Lovers of Beanie Babies get a say in their fate

December 24, 1999
Web posted at: 11:58 a.m. EST (1658 GMT)

(CNN) -- Beanie Babies lovers will have a final say in deciding whether the beanbag toys are retired or live on to feed collectors' frenzies.

Ty Inc. earlier announced that it would stop making Beanie Babies on December 31. But now the toy company says it will let the public vote on the fate of stuffed creatures.

In a statement posted on the Ty Inc. Web site, the company announced it would conduct "the first live worldwide vote of its kind, a global vote to determine whether Beanie Babies should, or should not, be continued."

The voting will be done via the Internet, at www.ty.com, beginning December 31 at 6:00 a.m. EST. The Web site asks: "Should Ty create Beanie Babies in the year 2000?"

Beanie Babies fans also can vote by phone. Voting ends January 2. The company says results will be final and binding.

There will be a 50-cent charge per vote. The company says the money will be donated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

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