If you’re a 90s kid like I am, you’re likely familiar with Beanie Babies, the toy line featuring bean bag animals with the Ty tags. (I had a Beanie Baby named Prance, a gray tabby cat.)
Do you have a few of these toys, perhaps even a vast collection?
If so, you’re probably wondering where to sell Beanie Babies for a few extra bucks (or thousands of dollars).
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Beanie Babies History
Before I go on about selling Beanie Babies, I’d like to share a little history of this popular franchise.
Ty Inc. founder and CEO H. Ty Warner created Beanie Babies in 1993.
What started as a toy trade item at the World Toy Fair has grown into a mass hit throughout the 1990s.
However, the craze was short-lived because Warner produced more Beanie Babies in an attempt to satisfy demand, but that resulted in ruining the toy line’s special value.
But don’t let that discourage you from cashing in on this.
There’s still a market of buyers eager to purchase one or more Beanie Babies from you, and I have a list below of where you can sell them.
Where to Sell Beanie Babies Near Me
Consider using these options to sell Beanie Babies in your town or city.
1. Flea market
Flea markets are rife with antique goods and potential customers who want to buy them.
Nonetheless, there are a few hoops you need to jump through to be a flea market vendor, like completing required forms and renting a booth.
Though it takes a lot of work (and funds) to set up, it’s a good way to meet lots of patrons since they travel from various counties, cities, and states.
Plus, you can host your booth in an indoor or outdoor flea market, granting you year-round opportunities regardless of the season.
2. Facebook Marketplace
Have a Facebook account?
Sell your Beanie Babies through Facebook Marketplace!
This platform lets you advertise to Beanie Baby collectors in your city or anywhere in the country.
Best of all, it’s absolutely free to use.
Get started by creating a Facebook account (if you haven’t already) and post one or more Beanie Baby listings.
3. Collectibles Shop
A collectibles shop, sometimes known as an antique mall, sells and buys products ranging from antique textiles and paintings to glassware and novelty toys like Beanie Babies.
Find a shop near you by entering “collectible shop near me” into your favorite engine.
Then, bring your item to said shop so the owner can examine it and (potentially) buy it.
4. OfferUp
OfferUp is a site that allows you to rendezvous with customers face-to-face or ship your Beanie Babies to their address once they click the “Buy Now” feature on your ad.
Feel free to post free ads or subscribe to Promote Plus, which costs extra but helps attract more buyers since it puts your ads at the top of the feed. (This feature even includes a three-day free trial.)
5. Consignment
Using consignment isn’t the quickest way to make money selling Beanie Babies since it could take months for someone to purchase it.
Therefore, it’s only a good option if you’re not in desperate need of cash.
Here’s how it works: You drop by your local consignment shop and hand your item to the owner or employee to assess its value before assigning a price.
Once someone purchases your item, the consignment shop gets a commission, and you get a cut of its commission.
6. Oodle
Oodle is available to sellers in these countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- India
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Ireland
- Australia
Keep in mind that you need a Facebook account to sell on this site. (It’s for security purposes.)
In addition, you can run up to eight ads at a time.
Where to Sell Beanie Babies Online
Visit these websites to market to buyers or donate to collectors.
7. Bonanza
Bonanza is a platform where you can sell your Beanie Babies via its Marketplace or Webstore options.
With Marketplace, you can list items for free and get free advertising until your item sells. (Plus, you pay $0.25 per transaction fee and a base final value fee rate of 3.5 percent.)
Webstore lets you customize your sales site quickly and easily with pre-made, diverse layouts and color schemes. (Unlike Marketplace, it doesn’t charge transaction fees.)
Once you make a sale, receive payment via Stripe, Amazon Pay, or PayPal.
Bonanza even offers personal and business loans through its Bonanza Lending service.
8. eBay
What’s great about eBay is that you can either run an auction for your Beanie Babies or make them available for prospective customers to purchase right away.
Also, you get 250 free listings per month. (Attract more eyeballs by using these Promoted Listings options.)
Sign up for a personal account if you have one or two Beanie Babies or a business account if you possess a huge collection. (Create a PayPal account, too, if you don’t have one since it’s eBay’s only payment method.)
9. Amazon Seller Central
Amazon is the Web’s all-in-one mart since it offers books, grocery items, a streaming service, and much more.
It even has Amazon Seller Central, an e-commerce sales platform ideal for running a small or large business, especially one involving Beanie Babies.
Amazon Seller Central has two selling plans: individual and professional.
The individual plan charges $0.99 per sale, and the professional plan costs $39.99 per month.
You’ll need a few important business-related info like government ID, phone number, tax information, and your bank credentials (you get paid by direct deposit) to get started.
10. TIAS
TIAS, or The Internet Antique Shop, is an online collectibles store that’s been in business since 1995.
It allows you to create your own web-based antique shop with unlimited listings with no listing fee and no setup fee. (These features are really convenient if you have lots of Beanie Babies you want to get off your hands.)
TIAS includes a monthly fee that costs around $30-$40.
However, you get a 60-day free trial before you activate your webstore.
Additionally, this site provides tips on how to write effective product descriptions for your items, as well as free newsletters to help keep you up to date on topics like marketing news, popular selling items, and promotion advice.
Payment method options include checks, money orders, PayPal, and debit/credit cards.
11. Sell2BBNovelties
Don’t want to deal with the challenges of selling Beanie Babies by yourself, whether it’s through an online marketplace or your own website?
Sell2BBNovelties can save you from potential selling headaches by buying them from you.
Sell your bean bag animal(s) through these two options:
- Look up the UPC number barcode printed on the tag by typing the last five/six digits into the search bar. (You can type in the name of said Beanie Baby, too.)
- If you have multiple Beanie Babies, visit the Bulk Submission page.
If you sell at least $30 worth of merchandise, you’ll get a pre-paid shipping label.
As of now, Sell2Novelties only purchases Beanie Babies that are new and in mint condition.
Receive payment via PayPal or store credit.
12. Mercari
With Mercari, you can sell new or used Beanie Babies without (initially) paying listing fees. (In other words, you’re only charged when you sell an item.)
You also receive a pre-paid shipping label when a customer buys your item and even up to $200 worth of insurance coverage for damage or loss during transit.
Just post a few photos with well-written descriptions, wait for customers to purchase them, and get paid via direct deposit or debit card.
13. Sell4Value
Sell4Value allows you to sell your Beanie Babies using three methods:
- Search for your item on the site by UPC or name.
- Sell in bulk, which is the quickest method. (Here’s the Ty Bulk Collection page.)
- Variable pricing, which involves shipping your order, and the company determining the price for your item
Sell4Value only accepts Beanie Babies that are clean, free of odors, and in mint condition.
Choose a check or store credit as payment.
Selling Beanie Babies FAQ
Learn more about selling Beanie Babies by reading these frequently asked questions.
How do I accurately price Beanie Babies?
The best way to accurately price your Beanie Babies is by consulting a buyer’s guide.
Purchase one through the Beanie Babies Price Guide site. (They’re digital, so you’ll be able to receive your order right away and read it on your mobile device.)
Does pellet content matter in monetary worth?
Yes.
You see, Beanie Babies used to be stuffed with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pellets until manufacturers later turned to Polyvinyl Ethylene (PE) pellets to be more environmentally friendly.
Because Beanie Babies filled with PVC pellets are so rare today, you might get more money for it.
Read the tush tag to see if a toy has PE or PVC pellets.
Why are some Beanie Babies worth more than others?
Some Beanie Babies are worth more than others due to the following:
- Pellet quality, as mentioned in the previous question
- Rarity
- Condition – A Beanie Baby in near-mint condition (little to no wear and tear and torn tag) is worth less than one in mint condition (never used with the tag intact).
Which are some of the most valuable Beanie Babies?
Many Beanie Babies that could fetch you hundreds or thousands of dollars are very rare, like the Teenie Babies Happy Meal toys, Spangle the Bear, and Princess Bear, the one dedicated to the late Princess Diana.
How much can I expect to make per Beanie Baby?
The amount of money you could make from each Beanie Baby varies from a few dollars (particularly for common or near-mint condition items) to up to six figures, especially if you have rare, mint-conditioned toys.
Bean Bag Bucks: Earn Money Selling Beanie Babies!
Though the Beanie Babies trend isn’t as big as it used to be, many people are willing to buy them for you to serve as a memento from their childhood, build a collection, or for other reasons.
And you can help them by selling your toy(s) and receiving a few dollars — or thousands of dollars — in return.
Now you know where to sell Beanie Babies, embark on your money-making journey by marketing your stuffed animals online or in person today.
