Build-A-Bear Workshop Reviews 345

I was hesitant to order online because of the negative reviews. I decided to take a risk because the bear that I wanted is only available online. I placed my order end of the day on Sept. 3rd, received my bear exactly a week later, Sept. 10th. Pretty quick considering I live in Canada. Initially I thought I wasn't getting un update about my order, but, except for the order confirmation email, the shipping information email went to my spam folder. Had a pleasant in-store experience too with my kids.

Buying a build a bear is mainly about the experience , staff at the blanchardstown store need some training on how to engage with children instead of ignoring them and pushing sales.
In there today with my excited 8 year old, there was another child getting a bear as well and the assistant that was with him was brilliant. Our assistant was terrible Didn’t do any of the heart knee rubbing etc no engagement at all with my son but was sure to try to flog me a half price voucher. I said it to the manager but I don't know why I wasted my breath spent 70 euro and definitely wouldn't bother again.

Shipping says 5-7 days. I ordered online on 22nd Aug as a surprise gift for my daughter who is off to university. It’s really important to me that she gets it before she goes. It’s 3rd Sept and still nothing. I’ve emailed to find out where it is and they haven’t got back to me. She leaves tomorrow and I’m absolute gutted. A very poor online shopping experience.

On August 3, 2021, I decided that I wanted to order a bear online from BAB, as an emotional support comfort item. I had never been to BAB and had no prior experience with their online service. I also have a disability, I was too anxious and uncomfortable to go to the store in person, especially since I’m a young adult. That being said, the best option for me was to order my bear and accessories online, which I did that same day.

I ordered 5 items; online exclusive shirt, scent disc, voice recorder, cub condo, and the happy hugs bear. The price was a little more expensive than I expected, (the code “FREESHIP,” was supposed to give free shipping, but I tried it multiple times and it never worked for me-none of the promotions worked at the time), but I put my order in anyway. After that, I got an email with an “order confirmation,” telling me my order number.

The next day on August 4, 2021, I recorded my voice message for the voice recorder. On August 5, 2021, I received another email, telling me that my order was being processed.

On August 10, 2021, it had been five days since I received anything from BAB. In the previous email they sent me, it said to expect shipping information. However, I was constantly checking my email and I didn’t see anything. I decided to send them an email via the contact from on their site. Later on that day, I received an email that said “shipping confirmation,” it had my tracking number from FedEx. I thought this was weird because they never contacted me back about my concerns nor did they answer any of my questions, but since it looked like they we’re going to be shipping my item, I was willing to let it go.

After August 10, 2021, I didn’t receive anything else about my order. Whenever I would check FedEx online to see my tracking information, it would say that a shipping label was created, but FedEx still hadn’t received the package. It had been 3 days and my package still hadn’t been delivered to FedEx. At this point I began to worry if it would ever show up. In total, I had waited 11 days. That is terribly slow for a company as big as BAB to ship out and manage orders. It doesn’t make sense how they expect customers to wait this long for a bear that is almost double the price of your average teddy bear with horrible customer service and management.

I then started to become more and more concerned, so I looked up reviews and that was enough to make me even more worried than I was before. I read over hundreds of reviews about the same thing happening to other people and their orders, I even read some where they didn’t receive their order at all. Scared that this might happen to me, on August 13, 2021, I reached out to BAB again, asking why FedEx hadn’t received the package and when it might be shipped out.

BAB did not reach out to me (again), so I was pretty sure that I wasn’t going to receive my order. Today, it’s August 14, 2021, and to my surprise, my bear was delivered to my house. Now, I checked the tracking number and on the FedEx website, it still says that there was a shipping label created, but no package was received. That being said, I didn’t expect it to come today. Because of that, the box it was sent in was soaked (because it’s raining), but luckily, the bear nor the birth certificate were not harmed (I know that this is mostly FedEx’s fault but I digress).

Everything is in tact, the bear is in great condition, looks and feels really nice. It also feels like the nice stuffing, not that cheap crunchy stuff. The voice recorder works when I press it and it sounds pretty clear-although there is an annoyingly long silence at the end of the recording but that’s excusable. The shirt I ordered came and I was able to put it on the bear with ease, it looks like it’s good quality and the lettering looks nice and bright. I ordered a lavender scent, I didn’t know what it would smell like beforehand so I blindly purchased it but it doesn’t smell like it’s lavender. It kinda smells like a sweet candy but nevertheless, it smells pleasant and it was put in a good spot-in the back of the head.

Overall, this was a frustrating experience and it gave me a lot of anxiety. I didn’t know what was happening with my order and I felt like that could have been easily solved with better communication. I don’t think I would order online again, just because personally, it gave me too much stress. However, I’m happy that my order has been delivered and I don’t have to panic anymore.

Recently visited the Chester Grosvoner branch, I was really impressed with the service from the 3 ladies that day. They helped me and my partner build a bear with our 3 year old girl, she decided to call her bear Max and the girls made a big fuss of her. Thank you team!

Very Poor Customer Service when you call the (877) 789-2327. They cancelled my order because I didn’t reply fast enough with the corrected information, which I replied an hour after receiving their email. When I called the representative told me I should of called to begin with because probably my email was not received and now my order is cancelled. If I want my items to place a new order. She was rude and uninterested in keeping my business.

I went to the Manchester store in the Arndale Centre yesterday with 3 friends, we went for one of my friends birthday to get build-a-bears with matching Hogwarts robes. We were served by a woman, I think called Molly. She was very lovely. The build-a-bears had offers so we got a bit of a discount on the bears, I bought a Hufflepuff robe and scarf and a Captain America outfit. The prices wasn't too bad for the bears, a little expensive for the costumes - but nothing to complain about. The build-a-bears were cute!

Very poor customer support, they clearly mislabbeled a shipment as home delivery instead of 2day delivery, while I did pay for 2day delivery.

Their reasoning for not refunding money - "It was delivered in the 2 day time frame, home delivery would have taken longer."

I entered the Lakeside store recently to purchase 2 bears for my children and I was told I needed to santise my hands with the store hand sanitiser. I explained that I had my own sanitiser and that I had just cleaned my hands, Demi demanded that she needed to see me clean my hands with it in front of her as it is apparently store policy. I asked where this policy was stated and of course there is no such thing. If this is a rule, why was every other customer allowed into the store without using it? I sanitised my hands in front of her with my own sanitiser and her words were "you know what, why don't you just leave" I was told to get out of the shop in front of my children. What is going on? Is this normal customer service? How did she even get a job to begin with? I am appalled by this and the fact that at least 2 other staff members watched on like it was totally normal to treat people in this way, for asking a question!!! I called the store to relay this to the store manager, Charlotte. Charlotte explained that nothing could be done about what I had experienced because according to Demi I was being "aggressive", how ironic. If being aggressive is the label you get for asking a question then this team is being led by the wrong people. Staff here clearly need thorough training in customer care, service and basic manners. So unprofessional and rude and lack tact. A change of attitude is needed, better yet - a change of staff. If you would like to be spoken to in a degrading manner, then please go ahead and visit this store - I wish you luck.

I got the online-exclusive peacock from Build-a-Bear just yesterday, as well as some supplies (still awaiting the medical port kit and the bedset). I was very pleased with how he survived the delivery (thanks USPS for handling him with such care). The gift box he came in was in excellent condition, and he was nice and soft. I named him “kennedy” (after my favorite president), and I’ve been taking very good care of him so far. He’s very beautiful, with his bright colors, and his tail actually goes up and down like a real peacock. His face is very expressive: his eyes are a bright green, and he looks like he’s always smiling. The tiny supplies he came with are adorable.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND ORDERING FROM BUILD A BEAR!!!! THEY WILL DO A GREAT JOB SHIPPING YOUR NEW FURRY FRIEND!!!!!!

UPDATE: The port kit and the bed set arrived in perfect condition. They’re so tiny and cute. I love them!

I Placed a Online Order with the voice recording which I did per email Instructions, I waited 2 weeks & went online to check status there was no order to be found, so I emailed them and there response was I'm sorry your order was cancelled the voice wasnt as clear, so I emailed back ON WHY I WASNT NOTIFIED THIS WAS A SENTIMENTAL GIFT, I GOT NO RESPONSE. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE

When I am writing my own review I AM NOT taking the negative comments online about build a bear at all !!!!!!!!@

My experience has been EXCELLENT and the SUPPORT at the MANCHESTER store for me pushing 2 bears for Manchester bombing has been EXTREMELY EXCELLENT and staff at store too EVEN Head office !!!!!

One of people who stands out was Aisha extremly helpful and so supportive and made the experience very welcoming also the person who made my bears for me also extremely helpful too .

It's my view and the first time I been in Manchester build bear store and the reason for going on the store because of the bombing for this year in 2021 . AMAZING service and even Head office AMAZING to what they did for me !!!!!

Also the ASSISTING manger Kim has been amazing over the phone too !!!!!!!!!!

I totally don't understand why people would be so negative about build a bear when I feel the opposite way round !!!!!!!

I just want to say thank for what build a bear done

Many thanks

Anthony

Total satisfaction!
I ordered a Stuffed Red Raptor with personalised voice recording on 30 April 2021. I had constant communication from BaBW tracking my dino, aswell as dispatch date. Item was in good received in good condition, on 5 May, with the birth certificate as ordered. My great nephew was bowled over with his talking dino, and listens to it constantly! Best gift ever! Thanks Build-a-Bear, UK!

The items are fine. But the packaging for the delivery is worrisome.

I am a customer in WA Australia, and the order dispatch was done pretty fast although they only noticed you few days later (Australia Post did a better job here at noticing their customers). After a week+, finally received my items. But unlike what you saw from Youtube, the items are all packed in a soft parcel/satchel bag with zero bubble wrap/protection around the item.

I was fortunate enough I guess to have the Tom Nook and Isabelle in perfect condition, but their birth certs are worn and terribly folded (imagine you toss your single sheet paper bare into a bag which is fully filled, and brought the bag onto a trip for one week, how would you expect the paper to look like at the end of the trip?)

Considering you have spent that much money on the items and delivery, and they can’t even get the basics done correctly is pretty disappointing.

And also the birth certs you received are blank generic certs...

Summary: They could do better to make the service and items worth AUD 140.

Update: email for birth cert replacement and they sent me the cert template. Not the best solution, but at least they replied prompt and efficiently.

Shocked to hear about other peoples negative experiences with B-A-B. I ordered a gift online for my friend's child and I had an issue with my order. I got in touch with customer services and they replied very promptly and politely, resolving my issue at first contact. Maybe I got lucky here, but personally I was impressed with their customer service.

I ordered two of the Animal Crossing Isabelle animals on 4/6/2021. I received them on 4/17/2021. Their process of packaging the items is unacceptable and extremely tacky! Both Isabelle's were just thrown in the large box, along with two birth certificates and one foundation flyer. I took photos of how they arrived. No invoice, no protective wrapping on the Animals, the paperwork was bent and printed upside down on BOTH certificates! I guess customer (and animal) care is not a priority. I will not order from their online website again due to lack of customer service/appreciation and terrible delivery packaging.

Sorry can't keep this positive. Wish I'd read the reviews. I had ordered Dr Who clothing for son's birthday on wednesday; when editing the billing address, I hadn't noticed that the shipping address had defaulted on the town and postcode whilst giving correct address for first 2lines. I immediately tried to contact and left emails all to no avail this was Sunday. Today received email explaining nothing they could as had been despatched. All I need is small correction. I then tried the courier DPD: can't find your parcel in network. I asked them to notify driver who has correct postcode with the actual correct address. Banging my head against wall. Neither company seems to have any initiative to sort things out. The problem chatline is all automated as all you get moved to are the standard answers and not to my particular problem. NEVER using them again. Am still trying to sort out with DPD. If get parcel delivered to me in time, I can then pay Royal Mail to deliver safely at least they try to help without the robot at all avenues of trying to get help.

Horrible delivery service, and this has nothing to do with fedex and usps! I ordered my bear as a promotion gift to a friend on the early morning of March 5,2021.... build a bear was supposedly done making it by the 12 and shipped it via SmartPost... this is the cheapest way to send mail! USPS and Fedex work together and you as the customer have no control over your shipment... I can not change to have it dropped off at a fedex location or pick my package up from the warehouse.... for the past week they have been sending messages as if my package was in transit and then putting delivery exception... I called and complained they told me to call build a bear! Eventually I found out my package wasn’t moving and I was getting false messages.... they delayed my activities this pass weekend! Also, I paid 9.95 for shipping fee! Which is a hell of a lot for this shipment to be slow then I’m going to have to pay another shipment to send it to Charlotte because I went this past weekend thinking my order would be done in time 😒

UPDATE- dur to an error with their emailing system they did respond after three business days with the tracking and apology- and the bear was delivered by that point!
First time buyer- paid through Apple Pay never received confirmation email, no response after generic email sent to them stating received inquiry and no response through Facebook messenger- yet they have time to promote live feeds for new products- they need to take care of the paying customers first

Had to re-sew split seams. Was charged $17.99 for Federal Express charges almost a month after the product was delivered, and shortly after, they sent it to a collections department! If I had known I would have all these extra charges, I wouldn't have bothered!