| You should always buy Ty Beanie Babies from | | | | 6. Compare the stock color inside the hang tag to |
| reputable dealers or from sellers who you know | | | | another hang tag. Is it too white? Authentic tags |
| how to contact. These dealers and sellers should | | | | have an off-white color. |
| also have many references and/or feedback | | | | 7. Are the color of the hang tags identical? Or |
| from other people they have done business with. | | | | does the red and yellow on the hang tag look |
| Most counterfeit Beanie Babies are easy to spot | | | | muted or too light or too dark? The hang tag |
| if you know what to look for. If you don't know | | | | should be blue red and not orange red. |
| what to look for then you will probably have a | | | | 8. The yellow star on the hang tag should be a |
| hard time telling most counterfeit Beanie Babies | | | | bright sunshine yellow, not a mustard color. |
| from authentic Ty Beanie Babies. | | | | 9. Some of the counterfeit Beanie Babies have a |
| Beanie Baby shows are a good place to check | | | | yellow star on their hang tag that have points |
| out expensive Beanie Babies. Try to handle them | | | | that are too "pointy." The points of authentic hang |
| if you can. Get to know the feel of the fabric and | | | | tag stars are slightly rounded. |
| their overall appearance. | | | | 10. Check the gold edge on the hang tag. It should |
| Some counterfeits are excellent reproductions, | | | | have a nice clean line and be a light bright gold |
| but regardless of how good the counterfeits look, | | | | color. It shouldn't be brassy. |
| they usually have many mistakes. It is never just | | | | 11. Check the overall size and shape of the Beanie. |
| one mistake. | | | | Some of the counterfeit Ty teddy bears have |
| If you are buying expensive Beanie Babies, then | | | | ears that are either too small or too large or |
| you should educate yourself on the counterfeits | | | | perhaps the legs or arms are too short or are |
| or at least know where to find the information | | | | shaped strangely. |
| when you need it. | | | | 12. Is the teddy bear's head too large or |
| Most of the mistakes on the counterfeits can be | | | | overstuffed? |
| found on the tags. Become familiar with the | | | | 13. Check the eyes to see if they are too close |
| different generation hang tags and tush tags or | | | | together or too big or too small. |
| know where to look to find this information. | | | | 14. Are the eyes a solid color? Some Beanie Baby |
| Below are 17 ways to determine if a Beanie Baby | | | | eyes are a solid color and some are not. |
| is counterfeit: | | | | Humphrey the camel has solid black eyes but |
| 1. Many of the counterfeits have spelling errors on | | | | most of the counterfeit Humphrey have eyes |
| the tags, but keep in mind that so do some of | | | | that are two-tone. |
| the authentic Ty Beanie Babies. So you usually | | | | 15. Check the fabric and see if it is rough or if the |
| have to look for other mistakes beside just this. | | | | color is too dark or too light. |
| 2. Check the tag dates and the addresses to | | | | 16. Does the fabric nap look right? Is the fabric |
| make sure they are correct. Many of the | | | | rough, stiff or the wrong color? |
| counterfeits have the wrong date on the tush | | | | 17. Most authentic Beanies have nice plush fabric |
| tag. | | | | that "flows" in all directions and doesn't get |
| 3. Compare the tags of the suspect Beanie Baby | | | | "wrinkly." |
| with the tags of another Ty Beanie Baby that | | | | One place you should avoid buying expensive |
| you know to be authentic. | | | | Beanie Babies that are not authenticated is online |
| 4. Is the type on the tags too light or too dark? | | | | auctions like eBay. Odds are that if you buy |
| Is it the right typeface? | | | | enough of these expensive Beanie Babies that are |
| 5. Compare the tags to an authentic Ty Beanie | | | | not authenticated, that you will eventually end up |
| Baby's tags and determine if the tags are smaller | | | | buying some that are counterfeit. |
| or larger than the authentic tags. | | | | |