Build a Bear

[4littleones]

Ugh! I had $35 in coupons and/or gift cards. I took my 3 older kids (5, 5, & 3). I told them that we were only getting animals and no clothes. I figured at least one kid would pick a $10 or $12 animal but they only had like 2 cheap animals out.

So I ended up spending another $32 on top of my coupons. I feel like I would have been better off just ebaying the coupons. I am just angry at myself for thinking I'd get out of there without spending much.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Ugh! I had $35 in coupons and/or gift cards. I took my 3 older kids (5, 5, & 3). I told them that we were only getting animals and no clothes. I figured at least one kid would pick a $10 or $12 animal but they only had like 2 cheap animals out.

So I ended up spending another $32 on top of my coupons. I feel like I would have been better off just ebaying the coupons. I am just angry at myself for thinking I'd get out of there without spending much.

That happens to me all the time when I take my niece and nephew in! I go in thinking we are only going to spend so much and come out spending way more because they just had to have the 8 dollar pair of shoes for a bear that will never wear them!

 

[100AcreWood]

Don't beat yourself up! I bet they had a great time!

We all do this this and $32 isn't bad .

 

[aaarcher86]

I'd be dancing if I made it out of that store at $32 lol!

We just went on Friday for my oldest daughter's birthday and I think we ended up spending around $70.

I always go in thinking it's going to be $100 so I'm 'under budget' when I walk out lol

 

[pyrxtc]

well, at least your kids will still play with them. I have about 35 bears upstairs in bags in the closet with all their clothes and have no clue what to do with them now. yes, some were bought with coupons but that's still a lot of money sitting there.

 

[TheRatPack]

At Christmas I try to buy those 10.00 gift cards for 5.00 with every 30.00 purchase. That way throughout the year we can go in and buy something cheap when we go in to stuff a bear. I buy a lot of the cheap clearance bears when they have them online, like after Thanksgiving when they have the 8.00 bears. I put those up (unstuffed) and when a holiday comes around I grab one of those and one of the 10.00 gift cards and it's a cheap trip

I always liked their survey question though, the one that ask you if it was a planned trip and then the next question is if you spent what you expected, more than you expected or less.....it's never less and they know that, we all know that LOL

 

[rflorek]

well, at least your kids will still play with them. I have about 35 bears upstairs in bags in the closet with all their clothes and have no clue what to do with them now. yes, some were bought with coupons but that's still a lot of money sitting there.

I donated a bunch of bears to the Toys for Tots booth in the mall last Christmas immediately as I came out of the store. Maybe you could find an organization in your area that can take them for underprivileged or sick children.

 

[ceecee]

well, at least your kids will still play with them. I have about 35 bears upstairs in bags in the closet with all their clothes and have no clue what to do with them now. yes, some were bought with coupons but that's still a lot of money sitting there.

You and me both! We only have around 30!!! I thought about putting some of the clothes and accessories on Ebay. We had a lot of fun at the time and those memories are priceless. DD is now 16 and I really miss BAB!

 

[ksloane]

At Christmas I try to buy those 10.00 gift cards for 5.00 with every 30.00 purchase. That way throughout the year we can go in and buy something cheap when we go in to stuff a bear. I buy a lot of the cheap clearance bears when they have them online, like after Thanksgiving when they have the 8.00 bears. I put those up (unstuffed) and when a holiday comes around I grab one of those and one of the 10.00 gift cards and it's a cheap trip

I always liked their survey question though, the one that ask you if it was a planned trip and then the next question is if you spent what you expected, more than you expected or less.....it's never less and they know that, we all know that LOL

I had no idea that you could buy the bears unstuffed. That's a great idea. Can you only do that in store or is there an option to do that online as well?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

At Christmas I try to buy those 10.00 gift cards for 5.00 with every 30.00 purchase. That way throughout the year we can go in and buy something cheap when we go in to stuff a bear. I buy a lot of the cheap clearance bears when they have them online, like after Thanksgiving when they have the 8.00 bears. I put those up (unstuffed) and when a holiday comes around I grab one of those and one of the 10.00 gift cards and it's a cheap trip

I always liked their survey question though, the one that ask you if it was a planned trip and then the next question is if you spent what you expected, more than you expected or less.....it's never less and they know that, we all know that LOL

Can someone explain why you would want a bear that is not stuffed just wondering because I know that I am missing something

 

[ksloane]

Can someone explain why you would want a bear that is not stuffed just wondering because I know that I am missing something

I can't speak for OP but I was thinking that if I bought them unstuffed at a great rate, then I could take my daughter (and maybe some friends) back at a later time and they could be a part of the stuffing process and pick out the clothes...

 

[aaarcher86]

Can someone explain why you would want a bear that is not stuffed just wondering because I know that I am missing something

That's kind of the point of Build A Bear...

You go in, pick out an unstuffed animal, pick a sound for it, stuff it, blah blah blah and now you've just built your own stuffed animal.

If you can get an unstuffed one online during a sale then you can just take it in with you versus spending more money getting an unstuffed animal in the store.

We were just there on Friday - 1 animal was $23 the other was $15 or so.

 

[ah1126]

I had no idea that you could buy the bears unstuffed. That's a great idea. Can you only do that in store or is there an option to do that online as well?

You can buy unstuffed bears in the store and online also. You just have to tell them when you check out online.

This is a great for a gift, if you want to get a special animal that is very limited, or if you hit a great sale. Then you just bring them into a store and have them stuffed when you are ready!

It also makes them easier to ship if you are sending a gift.

 

[TheRatPack]

Yep, that's what I meant.....half the fun is in stuffing them. If you order them online they will ship them stuffed.....so there went half the fun LOL You just have to make a note in the ordering 'special request' box and tell them to leave your bears/animals unstuffed and they'll send it with a paw pass, which shows you already paid for it. Then when a holiday, birthday or other celebration comes up you can get a bear out of your gift stash and take it to have it stuffed with the gift recipient.

There are usually limited edition ones online, so it's neat for our store to get to see some special animals that they didn't carry in store too when we take them in to get them stuffed.

 

[ksloane]

You just have to make a note in the ordering 'special request' box and tell them to leave your bears/animals unstuffed and they'll send it with a paw pass, which shows you already paid for it.

That is soooo great to know. I would have never thought to do this. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to start watching for clearance/sales/etc.


On another note for you BAB fans.....Saveology currently has a special to buy a $25 gift card for $17.50. I ordered one, had my daughter who has moved out order one, and if it's still there tonight, I'm going to have my dad order one.

My daughter wants to have a BAB party this year so I'm thinking this will be GREAT savings!!