PEZ

by Shawn Peterson

  In January 1990, the Optimistic Pezzimist came on board. It was published by Mike Robertson and had a run of just fifteen issues, lasting until July 1992.

  The premiere issue of The Plastic Candy Dispenser Newsletter was launched with the November–December issue in 1992. Just three issues later, the name would change to Positively PEZ. Published by Crystal and Larry LaFoe, it had a slightly longer run with nineteen issues and ended with the January–February 1996 edition. The fun thing about these newsletters is looking back now and realizing how little was known and how much was yet to be discovered. There were no databases or Internet to search; the early information was traded one collector to another.

  The Fliptop Pezervation Society (FPS) newsletter, published by Dennis Martin, premiered with the September–October 1995 issue, billing itself as “the first national club for PEZ collectors.” Pedro PEZ, a boy PEZ Pal dispenser, was adopted as the club mascot and was sent around the world to various collectors, visiting interesting places and having his picture taken. Collectors would send in the pictures, and his world travels would be documented in the newsletter.

  The first PEZ candy flavors advertised in the United States were peppermint, lemon and chlorophyll mint.

  One month later, PEZ Collectors’ News made its first appearance with the October–November 1995 issue. The two newsletters worked well together; both were bimonthly newsletters and published on opposite months. If you subscribed to both, you could get your fill of PEZ news on a monthly basis.

  In December 1999, the Fliptop Pezervation Society announced the September–October 1999 issue was its last and the newsletter would combine efforts with PEZ Collectors’ News. The FPS enjoyed a run of twenty-four issues; at that time, it was the longest-running newsletter.

  PEZ Collectors’ News was now the lone newsletter. Twenty-one years (yes, years!) and well over 125 issues later, it’s still going strong and is currently the only printed newsletter. Since its inception, the newsletter has been published by Richie Belyski on a bimonthly basis. The wealth of knowledge it has provided collectors over the years has been invaluable. Belyski was the first collector to foster a relationship between the PEZ Company and collectors. It was through his newsletter that then PEZ president/CEO Scott McWhinnie would provide information to collectors on the latest news and happenings. Belyski would go on to host numerous PEZ gatherings in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as well as host the Connecticut convention known as the North East PEZ Collectors’ Gathering, which celebrated its eighteenth year in 2016.

  Chapter 9

  Hey Bidder, Hey Bidder … Sold!

  As I mentioned earlier, eBay has been a key player and powerful force in the evolution of the PEZ hobby. For years, eBay was associated with PEZ, and many in the PEZ hobby would argue that’s how eBay got its start. Turns out, it may not have been just an assumption; eBay helped foster this rumor for years. Being associated this closely with a powerhouse brand like eBay isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it probably helped bring interest to the hobby and perhaps add a few more collectors to the ranks.

  The following news article was published on June 17, 2002, by AP Business writer Brian Bergstein:

  During eBay’s rapid rise to Internet commerce powerhouse, the company nurtured a quaint tale of its origins, saying founder Pierre Omidyar created the site in 1995 so his fiancée could trade PEZ candy dispensers with other collectors.

  It seemed to embody a seminal Silicon Valley moment as humble as the garage births of Hewlett-Packard Co. and Apple Computer Inc.

  The story was so tied to eBay’s identity that chief executive Meg Whitman often was photographed with PEZ collections, and 121 dispensers are on display in the lobby at company headquarters.

  Too bad the story isn’t true.

  According to a new book on eBay, “The Perfect Store” by Adam Cohen, the PEZ myth was fabricated to interest reporters in the site in 1997.

  The truth was merely that Omidyar had realized an auction-based marketplace would be a great use of the Internet. But Mary Lou Song, eBay’s first public-relations manager, discovered that the real story didn’t excite reporters.

  After she heard Omidyar’s wife, Pam Wesley, say she had been having a tough time finding fellow PEZ collectors in Silicon Valley, Song decided to tell journalists that Omidyar had developed eBay to help Wesley’s PEZ woes. Omidyar gave his blessing, and the legend was born.

  EBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove, who joined the company in 1999, said Omidyar did use eBay to buy and sell his wife’s PEZ collectibles but acknowledged that the site wasn’t born that way.

  “It has been slightly blown out of proportion,” Pursglove said.

  Another aspect of eBay shrouded in the fog of recent history is the company name. Conventional wisdom around headquarters has been that “Bay” referred to a safe harbor for trading goods, or was a tribute to nearby San Francisco Bay, according to Pursglove.

  The truth is not so elegant, according to Cohen’s book. Before starting AuctionWeb, the site that became eBay, Omidyar had a one-man consulting firm he called Echo Bay Technology Group because he thought the name sounded cool.

  When it came time to register the Internet address, EchoBay.com was taken, so he shortened it to eBay.

  In the year 2000, PEZ partnered with eBay to create an exclusive dispenser for the eBay online store. For a brief period around this time, eBay had a store on the website where you could buy a variety of eBay-branded merchandise. Everything from umbrellas to hats, key chains and coffee mugs could be found with the now famous eBay logo.

  Four different dispensers were created exclusively for the store: a yellow crystal heart with green footless stem, a blue crystal heart with yellow footless stem, a red crystal heart with blue footless stem and a green crystal heart with red footless stem. All hearts were printed with the eBay logo in white letters and mounted to a green, stylized blister card also containing the eBay logo and included three rolls of candy. Five thousand sets of these exclusive dispensers were created and sold for ten dollars per set. The sets sold out with record speed. Today, complete sets typically sell for as much as five or six times the original sale price.

  The other eBay dispenser that can be found is on a black footless stem with a glow-in-the-dark heart and black eBay logo. These dispensers were given to eBay employees, who then had the option to keep or resell the item (on eBay). The first examples were scarce and often sold for several hundred dollars each. Today, the employee dispensers do turn up on occasion, but prices have come down a bit; examples still sell for over $100 each.

  The exclusive eBay dispenser set, circa 2000.

  The front and back of the original card containing a rare Make-A-Face dispenser, circa 1972.

  Depending on your perspective as a collector, since its inception, eBay has either helped or hurt the hobby. It has certainly leveled the playing field by identifying what is truly rare and what is more common than once thought.

  It’s also brought attention to the hobby and flushed things out of attics, garages and storage buildings that have been packed away for years. Money is always a motivator for someone to dig through piles of old junk because there might be something valuable buried in the mess.

  From the early 1950s to the late 1960s, the price of a PEZ dispenser with two rolls of candy was only twenty-five cents.

  Certain things once thought to be extremely rare (such as a Make-A-Face dispensers) actually turn up with a high degree of frequency on eBay. This was once thought of as “the holy grail,” but if you really want one, give it a few weeks and one will likely show up for auction. That’s not to say there are that many out there; occasionally one will turn up that hasn’t been seen, but generally speaking, the ones that are out there just keep changing hands and recirculating through the hobby. The Make-A-Face, first introduced in 1972, wasn’t available for long. The large head and tiny parts often broke away from the card, rendering them unsellable. It’s rumored that all remaining stock was re-melted and used
to mold the Indian chief headdress that would be introduced just a few short years later, explaining the wide variety of swirled headdresses.

  EBay has also helped level the resale values of many dispensers. Why pay a premium for something at a convention when if you are patient it might end up available again and at a much better price on eBay? This makes sense, but be prepared to get something that may be less than your expectations. Condition is everything when placing value on a dispenser.

  Dispensers are small and do not hide flaws or damage very well. What one person may call “mint” is in reality far from it. I’ve often read descriptions online where the seller describes the item as “in perfect condition but it has a crack on the side of the stem, a small melt on the head and the hat is missing.” What? How is that perfect condition? It’s kind of like saying, “My car is in perfect condition except for the dented door panels, missing fender and two flat tires.” Unlike coins, comic books or trading cards, there is no established grading system or company that will grade dispensers. Beauty or condition, as it turns out, is in the mind of the describer.

  Photos don’t always show the tiny flaws such as hairline cracks or parts that have been glued. If it’s mentioned at all, credit goes to the seller for pointing out the flaws, but that doesn’t always happen. Granted, there are processes in place to help buyers get a refund when such scenarios occur, but sometimes the headache and hassle can really take the fun out of it. There is no mistaking that there are some great deals and some extremely rare items made available on eBay. Just use caution and always remember, buyer beware!

  For the newbie, this is all a lot to take in. What do I need to know? Who do I need to talk to?

  Sure, it’s easy to buy from home and never get out and meet other collectors or travel to a convention. To me, never attending a convention takes something away from the enjoyment of the hobby. The advantage the conventions will always have over any online sales site is the ability to see and inspect the item you are interested in buying in person. Read that last sentence again because it’s really key.

  In PEZ terms, a “regular” refers to a dispenser with only a cap and no character head.

  It does take more effort to get out to a convention than to shop online, but no computer replaces the positive side effect of attending: the friendships you make. The people around you share the same passion and enthusiasm. Most are eager to share their knowledge and experience. The camaraderie alone is worth the trip. The first step in collecting is education. Knowing the product and the prices are important. As with any other area where buying and selling is involved, there have been a few unscrupulous sellers, some fake dispensers and bait-and-switch scams. Any time money is involved, it can bring out those looking to take advantage of others.

  Chapter 10

  Collecting 101

  WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

  Want to go all-in on PEZ collecting? There are some considerations and terms to know. Use the jargon and you’ll become part of the community. Identify the characteristics and you’ll be able to determine value. Determine value and you can buy, trade and sell to your benefit.

  The “head flop” (actually a misnomer) is a recent addition to the vocabulary. As it is used now, it refers to the amount of movement the head of the dispenser makes when tipped backward and gravity pulls it back. If the head moves, some people think this is head flop or a floppy head when, in fact, it’s not. A true floppy head dispenser (or head flop) is one in which the spring is broken or no longer engaged. Larger heads are going to have movement to some degree when tipped back just because of the weight of the head. You can’t stop physics, and it doesn’t mean the dispenser is damaged. The head flop may or may not be a measure of functionality.

  When referring to dispensers, “alignment” refers to the ease with which a dispenser functions. Some people assume that old dispensers all operate precisely and any irregularity or misalignment means it’s damaged. While in some cases that is true, it is also true that dispensers were never intended to be precision instruments. They were made in mass, and sometimes, especially with older dispensers, the parts don’t quite align perfectly. Another point to remember: price does not equate to ease of function. A $500 dispenser will not function any better than a $5 dispenser. Sometimes the opposite is true: the poorer the quality, the more value it potentially has because fewer may have survived.

  The concern overall should be with the condition of the dispenser and whether all the parts are correct. Ideally, it should function easily. The plastic blade springs, especially those made in Hong Kong, are notorious for leaving a gap between the head and part of the spring it engages (which allows for some degree of head movement or flop). It doesn’t mean it is broken! Look for cracked, broken or missing parts. Be aware that part switching is more rampant now than it ever has been in my twenty-five-plus years of collecting.

  Parts can be switched with a correct replacement, and most in the hobby regard this as acceptable practice. For it to be acceptable, it has to be the exact same part, not something close. For stems, this means the same IMC number, same country of origin and same color. The problem comes from those who switch with parts that aren’t correct or use something “close enough.” Dispensers like this are often found on eBay. Some people will find damaged dispensers and, in effort to sell them at a profit, will replace a broken part from another dispenser. Unless the swap is done correctly, it actually causes more harm than good.

  There are a handful of individuals who make regular practice of swapping parts to make color combinations they think look better or were never in fact offered by PEZ. Some do look nice when the stem matches the head or other parts, but it actually dilutes the integrity of the hobby when enough of these pieces get into circulation. One individual in particular likes to take apart ponies and create head, mane, bridle and eye and stem combos that were never done and list them for sale on eBay. These have been dubbed “Franken-ponies.” If you buy one, knowingly or not, the value will likely never go up because it’s been altered. They are just cobbled together works that, in my opinion, should be avoided.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  It is every collector’s responsibility and ultimately in his best interest to preserve and protect the integrity of his or her collection. It is important to maintain value by preserving authenticity. Investment return, however, should not be the motivating factor to collect. Collect for the fun!

  As a collector, there are other aspects to the hobby and facets that expand beyond the dispensers themselves. Some collectors, however, are purists and only have interest in dispensers. There are many PEZ items in addition to dispensers that are collectible: advertisements, display boxes, candy packs, licensed products, etc. Dozens of entirely different PEZ product lines and memorabilia are for sale or on display at conventions, gatherings, online and, of course, at the Visitor Center in Orange, Connecticut.

  The Halloween witch was the first dispenser in the classic character head/stem format.

  Original packaging is a consideration for collectors. One could easily wonder, “Should I leave it in the package or open it up?” “Will it lose its value if I open it?” Opening the dispenser is often a matter of preference. If the dispenser is old, popular opinion is to leave it in the package. As most people know, anything with the original box or packaging is generally worth more than an item without. Sometimes it’s the packaging itself that has the value. Remember, this material was never meant to be kept; it was completely disposable and had one purpose: hold the product until it was sold and then be immediately disposed of. Those that survive still packaged can be rare. Display boxes and advertising sheets, which we will talk about, are quite collectible on their own.

  With new or more recent dispensers, the choice is yours. Many advanced collectors buy at least three of each new release: one in the (poly) bag, one on the blister card for the art and one to open for display. It’s true that a carded or bagged dispenser is traditionally worth more than one that is loose,
but a dispenser out of package is more fun to display (and play with).

  NOW THAT I KNOW SOME BASICS, HOW DO I START?

  If you are a new collector, you may be wondering how to get started. A good suggestion is to start slowly—look for as many of the current release dispensers you can. You can build a nice size collection this way without spending a lot of money. Next, move on to the current European dispensers or recently retired dispensers. Most of these can be had for just a few dollars each. Acquire all of these, and the size of your collection will easily double.

  When it comes to vintage dispensers (footless/pre-1987), one suggestion is to decide what your first benchmark will be and start from there. For example, there is still a good number of footless dispensers that can be found for twenty-five dollars or less. Another suggestion is to focus on a specific genre. For example, some collectors collect only the PEZ Pals or animals; others focus on a specific dispenser and all of its variations. Some collectors focus on stem variations. A good example of stem variations is with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the original set, there are eight different dispensers that come on eight different stem colors; if you were to collect all of the head/stem combinations, you would have sixty-four turtles alone in your collection!

  Although some of the old dispensers reach into the hundreds and even thousands of dollars for a single dispenser, you don’t have to spend your life savings to enjoy the hobby. Collect within your means. The most important thing to remember about collecting PEZ is to collect what you enjoy and enjoy what you collect. But most importantly: it’s a hobby—have fun!

  WHAT IS THERE TO COLLECT IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL DISPENSER?

  Ad sheets were only distributed to people in the business—salesmen, brokers, dealers, etc. They were not meant for the general public, making them difficult to find. Some collectors pursue only the dispensers and have little interest in these sheets. Others enjoy collecting anything related to PEZ.