The price run-up on these babies would make a commodities trader blanch.
Stories abound of even steeper price hikes.
This gives their creator, Ty Warner, owner of Ty Inc. of Oak Brook, Ill., the blues. Anything over that is just taking advantage of an opportunity and milking it. Owner Robert LoMonaco says he is just trying to cover the high costs of retailing in Manhattan. Owner Sue Riggio says she charges that because she doesn't buy them directly from Ty. Indeed, a gray market has developed for Beanie Babies.