How Much Did the Original Furby Cost in 1998? A Nostalgic Price Breakdown

The year was 1998. The Spice Girls dominated the charts, “Titanic” swept the Oscars, and a strange little furry creature with big eyes was about to become the must-have holiday toy. I still remember begging my parents for a Furby that Christmas, completely unaware of the shopping chaos my request was causing. These electronic pets flew off shelves faster than retailers could stock them, creating a perfect storm of holiday hysteria and price gouging. But what did the original Furby actually cost when it first hit stores? Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to 1998 and break down the original Furby pricing saga – from retail launch to resale madness and today’s collector market.

The Original Retail Price: What Furby Cost at Launch

When Tiger Electronics (later acquired by Hasbro) officially launched Furby on October 2, 1998, the standard retail price was set at approximately $35 USD. This pricing positioned Furby as a premium electronic toy, but still within reach of the average family’s holiday budget. The price point reflected the toy’s innovative technology – remember, this was a time when interactive electronic toys with voice recognition were still relatively novel.

International pricing varied by market, with approximate launch prices of:

• United Kingdom: £30 ($50 USD at 1998 exchange rates)
• Canada: $50 CAD ($32 USD)
• Japan: ¥3,800 ($28 USD)
• Australia: $60 AUD ($38 USD)
• Germany: 70 DM ($40 USD)

What’s fascinating is how quickly that $35 MSRP became meaningless once Furby fever took hold. By November 1998, finding a Furby at retail price was like winning the lottery – you had to be in the right place at exactly the right time.

The Holiday Madness: When Furby Prices Went Wild

News coverage of the 1998 Furby shopping frenzy and price gouging

As the 1998 holiday season approached, Furby transformed from a popular toy into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. The supply simply couldn’t keep up with demand, creating one of the most intense toy crazes in retail history. The price fluctuations during this period were remarkable:

I remember my neighbor paid nearly $200 for a Furby from a newspaper classified ad (remember those?) after striking out at every toy store within 50 miles. The desperation was real! Newspaper reports from December 1998 documented Furbies selling for upwards of $300 in classified ads and at toy conventions. Some particularly rare colors reportedly fetched over $400 on the secondary market.

The price gouging became so extreme that it caught media attention, with news outlets running stories about “Furby scalpers” and desperate parents paying 10 times retail price to fulfill their children’s Christmas wishes. This was all happening in the early days of online commerce – eBay was just three years old, and many of these transactions were happening through newspaper classifieds, toy shows, and word of mouth.

Adjusting for Inflation: What Would the Original Furby Cost Today?

Inflation calculator showing the 1998 Furby price in today’s dollars

That $35 price tag from 1998 might not sound too expensive by today’s standards, but when adjusted for inflation, it gives us a better perspective on Furby’s original positioning in the toy market.

When you consider that the inflation-adjusted price of around $65 is pretty close to what the 2023 Furby relaunch costs ($70), it seems Hasbro has maintained relatively consistent pricing for the brand over its 25+ year history. The original Furby was positioned as a premium electronic toy in 1998, and the brand continues to occupy that same market position today.

Identifying an Authentic 1998 Furby: What to Look For

Comparison showing key differences between original 1998 Furby and later models

If you’re hunting for an original 1998 Furby (whether for nostalgia or investment), it’s crucial to know how to identify authentic first-generation models. With multiple generations released over the years, confusion is common – and unfortunately, some sellers mislabel later models as originals to command higher prices.

The 1998 Furby came in 48 different color combinations across the original production run, with 24 additional colors for Furby Babies (the smaller variant released in 1999). The most common first-generation colors included black/white (Tuxedo), white (Snowball), brown/white (Church Mouse), and gray/white (Wolf).

What Original Furbies Are Worth Today: Collector’s Market

Collection of original 1998 Furbies with current market values (2025)

The collector’s market for original Furbies has evolved significantly since their 1998 debut. While they’re not typically high-value collectibles like some vintage toys, certain rare models and special editions can command impressive prices. Here’s what you can expect to pay (or receive) for original 1998 Furbies in today’s market:

The most valuable original Furbies today are typically those that were produced in limited quantities as special editions. For example, the Kid Cuisine Furby (with only about 500 produced) has sold for as much as $2,500 in recent auctions. The ultra-rare Rainbow Furby, of which only three were ever made, has no established market value because they so rarely change hands.

Condition plays a crucial role in valuation. Working electronics, clean fur, and original packaging can easily double or triple the value compared to non-working models. The battery compartment is often a trouble spot – corrosion from old batteries can damage the electronics and significantly reduce value.

Factors That Influenced the Original Furby’s Price

The internal technology that made Furby revolutionary for its time

Several key factors contributed to the original Furby’s $35 price point and subsequent market value explosion:

The original $35 MSRP represented a careful balance between making the toy accessible to mass-market consumers while reflecting its technological sophistication. Tiger Electronics likely could have priced Furby higher initially, but the $35 price point helped create the initial wave of demand that snowballed into the holiday frenzy.

Interestingly, the NSA (National Security Agency) banned Furbies from their offices in January 1999 due to concerns that they could record classified information – a complete misunderstanding of how the toy actually worked. This bizarre government intervention only added to Furby’s mystique and collectibility.

Where to Find Original 1998 Furbies Today

Online marketplace listings for original 1998 Furbies (prices as of 2025)

If you’re looking to add an original 1998 Furby to your collection, you have several options. Here’s where to look and what to expect price-wise:

When shopping for original Furbies, always ask whether the unit has been tested and is in working condition. Many sellers don’t have the means to test (or don’t want to install batteries in a vintage toy), so you might be taking a chance on functionality. If collecting for display purposes only, this might not matter as much.

Be especially cautious with “New In Box” listings at premium prices. While sealed original Furbies do exist, many listings use this term loosely to describe open box or repackaged items. Ask for detailed photos of box condition, seals, and the Furby itself before paying collector prices.

Furby Through the Years: Price Comparison Across Generations

Evolution of Furby models from 1998 to 2023 with their original retail prices

To put the original Furby’s price in perspective, it’s helpful to compare it with later generations. Furby has seen several major relaunches over its 25+ year history, each with different technology and price points:

What’s interesting is how the price has generally increased over time, reflecting both inflation and additional technology. The 2016 Furby Connect represented the peak pricing at $100, nearly triple the original’s cost. The 2023 relaunch returned to a more moderate price point, closer to the inflation-adjusted value of the original.

Furby’s Price Legacy: From $35 Toy to Collectible Icon

A family sharing their multi-generational Furby collection, bridging nostalgia across decades

The original Furby’s journey from a $35 electronic toy to a collectible icon represents one of the most fascinating pricing stories in toy history. What started as an innovative but reasonably priced holiday gift became the center of a shopping frenzy that saw prices multiply tenfold in just weeks. Today, those same toys continue to hold value in the collector’s market – not just as nostalgic artifacts, but as representations of a pivotal moment in interactive toy technology.

For those of us who experienced the original Furby craze, these quirky creatures represent more than just their price tag – they’re time capsules to a simpler technological era when a talking furball with mechanical eyes could seem like magic. Whether you paid $35 at launch, $300 in the December frenzy, or are considering adding one to your collection today, the Furby remains a fascinating case study in toy pricing, marketing, and the enduring power of nostalgia.

Whether you’re reliving childhood memories or discovering these iconic toys for the first time, understanding the original Furby’s price history gives you valuable context for appreciating its cultural and collector significance. From its humble $35 beginnings to today’s collector market, Furby’s pricing journey is as fascinating as the talking toy itself.