Can kids tell the difference between cashmere and polyester – and which do they prefer?

We asked a dozen kids in Midtown to choose between a red cashmere $900 teddy bear from Ralph Lauren or a $30 white synthetic-skinned version from Duane Reade – without revealing the price difference.

Mr. Cheapie Bear was the unanimous, paws-down winner.

“I like the white bear better because it’s really soft and fluffy,” said Chanelle Reyes, 9, from The Bronx.

Ralph Lauren’s lack of fuzz was a major complaint. “It’s kind of like a sock and has holes where the stuffing can come out,” said Tyler Sorensen, 9, from Dover, N.J.

The cashmere didn’t cut it with Sorensen’s 8 year-old brother, Avery, either: “It’s scratchy, like a sweater,” he sniffed.

Here’s what some other kids had to say about the pair of bears and which they liked:

Hannah Arnholt, 8

Seacliff, L.I.

“The soft one – it’s pretty and it has a fluffy velvet bow.”

Pricilla Javier, 9

The Bronx

“I like the white one because it’s softer and fluffier than the other one. I don’t like the eyes and the mouth on the other one – they’re small and a little weird.”

Andrew Reidenbach, 12

Cincinnati, Ohio

“I like the white one better because it’s softer and fuzzy and it looks like it’d be easier to ‘cuddle’ with. And I don’t really like the material of the other one.”

Cody Lewis, 8

Bakersfield, Calif.

“I like the white one because it’s cuddly and fluffy and heavy. I like the shiny eyeballs because it looks like it’s staring at you and is friendly.”

Tylor Sorensen, 9

Dover, N.J.

“The white one, because it’s softer and it has a cute face. The red one’s kind of like a sock and it has all these holes where all the stuffing can come out.”

Keira McKinley, 5

Philadelphia, Pa.

“I like polar bears and this looks like a polar bear. I’ve never seen a red bear before.”