Buying Baby Yoda Merchandise (Caveat emptor.)

I love Baby Yoda. I am obsessed with Baby Yoda. Baby Yoda is life.

(Yes, Mr. Know-It-All, I know his official name is The Child.)

I’m not the only person in the galaxy who feels that way. And since Disney stepped back from selling “The Mandalorian” merchandise until Baby Yoda’s big (and totes adorbs) reveal, Baby Yoda-ites have been scrambling for Baby Yoda merchandise, especially plushes.

Here are some tips that I have gleaned since I’ve appointed myself “Defender of the Baby Yoda Realm.”

1. Shop at only legitimate outlets. These include not only the official Disney store, but also Amazon, Walmart, and Target (to name a few).
2. Exercise caution when shopping for “off market” items. I myself have purchased two Baby Yoda thingy-things from Etsy. I’ve been more than satisfied. But I also did my due diligence — reviews, reviews, and reviews.
   -- Be especially cautious of international sellers. And a lot of international sellers will use a third address in another country to disguise that fact that they’re shipping from a particular country.
   -- But don't automatically dismiss all international merchants. Not all international sellers are scammers. Conversely, there are plenty of less-than-forthright sellers based in the USA. [Edited]
3. With the proliferation of Baby Yoda groups on social media, scammers have taken to posting in groups, etc. Personally, I would never purchase anything from someone who advertised on the book of face, but if you know them as a legitimate seller, please let the rest of the Baby Yoda world know.
4. You don’t have to buy every Baby Yoda-related thingy-thing. Take your foot off the pedal and cruise for a bit.

Baby Yoda has made not only social media, but also social distancing, more tolerable. He has been a boon for Disney+, and Baby Yoda merchandise has flooded the internet.

Don’t not buy; just buy with caution.

~ The End ~