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Original poster

Build a Bear - how much does it REALLY cost?

97 replies

Cagliostro · 04/09/2016 22:25

DD has been yearning for a BaB for a couple of years now, we've not been in as I've always said it's too much. But my parents are asking for ideas so I think this year it may be the time.

BUT I am concerned about the cost - I know the bears themselves can be around £20, but then there's all the extras. I'm not sure what's included, or if you can leave out things like the voice bit etc.

She's 9, so well able to understand she can't have everything in the store :o and I thought it may be good to set out what kind of things she would be able to choose from IYSWIM. As I'm assuming the present would be a voucher type thing to spend after Christmas (perhaps they have a sale?!)

So, can anyone please tell me how much we can expect an average visit to BaB to be...?

Thanks :)

OP posts:
MsMarple · 05/09/2016 00:52

Don't get the sound, whatever you do! I am plagued by a creaky dying-battery rendition of Star Wars, over and over again...

More seriously though, my 2 DS both love their Build a Bears and play with them all the time. We bought basic clothes and light sabres for them too and spent about £40 each from memory - it was a birthday present/treat - but I think it has been worth it as over the last 2/3 years they have been always cuddled at bedtime and played with during the day too.

I haven't gone back there for any more clothes since though, as I found that some of DS's old newborn size baby clothes have fitted very nicely with a tweak or two. They also had some gifts from family members of non-official outfits (there are loads online) which were a bit cheaper than the ones in the store - e.g. £8 for a superhero costume rather than £15.

iminshock · 05/09/2016 01:03

BAB is of the devil
Resist

RosaBee · 05/09/2016 06:01

I took my daughter as someone gave her a £20 voucher. They had a promo at the time so she got 2 Star Wars bears for £30 instead of £20+ each. She got a sounds thing for chewy and a tiara for darth Vader (obviously). I told her they could pick one accessory each so wasn't too bad at all.

Emochild · 05/09/2016 07:23

To clarify my 'they put stuff in the children's hands' comment...

We went just after Christmas I know I know and the queue was massive
Dd picked her skin and the sales assistant pounced -started talking to dd, 'oh what a lovely bear, have you picked a name?'
Dd replied and the assistant ripped the label in 2 and wrote the name on the half still attached to the bear
Dd touched the sample sound buttons, assistant pounces -'let me get that for you' opened the box and put the sound in dd's hand before I could speak

5 minutes later, assistant reappeared, asked dd about her bear using the bear's name -was she excited etc etc

Disappears off and comes back with some suggested accessories also known as an entire outfit because 'you don't want bear to be naked do you -it's cold outside'
I was ready for her that time and deflected her but she was on a selling mission!

Do the staff get commission or something??

merryxmas9 · 05/09/2016 10:06

Dd has worked there as an Xmas temp a few times and they watch training videos and are harsh in sales temps if they don't meet targets, although they get gift cards if they do. Dd when on stuffing line got given a target ie. Sell 3 smells, 5 beating hearts and 8 sounds and when on 'dress me' got given other targets for example sell 15 pairs of bear boxers or panties, she even got given the line 'oh well you wouldn't go out without underwear under a dress' which she never used. She often reported feeling guilty if parents looked like they couldn't afford more, so tried to work out if they had given the child a budget for choosing an outfit, some parents absolutely loved it and asked for lots of costume suggestions buying up to 6 outfits and sometimes a wardrobe! With her, but if they snapped at her she left it or if they tried to dissuade the child she suggested cheaper stuff. Her manager watched constantly though often getting annoyed if she didn't do the hard sell or let a child who was celebrating a special occasion leave without half the store :) she loved the job though, loved making it magical for kids with the heart ceremony and stuff :)

SideOrderofChip · 05/09/2016 10:11

I buy online in the deals and just give them to them for christmas

Tiggles · 05/09/2016 10:22

I took DS3 for his birthday a couple of weeks ago. It cost £50. We could have done it for a bit less if I had been more vigilant e.g. the lady stuffing the bear asked him to pick a smell for it (didn't say that cost maybe £3 and didn't ask me if it was ok, I did step in when she told him to put something else in that was £5). When they asked at the till if he wanted a box or a bag I was sensible enough to ask the price difference - box free, bag a few pounds...
As it was a once off for him I didn't mind paying for the wookie growler(£5), extra accessories - he had star wars clothes, shoes (£8?) and a gun(£8?)

Darwinisafish · 05/09/2016 10:22

Don't let her get any sort of shoes, complete faff. Everything is completely overpriced, but once you swallow that she'll enjoy it. I always stand there while my kids beg for the beating heart and think what a great business idea, why didn't I think of this??
The same thought I have everytime I write a note for the bloody fairy doors someone kindly gave them. Sighs.

EmGee · 05/09/2016 10:29

merryxmas's post just reaffirms why I will be avoiding BaB stores. We visited an outlet store - kids knew we were just looking to see if there is anything they could put on Christmas list. Of course, they wanted the shop. Then promptly forget about it and BaB hasn't made it on to the list at all so far thank the Lord

Darkswan · 05/09/2016 12:36

We've only been once and we spent under £25. She got a my little pony with a pumpkin spice scent, which 10 months later still smells. I think because it is a pony and they don't often wear clothes in the cartoon it was easier to not buy accessories. Both dds are getting build a bear vouchers for christmas and will probably get ponies again. I actually think the ponies are fairly decently priced. We bought a stuffed one from asda that was less than half the size and it was still £10, so I'm happy for them to spend £20 on a large one that they get to help make.

Original poster
Cagliostro · 05/09/2016 13:44

Wow, that's a lot of responses! Thanks everyone :) :)

I've talked to DD - she wasn't even aware of the sound thing, so it wasn't something she wanted and she agrees it's a bit pointless when the batteries run out etc. She would much rather have an outfit for it.

It's a store in a mall rather than an outlet sadly!

Yes I'd seen the 2for1 offer ones as well, unfortunately there aren't any friends near enough the store to go with us (it's near my mum's not ours IYSWIM). I had thought DS might want one as well but he's not bothered (prefers beanie boos :o).

OP posts:
Paddingtonthebear · 05/09/2016 13:48

My 3yr old got one of the big Care Bears, it was £22. Didn't have a voice thingy put in it, or a smell put on it (Hmm) or any other extras. Just paid for the bear casing and stuffing. They still get the certificate and box and all that

turkeyboots · 05/09/2016 13:58

There is an Outlet store BABs in Swindon's designer outlet place. Much cheaper, but not the latest ranges. Might be worth a look to see if there is one near you?

CotswoldStrife · 05/09/2016 14:14

Ooh, I've been looking for a good reason to go back to the Swindon outlet (apart from the makeup shop) and BAB might be enough to get DD to go!

Floggingmolly · 05/09/2016 14:20

The clothes / accessories are extortionate. That's where the actually make the real money...

But; there's no point in going and being confined to the soft toy. It's all or nothing really.
I've spent £80 on one bastard pony

Floggingmolly · 05/09/2016 14:21

Oh, the sound thing is fab! You can record your own message.

Original poster
Cagliostro · 05/09/2016 14:34

I'll definitely look for outlet places.

I'm concerned about the pushy staff. Sounds like a lot of pressure on them, and therefore customers! We did wander in yesterday (that's why the subject came up) for the first time and we were literally in for 2 seconds when an assistant came up to us. Did leave when we said we were just browsing though.

I will definitely go with them as really I don't want my parents to be fleeced! Also, having things put in her hands/being pushed into accepting things would really upset DD (she has ASD) and quite possibly spoil the experience for her. So I will have to be mega vigilant!

Not sure whether to suggest waiting until school's gone back (she's home ed so we could go in school hours and hopefully it'd be quieter? Would mean waiting for a couple of weeks after Christmas though...

OP posts:
Tiggles · 05/09/2016 14:37

I took DS before his birthday, and the bear has been hibernating until his actual birthday date. Would that work for your DD if you went before the schools broke up? It would for one of my children with ASD, but not the other one.

CreamCrackerundertheSettee · 05/09/2016 14:53

The staff are very pushy.

'Ooh what a lovely dressing gown you've chosen, have you seen the matching slippers?' Etc. They see parents as walking wads of money. I hate it there!

Branleuse · 05/09/2016 14:58

about £25, but I dont buy the outfits or put the sounds in - I did the sound thing on one occasion, and a tinny chorus of "call me maybe" on repeat got very old, very quickly

notagiraffe · 05/09/2016 15:03

We've done it a few times. Basic bear with heart, certificate, cardboard house and one outfit can be about £30. Just steer her past the voice recordings. They're not good and they whack the price up.

notagiraffe · 05/09/2016 15:10

I've had a look online. If you buy an ordinary brown or pink bear and some PJs or a tutu, you can get the whole lot for as little as £18.50 - 21.50.

Floggingmolly · 05/09/2016 17:19

But isn't choosing part of the fun? Knowing you're going to get the basic bear before you even step through the door is a bit pointless really. It looks like every other brown bear...

HeadDreamer · 05/09/2016 17:21

DH just took our two in August. They were doing a deal for £26 for two bears. The bears they chose are normally £21 each. The price includes the bear, and some heart thing stuff inside, and a birth certificate. You can easily set a price say £30 and make them add accessories to within the budget.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 05/09/2016 19:51

My local one the staff are lovely, ask a few questions but never been sold things we didn't want. Even looked out back for specific outfits/bears for customers.

It's also in a mall, really rammed in holidays and weekends but during term time pretty quiet.