If you were anywhere near a shopping mall or a Hallmark store in the late nineties, you probably remember the sweating. People were actually sweating over small, bean-filled sacks of fabric. It sounds like a fever dream now, but back then, it was basically the stock market for kids and suburban moms. Specifically, beanie baby november 6 is a date that carries a weirdly specific weight for collectors, though maybe not for the reasons you’d think.
People often get hung up on the "birthdays" printed on those heart-shaped Ty tags. If you look at Pouch the Kangaroo, for instance, you’ll see her birthday is November 6, 1996. For a long time, collectors thought these dates were the key to early retirement or massive payouts. They weren't. Honestly, the real story of November 1999 is much more chaotic.
The Great Retirement Panic of 1999
By November 6, 1999, the Beanie Baby world was in a full-blown meltdown. Just a few months earlier, Ty Warner had dropped a bombshell: the company was going to stop making Beanie Babies entirely on December 31, 1999.
Imagine the scene.
You’ve spent three years hoarding plushies, and now the creator says the faucet is turning off forever. By early November, the secondary market was a war zone. Prices for "retired" models were skyrocketing because everyone believed they were holding the 21st-century version of a Rembrandt. On November 6, 1999, the Associated Press was actually reporting on the "Beanie Hysteria," documenting how people were trading these toys for actual cars.
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It was peak bubble behavior.
Why November 6 Matters to Collectors
If you're searching for this specific date, you're likely looking at one of two things: a birthday tag or the 1999 "End of an Era" timeline.
- Pouch the Kangaroo: Her official Ty birthday is November 6, 1996. While she’s a classic, she isn't the "million-dollar" find some eBay listings claim she is. You can usually find a mint-condition Pouch for about $10 to $15 today.
- Stuffed the Turkey: There was a Beanie Baby of the Month (BBOM) released later in the 2000s named "Stuffed" that has a November 2006 designation, often confused by those digging through old digital archives.
- The 1999 News Cycle: November 6, 1999, marked the home stretch of the "Great Retirement." Retailers like Joe Diamond were famously posting "Beanie Babies are dead" signs in their windows, fueling a buying frenzy that peaked right around this week in November.
The irony? Ty didn't actually stop. After a "vote" that cost 50 cents per person (donated to charity), the public "decided" Beanie Babies should stay. The "End" was just a masterful marketing pivot.
Common Myths About November Beanies
You've probably seen those "Rare Error" listings on eBay for thousands of dollars. They usually mention things like a "gasport" spelling error or a missing stamp on the tush tag.
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Here is the truth: most of those aren't rare. Ty produced millions of these things. By late 1999, the manufacturing was so massive that minor tag variations were actually common. A Pouch the Kangaroo born on November 6 is adorable, but unless it has a very specific, verified 1st generation "skinny" tag, it's a nostalgic keepsake, not a down payment on a house.
Many people also get confused between the "Date of Birth" and the "Release Date." A Beanie born on November 6 might not have hit shelves until months or even a year later.
What to Do If You Find One in Your Attic
Don't go quitting your day job just yet. If you find a Beanie Baby with a November 6 birthday, or any of the "End of 1999" bears like The End or Ty2K, here’s the reality check you need.
First, check the tag generation. The earlier the tag, the higher the value. If the heart tag (Hang Tag) is a 4th or 5th generation (the most common ones from the late 90s), the value is likely minimal.
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Second, look at the "tush tag." Collectors look for specific pellets. PVC pellets are generally more desirable than the later PE pellets, though even that is a niche market now.
Most importantly, look for "MWMT" (Mint With Mint Tags). If the tag is creased or the "Beanie" has been played with, the value to a serious collector drops to almost zero. The market today is driven by extreme rarity—think Chef Robuchon or specific Employee Bears—rather than the mass-produced toys we all bought at the local pharmacy.
Actionable Insights for Sellers
If you're looking to move some of your old 1999-era collection:
- Skip the "Error" Hype: Avoid listing things as "Ultra Rare Error" unless it’s a verified, major misprint known to the community. Pro collectors see right through that.
- Verify via TyCollector: Use reputable sites like TyCollector.com to check the actual "generation" of your tags.
- Bundle Them: Unless you have a truly rare piece (like a royal blue Peanut the Elephant), you’ll have better luck selling them as a "lot" to someone looking to decorate a nursery or start a small collection for a child.
- Check Local Sold Listings: Don't look at what people are asking for on eBay. Look at what has actually sold. There is a massive difference between a $5,000 asking price and a $5 sale price.
The craze of November 6, 1999, was a lesson in supply, demand, and the power of "limited time only." While the monetary value didn't hold up for most of us, the nostalgia is still pretty strong.
To get a real sense of what your specific plush is worth, start by photographing the front and back of the heart tag and comparing the font and star placement to a 1st-3rd generation chart. This is the only way to separate the common toys from the genuine rarities.