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.
Wow that mall is massive! That is crazy! I am really impressed by how many were willing to do this!
Anyone in Oregon? Happy valley? How does it look?
Clackamas is terrible. 3-5 hour wait. Not worth the money you save!
Does anyone know if montebello in california is open or line closed too.
I just left there about an hour ago. We waited over an hour and hardly moved. I got an email and read online lines are cut off. People said they were running low on inventory. My daughter and I left. The line was snaked outside and around Macy’s. I’m just going to take my daughter on her bday month. She will pay her age then and not have to deal with this madness.
just on the news, build a bear shut it down just now due to overwhelming lines
The store in Omaha opened an hour early at 9. We arrived at 8 and there were 20 people ahead of us. We were through the line and finished by 10. They told us we didn’t have to stuff the animals, but 98% of people were which is what takes the most time considering they have 2 stuffers working! When we came out of the store, the entire upper level of the mall was one giant line to get in… probably a 10 hour wait AT LEAST! It was 2 hours for us and we were 20 people from the front! The parking lot was horrific – every spot taken, worse than Black Friday! Good Luck to everyone, it’s a mad house out there!!!
I figured stuffing was the choke point… I didn’t venture out because mine is 1.5 hrs away. But I would’ve got unstuffed and enjoyed it another day.
While I understand the popularity of these, you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to wait in a 10 hour line with my children for something I can buy regularly like $25 based on the pic posted with this story.
Lol. I’d do it for a million dollars 😉
you must be extremely wealthy to turn down one million dollars for 10 hours of your day.
Yes, but it is not for ANY furry friend, it only applies to their birthday furry friend.
It was for ANY furry friend in the store. We got there at 8:45 and didn’t leave the store until 11:40 and didn’t even get the Bear stuffed. Def not worth it.
^^^ My comment was meant as a reply to those saying they’ll take their kids in during their birthdays. For birthday, it only applies to the specific birthday furry friend. Today’s deal is for ANY furry friend. ^^^
I don’t think the time spent in line is worth the savings!
Saw that one coming
me too… almost riots at the taco bell giveaway also.. just for a measely free taco…
all the lines are closed now in the US.
This was absolutely horrible and terrible planning. Got to our store and at least 1000 in line to outside parking structure. People mean and employees very rude. 1 PERSON stuffing for this entire crowd. NOT WORTH it.
Tons of news articles on it:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-44809213
Dont go to the one in Fresno CA you will be waiting at least 5 to 10 hours for a dumb bear and have an upset kid
My local news just did a FB live post. The line stretches the length of the entire mall!
Oh man, honestly they could have planned it a lot better. Like giving out tickets for the first 100 people or whatever other stores do to keep people from killing each other for a $5 toaster on Black Friday. I feel like every time I’ve tried to take my kids to something that’s supposed to be fun and cheap (free pancake day, dollar flip flop day), I find myself really wishing I had just spent the extra money to do it on a regular day. A line like this with small kids is so not worth it.
Exactly. We went because I couldn’t imagine it could be any worse than cow appreciation day, which is always very reasonable. O.M.G. Makes black friday look tame. And the fact that people will actually stand in that line with LITTLE KIDS… what if you get to the front of that 8 hour line and they have nothing left, or nothing you want? And what if you’re the only adult with your kids and someone has to pee? Do you rely on a stranger to hold your place in line? Terrible planning. It should’ve been a coupon or something.
In Michigan near Detroit on News which showed turning people away and offering a 16 dollar voucher. Headline: People Outraged in Line at Build -a-Bear.Somerset Mall in Troy, MIch.
I live about an hour from that mall and was going to head in. So glad I didn’t. Once I saw everyone posting and sharing this, I figured crowds would be too much. My time and sanity is worth much more than saving $20 on a bear😉
I was at that mall and received the $15 voucher. However, when they handed it to me they told me it would be the SAME price as today, just a different day when they had more inventory. I hope I don’t have trouble redeeming it. They were very kind and polite at the time.
Wow! I’m glad we got a slow start this morning and changed our mind about going!
Worst idea ever we have police, sirens going off people mad we got vouchers for $15 for tomorrow
Worst idea ever? Really? Look how many people showed up – LOL!!!
Have I read correctly that this will be a regular thing for children in the month of their birthday?
Yes, they have a count your candles program. During your birthday month kids can get the birthday bear for the cost of their age. It isn’t as good a deal though, as you only get that specific bear that is $14 full price. Still fun if you have a younger child though who just wants the fun of stuffing their own bear.
how does the birthday bear work. My daughters birthday is on Saturday. How do you in fact prove its their birthday? Do you have to take something?
We went this morning right before our mall opened (45 minutes from our house) by the time they opened the doors, the line was wrapped around the whole mall and outside. There was no way we could wait with a 4 year old and a 3 month old. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. We have a video posted on fb of the mess. What a disappointment.
I’d like to post a good experience since so many had bad ones. We got up early (5 kids) went to the mall. We’re there for about hour and half. Was prepared with food and drinks and iPad and coloring. The wait was simple and we were first in line. Kids really enjoyed. Attempted free slurpee yesterday at 7-11 for 7-11 and that didn’t work. They ran out of cups. So you win some you lose some
We had a fine experience as well. Came prepared with books. Looked online last night and saw our Collierville store was going to open early at 9. Got there 15 min early. Took around 3 hours including stuffing. They had plenty and still had not run out of anything! I was impressed. No one was acting crazy and people were just hanging out waiting. we saved $80 on our three bears. My kiddos wanted expensive licensed ones
Same here. They all chose a very expensive one. Had a great time. People in line were friendly and all chatting. Overall a good experience
We had a good experience too at our local amusement park Kings Island. The people in line were nice and polite and helping each out. The KI staff brought out water, fans, wet rags. The build a bear staff was friendly. We waited in line 4.5 hours and I have a 2,4 and 8 year old so it’s all in how you handle the situation and attitude affects your kids!
I drove by at mall opening time and there was lines of cars on interstate to get to mall. We skipped and came back at lunchtime to find its canceled. Disappointed.
What a horribly failed promotion that left so many children disappointed. Anyone with a little foresight would have thought of setting a cap ahead of time and requiring people to RSVP for certain time slots. The company didn’t anticipate the large turnout because they’re likely ignorant of how many people like the concept of B-A-B but cannot afford the animals at their regular prices.
Hopefully they do something to rectify this situation, or they’ll lose a lot of current and future customers.
I was thinking the same thing. It’s such an expensive treat for kids and such an aspirational thing for the littles as well that they could have (or should have) known that it would bring people out in droves. Companies need to understand that they can cause long term reputational damage with stuff like this unless they admit their fault and offer a really generous response. I still won’t shop at Lilly Pulitzer anymore after showing up to Target to buy some limited edition coffee mugs and being confronted with hundreds of people acting like maniacs (and it’s been years now, lol).
Right, I seen so many adults waking out without children with they’re bears meanwhile my kids were upset they didn’t get one. We traveled an hour to our local build a bear just to be told they’re closing lines and wait an hour or more for a $15 off coupon for another day. 🤦🏻♀️
The build a Bear stores in the UK have been just as bad!
drove an hour to my store. Was there 1/2 hours before the mall even opened and they were already estimating over a 4hour wait. We left right away so I wasn’t the gas for an hour each way and didn’t get a coupon to come back
They should have emailed coupon to rewards members to pay their age and a set time frame to redeem within… parents could pre-register their kids ages before the coupon is sent and maybe keep track and require driver’s license numbers to redeem to keep the store from getting scammed lol I don’t know but it seems they could have planned a little better
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. 🙂
Why? Are people only allowed to express their feelings when those feelings are positive? That’s not how discussions work.
@AZ I was talking to the person whose comment was deleted. That person was just being ugly. Thanks for your input, though. You have a very nice day.
I didn’t see that since you didn’t reply to anyone, just commented in general. But you sound mad…are you okay?
That’s rich. I’ve read so many rude comments by you Az on all these BAB posts 🙄. For your part, you sound bitter that others went out and had a good time and got some cheap bears with their own time and money. Are you okay?
No, I’m not okay…looks like the comment police caught me! “Rude” = someone that disagrees w/ you. I don’t call spending 8 hours in line waiting w/ my kids for overpriced stuffed animals a “good time” so no, definitely not bitter…but you go right ahead and live your best life!
Just logged in to my b-a-b members account and found a $15 bonus club voucher, which can be used through Aug.
That’s exactly what I was hoping for!!
That’s really nice of them!
We were able to get coupons and totally skipped standing in the line. The line down in Myrtle Beach is a 6 hour wait OUTSIDE in 90 degree weather!! There is also little shade and its so HUMID! I don’t know how people are doing it with little kids. People were even in line WITH coupons!! The coupons are for $15 off 1. I was able to get some for my kids and a friends kids.
When I logged to my account I found a $15 voucher !!! One per membership account 🙂
SWEET! Thanks for sharing!
I just made an account and I also had a $15 voucher. I’ll go on a less crazy day.
i got one, too, but it doesn’t really address my 2nd child’s bear price…. so not as helpful
I also got a $15 voucher when I logged in. I’m assuming they put this in everyone’s account to make up for today. So everyone should make sure to login and check their account. The voucher needs to be printed by July 15th and is redeemable through August 31st.
Ours was shut down before the mall even opened. They gave some $15 vouchers.
We got there an hour early because that’s when the mall was opening their doors, the line was already massive. We decided to go to a park and out for ice cream instead and I’m glad we did 🙂 we might try again next year, just better prepared, haha
Our whole mall had to close down because of it! Crazy. I think this was an amazing idea but not thought out well enough
At this point, the companies should realize this is going to happen. Why not break this apart and do it for 4-5 days. People with last names A-H go on day 1, etc. Common sense is in such short supply these days!
I have to say the response to these sorts of things is depressing. As parents, we should be more kind, patient and less judgmental about who’s doing what. Stop talking about people waiting hours in line…you don’t know their situation. Even if you did, how does it affect you and your family? To those who weren’t lucky, chalk it up as a loss and move on. To those mocking or criticizing people who attended, use that energy on you and your children’s own well-being! ✌️❤️
But it’s not an attack on anyone’s parenting to say that waiting in line for 8 hours just to get a discounted stuffed animal is absurd to most people. Nobody is judging anyone’s situation- we’re saying that it isn’t a priority for most of us to be out in the heat w/ small children to redeem this promo, and that it’s ridiculous that people are acting entitled and getting angry when they had to walk away empty-handed. Sorry if you’re offended by people expressing their feelings about how badly this event failed, but the Internet is a place for people to share their opinions- whether you agree w/ them or not.
Jeez, pretty sure most kids would be just as happy going to the park, pool or lake, running through the sprinkler, even just having a parents undivided time and attention for an hour or two watching a movie or coloring or cooking together. Definitely dont need to spend tons of time, money and stress at BABW.
We do that stuff all the time. My kids would still love a BAB 🤷♀️
My daughter (3 years old) and I had a great time! Honestly as adults we have to teach our kids you win some and you lose some. We looked at our local mall for information the night before and saw that they opened an hour earlier. We decided to head in any hour earlier know this event would be crowded. There were about 40 people ahead of us and we waited 50 minutes to get in. The whole experience was about 2 hrs. We made friends and had fun!
I just signed up to be a bonus member and got $15 coupon.
Did they not expect to be super busy with this promotion? As soon as I read about it a few days ago, my first thought was $9 for a Build-A-Bear is a GREAT deal. My 2nd thought was, everyone else will recognize what a great deal it is as well and go get one, in which case I’ll stay home. Why not offer a printable coupon for this that is valid for the next two months, or something like that? I’m glad to see they are doing something today for the Build-A-Bear Bonus Club Members, but I’m not a member.
They have free shipping online with FREESHIP on anything today and cute little baby shower items starting at 2.50 in the sale section. I got a cute little sale outfit for $5 shipped. Not bad.
Do they have to sign up for something to get that deal? I don’t see a spot on the Bonus Club page to put their ages and you have to be over 18 to have an account.
I was wondering the same thing. My son’s b-day is in September so once the fiasco from today dies down I’m going to contact them. Need to do that anyway because I never get points added to my account even for online orders where my number shows up!
Exactly – or my third. It wasn’t about saving $30, it was about saving $80.
Does anyone have a code they are not using? I signed up last night but did not receive anything. Thank you so much in advance.
amyhwang124@gmail.com
nope, they did this in the UK and had a similar outcome, but they prepared better for it.
i have to say, yes, BAB should probably have realized they would be super-busy and had a better plan, but since it was their first year doing it, they didn’t know. i also have to say, PARENTS: YOU should also have realized what a madhouse it was going to be and should have prepared your children that it might not happen. BAB didn’t have to provide this excellent deal; but it was so nice of them to. it’s sad to hear so many people so very distraught and acting entitled.
I was anticipating up to a 2 hour wait and I did prepare my son that there was a possibility that it might not happen. We waited for 2.5 hours and only made it half way. I was disappointed that we weren’t able to participate and felt bad for my little dude. However, we made friends in line and even set up a playdate with one of them for next week! So I guess everything happens for a reason.
we got in line at 845am today and walked out the store at 330pm! but it was totally worth the wait to see the kids smiles and excitement…
we are in the Chicagoland area…
If you went to Woodfield, we were about 15 minutes behind you!