How to Liquidate Your Beanie Baby Collection

If you were swept up in the collecting craze of the 1990s, chances are you've got a few drawers heaped with bean-filled plush toys. Here's how you can reclaim that storage space.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Check the tag. If it doesn't say Ty, forget it. Ty made the original Beanie Babies. Look for the words first generation; these toys have the most value. Also, the value goes up for those sporting a clear plastic tag protector.
2. Don't let toy price guides fool you. They will list some Beanie Babies for hundreds of dollars, but finding someone willing to pay that much is almost impossible now that the craze is over.
3. Browse the Internet for your best chance of finding a Beanie Baby lover who's trying to round out a collection. Otherwise, find a flea market seller who will give you a few dollars apiece for the items in your collection.
4. Give the toys to a local hospital or children's shelter. The pleasure you'll get from watching kids enjoy the toys is reward enough.

What to Look For:

• Ty tag
• First generation
• Rare examples

Tips & Warnings

• If you or a relative worked for Ty in the 1990s, you might own a special employee-only Beanie Baby that could be worth thousands of dollars.
• See How to Sell Products and Services Online.