Well now, In all my life I have seen a lot of stupid crap, but one thing really let me know where we stand as a nation of free thinkers. That was the invention and mania that followed the "Beanie Baby". I will never forget the countless arguments I started (was it just me?) with the scores of (mostly) large woman over these painfully worthless trinkets. Round about the time they hit the high note, I was doing security in a hospital. The local Omega Moo chapter of the nurses went into a frenzy like sharks to blood every time a new "Beanie" was placed for sale in the gift shop. They would get out the volumes of value books (produced by the toy maker, of course) and squawk for hours about how the very toy they just paid five dollars for, was actually worth hundreds and even thousands if the production of that model stopped. I would fire them up with my ignorant questions like, "How can it be worth 500 bucks, when its for sale NOW at 5 bucks retail?" "Well sit down smarty pants, and I will open the book and show you" they would say. I would then point out that the book bore the same label as the toy, and get the same dull stare that the manufacturer was counting on. Mind you, this was in the mid nineties. I happened across a hilarious value book at the thrift store the other day, which reminded me of the whole phenomenon, so If you own a garage full of this junk, I will take this time to throw more salt in your wound.
If you bought that very special blue bear in 94, then next year in 2008, it will be worth 4,500.00 dollars!!!!!! Now, you and everyone else bought it for 5 bucks. But, if you have a big box of these little jewels, you ARE RICH!!!! Just kidding. They sell at yard sales now for a quarter. They are still crap, and your still dumb if you thought anything that mass produced would gain in value. But, what do I know, see what your beanie book says about it.
7 comments:
Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it! It's a basic concept. It's good to see that others are able to grasp it as well.
BDP
Yes, if you have not read it, please see "All that glitters isn't gold, not even a Sacajawea dollar" in my older posts.
Thanks to a loophole in our tax system Beanie Babies are actually worth what the book says (sort of, almost, kinda etc.). Here is how it works. As long as you have proof of the value documented in writing from a reliable source (including a buyers guide/value guide issued by the toy maker) you can donate an item and turn it in as a write-off for the documented value. If you donated a car to a charity of some sort you could use the value given in Kelley Blue Book. The same goes for Beanie Babies and the value book/buyers guide that you found at the thrift store. Technically, I think the book just became more valuable than the beanie babies. Without the book you can't claim the deductions. My wife met someone last week that used this loophole with holiday barbie dolls. The lady made 107k last year and was able to offset the taxes that she owed with her charitable contribution of her holiday barbie doll collection. Now ain't that some crap! Leave it up to the guvment!
BDP
Only in America- Thank you BDP for setting me straight. I should go back to the thrift store where I snagged those book pics and get that damned book!
I once saw a dog actually eat and digest a beanie baby.(I beleive it was an ostrich) After a few days, I found the beanie baby lying on the cold Georgia ground mixed with dog poo. Now, I know it has definately lost some of it's value but here it is fifteen years later and my kid absolutely loves that doll! I guess it's worth something, huh?
Dr. Van Nostrom
I once saw a Tallyrand dog eat a diaper.
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