Authentication Process
How we authenticate your Beanie Babies
Every submission follows the same 10-step process below and results in a sealed Beanie with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and a permanent entry in the BX Registry — inspected by our partner, True Blue Beans.
True Blue Beans
Drop-shipped to True Blue Beans — the industry-standard third party. Returned with a True Blue COA in their sealed acrylic case.
Authentication pricing
- Authentication (all-in, per beanie)
- $18.00
- Shipping both ways
- included
- Sales tax
- at checkout
True Blue Beans
Sales tax is computed by Stripe Tax based on the address you provide at checkout. The total above is the pre-tax all-in cost; tax is added on the payment screen.
The 10-step process
- 1
You submit & pay
Submit on Beanie Xchange — you can send several beanies in one go. We collect your shipping address, each Beanie's name and condition, and your photos, then charge the service fee ($18 per beanie all-in, shipping both ways included; sales tax at checkout). You print the prepaid USPS label we email you.
- 2
Ship to BX
Pack the Beanie loosely with the hang tag protected (a stiff card sleeve or hard tag protector if you have one). Drop it at any USPS counter using the prepaid label. We track inbound shipments and email you when it arrives.
- 3
We drop-ship to True Blue Beans
Through our True Blue Beans partnership, your Beanie goes directly to their authentication center. They cross-check it against the submission form, assign an individual Certificate of Authenticity (COA) number, and enter it into their database.
- 4
Swing tag examination
True Blue inspects the swing tag (hang tag / paper tag) for: tag generation, gold trim, hole punch, punctuation, style number, and overall condition. The swing tag has direct impact on a Beanie's value — generation and condition matter as much as the plush itself.
- 5
Tush tag examination
The tush tag (the sewn-in fabric tag) is examined separately — generation, country of origin, font, stitching, and the tag's own condition. A mismatch between swing and tush generations is one of the most common counterfeit markers.
- 6
Plush, stitching, and fill
The Beanie itself is inspected for overall condition, stitching irregularities, fabric pilling, sun fade, fill consistency (PVC vs PE pellets), and any known production variations. Recall variants (peanut royal blue, old face vs new face) are noted.
- 7
Authentication outcome
If authentic, a tag protector is placed on the swing tag and the Beanie is brushed clean of any lint. If counterfeit or inconclusive, you are notified with the specific markers; the item is returned with the COA fee non-refundable per True Blue's policy.
- 8
Sealed in a tamper-resistant case
The authenticated Beanie is placed in an acid-free, clear acrylic display case. The case is ultra-sonically welded shut using a DuKane Ultrasonics welding machine. Voidable tamper-evident stickers are applied. The case cannot be reopened without visible destruction.
- 9
Certificate of Authenticity
An embossed True Blue Beans Certificate is generated with the authentication date, Beanie name, swing-tag generation, tush-tag generation, style number, and any examiner comments. The COA is adhered to the bottom of the acrylic display case.
- 10
Shipped back to you
Your sealed, authenticated Beanie is carefully packed and shipped to you via UPS with tracking. The sealed case + numbered COA means you can resell it as Authenticated on Beanie Xchange (or anywhere else) with a permanent BX Registry number that any buyer can verify.
Checked on every Beanie
- Swing-tag generation, font, punctuation
- Gold trim, hole punch, style number
- Tush-tag generation, country, stitching
- Plush condition, fabric, fill (PVC vs PE)
- Known production variants and recalls
- Sun fade, pilling, tag bend or staining
Not authenticated
Per True Blue Beans' policy, the following items are not accepted for authentication:
- Upside-down buttons, noses, or pins on Beanies
- USA bears without the embroidered flag
- Beanies missing both tags
About True Blue Beans
True Blue Beans is the long-running Beanie Baby authentication service that authenticators, dealers, and collectors recognize as the standard. Their COA is honored across the secondary market — on eBay, at toy shows, and in private resales. Beanie Xchange exists as the trusted online storefront on top of their proven process. You can verify any True Blue Beans certificate at truebluebeans.com.
Process steps are summarised from True Blue Beans' published authentication-process page. Beanie Xchange handles intake, payment, drop-ship to True Blue, and customer notifications; True Blue Beans performs the actual authentication and seals the case.