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Original poster

build a bear great present or just an expensive cuddly toy

23 replies

lexcat · 09/03/2008 16:48

DD 6 loves the shop and birthday is soon. She is hoping for me to take her to the build a bear shop for her birthday and get a bear plus an outfit. £14 for the bear and seems like £15+ for a outfut.
Which to me seem like a very expensive cuddly toy. I don't mind if it's played with. But the worry is, it just becomes another cuddly that sits at the end of her bed never touched.

OP posts:
Scattybird · 09/03/2008 16:50

I think they are very very expensive. However, once you see the heart go in etc, then surely you have to love that bear.

Original poster
lexcat · 09/03/2008 17:25

Yes we wacthed the heart go in. The child had to hug, kiss and wish on the heart before it was added to the toy, very clever marketing.

OP posts:
Original poster
lexcat · 09/03/2008 19:42

bump
anyone please

OP posts:
BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/03/2008 19:45

A pile of steaming poo.

Lomond · 09/03/2008 19:46

If she is really excited about it then I would get her one. Suppose it depends on whether she usually plays with cuddly toys or not. It could turn out to be a much loved favourite?

foxinsocks · 09/03/2008 19:47

one of mine went to a party here and she LOVED it, really loved it.

It is just an expensive stuffed toy but she will absolutely love doing the whole stuffing bear thing and if it's a birthday treat then I don't see anything wrong with it.

SoupDragon · 09/03/2008 19:48

DSs love their s*dding bears and they're 7 and 9!!

BibiThree · 09/03/2008 19:50

We got each of our girls one when they were born and usually give them as presents to friends babbies. Our eldest loves hers.

notnowbernard · 09/03/2008 19:53

Bloody hate that place!

DD1 nags me to go in... we get immediately hassled in a MAJOR way by the overly-enthusiastic staff

Cue DD1 picking out (truly awful) teddy bear outfits... said staff whipping her up into a wild frenzy of teddy bear shoe/hat/bag/sports accesories selection...

Cue me GENTLY reminding DD1 we only have x amount of money to spend... cue onset of significant strop-in-packed-shop moment...

I now avoid it at all costs

Original poster
lexcat · 09/03/2008 20:02

Never ever had any hassle from the staff. They are always polite and not pushy. We have been in quite a few times and never brought any thing in their yet.
DD just loves window shopping and watching other peoples bears been stuffed. Also loves all the clothes for the bears.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 09/03/2008 20:06

I think the staff in our local one had obviously just been on some sort of team-building/sales-boosting/incentives-driven training bollocks

It was terrible!

"Oh look, wouldn't these sandals look lovely on your bear? She must have the matching handbag! And what about some pyjamas?"

DD1 just a Yes-girl in these situations!

V.angry at the way they target the kids and by-pass the parents

Prices a rip-off, too

LazyLinePainterJane · 09/03/2008 22:01

TURD!

expatinscotland · 09/03/2008 22:05

DD1 has been nagging me for one of these since she brought home 'Angus', the nursery build a bear.

She's also been nagging me for a dog.

notnowbernard · 09/03/2008 22:07

Expat, DON'T DO IT!!

You'll be fleeced!

expatinscotland · 09/03/2008 22:08

I can sew, but I know she'd still be bugging me for those damn outfits, which cost a king's ransom.

notnowbernard · 09/03/2008 22:11

Yes, it's the 'wardrobe department' that's bothersome

DD1 went to a party at one of these places. She enjoyed it, got a bear out of it. Lovely

BUT....

Then hassled me to return and buy it an outfit

Bloody nightmare

expatinscotland · 09/03/2008 22:25

that's where they make their money.

well, she's not getting one.

DD2 takes more interest in her baby anabel than she does.

notnowbernard · 09/03/2008 22:32

Indeed

I FINALLY got round to putting new batteries in Baby Annabel today

It COMPLETELY freaked dd2 out and the cat pounced on her, ha ha! (Annabel, not DD2!)

I've always wondered, though, where does the water go, once you've fed her from that bottle thing?

expatinscotland · 09/03/2008 22:33

They lost the bottle, so I never found out .

paddingtonbear1 · 09/03/2008 22:36

my dad bought one for dd a year or so ago, and he's bought a few outfits - I've got away with not buying any so far!
They are a bit pricey but dd does play with hers. Mind you she also plays with her dolls, which she dresses in outfits my mum made out of old curtains years ago - still going strong!

paddingtonbear1 · 09/03/2008 22:38

bernard I think baby annabel is meant to cry 'real' tears. Mostly it just runs down the chin though - on dd's anyway!!

hana · 09/03/2008 22:38

dd1 has one and loves it. gets played with a lot, but it has special status and only one that stays on her bed. ( of soft toys) only nave 1 proper outfit from the shop itself, rest are dd3's old preemie clothes, or things picked up at charity shops.

Original poster
lexcat · 10/03/2008 08:48

Thanks for some very intresting feedback. Was thinking bear plus one out fit for birthday present then if she get birthday money she can alwayes buy more clothes, other wise it's clothes i make or have seem the clothes on ebay.

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