To want dd's teddy back?

[MissingTeddy]

We gave dd(8)’s favourite teddy (her constant companion for 5 years) to John Lewis’ Teddy Bear Repair & Refresh service before Christmas to be cleaned and mended.

It’s been lost while in their care (or technically the care of Johnson's dry cleaning and/or the courier and/or the repair centre, who are all involved with the service).

She’s been asking almost daily when her bear is coming home and I haven’t yet told her it's lost.

The exact bear isn’t available new or secondhand anywhere online.

I’m sharing in the hope that someone might recognise it, have one tucked away, or know where I might find an identical replacement.

I’ll post a photo below. Any help hugely appreciated 💛

Wanted an AIBU to get more traffic so: AIBU to think the £35 compensation the dry cleaning company has offered isn't going to cut it with my dd and I somehow need to find an identical bear?

Now wish I'd just taken it to our local Repair Cafe who would have mended it while I waited!

Can you post more details, brand and name of that bear, as I can’t tell from the photo.

My son’s girlfriend recently asked me for photos of his childhood beloved cuddly as she wanted to see if she could find one to gift him. She managed it, and he’s 25 now!

That's awful. The compensation is miserly but what value would you put on something priceless? Hope you get some joy from the manufacturer.

I'm slightly confused by a Killing Eve themed teddy (although Villanelle had some fantastic clothes).

Can you find out who has actually lost it? Was it received at the dry cleaners, has it been posted back out and with whom?

I deal with couriers a lot in my job and if it is in their system it usually turns up but it depends which courier. If it's Evri I wouldn't hold out much hope but if it is with say DPD they are pretty good?

I am 61 and I still feel the pain of my lost childhood teddy bear (dh threw him out by accident, clearing stuff out about 20 years ago) so my heart goes out to you and your dd, @MissingTeddy, and I hope you can find a replacement.

I also wonder whether you could use AI to write a book of adventures that teddy is having whilst he is away - sneaking out of John Lewis with other cuddly toys, travelling to different places (London, to see the sights and have afternoon tea with the King, Stonehenge, the seaside etc etc) - all these adventures might explain why the teddy is a bit different and smells ‘wrong’ when you do find one. Chat GPT or Co-pilot will help you with pictures, and you could print it out for your dd.

Oh my gosh that’s awful. I did an image search on Etsy for you using the image you provided and it found one match here -

Can you do a trust pilot review stating that you don't want the £35, you want their time and care to source a replacement of the same item given that they know they are handling a sentimental item for a small child and not talking about a like for like appliance or similar.

If they can't offer the required level of care, they shouldn't be offering the service.

Eta- I'd add that their customer is a small child and therefore the complaint needs to be handled woth that in mind, not just fobbing you off with £35 and having you deal with the fallout. Perhaps they'd like to make a member of staff available to explain the situation??

I still have mine and I’m 62. I’d be devastated if it got lost, so I can only imagine how upset the OPs daughter will be when she finds out 😢

I would definitely contact the makers ‘be my bear’ Looks like this particular bear was made for and appeared in Killing Eve so I would be very surprised if they didn’t have a few knocking about.

Could you get one as similar as possible and say it's different because they fixed it?

I did all the 'vital teddy bear' repairs myself, poor thing had ears sewed back on, body stitched up, and all sorts, teddy was absolutely essential so I know how you feel.

Get a pattern and buy similar fabric and make one, get a handy friend to make one?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/396027546399

Few on ebay @MissingTeddy - could you source the outfit seperately maybe?

I am in my 30s and feel your daughter's devastation!

Oh just seen the bear has different paws, I am sorry! Is there anyone you know who is good with a needle and thread?

Thank you so much for all the replies! The Build a Bear one is too big I think. It's the Be My Bear one. Amazon link here but it's not in stock. We tried asking Be My Bear and they don't have any left. www.amazon.co.uk/Killing-Princess-Teddy-Bear-Outfit/dp/B088GYS25V

Randomly, this bear was featured in an episode of Killing Eve at some point! I haven't seen it

I think most likely the courier lost it but they have not said which courier. (The message that told me this included 'please bear with me while I wait to hear from the courier'? the turn of phrase did make me laugh!)

Thanks, good idea. I have spoken to various members of staff already but I haven't been on Trustpilot

I still have mine from when I was little too :)

Your sewing skills sound far superior to mine! But actually my MIL is good at sewing so maybe will try her!

I still have mine, he sits on a chair in my bedroom. He's rather grubby and bends where he has been 'sat' for so long but my grandfather gave it to me on my christening day (so it's almost 50) and every time I see it I think of my grandpa.

I really hope you find one or they find it. I've been Googling and couldn't see any. 😢

Could it be worth contacting the production company of Killing Eve?! It’s possible there is one in their props store 🤷🏼‍♀️

Be My Bear made the teddy bears for the Killing Eve episode (the one set in Hamleys) so they may still have one.

Im really sorry ....is this the same bear at all.

Sorry it wont let me upload a pic

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pink-Princess-Teddy-Bear-Outfit/dp/B0728C9H6S/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=BBC3WGTEU69&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6jqbJfodI9YV3En0RZIEu99VGUcrDJ0vJaSmbKClRasp-Qpl8wAOKZilMPVLD9RCx0pQJ9bnl2tBha__pwcEtaKy4pHJRUzepRq32PThn7GMW3OjBOrkt9W39bdovMKf9biUi2rUsx3SDS4j_ao0IxuLOwh-lxsALJ9fJyl9puzBdmfJv4XnuoTSWYAQC1NDzVUt3tO0Sv9aJEM3QN43QQ.yXTMa06uKft0cxPtxl5BSiJ5LEL1jHX2UvBHXOLizH4&dib_tag=se&keywords=be+my+bear+princess+teddy+bear&qid=1770905420&sprefix=be+my+bear+princess+teddy+bear%2Ckids%2C106&sr=8-5

Think this is the outfit or is it just the bear you need?