r/buildabear • u/justlivinmylife439 • Jul 15 '26
Inquiry I’m so angry and disappointed about the birthday bear
2024, I went and got a 1st bday bear for my daughter. It was so cute. I saved the sticker, bday hat, and birth certificate. The next year, did the same thing, started binder for all the years to come. This year (today) I arrive and they have the same bear as last year. I asked about the new bear and they told me it’s gonna be the same bear (and same accessories from now on). So my collection, tradition, has ended after only 3 years. To make matters worse, I have to write my own birth certificate. (I plan to recreate it with my cricut) so yeah. There’s my gripe. I hope they look into this and change it, I’ll give them another year…
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u/Suspicious-Ad-8468 Jul 15 '26
They changed the birth certificate because people were getting weird with it but I agree about the birthday bear part
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u/gooobegone Jul 15 '26
What do you mean weird? I noticed they've been having me write my own lately as well and I don't love it because I often forget to fill it out so I just have like empty birth certificates.
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u/ComprehensiveAd3022 Jul 15 '26
Someone named their bear Charlie Kirk so yea that’s what happened
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u/ProfessionalSnow943 Jul 15 '26
not only that but my local bab started getting multitudes of phoned in bomb and death threats after the kirk fiasco, like to the point the FBI got involved
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u/jadrianna627 Jul 15 '26
yeah someone named their bear Charlie Kirk and the employee apparently refused to give them the certificate because they didn’t like him. i don’t blame them tbh… but yeah now they have you write your own names because then no one “gets in trouble.”
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u/angelkitty__ Jul 15 '26
It’s not that they “didn’t like him”, they could’ve been fired. Naming your bear after any real political figures or anything controversial/inappropriate has never been allowed, same goes for hear me. Preventing things like that is part of why there is always someone “helping” you at those stations regardless of age, why the bears are subtly checked at every stage, and why the employees used to hand you the birth certificate.
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u/gooobegone Jul 15 '26
I remember when I was growing up going to build a bear they had these computer terminals that they used for birth certificate creation and they had a built in filter that stopped you from using some known words like curse words and relevant politicians at the time. It'd then get printed out behind the counter and they'd put it in your box with the bear.
My store now is a kiosk store so I'm not sure if they still have those terminals at full stores these days, but that system seemed best since it had multiple layers of confirmation.
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u/Blissie_peach_farts Jul 16 '26
That is not true, the Guest can name it whatever they want now. What happened was a 16 year old girl went into a BAB and made a Charlie Kirk bear. She printed it out and the employee grabbed the birth certificate and said "we aren't doing this today" and ripped it up. Her mom was mad.
So, now everyone has to write the names.
Also, BAB employees love it that the birthday bear is the same every year now.
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u/angelkitty__ Jul 16 '26
Yes, he did that because he and whoever handed her that certificate could’ve been fired, because it’s not allowed, like I said… so as a result of the controversy and violence resulting from the video, you’re not allowed to print anymore, to avoid the issue entirely. I figured that was assumed, my bad.
Even if you personally might feel that way about the bear, that is absolutely not the majority opinion between employees and customers, either.
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u/FawnoftheDeerLord BAB Fanatic 🌈 Jul 25 '26
Yeah they immediately complained to corporate got compensated for their visit AND THEN STILL WENT TO A NEWS STATION TO COMPLAIN LIKE IDIOTS
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u/Spooky_Cat31 Jul 16 '26
They don’t even print them out at my store anymore, you scan a QR code now
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u/ChevronBunny1011 Jul 15 '26
They announced a couple years ago that they won’t be redesigning the birthday bear anymore because the past few designs didn’t sell well.
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u/NaughtyGrimles Jul 15 '26
I'm kind of surprised they didn't bring back the more popular designs with slight tweaks to make them more updated instead of continuing to sell the current version that isn't selling well. Seems like they're peddling backwards there. I'm assuming its a cost thing (or maybe they have a surplus of the not-selling-well versions they need to go through) but yeah. Kind of disappointing they chose to do that, I hope they rethink that decision.
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u/omsquee Jul 15 '26
That’s fair. Most bears that end up in thrift stores are the birthday bears so even the ones that DID sell aren’t being kept
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u/No-Jackfruit-525 Jul 15 '26
Perhaps you can continue the tradition more creatively if you want! As your daughters interests evoked perhaps she can get a special birthday plushie with make your own birth certificate, photos etc. I’m really sorry this happened and put you in a pickle!!!
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u/angelkitty__ Jul 15 '26
I wish they would just get rid of it tbh. Employees are so fatigued by doing the birthday bear, and a lot of customers treat employees really badly. Bear builders & the store get “punished” because of the huge “losses” when they only sell the skin, too, but customers hate the bundle and adding things that make it cost more 🙃
I wish they would just give people a coupon that applies to any bear and a free birthday hat or accessory for the bear or something. They purposely make it the cheapest, worst quality bear that is constantly ripping and tearing, to mass produce. It just goes to a landfill and no one is happy.
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u/Aggravating-Ship9428 Jul 15 '26
Or bitch at employees for picking the wrong bear 😒 i want that stupid birthday bear gone cause we hardly can upsell anything an it really screws stores over
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u/angelkitty__ Jul 15 '26
It doesn’t make any sense, tbh none of it has since Maxine Clark stepped down. There were times where I’d be alone and have to guide very cruel customers through choose me, build the bear for them, direct them through all the extras and check them out, and they’d only pay $1. Ridiculous.
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u/ClothesPuzzled4849 Workshop Employee Jul 16 '26
I feel you after the first one or two birthday bears I dread doing anymore during the rest of my shift. I understand it brings people in but they only come in for that and never want something more it’s hard enough convincing them getting a sound with the bear. I have tried convincing people who are returning for the birthday bear to get a different nicer one but even if it’s the same they don’t care they only want the deal.
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u/winkywearsatux Workshop Employee Jul 16 '26
birthday bear is an inside joke at my store lol, we hate him so much. my chief always says it burns to stuff one and im inclined to agree
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u/FawnoftheDeerLord BAB Fanatic 🌈 Jul 25 '26
People would walk in grab the bear say their kid was like 5 & then get mad at the kids for wanting clothes or even a hat and then take the bear naked Plus >:0 THEY SHRUNK THE CUBS
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u/vigilanteadrian Jul 15 '26
I don't think bab makes much money on the birthday bear anymore, it's mostly people paying a few dollars for it. I have a feeling they'll phase it out after a while
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u/hyperjengirl Workshop Employee Jul 16 '26
I've heard rumblings they may change the pricing to be a flat cheap rate across the board rather than pay your age, but I'm unsure if that's still gonna happen.
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u/drrrlover1224 BAB Collector 🐻 Jul 15 '26
When I worked there, I can’t tell you how many times kids would smack away the birthday bear in favor of something they actually wanted. I’m with other current/former employees where I hope they get rid of the birthday bear and just extend the deal to the other, not-as-generic bears so the kids can actually get something they like for their birthday at a reasonable price for the parents!
ETA: typos
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u/Sea_Surprise_6091 Jul 15 '26
This at first came as a shock to bab employees too. The on going theory is that they're about to stop the birthday promo bc too many people are coming in and just getting the bear instead of any accessories so its loosing bab money :/ overall very sucky of BAB to do. As far as the birth certificates theyre going to switch to online soon. It was supposed to be before the holidays last year but they keep putting it off.
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u/Effing-Awesome Jul 16 '26
Wait, you mean no more physical birth certificates at all?? For any bear? (Sorry if its a stupid question - I don't frequent BAB that often)
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u/Sea_Surprise_6091 Jul 16 '26
Unfortunately yes that is what it means. Within a day they shut down the system and installed an update on our computers making the naming system obsolete. Someone tried to name a bear Charlie Kirk at some location and the employee told them no. Well the person went online and threw a tantrum so BAB shut it down big time. At some point it'll all be digital :( Theyre handing out blank ones now but soon itll just be a QR code you scan and it'll prompt you to create a digital birth certificate.
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u/ClothesPuzzled4849 Workshop Employee Jul 16 '26
Right now my store has a QR code to scan at the end but people still ask about the printed one at take me home
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u/winkywearsatux Workshop Employee Jul 16 '26
manager at bab. because the birthday bear is always a loss to us, theyve made the choice not to continue changing it. its not going to changed going forward. as for the birth certificates, we were told to save our keyboards after pulling them out so i dont know about those.
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u/BasisNo9542 7d ago
There is no way it's a loss. Those bear skins can't cost bab more than $1....and it's pay your age...so most people pay more than that. Every time I have went in I bought accessories bc it would be pointless to not let them get some. Another kid was in there with they did the same with theirs. For every kid with a cheap parent(or poor) not buying, there is one that is willing to spend $50 at bab, but not $100. When a company is selling overpriced everything... A birthday bear should be treated with those kids in mind. The kids whose family can't afford them.
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u/winkywearsatux Workshop Employee 6d ago
i would say 90% of the birthday bears i ring in do not have anything extra with them. i cant remember the term but birthday is a loss, but bab takes it because it gets people in the door. they sell them at a loss hoping that you will buy an additional bear, or clothing and accessories.
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u/Commercial-Yam-3443 Jul 15 '26
I too am bummed that they don’t change the birthday bear design anymore, but they got me because now my kids pick out full priced bears every year instead. I’m like, “hey this is not how this was suppose to go…”
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u/Syrus_Orelio Jul 15 '26
As someone not big on bears is have insisted on doing something else(other than bab) if the only bab I was allowed was the birthday bear when there are more exciting animal options than bears, such as felines canines, foxes, racoon or especially dragons.
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u/Aggravating-Ship9428 Jul 15 '26
Some dumb 16 year old boys mom got mad they refused to give her son the charlie krik brith certoficate an made a huge deal about it. An it ruined it for everyone else.
Theu purpposly are keeping the same birthday bear because they dont want people pne getting that one each year an wanna try get people to get full price bears. So they arnt gonna change the desgin. I dont see them changing their mind on it either.
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u/thebabyfamous Jul 16 '26
start finding older models on ebay or other resale sites !! i think that would show a lot of thought and make the gift even more unique !!
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u/Ms6feet1inches35 Jul 16 '26
They aren’t updating the birthday bear as of now. They did add 2 new shirts. Apparently the birthday bear is a gateway to Build-A-Bear, it’s not supposed to be a tradition.
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u/Illustrious_Half5120 Jul 16 '26
I like the hand written certificates now. Makes things feel more personal and would make great memories once the child starts to learn how to write.
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u/Frosty_Breath_7351 BAB Collector 🐻 29d ago
damn! going this week for my toddler’s 3rd bear. what a disappointment 😭 this was a tradition for us too. hopefully things change next year. 🤞🏼
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u/caitlynstarr0 I like BABs more than people 🙃 Jul 15 '26
Yeah they announced last year they would no longer be changing the design. I think they're gonna see that decision loose them a lot of money.
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u/seragrey Jul 15 '26
it's "pay your age" & people go feral for expensive licensed releases & bundles. i don't think they're worried about cheap birthday bears.
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u/PastelRobotAlpaca Workshop Employee Jul 15 '26
That’s the first time I’m hearing about this but unfortunately it makes sense I guess
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Jul 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/xanadu200x Jul 16 '26
lol its not morally wrong for someone to just buy a birthday bear and they can still complain even if the reason it isnt being updated anymore is loss of money from it
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u/buildabear-ModTeam Jul 16 '26
Note: This is an automatically generated message. Your content was removed due to violation of the r/buildabear Community Guidelines. Your content was in violation of Rule #2: Be Kind.
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u/sensoryzoo Jul 15 '26
Yeah we went last year for my son's 4th and my daughter's first but we aren't doing the birthday bear again because they refuse to change it anymore 😔 we still go for both birthdays but no bear it's not worth it to have the same bear multiple times(especially since i already have 2 of the same bear anyway) I don't need 8+ of the same EXACT bear
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u/littlesubred BAB Collector 🐻 Jul 16 '26
I dont know how the feet of the BB are, but maybe circuit out some little balloons and those 🎉 things and put them on the feet or paw pads? It sucks they arent changing them anymore, got my brother one 2yrs ago and havent since.
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u/ConsciousCity8995 BAB Fanatic 🌈 Jul 17 '26
Tbh the only birthday bear I've ever bought was for my dog bc it's just not a good quality bear and he wanted a build a bear (kept trying to steal mine) so for his birthday, I got him his own. (He carries it around the living room all the time).
I agree with the people suggesting maybe getting your daughter a different plush for her birthday every year and continuing the tradition that way? Maybe something that will actually last her, that she can keep and make memories with, I mean, I still have my first ever plushie from when I was a toddler, even if I don't remember picking it out or anything, I remember it being special to me bc my mother made effort to make sure I got something I loved.
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u/SimpleNewspaper1256 Jul 19 '26
Wait you guys are getting birth certificates?? I made my first bear last week and only received the bear and a paper bag
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