• Build-A-Bear Workshop

Build-A-Bear Workshop

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Overview

Build-A-Bear Workshop has a rating of 1.94 stars from 67 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Build-A-Bear Workshop most frequently mention customer service, and several times problems. Build-A-Bear Workshop ranks 334th among Kids sites.

  • Service
    31
  • Value
    28
  • Shipping
    24
  • Returns
    18
  • Quality
    22
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 23.5%
Positive
4
Neutral
2
Negative
11
25
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • Horrible customer service and did not send complete order.
How would you rate Build-A-Bear Workshop?
Top Positive Review

“Awesome LOTR Bears”

Jacqui R.
10/12/22

I received my bears in Australia from the US store. I contacted the company because for some reason, a double transaction went through on my account. The customer service team were incredibly professional, friendly and advises that the double transaction is a security fee that would clear within a few days - which it did. My bears arrived exactly as they were presented on the website with clear audio. I will definitely be buying the Gollum and Legolas bears soon too. I love them!

Top Critical Review

“Don't order online”

Jason W.
12/9/23

I ordered a huge stitch for My Girl from Santa. Website asked what I wanted wrote on the birth certificate and if I wanted to include a note. I filled out the birth certificate and I wrote down what I wanted to know to say because this is from Santa. I received the Stitch but the birth certificate was not filled out and there was no note. Customer service person I talked to was horrible and didn't help at all.

Reviews (67)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (26)
Thumbnail of user jasonw2440
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 9th, 2023

I ordered a huge stitch for My Girl from Santa. Website asked what I wanted wrote on the birth certificate and if I wanted to include a note. I filled out the birth certificate and I wrote down what I wanted to know to say because this is from Santa. I received the Stitch but the birth certificate was not filled out and there was no note. Customer service person I talked to was horrible and didn't help at all.

Value
Thumbnail of user leof207
1 review
0 helpful votes
October 19th, 2023
Verified purchase

On Fri, Sept 22 I ordered a bear for a 2-yr-old in Canada. I was directed to the U.S. site to order the bear. After 5 calls they still have no idea where my bear is or can give me a tracking #. I even spoke to a manager. The Canadian site is still not working after 1 month. I will never order another bear from them again. Worst run company ever I have had to deal with. I've asked for a refund. Hopefully I will get that within 5 business days.

Tip for consumers:
The Build A Bear delivery system & staff have got no idea how to deliver a product.

Products used:
I order a bear but cancelled my order.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user claire.leske26
1 review
0 helpful votes
November 30th, 2023

I received the wrong order for all 5 bears. They are not returning my calls, emails or attempts on Facebook. Once they have the money they don't care what you are dealing with. Terrible service.

Products used:
The entire order is wrong

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user hankh68
1 review
0 helpful votes
October 24th, 2023

For three days, I have been trying to order a birthday present for my mother on the Build a Bear site. Every time, I confirm the order, it gives me a message of "For technical reasons, we can't complete your order. Try again later." Soooooooo ridiculous. I'm over it.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user oscart150
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 31st, 2023

I ordered a bear for my 3 year old for Christmas, it was supposed to come scented and dressed which it did not. I opened the box to check it out one day and I was very disappointed. I contacted customer service and they got back to me and said I could either come into the store to PURCHASE another scent or send the bear back for a new one. Like I said this was a Christmas present and I didn't have the time to send it back nor wait for a replacement. I asked for a refund for the missing items and scent to which no avail was not possible. I will never order from build a bear again!

Thumbnail of user bigbeautiful2015
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 5th, 2023

I recently purchased online from build a bear. When the bear came was not the correct bear at all. My son wanted the chocolate bear and we got a gingerbread bear. Also, ordered a shirt that said it was delivered but it wasn't. It showed up days later though. The certificate was incorrect also on the description of the bear i was suppose to get. It wasn't even the description of the bear that was sent. I contacted customer service never heard anything back. The return labels on the site don't work. I printed them and took it to the post office. They said it wasn't a real barcode to scan. Now I have to drive to another city just to return it. I don't think I will even get a bear or anything from build a bear.

Products used:
Nothing

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user paulam1225
0 reviews
1 helpful vote
January 12th, 2022

My teenage son bought two bears for his brothers for Christmas. He visited the Belfast shop several times in December to use the voice recording machine but was told every time that it was still to be fixed. He ordered the bears online and unfortunately had to record his voice messages. The quality was absolutely awful and it is hard to make out the messages (or even recognise his voice). Rather than asking him to request a refund, his older brothers said nothing as they didn't want him to be disappointed. Total waste of money and would not recommend using this online service.

Thumbnail of user m9834984
1 review
0 helpful votes
November 26th, 2023

My bear was not soed correctly the back of it ripped open when I hugged it also they didn't put my heart in she asked me to grab one then grabbed my scent but not my heart she didn't rub the scent all over the bear like your supposed to she put in the scent then soed it up I didn't get a heart in my bear,when my friend went before me she asked her to grab a heart then said "make a wish and kiss it"my friend did the worker put in the heart and soed it up but soed it up wrong so the other worker took it to the back and fixed it.

Tip for consumers:
No

Products used:
Just the bear

Service
Thumbnail of user timothye364
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 22nd, 2023

Poor poor poor customer service I tried to call the help center and was on hold for 45 minutes during that time I was able to go online and talk to a person who told me that my order could not be modified or canceled but would have to be returned to the store. I had just ordered it within a few hours, the same day. And it couldn't even be modified. I am absolutely disgusted with the whole service. I'm still on hold writing this freaking review. It's going on 47 minutes now. Unacceptable

Thumbnail of user jacquir41
1 review
2 helpful votes
October 12th, 2022

I received my bears in Australia from the US store. I contacted the company because for some reason, a double transaction went through on my account. The customer service team were incredibly professional, friendly and advises that the double transaction is a security fee that would clear within a few days - which it did. My bears arrived exactly as they were presented on the website with clear audio. I will definitely be buying the Gollum and Legolas bears soon too. I love them!

Tip for consumers:
Be aware that your account may have a double charge. It was cleared within a few days and only one charge was deducted.

Products used:
Frodo Build-a-Bear, Gandalf Build-a-Bear

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user melindav114
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 26th, 2023

Four of my grandkids have birthdays within about 10 days of each other. Unfortunately one is in August the rest are in september. I wanted to take the kids to Build-A-Bear for their birthday but scheduling was an issue. Amanda not only let us come in at the same time but she also tucked back four birthday bears for us. The kids had a great time. All of the representatives were so friendly and helpful thank you for making their Day special.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user purewatertek
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 19th, 2023

A warning to international customers - there is fine print where they dump the boarder shipping fees on the customer. Avoid ordering online at all costs.

Tip for consumers:
Read all fine print.

Products used:
4 stuffed frogs

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user joleenb8
2 reviews
3 helpful votes
June 2nd, 2022

I would never recommend this company they said they send my build a bear over a month ago! Still nothing! Causing false hope with voice recording that do not even work online! Rude rude rude woman when I called she actually hung up on me because I asked for a tracking number! A tracking number came a minute after she hung up but still no product! Disgusting hope for people! Do not buy from this company! I don't even want to put one star there should be a option for none!

Thumbnail of user kh536
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 9th, 2023

When i got my Bear (Hello Kitty) she looked dirty. The papers where crumbled and birth certificate was wrong :( I remember typing in the certificate, and still it was wrong

Thumbnail of user darlenep444
1 review
0 helpful votes
June 17th, 2023

My daughter graduated high school. We went to the willow grove mall store and Maddie was very helpful from start to finish. I highly recommend it

Thumbnail of user nunyab172
1 review
0 helpful votes
May 23rd, 2023

I looked far and wide before making an order to see what their processing times were. The only thing I could see was a 2 day processing time at check out and no estimated delivery date. I paid $20 for 2 day shipping just to get an estimate at checkout that it would take 2 weeks and somehow now its a 5 day processing? I wanted to cancel and literally couldnt contact anyone, nor was there anything to be found of a way to cancel the order. I get an email a day later saying they cant change or cancel an order…… then whats the point of cx service? They also said they couldnt find anything from my email… but I literally have a receipt with a web order number sent to the exact address they emailed me 12 hours before the cx service response.

Service
Shipping
Thumbnail of user aindriask
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 23rd, 2023

I tried to have my shipping address change because for some reason the website decided to rearrange my address so now it's going to some house I don't know and they said there is nothing they can do about it. Is it that hard to change a shipping address on an order that isn't that old?

Products used:
Kuromi bear

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user tracif64
1 review
2 helpful votes
April 10th, 2022

I tried to change and address on my order as it was wrong and they said they could not do that i had to wait for it to be undelivered. Then i just said cancel my order and i was again told no they couldnt do that either. The order had no even been shipped i just have to wait it all out while they hold my money hostage will never do business with them again and we are frequent flyers at their stores. Its sad horrible company

Tip for consumers:
Dont do it!!!!

Products used:
Have not received it yet

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user emerson.preston164
1 review
0 helpful votes
November 3rd, 2023

Just lower the prices *******444*******444*******444*******444*******444*******444**************444

Tip for consumers:
IT IS GREAT

Products used:
sound box

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user alanag47
1 review
2 helpful votes
February 12th, 2022

I ordered a toy for my little sister and she loved it the toy came in 2 days and I highly recommend this store!

Thumbnail of user amyg1612
4 reviews
1 helpful vote
December 17th, 2022

Id give it no stars if i could! Their cancellation policy is some serious bull$#*!! If you dont cancel your order that you place online within the first hour, they cannot cancel your order which I think is some serious bull$#*! since you can't get ahold of any customer service agent until a certain time! So make sure if you place an order it's within the time frame a customer service agent will be able to help you otherwise you will be $#*! out of luck!

Tip for consumers:
Make sure if you're going to place an order that it's within the time frame that someone will be there so if you want to cancel you have an order from the time you place the order to cancel it otherwise you are $#*! out of luck!!!

Products used:
Placed an order and apparently I was more than an hour late to be able to have the customer sevice agent cancel my order

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user ronj331
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
May 19th, 2023
Verified purchase

I ordered a limited edition bear from the American website, as the bear was unavailable in Australia. The bear was not packaged properly for international postage. The bear was placed loosely in a box and so when it arrived, it looked like it had been through the wringer. I contacted Build-A-Bear and was told they would only refund the cost of the bear if I posted the bear back to them. I explained that was not viable as postage was expensive and I would be out of pocket, even after a full refund. I emailed several times and was told the same thing. Build-A-Bear then emailed me a free postage label, but that was useless as it was only valid for postage in the USA. All I wanted was a partial refund to cover the cost of having the bear fixed so that it would be presentable. Build-A-Bear is now not responding to my emails. Build-A-Bear was at fault because they failed to package the bear securely. I would highly recommend not dealing with this company.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user chrisk1853
1 review
5 helpful votes
August 1st, 2022

I order a bear online due to the fact there are no stores in my area.
Such rude customer service when asking why my order had not been processed or shipped.
Emailed them several times in a week asking why. The kept telling me it was on its way which it was not it hadn't even been processed. I am still waiting on a response after 2 weeks. They have told me once again it's on its way so dissatisfied with this company

Tip for consumers:
Be careful

Products used:
Build a bear

Shipping
Thumbnail of user annabelled12
1 review
4 helpful votes
December 2nd, 2021
Verified purchase

All I wanted to do was buy a bear for my baby brother with my own voice recording. I did it online and the number they sent me to call to record my message did not work. I was on the line with build a bear customer service for almost an hour long. After I finally got it to work, I received an email the next day saying my voice recording was cancelled because it was "inappropriate". Seriously. I was making a recording for my literal 5 year old brother with down syndrome and they may not even let me cancel my order.

Service
Value
Returns
Thumbnail of user kendral122
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 20th, 2023

Hannah was very nice and helpful and she is super pretty I appreciate that she was super nice! You need to go to build a bear

Products used:
A bag night thing and brush

Service
Value
Quality

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