selling. Consultations with others who determine value guides took place, as well as discussions with collectors as to how they use value guides. Ebay prices were taken into consideration, but they are considered a wholesale venue, and are not the only place sales occur. Some of the rarer beanies never make it that far, sellers have customer lists of collectors waiting for certain items. There is never a "set price" for any item, because it depends on what a buyer is willing to pay and also what a seller is willing to sell for. So many things determine pricing. A one time seller of their collection, may not get the same price as an established business that you can reach after the sale. Payment and shipping choices play a part too. Above all, remember prices are based on 'authentic', mint condition Ty products, including mint hang tags and tush tags.

Q. Why aren't Champion Beanie Babies in the book?

A. They are in the book, this time individually listed because each Beanie is different, with their respective country's flag on the nose, and each hang tag says something different. However, it was decided to put Licensed Beanies under their Licensee name, so Champions are listed under FIFA. Similarly, Beatrix Potter Beanies SpongeBob, Dora The Explore, etc., are grouped together.

Q. Why isn't Pupsicle Beanie Baby in the book?

A. It is in the book, at the end of the Beanie Babies section, along with the other Pinkys Beanie Babies. On Ty's website all Pinkys are grouped together, but for the book, the Pinkys Beanie Babies were put at the end of the Beanie Babies section, partly because they require a different layout, more space with their birthdays and poems.

Q. Why aren't ALL variations included?

A. Space was a determining factor. Originally the book price was set for 340 pages, and we added over 140 pages, 800 products, and kept the price the same. Visual variations are included. Hang tag variations are sometimes noted in their listing, but I hope some day to do a complete Variations List, with hang tag, tush tags variations too, if there is enough demand to warrant it.

Q. Why isn't there a box on each page to record Price Paid and Value, as in the Second Edition?

A. Space and cost was an issue. To include 400 boxes (1 on each page) would have meant leaving out 400 products. We were stretched to the maximum for a one book publication.

Q. Why not have separate books, one for Beanie Babies and one for other products?

A. Cost prohibitive to both the publisher and the collector. 2 books are more expensive than 1 book to produce, and different quantities would be needed of each, which increases the cost. Some retailers said they would only want the book with Beanie Babies if it was split into 2.

Q. Why do you suggest putting the book in a CombBind?

A. It's a personal choice. I like to be able to lay the book down flat, and have it stay open. I also like to insert the Update Pages behind their relevant sections, but even if I kept them separate, I enjoy the ease of browsing through and making notes - which are easier to do near the inside margins.

Now I have added the Update Pages, I may go to a 1 1/4" instead of a 1" binder, or may split the book into 2 CombBinds. I haven't decided for sure yet. It still fits in my 1 inch CombBind.

Q. Are there other options for binding, if I want the same advantages of CombBind?

A. A collector has just told me she has an old address book that is about the size of the book that is a 3 ring binder. She took it to an office supply place to have her book spine chopped, and the holes made to fit into that binder.