Build-A-Bear Workshop Pay Your Age Day Update – All Lines are NOW CLOSED
UPDATE – Build-A-Bear has CLOSED lines in all U.S. Stores!
From the Build-A-Bear site – Per local authorities, we cannot accept additional Guests at our U.S. Build-A-Bear Workshop locations due to crowd and safety concerns. We have closed lines in our U.S. stores. We understand some of our Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible.
Check the Build-A-Bear Facebook page for more possible updates.
Today, July 12th only, head into your local Build-A-Bear Workshop where they are hosting the first ever Pay Your Age Promotion and offering Bonus Club members (free to join) any Furry Friend for the price of just your kiddos age (minimum $1)!
For more info on this HOT Pay Your Age Day offer, head over here.
You must be 18 years old or older to become a Bonus Club Member. Children under 18 are not required to sign up, but they do need to be present with you as a member to score this hot offer.
Or skip the in-store lines, shop online & score free shipping!
Today, July 12th only, Build-A-Bear.com is offering FREE shipping on any order when you use the code FREESHIP at checkout. To get the most bang for your buck, check out the sale section where you can save on accessories, furry friends and more!
And don’t forget that you can order any bear unstuffed and then bring it to your local Build-A-Bear Workshop so your kiddos can go through the whole stuffing experience! If you would like to choose this option, simply click the “Unstuffed, I’ll Stuff It In-Store” button before adding it to your cart.
Super long line in Concord, NC. I fear they won’t even have enough bears by the time we get in the store. Oh well, I prepared for the worst–this is the worst. Lol Line goes all the way outside of the mall.
Oh wow! Hoping you can grab a bear, Carmen! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Another Concord-ian! *waves*…I’m guessing you’re at Concord Mills…sending you luck to get inside soon!
We’re still not in the mall and I’m hearing the store is out of bears already.
Here in Grand Rapids Michigan, the line is already throughout most of the mall!! An hour from opening!!! :O we might wait to see if it calms down later!! Maybe nap time!! Haha
Per their FB page, might want to check that out before making a trip. 😳
Long lines in Fort Wayne, IN. All the way out our mall. No idea if they will even have enough product for the kids in front of us.
Another one from the Fort Wayne area… so glad I didn’t make the 35 min drive… thanks for the info 😊
Yes Concord Mills–thank you! I’ve heard the line zig zags once we actually get in… 😳 My kids are being super wonderful. I haven’t told them… But if they’re sold out, I’ll bring them back next week. They are 7&8 and being so patient.
Aww! Good luck!
Wishing everyone luck and patience today.
Louisville KY is wrapped all the way around the building. I am worried that they will run out before too long.
They’ve closed the lines!! On their site:” Urgent Alert: Pay Your Age Day
Please be aware: Based on the unprecedented response to our Pay Your Age Day event in our early opening stores, we are experiencing significantly longer than expected lines and large crowds. Local authorities are requiring us to limit the lines and crowds due to safety concerns. We understand this is disappointing, we are working to address the situation, and we will be reaching out to our valued Guests soon.”
We were going to try at lunch- but glad I didn’t make the trek without seeing that first
North Austin Lakeline Mall, crazy line! People waiting since 7 am.
Build A Bear opened an hour early 🤞we get a stuffy soon.
That’s just pathetic that bunch of grown adults are standing for hours in line in order to get a discounted stuffed toy 🤦♀️
Long lines they should have prepared for this
In all fairness, they were prepared. Many of their stores opened early, had increased stock, they sent out multiple emails warning people of long lines, etc. The only way they could have handled these lines across the country were opening more locations and expanding current ones quadrupling their stock for just this one day. 🙁
Strongsville, OH. Line is estimated, by and employee, to take 8 hours. And thats just for people in line already. NOPE.
We went to attempt to wait in line but then I heard 8 hours as well and said nope…I will pay full price before I wait 8 hours.
husband went to our local mall in Greenwood, IN. was told to expect at least an 8 hour wait. the line goes to the other side of the mall and back then out the door. I can’t imagine they have enough for everyone in that line.
The build-a-bear in Augusta, GA only has 300 bears and the line is throughout the mall. They are already turning people away but I’m hearing that they are giving vouchers to the people who are unable to get one today
They are giving away $15 vouchers for your next bear purchase
Thank you!! Now I don’t have to go waste my time haha
Maybe I’m being a debbie downer but all of this to save $10 per bear? My kids are 8 and 10, and most bears they pick are only $18-$24 to begin with. I’m all about a good sale but 8 hours to save $10-$20 doesn’t seem worth it to me, especially when you can get bears cheap on their site on clearance quite often and in the store. My son found a character bear he wanted in the clearance bin last time he went and it was $7. I get it though, super fun day for the kiddos had the line not been insanely long. Maybe this will be a great turnout for the company’s bottom line and they will host them more often!
Also don’t take my post wrong – I think its great people are going today and I”m wishing you all the best of luck and hopefully the line goes quick!! I’m all about retail stores doing great, so this is a great promotion for BAB.
You’re right…it’s dumb! I value my time more than that! So crazy.
Agreed.
completely agree, tons of people in Utah slept overnight in front of the store…. all to save $20?!?! Insanity
I agree! My daughter’s 8 and we’ve taken her to Build a Bear every year for her birthday, sometimes with a friend. I usually buy a discounted gift card in advance and since I signed up for their Stuff-for-Stuff club (not sure if it’s the same as the Bonus program mentioned in the post) they usually send us $5 off coupons for our birthdays. They have cute bears starting at $10-$12. My daughter rarely chooses one over $20 (because she knows that means less clothes/accessories). MAYBE if you were on a VERY tight budget and had a few kids under 5yo I could see waiting in line for an hour but the reaction/lines from the public seem more fitting for free iPhones than 50% off teddy bears 🙂
I completely understand what you’re saying and I do agree! I have to say that we saved a lot of money on buying for our 3 kids today. They all got the more expensive stuffed animals and 1-2 accessories. We paid $33 total and spent over $150 last year doing the same thing. I hated waiting and wouldn’t do it again, BUT I am happy with our savings now that it’s done. Haha!!
Lines here are 4-5 hours long. Not worth it!
I prefer to pay a regular price $$ instead of waiting 8 to 10 hours of my precious life. This is insane… hot weather, little kids, etc.etc. No thank you!!.. Please moms be considered with your little ones!
That’s an awesome promotion but with lines like that I would rather pay full price. lol.
10 hour wait!!!
I was just handed a voucher to purchase any bear for $15 at a future date–one per family. 🙁 I’m a pretty positive person, but Build-A-Bear failed with this event.
One per family isn’t what they were advertising. So they really should have thought the through better.
It was also advertised as while supplies last…
$15 off, not $15 for the bear. That’s the only voucher that was given out
Can you just purchase the bear unstuffed and come back another time? Do you have to wait in the long line for that?
Yes. You are allowed to just buy the bear and come back. I think there are exceptions
We waited 2.5 hours to just pick out a bear and pay for it- no stuffing. Stuffing would’ve added probably another 3 hours to our wait.
Strongsville, OH store has CLOSED the line.
Disappointing! They should email everyone a coupon to come back later to avoid the massive crowds in a single day.
Is it any friend as advertised; or only a certain bear?
It is valid for any furry friend. Hope that helps!
I’ve heard Asheville,NC has closed now too.
Thanks for the update on the Asheville store- was thinking about taking my 5yr old after lunch
Two ladies cut in line and were asked to go to the back of the line. It’s cut throat hear at Lakeline Mall.
omg yes.
My kiddo is at school till 12 so 1230 is likely the earliest well get there. Luckily I didnt hype it for him, and hes a good sport if he wont get one. If the line is a reasonable wait well stay and if not, ill treat him to one of those riding stuffed animals at a kiosk and he will be more then thrilled with that.
At Dallas..the lines are super long too. they are saying at least 5-6 hrs wait. not sure if there will be anything left by the time it’s our turn.
Someone on H2S mentioned on a previous post that they have their kid’s birthday party scheduled there for tomorrow. Wonder if the store planned ahead and will get shipments overnight to restock or held stock back?
This was a super fun idea, but I don’t think anyone is or at least should be surprised by this working out this way.
Line for Opry Mills Mall in Nashville has been cut off already. My in-laws took my daughter when the store opened and the line was already huge. Line was cut off well in front of them and they were told they had to cut off because they wouldn’t have enough product. Expected lines, but running out of product an hour after store opening is a fail in my opinion
Were people expecting anything else? Why would anyone wait in line for hours, just to get a discounted toy? It’s not even like you’re waiting for a collector’s item or something that’s being discontinued etc. I don’t get it. Opportunity cost, folks.
I agree! Only in the USA would people wait hours for a stuffed animal!
Um, except this didn’t just happen in the US – the same thing happened in the U.K. and Canada too. Does that make us less greedy?
I hope everyone gets a bear. I’m just thinking about all of the kids waiting for several hours. They should of made this a weekend or 3-4 day promotion where individuals signed up in store or online for appointments. This is probably a lot on the kids and the workers as well. My daughter is at an age where she’s only interested in the things that I give her. I’m going teach her from young that I don’t do lines. The best I can do is two days shipping. If it’s a really special occasion we will do next day shipping.
Just left Nashville store. I already warned my kids we were not waiting, but we went in to see the madness. Everyone in line was in good spirits, but it was one of the longest lines I have ever seen. I respect people that want to wait in line, but I am not that person. Not even for a voucher. I’m hoping this implodes in Build A Bear and they let us take our kids on their actual birthday to pay their age.
That’s a great idea to Pay their Age on their actual Birthday!
They actually DO have this already in place where kids can now get a furry friend at the cost of their age during their birthday month.
This was just posted on the FB page:
“**Urgent Alert: Lines Closed for Pay Your Age Day Event
Per local authorities, we cannot accept additional Guests at our locations due to crowds and safety concerns. We have closed lines in our U.S. and Canada stores. We understand some Guests are disappointed and we will reach out directly as soon as possible. https://bit.ly/2Jgo6kP “
Great publicity for build a bear!
Nope! I went early and my mil was gonna meet me with the kids. It was insane! Hundreds of people. There’s no way they’ll have enough bears and honestly my time is worth more than saving $30.
Thank you! Lol I said the same thing. 4 hours, at the very least, to save $30! Heck no!!! We left after only an hour. In the hot sun. The line wasn’t moving. As we left, we peaked in the store and the few ppl in there were just perusing the store like they had all day. How rude!
They have cut off the lines. They were handing out $15 coupons from what I was told and are trying to figure out how to handle this.
According to the build a bear facebook page lines have been shut down. Our local mall posted the cops were present and due to safety they had to close up and couldn’t accept anyone else.
Collierville, TN line was a mile long and we showed up an hour before store opened. I decided to leave and wait for their birthdays to get their pay your age bear. The count your candles promotion offers the same deal during their birthday month! I’m disappointed and so are my kiddos but there’s no way I could stand in that line for hours with 3 kids, 2 of which are toddlers 😱
I thought the count your candles deal is for a specific bear not any doll like this promo.
Its not the same promotion, its a specific birthday bear that you pay the childs ago for during their birth month. This one would’ve allowed you to get any animal for their age.
Here in Roseville Ca the cops had to shut down the lines due to over a 1000 people in line already
I’m in Roseville too, but I didn’t go lol
Wow!! Im at the one in Orange in SoCal, and the line is already huge! Hundreds of people. The store doesn’t even open for another 2 hours…. So nope. There are so many babies in the line too… It’s already so hot and its an outdoor mall.
So I hadn’t realized our Build ABear was opening an hour earlier. So I showed up right when they opened. Line was looped inside the mall, all around the mall. We were outside in a line that looped at least 3 Times. Hey were only letting in 10 families at a time. After an hour of sweating and my kids getting fussy we left.
4+ hour wait lines wrap around upstairs/downstairs. There is now a 2nd line for $15.00 off vouchers…no additional staff for the event. Feeling sad for the teen cashier today in Austin, TX😯
I’m gonna have to pass on this one. I would rather pay full price and my daughter enjoy her experience. I don’t want to stand in long lines and then feel rushed to finish.
Lines were outside the mall here in South Florida. Daughter-in-law decided her two babes were young enough to enjoy shopping at the Disney store instead. I can’t say I blame anyone not willing to deal with that madness.
Anyone in AZ please post what the stores look like today. I made the HUGE mistake of telling my 7 year old about this. I can’t go until after work so I figure they will have run out. My daughter’s a good sport though, I told her they will likely not have the unicorn she wants. We’re planning on stopping by just to see how crazy it is, we’ll be at the mall tomorrow so we’ll get our unicorn anyway. I’ve got two BAB’s near me, one is an “enclosed” mall, the other is “open air”. I think I’ll choose the enclosed mall since I’m in AZ and we’ve had rain the last 2 days. Good luck ladies! 🙂
What did BAB expect? It was all over Facebook, deal sites and even the local news. How stupid of BAB! They obviously didn’t learn anything from the last time they ran an event. Like their $5.00 bear event. The line was crazy then and we have a small town mall. Shoving and pushing and even a fight. No bear is worth that to me. Best of luck to all of you out venturing but I have no energy to wait with my son in 100 degree weather for a $5.00 bear.
Per Facebook they have ended the deal!
Just got an email from build a bear that their lines are closed in the U.S. due to crowded lines.
Same.
The Florida Mall store line reached all the way out to the parking lot I was told. If anyone knows that mall like I do its a line that last for a few miles. I’m sure they had to close that line down at the Florida Mall location here in Orlando. Their line would not just be locals but tourist as well.
https://www.wesh.com/article/build-a-bear-chaos-hits-central-florida-stores-shoppers-being-turned-away/22128669
https://www.wpri.com/don-t-miss/build-a-bear-closes-lines-due-to-crowds-safety-concerns/1298264608
( Sent from WPRI 12 News )