Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Toys and games

From first toys to big kid favourites, share your best finds and recommendations. For the latest must-have toys loved by parents, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails.

Original poster

Build a Bear - con?

26 replies

bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:19

Anyone else with a DD (or DS) who loves this shop?

They have this thing where the cuddly toys are barcoded and the child has to enter their email address onto a computer so if the teddy is lost it can be traced back to them - oh yeah and they then bombard your DCs account with lots of direct marketing junk emails...

Oh and they are pretty hard sell in the shop, eg (to DD) 'do you want a beating heart/voicebox for your bear?' (at £4 each!) - and 'Don't forget pants for your teddy' - £3 a pair - I don't pay that for mine! You end up feeling quite mean only buying the bear!

Grrr - it's on a par with McDonalds!

OP posts:
TheProfiteroleThief · 22/08/2009 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LynetteScavo · 22/08/2009 20:21

NO - it's not on par with MCDonalds - I ended up paying £70+ for 2 bears. McD's only charges £4 for a couple of happy meals.

TheOnlyDailyMaleForMeisDH · 22/08/2009 20:25

How is the teddy traced if it's lost though - as if someone finding it would know to take it to one of their stores and that they'd bother to trace it

If you want to waste spend £35 on a teddy bear Hamleys make some very swish ones. Actually £35 will even get you a nice one from Harrods!

LilyOfTheMountain · 22/08/2009 20:27

See my boys adore their build a bears, DS1 is a bit embarassed about it LOL but ds3 in aprticular has a real bond with his and its great (we got them all bears on ds4's first birthday- the sheep saying 'happy birthday DS4 I love you from ds1' is a particular treasure that ds4 loves)

Direct emails to spam

TheProfiteroleThief · 22/08/2009 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LilyOfTheMountain · 22/08/2009 20:28

It does have a label on it saying please taqke me to the store so I can be traced

Original poster
bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:29

True re the cost!

Yes - I must get organised and cancel the emails!

And I agree re tracing lost bears - wonder if anyone actually has?

Oh - and yes I have club penguin saved to my favs! (by DD...)

OP posts:
TheOnlyDailyMaleForMeisDH · 22/08/2009 20:29

As a parent I would be reluctant to take the bear in because the urchins would then want one though.

LilyOfTheMountain · 22/08/2009 20:30

Much as I like your name (and I really do) perhaps you need to develop a harsher NO! and a devil look? (or is that just me........)

TheProfiteroleThief · 22/08/2009 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

frasersmummy · 22/08/2009 20:32

my local build a bear are really good...

we are always in browsing and when they say can we help we explain that ds only gets to buy here when his sticker chart is full.

The staff are brilliant they dont apply pressure they enourage ds to keep being good and tell him about new exciting ranges that might have come in by the time he has filled the chart

We have a few bears with the barcode and a stuff it card.. and have never had email from them.

expatinscotland · 22/08/2009 20:34

I think they're rather cute.

But my teenage nieces also have TONS of Build-a-Bear clothes they pass on to my girls.

I just get only the bears.

DD1 just got a cool looking blue one.

frasersmummy · 22/08/2009 20:34

oh and they tell me they have re-united 2 bears .. one of them resulted in happy tears and hugs

Original poster
bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:35

Poor DD doesn't get many emails (a school friend moved away but doesn't write much, but DD always asks to check hers when I'm checking mine) every time it's all Build a bear! But then that's cos her mum is too daft to stop them. Think I will do it now..............

OP posts:
TheOnlyDailyMaleForMeisDH · 22/08/2009 20:35

Actually I'd call the store and say 'I have your bear, it's barcode is leave an envelope stuffed with chocolate on the park bench and the bear will be returned unharmed'

Got to be worth a try.

Original poster
bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:38

[GRIN]

OP posts:
Original poster
bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:38

or even

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 22/08/2009 20:39

I framed all their birth certificates.

They're so cute!

DD1 always choses the naffest bears, too.

DD2 goes for classic ones.

Original poster
bluejeans · 22/08/2009 20:43

expat you're a nicer mummy than me!

OP posts:
feedthegoat · 22/08/2009 20:51

Aww my ds loves his bear Eddie .

He got it ages ago (it was my bad mummy bribe for the final 'no more accidents' potty training push) but he still talks about making him.

They didn't do any hard sell on us at all but it was the school holidays and queues were huge so they probably didn't have time! I also avoided signing up for emails as ds only 3 and not bothered.

He is trying to tap me up for a new outfit for him though Apparently Eddie needs to learn to surf since we got back from our holiday to devon . he saw a little surf outfit in the shop window. I'm holding firm at the moment but it's his 4th birthday in October so might let him have it then.

expatinscotland · 22/08/2009 20:52

cheap frames in IKEA.

expatinscotland · 22/08/2009 20:55

DD1's got this naff rainbow one she calls Pinky.

amidaiwish · 23/08/2009 09:43

DDs got given £20 vouchers each by their aunty for christmas for build a bear.
We went in march and i couldn't beleive the prices. 2 bears plus some outfits was about £60.

I was pretty shocked by the cost at the time and swore never to set foot in there again (and used a fake e-mail address btw, dh is v wary of these things no way were they getting a real one!)

however, they have played with them over and over and over, and now when they have been particularly good we go in for a new outfit or accessory, about £10 each, which considering the amount of play they get seems worth it.

was also shocked at £3 for pants though! DD2 wanted them, no way! staff v good though, lots of interaction and absolutely no hard sell (Kingston store).

amidaiwish · 23/08/2009 09:44

oh and now DD1 has a "build a bear" game for the Wii. (i have no idea who bought it for her, not me!) she loves it.

LilyOfTheMountain · 23/08/2009 09:46

ds3 gas the game ofr his DS (he's 6, but ahs sn so plays games aimed at much smaller children)

He adores it, makes me want to poke my eyes out with a sharp stick mind. One case where his dislike of sharing is a Good Thing LOL

Swipe left for the next trending thread