IS IT REAL?

WITH AuctionHunter's July Beanie Bonanza almost upon us, lovers of these cute collectables are gearing up for a month long feast of bargains online through www.thisiswirral.co.uk

The great free-listing offer means there's never been a better time to start your own collection - or trade in duplicate toys and invest in ones you haven't got.

But how can newcomers to the fast-moving world of Internet auctions be confident that the Beanie Babies they're bidding on are authentic? Recent reports of the large sums some rarer Ty beanies can attract and several scare stories about rogue dealers counterfeiting desirable bean bag lines might give new collectors cause for concern.

But rest assured: in addition to the wealth of information you'll find within AuctionHunter's own features and news sections, there are dozens of dedicated beanie web sites which catalogue some of the errors that give away the fakes. Many of these lists describe the more obvious problems that are easy to discover once you know what to look for. These can be a great resource for collectors and can help you buy wisely. However, some of the imitations out there are getting closer and closer to real thing and can be very hard to detect. In response, Ty's next generation of beanies will come with hard-to-duplicate holographic tags.

Most beanies - even the older ones - are real, but AuctionHunter provides an additional safeguard for nervous bidders. Checking a seller' feedback rating and reading about their reputation and e-mailing sellers for detailed information before you buy are tried and tested ways to help ensure satisfaction with the items you buy.

SUMMERTIME BEANIE BONANZA

What to do . . .

BEANIE Baby fever is sweeping Britain and it seems that demand for these and other bean bag toys is insatiable. But as supplies are limited and manufacturers regularly 'retire' their cuddly collectable characters, some toys are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Now AuctionHunter, the UK's exciting on-line auction run by Newsquest Media Group, owners of the Wirral Globe, with Auction Universe, can help. You can access the site - the easiest way for collectors to meet and trade - via the thisiswirral.co.uk link at the bottom of this page.

Throughout the month of July, you are invited to come on-line, visit our website and join in the Beanie Bonanza. This is an ideal chance for buyers to bag a bargain and for sellers to advertise unwanted or duplicate items. Auction your bean bag toys between July 1-31 and, using the special AuctionHunter code AHC38A9U9, you'll pay no listing fee for the first 100 items you wish to sell.

Not only that, but the promotional code also qualifies your Beanie auction listings for free custom lettering on up to 200 items. Using bold or italic script will highlight your surplus toys and make them really eye-catching.

List before June 28, deferring your auction until July 1, and your cute collectables could be featured free in the AuctionHunter showcase - normal cost £60!

Becoming a seller in the Beanie Bonanza is quick and easy. Simply register with AuctionHunter, remembering to add the code AHC38A9U9, and follow the step-by-step onscreen instructions to complete a listing form. It's quick, it's easy and it's fun . . .

Remember, all you'll pay is the small commission fee on successful sales. Previously registered users can use the code, too, after e-mailing a request to ukservice@auctionhunter.co.uk

For those looking to expand their hobby, throughout July the AuctionHunter site will feature news and tips about all your favourite toys and in-depth stories to help you make an informed choice. You could even win a superb selection of authentic Ty beanies in our AuctionHunter competition, this month sponsored by Hancock and Ainsley, Shildon (01388 772280) - the North East's bean bag specialist store.

This is the place where deals are done: AuctionHunter, the auction you can trust.

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