"What is a generation?"

Beanie Babies were first introduced back in 1994. Right from the start they had the famous red heart hanging from their ear (or other body part). They also have a small loop of fabric on their bottom. These are respectively know as "hang tag" and "tush tag". Over the years these have undergone several changes in design and these changes are known as 'generations'. Beanie Babies can be classified either by their generation of hang tag or their generation of tush tag.

"How do I tell what generation my Beanie is?"

You can use our handy guides to hang and tush tags to find out how old your Beanie is, and to which generation he belongs! If your Beanie is missing his hang tag then his age can be approximated using his release and retirement dates. NOTE: some Beanies, especially those who were current for several years can be found in more than one generation!

"How much is my Beanie worth?"

Beanie Babies are only worth what a collector is willing to pay for them. Some, especially those which are older and in good condition, or which were of limited number in manufacture, are more valuable than others. The better condition in which your Beanie has been kept, the better it will hold it's value. To find out what the current market value of a Beanie is resources such as MetaExchange and eBay (or other online auction sites) are invaluable.

"I'm looking to buy a Beanie - what do all those terms mean?"

Beanie sellers have their own language to help buyers determine what they are getting for their money - here is some of it explained:
MWMT - abbreviation stands for "Mint With Mint Tags" - this means you can expect an as new Beanie with tag protectors already on!
MWNMT - stands for "Mint with Non-Mint Tags"
MQMWMT -the "MQ" added to "MWMT" stands for "Museum Quality" this is a term often used by authenticators to indicated an older Beanie in superb condition.
AUTHENTICATED - this means that the seller has paid an authenticator to certify that the Beanie is the genuine article. Claiming that a Beanie is authentic is not the same as having it authenticated. Authenticated Beanies come sealed in a plastic box with a certificate of authenticity.
PRE SELL - as Beanies have become harder to source (particularly in the UK) and the rumour mill has been enabled by the internet it has become common practice for sellers to advertise Beanies for sale before they are actually released on the market, especially if they are assured of a certain number. A pre-sell means that you are buying the Beanie before the seller has it in stock. This was seen as risky practice for buyers a few years ago - but has become common practice these days.
IN HAND - used by sellers to catch the eye, this means you don't have to wait for the item and that there is no uncertainty to whether the seller can fill their orders... they already have the Beanie!
RETIRED - Beanies that have been announced retired by Ty (or less often removed silently from the current list on the Ty website).
CURRENT - Beanies not retired.
EXCLUSIVE - Beanies released only in a particular country, state, city or store. These should not be confused with Beanies that are adapted by sellers for limited release. These may be 'exclusive' to that seller - but they aren't Ty Exclusives!
HTF - Hard to Find - especially those older Beanies!

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