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Were Beanie Babies a Good Investment?

When was the last time you went through the bins in your storage closet?

Web Watch is betting that you’ve probably squirreled away some things that you thought you’d keep for future kids or grandkids, or maybe you thought that “this may be worth something some day”.

Or maybe you just wanted to have more stuff.  Hey, it happens.

So remember back when Pet Rocks were a thing?  They sold like flapjacks, then everyone realized that all they have was a rock in a cardboard box.  On the other hand, what originally sold for $3.95 can now be had on eBay for $11-$21 apiece, assuming that you have the original packaging.  It’s not a ton of money, but you can’t deny that the price point has certainly increased over the past 30+ years since the Pet Rock was first introduced.

Warman's Bean Plush Field Guide: Values and Identification
Warman’s Bean Plush Field Guide: Values and Identification

Which brings us to BEANIE BABIES.

Everybody probably has at least one small stuffed beanbag plush toy sitting on a shelf somewhere.  If you’re lucky, you have an original TY BEANIE BABY branded plush, with its ear tag still intact and secured.

So HOW MUCH IS THAT BEANIE BABY TOY WORTH TODAY?

An original Beanie Baby suggested retail price was typically $5.  At their peak, they were selling on eBay and other trading sites for as much as $250 to $1000 (or more).

Today, you’ll be lucky if you can get $10 for your prized Beanie Baby – assuming you can get someone to buy it from you in the first place.  The stuffed animal resale market is a bit weird, as there are health issues to be aware of if you’re selling the Beanie Baby as a toy rather than as a collectable.

So in the end, is the Beanie Baby any different from a Pet Rock?  Not so much.

Except the Pet Rock is still selling, and is selling for more than a Beanie Baby is.

Perhaps “dumb as a rock” isn’t so dumb, after all.